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Yuan Shu's retreat also caused an opening in his defenses in Xinye, when suddenly something unexpected happened, Liu Biao who was always staying inside Jing Province, moved his army and captured Xinyw in one fell swoop, making Cao Cao's heart bleed as it should have been his but they lose this due to Liu Biao's unexpected move.
Liu Biao's move was anticipated by Lie Fan, as in the original history Liu Biao took control of Xinye and then stopped his expansion to the North. When Liu Bei seeks shelter from him, Liu Biao gives Xinye to Liu Bei to act as a buffer zone between him and Cao Cao.
Yuan Shu in just one week of the battle already lost much of his land, leaving him with only the Central of Yu Province with Runan his capital. This was truly a heavy blow to Yuan Shu, not expecting such defeat.
Cao Cao who lost Xinye to Liu Biao, began to point his army to Liu Biao, asking him to relinquish Xinye and give it to him, Liu Biao stayed his ground refusing to give it up.
Guo Jia advised Cao Cao to let Liu Biao have Xinye, as Liu Biao's strength was much bigger than Cao Cao's with him sitting in Jing Province uncontested, having much fertile land under him.
At an army camp near Puyang, Yuan Shu's quick defeat surprised Chen Gong and Lu Bu, as they didn't expect that Yuan Shu's army would be that weak.
Chen Gong feels that they shouldn't have wasted their time, by sending an envoy to Yuan Shu trying to ally him. The basis of the alliance is even the marriage between Yuan Shu's son and Lu Lingqi.
Fortunately, Yuan Shu asks them to have their own land before this marriage can be held, and since the basis of their takeover was when Cao Cao and Lie Fan attacked Yuan Shu, the marriage will be held when Yuan Shu confidently says he will win against whoever attacked him.
Lu Bu heaved a sigh of relief that the marriage wasn't held yet, so his daughter could be safe from a dangerous situation.
Lu Bu: "Chen Gong, I think this is the first time that you have miscalculated something since you served me."
Chen Gong: "My Lord, I'm sorry for these awful miscalculations, I didn't expect Yuan Shu to be this weak. It turns out his 400,000 men are just paper tigers, only used to threaten others and can't do anything else."
Lu Bu: "So what should we do now?"
Chen Gong: "We will proceed as our original plan My Lord, but this time without Yuan Shu. Since Yuan Shu is on the verge of defeat, we should proceed with our plan with haste and take control of Puyang and Jibei, raising your banner."
Lu Bu: "Then we will do as Gongtai said, Order everyone to prepare for our takeover, inform Zhang Miao and the others to start our plan."
Chen Gong cupped his hand and then left the main camp. When Chen Gong leaves, at the same time Lu Lingqi enters the tent alongside Lady Yan, seeing them Lu Bu gives a warm smile and tells them to sit.
Lu Bu asks them what brings them here, but before Lady Yan can answer her husband's question, Lu Lingqi who was sitting beside her immediately asks Lu Bu, if is it true her marriage with Yuan Shu's son was annulled.
Lady Yan pinched her daughter for not watching her decorum, eliciting a shot from Lu Lingqi who rubbed her east sullenly. Lu Bu seeing this gave a gentle laugh and answered that it was true it was annulled.
Lu Lingqi jumped from her seat and hugged Lu Bu while laughing happily, thanking him for changing his mind. Lady Yan seeing the long-lost smile coming back to her daughter's face can only give a want smile.
Since she was told that she would be wed to Yuan Shu's son as part of a marriage alliance, Lu Lingqi have begun to lose her smile and always spend her time training her martial arts.
Lu Bu being hugged by her daughter so happily, can only return the hug and caress her head. While Lu Bu spends his time with his family, Chen Gong works tirelessly to prepare for Lu Bu's uprising at Yan.
He wrote letters to Zhang Miao and the others who had pledged their allegiance to Lu Bu. He also coordinates Lu Bu's army alongside Zhang Liao and Gao Shun who was Lu Bu's highest ranking general.
The letters were received by Zhang Miao and the others, they began to either replace or assassinate officials who didn't want to follow them or were still loyal to Cao Cao.
After a week, Chen Gong's coordination with Lu Bu raised his army at Puyang and Jibei with the army under Zhang Miao's jurisdiction joining him, making Lu Bu control the entirety of Northern Yan Province.
The sudden rise of Lu Bu caught everyone off guard, especially Cao Cao who was on a campaign against Yuan Shu. He was leading his army in pacifying Wan and its commandery when he received the news.
Guo Jia the top strategist was also caught off guard when he received the news, but when he heard that it was orchestrated by Chen Gong and that Zhang Miao alongside his subjects joined in he knew why they were caught off guard.
Cao Cao was enraged when he heard that Chen Gong and Zhang Miao whom he considered his old friends betrayed him, he immediately ordered his army to head back to Yan Province.
Guo Jia and Xi Zhicai advised Cao Cao to not do so, as they were on an important conjecture right now, with Yuan Shu already on his last leg and will be defeated in 2 to 4 months.
They suggested that since Yuan Shu had lost many of his soldiers, Cao Cao split his army into two Cao Ren led 100,000 men alongside Xi Zhicai to return to Yan Province to hold Lu Bu, and the rest stayed with Cao Cao to continue subjugating Yuan Shu.
Cao Cao cooled his head off first, and after thinking of the plan proposed by Guo Jia and Xi Zhicai, he agreed and ordered it to be done. On the same day, Cao Ren with Xiahou Yuan and Li Dian alongside Xi Zhicai led 100,000 to return to Yan Province.
Cao Cao also told Guo Jia to send a letter to Lie Fan, requesting some help to pressure Lu Bu as he knew that Lie Fan still had a contingent of army in Xu Province who was under Taishi Ci.
By the time Cao Cao's letter arrived to Lie Fan, Lie Fan had led his army to truly pacify Shouchun and its commandery. Lie Fan's army numbered 135,000 men and was reduced to 125,000 men after taking Shouchun, showing the brutality of that fight.
But with the army under Li Feng, Lei Bo, Chen Lan, and Qiao Rui after the battle of 20,000 men, Lu Jun's army which numbered around 15,000 men, and the prisoner's army from the battle at Shouchun around 15,000 men who were fit for battle.
Lie Fan's army bloated up to 175,000 men, and the whole world was also surprised by Lu Kang's sudden announcement of his submission to Lie Fan where Lie Fan received Lujiang and its commandery.
All the Warlords who kept an eye on the Central Plains battle were truly surprised by Lie Fan's machination, as Lu Kang supported Yuan Shu's declaration as Emperor but suddenly he submitted to Lie Fan.
Everyone can see now that Lie Fan and Lu Kang had worked together long before Yuan Shu declared himself Emperor, which also caused a heavy blow to Yuan Shu who lost a supporter.
Lie Fan after discussing with their advisors agreed to Cao Cao's request for aid, as it was in line with their plan that is to oust Lu Bu from Yan Province and to run toward Liu Bei for shelter.
Lie Fan sent a letter to Taishi Ci and Bu Zhi who led the Zhuque army numbering 30,000 men to pressure Lu Bu from his rear targeting Jibei, and allow them to leave their position as Liu Bei is not a threat for now.
It's because Liu Bei had to lead half of his army to join the Crusade and with the reputation that Liu Bei had to keep up, he would never backstab his allies in the back, especially in a way for the 'Han Dynasty'.
Lu Bu's rise was predicted by Lie Fan, so after agreeing to Cao Cao's call for aid Lie Fan continued to lead his men to attack Yuan Shu. With Shouchun and its commandery pacified, Lie Fan began to target Runan.
Lie Fan now leading 175,000 men has doubled his speed in taking Yuan Shu's land, where Yuan Shu tried to protect Runan from Lie Fan and Cao Cao's attack, splitting 180,000 men into many sizes under Hou Zui's suggestion.
Cao Cao's speed in taking Yuan Shu's land was not as fast as before, thanks to Lu Bu rising North of Yan Province, which caused him to split his army to defend his base.
At Puyang right now, Lu Bu is holding a banquet to celebrate the success of Chen Gong's plan, with now having land to call for his own.
Chen Gong was the one who suggested this because he knew that the next part would be heavy, as they most likely face Cao Cao and Lie Fan's army from two fronts, which would need very high morale.
Lu Bu now has around 90,000 men serving him, which is not much and Chen Gong has begun to conscript new soldiers.
Lu Bu held the banquet until the evening, he was escorted back to his residence by Zhang Liao and Gao Shun. Lady Yan seeing this told them to bring Lu Bu to their room and said her gratitude to Zhang Liao and Gao Shun.
Zhang Liao and Gao Shun then take their leave, leaving Lady Yan to take care of Lu Bu. On their way out they meet with Lu Lingqi,
whose eyes light up when she sees her favored uncles.
Lu Lingqi asked them if she could join Lu Bu's army through the conscription, begging them to help her being smuggled to enter as a new recruit, as she knew that if Lu Bu and Lasy Yan knew of her intention she would be locked in her room by them.
Gao Shun and Zhang Liao who heard this immediately kneeled down, asking Lu Lingqi to not do so as they would be punished by Lu Bu and Chen Gong for breaking military law, and smuggling Lu Lingqi to live with a bunch of men, where they would be executed by Lu Bu for doing so.
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Name: Lie Fan
Title: Three Heroes Who Defeat Lu Bu
Age: 25 (192 AD)
Level: 15
Next Level: 1.588.000
Renown: 605
Cultivation: Yin Yang Separation (level 9)
SP: 371.700
ATTRIBUTE POINTS
STR: 906 (+20)
VIT: 578 (+20)
AGI: 563 (+10)
INT: 567
CHR: 93
WIS: 489
WILL: 377
ATR Points: 0