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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?"
The grand hall was silent at first but soon exploded into chaos. Nobles who had long harbored grievances against King Sansang seized the opportunity to voice their outrage, while those loyal to Lie Fan added fuel to the fire.
The grand hall, once was a symbol of order, decorum, and authority of Goguryeo, was now a cacophony of accusations and demands for answers. King Sansang's face darkened as he struggled to maintain control, his voice rising above the din. "Order! I demand order in this court!"
Mo Du and Dal Gae stepped forward, their presence helping to quell the unrest. Slowly, the voices died down, but the tension remained, thick and suffocating. King Sansang's gaze locked with Sima Yi's, and in that moment, he knew there was no way out for him like before.
The web of lies and manipulation woven by Lie Fan and his strategists had ensnared him completely this time. He had no evidence to refute Sima Yi's claims, no way to prove his innocence, which everybody knew he was innocent but turned a blind eye without evidence to back him up. The weight of the situation pressed down on him, and he felt the walls closing in.
"Very well, Master Sima Yi," King Sansang said at last, his voice heavy with resignation. "What must Goguryeo do to placate Lord Lie Fan's anger?"
Sima Yi's smirk widened, his satisfaction evident. "That is an excellent question, Your Majesty," he replied smoothly. "Lord Lie Fan has but one request for now, the immediate establishment of the Lie Clan Supervision Bureau, do so today. Furthermore, all personnel for the bureau must be appointed from the list of candidates that Li Wei and I have prepared and presented to you before. Additionally, a formal ceremony must be held to appoint Li Wei as the Head of the Lie Clan Supervision Bureau. These terms are non negotiable and could placate Lord Lie Fan's anger for now."
As he spoke, Sima Yi's eyes never left King Sansang's. The unspoken message was clear from him, that is resistance was futile. The king's grip on the throne tightened, his mind racing as he weighed his options. But deep down, he knew there were none, especially since there's no reply yet from Baekje, Silla, and Gaya.
Goguryeo was at the mercy of Lie Fan, and any attempt to defy him would only bring further ruin. The nobles, sensing the shift in power, began to murmur among themselves.
Some, those who had already aligned themselves with Lie Fan, nodded in approval, while others, still loyal to the king, wore expressions of despair. The balance of power had irrevocably shifted, and there was no going back.
King Sansang took a deep breath, his voice barely above a whisper as he addressed the court. "If this is what it takes to ensure the stability and safety of Goguryeo, as well as appeasing Lord Lie Fan's anger, then so be it. Hereby we announce The Lie Clan Supervision Bureau was established today, all of the selected personnel will receive their appointment letter, and envoy Li Wei will be appointed as its head. Let the necessary arrangements be made."
The words hung in the air, a solemn acknowledgment of defeat. Sima Yi bowed slightly, a gesture of mock respect, before turning to Li Wei. "It seems our business here is concluded," he said, his tone light but laced with triumph before facing King Sansang once again. "We shall take our leave and report back to Lord Lie Fan, Your Majesty. I trust that the ceremony will be arranged promptly and as soon as possible."
As Sima Yi and Li Wei turned to leave, the court remained in stunned silence. The weight of what had just transpired settled over the grand hall like a shroud, pressuring all those still loyal to Goguryeo.
King Sansang sat motionless on his throne, his mind a whirlwind of thoughts and emotions. He had gambled everything to maintain Goguryeo's independence, and now he had lost due to Yeon Gaesomun playing right unto Lie Fan's trap.
The Lie Clan Supervision Bureau would be a constant reminder of his failure, a symbol of Lie Fan's total control and dominance over his kingdom.
Mo Du and Dal Gae approached the throne, their faces etched with concern. "Your Majesty," Mo Du began, his voice low, "we must tread carefully in the days to come. The establishment of the Lie Clan supervision bureau is a huge blow, but it is not the end. We must find a way to navigate this new reality and protect what remains of Goguryeo's sovereignty."
King Sansang nodded, his expression grim. "You are right," he said quietly. "But for now, we must play along. We have no other choice. We are at Lie Fan's mercy for now, without our army we have no power to face him."
As the court began to disperse, the nobles and officials filed out of the grand hall, their conversations hushed and somber.
The once proud and vast kingdom of Goguryeo had been brought to its knees, its fate now inextricably tied to the ambitions of Lie Fan. Those who have casted their supports and loyalty to Lie Fan, whether through their won free will or being forced, now felt content and safe.
Outside the palace, Sima Yi and Li Wei mounted their horses, their elite guards forming a protective circle around them. The sun was beginning to set, casting long shadows over the city of Gungnae. Li Wei at this time glanced back at the palace, a satisfied smile playing on his lips.
"Another victory for Lord Lie Fan," he said, his voice tinged with satisfaction. "Goguryeo is now firmly under his control."
Sika Yi to his side nodded, his expression thoughtful. "Yes, but we must remain vigilant. The king may have conceded for now, but there are still those who will resist. The Lie Clan Supervision Bureau will face urs own challenges, and we by it I mean you as it leader must be prepared to deal with them."
Li Wei smile widened. "Of course, I agree Master Sima Yi. But I think we could savor this moment. The game is far from over, but today, we have won a significant battle."
Back in the palace, King Sansang sat alone in his chambers, the weight of his decisions pressing down on him. He stared out the window, his mind racing as he contemplated the path ahead.
The establishment of the Lie Clan Supervision Bureau was a bitter pill to swallow, but he knew it was only the beginning. Lie Fan's influence would only continue to grow, and Goguryeo's autonomy would continue to erode until there's nothing left, and it become another province or several provinces for Lie Fan's domain.
But even in the face of such overwhelming odds, King Sansang refused to give up hope. He clung to the belief that there was still a chance to reclaim Goguryeo's independence.
His mind raced with plans and strategies, each one more desperate than the last. He had sent secret letters and envoys to Baekje, Gaya, and Silla, hoping to forge a clandestine alliance that could stand against Lie Fan's growing influence.
If the three southern kingdoms agreed to his request, they could build an army large enough and well equipped enough to challenge Lie Fan's forces. It was a long shot, but it was the only shot he had.
What King Sansang didn't know, however, was that his letters and envoys had never reached their intended destinations. The Oriole agents, Lie Fan's network of spies and informants, had intercepted every message and halted every envoy long before they could cross the borders into Baekje, Gaya, or Silla.
The king's attempts to seek allies had been thwarted before they even began, leaving him isolated and unaware of the true extent of Lie Fan's reach.
But now, the Oriole agents had received new orders. Xu Kai, as the second grandmaster and se facto field leader, had instructed them to stop intercepting the letters and envoys. This decision came after consulting with Jia Xu, as the first grandmaster of the Oriole agents and a man whose strategic mind was as sharp as it was ruthless.
Xu Kai had recognized the potential benefits of allowing King Sansang's messages to reach their destinations. By expanding the Oriole network into Baekje, Gaya, and Silla, they could gather intelligence, sow discord, and manipulate events to Lie Fan's advantage.
It was a bold move, one that Lie Fan himself was not yet aware of, but Xu Kai was confident that his lord would approve. After all, Lie Fan had always taught him that information was the foundation of power, and this was an opportunity to strengthen that foundation.
As the Oriole agents began to establish their presence in the southern kingdoms, Sima Yi and Li Wei had moved out of the east wing of Goguryeo's palace. Sima Yi, ever cautious, had grown uneasy about their security within the palace walls.
The tension in Gungnae was palpable, and he knew that there were still those loyal to King Sansang who might see him and Li Wei as targets. Instead, they took up residence in a luxurious inn owned by the Oriole agents, a place where they could operate with greater discretion and safety.
From their new base of operations, Sima Yi penned a letter to Lie Fan, detailing the successful establishment of the Lie Clan Supervision Bureau. He wrote with a sense of satisfaction, knowing that their efforts had borne fruit.
The bureau was now a reality, and Goguryeo's fate was firmly in Lie Fan's hands. Sima Yi sealed the letter and handed it to a trusted courier, ensuring it would reach Lie Fan as quickly as possible. He knew that his lord would be pleased with the news, but he also knew that their work was far from over.
Meanwhile, within the palace, Mo Du and Dal Gae were overseeing the establishment of the Lie Clan Supervision Bureau. King Sansang had tasked them with the responsibility, a move that was both practical and symbolic.
By involving his most trusted advisors, the king hoped to maintain some semblance of control over the process, even if the outcome was inevitable. Mo Du and Dal Gae worked diligently, selecting a grand mansion in the heart of Gungnae to serve as the bureau's headquarters. The building was spacious and imposing, a fitting symbol of the power it would wield.
They also prepared the letters of appointment for the personnel selected by Sima Yi and Li Wei. Each letter was meticulously crafted, stamped with King Sansang's seal to lend it an air of legitimacy.
The nobles and officials who received these letters were a mix of those who had already aligned themselves with Lie Fan and those who had been coerced into compliance. For some, the appointments were a reward for their loyalty, for others, they were a reminder that the consequences of defiance will be very harsh. But one thing was very clear, their future would be bright as long gas they follow Lie Fan.
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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