Chapter 277: 270. Qing Province Negotiation
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Hearing what Lie Fan said, Cao Cao and Liu Bei alongside their advisors were even more shocked as they realized Lie Fan was showing them that he had taken over Lu Bu's Army and his bargaining chip had increased for the discussion they were about to have, Cao Cao who was more expert in playing politics than Liu Bei returned to his good-natured personality and ask for Lie Fan and his party to enter, escorting them alongside Liu Bei and his advisors toward the main hall.
On the way there, Cao Cao and Liu Bei were having a conversation with Lie Fan about miscellaneous things while their retainers just followed them from the back hearing their conversation and being cautious against the others.
Guo Jia, Xi Zhicai, and Ju Shou each were thinking in their mind about what arguments or ideas they could offer to their Lord in response to Lie Fan's power move in taking over Lu Bu's Army.
Lie Fan's acquisition of Lu Bu's Army without taking a single casualty whatsoever made him a bigger threat than he had previously, Lu Bu's remaining Army numbered around 100,000 men which was a big number.
Lie Fan had around 200,000 to 300,000 men according to their intel, now with the addition of Lu Bu's Army Lie Fan could have around 300,000 to 400,000 men which makes him the strongest Warlord in the central plain.
Ju Shou feared that with Lie Fan's increasing power, Liu Bei would be put between two rocks with the other being Cao Cao, and his chance of rising to a stronger power would be very low where he could be eliminated by either two.
As for Guo Jia and Xi Zhicai, the two of them thought that with Lie Fan increasing power, he surely would like something from Cao Cao and Liu Bei also because if not then why did he want to meet Cao Cao and Liu Bei.
If their thinking isn't wrong, Lie Fan is looking for a slice of Qing Province which was true but was unknown to them for now, and if it's true then they think they need to scrap the plan of making Liu Bei a subservient warlord to Cao Cao for some years.
Of course, that's for later, right now they need to unite against Lie Fan who was the biggest beneficiary of this battle by receiving 100,000 men without a single battle fought, and if they allow Lie Fan to take a slice of Qing Province then their future will be hard.
While each person had their thoughts, they finally at the main hall where Lie Fan was seated on the right side of the hall where his bodyguards stood begin him, and his advisor seat at his left with Taishic Ci, Ji Ling, and Xu Rong stood behind them.
Chen Gong also seat among Lie Fan's advisors, causing Cao Cao and Liu Bei to believe Lie Fan even more than he had managed to usurp Lu Bu's Army, something unprecedented and they thought would never happen in their minds.
Cao Cao: "Alright since everyone has been seated, why don't we start our discussion hmm? I think Brother Lie Fan could tell all of us here why do you want to meet me and Brother Xuande?"
Lie Fan: "First of all thank you Brother Mengde and Brother Xuande for agreeing to meet me and I also would like to apologize for making the two of you wait for so long, the reason why I would like to meet the two of you is to discuss Qing Province."
Liu Bei: "Oh? Why does Brother Lie Fan would like to discuss Qing Province? Since Lu Bu was slain and now that Lu Bu's Army is under you, I don't think there's anything to discuss concerning Wing Province that concerns Brother Lie Fan."
Lie Fan: "Haha that's where you were wrong Brother Xuande, since the moment I stepped foot in Qing Province alongside my army, then Qing Province was a matter of my concern also alongside Brother Mengde and Brother Xuande!"
Cao Cao: "Brother Lie Fan I think it's too absurd for you to think so, from the beginning, the matter of Qing Province only concerns me, Brother Xuande, and Lu Bu, since now Lu Bu has passed away then it only left me and Brother Xuande, you can't just stake your claim suddenly."
Liu Bei: "What Brother Mengde has just said is true, Brother Lie Fan please think about this, you have no right to claim the whole Qing Province whatsoever."
Lie Fan: "Brother Mengde and Brother Xuande please wait just a moment, I have never said that I want the whole of Wing Province, I only just want to have around half of Qing Province! Since you have taken over around 4 counties, then leave the rest to me, how about it?"
Hearing Lie Fan's shameless request, Cao Cao was amused and had a headache at the same time since he knew that if he was in Lie Fan's position he would do the same thing.
While Liu Bei, on the other hand, was fuming, he never thought that Lie Fan would step so low as to claim three counties just like that, Qing Province was the land that he received rightfully and was taken away by Lu Bu, now he needs to face not only Cao Cao who was eying his land, Lie Fan joined the fray.
The atmosphere in the hall slowly rose with Lie Fan's standoff between Cao Cao and Liu Bei, Cao Cao art his time replied to Lie Fan's words that he and Liu Bei didn't accept his request since it didn't make sense for them to accept such deal.
Lie Fan who heard this just smiled, he replied to Cao Cao by saying that since he and Liu Bei were considering rejecting his request, then he had no choice but to lead his army and take over Wing Province by force from the two of them.
This statement that was just said by Lie Fan caused the hall to instantly be boisterous, Cao Cao and Liu Bei's General who joined the meeting immediately became angered and took this as a declaration of war.
Seeing the aggressiveness of Cao Cao and Liu Bei's generals, Lie Fan's Bodyguards alongside Taishi Ci, Ji Ling, and Xu Rong raised their guards and had their hands on their weapons in case things a lot worse.
Cao Cao and Liu Bei told their generals to calm down, while Guo Jia, Xi Zhicai, and Ju Shou as their advisors took the table and began to speak on their behalf, seeing that Xun You, Zhuge Jin, Man Chong, Lu Zhi, and Chen Gong also replace Lie Fan and speak on his behalf.
The tables have changed from a negotiation between the Lords, now to their advisors where from the looks of it Cao Cao and Liu Bei's side are outnumbered, but in truth, they have the power to balance their combat power with Lie Fan's side.
Guo Jia and Xi Zhicai focused on the point of the matter which was how absurd Lie Fan's request was, of course, they understood Lie Fan's desire to expand his domain but Lie Fan had no right to request a slice of Qing Province since he wants to be allied to Cao Cao and Liu Bei.
Ju Shou helped them by pointing out that Lie Fan not only didn't ally with both Cao Cao and Liu Bei but he was allied with Lu Bu who was Cao Cao and Liu Bei's enemy, so Lie Fan didn't have any valid reason that could persuade them to agree to his request.
At this time Zhuge Jin, Man Chong, and Lu Zhi both replied to Ju Shou taking turns saying that Lie Fan did have a valid reason that Cao Cao and Liu Bei should accept his request which was his presence alone on the battlefield have helped them in winning over their battle and become a moral support for them.
The shameless words caused Cao Cao and Liu Bei's General to be angered once again but managed to be calmed down by Cao Cao and Liu Bei, they were angered because they were insulted by the words of the three of them, without the presence of Lie Fan's army they can't win against Lu Bu's Army.
Xun You and Chen Gong, on the other hand, don't care about what is happening around them, the two of them come face to face with Guo Jia and Xi Zhicai, and they reply to the two of them that Lie Fan has the right to request and his right was by military might and rule of power.
This silenced the hall as the next word or move could cause a battle between Cao Cao and Liu Bei against Lie Fan, something that Cao Cao and Liu Bei alongside their advisors didn't want to happen.
Tension was high all around the hall, feeling both Cao Cao and Liu Bei take control of the conversation once again, asking Lie Fan to give them a moment to have a meeting to discuss his request.
Lie Fan who heard him nod his head and tell them to take the time they needed to discuss his request, gave them 2 hours and it will be around the afternoon before evening for them to give their answer.
Lie Fan after saying that then left the shall alongside his party, and when LienFan was out of sight, the half immediately became boisterous once again mainly because of Cao Cao and Liu Bei's General.
Cao Cao and Liu Bei ignored them and turned toward the trio of Guo Jia, Xi Zhicai, and Ju Shou asking for their opinion because, on one hand, they didn't want to split Qing Province but at the same time didn't want to have attack with Lie Fan at least for now.
Guo Jia told the two of them that if they didn't want to split Qing Province with Lie Fan, then he suggested that go to war with Lie Fan as it was the only way to keep Qing Province intact, of course, their casualties would be high and it would put them in a vulnerable position.
Xi Zhicai and Ju Shou more or less gave the same statement or argument as Guo Jia, Cap Cao, and Liu Bei who heard this were silent for a moment, for Cao Cao splitting Qing Province was not a big problem honestly, it was Liu Bei who will have a headache in his eye.
He knew that in Liu Bei's eyes, Qing Province was his land, and splitting it even further would weaken his position, that's why he adamantly rejected Lie Fan's request when he heard it, Cao Cao after thinking for some time finally said that he will agree with Lie Fan's request but on the condition that they take another county and just gave Lie Fan two of Qing Province remaining counties who have adjacent to Lie Fan's domain.
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Name: Lie Fan
Title: Three Heroes Who Defeat Lu Bu
Age: 27 (194 AD)
Level: 15
Next Level: 938.000
Renown: 645
Cultivation: Yin Yang Separation (level 9)
SP: 571.700
ATTRIBUTE POINTS
STR: 906 (+20)
VIT: 598 (+20)
AGI: 583 (+10)
INT: 587
CHR: 93
WIS: 509
WILL: 397
ATR Points: 0
CREATORS' THOUGHTS 
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