Capítulo 474: 457. Aftermath Of The Ceasefire Between Lie Fan & Cao Cao
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True to their thoughts, Lie Fan immediately signaled his army to withdraw from Hulao Pass and move back several hundred meters, causing confusion for all of his soldiers and general to create the buffer zone as agreed. Lead by Zhang Liao, all of Lie Fan's general entered the command tent and asked Lie Fan why they withdrawing, and Lie Fan then told them what transpires and concluded by saying that it was the best course of action.
Hearing Lie Fan's explanation about the ceasefire and the reasoning behind accepting it, Zhang Liao, Huang Zhong, Dian Wei, and Lie Fan's other generals could see the logic.
They understood the strategic importance of consolidating their strength and avoiding unnecessary losses, especially with the looming threat of Yuan Shao. However, all of them grumbled, feeling the bitter taste of a missed opportunity.
They were confident that they would soon have taken full control of the Hulao Pass wall, opened the gates, and allowed the entire army to storm the stronghold within Hulao Pass and capture it in matter of days or the longest a week and a half.
Seeing the dissatisfaction among his generals, Lie Fan smiled and said, "Your bravery and skill have brought us to the brink of victory. Your valor on the battlefield has been unmatched, and I promise you that your efforts will not go unrewarded. Once we have secured our position and strengthened our forces, we will continue our campaign. Each of you will be rewarded lavishly for your merits in this long campaign."
Lie Fan's words and promise of rewards helped ease the discontent in their hearts. They knew their lord valued their contributions and understood the bigger picture. Seeing that the situation had calmed, Jia Xu, who had been observing silently, stepped forward.
"My lord," Jia Xu began, "Now that we have agreed to the ceasefire, we must honor it fully. We should conduct a full retreat to Xuchang to ensure we abide by the terms. Additionally, we need to inform Taishi Ci, Ji Ling, Chen Deng, and Liu Ba of this development so they can also withdraw their forces accordingly."
Lie Fan nodded in agreement. "You are right, Wenhe. We must ensure our entire army adheres to the ceasefire. Prepare the orders for a full retreat to Xuchang. Make sure Taishi Ci, Ji Ling, Chen Deng, and Liu Ba are informed immediately. We need to regroup and consolidate our positions in the entire central plains."
Jia Xu quickly set about drafting the necessary orders, while Lie Fan turned to his generals. "This is not the end of our campaign, but a strategic pause. Use this time to rest, recover, and prepare for the battles ahead. We will return stronger and more prepared to face any challenge ahead."
With the orders dispatched, Lie Fan's army began its organized withdrawal from Hulao Pass. The soldiers, initially confused by the sudden change in strategy, soon understood the necessity of the move.
Under Zhang Liao's command as the highest ranking commands general due to his position as the head general of Qilin Army, they maintained discipline and withdrew in an orderly fashion, creating the buffer zone as agreed with Cao Cao.
Meanwhile, messengers were sent to Taishi Ci, Ji Ling, Chen Deng, and Liu Ba who was battling Zhang He forces on the crossing port, informing them of the ceasefire and instructing them to retreat to their designated positions.
All of them was surprised by the sudden turn of events, and in the midst of their confusion they complied with the orders, where Jiang Qin stop bombarding Zhang He's forced with Hwacha and positioned his ships so that Taishi Ci and Ji Ling army could board the ships.
As for Zhang He, Gao Lan, Zhang Yan, Tian Feng, and Xu You they also received their order from Cao Cao to cease their attack on Lie Fan's army at the port, informing them about the ceasefire, and was ordered to head back to Luoyang to meet with him there.
So when they see Lie Fan's army do a full scale retreat they wasn't surprised, and they immediately do the same thing as Lie Fan's army where after leaving a contingent of troops to guard the port, they head back to Luoyang.
As the ceasefire between Lie Fan and Cao Cao took effect, the entire land was soon shocked by the sudden cessation of hostilities between the two formidable warlords who had been embroiled in a great war for the central plains.
The fact that it was Cao Cao, who was losing, that proposed the ceasefire, added to the intrigue and speculation among the other warlords and their subordinates.
In the west, Liu Zhang and Zhang Lu immediately increased their military alertness. They were wary of the possibility that Cao Cao, after recuperating from his battles with Lie Fan, might turn his attention towards them.
Defensive preparations were intensified acprss their border, and scouts were sent out to monitor any movements from Cao Cao's direction.
To the south, reactions were mixed. Liu Cong and Liu Bei, who had past conflicts with Lie Fan, became more vigilant. They knew that the balance of power could shift quickly, and they did not want to be caught off guard by any sudden moves from Lie Fan.
Liu Cong bolstered the defenses around his territories, while Liu Bei held meetings with his advisors, planning contingencies for any eventualities in case Lie Fan set their sight on them.
The Sun Clan, led by Sun Ce and Sun Jian, rejoiced at their ally's success in the war. Their celebrations, however, were tempered by the cautious advice of their subjects such as Zhang Zhao, Zhang Hong, and Huan Jie.
These advisors, while sharing in the sentiment of victory, understood the importance of being vigilant and prepared for Lie Fan's next moves. The Sun Clan's forces were kept on high alert, ready to respond to any threats or opportunities that might arise from the shifting political landscape in the central plain.
In the north, Yuan Shao reacted with a mixture of surprise and contempt. Upon hearing the news of the ceasefire, he let out a loud, mocking laugh, belittling Cao Cao. "So, the great Cao Mengde has been reduced to begging for a truce! Haha!" Yuan Shao scoffed. "I have conquered the north and stand as its undisputed overlord, while Cao Cao loses his land to Lie Fan, a lowborn upstart that reach his position due to luck."
Feng Ji and Guo Tu, who held considerable influence over Yuan Shao's court, seized this moment to push their agenda. "My lord," Feng Ji began, "This is the perfect time for us to prepare our forces. Cao Cao's retreat and the ceasefire with Lie Fan indicate that both are weakened. We should take advantage of this period to build up our army and gather supplies."
Guo Tu added, "Indeed, my lord. With proper preparation, we can launch a decisive campaign to the south within a year or two. Cao Cao and Lie Fan will still be recovering, and we can catch them off guard."
Yuan Shao, always eager for expansion and glory, nodded in agreement. "Very well. Begin the preparations. Ensure our forces are well-equipped and ready for the campaign. When the time is right, we will strike and extend our dominion over the central plains."
Receiving Yuan Shao's agreement, Feng Ji and Guo Tu cupped their hands towards him and promised to do their best in ensuring his army and supplies would be ready in a year or two.
As all the major players of the chessboard reacted to the changes in the central plains, Lie Fan and his advisors held a meeting at Xuchang's Governor Castle to discuss the gains and losses from his campaign to unify the central plains under his banner.
Jia Xu reiterated the gains, highlighting the significance of their victory. "My lord, by winning this campaign, you have obtained the other half of the central plains that was not under your control before. This unification makes you the absolute ruler of the most fertile land in all of China, and the central hub of trade between the north and south. The increase in population under your rule means a rise in tax revenue and a boost in agricultural output, significantly enhancing our supplies. These gains have massively increased your power and influence."
Xun You then addressed the losses, his tone serious. "However, my lord, the cost of this campaign was substantial. We suffered around 75,000 deaths, and 125,000 men were wounded, whether lightly or severely. This results in a total manpower loss of 200,000, which has significantly reduced our combat power. Furthermore, our accumulated supplies have been heavily depleted. Only about a quarter of what we had at the beginning of the campaign remains, meaning we need to focus on rebuilding our stockpiles for future endeavors."
Lie Fan nodded, absorbing the information. "The gains are indeed significant, but the losses cannot be ignored. We must take immediate steps to recover our strength and prepare for any future conflicts."
Bu Zhi spoke up. "My lord, our first priority should be to address the manpower shortage. We need to recruit and train new soldiers to replenish our ranks. Additionally, we must ensure that the wounded receive proper care and are rehabilitated as quickly as possible. This will help us recover a portion of our combat power."
Jia Xu added, "We should also focus on strengthening our alliances. By securing our strong relationships with the Sun Clan and influential figures, we can bolster our position and ensure that we have support in times of need."
Xun You nodded in agreement. "Furthermore, we need to streamline our supply chains and improve our logistics. The depletion of our supplies during the campaign highlighted weaknesses in our current system in managing our supply. By enhancing our logistical capabilities, we can ensure that our armies are well-provisioned for any future campaigns."
Lie Fan looked around at his advisors, seeing the determination in their eyes. "You are all correct. We will take a multi-faceted approach to address these issues. Begin recruitment drives in the newly acquired territories and offer incentives to encourage enlistment. Ensure that our medical facilities are adequately staffed and supplied to care for the wounded. Strengthen our diplomatic efforts and seek out new allies amongst influential figures in the central plains. Finally, improve our logistics system to ensure our supply lines are efficient and robust."
As the meeting continued, detailed plans were drawn up to implement these strategies. Lie Fan's advisors discussed the specifics of recruitment, including offering small land grants on the outskirts of major towns where they and their family could do farming.
They planned to increase the amount of medical supplies and asked Hua Tuo and Zhang Zhongjin for more skilled physicians to treat the wounded. Diplomatic assignments were outlined, with messenger being sent to influential figures across the central plains, to solidify and negotiate trade agreements and enhance their relationship with Lie Fan. As for logistics, Bu Zhi himself took the task of optimizing their supply management system, routes choosing, and securing additional resources.
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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
PENSAMENTOS DOS CRIADORES 
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