If you want to read 20 Chapters ahead and more, be sure to check out my Patreon!!!
Go to https://www.patreon.com/Tang12
___________________________
With tears in their eyes, his men obeyed, fleeing the city as the Cai Clan's forces closed in. Liu Du fought to the bitter end, determined to take as many of the enemy with him as he could. But he was eventually overwhelmed as his stamina had been drained due to his age, and there were too many enemies he faced which eventually allowed him to be cut down by Zhang Yun's soldier.
As the sun set across Lingling, the battle was over, leaving the city in ruins. The streets were strewn with the bodies of the dead, their blood painting the cobblestones red.
The rioters, who had dared to rise against the Cai Clan, were either dead or captured, their hopes for freedom crushed beneath the boot of oppression. The once-vibrant city, a symbol of power for the Cai Clan, especially the deceased Cai Mao, was now a wasteland. Its people were either dead, hiding in fear, or had fled the town entirely.
Lady Cai, upon hearing the news of their victory, felt a twisted sense of satisfaction. The rebellion had been crushed, and Liu Du, the leader of the uprising, had been slain.
The city was back under the Cai Clan's control. But as she sat on her throne, her eyes gleaming with a dangerous madness, the court around her was silent. There was no joy, no celebration. The air was heavy with the weight of what had been done.
Zhang Yun, who had led the assault, returned to the court with his armor still stained with the blood of the fallen. He reported the outcome to Lady Cai with a sense of duty, but there was no pride in his voice. "The rebellion has been crushed," he said, his voice hollow. "Liu Du is dead, and Lingling is back under our control."
Lady Cai smiled, but it was a cold, unsettling expression. There was a madness in her eyes that sent a chill down the spines of those present. "You have done well, Zhang Yun," she said, her voice laced with a dangerous edge. "Let this be a lesson to anyone who dares to defy the Cai Clan. In the future, they will not be so foolish."
Zhang Yun bowed his head in acknowledgment, but as he did, he couldn't shake the feeling that this victory had come at too high a price. The streets of Lingling were soaked in the blood of innocents, and the people who had once been the backbone of the city now lay dead or broken. This was not a victory; it was a massacre. And the consequences of such an act would not be easily forgotten.
As he left the court, Zhang Yun's thoughts were troubled. He knew that the people of Lingling would never forgive the Cai Clan for what had been done. The seeds of more future rebellion had been sown, and it was only a matter of time before they sprouted into something far more dangerous.
The fall of the Cai Clan, he realized, was inevitable. The once-great family was now a shadow of its former self, and their enemies would soon come to claim what was left of their broken domain.
The news of the Lingling Massacre spread quickly across the region, reaching the ears of neighboring warlords who bordered the Cai Clan's domain. Liu Bei, Liu Zhang, Shi Xie, the Sun Clan, and finally, Lie Fan all heard of the incident through Oriole Intelligence's own networks.
The reaction was one of shock and disbelief. No one had expected such a brutal act to be ordered by the Cai Clan's current de facto leader, Lady Cai. It was a move that defied all logic, and it sent ripples of unease throughout the land.
When the news reached Lie Fan, he was in his study, surrounded by maps and scrolls detailing his plans for the future. Jia Xu, his trusted advisor, entered the room with a grave expression. "My lord," Jia Xu began, his voice low and somber, "I have received troubling news from Lingling."
Lie Fan looked up from his work, his brow furrowing. "What is it?" he asked, sensing the gravity of the situation.
Jia Xu took a deep breath before speaking. "Lady Cai has ordered a massacre in Lingling. The people of the city rose up in rebellion, led by Liu Du. In response, Lady Cai commanded Zhang Yun to crush the uprising without mercy. The city has been decimated, and the streets run red with the blood of commoners."
Lie Fan's expression darkened as Jia Xu spoke. His hands clenched into fists, and his eyes flashed with anger. When Jia Xu finished, Lie Fan slammed his fist down on the table, the sound echoing through the room. "This is madness!" he roared, his voice filled with fury. "How could she order such a thing? The commoners are the foundation of any nation. Without them, there is no nation! What was she thinking?"
Jia Xu remained calm, though he shared his lord's sentiment. "It seems that grief and rage have clouded Lady Cai's judgment," he said carefully. "But this act will not go unnoticed. The other warlords are already reacting to the news, and the Cai Clan's position has never been more precarious."
Lie Fan paced the room, his mind racing. He had always valued the common people, understanding that they were the true strength of any ruler. Without their support, no army, no wealth, and no amount of power could sustain a kingdom. The massacre in Lingling was not just a tragedy; it was a strategic blunder of the highest order.
"We cannot let this go unanswered," Lie Fan said, his voice steady but seething with anger. "If we allow this to stand, it will set a dangerous precedent. The people must know that we stand with them, not against them."
Jia Xu nodded in agreement. "Indeed, my lord. But we must tread carefully. The Cai Clan still holds a considerable force to be reckoned with, despite their recent actions. A direct confrontation could lead to a prolonged conflict that would weaken us all."
Lie Fan paused, considering Jia Xu's words. He knew that a hasty move could be disastrous, but he also knew that inaction was not an option. "What do you suggest, Wenhe?" he asked, trusting his advisor's wisdom.
"We should begin by rallying the other warlords to our cause, and do our bidding for us," Jia Xu replied thoughtfully. "They are already disturbed by Lady Cai's actions, and if we gave them an incentive and support, we can have them apply pressure on the Cai Clan without engaging in open warfare. At the same time, we should offer our support to the people of Lingling, showing them that there are those who will stand against tyranny."
Lie Fan nodded slowly, his anger giving way to determination. "Yes, you're right. We must act with both strength and wisdom. Immediately send envoys to Liu Bei, Liu Zhang, Shi Xie, and the Sun Clan. We will offer them support and promise them that we will not attack them while they take the Cai Clan's domain, and not just to destroy the Cai Clan, but to ensure that such atrocities do not happen again."
Jia Xu smiled slightly, pleased to see his lord's resolve. "A wise decision, my lord. With your leadership, we can turn this tragedy into an opportunity to strengthen our position in the people's eyes and protect the people."
Lie Fan returned to his desk, his mind already working on the details of his plan. He would not let the massacre of Lingling go unanswered. The Cai Clan would be held accountable, and the people would know that there were still those who valued their lives and their well-being.
As the letters of Lie Fan's statement spread, it reached the ears of the other warlords. Liu Bei, who had acted under the banner of compassion and sense of justice, was the first to respond.
He immediately sent a letter to Lie Fan after consulting with his advisors, expressing his shock and outrage at the events in Lingling and offering his full support in any efforts to hold the Cai Clan accountable.
Sun Ce, who had been considering meeting the Qiao Sisters, was also deeply troubled by the news. He saw the massacre as a sign that the Cai Clan was losing control and that their actions were becoming increasingly erratic.
Sun Ce wrote to Lie Fan, agreeing to join forces to address the situation, while also expressing his hope that this move could strengthen the relations between their clans even further.
Liu Zhang and Shi Xie, though less emotionally invested, were pragmatic leaders who understood the dangers of allowing such chaos to spread. They, too, agreed to work with Lie Fan after consulting with their advisors, seeing the potential for mutual benefit in curbing the Cai Clan's excesses.
With the warlords around the Cai Clan's domain taking the but he served, Lie Fan began to implement his plan. He sent envoys to Lingling, carrying messages of hope and solidarity to the beleaguered people.
He made it clear that the coalition he created was not intended to conquer or subjugate the Cai Clan's domain for his own, but to protect and restore peace to the region. The people of Lingling, still reeling from the horrors of the massacre, were deeply moved by Lie Fan's gesture. They saw him not as a conqueror, but as a protector, and many began to rally to his cause.
Lady Cai, meanwhile, was growing increasingly paranoid and erratic. The massacre, far from solidifying her power, had only served to alienate her from both her allies and her people.
She became more isolated, lashing out at those around her and making decisions that further weakened her position. Zhang Yun and Liu Cong, who had once she trusted the most, were also eliminated by her which caused them to distance themselves from her as well, fearing that her madness would lead to their downfall.
As the tension in the region continued to build, it became clear that a confrontation was inevitable. The question was not if the Cai Clan would fall, but when. The massacre at Lingling had set off a chain of events that could not be stopped, and the fate of the Cai Clan now hung in the balance.
In just a matter of days not even a week after Lie Fan's statement for a coalition was spread, the forces of the warlords neighboring the Cai Clan's domain began to mobilize their army, and the Sun Clan had an advantage compared to the other warlords because their army had mobilized and was currently positioned ready, so when the order was given, led by Zhu Ran, the Sun Clan army begun it's march.
____________________________
Name: Lie Fan
Title: Overlord Of The Central Plains
Age: 32 (199 AD)
Level: 16
Next Level: 462,000
Renown: 1325
Cultivation: Yin Yang Separation (level 9)
SP: 1,121,700
ATTRIBUTE POINTS
STR: 951 (+20)
VIT: 613 (+20)
AGI: 598 (+10)
INT: 617
CHR: 96
WIS: 519
WILL: 407
ATR Points: 0