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He looked at each of them in turn. "The Han Dynasty collapsed because it turned inward. Because it believed itself the center of the world and forgot that the world is vast, allowing corruption and nepotism to run rampant as we turned to fight each other. I will not allow that mistake to happen again."
For a long moment, no one spoke. The weight of the vision hung in the air, dizzying in its scope.
Then, slowly, Sima Yi stepped forward.
"An empire without borders," he mused. "A dynasty that stretches beyond the horizon." His lips curled into a rare smile. "Ambitious. Dangerous. And if anyone can achieve it… it is you, my lord."
One by one, the others nodded. The shock faded, replaced by something else, anticipation. These were men of intellect, of strategy, of vision. And Lie Fan had just given them a vision greater than any they had dared imagine.
Jia Xu exhaled sharply, then chuckled. "Well. It seems we have much to plan."
Xu Shu stepped forward, earnest. "Then let us begin with what we have. If my lord's vision is to one day look outward, then we must first complete the work inward. I propose a five year stabilization and development plan. Reform tax policies. Rebuild infrastructure. Expand education so that the next generation of magistrates and governors are worthy of this vision."
Lie Fan grinned. "Than you Yuanzhi for proposing such marvelous idea. But first—" He gestured to the map of the Middle Kingdom. "Cao Cao. Liu Zhang. Shi Xie. The final pieces."
Zhuge Liang's fan snapped open. "Then let us begin in subjugating them, my lord."
The meeting lasted well into the night. Plans were drawn, strategies debated, logistics calculated. By the time Lie Fan returned to his residence, the moon hung high in the sky, its silver light bathing Xiapi in an ethereal glow.
Ying Yue sat in the courtyard, a cup of tea cooling in her hands. Diao Chan lounged nearby, idly plucking at a guqin. Cai Wenji was reading by lamplight, while Lu Lingqi, despite her pregnancy, was practicing slow, measured spear forms under the watchful eye of a maid, saying that it was good for her to have some sort of exercise.
The children, thankfully, were asleep.
Lie Fan sighed as he entered, the weight of the day slipping from his shoulders.
Ying Yue looked up. "Long day, husband?"
He chuckled. "You could say that."
After saying so, Lie Fan eased himself down beside Ying Yue on the stone bench, the warmth of her presence grounding him after the storm of strategies and ambitions. She smiled softly and handed him the cup of tea she'd been holding.
Without hesitation, he brought it to his lips and drained it in one smooth motion, the soothing heat chasing away the weariness coiled in his chest. Without a word, Ying Yue poured him another, the tea's fragrant steam curling into the night air. He drank again, slower this time, but no less thirsty.
Across the courtyard, Diao Chan's fingers stilled on the guqin strings, the melody she'd been weaving dissolving into silence. Her eyes, always sharp beneath the softness of her beauty, studied him with curiosity.
"Was the meeting that intense, husband?" she asked, a faint smile playing on her lips. "You drink as if you've been reciting poetry all night."
Lie Fan chuckled, a dry and rumbling sound. "Not poetry, but plans. So many plans. So many voices." He leaned back, cradling the empty cup in his hand. "We discussed much, our recent victory over Liu Bei, the consolidation of Jing Province, and what lies ahead."
He paused, the shadows of the moonlight flickering across his face as he glanced at the map in his mind.
"I spoke of my vision... to unite the land entirely and then, to look outward."
The word "outward" struck like a pebble dropped into still water. All movement ceased. Even Lu Lingqi, who had been practicing slow, deliberate spear thrusts with the steadiness of a warrior and the grace of a mother to be, lowered her weapon.
The courtyard, alive a moment ago with casual comfort, now held a quiet intensity. All four women, his wives, his confidantes, his strength, turned toward him.
Cai Wenji was the first to speak, folding her book shut and resting it on her lap. Her voice, always laced with calm intelligence, carried a thread of intrigue. "When you say ''outward,' husband... do you mean expansion beyond our borders? Beyond the lands we now seek to unify?"
Lie Fan's lips curled into a familiar smile, one that carried both affection and admiration. He leaned forward and lightly flicked the tip of her nose. "In matters like this, my dear Ji'er, you always read my thoughts before I can speak them when I yvome to matter such as this."
Her cheeks flushed a vivid red, and she turned her gaze aside, eyes wide with embarrassment and a touch of playful reproach. "Must you tease me in front of the others?" she murmured.
The others chuckled. Ying Yue's hand found his shoulder, squeezing gently, while Diao Chan let out a breath of laughter like wind rustling through silk. Even Lu Lingqi allowed herself a chuckle, lowering herself slowly to sit beside her husband, careful of the child growing within her.
"But truly," Lingqi asked after a pause, "how far do you intend to go, husband? How large do you imagine this empire of yours becoming?"
Lie Fan turned his gaze to the stars above, letting the silence stretch. The night sky was vast, black velvet embroidered with endless pinpricks of silver. He raised a hand and traced an imaginary line along the horizon.
"As far as the world will allow," he said. "To the borders of Goguryeo, to the jungles of the southern kingdoms, across the mountains that cradle the western passes, and perhaps even across the sea. The Han Dynasty collapsed because it turned inward. It forgot that the world is vast and filled with others who seek power, wealth, and influence. If we sit idle after unification, we will fall into the same trap."
Diao Chan leaned in slightly. "But to conquer... all of that? Is that not dangerous, even reckless?"
"Dangerous, yes," Lie Fan admitted. "But not reckless. Everything must be done with purpose. If we can establish a stable foundation, efficient administration, educated governors, loyal and capable generals, then expansion becomes not a burden, but a natural progression. Every empire before us feared what lay beyond. I say we embrace it."
Cai Wenji nodded slowly, eyes thoughtful. "You would need schools, institutions of learning to train these future leaders. Infrastructure to support a far flung realm. Roads. Ships. An expanded and strengthen navy. Diplomatic envoys for distant lands…"
"Exactly," Lie Fan said, his tone warming. "And the people must believe in the vision, not fear it. That is why the next five years will be crucial. Unite and stabilize the land. Educate the youth. Rebuild where war has scarred the earth."
Ying Yue rested her head on his shoulder. "You carry the weight of a thousand ambitions, husband."
He smiled and kissed her hair. "And I could not bear it without you all."
They stayed like that for a while, Lie Fan in the center, surrounded by the four women who knew his heart better than any general or scholar. The courtyard was quiet but alive with shared dreams.
Lu Lingqi rubbed her swollen belly thoughtfully. "Then we must raise our children well. For they will inherit this world you're building."
Lie Fan looked at her, and the fierce pride in her eyes. She was more than a warrior, she was his shield, his sword, and now, the mother of his legacy.
"I trust no one more," he said.
The night grew cooler. A breeze swept through the courtyard, rustling the trees and causing the lanterns to sway.
One by one, his wives retired, leaving Lie Fan alone beneath the stars, seated on the bench where so many dreams had just been spoken aloud. He stared up at the sky, heart steady, thoughts burning bright.
The next day, morning sun bathed Xiapi in a soft golden light, the city already stirring with life as merchants opened their stalls and children ran through the streets with wide smiles.
Amid the hum of activity, a solemn procession made its way down the main avenue, Lie Fan, dressed in robes of muted but noble hue, flanked on both sides by two silent members of his Yellow Ghost Bodyguard.
Their destination was the Xiapi Academy, a place of knowledge and refinement, its walls humming with quiet energy as generations of minds passed through its courtyards, hungry for wisdom. Lie Fan had been here before, of course, many times, but today was different. Today was the beginning of something greater.
The gatekeeper bowed low, and a servant led the trio through manicured gardens and stone pathways, through rows of students seated cross legged under pavilions where scholars delivered their lessons in calm, measured tones.
The sound of brushes against paper, the rustle of robes, and the occasional chirping of birds created an atmosphere of serenity that belied the depth of ambition Lie Fan carried with him this day.
The servant guiding him bowed deeply. "My lord, the masters are still occupied with their lectures and student evaluations. I apologize for the delay—"
Lie Fan raised a hand, cutting him off. "No need. Their duties come first. I can wait."
He was shown to the headmaster's chamber, a spacious room lined with shelves of bamboo scrolls and treatises. A large table dominated the center, its surface polished smooth by years of use. Lie Fan took a seat, motioning for his guards to remain outside.
He sat without impatience. These were not idle men he had summoned, Lu Zhi, Cai Yong, Zhuge Xuan, Sima Hui, Pang Degong, and Huang Chengyan were pillars of his realm, scholars whose names commanded respect across provinces.
That they served in Xiapi was a testament to Lie Fan's ability not only to conquer land, but to attract talent. He was proud of that.
From within his robe, from his system inventory, he produced a small, unassuming wooden box. He placed it upon the table and let it stay there as inside was the Imperial Seal, the very emblem of Heaven's Mandate.
He did not stare at the box for long. This seal was not for worship, nor for indulgent pride. It was a symbol, a tool. He had taken it long ago, in secret.
Not to declare himself Emperor like Yuan Shu had, foolishly and without the foundation to hold such a claim combined with a fake one, but to secure it, to let the world grow used to his leadership first. Prestige was not a race, it was a tide, and he intended to let his rise be a tide so strong, the people would call him emperor before he ever opened his mouth.
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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