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He had gambled everything on this campaign, and he had lost. As the soldiers led Yeon Gaesomun and Kang Saeng away, Gongsun Gong, Zhuge Liang, and Pang Tong turned their attention back to the aftermath of the battle. The victory was complete, but the work was far from over.
As Yeon Gaesomun and Kang Saeng were secured in the top maximum security prison in Xiangping, the news of the success of the plan was swiftly dispatched to Sima Yi in Gungnae and Lie Fan in Xiapi.
Zhuge Liang, ever meticulous, ensured that the content of the letters were detailed, recounting the decisive victory and the collapse of the Goguryeo army.
The defeat of Yeon Gaesomun and his forces spread like wildfire across Goguryeo, carried by the swift feet of messengers and the whispers of the Oriole agents who had infiltrated every corner of the kingdom. The news was not just a report of a battle lost, it was a harbinger of a new era, one where Goguryeo's fate would be reshaped by the hands of Lie Fan and his strategists.
In Xiapi, Lie Fan received the letter with a sense of quiet satisfaction. He sat in his study, the flickering light of the oil lamps casting long shadows on the walls as he read the words penned by Zhuge Liang.
The victory was not just a military triumph; it was a testament to the brilliance of his advisors. Sima Yi, Zhuge Liang, and Pang Tong had proven themselves once again, their strategies unfolding with the precision of a well oiled machine. Lie Fan leaned back in his chair, a faint smile playing on his lips.
He had always known that experience was the best teacher, and now, his advisors were beginning to show the depth of their capabilities, just as they had in the annals of history and the pages of the Romance of the Three Kingdoms.
The thought of the Lie Clan Supervision Bureau being established in Goguryeo filled him with anticipation. It was the next step in his grand design, a move that would solidify his total control over the region.
Goguryeo would no longer be a troublesome neighbor but a province under his domain, its people and resources integrated into his growing power and future empire. Lie Fan set the letter aside and gazed out the window, his mind already racing ahead to the future. The victory at Xiangping was just the beginning.
Meanwhile, in Gungnae, Sima Yi sat in his quarters, the letter from Zhuge Liang in his hands. His sharp eyes scanned the lines, absorbing every detail. The plan he had concocted worked flawlessly.
Goguryeo had lost nearly 80% of its soldiers, with the rest captured or scattered. The news of Yeon Gaesomun's defeat was spreading rapidly, accompanied by the carefully planted rumor that it was King Sansang who had ordered the attack on Lie Fan's territory. Sima Yi allowed himself a rare smile. The seeds of discord had been sown, and now it was only a matter of time before they bore fruit.
Li Wei, seated to the side, noticed the smile and raised an eyebrow. "Good news, I take it, Master Sima Yi?" he asked, his tone casual but curious.
Sima Yi handed him the letter. "The best news," he replied, his voice calm but laced with satisfaction. "The Goguryeo army is shattered, and Yeon Gaesomun is in chains. Now, we wait for the rumors to reach Gungnae. When they do, we will strike. The Lie Clan Supervision Bureau will be established, and Goguryeo will have no choice but to accept it as they can't buy for time anymore."
Li Wei read the letter, his expression shifting from curiosity to admiration. "Master Zhuge Liang and Master Pang Tong have outdone themselves," he remarked. "And your plan, Master Sima Yi, has unfolded perfectly."
Sima Yi nodded, his mind already calculating the next steps. "The pieces are in place. Now, we must ensure that King Sansang and his court are sufficiently pressured. The nobles will be restless, and the commoners will demand answers. We will use their fear and confusion to our advantage."
Two days later, the news of Yeon Gaesomun's defeat and the accompanying rumors reached Gungnae. The city was thrown into turmoil. The streets buzzed with whispers, the air thick with tension.
The commoners, already weary from low living standards and chaos, were quick to believe the rumors. The nobles, especially those who doesn't like King Sansang, saw an opportunity to advance their own agendas.
As for King Sansang, upon hearing the news, immediately declared an emergency court meeting. The palace was abuzz with activity as officials and advisors hurried to the grand hall.
As King Sansang walked through the palace corridors, his trusted eunuch and a group of elite royal guards flanking him, he was intercepted by Mo Du and Dal Gae. The two men, both trusted and skilled advisors and loyal to King Sansang, wore expressions of concern.
"Your Majesty," Mo Du began, bowing slightly, "we must speak with you before the court meeting."
King Sansang nodded, his face grave. "Walk with me," he said, gesturing for them to join him. As they made their way to the grand hall, Mo Du wasted no time in voicing his concerns.
"Your Majesty, the loss of the army is a devastating blow. Without military support, your authority is weakened severely. The nobles, especially those who dislike you, already restless, will see this as an opportunity to challenge your rule. We must act quickly to consolidate power and quell any dissent."
Dal Gae, walking to the king's other side, nodded in agreement. "Mo Du speaks the truth," he said. "The rumors swirling about Yeon Gaesomun claiming it was your order to attack Lie Fan are undoubtedly lies, but the fact remains that the attack happened. Lie Fan and his men, especially Sima Yi who was preset here in Gungnae, will use this to their advantage. They will pressure us to accept do whatever bidding Lie Fan wanted, and we will have little to no room to negotiate or buy time."
King Sansang's brow furrowed as he absorbed their words. "We all know Yeon Gaesomun acted on his own," he said, his voice tinged with frustration. "But Lie Fan will not care for the truth. He will use this to further his own ambitions."
Mo Du nodded. "Exactly, Your Majesty. Lie Fan will demand the establishment of the Lie Clan Supervision Bureau, and we will have no choice but to comply. On the surface, it will appear as though we are the ones who broke the terms of our tributary vassal terms and agreement. But beneath it all, Lie Fan has orchestrated this entire situation to his benefit."
Dal Gae added, "We must prepare for the court meeting. The nobles will be looking for answers, and we must present a united front. If we show weakness, they will pounce."
King Sansang sighed, the weight of the situation pressing down on him. "Very well," he said. "We will address the court and reaffirm our commitment to stability. But we must also prepare for the inevitable demands from Lie Fan. The Lie Clan Supervision Bureau will be a bitter pill to swallow, but we have no other choice."
As they entered the grand hall, the murmurs of the assembled nobles fell silent. All eyes turned to King Sansang as he took his seat on the throne. The air was thick with tension, the stakes higher than ever. The king took a deep breath, steeling himself for the difficult conversation ahead.
"Gentleman," he began, his voice steady but firm, "we are faced with a grave situation. The defeat of Yeon Gaesomun and our army is a heavy blow, but we must not lose sight of our duty to the people of Goguryeo. We will endure, as we have always done. But we must also be prepared to make difficult decisions in the days to come."
The nobles exchanged uneasy glances, their minds already calculating the implications of the king's words. The court meeting would be long and arduous, but one thing was clear, the fate of Goguryeo was already in doom, and the decisions made in the coming days would shape its future for generations to come.
As the discussions continued, no one noticed the presence of Sima Yi and Li Wei watching from the entrance of the grand hall, wanting to use this chance to demand for Lie Clan supervision bureau created today, and King Sansang have to accept if he doesn't what to suffer the consequences.
At this time Sima Yi slipped handful of coins to a Goguryeo guard standing in front of the entrance of the grand hall, and told him to announce Sima Yi and Li Wei presence, and receive the money greedily before pocketing it inside his pocket, and announce Sima Yi and Li Wei arrival to meet with King Sansang.
The grand hall of Goguryeo's palace, once a place of dignified discourse and royal authority, now buzzed with tension so thick it could be cut with a blade. The announcement of Sima Yi and Li Wei's arrival had sent shockwaves through the assembled nobles and officials.
The guards at the entrance, bribed with a handful of coins, had ushered the two men in without hesitation, their loyalty easily swayed by the glint of silver.
As Sima Yi and Li Wei strode into the hall, flanked by their elite guards, the room fell into a stunned silence. The air was heavy with anticipation, every eye fixed on the two figures who represented the looming shadow of Lie Fan's power.
King Sansang, seated on his throne, gripped the armrests tightly, his knuckles whitening under the strain. His face was a mask of composure, but his eyes betrayed the turmoil within. He had known this moment would come, but the reality of it was far more daunting than he had anticipated.
Sima Yi and Li Wei did not bow as they greeted the king, a deliberate slight that did not go unnoticed by the court. The absence of the customary gesture was a clear message, they were not here as diplomatics envoy anymore, but as enforcers of Lie Fan's will.
Sima Yi's voice cut through the silence like a blade, sharp and unyielding. "Your Majesty," he began, his tone calm but laced with authority, "I trust that everyone present understands the significance of our arrival. We are here to seek answers and accountability for the unprovoked attack on Xiangping, an act that has deeply angered Lord Lie Fan."
The court erupted into murmurs, the nobles and officials exchanging uneasy glances. King Sansang raised a hand, calling for order, but the tension in the room was palpable.
Mo Du and Dal Gae, standing close to the throne, exchanged worried looks. They had anticipated this moment, but the reality of facing Sima Yi's calculated aggression was far more intimidating than they had imagined.
King Sansang took a deep breath, his voice steady as he responded. "The attack on Xiangping was indeed a tragic and regrettable event," he said, choosing his words carefully. "However, it was orchestrated solely by Yeon Gaesomun, who acted without the knowledge or consent of this court. His actions do not reflect the will of Goguryeo or its people."
Sima Yi's lips curled into a faint smirk, his eyes glinting with amusement. "Your Majesty," he said, his voice dripping with mock sincerity, "please spare us the lies. Yeon Gaesomun has already confessed that he acted under a secret royal edict issued by you. He claims that you personally ordered the attack on Xiangping. Are we to believe that a general, no, former general of his stature, if his demotion was even true, would act without the explicit command of his king?"
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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