Capítulo 597: 573. Yan Liang & Wen Chou Splitting The Army
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Yan Liang paced the tent, his steps heavy with frustration. "This is madness! We're trapped between two enemies. If we turn to face Lie Fan, Cao Cao will tear through Luoyang's defenses and crush us from behind. But if we ignore Lie Fan…" He didn't finish the sentence. The implication was clear, Lie Fan would dismantle Yuan Shao's domain from the rear, and leaving them with no hope of retreat or reinforcement.
Wen Chou took a deep breath, trying to calm his nerves. "We must inform Lord Yuan Shao immediately. He must assemble whatever men he could, and consolidate his forces in Nanpi then send it to face Lie Fan's army to hold them off before it's too late."
Yan Liang shook his head vehemently. "Assemble what men? Do You think Lord Yuan Shao has any men he could spare right now? Except for the border army stationed across all of Lord Yuan Shao's domain, all of the trained soldiers he could gather were under us right now siegeing Luoyang."
"Then what do you suggest?" Wen Chou shot back, his frustration growing. "Stay here and do nothing while waiting to be crushed between Lie Fan and Cao Cao? We'll be slaughtered! While Lord Yuan Shao will face danger from Lie Fan's army who could rampage freely!"
Before the argument could escalate further, Yuan Tan and Yuan Shang stormed into the tent, having overheard the commotion. Their sibling rivalry was momentarily set aside in the face of the dire situation.
"What's happening?" Yuan Tan demanded, his eyes narrowing as he took in the panic. "Why are you two acting like scared children?"
Wen Chou quickly explained the situation, his voice steady despite the gravity of the news. As he finished, Yuan Shang's face turned ashen. "Lie Fan… That cunning fox. He's been lying in wait, hasn't he? Striking now when our forces are stretched thin, while Cao Cao also focuses on our forces leaving him with no threat."
Yuan Tan's jaw tightened. "If Father had listened to me earlier, we wouldn't be in this mess. I told him we should have dealt with Cao Cao sooner because Lie Fan was in the process of focusing on his internal development!"
Yuan Shang rolled his eyes. "Spare us the hindsight wisdom, brother. The question is, what do we do now? We are stuck between a rock and a hard place."
Wen Chou stepped between them before their bickering could escalate. "Enough. This is no time for petty squabbles. We need a plan."
Yan Liang's fists clenched at his sides. "We must hold our position. If we abandon the siege, Cao Cao will seize the initiative. We'll send a messenger to Lord Yuan Shao, but we need to buy time for him to gather whatever men he can to defend Nanpi at least."
Yuan Shang frowned. "And how exactly do we 'buy time'? Lie Fan's forces will cut us off from whatever connection we have with the rest of our domain as Zhang Yan, Zhang He, and Gao Lan had betrayed us cutting us off from our rear."
Silence hung over the tent, the weight of their predicament pressing down on everyone. Finally, Wen Chou spoke, his voice low but firm. "We split our forces, one continues the siege while the other one breaks through Zhang Yan, Zhang He, and Gao Lan's army to retreat and fend off Lie Fan's armies."
Yan Liang turned to him, his eyes wide with disbelief. "Split our forces? Are you mad, Wen Chou?! Cao Cao had 450,000 healthy and well fed men in Luoyang, if we split our forces whose supplies had dwindled due to the betrayal, it would be suicide!"
"Hear me out," Wen Chou insisted. "We send a portion of our army to slow down Lie Fan's advance. They don't need to defeat him, just delay him long enough for Lord Yuan Shao to gather a considerable number of men to defend Nanpi. The rest of us remain here, maintaining the siege. If we abandon Luoyang entirely, Cao Cao will pursue us relentlessly."
Yuan Tan folded his arms, nodding slowly. "It's risky, but it's the only option we have. Who will lead the force against Lie Fan?"
Yan Liang's gaze hardened. "I will. My men are the best cavalry under Lord Yuan Shao. If anyone can harass Lie Fan and buy time, it's me and my cavalry."
Wen Chou hesitated but eventually nodded. "Very well. But be cautious, Yan Liang. Lie Fan is no fool. If you overcommit your men, you'll be crushed by Lie Fan. Don't forget to rest your men after breaking through Zhang Yan, Zhang He, and Gao Lan's army."
Yan Liang's lips curled into a grim smile. "I'm not afraid to die if it means giving our lord a fighting chance, Zhang Yan, Zhang He, and Gao Lan's army are just weaklings compared to the men under me."
After Yan Liang said these words, they immediately discussed the number of men Yan Liang should bring and it was decided around 150,000 men with 60,000 of them being cavalry, bringing almost all of the cavalry with him.
Yan Liang, with a grim determination etched on his face, stepped out of the command tent, rallying his officers as the plans for his march took shape.
He knew the stakes, his mission was not to claim victory but to delay an inevitable collapse, giving Yuan Shao enough time to regroup. As the sun reached its zenith, Yan Liang oversaw the final preparations for his force of 150,000 men, including 60,000 of Yuan Shao's finest cavalry.
"Prepare the horses! Make sure every man is armed to the teeth. We march at noon!" Yan Liang barked, his voice cutting through the din of the camp. The soldiers moved with a sense of urgency, aware of the monumental task ahead.
Meanwhile, Wen Chou remained behind to manage the siege, watching Yan Liang's preparations with a mix of admiration and concern. He knew his comrade was brave to the point of recklessness, but bravery alone would not guarantee success. Turning back to Yuan Shang and Yuan Tan, Wen Chou issued orders to ensure the siege lines held firm.
"Send scouts to monitor the movements of Cao Cao's forces. We can't afford any surprises while Yan Liang engages the rear." He paused, looking at the two brothers. "And two young lords please keep your bickering to a minimum. If we falter here, everything is lost."
As noon approached, Yan Liang mounted his warhorse, a massive beast as imposing as its rider. The cavalry, the pride of Yuan Shao's army, formed ranks behind him, their armor gleaming under the sun. Infantrymen lined up as well, their faces a mix of determination and trepidation.
Yan Liang addressed his troops, his voice booming. "Men of the north! Today, we ride not for victory, but for our lord, Yuan Shao! The traitors Zhang Yan, Zhang He, and Gao Lan think they can bar our way. We will show them the might of Yuan Shao's cavalry! We fight to protect our homes and families. Do not falter!"
A resounding cheer erupted from the soldiers, and the march began. The column moved with precision, the thunder of hooves and the tramp of boots reverberating across the plains.
Yan Liang's plan was simple, he led his army to a swift and decisive charge to punch through the traitors' lines and secure a retreat to Henei, where his men could regroup and brace for Lie Fan's onslaught.
Far to the east, Lie Fan's armies were making their presence known. The crossing ports at Ganling and Pingyuan had fallen swiftly, Yuan Shao's border troops proving no match for the disciplined forces of the Qinlong, Baihu, and Qilin armies.
Lie Fan, flanked by his wife Lu Lingqi, his advisors Sima Yi and Xun You, and his generals Zhao Yun, Wen Pin, and Huang Chao, surveyed the captured crossing port at Pingyuan.
This was a testament to the precision of Lie Fan's strategy prepared by his advisors. The bodies of Yuan Shao's border troops lay scattered, their defenses overrun. Lie Fan's navy, commanded by Gan Ning and Jiang Qin, had played a crucial role in the swift victory, ensuring that the crossing ports were secured with minimal losses.
"Excellent work," Lie Fan said, addressing Gan Ning and Jiang Qin as they disembarked to meet him. "The crossing ports are ours. Now, I want you to take your ships and harass Yuan Shao's forces as they will definitely attempt to retreat from Luoyang and fend us off. Keep them disorganized and off balance."
Gan Ning grinned, his confidence evident. "Consider it done, my lord. We'll make sure they regret ever setting foot near the Yellow River."
Jiang Qin nodded in agreement. "Their morale is already wavering. A few well-timed raids will shatter it completely."
Lie Fan turned to Sima Yi and Xun You, the chief strategists for this campaign that he had chosen to accompany him. "How long until the rest of the army has crossed?"
Sima Yi adjusted his robes, his expression thoughtful. "By nightfall, our forces will be fully assembled, my lord. Once they are, we can launch coordinated strikes on Ganling and Pingyuan."
Xun You added, "The key will be speed. If we overwhelm these cities quickly, Yuan Shao's forces will have nowhere to regroup."
Lie Fan nodded, his gaze hardening. "Then let us make sure they don't have a moment's rest. Zhao Yun, Wen Pin, and Huang Chao, tell the others and yourself to prepare their men to march as soon as the army is ready. I want Pingyuan and Ganling under our control by the end of tomorrow or the day after tomorrow."
Back to Yan Liang and his forces, they encountered Zhang Yan, Zhang He, and Gao Lan's army of 140,000 men. The traitors had fortified their position, blocking the path to the Yellow River with makeshift barricades and entrenched infantry.
Yan Liang wasted no time. "Cavalry, form up! We'll break their lines in a single charge!" He pointed his sword forward, the signal for his men to ready themselves.
The ground shook as 60,000 cavalry surged forward, their war cries echoing across the plain. Zhang Yan's forces, though numerous, were caught off guard by the ferocity of the attack. The barricades crumbled under the weight of the charge, and the infantry scattered in the face of the onslaught.
Zhang He, commanding a contingent of archers, quickly ordered a counterattack. "Fire at will! Aim for the cavalry's flanks!" Arrows rained down on Yan Liang's men, causing significant losses but failing to halt their momentum.
Yan Liang himself led the charge, cutting down enemies with ruthless efficiency. His men followed suit, their morale bolstered by their commander's bravery. Within hours, the traitors' lines were broken, and Yan Liang's forces pushed through.
However, the victory came at a steep cost. Nearly half of Yan Liang's cavalry had been lost in the fierce fighting, and his infantry was badly battered. Still, he pressed on, determined to reach Henei and regroup before Lie Fan's armies could close in. As Yan Liang's battered forces limped toward Henei, Lie Fan's armies continued to land at the crossing ports until the last wave had landed at midnight.
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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
PENSAMENTOS DOS CRIADORES 
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