644. Liu Bei's Urgency For Action

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When the meeting finally concluded, the envoy and his entourage took their leave, their expressions unreadable but their minds undoubtedly racing. Once the envoy and his entourage had left the grand hall, Liu Zhang turned to his advisors, his expression a mixture of relief and anxiety. "Do you think he believed us?" he asked, his voice tinged with uncertainty.

Fa Zheng hesitated before responding, choosing his words carefully. "My lord, the envoy is a shrewd man. He may have picked up on certain… inconsistencies in our approach. However, we must remain steadfast in our strategy. The alliance with Cao Cao is a means to an end, and we must not allow his suspicions to derail our plans."

Zhang Song nodded in agreement. "Fa Zheng speaks wisely. We must continue to play our roles with precision and ensure that our actions align with the narrative we have constructed. The envoy's suspicions are a concern, but they are not insurmountable."

Meng Da, the last one of the three to speak, added, "We should also prepare for the possibility that Cao Cao may see through our ruse. If he does, we must be ready to adapt and respond accordingly. The key is to remain one step ahead."

Liu Zhang sighed, his shoulders slumping slightly. "This is all so… complicated. I never imagined that governing Yi Province would require such intricate maneuvering."

Fa Zheng acted as he put a reassuring smile on his face as he looked at Liu Zhang. "My lord, the path to protecting our people is rarely straightforward. But with careful planning and unwavering determination, we can navigate these challenges and secure a brighter future for Yi Province."

Meanwhile, Cao Cao's envoy and his entourage had returned to their quarters, their minds buzzing with the events of the meeting. The envoy, a seasoned diplomat with a keen eye for deception, had picked up on the subtle signs of Liu Zhang's duplicity. He gathered his advisors and began to dissect the meeting, analyzing every word and gesture for clues.

"There is something amiss," the envoy said, his voice low and deliberate. "Liu Zhang's eagerness to secure additional resources, and his lack of subtlety in his requests, it all point to a deeper agenda. I believe he is attempting to deceive us."

One of the envoy's advisors, a sharp minded man, nodded in agreement. "I sensed it as well. Liu Zhang is not a skilled deceiver, and his attempts to mask his true intentions were clumsy at best. It is likely that he is being guided by his advisors, but even they could not fully conceal the truth."

The envoy's expression hardened. "We must report this to Lord Cao Cao immediately. If Liu Zhang is indeed attempting to deceive us, it could have serious implications for our plans in Yi Province."

With that, the envoy drafted a detailed report of the meeting, outlining his suspicions and observations. The report was sent via a trusted courier to Cao Cao at Luoyang, where it would be reviewed by the warlord and his most trusted advisors.

When the report reached Cao Cao's hand at Luoyang a couple of days later, he summoned his inner circle, Guo Jia, Xi Zhicai, Xun Yu, Cheng Yu, and Jia Kui, to discuss its contents. The advisors gathered in Cao Cao's war room, their expressions serious as they listened to the envoy's account.

Cao Cao, seated at the head of the formation, leaned forward, his eyes sharp and calculating. "It seems that Liu Zhang is not as naive as we initially believed. If he is attempting to deceive us, it could complicate our plans for Yi Province. What are your thoughts?"

Guo Jia, ever the first to speak, folded his arms and leaned back in his chair. "Liu Zhang's deception is concerning, but it is not unexpected. He is a man of limited ambition, but he is not without his cunning. It is likely that his advisors are guiding him in this matter, and we must consider their influence in our calculations."

Xi Zhicai, known for his sharp intellect and strategic acumen, nodded in agreement. "Guo Jia speaks wisely, my lord. Liu Zhang's advisors, Fa Zheng, Zhang Song, and Meng Da, are not to be underestimated. They are skilled and talented manipulators, and they may be using Liu Zhang as a pawn in their own game."

Xun Yu, at this time trying to urge caution, added, "We must also consider the possibility that Liu Zhang's deception is a sign of his desperation. Yi Province is a valuable prize, and he may be attempting to buy time to strengthen his position. If that is the case, we must act swiftly to prevent him from gaining the upper hand."

Cheng Yu, his expression grim, leaned forward. "I agree. If Liu Zhang is attempting to deceive us, it is a sign that he perceives us as a threat. We must not allow him to consolidate his power. I propose that we accelerate our plans for Yi Province and prepare for a potential conflict, my lord."

Jia Kui, the youngest of the advisors but no less astute, offered a more measured perspective. "While I agree that we must remain vigilant, we should also consider the broader implications of our actions. If we move too aggressively against Liu Zhang, it could provoke a backlash from other lords that bordered our domain, as it will bring unnecessary attention. We must tread carefully to avoid unintended consequences."

Cao Cao listened intently, his fingers steepled in front of him as he considered his advisors' perspectives. After a moment of silence, he spoke. "Your counsel is invaluable, as always. It seems that the best course of action is to proceed with caution. We will continue to monitor Liu Zhang's movements and prepare for the possibility of conflict, but we will not reveal our hand prematurely. For now, we will maintain the facade of an alliance while we gather intelligence, while at the same time strengthening our army and position."

The advisors nodded, their expressions resolute. They understood the gravity of the situation and the importance of their roles in shaping the direction of their lord in conquering the land.

As the meeting concluded, Cao Cao leaned back in his chair, his mind already racing with the possibilities. The game of power and deception was far from over, and he was determined to emerge victorious.

Liu Zhang's attempts to deceive him had only strengthened his resolve while at the same time infuriating him, and he knew that the battle for Yi Province would be a pivotal moment in his quest for dominance, as Lie Fan had taken control a large part of the lands and if he doesn't do anything soon, he will become the next target.

Meanwhile, in Xiangyang, the atmosphere in Liu Bei's grand hall was tense as the warlord convened a meeting with his most trusted advisors, Kuai Liang, Kuai Yue, Ju Shou, and Wang Xiu. The news of the three renowned scholars, Sima Hui, Pang Degong, and Huang Chengyan, pledging their allegiance to Lie Fan had sent shockwaves through Liu Bei's camp.

These scholars, who had lived in seclusion for years, were revered for their wisdom and insight, and their decision to support Lie Fan was a significant blow to Liu Bei's aspirations. It was a stark reminder that the race to unify the land was far from over, and Liu Bei's dream of becoming the new Emperor of the Han was slipping further from his grasp.

Liu Bei sat at the head of the table, his expression a mixture of frustration and determination. The recent events had shaken him, but he was not one to wallow in despair. He had fought too hard and sacrificed too much to let his ambitions crumble now.

As he looked around the table at his advisors, he knew that the decisions made in this room would shape the future of his domain, and perhaps the entire land.

"Masters," Liu Bei began, his voice calm but laced with urgency, "the recent developments have made it clear that we cannot afford to remain idle, and it saddens my heart. Lie Fan's growing influence, coupled with the allegiance of Sima Hui, Pang Degong, and Huang Chengyan, poses a significant threat to our goals. We must act decisively to strengthen our position and secure the fate of the people. I have called you here to discuss our next course of action. What are your thoughts?"

Kuai Yue, the younger of the Kuai brothers, was the first to speak. His demeanor was calm and measured, reflecting his pragmatic approach to governance. "My lord, while the temptation to expand our territory is strong, I believe our immediate focus should be on consolidating and developing our current domain.

"We have made significant progress in Lingling, but there is still much work to be done to stabilize the region and win the hearts of the people. By focusing on internal development, we can build a strong foundation that will support our future endeavors."

Wang Xiu, who advocated a cautious plan, nodded in agreement. "Kuai Yue speaks wisely. In addition to internal development, we must also strengthen our border defenses. Lie Fan's growing power and Cao Cao's ambitions make it imperative that we fortify our positions and prepare for potential threats. A strong defense will deter our enemies and give us the stability we need to pursue our long term goals."

Ju Shou, who have become much bold and aggressive compared to who he was in the past, leaned forward, his eyes gleaming with determination. "While I understand the importance of internal development and defense, I believe we must also consider taking the initiative. The Sun Clan's influence in Jing Province is a thorn in our side, and their control of Changsha limits our ability to expand.

"I propose that we launch a campaign to take Changsha from the Sun Clan and oust their influence from Jing Province once and for all. This would not only strengthen our position but also send a clear message to our rivals."

Kuai Liang, the older of the Kuai brothers and a master of diplomacy, offered a different perspective. "My lord, while Ju Shou's proposal has merit, I believe we should consider a different approach. To our south lies Shi Xie, a powerful and influential figure who controls a vast domain.

"By focusing our efforts on Shi Xie, we can either subjugate him through force or bring him into our fold through diplomacy, of course we have to appwase him first if we choose diplomacy. Incorporating his domain into ours would significantly expand our power and resources, giving us the leverage we need to challenge Lie Fan and Cao Cao."

Liu Bei listened intently as his advisors presented their plans, his mind weighing the pros and cons of each proposal. His thirst for expansion and his desire to increase his influence and power were undeniable, but he was also acutely aware of the need to maintain his image as a benevolent and virtuous leader. The people's perception of him was crucial, and he could not afford to tarnish his reputation with reckless actions.

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Name: Lie Fan

Title: Overlord Of The Central Plains

Age: 33 (200 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