Reborn In The Three Kingdoms

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The four men moved away from the bustling palace grounds, finding a quiet spot where they could discuss their mutual interests without interruption. Fortunately for them, due to how grand the banquet is many people were invited and this allowed them to blend in with the crowd to leave the hall and head toward an area that was outside of Yuan Shao, Feng Ji, Guo Tu, and Shen Pei’s prying eyes and ears.

Tian Feng, Xu You, Zhang He, and Gao Lan moved through the streets of Nanpi, keeping their conversation light and casual to avoid drawing attention.

They reached the Serenity Inn, a reputable establishment known for its discretion and comfort. After securing a private room on the third floor, they settled in, ordering snacks and tea to maintain the appearance of a simple gathering.

Once the refreshments arrived and the door was securely closed, Tian Feng leaned forward, his expression serious. ”So, what is this matter that required such secrecy, General Zhang and Gao?”

Zhang He and Gao Lan exchanged a glance before Zhang He spoke up. ”Master Tian Feng and Master Xu You, you have seen the current state of Yuan Shao’s court which is very unstable, with Yuan Shao’s favoritism combined with Feng Ji and Guo Tu’s greediness. Gao Lan and I, along with Zhang Yan, wanted to invite the two of you to join our group where we wanted to switch allegiances to another lord.”

Gao Lan beside Zhang He nodded, adding, ” The reason we do this is because of Yuan Shao’s favoritism and how he only listened to people who flatter him and become his favorite, to have seen yourself during the banquet about the rewards.”

Both Tian Feng and Xu You were surprised by what Zhang He and Gao Lan had just said, they never expected that the two of them would have hidden thoughts to change their lord, and even managed to rope in Zhang Yan who was put in control of his former domain by Yuan Shao.

Tian Feng’s frown deepened as he processed Zhang He and Gao Lan’s words. The notion of betraying Yuan Shao was foreign to him, and he struggled to reconcile this new information with his principles. Xu You, on the other hand, remained silent, his interest piqued by the revelation.

Tian Feng finally spoke, his voice measured. ”When did the two of you conceive and execute this plan with Zhang Yan? It seems so sudden.”

Zhang He nodded. ”It began after Gao Lan and I persuaded Zhang Yan to surrender. We realized how big our contribution is, Yuan Shao will only bestow Yan Liang and Wen Chou the highest reward using whatever random reason he could think about, and this has gone far too long for us to accept!”

Tian Feng’s eyes widened slightly. ”So, this plan has been in motion for only a short time. Have you considered the risks? Such treasonous actions if known by Lord Yuan Shao, there wouldn’t be any forgiveness for the three of you.”

Gao Lan spoke up. ”We are aware of the risks, Master Tian Feng. But we believe that the benefits outweigh the risks. We intend to have a better future, better than living under Yuan Shao. If we fail to persuade you, it’s not a problem; no one else knows about this plan, and no one would believe it coming from us alone.”

Xu You, who had been listening intently, leaned forward and asked cautiously. ”Who else is aware of this plan besides the five of us?”

Gao Lan shook his head. ”No one. We approached you two because we believe your wisdom and experience are crucial to our success. If you choose not to join us, we will respect your decision and continue our efforts quietly.”

Tian Feng remained silent for a moment, weighing his options. He glanced at Xu You, who was clearly intrigued by the proposal. Xu You’s eyes met his, and a silent understanding passed between them.

Tian Feng finally sighed. ”I cannot do such treacherous actions that go against my conscience. I will uphold my loyalty to Lord Yuan Shao, and I will not participate in such treasonous action.”

Xu You, however, spoke up. ”While I share Master Tian Feng’s point of view, I also see the merit in your plan. The current state of Yuan Shao’s court and Yuan Shao himself had grown out of hand. I share the same opinion as the three of you, and I am willing to join this group.”

Tian Feng looked at Xu You with surprise not expecting such words and decision from him, but Xu You continued. ”Master Tian Feng, aren’t you tired of how Yuan Shao and these bastards treat you?! You have done so much for them and all they repay is just cursing you and ostracizing you!”

Tian Feng sighed again, as he could see the logic in Xu You’s words, he had truly grown tired of the squabbles and district he faced each day from Feng Ji and Gu Tu, with Yuan Shao backing the two of them.

Tian Feng felt the weight of his decision pressing down on him. Xu You’s words echoed in his mind, stoking the embers of his long-held frustrations. For years, he had served Yuan Shao faithfully, only to be met with distrust and ostracism from Feng Ji and Guo Tu.

The thought of liberation from this cycle of animosity was enticing, yet the fear of betraying his principles held him back as he felt that his principle was what let him stay strong until now.

Seeing Tian Feng’s internal struggle, Zhang He and Gao Lan seized the opportunity to further persuade him. Zhang He leaned in, his voice earnest. ”Master Tian Feng, we understand your loyalty to Yuan Shao. But consider Master Xu You words, how long will you stay and support a lord that doesn’t appreciate all you have done?”

Gao Lan nodded in agreement. ”That’s right, Master Tian Feng. If you don’t care about what happened to yourself, think about your family who face the same situation as you and could be said to be even worse than you.”

Tian Feng’s resolve began to waver. The logic in their words was undeniable. As Gao Lan said, He doesn’t care about what happened to himself but his family on the other hand, they were his soft spot and most prized treasure in this world.

Xu You added some final words of persuasion, ”By joining us, you are ensuring that your family will live a better life, Maater Tian Feng. This also allows you to have a brighter future and for the first time, put your fate truly in your own hands.”

After what felt like an eternity, Tian Feng finally sighed deeply, the burden of his decision lifting slightly. ”Very well,” he said, his voice filled with resignation but also a hint of newfound determination. ”I will join the four of you. But remember, I do this for my family and I will immediately leave if the welfare of the people is put in danger by our actions.”

Zhang He, Gao Lan, and Xu You exchanged ecstatic glances. The joining of Tian Feng was a significant boon to their cause. His intellect and strategic mind would be invaluable in planning their next moves and concealing their intentions.

Zhang He clapped Tian Feng on the shoulder. ”Thank you, Master Tian Feng. With your guidance, we are confident that we can move towards a brighter future and choose a better lord for all of us.”

The four men continued their discussion late into the night, solidifying their plans and outlining their strategies. The atmosphere was charged with a sense of purpose and unity. Each man knew the risks involved, but they also believed in the potential for positive change.

As they finally left the inn, Tian Feng felt a mix of apprehension and hope. He had taken a step into uncharted territory, but he also felt a renewed sense of purpose. The future was uncertain, but for the first time in a long while, he felt a glimmer of hope for a better tomorrow.

Unbeknownst to the four of them, Oriole agents had recorded every part of their conversation, especially highlighting their plan to change their allegiance. Due to Zhang He, Gao Lan, and Zhang Yan’s cautiousness, the Oriole agents hadn’t picked up on their movement until it was delivered into their hands.

Knowing that this could be crucial information, the Oriole agents immediately compiled the details and sent it to Lie Fan and Jia Xu, who were stationed near Qiao preparing for the next step of their move.

When the letter was finally received by Lie Fan, he was surprised by this development. In the original timeline, Tian Feng had stayed loyal to Yuan Shao until the end, Gao Lan was slain, and Zhang He alongside Xu You betrayed Yuan Shao at the Battle of Guandu. Now, in his timeline, the four of them, alongside Zhang Yan, were working together in search of a new lord.

Lie Fan pondered over the implications of this shift. ”This could change the course of history,” he mused to himself, before glancing at Jia Xu. ”Wenhe, We need to act swiftly and decisively in response to this matter.”

Jia Xu nodded thoughtfully. ”Indeed, My Lord. But we must also be cautious, as their allegiance is not yet confirmed, and any rash actions could drive them back to Yuan Shao.”

Lie Fan expressed his agreement while giving Jia Xu the letter. ”We’ll need to approach this delicately. We should send Oriole agents to gauge their intentions, and have them build rapport with the five of them before telling them that they were sent by me.”

Jia Xu read the letter while nodding thoughtfully at Lie Fan’s words. ”I agree My Lord, the two of us are in mind to proceed this matter with caution, as such a move could also provoke Yuan Shao to act rashly should he know about our actions. We don’t need to bring him into our war with Cao Cao.”

Lie Fan nodded. ”Yes, and we should also prepare for the possibility of Yuan Shao discovering their intentions. Have the Orioles stationed in Nanpi and its surroundings to help the five of them secretly.”

With the two of them in agreement, Jia Xu’s swift actions ensured the letter was ready and encoded with the highest level of secrecy. Using a special raven, the message was dispatched to the Oriole headquarters in Nanpi.

The code embedded within the message signaled the urgency and personal importance of the orders, guaranteeing immediate attention from the agents. In Nanpi, the Oriole agents received the coded message and quickly decoded it. Recognizing the gravity of the instructions, they sprang into action. Agents were strategically placed around key locations, monitoring movements and ensuring that any signs of exposure would be swiftly dealt with.

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Name: Lie Fan

Title: Three Heroes Who Defeat Lu Bu

Age: 31 (198 AD)

Level: 16

Next Level: 462,000

Renown: 825

Cultivation: Yin Yang Separation (level 9)

SP: 1,121,700

ATTRIBUTE POINTS

STR: 936 (+20)

VIT: 598 (+20)

AGI: 583 (+10)

INT: 587

CHR: 96

WIS: 509

WILL: 397

ATR Points: 0