Lie Fan having seen the results of the gunpowder, ordered the alchemist and the craftsman to work on the Bee Killer project next as the main priority as gunpowder is their main component. He receives double happiness today by marrying Diao Chan and the successful Gunpowder.
Lie Fan also told the group that safety is number one, he can let resources be exhausted but the talent can't be harmed as it can't be replaced. The alchemist and the craftsman were touched by Lie Fan's care, they promised to prioritize safety and that Lie Fan would see the results of their research with high quality guaranteed.
Lie Fan then turned to Jia Xu and Chen Deng, he wanted this village's safety to be upgraded to the highest level. Elite soldiers from his army, especially the Guard Battalion can be put here as guards, around 300 people are enough as they only need to be cautious of bandits and spies As for the Yellow Turban remnant there's almost none left in Xu Province.
Jia Xu and Chen Deng thought that the Guard Battalion was the most elite army under Lie Fan's command, they couldn't be wasted doing guard duty but Lie Fan objected to their objection saying that it was still a time of peace and it also helped the Guard Battalion sharp themselves in some way.
After that, Lie Fan goes towards the makeshift shooting ground where the craftsman is trying the Chu-Ko-Nu. The Chu-Ko-Nu is a repeating crossbow, they can fire many bolts which can be said to be a cold weapon-era machine gun. Lie Fan took on the prototype and tried it himself, the firepower and accuracy were outstanding when Lie Fan shot it to the target.
Lie Fan feels like a kid who receives a new toy, For Lie Fan this prototype is already good enough but when he tries to empty the ammo suddenly it jammed. The group of craftsmen immediately apologized to Lie Fan, They managed to make the Chu-Ko-Nu but every prototype had its flaws and every time it managed to be improved another flaw came up.
Lie Fan doesn't care about this, he tells them that every project has its flaws which was the last step they knew before completing their project. Lie Fan tours the village, he also sees the construction of the ballista and trebuchet which are in progress being built slowly. This big artillery will become his ultimate weapon in bringing down cities and passes like Hulau Gate.
After the tour was done, Lie Fan returned to Xiapi and there he began to spend his time with Diao Chan who was waiting for him. Now that Lie Fan already has his own family, Lie Shang and Yu Yan decide to return to Huai'An while Wannian the little princess is put under Lie Fan's care.
Wannian listened to Lie Fan more than to Lie Shang and Yu Yan, Even though Lie Fan spoiled her the most he was also the strict one. Yu Yan sometimes compromised when Wannian acted cute, but Lie Fan would never compromise and punish Wannian if she acted unbecoming of her status and didn't listen to her elders.
Lie Fan wasn't really with Lie Shang and Yu Yan's decision without consulting with him, especially leaving Wannian with him which means that he was responsible for her education. Lie Shang and Yu Yan have already decided and nothing Lie Fan did or said will change their decision, In the end, Lie Fan reluctantly agrees.
Lie Fan through Diao Chan and Ying Yue invited Cai Wenji to the Lie Clan's residence, he hoped to talk with her about becoming a tutor for Wannian education, and at the same time, Diao Chan and Ying Yue could also chat with their only friend in Xiapi.
Lie Fan: "Lady Cai Wenji, thank you for agreeing to meet me."
Cai Wenji: "Both Lady Ying and Concubine Diao invited me to meet with Governor Lie, They said that you're looking for a tutor for the Little Mistress."
Lie Fan: "Yes I am, Lady Cau Wenji is the only renowned female scholar I have ever known, I will rest assured that Wannian can learn under your teaching."
Cai Wenji actually has a lot of free time after the Cai Clan comes to Xiapi, Almost all of the Cai Clan members entered Lie Fan's administration, and their members are now spread all across Xu Province.
After some thinking, Cai Wenji accepted this appointment as she had nothing to lose and she also could meet with her friends more often. 1 month has passed since the marriage ceremonies and Lie Fan has become notoriously known to be protective of his wives, all the people who wanted to meet them were checked and screened thoroughly.
With Wanniang having a tutor now for her education, Lie Shang and Yu Yan leave Xiapi the next day and go back to Huai'An. Wannian the little princess cried when Lie Shang and Yu Yan left, Lie Fan could only hug her in his arms and tell her that she could visit them anytime or vice versa.
1 year passed since that day, and the Han Dynasty entered a period of chaos again. Emperor Ling's health deteriorated badly and Four Factions in Luoyang began to fight for powers, Baohuzhe in just one year had lost sight of their original purpose, and the inner council had been mutinied. Zhu Ran, Huangfu Song, and Lu Zhi lost their position, and Baohuzhe is now led by a group of old officials who wanted to have more power.
When Lie Fan received this report, Lie Fan and his advisors had actually foreseen this to happen. Lie Fan is the head figure, Now that he is gone the old foxes who only see interest in their eyes decided to take power into their own hand. Lie Fan ordered the Oriole stationed in Luoyang to keep Zhu Jun, Huangfu Song, and Lu Zhi to keep them safe from any harm.
Sima Fang the Prefect of Luoyang and head of the Sima Clan saw that Luoyang was becoming more unstable now that Baohuzhe had lost all of its founders, He began to prepare for anything that could happen and even prepared for his family to be sent out from Luoyang any minute the powder keg explode.
In the one year that passed by, Chu-Ko-Nu was perfected without any flaws, and the official performance was watched by Lie Fan and all of his trusted subjects. The Generals led by Huang Zhong were ecstatic when they saw this new weapon, Huang Zhong as a master of archery could see that soldiers equipped with this weapon didn't need extensive training to be expert archers and a new battalion could be formed.
Gunpowder was also demonstrated, and everyone was surprised by the powerful explosion they had never seen before. The bomb that they have ever seen is a Molotov bomb made from wine and alcohol, As for Bee Killer is in progress as it's not easy to create something with a volatile ingredient.
Ballista and Trebuchet have also been built, but they are still under testing especially the trebuchet as they need to calculate its trajectory to the fullest, Lie Fan is very satisfied with the progress that was being shown by his R&D department. The arched saddle also has been mass-produced, now all of his cavalries have been equipped with one, and normal saddles are sold cheaper to the common people.
When Lie Fan and his retinue thought that it would be a calm year except for Luoyang's constant turmoil, suddenly a piece of news came that in Qing Province a rebellion of Yellow Turbans remnant numbering 200,000 rose up under Zhang Rao's command.
Kong Rong the Chancellor of Beihai immediately led the Imperial Forces under his command to repel the Yellow Turbans, he lost the battle and was besieged in Duchang so he sent letters asking for help. Kong Rong knew that the famed hero and warrior, Lie Fan the Governor of Xu Province was his neighbor so he became his first choice.
Taishi Chi his strongest general and one messenger managed to break through the blockade, Taishi Chi was sent to Lie Fan and the messenger went to the Chancellor of Pingyuan which is Liu Bei. Because of Lie Fan, the history trajectory changed beforehand Taishi Chi met with Liu Bei and had a chance to cross paths but under his butterfly effect, it did not happen.
Taishi Chi rode to Xiapi without rest, When he arrived at Xiapi all of the people in Xu Province already heard of the rebellion that a happening in Qing Province. Lie Fan is also curious about Taishi Chi, a general who can be said died early. So when he heard that Taishi Chi had come under Kong Rong's command, he allowed Taishi Chi to meet him.
Taishi Chi: "Governor Lie Fan, I came here to ask for help and reinforcement! My Lord Kong Rong was now being besieged in Duchang and in dire need of reinforcement!"
Lie Fan: "General Taishi Chi, rest assured that I will personally lead the forces under me to help Chancellor Kong. Why don't you take a rest first, and tomorrow we will set off to Duchang!"
Jia Xu: "Wait a minute My Lord! Xu Province is now unstable and in dire need of soldiers to protect our borders, If we send soldiers to help Chancellor Kong Rong what if the Yellow Turbans in Xu Province secure to rebel again?!"
Taishi Chi: "Governor Lie Fan, if what this sir has said is true then you don't need to send your soldiers, Rest easy as we have also requested the help of Chancellor of Pingyuan Liu Bei."
Lie Fan: "No! Jia Xu, you know that the Yellow Turbans remnant in Xu Province will never have the chance to rise up again due to our policies, General Taishi Chi rest easy that my soldiers will be led by me to help Chancellor Kong!"
Taishi Chi was happy that he managed to enlist the help of the Xu Province Governor, Lie Fan the only governor who still retained a large number of soldiers thanks to his cleaning up the Yellow Turbans remnant in his province. What Taishi Chi doesn't know is Lie Fan not only retained his soldiers but increased them in preparation for the battle for hegemony.
Jia Xu saw the excitement on Taishi Chi's face, he knew the purpose of his previous contradiction with Lie Fan had bore fruit. Lie Fan and Jia Xu understand each other perfectly, Jia Xu can see that Lie Fan is interested in Taishi Chi so he does this skit.
Taishi Chi was led to a guest room, In the room food and water were prepared for him so he could eat and drink and then take a rest. Lie Fan on the other hand called for Huang Zhong and ordered him to assemble 50,000 soldiers which were almost all of his private soldiers to prepare to march to Duchang in Qing Province.
Huang Zhong heeds the order, he asks if Lie Fan will participate in the battle and receives an affirmative from Lie Fan. When Huang Zhong tried to persuade him, Lie Fan waved his hand indicating that he had decided. Lie Fan wanted to try the power he had accumulated through intense cultivation and drinking the potions he had.
[AT: Chapter for today! ?? I'm sorry for not updating yesterday, I'm suddenly sick after returning from the trip. Fortunately, the 2 chapters I promised can be updated but yesterday I couldn't even get out of my bed sorry for the inconvenience!??]
________________________
Title: Yellow Heaven Subjugator
Age: 18 Years Old (186 AD) -> 20 Years Old (187 AD)
Cultivation: Yin Yang Separation (level 2) -> (level 4)
STR: 589 -> 633 -> 753 (12 Potions)
VIT: 285 -> 321 -> 331 (1 Potion)
AGI: 288 -> 318 -> 328 (1 Potion)
INT: 306 -> 330 -> 349 (1 Potion)
WIS: 259 -> 279 -> 289 (1 Potion)
WILL: 197 -> 207 (1 Potion)