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The commanding officer of Yuan Shao's rear guard, a veteran named Liang Yuan, rallied his troops to defend the camp. "Hold the line!" he bellowed, his voice cutting through the cacophony. "Protect the supplies at all costs!"
But the odds were overwhelming. Zhang Yan's forces, numbering over 140,000, dwarfed the meager guard left behind by Yuan Shao. Liang Yuan's men were outflanked and outmatched.
In the thick of battle, Zhang Yan rode to the front lines, his sword gleaming in the light of the blazing infernos. "No mercy!" he shouted, his voice carrying authority. "Leave no survivors! Yuan Shao's downfall begins here!"
Zhang He directed his men to target key points of resistance. "Take down their officers!" he commanded. "Without leadership, they'll scatter like leaves in the wind." His archers unleashed a deadly volley, striking Liang Yuan's remaining officers and plunging the rear guard into disarray.
Gao Lan, leading his cavalry, charged into the panicked troops, cutting them down with ruthless efficiency. His men's war cries echoed through the camp as they systematically dismantled what remained of the defenses.
Liang Yuan fought valiantly, but he was eventually surrounded. Refusing to surrender, he met his end at the hands of Gao Lan's soldiers, his blood staining the ground he had sworn to protect.
As the last of Yuan Shao's rear guard fell, the camp was a scene of utter devastation. Supply depots lay in smoldering ruins, and the few surviving soldiers were swiftly silenced to prevent any chance of warning the main army. Zhang Yan, surveying the destruction, nodded in grim satisfaction. "The fox has bitten the lion's tail," he said, his voice low but triumphant.
Zhang He approached, his armor spattered with blood but his expression calm. "The supplies are gone, and their rear is in tatters. Yuan Shao's army will feel the sting of this blow soon enough."
Gao Lan dismounted, his sword still dripping with the blood of his enemies. "The hard part will be escaping unnoticed. If Yan Liang or Wen Chou catch wind of this, they'll divert their forces and pin us down."
Zhang Yan considered this for a moment before issuing orders. "We move quickly. Leave nothing of value behind. Burn the corpses and cover our tracks. We cannot let them know who struck them until it's too late."
The soldiers worked swiftly, setting fire to what remained of the camp and erasing any signs of their presence. By dawn, Zhang Yan's forces had melted back into the countryside, leaving only ashes and destruction in their wake.
The siege of Luoyang raged on. Yuan Shao's forces threw wave after wave at the city's walls, but Cao Cao's defenders held firm. The air was thick with the acrid smell of burning wood and flesh, and the sounds of battle were unrelenting.
On the northern wall, Cao Cao stood with his advisors, watching as another battering ram was destroyed by a well-placed shot from a ballista. "Their numbers are endless," Xun Yu observed, his tone grave. "But so far, they've gained no ground."
Guo Jia smiled faintly. "Patience, my lord. Yuan Shao's strength is a double-edged sword. The larger his army, the harder it will be for him to sustain it. Once he realizes his supplies are gone, his advantage will turn to ash."
Cao Cao nodded, his sharp eyes scanning the battlefield. "The key is to hold until that moment. Inform the men: no matter how fierce the assault, we must not yield an inch."
Meanwhile, Yan Liang and Wen Chou, leading the assault, were growing increasingly frustrated. Despite their superior numbers, Luoyang's defenses were proving impenetrable. The battering rams had been reduced to splinters, and every ladder placed against the walls was swiftly thrown back.
Yan Liang slammed his fist against his saddle. "How can this be? They're outnumbered, yet they fight as if they have the advantage!"
Wen Chou also frowned but understood the situation. "Cao Cao is no fool. He must have a plan. We need to press harder, break their spirit before they can outlast us."
Yuan Tan and Yuan Shang at this time suggested a strategy of their own, each feeling that this could help in breaking through Luoyang and defeating Cao Cao, where Yan Liang and Wen Chou finally listened because they couldn't continuously ignore the two sons of their lord.
"This is a waste of time!" Yuan Tan snapped, slamming a fist onto the table. "My plan is clearly superior. We should concentrate on the southern gate. It is the most fortified, yes, but Cao Cao will not expect us to focus our efforts there. A surprise assault will break through!"
Yuan Shang's face turned red with anger. "And while we waste resources on the most heavily defended position, his reserves will flank us and cut off our retreat! No, we should focus on the eastern gate. It's weaker, and we can break through with fewer casualties."
The two brothers glared at each other, their rivalry threatening to boil over into outright hostility. Yan Liang raised a hand, his voice booming to command attention. "Enough! Both plans have merit, but they also have flaws. You two must work together to forge a unified strategy."
Yuan Shang sneered. "Work with him? I'd sooner trust Cao Cao than this fool."
"Watch your tongue! I'm your older brother show some respect!" Yuan Tan barked, stepping forward as if to confront his brother physically.
Wen Chou sighed deeply, rubbing his temples. "We don't have time for this. If you cannot cooperate, we will have no choice but to decide without you."
Neither Yuan Tan nor Yuan Shang backed down. "Choose my plan," they said simultaneously, pointing fingers at each other. The command tent erupted into chaos as officers murmured amongst themselves, their morale visibly shaken by the display of disunity.
Meanwhile, far to the east in Jibei, Lie Fan sat in his tent, surrounded by his advisors who joined Lie Fan on this campaign, Sima Yi and Xun You. The dim glow of lanterns illuminated the room as an Oriole agent knelt before him, delivering a report.
"My lord," the agent said, bowing deeply. "Zhang Yan, Zhang He, and Gao Lan have struck. Yuan Shao's supply depot has been destroyed, and his rear guard annihilated. Yuan Shao's forces at Luoyang will soon be deprived of food and resources."
Lie Fan's lips curved into a faint smile as he nodded. "Excellent. The lion's army cannot roar without its strength." He turned to Sima Yi and Xun You. "Is now the time to strike? The pieces are in place, and Yuan Shao's army is ripe for collapse."
Sima Yi, ever the cautious strategist, stroked his beard thoughtfully. "Indeed, my lord. With their supply line severed, Yuan Shao's massive force will soon descend into chaos. Their morale will waver, and desperation will take hold. If we attack now, we can shatter them before they recover."
Xun You, calm and precise, added, "Furthermore, their command structure is already fraying. Yuan Shao's sons are at odds, and his generals are divided. The timing could not be more perfect."
Lie Fan stood, his eyes gleaming with determination. "Then it is decided. Send the order. The Qinlong, Baihu, and Qilin Armies will move with me to cross the Yellow River from Jibei. The Zhuque and Xuanwu Armies will cross from Puyang. The navy under the command of Gan Ning and Jiang Qin will assist in the crossing, the assault begins tomorrow."
The Oriole agent bowed once more before hurrying out to relay the orders. Lie Fan turned back to his advisors. "Cao Cao's defenders are holding, but they cannot withstand indefinitely. Our strike will break Yuan Shao's momentum and secure the victory Cao Cao so desperately needs."
At the siege of Luoyang, chaos continued to brew within Yuan Shao's camp. News of the destruction of the supply depot had not yet reached the front lines, but tension was palpable. Soldiers murmured about the prolonged siege, their once unshakable confidence beginning to erode.
Yan Liang and Wen Chou, aware that something was amiss but unable to pinpoint the issue, stood at the battlements, surveying the battlefield. "Cao Cao's men fight with the ferocity of cornered beasts," Yan Liang remarked. "It's as if they know something we don't."
"Or perhaps they're just better prepared," Wen Chou replied, his tone bitter. "This siege drags on, and the men grow restless. If we don't find a breakthrough soon, the tide may turn against us."
Their conversation was interrupted by a messenger rushing into the command tent, breathless and pale. "Generals! There's been a disaster at the rear!"
The words sent a chill through the tent. Yan Liang grabbed the man by the shoulders. "Speak! What disaster?"
"Zhang Yan, Zhang He, and Gao Lan…" the messenger stammered. "They've betrayed us. The supply depot is gone, and the rear guard… they've been wiped out."
For a moment, silence fell over the tent. Then, Yan Liang's roar of anger shook the walls. "Traitors! Those dogs will pay for this treachery!"
Wen Chou, though equally furious, maintained his composure. "Calm yourself, Yan Liang. Rage won't solve this. We must act quickly to salvage the situation."
Before they could formulate a response, another messenger arrived, this time bearing even graver news. "Generals! Scouts report movement across the Yellow River. There are signs that Lie Fan's forces numbering around 500,000 to 700,000 men are advancing from both Jibei and Puyang. They mean to attack Ganling and Puyang!"
The command tent erupted in chaos as the reality of their predicament sank in. Yan Liang's fury was palpable, his fists slamming onto the wooden table so hard it cracked. "Curse that Lie Fan! He's been waiting for this moment all along, the snake!" His voice was raw with anger, but beneath it was the unmistakable edge of fear.
Wen Chou, normally the calmer of the two, was pale, his mind racing. "This is no ordinary force. If the scout's report is accurate, Lie Fan's numbers rival our own. He must have been planning this for months, waiting for the perfect time to strike." He turned to the trembling scout, his voice sharp. "Are you certain of those numbers? Between 500,000 and 700,000?"
The scout nodded quickly, his fear evident. "Yes, General. Our spies reported massive troop movements from Jibei and Puyang. They're advancing swiftly, using both land and river routes. They will be upon us within days."
Yan Liang paced the tent, his steps heavy with frustration. "This is madness! We're trapped between two enemies. If we turn to face Lie Fan, Cao Cao will tear through Luoyang's defenses and crush us from behind. But if we ignore Lie Fan…" He didn't finish the sentence. The implication was clear, Lie Fan would dismantle Yuan Shao's domain from the rear, and leaving them with no hope of retreat or reinforcement.
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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