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Lie Fan's smile was razor thin. "Then I'll just have to keep cutting all of them down. Just like what I was doing yesterday. " After saying that, he gave a nod to the executioner. Receiving the order, the executioner raised his axe and then swung it down.
With the rebellion crushed before it could even start, Lie Fan's grip on the empire tightened. The coinage reform proceeded without further protest, the new mints producing uniform currency that would stabilize trade across the Hengyuan Dynasty realm and leave its mark in the history books.
The Oriole Agents, working with the Censorate under Pang Tong's lead, were one in the dark and the other in the light, rooted out the last remnants of dissent with surgical focus and precision.
And at this time, in the palace, Lie Fan sat with his advisors, receiving reports that the southern campaign had begun to commenced.
"The Sun Clan's Army and the army under Ma Chao's command have begun their advance to Hepu. When they reached Hepu, they would take a rest and then begin to march toward the southern land, coordinating with Shi Xie's army which marched south from Jiaozhi." Jia Xu remarked. "The estimated time of attack would be next month to be the earliest, Your Majesty."
"Good, tell them to proceed with caution. We don't want to be caught off guard by the barbarians and undeveloped kingdoms, we don't know what they have in store and they know the terrain." Lie Fan said. Then, after a pause, "And how's the progress between Ma Chao and Sun Shangxiang?"
Jia Xu's lips twitched when he heard Lie Fan's question. "According to the Oriole Agents reports, she's... keeping Ma Chao on his toes with her presence. They also reported that Lady Sun had infiltrated into the Army ranks once again, Your Majesty."
Lie Fan laughed. "Some things never change, still as naught as ever. Order the Oriole Agents to keep an eye on and protect her, Wenhe. We don't want anything to happen to her, even when she was finally found out by her father and brothers, keep protecting her."
Hearing that order, Jia Xu nodded his head and promised Lie Fan that he would convey the order to the Oriole Agents embedded within the southern campaign army as soon as possible and mark it as the highest priority for the operatives there.
Lie Fan gave a quiet hum in response to Jia Xu's assurance, his fingers tapping lightly on the carved armrest of his seat as he turned his gaze back toward the map spread before him.
After a few moments of quiet deliberation, Lie Fan spoke again. "Wenhe, send a letter to Shi Xie and the Sun Clan. Inform them not to encroach upon the southwestern territories stemming from Jiaozhi. Their primary focus should be the south and the southeastern reaches until they have reached Funan's domain. Once they have secured and subdued those areas, they are to halt further advancement and begin consolidating our rule, especially culture, there. Further orders will follow as they are done so."
Jia Xu blinked in surprise, and beside him, Xun You and Sima Yi exchanged puzzled glances. It was Jia Xu who voiced their collective question. "Your Majesty, may we ask... why halt the expansion into the southwestern frontier? Are there concerns about the region's resistance?"
Lie Fan looked at them, a slight smirk on his face. "You're all aware of the Tianzhu kingdoms to the west, are you not?"
All three nodded instantly. Of course, they knew. Tales of the fabled land of Tianzhu (What the ancient Chinese people called India) had long been known even before the Han Dynasty.
Its vast lands teemed with kingdoms, as fragmented as the Warring States era of old, yet some of those kingdoms were powerful in both wealth and military might.
"Since you know of them," Lie Fan said, his voice low but filled with intent, "then I don't need to elaborate further. The reason for halting our expansion into the southwestern territories is to leave a buffer zone between us and the Tianzhu kingdoms. If we were to border them directly, they might feel threatened and begin organizing an alliance or coalition to resist us which would be troublesome as it could foster the alliance into a much more united one. And that… would be troublesome."
The room fell into a heavy silence as Jia Xu, Xun You, and Sima Yi processed the strategic brilliance of that statement. A buffer zone, neutral territory between two rising powers, was a classic maneuver, yet one rarely used effectively in the chaos of a fractured age.
Jia Xu bowed deeply, his expression one of newfound understanding. "Your Majesty's wisdom is truly profound. To think not just of conquest, but of the balance that must follow, this is the mark of an emperor who sees generations ahead."
Xun You stroked his beard thoughtfully. "A buffer zone... yes, that would prevent the Tianzhu kingdoms from uniting against us prematurely. Let them squabble among themselves while we consolidate the south."
Sima Yi, though silent, studied Lie Fan with quiet admiration. The emperor's ability to weave military campaigns with long term political strategy was unmatched.
Most rulers would have charged forward, hungry for every scrap of land they could seize. But Lie Fan? He played the board like a master weiqi player, thinking ten moves ahead.
"We should have thought of this," Jia Xu sighed, shaking his head. "But we were preoccupied with the ongoing campaigns and Cao Cao's western thrust toward Jianmen Pass."
Lie Fan waved his hand casually. "You would've reached the same conclusion in time. All of you are capable, but you're right, our attention is divided. The southern campaign, Cao Cao's offensive, and our consolidation over Silla, Baekje, and Gaya all weigh heavily."
They nodded solemnly. Each of them knew that while they were focused on the present battles, their Emperor was already laying the groundwork for the wars of tomorrow.
"Then it's settled," Lie Fan said, rising from his seat. "Ensure the orders reach Shi Xie and the Sun Clan without delay. I want no misunderstandings."
The advisors murmured their assent. As they turned to leave, Lie Fan added, almost as an afterthought.
"And tell them, if any Tianzhu envoy comes sniffing around, offer trade. Not war. Not yet."
Jia Xu returned to his Chancellor's office and began drafting the letters, one to the Oriole Agents with the high.priority protection directive for Lady Sun, and two more to Shi Xie and the Sun Clan, detailing the Emperor's precise instructions for the campaign's limit and consolidation plans.
Once the letters were written and sealed with the Imperial insignia, they were strapped to the legs of messenger ravens, fast, agile birds that would reach their destinations far faster than any mounted courier.
Meanwhile, far to the west, at Jianmen Pass, the scent of blood and smoke hung heavily in the air. Corpses from both the Wei and Han armies littered the battlefield, and the rugged mountain terrain echoed with the clash of steel and cries of the wounded.
Cao Cao stood overlooking the battlefield, his robes streaked with grime and his brow furrowed with frustration. The deadlock at Jianmen Pass had become unbearable.
"Damn them! How are they holding so well?" he snarled, throwing a scroll onto the ground. "We've barely gained an inch. What kind of joke is this?"
Guo Jia and Xi Zhicai stepped forward, both bearing grim expressions. "Your Majesty," Guo Jia began, "this pass was always going to be a meat grinder. Their terrain advantage is immense. The defenders, Fa Zheng, Zhang Song, and Meng Da, are utilizing every rock and crevice to bleed us."
Xi Zhicai added, "There is only one alternative Your Majesty, and that is to send a small contingent one at a time through the jungle to scale the cliffs and attempt a flank. But even then, the path is treacherous and it would take weeks. Supplies would be impossible to bring through, and the force would be too small to matter in the larger picture."
Cao Cao clenched his fists. He knew they were right. The famed Jianmen Pass was a natural fortress, one that had withstood more than a few assaults in history. And now, it was eating away at his army.
Cao Ca then slammed his fist onto the table. "So we're stuck here, bleeding men and supplies, while Lie Fan does whatever he wants to do unopposed in the central plains?"
But not all news was dire.
A rider at this time approached at full gallop, sliding off his horse and kneeling. "My Lord! Reports from the western front, our forces advancing through the Gansu Corridor and Qinghai Plateau have achieved victory."
Cao Cao's eyes lit up. "Speak!"
"We've subjugated several tribes which were the Qiang, Wusun, and Di tribes in the Gansu Corridor. They've sworn fealty, providing manpower and tribute. The spoils are being sent to Luoyang for integration into the national treasury."
Guo Jia nodded. "That is good news indeed. It secures the Silk Road routes near us under your rule, Your Majesty."
"What of the Qinghai Plateau?" Cao Cao asked.
"There we face the Tuyuhun Tribe, centered around Qinghai Lake. But our army holds the advantage. A decisive victory is within reach."
For a moment, the fires of ambition rekindled in Cao Cao's eyes. Though Jianmen Pass was a disaster in slow motion, the west was showing promise. If he could break the Tuyuhun and hold the plateau, he would be able to open new trade routes and exert pressure from the rear, potentially even threatening Shu if an opening appeared.
Guo Jia, always the realist, placed a hand on his chest and bowed slightly. "Your Majesty, perhaps we focus on consolidating our gains in the west while keeping the pass in stalemate. Time is still on our side."
Cao Cao said nothing for a long moment. His gaze drifted back to the smoky battlefield, where soldiers screamed and died for every foot of ground.
"Fine," he said. "Send reinforcements to the Gansu Corridor. Secure it completely. Continue pressure on Jianmen, but no reckless charges. Let them bleed."
The war was far from over. And though Lie Fan had crushed rebellions, enacted reform, and launched brilliant strategic campaigns, Cao Cao still had cards left to play. Cards that would reveal themselves in time...
Meanwhile, in the lush, humid south, the combined forces of the Sun Clan and Ma Chao's army made camp near Hepu. The air buzzed with cicadas and the occasional distant roar of tigers, a far cry from the disciplined silence of northern garrisons. At the command tent, Sun Ce unrolled a bamboo map, his finger tracing the route toward Funan. "Shi Xie's forces will meet us here in. After that—"
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Name: Lie Fan
Title: Founding Emperor Of Hengyuan Dynasty
Age: 34 (201 AD)
Level: 16
Next Level: 462,000
Renown: 2325
Cultivation: Yin Yang Separation (level 9)
SP: 1,121,700
ATTRIBUTE POINTS
STR: 966 (+20)
VIT: 623 (+20)
AGI: 623 (+10)
INT: 667
CHR: 98
WIS: 549
WILL: 432
ATR Points: 0