Chapter 35: Heading South to Nanyang Commandery
The other generals see that this will happen whether they like it or not and began to flatter Lie Fan so that they can be chosen to follow him as they think it will be easier than following Zhu Jun touring across Yu Province searching for Yellow Turbans
Zhu Jun's son Zhu Hao was one of the commanders that want to follow Lie Fan, his relationship with Lie Fan is pretty good thanks to Zhu Jun acting as their intermediary so he was the first to be chosen by Lie Fan to join him
Lie Fan chooses the younger generations in general as he can control them better with the merit and prestige he got from battle than the old generations as they will act superior and disrupt the chain of command
After the meeting, Zhu Jun take a badge and give it to Lie Fan as the symbol that he has been raised to become his vice general signaling the new position he earned to control the army
The Battle at Yangzhuai is still progressing when Lie Fan walks out from the tent, The YT soldier's head was taken and put inside a crate to be ended towards the Imperial Court alongside whose head it is and who slayed him which put another record forLie Fan's merit
Sun Qian was outside commanding the army as Zhu Jun delegated him to do that guarded by Xiu Kai while Zhu Jun was inside receiving Lie Fan's report beforehand, Lie Fan told him what happened a while ago inside the tent, and Sun Qian was overjoyed as this signifies Lie Fan rise to ranks and power begin
Lie Fan: "After this battle end, we will rest at the twin cities first for today while we discuss our plan for tomorrow as Changshe Xu Kai received a rumor of tens of thousands of yellow turbans army was in Nanyang so we have to tread carefully"
Sun Qian: "Yes My Lord, I think with My Lord now is the Vice General I think we have to prepare if one day the Emperor sends those eunuchs to act as Military Inspectors to observe us"
Lie Fan: "Haha no need to be afraid, those eunuchs will tell report back to the Emperor anything we want if we gave them some money or jewelry as a bribe"
Sun Qian: "Then Sun Qian will focus on this battle first and after it ends we can begin to construct our strategies"
Lie Fan and Sun Qian observe the battle, with The Yellow Turbans losing their commander and pincer attack from three sides causing massive casualties and confusion as there are no directions given to them with their chain of commands is broken
The battle went on for 35 minutes and ended when The Yellow Turbans decided to surrender, from their original number of 35.000 reduced to 7.350 surrenderings, and the rest was killed in battle
Zhu Jun ordered the army to be stationed outside of Yangzhuai with the prisoners to be held in a massive trial where all of them were going to be executed but Lie Fan stops it and suggest that they were used as prisoner units where they will serve as an army and will be pardoned when the rebellion is over as they need the manpower
Zhu Jun was skeptical of Lie Fan's suggestion at first as they need more rations and can they trust these rebels, but Sun Qian and Lie Fan reassures him that they were only peasants and if they give them food then they will follow him
Zhu Jun finally relents and acquiesce Lie Fan's suggestion, the 7.350 Yellow Turbans will be split into 2 groups where one follow Zhu Jun and the other follows Lie Fan increasing their manpower in battle
After the trial, all soldiers were ordered to take a rest and guard the prisoners while the generals and officers entered Yangzhuai and were received by the Prefect of Yangzhuai and Xinghua throwing them a banquet
Lie Fan and his retinues in the full group decided to join the banquet to enjoy the lavish foods and drinks that we're served for them, Lie Fan while in the banquet tells Zhu Jun to be prudent when he reached Runan as he heard that it was under the control of Yellow Turbans
Zhu Jun promised him and at the same time remind him also to be prudent as this will be the first time he was leading a big army and told him to take care of his son even though older than Lie Fan but he trusted Lie Fan's instinct and mind in war more than his son
Lie Fan and his retinue stayed at the banquet for a while and take their leave t prepare for tomorrow when they marched toward Nanyang to ensure a higher success rate
Lie Fan and Sun Qian spend the night perfecting plans and strategies while looking at the Map of the area and what can be used to their advantage with the Vision Map even though only Lie Fan can see it
Lie Fan: " Xu Kai, explore the city, especially the underworld side, and search if they have any information about the Nanyang situation right now and report back if you found any"
Xu Kai: "Okay Big Brother!"
Lie Fan: "For my army tomorrow, Sun Qian you will hold the position of main strategist, Chao Bo will hold the position of Commander of the Archer Battalion, Chao Bai will hold the position of Commander of the Infantry Battalion, Zang Ba and Liu Pi will hold the position of left and right Commander of the Cavalry Battalion"
Lie Fan's General was happy as they received official titles now, even though it will be temporary until the Yellow Turbans Rebellion ended but it's still an official position nonetheless
Xu Kai came back after 1 hour and reported to them that there is a big group of yellow turbans numbering between 10.000 - 20.000 men trying to take Nanyang under their control
Hearing the number of Yellow Turbans, Lie Fan was optimistic about their chance as with the new manpower they received and the plans they have defeating the Yellow Turbans going to be easy
Dismissing his residues, Lie Fan lay down in his bed and thinks of Ying Yue and how is her situation in Huai'An eventually goes to sleep
The next day, Lie Fan was standing beside Zhu Jun who was addressing the army. He announces Lie Fan's promotion and he will divide the army into two units with Zhu Jun leading 20.000 men plus the 3.675 Yellow Turbans while the other group will be led by Lie Fan numbering 15.000 men plus the 3.675 yellow turbans.
Zhu Jun's army was lowered due to the casualties reaching 5.000 men who died from the first battle until yesterday's battle after they did a census today
Lie Fan who named called takes a step forward and raises his hand as a greeting to the soldiers while saying that he promised to lead his unit to glory receiving cheers from the army
Zhu Jun and Lie Fan walk off the ramp, saying their goodbyes, and walk off toward their respective army to resume their march going toward their separate ways
Lie Fan gets on Pangu and joined by his retinues, Lie Fan led the march toward Nanyang. They attack Bandits and Yellow Turbans groups they encounter along the way toward Nanyang.
While on the way to Nanyang, Lie Fan tries to recruit Bo Cai the Yellow Turban Commander whom he captured from the battle before when they were taking a rest from their March accompanied by Liu Pi
Lie Fan: "So your name is Bo Cai, Why didn't you join me and become my commander rather than following the Yellow Turbans?"
Bo Cai: "I will never betray Brother Zhang Jiao! He is our supreme leader who will lead us towards prosperity and was chosen by heaven to lead us to peace!"
Lie Fan: "Do you trust Zhang Jiao that much if you know that in truth he lied about all that and his rebellion is only to fulfill his selfish desire?"
Bo Cai: "What proof do you have?! You Han generals only know how to lie and get richer from the poor!"
Lie Fan: "Because it's me who was chosen by heaven to lead you all to the way of peace and since you don't believe me, let me introduce you to someone who does"
Liu Pi who was signaled began to introduce himself and explain his origin to Bo Cai, Lie Fan's power, and finally Zhang Jiao's true purposes leading the rebellion
Bo Cai at first doesn't believe what Liu Pi said and even spits on his shoes but when Lie Fan began to show his 'powers' the same way he showed them to Liu Pi in the past, Bo Cai began to believe what Liu Pi said and making him beg for forgiveness
Lie Fan told him that it was not his fault as he was lied to making him fall into his evil ways and his only redemption is to join him in the quest to lead all people to the way of peace
Bo Cai hearing that cried and solemnly vow that he will follow Lie Fan and protects him till the day he died from natural or man-made causes, today Lie Fan got another bodyguard where he feels more safe in battlefield. He began to grow an ambition to recruit strong yellow turbans general as his bodyguards
After that, everyone began to see 2 masked men always standing behind Lie Fan like a bodyguard protecting him from danger and following him into battle never being separated from him
The soldiers began to call them the Yellow Ghosts as they don't know their faces and always protected Lie Fan by appearing silently from any side
Lie Fan led his army marching toward Nanyang spending 10 days when they finally arrived at Nanyang Commandery, Lie Fan open the vision map and saw the Nanyang Capital City Wan location so he led them there
____________________
Name: Lie Fan
Title: Bandit Vanquisher
Age: 16 Years Old
Level: 11
Next Level: 512.000
Renown: 45 -> 48
Cultivation: Art Of War (level 7)
SP: 151.700
•ATTRIBUTE POINTS
STR: 290
VIT: 95
AGI: 88
INT: 104
CHR: 88
WIS: 74
Will: 40
ATR Points: 0