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Yeon Gaesomun, who had been glaring at them with barely restrained fury, finally snapped. His voice rang out through the hall, laced with venom as he hurled insults in his native tongue, his words sharp and filled with hatred. Kang Saeng, though quieter, bore an expression of silent defiance, his gaze never leaving Lie Fan.
Lie Fan watched Yeon Gaesomun's outburst with a calm, unreadable expression. Though he could not understand the words, the man's tone and demeanor spoke volumes of what he was trying to say to him.
He turned slightly toward Zhuge Liang and Pang Tong. "I do not speak the tongue of Goguryeo, but I can see that his words are hardly compliments. Translate for me, Kongming, Shiyuan."
Zhuge Liang, who had learned the language, folded his hands behind his back and relayed the words with practiced ease. "He calls you a treacherous snake, my Lord. He blames you for the fall of Goguryeo's strength, for reducing their proud kingdom to a mere shadow of itself. He swears that even in chains, his spirit will never bow to you."
Pang Tong added with a wry smile, "He also likened you to a jackal feasting on the carcasses of fallen empires, and... ah, he suggests several anatomically impossible actions you might perform on yourself."
A ripple of amusement passed through the advisors, though they quickly schooled their expressions.
Lie Fan meanwhile let out a short chuckle, shaking his head. "A jackal? That is rather unflattering." He leaned forward slightly, his gaze sharp as he studied Yeon Gaesomun. "Tell him this, the strong rule because they have the wisdom to do so. He lost because he relied too much on strength without understanding the tides of war. He was a wolf, yes, but a lone one, and a lone wolf cannot stand against the will of an empire."
Zhuge Liang translated the words into Goguryeo, his tone steady. Yeon Gaesomun's face darkened with rage, his response was immediate and furious.
"He says Goguryeo was strong before you meddled, my lord," Pang Tong translated. "That my lord's 'poisonous schemes' have reduced them to puppets."
Lie Fan's smile didn't waver. "And yet, it was Sima Yi who orchestrated this scheme, not I. Had King Sansang, you, and the rest of Goguryeo not been so easily divided and to try to overthrow my rule by taking advantage of the chaos he created, you wouldn't have walked into his trap."
Zhuge Liang translated the words into Goguryeo, his tone steady. Yeon Gaesomun's face darkened with rage, but there was no rebuttal he could offer that would change his situation.
Lie Fan sighed, glancing at his advisors. "I will not waste time with further conversations. He is a prisoner, and prisoners have only two paths, servitude or death. What do you all suggest?"
The room fell into a contemplative silence. Jia Xu was the first to speak. "Executing him would send a clear message to Goguryeo, my lord. No matter how King Sansang thinks of Yeon Gaesomun, he was a symbol of their military and his execution should cause them to think twice before opposing us again."
Xun You countered, "Killing him might make him a martyr for Goguryeo soldiers, my lord. His death could ignite resistance from the Goguryeo military instead of extinguishing it."
Pang Tong shrugged. "Then let us make use of him. A pawn in chains is still a pawn that can be moved to my lord's advantage."
Lie Fan considered their words carefully before nodding. "Then we shall not waste him just yet. He will remain imprisoned for now. As for Kang Saeng..."
The younger captive, who had been silent thus far, finally met Lie Fan's gaze with cold defiance.
"He was a valuable general with a strategic mind from the information I gathered, my lord," Chen Gong at this time chimed in telling Liw Fan and everyone. "A mind like his is valuable."
Lie Fan tilted his head. "Tell me, Kang Saeng, do you wish to die for a fallen cause? Or will you serve a new master?"
Kang Saeng's lips pressed into a thin line. The hall was silent, all eyes watching him, waiting for his answer. Finally, he exhaled through his nose and spoke in a measured voice.
"He says... he will consider it, my lord. He says that he will not betray his homeland... but if serving you means preserving what little remains of Goguryeo, then he will hear my lord's terms." Zhuge Liang said.
Lie Fan smiled slightly. "A practical man. Good. Then we have much to discuss." He rose, signaling the end of the audience. "Take them to the guest quarters. Under heavy guard, but treated with mediocre dignity. Let them think on my offer."
As the soldiers led the prisoners away, Zhuge Liang stepped closer. "My lord, do you truly believe Yeon Gaesomun will ever bend the knee?"
Lie Fan's smile was thin. "No. But Kang Saeng might accept our offer. And sometimes, it's enough to plant the seed of doubt on someone who had lost his spirit."
Pang Tong smirked, leaning slightly towards Zhuge Liang. "A seed of doubt is indeed powerful, but are you certain Kang Saeng will nurture it rather than uproot it, Kongming?"
Zhuge Liang folded his arms, his expression contemplative. "Given time and the right circumstances, even the most steadfast stone can be worn smooth by the river's flow. We shall see if his sense of duty to Goguryeo outweighs his sense of self preservation."
Lie Fan nodded, satisfied by Zhuge Liang's words. "For now, we will ensure that Kang Saeng is treated well enough to let him ponder the benefits of service. If he can be turned, he may prove a valuable asset. As for Yeon Gaesomun, let him stew in his anger. A man who allows rage to guide him is prone to mistakes."
With that, the council concluded, and Lie Fan turned his attention to matters of state. Though he had secured a victory over Goguryeo, consolidating control and managing the occupied territories would require just as much effort.
Meanwhile, to the southwest, the city of Xiangyang buzzed with an energy it hadn't seen in years after Liu Bei took control of it. The streets were packed with hopeful warriors, merchants hawking their wares to the influx of visitors, and curious onlookers eager to witness the spectacle.
Banners bearing Liu Bei's insignia fluttered in the breeze, and the air was thick with the mingling scents of sweat, roasted meats, and the faint metallic tang of weapon polish.
At the heart of the city square, three raised rings had been constructed, each large enough to accommodate fierce sparring matches. Around them, four registration stalls had been set up, now utterly overwhelmed by the sheer number of applicants.
Officials scrambled to process names, verify backgrounds, and separate the wheat from the chaff, but the task was herculean.
Liu Bei, acting as a gracious lord, had publicly welcomed all who sought to prove their worth. When Zhang Fei boisterously suggested covering the lodging and meals of all warriors who came from humble origins, Liu Bei had smiled warmly and agreed without hesitation.
And then, in the privacy of his quarters, he had taken a sword to a training dummy, hacking at it with enough force to splinter wood, as he vented his frustration.
"Damn that Zhang Fei! Does he not realize that generosity comes at a cost?!" he muttered under his breath, his strikes growing more precise and forceful with each syllable.
But the deed was done. The reputation of "Benevolent Liu Bei" had to be upheld, even if it meant draining his coffers further.
By dawn the next day, the crowds had only grown larger. Fighters of all backgrounds had come to prove themselves, some driven by genuine admiration for Liu Bei, while others saw an opportunity to elevate their status and secure a stable livelihood.
The officials, already drowning under the sheer volume of applicants from the previous day, were on the verge of collapse when Guan Yu and Zhang Fei stepped in to help them.
With Sun Qian and Chen Dao assisting, the four of them ruthlessly culled the numbers, dismissing those who lacked the necessary skill or discipline, or prowess.
By midday, of the countless hopeful applicants, only 150 remained, and they were split into three groups of 50, each assigned to a ring.
Seated in an ornately decorated cubicle, Liu Bei observed the proceedings with an air of regal authority. Soldiers stood around him, ensuring his safety as he offered occasional applause, maintaining the image of an engaged and enthusiastic ruler. But beneath his composed exterior, he found himself disinterested in the initial skirmishes.
The contests began in earnest, where battles commenced under the watchful eyes of the gathered spectators. One by one, warriors displayed their strength, agility, and combat prowess, vying for recognition and fame.
Liu Bei forced himself to smile, offering polite nods of approval. He knew the real value of this contest wasn't merely in entertaining the crowd, it was about finding warriors who could genuinely bolster his forces. Yet, for a time, none of the competitors truly impressed him.
Then, in the midst of the first day, his interest was suddenly piqued. Two young men, showcased exceptional skills that were above the other applicants before.
In the first ring, a young man moved with the precision of a seasoned warrior. His strikes were measured, and his footwork was impeccable. He dispatched his opponent with a controlled yet devastating series of blows, never overextending, never wasting movement.
In the second ring, another youth fought with a different but equally impressive style, aggressive, and relentless, his movements fluid like a river in flood. He overpowered his adversary with sheer force, yet there was a cunning behind his aggression, a calculated brutality that spoke of untapped potential.
Liu Bei sat up slightly, his sharp eyes narrowing as he observed them more closely.
Guan Yu, seated beside him, stroked his long beard thoughtfully. "These two show great promise, my lord. Their techniques are unpolished but firm. With the right training, they could become formidable generals."
Zhang Fei, feeling his fire as a warrior stroked, nodded enthusiastically. "I like their spirit! Give me a few months, and I'll make them into proper fighters!"
Liu Bei considered their words, watching as the two young men dispatched their respective opponents with a level of discipline uncommon among mere recruits.
"Find out their names," Liu Bei ordered an attendant. "I wish to know who they are and where they come from. If their foundation is already strong, then I see no reason why we should not cultivate their potential."
As the contest continued, Liu Bei found himself no longer simply enduring the spectacle but genuinely invested in its outcome. The discovery of these two promising warriors meant that the event was not merely an expensive show of generosity, it was an investment in the future of his army combat power as it had bore fruit.
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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