184. New Year

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Jia Xu especially can see that, if Sun Jian managed to conquer Yuzhang from Liu Yao, then the Sun Clan have a chance to rise in Yang Province, even becoming more powerful than before, as Liu Yao right now was fighting Sheng Xian, so he approved with the alliance with Sun Clan next.

Chen Qun then asked Lie Fan, does this meant they would target Liu Yao after Yuan Shu, as he had seen that Lie Fan's choice of allies meant their target was near their allies and bordered with them also.

Lie Fan nods his head, He points his finger from Jianye to Wu and ends in Huiji. He elaborated that if they controlled these three major towns in Yang Province that had a big harbor would increase the production capacity of their navy.

Jia Xu agrees with this, as since the old times Yang Province and Jing Province have had the best shipwrights and craftsmen to craft a ship.

Thanks to Lie Fan, Jia Xu saw the true potential of having a powerful navy, especially if they wanted to control the Yangtze River. If they controlled it, their supply line from Xu Province to Jing Province would be faster through water than land.

Jia Xu: "Then My Lord I elaborate for you to call Xun You back, as we would like to prepare our next plan after Yuan Shu is defeated by us."

Chen Qun: "I agree, Xun You have an excellent military mind, much better than me and on par with Master Jia Xu, even sometimes better than Master Jia Xu in some topics."

Lie Fan: "In the end, we still need more talented scholars to help you all, governing the land is not an easy task without competent comrades."

Jia Xu: "My Lord don't worry, many good seedlings are serving Yuan Shu, and all of them have a high chance of joining our side after Yuan Shu's defeat, a man named Liu Ye said to be very smart and understands siege weapons well."

Lie Fan: "Oh? Such talent should join us and not Yuan Shu, our trebuchet and ballista as well as our other siege weapons could have someone to lead."

Chen Qun: "But are we sure that this Liu Ye will join us, as he is a descendant of Emperor Guangwu which practically made him a member of the Imperial Family."

Jia Xu: "Having the status as a member of the Imperial family doesn't mean they were loyal to the Han Dynasty, don't you see how Liu Biao, Liu Yao, and Liu Yan acted when Dong Zhuo did his reign of terror?"

Lie Fan agrees with what Jia Xu said, as what he said is the truth. Liu Ye in the original history, served Cao Cao and his family well until he was excluded by Cao Rui, the Wei Emperor and son of Cao Pi.

Lie Fan then talked with Jia Xu, to send a letter to Gan Ning at Huai'An secret port to train more marines, as they would need to conquerer the island he had told them about, south of Yang Province which could become a base to attack Yang Province.

Jia Xu cupped his hand and promised to send the letter as fast as he could after this. Lie Fan then turned to Chen Qun and told him to oversee the internal affairs of Xu Province, as peacetime is a chance for corrupt officials to grow like grass.

Lie Fan then adjourned the meeting, and he returned to the Lie Clan residence. This is Lie Fan's agenda every day, goes to work at the Governor's castle and then goes home to spend time with his family, sometimes cultivating.

A year has passed since then and many things happened, Lie Fan has broken through another level of cultivation reaching level 9 two weeks after he met with Jia Xu and Chen Qun.

He also drinks some of his potions, but when he drinks a strength potion it is denied as he has reached 900 strength because of his cultivation, and the strength potion he just drank was restored.

Sun Tzu the system this time finally shows up after who knows how long since his last appearance, he tells Lie Fan that the system has forbidden him from using a potion after his stats reach 900 and encourages him to achieve through training or cultivation.

Lie Fan hearing this protested to him, saying that this was not fair as then what should do with the remaining strength potions he had. Sun Tzu reprimanded Lie Fan first as usual, and then told him that he could give it to his soldiers just like he had done before.

Imagine 16 strength potions being pure down on the water source of his army, they could receive a strength upgrade, a small amount but better than nothing, and a qualitative upgrade for all of his soldiers to increase the strength of his army.

Lie Fan remembered that he had done this before, he then called for Xu Rong and Ling Cao, to pour down the 16-strength potions he told them an herbal extract at their water source for drinking.

Lie Fan and his family also celebrated the first birthday of Chenchen and Yaoyao, only family and close relatives were invited, and the birthday party was a lavish albeit private one.

Lie Fan also received reports in the passing 1 year, that his Fuchuan Warships increased by 20 more and that Treasure Ships, Supply Ships, Troops Transport Ships, and Water Tankers have been finished and their prototype is now underway testing.

Lastly, Sun Qian and Zhuge Jin finally returned from their diplomatic mission. There a good news and bad news, the good news is Lu Kang agreed to declare his allegiance to Lie Fana and that his army will help him.

The bad news, Kong Zhou doesn't agree to submit, and even curses Lie Fan saying that if he hadn't attacked the Yellow Turbans that rose in Yan Province, Kong Rong would have died defending Qing Province from the Yellow Turbans who ran away.

Kong Zhou's refusal doesn't concern Lie Fan one bit, as Long Zhou is not that strong, and Lu Kang's submission to him makes him receive Lujiang and its commandery as well as the navy under Lu Kang.

Far away from Lie Fan at Xiapi, Yuan Shu at Runan has his ambition being flamed by Hou Zui, an Oriole spy that was planted by Jia Xu and Lie Fan in the past year.

Yuan Shu: "Hou Zui, we have 400,000 men and the treasury is full, do you think I should declare myself Emperor right now?"

Hou Zui: "My Lord, we need some allies first before we do that, Kong Zhou to our southwest is a good ally to have, weak and easy to control. Lu Kang is also a good choice, he is stronger than Kong Zhou and can help us in fighting Lie Fan."

Yuan Shu: "Haha Hou Zui you are truly brilliant, Yang Dajiang and Yang Hong wanted to eliminate them, while you see that we need allies just like me haha!"

Hou Zui: "Yang Dajiang and Yang Hong were talented people, but their vision was shorter than My Lord."

Yuan Shu: "Alright then let us do as you say, tell Yang Dajiang and Yang Hong to go to Kong Zhou and Lu Kang respectively, to ally with them as fast as they can."

Hou Zui: "Yes My Lord, but I'm afraid that if it's me who told them they will be offended."

Yuan Shu: "Humph! These are my orders, and you are just conveying them to them, if they can be as useful as you may be I will listen to their advice."

Hou Zui cupped his hand and then proceeded to leave Yuan Shu's office. He then went toward the place where Yuan Shu's advisors usually meet, where he knew that Yang Dajiang and Yang Hong would be there.

Yang Hong and Yang Dajiang were talking with each other, fuming that since the arrival of Hou Zui, their suggestion and advice had been ignored by Yuan Shu, and even their position now was threatened by Hou Zui.

Yang Hong: "Dajiang, don't you think the arrival of Hou Zui is suspicious? We have never even heard of this name, even in the literati circle in Luoyang."

Yang Dajiang: "I thought so too, but except for the matters of increasing our soldiers and diplomacy, he actually helped us become stronger."

Yang Hing: "That is true but at the expense of the people's faith and loyalty to Lord Yuan Shu! All kinds of taxes were raised, from money to grain to feed our army and increase the amount of money and supplies we have!"

Yang Dajiang: "It's all worthwhile if our Lord can conquer Kong Zhou and Lu Kang, which at the time the people suffering will be lessened."

Hou Zui: "Master Yang Hong and Master Yang Dajiang, do I interrupt your conversation?"

Yang Hong and Yang Dajiang were conversing when Hou Zui came into the room, seeing and hearing Hou Zui they stopped their conversation, and Yang Dajiang asked Hou Zui what's the matter.

Hou Zui told them about Yuan Shu's order, which was sending them to meet Kong Zhou and Lu Kang respectively, to gain them as their allies.

Yang Hing hearing this began to protest to Hou Zui, as to why he didn't persuade Yuan Shu to eliminate Kong Zhou and Lu Kang. Because having them as allies is not a benefit, but a disadvantage in which their land could be more beneficial to them.

Hou Zui ignored Yang Hong's protest, he told him that Yuan Shu's decision was more beneficial and that if they attacked Kong Zhou and Lu Kang Cao Cao and Lie Fan could attack them at any moment.

Yang Hong becomes furious, and when he wants to reprimand Hou Zui, Yang Dajiang holds him back and shakes his head at Yang Hong. He whispers to him, that Hou Zui is Yuan Shu's favorite right now and if he does anything bad to him, Yuan Shu can punish him.

Hou Zui saw this, he showed a sneering face while secretly rejoicing as the more Yang Hong and Yang Dajiang hated him, the more they resented Yuan Shu, and they could resign from Yuan Shu's court.

Hou Zui told them to hurry up and prepare for their mission and then left as fast as they could. Yang Hong and Yang Dajiang then saw Hou Zui turn his body and leave them, at this time they knew that Yuan Shu was controlled by a man who was cunning and evil and cared for his own benefit.

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Name: Lie Fan

Title: Three Heroes Who Defeat Lu Bu

Age: 24 (191 AD) -> 25 (192 AD)

Level: 15

Next Level: 1.588.000

Renown:  605

Cultivation: Yin Yang Separation (level 8) -> (level 9)

SP: 371.700

ATTRIBUTE POINTS

STR: 884 (+20) -> 906

VIT: 440 (+20) -> 458 -> 578 (12 Potions)

AGI: 428 (+10) -> 443 -> 563 ( 12 Potions)

INT: 435 -> 447 -> 567 (12 Potions)

CHR: 93

WIS: 359 -> 369 -> 489 (12 Potions)

WILL: 257 -> 377 (12 Potions)

ATR Points: 0