613. Another Battle At Lingling

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Satisfied with Sima Yi's response, Lie Fan nodded. "Good. Then we'll leave it at that." Turning his attention back to the pond, he added, "Let's return. The men need to see their leaders confident and united. There's still much to be done." As they made their way back to the castle, Lie Fan's mind shifted back to the broader challenges at hand.

Meanwhile, back at Lingling, the air was thick with tension and determination. Kuai Yue oversaw the preparations for the attack with a calm yet unwavering focus. His mind raced as he accounted for every detail, knowing the margin for error was razor-thin.

Around him, soldiers bustled about, adjusting armor, sharpening weapons, and relaying orders. The atmosphere buzzed with a mixture of apprehension and excitement, the storm before the battle.

Guan Yu, Zhang Fei, and Chen Dao moved quickly to execute their assignments. Guan Yu's forces began their feigned retreat, carefully orchestrating movements to appear as if the army was faltering.

With his characteristic stoicism, Guan Yu led the operation, ensuring every soldier understood their role in the deception. The key was to appear vulnerable without truly compromising their position. "Hold your nerve," he reminded his men. "We must be convincing, or the entire plan falls apart."

Zhang Fei, on the other hand, was a ball of energy. He eagerly marshaled his troops, preparing for the counterattack that would follow the feint. Though he was known for his fiery temperament, he understood the importance of discipline in this moment.

His booming voice echoed across the camp as he drilled his soldiers, ensuring they were ready to spring into action at the right moment. "Stay sharp! When the time comes, we'll show them the wrath of Zhang Fei!"

Chen Dao, meanwhile, worked in the shadows. His assignment was perhaps the most delicate, positioning his troops to cut off Zhou Yu's retreat once the trap was sprung. He moved his forces under the cover of darkness, navigating through dense forests and uneven terrain.

Every step was calculated, every movement silent. He knew that success depended on remaining undetected until the crucial moment. "The enemy must not see us until it's too late," he told his officers. "Trust in Master Kuai Yue's plan, and we will achieve glory."

In Lingling, Zhou Yu's mind was equally consumed by the coming battle. His spies, handpicked for their cunning and resourcefulness, had already slipped out of the city under the cover of night.

Their mission was simple yet perilous, infiltrate Liu Bei's camp and uncover the identity of the advisor who had joined Guan Yu and Zhang Fei. Zhou Yu suspected someone of great intellect was behind the sudden shift in strategy, and he was determined to uncover their plans.

Cheng Pu, Han Dang, and Zhou Tai were also hard at work. Cheng Pu reinforced the northern wall, overseeing the construction of additional barricades and strengthening existing fortifications.

He ensured that archers were strategically placed and that supplies were distributed evenly among the defenders. "Let them come," Cheng Pu muttered to himself. "They'll break against these walls like waves against the shore."

Han Dang led a small, mobile force to harass Liu Bei's supply lines. Striking quickly and disappearing just as fast, his men disrupted supply wagons and ambushed unsuspecting convoys.

The attacks were meant to sow confusion and deprive the enemy of much-needed resources. "Hit them where it hurts," Han Dang instructed his men. "Make them feel the weight of every grain of rice they lose."

Zhou Tai, with his own methodical ways, coordinated the spy network with precision. He ensured that each operative had a clear objective and an escape route. He knew the risks of espionage but trusted in the skills of his men. "Knowledge is power," Zhou Tai said quietly as he watched the spies depart. "And with the right knowledge, we'll turn this war in our favor."

As both sides prepared, the days were marked by a tense calm. It was as if the heavens themselves held their breath, waiting for the storm to break. The soldiers on both sides could feel the weight of the coming battle.

They sharpened their blades and steadied their resolve, knowing that the outcome would decide more than just the fate of Lingling, it would shape the future of the entire Ji Province, who would gain most of the province compared to the other.

In Liu Bei's camp, Kuai Yue reviewed the final details of the plan. His mind was sharp, his demeanor unflappable. "This is a battle of wits," he told his officers. "Zhou Yu is a formidable opponent, but he is not invincible. If we execute our plan with precision, victory will be ours."

Guan Yu's feigned retreat began to take effect. Zhou Yu's scouts reported the apparent weakness, and the seasoned commander scrutinized the reports with keen eyes. "They're up to something," Zhou Yu mused.

"But what?" He considered the possibility of a trap, yet the signs of disarray were convincing. His instincts told him to be cautious, but he knew that hesitation could cost him the advantage.

Han Dang's raids on the supply lines began to yield results, causing minor disruptions in Liu Bei's camp. Kuai Yue anticipated such moves and had prepared contingencies, ensuring that alternative routes and hidden stockpiles kept the army well-supplied. "Zhou Yu is testing us," Kuai Yue said to his aides. "Let him. We are ready."

As the preparations reached their peak, both sides braced for the inevitable clash. On the night before the battle, the camps were eerily quiet. Soldiers sharpened their weapons and whispered prayers to their ancestors. Commanders reviewed their plans one last time, knowing that tomorrow would bring either glory or ruin.

In Liu Bei's camp, Guan Yu stood beneath the stars, his figure silhouetted against the flickering light of the campfires. Zhang Fei approached, his usually boisterous demeanor subdued. "Second Brother," Zhang Fei said, "do you think we'll win?"

Guan Yu turned to his younger brother, his expression calm but resolute. "Victory is never certain, Third Brother. But our cause is just, and our strategy is sound. That is all we can rely on."

Meanwhile, inside Lingling, Zhou Yu stood atop the northern wall, gazing out into the darkness. He could feel the weight of the moment pressing down on him. "Tomorrow," he whispered to himself, "we'll see who is truly the master of this battlefield."

At dawn, the battle began. Guan Yu's forces continued their feigned retreat, drawing Zhou Yu's attention. The Sun Clan commander, sensing an opportunity, ordered a portion of his army to pursue. As the vanguard of Zhou Yu's forces advanced, Zhang Fei and the main force sprang into action, cutting off their retreat and engaging them in fierce combat.

The clash was intense, with the roar of battle echoing across the plains. Swords clashed, arrows flew, and the ground shook beneath the weight of charging cavalry. Guan Yu's forces, no longer retreating, turned to face their pursuers with newfound vigor. Chen Dao's troops emerged from their hidden positions, cutting off Zhou Yu's reinforcements and trapping his vanguard in a deadly pincer.

Zhou Yu, watching from Lingling's walls, quickly realized the trap. "They've outmaneuvered us," he admitted grudgingly. But he was not one to give up easily. "Signal the reserves! We must break their formation and regain the upper hand!"

As reinforcements poured from Lingling, the battle escalated. Kuai Yue directed the chaos from the rear, his mind a whirlwind of calculations and adjustments. "Press the advantage," he commanded. "Do not let them regroup!"

The tide of battle swayed back and forth as both sides fought with unparalleled ferocity. Soldiers on both sides gave their all, their cries of determination mingling with the clash of steel. The fate of Lingling hung in the balance.

In the end, the combined might of Guan Yu, Zhang Fei, Chen Dao, and Kuai Yue's strategic brilliance proved too much for Zhou Yu to overcome. As the sun dipped below the horizon, the battered remnants of Zhou Yu's forces retreated into Lingling, leaving the battlefield strewn with the scars of war.

Though exhausted, Liu Bei's forces stood victorious. Lingling's gates loomed ahead, and the city's fall seemed inevitable. But Zhou Yu was not defeated yet. From the safety of Lingling's walls, he began to plan his next move, determined to make the invaders pay for every inch of ground.

As both sides regrouped, the stage was set for the final act of the Lingling campaign. The battle was far from over, but the day's events had shifted the balance of power.

Inside the main tower of Lingling's northern wall, the mood was somber. Zhou Yu stood by the war table, his gaze fixed on a map of the battlefield. Around him, Cheng Pu, Han Dang, and Zhou Tai gathered, their expressions a mix of exhaustion and frustration. The day's defeat weighed heavily on all of them, but for Zhou Yu, it was also a moment of clarity.

As the commanders settled into their seats, Zhou Yu broke the silence. "Today was not just a defeat. It was a lesson, a costly one, but a lesson nonetheless." His voice, calm yet commanding, carried the authority of a leader who refused to let setbacks define him.

He gestured to the map, where markers indicated the positions of Liu Bei's forces. "The strategist behind their success is Kuai Yue. His brilliance was evident in how seamlessly their plan unfolded. And as for their new general, Chen Dao, his composure on the battlefield is something we underestimated."

Cheng Pu, as he listened to Zhou Yu's words, frowned deeply. "Forty thousand men, Zhou Yu. That's the price we paid for this lesson. We were outmaneuvered, and our forces shattered. If not for the walls of Lingling, the city might already be in their hands."

Han Dang, at this time, leaned forward. "We can't ignore the reality of our losses. The men are demoralized, and our supplies are strained. But what concerns me more is the enemy's cohesion. Guan Yu and Zhang Fei might be formidable warriors, but it's Kuai Yue and Chen Dao who truly turned the tide against us."

Zhou Tai, silent until now, nodded in agreement. "Chen Dao is unlike Guan Yu and Zhang Fei. He doesn't let pride or temper dictate his actions. That makes him dangerous, perhaps even more than Kuai Yue. We'll need to adjust our approach if we're to have any chance of holding Lingling."

Zhou Yu sighed and stepped away from the table, looking out the window at the city below. The fires of the battlefield were still visible in the distance, their smoke rising into the twilight sky. "Lingling," he said softly, "is it worth all of this losses we had today?"

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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