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Ma Teng's sharp eyes turned to his son, assessing, weighing. He gave a curt nod. "You're right. He's grown powerful, he was more powerful than us and Cao Cao now. With Shi Xie pledging his allegiance to him, he holds eight provinces under his banner. With his strength, if he mobilizes his armies on the border against Cao Cao, we may yet hold Tianshui, perhaps even turn the tide."
Ma Teng then continued his words. "Chao'er, draft the letter yourself. Be direct, we need his aid now, or Tianshui will fall."
Ma Chao didn't hesitate. He grabbed a fresh sheet of parchment and began writing, his strokes quick and urgent.
The content of the letter that Ma Chao wrote was this,
To the esteemed Lord Lie Fan,
"I write to you in dire need. The Ma Clan's rebellion against Cao Cao has reached its most desperate hour. We have lost Anding. Tianshui, our last stronghold in Liang Province, is under siege by Cao Cao's forces, 250,000 men led by Xiahou Dun, Zhang He, Xu Huang, and Li Dian, with Guo Jia and Jia Kui directing their strategies.
We cannot hold much longer.
But now, with the news of your victories, Liu Bei's defeat, Jing Province secured, and Shi Xie's submission, we see hope. You command eight provinces. Your strength eclipses Cao Cao's. If you move your armies that put pressure on Cao Cao's eastern borders, he will have no choice but to divert forces from Liang Province. This could be our salvation.
I implore you, as your ally, to act swiftly. If Tianshui falls, we will be forced to retreat to Jincheng, and from there, our rebellion will crumble. But if you strike now, we can turn the tide."
—Ma Chao of the Ma Clan
After writing the letter, Ma Chao had one of his fastest messengers to be sent out at the right moment, managing to slip out from Cao Cao's army that siege Tianshui.
Meanwhile, as Ma Chao's messenger urged his horse onward, hooves pounding against the dirt with desperate rhythm, the lands he crossed blurred in a haze of dust and sweat.
Day bled into night, and still, the rider pressed on, his heart hammering with the urgency of his mission. His only thoughts were of Tianshui's crumbling walls, of Ma Chao's resolute face, and of the slim thread of hope that lay with the man in Xiapi, Lie Fan.
Back in Xiapi, the capital thrummed with quiet industry. Spring sunlight poured through the windows of the Governor's Castle, where Lie Fan sat behind a heavy lacquered desk.
His dark eyes moved swiftly over the reports before him, his lips pressed in a faint line of satisfaction. One by one, his domains were flourishing.
Jing Province, newly subjugated, showed remarkable signs of progress, irrigation systems were restored, farmlands reclaimed from the ruin of war, and roads bustling with trade once more.
As for Jiaozhi, a province long neglected by the Han central court, was, at last receiving the care it deserved, the granaries were being rebuilt, the local and small tribal chieftains pacified, and merchants whispered of prosperity returning to the southern reaches.
Even Xu and Qing provinces, rich and venerable lands, showed a level of stability and refinement not seen since the golden days of the Han Dynasty.
Lie Fan allowed himself a small, rare smile as he leaned back, fingers steepled beneath his chin. For all the bloodshed that had marked his rise, the fruits of peace were blooming in his lands.
His moment of reflection was interrupted by the soft knock at his door.
"My lord, a visitor requests an audience," came the voice of a servant outside.
Lie Fan raised an eyebrow. "Who is it?"
"The patriarch of the Zhen Clan Zhen Yi, my lord. And… his youngest daughter, Zhen Ji."
For a heartbeat, Lie Fan was still. Then he exhaled slowly, a flicker of amusement in his eyes. "He finally comes again? And with his daughter, no less." He chuckled under his breath. "Looks like he was desperate for this to happen."
The Zhen Clan was among the wealthiest merchant families in the north, wielding influence through trade and connections, even if it was waning.
Lie Fan knew Zhen Yi's ambitions well, a marriage alliance to secure the clan's standing under his rule and gain protection for his clan. That the old fox had brought Zhen Ji personally spoke volumes about how keen he was to seal the pact.
"Very well," Lie Fan said, gathering the scattered scrolls on his desk and stacking them neatly. "Show them in."
As the servant bowed and hurried away, Lie Fan ran a practiced hand across the polished surface of his desk, making sure no sensitive reports remained in sight.
When the door opened again, Zhen Yi entered first, dressed in resplendent robes of pale green, his silvered hair combed and oiled into perfect place. Behind him glided Zhen Ji, a vision of poise and elegance making her beauty undeniable.
She moved like water, graceful, controlled, and her every motion a dance of refinement. The pale silk of her gown shimmered faintly as she walked, and the faintest fragrance of plum blossoms trailed in her wake.
When her eyes lifted briefly to meet Lie Fan's, he saw there a flicker of something beneath the practiced serenity, hesitation, perhaps even sorrow, but it vanished quickly, hidden behind the careful mask of a noble daughter.
Lie Fan rose smoothly, clasping his hands together. "Patriarch Zhen. Lady Zhen. Welcome. This is an unexpected visit."
Zhen Yi bowed low, his voice smooth and deferential. "Lord Lie Fan, it is an honor to meet you again."
Zhen Ji curtsied with flawless grace, her voice a soft murmur, "My lord."
"Please," Lie Fan gestured to the cushioned seats before his desk, "be at ease."
As they settled, Lie Fan allowed himself a brief glance at Zhen Ji. Even in a world where beauty was not rare among noblewomen, she was striking, fine boned, luminous, with a quiet dignity that commanded attention without a word. Only Diao Chan, his second wife, could rival such radiance in his eyes.
But Lie Fan was not a man to be swayed by beauty alone. His mind was sharp, tempered by war and politics, and his gaze soon shifted to Zhen Yi.
"What brings you to my hall today, Patriarch Zhen?" Lie Fan asked calmly, folding his hands before him.
Zhen Yi's expression was earnest, though the faint glimmer of calculation in his eyes did not escape Lie Fan. "My lord, forgive my sudden visit, and forgive me for bringing my daughter. But the matter is… very pressing."
He glanced briefly at Zhen Ji, then back at Lie Fan.
"I have come," Zhen Yi continued, "to humbly ask for your answer regarding the proposed marriage alliance between our clans, my lord."
Lie Fan said nothing at first, watching the older man quietly. His eyes flicked to Zhen Ji, noting the way her lashes lowered, her fingers folded neatly in her lap. But there, the faintest tremble, a quick dart of the eyes before she mastered herself.
His fingers tapped lightly against the desk. Zhen Yi was desperate to have him become the Zhen Clan backer, just like the Mi Clan but they had lost the race since Mi ZHu and Mi Fang had shown their worth by becoming loyal retainers, that is why the Mi Clan had him as their backer.
"I see," Lie Fan murmured. "Then before I give my answer, I wish to speak with Lady Zhen. Alone, Patriarch Zhen."
Zhen Yi blinked in surprise. His mouth opened, then closed, and for a moment the polished mask of the merchant cracked, a flicker of nervousness flashing across his face. He knew better than to refuse a direct request from a man like Lie Fan.
"As you wish, my lord," Zhen Yi said after a heartbeat, his voice steadying. He rose, bowed, and quietly left the room.
Once the door clicked shut, silence settled over the room.
Lie Fan regarded Zhen Ji, who sat with her hands folded tightly, her gaze lowered, her posture was perfect, but Lie Fan could see the slight tension in her shoulders.
"Lady Zhen," he said softly, "raise your eyes."
She obeyed, and in that gaze, Lie Fan saw it again, the flicker of something real beneath the courtly polish.
"Tell me, Lady Zhen," Lie Fan said quietly, "do you wish this marriage?"
Zhen Ji drew a breath, her lips parting as if to speak then stopped. Her hands tightened in her lap. For a long moment, silence hung between them like a taut string.
Finally, she spoke, her voice low but clear. "My lord… it is not my wish that matters."
Lie Fan's lips curved faintly. "That is a practiced answer, Lady Zhen. But I ask once again, do you wish this?"
Zhen Ji's hands tightened once more, but then slowly relaxed. She met his gaze, and for the first time, he saw the mask slip just a little.
"No," she whispered.
It was a single word, soft as falling snow but it carried the weight of a lifetime.
Lie Fan inclined his head slightly. "I thank you for your honesty."
For a moment, Zhen Ji looked startled, as if she had expected rebuke, or cold indifference. But Lie Fan only rose from his seat, walking toward the window where sunlight streamed in golden beams across the polished floor.
"Lady Zhen," he said quietly, his voice thoughtful, "marriage is a bond between clans, yes, but it is also a bond between two souls. I have no desire to make a woman my wife if her heart is chained elsewhere."
Zhen Ji's breath caught, her eyes wide.
Lie Fan turned back to her, his expression composed. "A woman that was forced to become a wife would never become a wife, I respect the Zhen Clan. I will grant them my protection. But the alliance will not be sealed with this marriage, if you don't want it to happen."
For a moment, Zhen Ji could only stare. Then, slowly, relief flooded her features, so quickly masked that only a keen observer would have caught it.
He leaned back in his chair, looking at her with a sigh. "How old are you, Lady Zhen?"
"Seventeen, my lord."
Too young. Not by the standards of their time, perhaps, but to Lie Fan, who had lived another life where girls of seventeen were still students, still dreaming, it felt different.
Of course, it's also because of the age gap, if he was much younger may be in his early or mid twenties he will accept immediately even if this was political. As he believes that he could cultivate the love, but now he just wants to ensure that his backyard won't get caught on fire since he will reach a critical point soon, in the unification of the land.
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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