Lie Fan: "Haha! Of course, I have never underestimated the Sima Clan, rather I admire your clan! I have heard that you have 2 sons who were a genius, Sima Lang and Sima Yi. Master Jia Xu and Master Sun Qian should have told you that I wanted to let both of them study under Master Jia Xu, Master Xun You, and Master Sun Qian?"
Sima Fang was surprised, he never thought that Lie Fan had a great interest in his son's talent and even had 3 great Scholars in 3 different schools Military, Political, and Foreign Affairs to teach them.
Jia Xu, Xun You, and Sun Qan'sn names are now being talked about by the noble circles in Luiyang. These three men can be said to be the masterminds behind Lie Fan's campaign, 3 obscure and almost unknown except for Jia Xu who has proven some of his skills are now being praised as a rising talent in the capital.
Sima Fang: "I was honored by the interest Governor Lie has for my son's talent, And having my sons be taught under the three masters is an enormous honor to us. But I don't know what the Sima Clan has to pay for such a rewarding honor?"
Lie Fan: "Haha! A man who can become the prefect of Luoyang is certainly not untalented, Prefect Sima Fang should have known what you should do and also the benefits outside of your sons?"
Sima Fang: "Sima Clan has always stayed neutral in Luiyang, we always stand ready to answer the call of Your Majesty. I don't want the already chaotic situation to become more chaotic with the Sima Clan joining Baohuzhe, I fear for the safety of my Clan."
Listening to this, Lie Fan makes eye contact with Jia Xu and Sun Qian. His position now can't give promises easily but with a middleman like his advisors, it can be done.
Jia Xu: "Brother Fang, don't worry about the safety of your clan. Baohuzhe will always protect its members and if your Family member's safety is threatened then you can't send them to Xiapi!"
Sun Qian: "What Master Jia Xu said is right, Master Sima Fang can send your family to Xiapi. Xiapi can be said to be Governor Lie Fan's seat of power, Your family's safety will be guaranteed there as the security in Xiapi is topnotch under Governor Lie Fan's administration."
Truthfully Sima Fang was tempted by the benefits his clan would receive, as he knew that his benefits were better than many members of Baohuzhe proving the importance of the Sima Clan to Lie Fan.
But sending his family to Xiapi can be said to be sending them to become a hostage, even though Lie Fan's reputation is outstanding people never knew the effect of power can change towards a person.
Lie Fan can see that Sima Fang is still struggling to make a decision and there's even sign of hesitation. Sima Clan joining under him can be said to be long-term benefits, training Sima Lang and Sima Yi both can ensure the next generation of Lie Fan's think tank.
He doesn't want to lose this handle, Lie Fan is afraid that the Sima Clan will do some schemes like the one that managed to overthrow Cao Wei. He wants to make sure that Sima Yi will never do those things and become absolutely loyal to him.
Lie Fan: "Master Sima Fang, do you truly think staying neutral will save you and your clan at this time? His Majesty has given Baohuzhe his support and we can be said to be the loyalist Faction to help His Majesty in stabilizing the Imperial Court. So I advise you to pick your decision wisely as there is no turning back."
Jia Xu, Xun You, and Sun Qian can hear the impatience in Lie Fan's words. This is the first time that Lie Fan has been impatient waiting for someone's decision. Both Jia Xu and Xun You were especially surprised as the two of them can be said to subtly declined Lie Fan many times.
Sima Fang can hear the warning in Lie Fan's words, he closes his eyes and sighs as he knows that joining Baohuzhe is a better choice than either He Jin or Zhang Rang at least his family will be protected.
Sima Fang: "Then let it be known the Sima Clan will show their support towards Baohuzhe and Join Baohuzhe in their noble cause!"
Lie Fan: "Remarkable choice! Rest easy Master Sima Fang, The benefits that are promised to you and your clan will be given. I hope that both of your sons can begin their tutoring under the three masters as soon as possible."
Sima Fang: "Thank You, Governor Lie, I feel so grateful for the opportunity Givermor Lie has given to both of my sons. I don't know where should I send them for the tutoring."
Jia Xu at the side answered this for Lie Fan, he said to Sima Fang that he could send both of his sons here to the Lie Clan estate. Lie Fan has given a room in the northern courtyard to become some sort of a classroom to accommodate the learning that Sima Lang and Sima Yi will receive.
Lie Fan now feels easy that Sima Clan joined Baohuzhe, as having them truly join him can be done slowly. He has many ways to slowly make them join his cause, especially now that he can influence the minds of the Sima Clan's next generation.
As the Sima Clan has officially joined Baohuzhe, now it's Xun You turned to fill in Sima Fang on some of the plans that will be done. Baohuzhe's next plans need the cooperation of Sima Fang as the prefect of Luoyang, building more shelters and soup kitchens in Luoyang, especially in He Jin and Zhang Rang spheres of influence.
Xun You told Sima Fang to station more Cuty Guards over there to help protect these establishments, the ones in Lie Fan's sphere of influence can be protected by the Soldiers Lie Fan brought from Xiapi.
This also needs Sima Fang's support, allowing Lie Fan soldiers to enter Xiapi under the need for more soldiers to increase the City's security. This is the tough one as this can be seen by Emperor King to be a provocation to his prestige, He Jin and Zhang Rang will surely try to stop this from happening.
Sima Fang was sweating when he heard that he would help Lie Fan soldiers to enter Luoyang, this could harm his career and he immediately refused. Jia Xu on the side begins to help in persuading Sima Fang, he tells Sima Fang to rest easy as Emperor Ling will be told by Lie Fan about this in the name of uprooting the nobles led by He Jin and Zhang Rang's influences.
Lie Fan's position in Emperor Ling's heart can be said to be very high, before can be said to be below Zhang Rang but with his actions this past month now he is the most trusted one in Emperor Ling's heart.
Once Emperor Ling highly trusted someone he would listen to all advice that was given by that person. This can be proven by how Zhang Rang and his cronies managed to control the Imperial Court, now they only need Sima Fang to agree to help them and Lie Fan will floor this to the Emperor.
Sima Fang takes notice that Emperor Ling will support this plan and begins to rest easy, at least his career will not end as the burden it will cause to his administration that's another matter. As long as Emperor Ling gives the green light, his position will be stable so after some thinking Sima Fang finally agrees to this plan.
Sima Fang's acceptance brings happiness to Jia Xu and the others, they have planned to use Lie Fan soldiers to protect the Souther Luoyang and use the Cuty Guards to disturb the business under both He Jin and Zhang Rang's Faction. Once the people see that City Guards are either investigating or shutting down a business their trust in that business will go down.
Their meetings ended after Sima Fang's agreement, Lie Fan wanted to invite Sima Fang to have lunch with him and his family but was refused by Sima Fang as he wanted to go back to his residence to inform his clan of their new oath that was taken.
Lie Fan praises his Think Tanks, saying that their contribution to his powerbase will be rewarded heavily by him. For now, he rewarded them 50,000 taels each which was an enormous sum but was small for the Lie Clan as with the industry they have now it will not be long before they can be considered a very rich clan below the four merchant clans.
The meeting between Lie Fan and Sima Fang doesn't go unnoticed by He Jin and Zhang Rang, Their spies can't enter the Lie Clan estate but they can observe from outside. Sima Clan carriages are also under the watchful eyes of He Jin and Zhang Rang as they also wanted this man to join their side.
In He Jin's grand mansion, He Jin is having a meeting with his inner circle. They have been discussing countermeasures for Lie Fan movement this past month. Lie Fan and his Baohizhe entering the fray have caused massive losses for He Jin and Zhang Rang's faction.
He Jin: "Does no one have a plan to stop Lie Fan?! You all graduated from the Imperial College but can't even think of a single plan to stop that upstart with his group of ragtag?!"
Yuan Shao: "Calmed down Grand General! I'm sure that Lie Fans are just lucky for now, I was preparing a foolproof plan alongside the advisors of my clan and I promise to share it with you after it's finished!"
He Jin: "Haha! I can rest easy now that the Yuan Clan will be helping me find a way, The four generations of high-ranking civil officials clan truly live up to its name! But I hope this plan is foolproof or the Yuan Clan's glorious name alongside its achievement will end at this generation!"
Yuan Shao: "Rest easy My Lord! My Father and Grandfather's advisors are some of the brightest minds in the Empire!"
Cao Cao who was sitting beside Yuan Shao can only shake his head, The moment Lie Fan entered the theater of war between He Jin and Zhang Rang he knew it would be a bloody fight. He Jin and Yuan Shao's sense of superiority will be the main cause of whatever plans they have.
Cao Cao is only waiting for He Jin to be truly desperate before he gives his opinion as he knows that He Jin looks down on him so he will not listen until he is truly desperate. For now, he only will watch He Jin's Faction going down until He shows up as it's Angel to help them and at the same time make his friend and rival Yuan Shao embarrassed losing to him.
Title: Yellow Heaven Subjugator
Age: 18 Years Old (185 AD)
Cultivation: Art Of War (level 8)