Chapter 417: 403. Secret Message To Zhang Song
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Back in Chengdu, the letter arrived at a critical juncture. Zhao Wei and Wang Shan, having enjoyed their political gains, finally realized the gravity of the situation. They hurried to Liu Zhang, presenting Yan Yan's letter and urging immediate action to use his power. Through Liu Zhang, they ordered the immediate preparation and dispatch of the trade commodities to Jianning and not be delayed as it could shatter the fragile ceasefire and plunge them back into conflict with the Nanman tribes.
Fa Zheng and Meng Da, who was assigned to do this task, saw this as an opportunity to weaken Zhang Wei and Wang Shan. They meticulously planned subtle acts of sabotage, ensuring the delay of the shipment.
Each time the shipment was ready to leave Chengdu, a new obstacle would emerge. First, there were sudden "inspections" of the goods that turned up minor issues, requiring repacking.
Next, the carts and wagons meant to transport the goods would mysteriously suffer from broken wheels or missing parts. Then, key personnel involved in the transport fell ill or were inexplicably detained for numerous reasons.
Zhang Wei and Wang Shan hearing about this scolded Fa Zheng and Meng Da, saying that they attempted to sabotage the ceasefire with the Nanman Tribe, which they countered by saying that they weren't even notified until the last minute when everything had happened.
Even though they don't believe what Fa Zheng and Meng Da said, not Zhang Wei and Wang Shan were still sure that the two of them knew how much this ceasefire meant for the entire Yi Province.
They begin to speculate that there are people who are trying to undermine them and weaken their power or influence, so they begin to investigate who is it that targeted the two of them while ordering Fa Zheng and Meng Da to hurry to send the shipments.
Fa Zheng and Meng Da, skilled in deception, feigned utmost diligence. They assured Zhang Wei and Wang Shan that every effort was being made to send the shipments swiftly, but behind the scenes, they continued their subtle sabotage.
Several days passed, and tension in Jianning kept mounting up. Yan Yan, feeling the pressure from both the Nanman tribes and Jianning's officials, sent another urgent letter to Chengdu.
This time, the letter carried a dire warning filled with if the goods did not arrive within the next few days or a week, the ceasefire would collapse, and they would face renewed hostilities with the Nanman tribes.
When the letter reached Chengdu, Zhang Wei and Wang Shan were alarmed. They summoned Fa Zheng and Meng Da, demanding an immediate resolution. Seeing the genuine panic in their faces, Fa Zheng and Meng Da decided it was time to cease their sabotage.
The shipments, now free from interference, were quickly assembled and dispatched to Jianning. The urgency of the situation lent speed to their actions, and within a few days, the goods finally arrived at Jianning's gates.
Yan Yan received the shipment with immense relief. The timely arrival of the commodities placated the Nanman tribes, ensuring that the fragile ceasefire was held.
In Chengdu, Zhang Wei and Wang Shan felt a mix of relief and suspicion. Though they were glad the shipments had finally reached Jianning, they couldn't shake the feeling that someone had been undermining them. They continued their investigation, determined to root out the culprits.
What the two of them don't know is that, as they were focusing on investigating who was trying to undermine them, Zhang Song joined Fa Zheng and Meng Da's efforts in different ways.
As Fa Zheng and Meng Da continued their orchestrated acts of sabotage, they adeptly drew the attention of Zhang Wei and Wang Shan. With these two influential figures distracted, Zhang Song found the perfect opportunity to approach Liu Zhang, who had thus far remained under their oppressive influence.
Without Zhang Wei and Wang Shan's watchful eyes on Liu Zhang, Zhang Song could easily meet Liu Zhang who was surprised when they meet for the first time, and the operation to change Liu Zhang began.
While the clandestine operations in Liu Zhang's court were progressing, far away in Xiapi, Lie Fan was visited by his advisors, Jia Xu, Chen Gong, and Lu Su at his office in Governor Castle.
Jia Xu, with his usual calm and analytical demeanor, spoke first. "My lord, with Zhang Song and the others making some moves in Chengdu, now is the time to extend our influence there to foster a powerful ally within Liu Zhang's court just like our plan."
Chen Gong nodded in agreement hearing what Jia Xu said, "Indeed, My Lord. The chaos that Fa Zheng and Meng Da create for Zhang Song without being found out shows their talent. If we can establish a line of communication with Zhang Song, we can slowly cajole him to our side and increase our odds in the future."
What both Jia Xu and Chen Gong said makes sense for Lu Su, but he feels they need to be cautious, "However, we must proceed with caution. We should use trusted intermediaries and coded messages to maintain discretion., so that no one finds out about our movement"
Lie Fan leaned forward, his gaze unwavering. "We must ensure that Zhang Song feels secure and supported. Our resources must be made available to him, but without drawing undue attention especially since we are also preparing our campaign against Cao Cao."
Jia Xu, Chen Gong, and Lu Su nodded their head together at the same time, agreeing with what Lie Fan had just said. Ensuring that Zhao Song feels secure is their number one priority, and ensures a good relationship before they can proceed with their plan.
"Jia Xu, I want you to draft a series of coded messages that will convey our intentions and support. Chen Gong and Lu Su, prepare several gifts that aren't too luxurious but have a high value." Said Lie Fan, assigning tasks to each one of them.
With the task assigned by Lie Fan, the three of them leave Lie Fan's office to do the task given to them. Lie Fan, on the other hand, left his office to spend some time with Diao Chan who was pregnant with their second child.
Jia Xu began meticulously crafting the encrypted communications. Each message was designed to reassure Zhang Song of Lie Fan was genuine and to provide strategic advice on further undermining Zhang Wei and Wang Shan.
These messages would be delivered by a trusted courier, which was Oriole who was an expert at blending into the background and avoiding suspicion from any parties that spied on Lie Fan and his entire force.
Chen Gong and Lu Su, meanwhile had selected a variety of gifts that were both meaningful and discreet. Among them were rare books, ancient scrolls, and exquisite paintings, items of intellectual and cultural value that could easily be concealed.
These gifts, though not ostentatious, were chosen with careful consideration to appeal to the refined tastes of Zhang Song, Fa Zheng, and Meng Day which they could accept with open hearts.
Several days passed, and the preparations were finalized and reported to Lie Fan, who then inspected the gifts and messages that had been selected and created, giving his approval to all of them.
Not just Lie Fan, but Lie Fan's other advisors who were present in Xiapi also inspected the gifts and messages that had been created and selected, especially Xun You and Chen Qun who examined the messages while Mi Zhu inspected the gifts, to determine the expenses they had spent.
When everyone had given their approval, Lie Fan called Xu Kai who became a great man who led the Oriole from behind the desk and on the field, to give gifts and messages to the Oriole to be sent.
"Xu Kai," Lie Fan began, his tone serious and commanding, "this mission is of utmost importance. The future of our interest in Yi Province rests in this mission. You will travel to Chengdu, but you will not go alone. Some Oriole members have been arranged to accompany you, each taking a different route to ensure that our plan remains undiscovered."
Xu Kai got on one knee and cupped his hand to Lie Fan. "My lord, I will not fail you. The messages and gifts will reach Zhang Song without incident, and we will ensure that the first will also reach Fa Zheng and Meng Da through Zhang Song."
Lie Fan nodded, satisfied with Xu Kai's answer and growth over the years, from a little kid to his height now, "Remember, secrecy is paramount. Move swiftly and silently. We are counting on you and your subordinates."
With a final nod, Xu Kai departed from the main hall, to meet with the Oriole members that had been personally chosen by Lie Fan and Jia Xu, as for the gifts and messages it has been sent to the Serenity Inn, the Oriole's HQ.
When Xu Kai arrived at the Serenity Inn, the selected Oriole members were ready to be briefed on their specific task and were then instructed to travel separately, using various paths to Chengdu to minimize the risk of detection.
The messages and gifts were distributed among the Oriole members under Xu Kai's instruction, each carrying a piece of the puzzle that, when assembled, would convey Lie Fan's strategic goal.
After Xu Kai was finished, Xu Kai and Oriole began their journey toward Chengdu. It was long and fraught with potential dangers, but Xu Kai and the Oriole were well prepared.
They traveled by different means, some by foot, others on horseback, and a few blending in with merchant caravans. Their paths diverged and intersected, each movement calculated to avoid drawing attention.
As they neared Chengdu, the Oriole's network in Chengdu ensured that their arrivals were staggered and inconspicuous. Xu Kai himself was the last to arrive, entering the city under the guise of a humble trader.
Once inside Chengdu, Xu Kai and the Orioles moved with practiced ease, delivering the messages and gifts that they brought to the intended recipient Zhang Song in his residence.
Zhang Song who was resting at his residence, was surprised when suddenly a letter and several wooden boxes were given to him by his servants, who found this at the front of his bedroom.
Zhang Song received both of them carefully and opened the letter to read the contents inside, which caused him to be surprised because he never expected to receive a letter from Lie Fan.
The content of the letter from Lie Fan was long, but the point of the letter was, that Lie Fan was committed to their cause and ready to support them in their efforts to influence Liu Zhang, to make Yi Province become more stable.
Zhang Song immediately shared the contents of the messages with Fa Zheng and Meng Da. The trio convened in secret, examining the gifts and decoding the strategic advice sent by Lie Fan, who had promised that all of this come from his advisors.
"These books and scrolls," Fa Zheng remarked, "are not only valuable but also symbols of our intellectual mind, the gifts that Lie Fan chose were very wise."
Meng Da nodded. "And the paintings reflect a shared appreciation for culture and refinement. This is a gesture of mutual respect and trust."
Zhang Song smiled, feeling a renewed sense of purpose. "With Lie Fan's support, we can continue to erode Zhang Wei and Wang Shan's influence. The time for change is upon us."
The first steps of the plan had been successfully executed. With their newfound support and resources, Zhang Song, Fa Zheng, and Meng Da were ready to intensify their efforts, drawing ever closer to their ultimate goal. In Xiapi, Lie Fan awaited further reports from Xu Kai and the Oriole, confident that the seeds of their intricate scheme were going to bear fruit since the personalities of these three were almost the same as in the history and the ROTK novel.
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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
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