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Lie Fan nodded. Trade goods of unmatched quality would flood the markets, further filling his coffers. But his attention sharpened as Huang Chengyan added, "The improved techniques to build dam and irrigation are being applied currently, my lord. The craftsman, blacksmiths, and artisans whoever have said that the techniques can help them build a dam that even can withstand even the Yellow River's fury."
"And the irrigation systems?"
"Being implemented in the northern farmlands as we speak, my lord." Huang Chengyan said.
A long silence followed. Lie Fan leaned back, absorbing it all. Progress. Tangible, measurable progress. But progress was only as valuable as the time he had to exploit it.
"And the training for these techniques to be mastered?" he asked at last.
Liu Ye's expression sobered. "The experienced craftsman, artisan, and blacksmith are learning, but these techniques are… unprecedented. It will take months before they fully grasp the principles behind them. Years before they can innovate on their own."
Lie Fan's jaw tightened. Time. Always time. The one resource even he couldn't bend to his will. "Then we don't have years," he said softly. "We have months. At best. I want to see the result."
Huang Chengyan, at this time had an idea, and leaned forward. "My lord, if I may, there is another way for us to tackle this matter."
Lie Fan's gaze sharpened. "Please, share it with us Master Huang."
"Let's create an apprenticeship system. Pair the experienced craftsman, artisan, and blacksmiths, with our brightest talents across the three positions, not just to teach, but to compete. Offer rewards for the first to master each technique. Light a fire under them to work even harder."
A slow smile spread across Lie Fan's face. Huang Chengyan understood men as well as he understood clay and glaze. Greed, ambition, recognition, and pride, all of these were fuels as potent as charcoal in a furnace or even more potent.
"Do it," he said. "And add this, any man who improves upon the designs gets a share of the profits from his innovation in its first year."
Liu Ye's eyes widened. "My lord, that's—"
"—unprecedented?" Lie Fan finished. "Good. Let it be."
Meanwhile to the southwest of Xiapi, at Xiangyang, The afternoon sun cast long shadows across the main hall of the Governor's castle. Liu Bei sat at the head of the table, his expression a masterful blend of weary concern and paternal warmth as he regarded the four men before him, Guan Yu, Zhang Fei, Sun Guan, and Chen Dao.
To any outsider, it would have been a scene of deep camaraderie, a lord consulting his most trusted generals. But beneath the surface, Liu Bei's mind churned with distress, frustration, and lastly deep anger.
Four.
He only had four capable generals. Four men who could stand against the tide of war for him and bled for him. And yet, compared to the veritable constellations of talent under Cao Cao and Lie Fan's banners, it was a paltry number, not even a speck of what they had.
He let his gaze linger on each of them, Guan Yu, proud and unshakable; Zhang Fei, brash but fiercely loyal; Sun Guan, steady and dependable; Chen Dao, the quiet blade who slowly had never failed him. They were exceptional, yes. But they were not enough for him to realize his ambition.
"My brothers," Liu Bei began, his voice heavy with feigned and acted distressed, "I cannot help but feel that I have failed you all."
Guan Yu's brow furrowed. "Elder Brother, what do you mean?"
Liu Bei sighed, his fingers tracing the rim of his teacup. "Look at you. All of you. Toiling day and night, bearing the weight of our cause upon your shoulders alone. If only… if only there were more men of your caliber to share this burden."
The effect was immediate. Guan Yu straightened, his pride stung by the implication that their lord doubted their strength. Zhang Fei scowled, his thick fists clenching. Sun Guan and Chen Dao exchanged glances, silent, but clearly moved by Liu Bei's apparent concern.
"Elder Brother," Zhang Fei burst out, "we don't need more men! Between the four of us, we could carve a path through Cao Cao and Lie Fan's entire army!"
Liu Bei smiled faintly, as if humoring him, while inwardly he was angered by Zhang Fei's stupidity. "Of course, of course. But even the mightiest warriors need rest. And if something were to happen to any of you… I don't know how I would live," He let the words hang, watching the flicker of sadness and unease cross their faces.
Guan Yu stroked his beard, deep in thought. Then, with the air of a man unveiling a grand stratagem, he spoke. "There is a way."
All eyes turned to him.
"A martial contest," Guan Yu declared. "Open to all warriors within elder brother's domain, no, beyond it if necessary. We invite the strongest, the most skilled, to prove their worth. The victors will be granted rank, prestige, and the honor of serving under your banner, Elder Brother."
Zhang Fei's eyes lit up. "A tournament! Ha! I'd join myself just to see the look on those fools' faces when they realize what real strength looks like!"
Sun Guan and Chen Dao nodded in agreement, the prospect of testing their mettle against new challengers clearly appealing to them as well.
Liu Bei kept his smile in place, even as his mind recoiled.
A martial contest?
It was… pedestrian. Predictable. The kind of uninspired ploy a minor warlord might attempt to scrape together a few extra swords. Did Guan Yu truly believe that hidden talents, men who could stand alongside the likes of Huang Zhong or Dian Wei or Xu Chu, were simply lurking in the countryside, waiting for an open invitation from him?
But he couldn't say that. Not when Guan Yu's pride was so visibly invested in the idea. Not when Zhang Fei was already grinning like an eager child.
So Liu Bei did what he did best, he masked his disdain behind a facade of astonished admiration and support.
"Yunchang… that is brilliant!" he exclaimed, clasping his hands together. "A gathering of heroes, all drawn to the righteousness of our cause! With such an event, we could not only find new talents but also show the people the strength of our unity!"
Guan Yu's chest swelled with pride. Zhang Fei let out a booming laugh, clapping his sworn brother on the back. Even the usually reserved Chen Dao allowed himself a small smile.
Liu Bei turned to his attendants. "Summon Ju Shou, Kuai Yue, and Kuai Liang. Let us discuss the logistics at once."
Ju Shou arrived first, his sharp eyes missing nothing as he took in the eager expressions of the generals. Kuai Yue and Kuai Liang followed shortly after, their faces schooled into masks of polite attentiveness, though those who knew them well would have noticed the slight tension in their postures.
Liu Bei laid out Guan Yu's proposal with all the enthusiasm of a man wholly convinced of its merit. Ju Shou listened in silence, his fingers steepled before him. When Liu Bei finished, the advisor nodded slowly.
"It is a sound plan, my lord," Ju Shou conceded. "While unorthodox, a public contest would draw attention. Warriors of skill often languish in obscurity, their talents unnoticed by the nobility. This could be a way to unearth them and have them serve you."
Kuai Yue's gaze flickered to Liu Bei, searching. "The expense, however, will not be insignificant, my lord. To host such an event across all of Jing Province under your rule, from Xinye to Lingling, would require substantial resources."
Kuai Liang added, "And there is the matter of security. We cannot guarantee that Cao Cao or Lie Fan won't use this as an opportunity to infiltrate by sending their spies, or worse, send assassins to cause havoc."
Liu Bei waved a hand. "The rewards outweigh the risks. If even one man of true talent emerges, it will have been worth it for all of the risk."
The words tasted bitter in his mouth. He didn't believe it. Not really. But he needed his generals and advisors to believe he believed.
Kuai Yue and Kuai Liang exchanged another glance. They had been quietly gathering evidence of Liu Bei's duplicity for months, the way his compassion seemed to vanish the moment he thought no one was looking, the calculated pauses in his speeches, the way his eyes hardened when he spoke of Lie Fan and Cao Cao. But they said nothing for now.
Soon the meeting adjourned and the advisors departed, But as they left the chamber, Kuai Yue lingered just long enough to murmur to his brother, "Since when does Liu Bei indulge in such… theatrics?"
Kuai Liang's lips thinned. "Since he realized his generals are outnumbered."
Meanwhile, Liu Bei retreated to his private chambers. The moment the door closed behind him, his amiable mask cracked.
He poured himself a cup of wine, draining it in one swift motion.
A martial contest. What a waste of time.
It was a gamble with terrible odds. The truly exceptional warriors, the ones who could stand against Xu Chu Dun or Huang Zhong, were already sworn to banners. Either Cao Cao's, Lie Fan's, or Sun Ce's. What remained were the dregs, men with more bravado than skill, more ambition than loyalty, and more trouble than reward.
And yet, he had no choice but to proceed. His sworn brothers' morale was at stake. Their unwavering loyalty was his greatest asset, and he couldn't afford to alienate them, not when his position was already so precarious.
He refilled his cup, staring into the dark liquid as if it held answers.
Perhaps there was a way to salvage this. If the contest itself yielded little, then the spectacle might still serve a purpose. It would show the people that Liu Bei was a lord who valued strength, and rewarded merit. That could attract followers of a different sort, lesser generals, perhaps, but men who could be molded into something useful.
And if nothing else? It would keep Guan Yu and Zhang Fei occupied.
Over the following days, announcements were sent across Liu Bei's territories, Xiangyang, Xinye, Lingling, and all other major towns and small towns even villages under Liu Bei's rule, proclaiming the grand martial contest. The prizes were lavish, gold, land, and most enticing of all, the chance to serve directly under Liu Bei's banner.
The common folk buzzed with excitement. Warriors, both renowned and unknown, began making their way to Xiangyang. But Liu Bei had no illusions.
Standing on the balcony of his office in the Governor Castle, he watched as laborers erected the contest grounds in the city square.
Guan Yu and Zhang Fei oversaw the preparations with visible enthusiasm, barking orders and occasionally stepping in to demonstrate techniques for the awed spectators. Meanwhile, In Xiapi, Lie Fan received word of Liu Bei's martial contest from his Oriole agents stationed in Xiangyang. He laughed. "Desperation disguised as spectacle, truly Liu Bei you are nothing if luck weren't at your side."
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Name: Lie Fan
Title: Overlord Of The Central Plains
Age: 33 (200 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