586. Shi Xie Incited

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Zhou Yu's sharp gaze did not waver. "And yet, your neutrality benefits you greatly. The people see you as saviors while we and Shi Xie are painted as aggressors. If you truly value peace, you will assist us in identifying those responsible for this unrest." Jian Lu's smile faltered, but he agreed to cooperate. Despite the polite words exchanged, Zhou Yu left the meeting with lingering doubts about Liu Bei's true motives.

Meanwhile, Ju Shou watched from the shadows as his plan continued to unfold. The growing mistrust between Sun Ce and Shi Xie, coupled with Liu Bei's calculated neutrality, was playing perfectly into his hands. Yet he knew that Zhou Yu's presence posed a significant threat. The young strategist's reputation for uncovering hidden plots was well-earned.

Ju Shou instructed his agents to proceed with caution, intensifying their efforts to deepen the divisions without exposing themselves. Forged letters implicating both Sun Ce and Shi Xie in further provocations were planted, designed to keep the two factions at odds.

Despite Ju Shou's machinations, Zhou Yu's efforts began to bear fruit. His scouts uncovered inconsistencies in the supposed evidence against the Sun Clan, pointing to the work of skilled forgers. Furthermore, reports from the field indicated unusual movements among Liu Bei's forces, suggesting that their neutrality might be a cover for more covert actions.

As tensions in Lingling reached a boiling point, Zhou Yu prepared to confront the truth head-on. The stability of the region, the honor of the Sun Clan, and the balance of power in Lingling all hung in the balance.

As Zhou Yu worked tirelessly to uncover the truth behind the chaos in Lingling, Shi Xie received unsettling news in his southern capital. Reports of Zhou Yu's arrival in Lingling, combined with the rising tensions, set alarm bells ringing in his mind.

To Shi Xie, Zhou Yu's presence was not a mere coincidence but a confirmation of his worst fears: the Sun Clan's ambition to break the agreement and claim sole control of Lingling.

Shi Xie ignored the cautious insights of his trusted subordinate to oversee his part of an area in Lingking, Lu Guan, who had recently met Zhou Yu. Lu Guan had voiced his suspicion that the turmoil in Lingling was part of a larger conspiracy, with the Sun Clan potentially being framed.

However, Shi Xie's distrust of Sun Ce's clan ran deep, and his strategic instincts told him that Lingling's precarious balance would soon tip in someone's favor. If that were to happen, it was better for him to seize control before Sun Ce or Liu Bei did.

"The Sun Clan may smile and shake hands," Shi Xie mused aloud during a council meeting with his advisors, "but their ambition is as boundless as their youth. I will not stand idle while they encroach upon my lands."

Thus, Shi Xie issued a decisive order, which was to mobilize an army of 200,000 men to secure Lingling. He entrusted his most capable generals to prepare the soldiers, gather supplies, and march with haste.

To the people in Shi Xie's domain, the massive mobilization was a startling display of power, but to the military commanders, it was a pragmatic move. The governors of Lingling had danced around one another for too long, and Shi Xie was ready to strike before the dance became a trap.

Far away in Xiapi, the quiet but relentless gears of the Oriole intelligence network were spinning. Their agents stationed in Lingling and Shi Xie's territories had been observing the rising tensions with keen eyes. They noticed the subtle signs, troop movements in Shi Xie's southern territories, the forging of new supply lines, and secret orders passed among Shi Xie's officers.

These agents were trained not only to observe but to analyze, and the pattern emerging before them pointed to an inevitable conflict in Lingling. They acted quickly, gathering their reports and encrypting the information before dispatching it to Xiapi. Their lord, Lie Fan, was away on campaign, and so the urgent message was directed to Jia Xu, the acting Grandmaster of the Orioles.

Jia Xu received the missive in the dead of night. By candlelight, he studied the intelligence with a furrowed brow. His piercing gaze scanned the reports, absorbing every detail of Shi Xie's plans and the escalating situation in Lingling.

"This is no mere coincidence," Jia Xu murmured to himself. "This had Liu Bei's advisor's hand is evident here. Liu Bei's forces move not as peacekeepers but as opportunists. And Shi Xie… his paranoia plays perfectly into their scheme."

He summoned his aides immediately, dictating letters and issuing orders to the Oriole agents in the region. Jia Xu understood the gravity of the situation, if Lingling fell entirely under Shi Xie's or Liu Bei's control, it would disrupt the delicate balance of power in the south and embolden Liu Bei to expand further into Jing Province. Moreover, the Sun Clan, an important ally slash vassal of Lie Fan, would be weakened and humiliated.

Meanwhile, Zhou Yu pressed forward in his investigation. His scouts and spies continued to gather information, uncovering inconsistencies in the supposed evidence implicating the Sun Clan.

Forged documents, suspicious troop movements, and mysterious rumors all pointed to a coordinated effort to destabilize Lingling. Zhou Yu's sharp mind pieced these elements together, and he began to suspect that Liu Bei's forces, under the guise of neutrality, were orchestrating the chaos.

However, Zhou Yu's progress was hampered by the growing mistrust between the factions. Shi Xie's men became more hostile, their suspicions fueled by the arrival of Zhou Yu's delegation. At the same time, Liu Bei's troops maintained a façade of helpfulness, but their every action seemed calculated to discredit the Sun Clan and Shi Xie alike.

Despite these challenges, Zhou Yu remained calm and methodical. He met with local leaders and merchants, earning their trust and gathering their accounts of the recent turmoil. Slowly, he began to unravel the threads of Ju Shou's plot.

"We must act swiftly," Zhou Yu confided to his trusted officer, Chen Qian. "Shi Xie's paranoia will drive him to action, and Liu Bei's forces are poised to capitalize on the chaos. If we cannot expose the truth soon, Lingling will fall and with it, our honor."

Back in Shi Xie's capital, the mobilization of his 200,000-strong army was nearly complete. Generals barked orders as soldiers assembled, their armor gleaming in the morning sun. Supply caravans stretched for miles, carrying the food, weapons, and equipment needed for the campaign.

Shi Xie himself oversaw the preparations, his expression was stern and resolute. To him, this was not an act of aggression but a necessary step to protect his domain and his people. "If Lingling falls into the hands of either Sun Ce or Liu Bei," he declared to his advisors, "we will all suffer. I will not allow that to happen."

His generals shared his determination but harbored private doubts about the wisdom of such a bold move. Lingling's terrain was challenging, and the region's people, caught between three rulers, might resist outright conquest. Nonetheless, they obeyed their lord's orders, knowing that hesitation could spell disaster.

As Shi Xie's army prepared to march, news of the mobilization began to spread. Merchants and travelers carried word to Lingling, where the tension was already palpable. Zhou Yu received the reports with a grim expression, understanding the implications immediately.

"Shi Xie believes we are his enemy," Zhou Yu said during a meeting with his officers. "This is exactly what our true enemy wants. We must find a way to de-escalate the situation or prepare for war."

At the same time, Ju Shou, hidden in the shadows, monitored the unfolding events with satisfaction. His plan was proceeding flawlessly. The rising tensions between Shi Xie and the Sun Clan, combined with Liu Bei's carefully cultivated image of neutrality, were drawing Lingling ever closer to his master's grasp.

But Ju Shou knew better than to underestimate Zhou Yu. The young strategist's presence in Lingling was a wildcard that could disrupt even the most meticulous plan. Ju Shou instructed his agents to proceed with caution, ensuring that their identities and actions remained hidden throughout the execution of the plan.

Back in Xiapi, Jia Xu began crafting his response to the crisis. He wrote to Lie Fan, outlining the situation in meticulous detail and advising immediate action to protect the Sun Clan and prevent Liu Bei from gaining too much influence in Jing Province.

Jia Xu also dispatched orders to the Oriole agents in Lingling, instructing them to assist Zhou Yu discreetly. "If Zhou Yu succeeds in exposing Ju Shou's plot," Jia Xu reasoned, "we gain not only Lingling but also the goodwill of the Sun Clan and the people. If he fails, we must be ready to act."

Meanwhile, Yuan Shao sat in his grand hall at Zhongshan, though the grandeur of the space did little to lift the oppressive gloom that clung to him like a second skin. His once commanding aura had dimmed, replaced by a shadow of his former self.

The atmosphere was suffocating, thick with the heated arguments of his retainers. Guo Tu, Feng Ji, and Shen Pei were embroiled in a verbal skirmish, their voices rising as they debated strategies and countermeasures in the wake of their latest setbacks.

They, unbeknownst to the rest, were partly responsible for the Yuan Clan's peril. Their greed and ambition had driven Yuan Shao into a ruinous war with Cao Cao, a war that had left their forces shattered and their realm on the brink of collapse.

The bickering came to an abrupt halt when the doors to the hall burst open. A soldier stumbled in, his armor dusty and his face pale. Kneeling before Yuan Shao, he delivered his report in a trembling voice. "My lord, the siege of Luoyang has ended in disaster. General Wen Chou has fallen, and the main army of 550,000 men has been lost. Only 50,000 survivors, led by Young Lord Yuan Tan and Yuan Shang, are retreating to Zhongshan."

The room fell silent. The weight of the news crushed the air out of the hall. Yuan Shao's face turned ashen, his hands gripping the arms of his throne so tightly that his knuckles whitened. The words "Wen Chou is dead" echoed in his mind, a cruel refrain that underscored his failures. His sons, Yuan Tan and Yuan Shang, were alive but defeated, their shattered forces bringing no solace. Zhongshan itself was now vulnerable, with enemies closing in from all sides.

Guo Tu was the first to break the silence. "My lord, we must secure Zhongshan immediately. The remnants of the army can be reorganized, but we need to fortify our defenses."

"Nonsense!" Feng Ji snapped. "We should sue for peace with Cao Cao. Continuing to fight will only bring ruin."

Shen Pei's voice cut through their argument. "The priority should be regrouping with Young Lord Yuan Tan and Yuan Shang. Their safety ensures the future of our clan."

Yuan Shao's head throbbed as their words blurred together in a cacophony. He waved his hand weakly, silencing them. "Enough," he murmured, his voice hoarse. "Leave me. All of you." The retainers hesitated but eventually bowed and left the hall. Alone, Yuan Shao slumped on his throne, his mind a storm of despair and regret. His grand vision of unifying the land under his banner had crumbled, leaving him with nothing but ashes.

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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