章 537: 515. Oriole Agents Protecting Zhuge Liang Whereabouts
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Liu Bei was deep in thought when a court official entered the hall, bowing respectfully before stepping forward with a scroll in hand. "My lord," the official began, his voice steady but carrying an undercurrent of urgency, "a traveling scholar has arrived from the southern regions of Jing Province. He brings news of three hermits who are said to possess unparalleled wisdom and insight. It is also said that these men have trained students who are now becoming renowned as the brightest strategists in the land."
Liu Bei's interest was piqued immediately. He had always placed great importance on surrounding himself with skilled advisers, recognizing that he needed such people who could be the difference between victory and defeat in realizing his ambition. The prospect of discovering men who could offer him that kind of wisdom was too tantalizing to ignore.
"Tell me more," Liu Bei said, sitting up straighter in his chair, his eyes focused intently on the official. "Who are these hermits, and what do we know of their abilities?"
The official unfurled the scroll and began to read. "The scholar spoke of three men, recluses who live near the southern mountains of Jing Province. They have lived in seclusion for many years, shunning the politics of the land, but those who have spoken to them claim their knowledge of governance, military strategy, and philosophy is unrivaled. Among their students are two men who have already garnered significant attention in the surrounding area. One is known as the Fledgling Phoenix, and the other as the Sleeping Dragon. These young men are said to be destined to shape the future of the land."
Liu Bei's brow furrowed in contemplation. He had heard vague rumors about these hermit figures before, whispered among scholars and travelers, but this was the first time he had received a direct report. The names "Fledgling Phoenix" and "Sleeping Dragon" intrigued him deeply.
"The Fledgling Phoenix and the Sleeping Dragon..." Liu Bei repeated, the weight of the names lingering in his mind. "What do we know of them specifically?"
The official nodded and continued, "The Fledgling Phoenix is said to be a man of unparalleled intelligence and strategic insight. Despite his youth, those who have met him say that his grasp of statecraft and military affairs rivals even the most seasoned advisers. As for the Sleeping Dragon, his wisdom is considered so profound that he is said to be able to foresee the movements of the world, anticipating shifts in power and events with an almost mystical clarity with a high understanding of statecraft and military affairs."
Liu Bei leaned back in his chair, his mind racing. He had been struggling for years to find his footing in the war-torn land and realize his ambition. Despite his charisma and the loyalty of his men, he lacked the kind of grand strategist that other warlords like Cao Cao, Sun Ce, and Lie Fan possessed.
If even half of what the official was saying about these men was true, gaining the loyalty of either the Fledgling Phoenix or the Sleeping Dragon—or both—could change everything.
"And these men," Liu Bei asked, "are they still in Jing Province? Is there any indication of where we might find them?"
The official looked up from the scroll. "According to the scholar, they remain near the mountain where their hermit masters live. However, their whereabouts are closely guarded. It is said that they only reveal themselves to those they deem worthy. Many have sought their wisdom, but few have been granted an audience."
Liu Bei stood, his eyes blazing with determination. "I must meet them. If what this scholar says is true, then these men could be the key to securing the future not just for Jing Province, but for all of China. Send word to the scholar and offer him whatever resources he needs to locate these hermits and their students. I will make the journey myself if necessary."
The court official bowed deeply and hurried to relay Liu Bei's instructions. As he left, Guan Yu and Zhang Fei, who had been standing quietly at the edges of the hall, stepped forward.
"Elder Brother," Zhang Fei said, his booming voice echoing through the chamber, "do you truly believe these recluses will make a difference? We've fought with strength and honor for years now. Do we really need more scholars like Kuai Liang and Ju Shou whispering in our ears?"
Liu Bei turned to his sworn brothers, his expression earnest while inwardly his heart was a bit gloomy with the stupid words Zhang Fe had just said. "Third Brother, strength and honor have carried us this far, but the world is changing. Cao Cao, Sun Ce, and Lie Fan have advisors who shape their strategies, men like Xun Yu, Guo Jia, Jia Xu, Xun You, and Zhou Yu. Without wisdom to match theirs, our swords alone will not be enough to secure victory. We need men who can see beyond the battlefield, who can help us navigate the currents of power in this land."
Guan Yu, ever the more contemplative of the two, nodded slowly. "Elder Brother is right, Third Brother. A general like us can win battles, but a strategist can win wars. If these men are truly as wise as the rumors suggest, they could give us the edge we need in battling against Cao Cao, Sun Ce, and Lie Fan."
Zhang Fei crossed his arms and huffed, though he did not disagree further. "Fine, fine. But I still say we don't need any sleeping dragons or fledgling phoenixes. Just point me toward the enemy, and I'll take care of the rest."
Liu Bei with his acting skills smiled faintly, knowing that despite Zhang Fei's gruff demeanor, brashness, and idiotic thinking, he would support any course of action that Liu Bei deemed necessary.
His trust in Liu Bei was absolute, and that loyalty was much more valuable than any number of strategies for Liu Bei, because he was an idiot that he could fully control for him.
Unfortunately for Liu Bei, fate had other plans. As the wheels of his ambitious search for the reclusive Zhuge Liang and his masters began to turn, far more sinister forces for him were already in motion.
The Oriole agents had been operating in Jing Province for some time, gathering intelligence and keeping a watchful eye on anything that might shift the balance of power in the region. When they caught wind of Liu Bei's search for these famed hermits, they moved swiftly and silently.
The Oriole agents were skilled in the art of espionage, trained to blend into the shadows and strike without warning. They knew that if Liu Bei succeeded in contacting Zhuge Liang, their heads rolling would be the outcome.
For their lord, Lie Fan, Zhuge Liang is already his advisor, and could not afford to allow his handpicked advisor to fall into Liu Bei's hands. The agents wasted no time in following Liu Bei's men, who had been dispatched to negotiate with the traveling scholar.
For three days, the Oriole agents tracked Liu Bei's men through the rural roads of Jing Province. They kept their distance, moving with the precision of seasoned hunters. The men they followed had no idea they were being watched. On the third day, their patience paid off. Liu Bei's men finally met with the scholar who had brought news of Zhuge Liang and his masters.
The meeting took place in a small, unassuming village nestled between the hills. The village was quiet, and the sound of wind rustling through the trees was the only thing that accompanied their conversation.
The leader of Liu Bei's men, a grizzled veteran named Chen Hong, approached the scholar, handing him a pouch filled with silver coins and scrolls of promises for more resources.
"This is from Lord Liu Bei," Chen Hong said in a low voice, glancing around cautiously, as though expecting prying eyes. "He is deeply interested in what you've told him. These resources are yours as agreed upon. In return, he expects you to provide any further information you uncover about the hermits and, most importantly, the location of this Sleeping Dragon, Zhuge Liang."
The scholar, a wiry man with sharp eyes and a weathered face, nodded, pocketing the silver with a satisfied smile. "You have my word. I will continue to seek out more information. Zhuge Liang is elusive, but I have friends in the region. I will find him."
Chen Hong bowed his head slightly. "Good. Lord Liu Bei believed that this Zhuge Liang could be the key to restoring the Han and bringing peace to the land. He will be generous to those who help him in this endeavor."
As Chen Hong and his men turned to leave, the Oriole agents, hidden among the nearby trees, exchanged knowing glances. They had heard enough. They waited until Chen Hong's group disappeared down the road before making their move.
The scholar was walking toward his horse, preparing to depart when the Oriole agents struck. They moved swiftly, surrounding him before he had a chance to draw his weapon or call for help. One agent, dressed in a simple villager's tunic, pressed a dagger to the scholar's throat while another, their leader, stepped forward.
"Stay quiet, and you'll live a little longer," the leader hissed, his voice cold and sharp.
The scholar froze, his eyes wide with fear. "Who… who are you?"
The leader of the Oriole agents smirked. "That's not important. What is important is the information you've been feeding to Liu Bei. We know you've been looking into the hermits of Jing Province. We know you're trying to find Zhuge Liang. Tell us how you came by this information. Now."
The scholar, trembling, stammered, "I… I swear, I don't know much! I overheard rumors from traders traveling through the province. Some spoke of a reclusive strategist in the mountains. I pieced together what I could and brought the information to Liu Bei. I thought… I thought it might earn me a reward."
The leader narrowed his eyes, scrutinizing the scholar's words. "And these rumors, where exactly did you hear them?"
The scholar gulped, beads of sweat forming on his brow. "Near Xiangyang. A group of traveling merchants spoke of three hermits living in the mountains south of the city. That's all I know, I swear!"
The leader of the Oriole agents nodded to one of his men, who promptly produced a piece of parchment and a quill. "Write down the exact details of what you heard, the names of these merchants, and the location where you met them."
The scholar's hands shook as he quickly scribbled down the information, his mind racing with the hope that he might somehow escape this encounter alive.
Once he finished, the leader glanced at the parchment, then folded it and slipped it into his tunic. "Thank you for your cooperation," he said with an unsettling smile. Then, without warning, he nodded to the agent holding the dagger.
The scholar's eyes widened in shock as the blade sliced across his throat. He collapsed to the ground, blood pooling beneath him as he gasped for air, his life quickly slipping away. The Oriole agents watched in silence as the scholar's final moments played out.
The leader of the agents wiped the blood from his blade and turned to his men. "Burn the body. Make sure there's nothing left for Liu Bei's men to find." One of the agents immediately set to work, gathering kindling from the surrounding area to start a fire.
The others dragged the scholar's body deeper into the woods, where they set it ablaze, ensuring that all traces of the man and his information were erased. The leader of the Oriole agents watched the flames for a moment before turning to his second-in-command. "We need to report this to Lord Lie Fan immediately. If Liu Bei is looking for Zhuge Liang, we need to ensure that he never finds him."
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Name: Lie Fan
Title: Overlord Of The Central Plains
Age: 32 (199 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
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