Everyone was surprised by this, as becoming the vanguard meant that you would have the highest casualties so everyone tried to avoid this position. Yuan Shao was surprised by this, but considering Lie Fan was the first one to vote for him he gave Kie Fan's face and agreed with his request under Yuan Shu's resentful gaze.
Sun Jian who feared the worst was also surprised by Lie Fan's request, now that he had an ally he was assured that at least Yuan Shu would not scheme behind him. Yuan Shu is a petty man, so Sun Jian doesn't want him to scheme against him, especially in battle.
Cao Cao is also surprised that Lie Fan volunteered to become the vanguard, he thinks that maybe it's because Lie Fan is still young and being a vanguard is an honorable position.
What they don't know is, that Lie Fan volunteered to be the vanguard alongside Sun Jian it's because he could get the Imperial Seal before Sun Jian had the chance to find it first.
The Imperial Seal is an important item he has to have to legitimate his future rule, as it was made by the first Emperor of China, Qin Shi Huang.
After that, everyone announced the number of soldiers they brought and without much surprise, Lie Fan brought the biggest army with his 50,000 soldiers. The second largest was of course Yuan Shao with 20,000 and the Third largest was Cao Cao with 15,000.
The total number of the coalition army was 155,000. 45,000 smaller than Doing Zhuo's army and the experience is much lower than Dong Zhuo and Lie Fan's battle-hardened soldiers.
All of the members' logistics were told by Yuan Shao to be given to Yuan Shu as the logistics leader, Lie Fan gave half of his supplies, and when Yuan Shu as for all of it Lie Fan sternly refused.
Yuan Shu was angry at Lie Fan's refusal, but powerless to do anything as Lie Fan is an existence he can't offend. Yuan Shao acted as the mediator between them, Lie Fan reasoned that he had given supplies worth 25,000 people which contributed more than all of the members.
As Lie Fan used this reason and took a strong stance, Yuan Shao and Yuan Shu finally relented under Cao Cao's persuasion as he didn't want the coalition to dissolve before the war started.
3 days have passed and the coalition prepared to start marching toward Hulao Gate, Yuan Shao gave a speech to the soldiers to raise morale in a makeshift stage. Lie Fan, Cao Cao, Liu Bei, and the other local government leaders or Warlords now stand behind him.
Yuan Shao: "Everyone we are gathered here today to fight against Dong Zhuo's tyranny and oppression! Heaven is on our side to save Your Majesty from Dong Zhuo's hand so don't be afraid and fight with all of your might! For The Emperor! For Hand Dynasty!"
Soldiers: "Hoahh!!!"
Sun Jian: "Governor Lie Fan, I thought you would become the coalition leader since you and Cao Cao called for the campaign."
Lie Fan: "Lord Yuan Shao and his Clan have served the Han Dynasty loyally for a long time and hold a high position at the Imperial Court. He is more qualified to lead the coalition than someone with a much more humble background."
Sun Jian who heard this looked skeptical of Lie Fan, he felt that this reason was just a fake one he gave to others, and from his experience sharing a battlefield with him, Lie Fan is more of a leader than a follower.
While the coalition army was being pumped up by Yuan Shao, Dong Zhuo at Luoyang was having a meeting with his advisors and generals received a report that the coalition army was numbered somewhere between 120,000 to 160,000.
Li Ru hearing this suggested that they send reinforcements to Hua Xio who right now guarding Sishui Pass with 30,000 soldiers.
Dong Zhuo agreed with his suggestion, so he ordered Li Jue and Guo Si to lead 50,000 to reinforce Hua Xiong in Sishui Pass. Dong Zhuo is optimistic that the coalition can't even go through Sishui Pass, they need 2 times the soldiers to defeat Hua Xiong.
Li Ru suggested that the rest of their army numbering 120,000 be on their toes, as everything can happen on a battlefield. After receiving the order, Li Jue and Guo Si take 50,000 soldiers and immediately head toward Sishui Pass.
At Sishui Pass, Hua Xiong is preparing his soldiers to defend the pass. As Dong Zhuo's son-in-law, Hua Xiong used to be the strongest warrior in his army before Lu Bu came along so his prestige was high among Dong Zhuo's army.
Dong Zhuo wanted to assign Lu Bu who requested to be the one to lead an attack on the Coalition on Sishui Pass, Hua Xiong then stepped in and said that they didn't need an Ox-cleaver to kill a bunch of chickens, hearing that Dong Zhuo put Hua Xiong in charge.
5 days passed, and the coalition army under Yuan Shao's leadership finally arrived at Sishui Pass. Seeing the sturdy pass, many of the warlords are intimidated and don't dare to think about Hulao Pass which is after Sishui Pass.
Lie Fan and Sun Jian as the vanguard, lead the attack on Sishui Pass. Together their army numbered 60,000 began to march toward Sishui Pass under the leadership of Lie Fan and Sun Jian.
The other coalition army followed behind, protecting their rear under the leadership of Yuan Shao. When Lie Fan and Sun Jian entered the range of Sishui Pass defenders, they suddenly heard a loud voice from atop the pass.
Hua Xiong: "Humph! A bunch of chickens gathered together to attack My Lord! As long as I Hua Xiong guard Sishui Pass, none of you chickens can pass through me!"
Sun Jian: "Don't be too arrogant Hua Xiong! I'm Sun Jian the tiger of Jiangdong alongside me, Governor Lie Fan the War Hero!"
Hua Xiong: "Hahaha! An old fossil and a child are challenging me, Hua Xiong, I can kill all of your generals easily! Why don't you send me your strongest generals, and have a duel against me!"
Hua Xiong's army began to cheer when they heard Hua Xiong's challenge, they trusted Hua Xiong and knew the kind of prowess he had. Sun Jian and Lie Fan are only the vanguard and not the leader of the coalition so they go back to tell this to Yuan Shao and the others.
Yuan Shao: "I have heard of this Hua Xiong and the prowess he has if only I brought Yan Liang and When Chou, they could defeat Hua Xiong easily."
Sun Jian: "Leader, allow my general Zu Mao to duel against Hua Xiong!"
Yuan Shao: "Good! Then Zu Mao will duel Hua Xiong, tell them we accepted his challenge!"
Lie Fan was silent, watching all of this happen before him. He will allow everything to happen as it should be until Hua Xiong kills 4 generals and Guan Yu offers himself there's where he sends Dian Wei. Why would he allow Liu Bei and his sworn brothers to gain fame here, it's better for his general to gain fame.
Zu Mao then under Sun Jian's order accepted the duel under the Coalition name, the soldiers of each side cheered for their general hoping for them to win. Hua Xiong and Zu Mao ride their horse toward each other, and using their weapons they begin to collide attacking and defending.
Entering their fifth bout, everyone can see that Hua Xiong has an advantage over Zu Mao. Not Long, Hua Xiong does an overhead slash, killing Zu Mao on the spot. Hua Xiong soldiers cheered, while the coalition soldier morale was down with Zu Mao's defeat.
Sun Jian who saw this felt his heart bleeding, Zu Mao was a loyal general and adept at leading a navy, losing him was a very big loss. Yuan Shu who saw this floated at Sun Jian, happy that he lost his face and general.
Yuan Shao and the other warlords saw this, they then heard Hua Xiong send another challenge. Feeling that the Coalition's dignity is being trampled on, Yuan Shao asks who is brave enough to face Hua Xiong.
Han Fu's General Pan Feng, bravely volunteered himself to fight against Hua Xiong. Soon the same scene of Zu Mao's defeat was repeated, after 10 bouts Hua Xiong slain Pan Feng causing Han Fu to lose one of his strongest generals.
Hua Xiong seemed invincible, but soon two other generals volunteered themselves, Bao Zhong and then Yu Zhe. Both of them are also defeated and slain by Hua Xiong, this makes Hua Xiong become more invincible and the coalition's army morale is at its lowest.
Yuan Shao asks one again, who is brave enough to fight against Hua Xiong. Guan Yu saw that no one volunteered to fight Hua Xiong, after receiving Liu Bei's permission when he wanted to volunteer himself he was cut off by Lie Fan.
Lie Fan: "Leader don't worry, I have a general named Dian Wei who is as strong as an ox, I guarantee that he can defeat Hua Xiong!"
Yuan Shu: "Governor Lie Fan, everyone who volunteered themselves has guaranteed the same thing, but all of them have been slain."
Lie Fan: "Humph! If you don't trust my general, why don't you send you general Ji Ling that you were so proud of before in the banquet?!"
Cao Cao: "I heard that General Dian Wei managed to defeat Governor Lie Fan in a duel, I'm sure that he can defeat Hua Xiong!"
Yuan Shao: "Okay Okay enough everyone! Governor Lie Fan ignore my younger brother, you can send your general Dian Wei to fight against Hua Xiong."
Lie Fan began to understand why Yuan Sho didn't have any allies in the future, his personality was worse than Yuan Shao and didn't have the same charm as Yuan Shao. Lie Fan ordered Dian Wei who stood behind him, to fight against Hua Xiong.
Dian Wei took a step forward, saluted everyone the the main tent, and promised that he could kill Hua Xiong before 10 bout. Seeing Dian Wei's promise, some believed him, and some thought that he was too arrogant.
Dian Wei left the tent and got on his horse. Another war drum was sounded, accompanying Dian Wei go rode out to the field toward Hua Xiong who was waiting for him. The coalition army who saw this didn't have much hope for Dian Wei and thought that he would be Hua Xiong's victim, just like the other generals before him.
_________________________________
Name: Lie Fan
Title: Yellow Heaven Subjugator
Age: 22 Years Old (189 AD)
Level: 14
Next Level: 412.000
Renown: 215
Cultivation: Yin Yang Separation (level 7)
SP: 656.700
ATTRIBUTE POINTS
STR: 819 (+20)
VIT: 385 (+20)
AGI: 373 (+10)
INT: 385
CHR: 93
WIS: 319
WILL: 207
ATR Points: 0