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"You dare reprimand me?" Yeon Gaesomun roared, his voice shaking with anger. "I have served Goguryeo since I was a young man, and now, in my fifties, I have never felt so humiliated! The Goguryeo I helped build and expand is now being treated as a mere vassal, and the king I pledged my allegiance to has no backbone!"
The hall fell silent, the weight of Yeon Gaesomun's words hanging heavily in the air. King Sansang's face turned pale with shock and anger, while Mo Du and Dal Gae exchanged uneasy glances. The general's outburst was not just a challenge to the king's authority, it was a direct attack on his leadership and control.
Yeon Gaesomun continued, his voice rising with each word. "You sent the sons and daughters of Goguryeo's nobles as hostages to Lie Fan, and now you accept these humiliating terms without a fight. Is this the kind of king I have to serve? A king who bows to the demands of a tyrant and sacrifices the dignity of his people?"
The general's followers, who had stood silently by his side, now murmured their agreement, their expressions filled with resentment. The division within the hall was palpable, the once unified court now fractured by anger and disillusionment.
King Sansang, his face contorted with rage, get up from his throne and took a step forward, his voice trembling with barely contained fury. "You forget your place, Yeon Gaesomun! I am your king, and you will show me the respect I am due! Your actions today have endangered the entire kingdom, and I will not tolerate such insubordination!"
Mo Du, sensing that the situation was spiraling out of control, stepped forward to intervene. "Your Majesty, General Yeon Gaesomun, please, let us not allow our anger to cloud our judgment. We are all frustrated by the situation, but we must remain united. This Internal division will only weaken us further and give Lie Fan the advantage he seeks."
Dal Gae nodded in agreement. "Master Mo Du is right. We cannot afford to be divided at a time like this. General Yeon Gaesomun, your passion for Goguryeo is commendable, but your actions today were misguided. We must find a way to move forward together."
Yeon Gaesomun, however, was not ready to back down. His pride had been wounded, and his anger was too great to be soothed by words. "I have nothing more to say," he growled, his voice low and dangerous. "If this is the path Goguryeo is to take, then I want no part of it."
With that, Yeon Gaesomun turned on his heel and strode out of the hall, his followers trailing behind him. The sound of their footsteps echoed through the grand hall, a stark reminder of the rift that had just been exposed.
King Sansang watched them go, his expression a mixture of anger and despair. He knew that Yeon Gaesomun's departure was not just a personal slight, it was a sign of deeper divisions within Goguryeo's leadership. The king sank back into his throne, his shoulders heavy with the weight of the situation.
Mo Du and Dal Gae approached the king, their expressions filled with concern. "Your Majesty," Mo Du said quietly, "we must address this matter carefully. General Yeon Gaesomun's influence is significant, and his departure could have serious consequences. We cannot allow this division to weaken us further."
King Sansang nodded, his voice weary but resolute. "You are right, Mo Du. We must find a way to mend this rift, but we cannot do so at the expense of our sovereignty. Lie Fan's terms are harsh, but we have no choice but to comply for now. Once we have secured alliances with Baekje, Gaya, and Silla, we can reclaim our dignity."
Dal Gae added, "We must also keep a close eye on Sima Yi and his delegation. They will undoubtedly exploit any divisions within our court to further their own agenda. We cannot afford to give them any advantage."
The king sighed, his mind racing with the challenges ahead. "Very well. Mo Du, Dal Gae, I trust you to handle this matter with the utmost care. We must remain united, no matter the cost."
As the king and his advisors continued to discuss their next steps, the atmosphere in the grand hall remained tense. The events of the day had exposed the cracks in Goguryeo's leadership, and the road ahead was fraught with uncertainty.
Yet, amidst the turmoil, there was a glimmer of hope. If they could navigate these challenges with wisdom and unity, they might yet find a way to preserve Goguryeo's sovereignty and dignity.
Meanwhile, outside the palace, General Yeon Gaesomun and his followers gathered in a secluded courtyard, their expressions filled with anger and determination.
The general's outburst had been a turning point, and they knew that the path ahead would be fraught with danger. Yet, they were resolved to fight for the Goguryeo they believed in, no matter the cost.
The seeds of discord had been sown, and the consequences would ripple through the kingdom in the days to come. For Goguryeo, the true battle was just beginning.
The news of General Yeon Gaesomun's explosive outburst in the grand hall spread like wildfire through the streets of Gungnae. From the highest nobles to the humblest peasants, everyone was talking about the confrontation between the fiery general and King Sansang.
The division between the military, led by Yeon Gaesomun, and the king's court was no longer a secret confined to the palace walls, it was now the talk of the entire city. The implications of this rift were dire, and the people of Goguryeo could feel the tension in the air.
For the peasants, the news was a source of fear and uncertainty. They had always relied on the military to protect them from external threats, but now they worried that the division within the leadership would leave them vulnerable.
Rumors began to circulate that General Yeon Gaesomun might stage a coup, plunging the kingdom into chaos. Others feared that the military, divided and disillusioned, might abandon its duty to defend the people altogether.
The streets of Gungnae, once bustling with life, now felt heavy with unease as families whispered about what the future might hold.
For the nobles, the situation was even more precarious. Many of them had sons or daughters who had been sent as hostages to Lie Fan's court, a bitter concession made to secure peace.
The thought that General Yeon Gaesomun's rash actions might provoke Lie Fan into harming their children filled them with dread. The nobles, who had once been divided in their opinions of the general, now found common ground in their fear and anger. They banded together, their voices united in a call for action.
By the end of the day, a delegation of nobles had gathered at the palace, demanding an audience with King Sansang. Their petition was clear, General Yeon Gaesomun must be punished according to military law for his insubordination and recklessness.
Some went even further, calling for his demotion or outright dismissal from his position. The nobles argued that Yeon Gaesomun's actions had not only endangered the kingdom but also put the lives of their children at risk. Their voices were filled with a mixture of desperation and anger, and their demands echoed through the halls of the palace.
King Sansang, already burdened by the weight of the day's events, found himself facing yet another crisis. The division between the military and the civil officials was deepening, and the king knew that he had to act quickly to restore order.
Yet, the decision before him was not an easy one. Yeon Gaesomun was a respected and influential figure within the military, and punishing him too harshly could provoke further unrest. At the same time, the king could not afford to ignore the demands of the nobles, whose support was crucial for maintaining stability.
As the king deliberated, the tension within the court continued to grow. The civil officials supported the nobles' petition, arguing that Yeon Gaesomun's actions had undermined the king's authority and endangered the kingdom.
The military officials, however, were divided. Some remained loyal to Yeon Gaesomun, viewing him as a hero who stood up for Goguryeo's dignity. Others, though sympathetic to his frustrations, recognized the need for discipline and order. The court, once a place of unity and purpose, was now a battleground of conflicting loyalties and agendas.
Meanwhile, in the quarters designated for Sima Yi and Li Wei, the atmosphere was one of quiet calculation. The news of the turmoil within Goguryeo's court had reached them quickly, thanks to the passing servants and maids who whispered about the day's events.
The Oriole Agents, ever vigilant, had also provided Sima Yi with a detailed report of the situation. As Sima Yi read through the information, a faint smile played on his lips.
"It seems our presence here has stirred the pot," Sima Yi remarked, his tone calm but laced with satisfaction. "General Yeon Gaesomun's outburst has exposed the fractures within Goguryeo's leadership. This is an opportunity we cannot afford to waste."
Li Wei, seated across from him, nodded in agreement. "Indeed, Master Sima Yi. The division between the military and the king's court weakens their position and gives us the upper hand. But we must tread carefully. If we push too hard, we risk uniting them against us."
Sima Yi's smile widened, his sharp mind already formulating a plan. "You are right, Li Wei. We must exploit this division without provoking a backlash. The key is to keep them off balance, to sow discord while maintaining the appearance of neutrality."
The two men spent the next several hours discussing their strategy, their combined intellects weaving a plan that was both subtle and effective. They would use the turmoil within Goguryeo's court to their advantage, subtly encouraging the divisions while presenting themselves as mediators.
The goal was to ensure that Goguryeo remained too preoccupied with its internal conflicts to pose a threat to Lie Fan's plans.
Back in the palace, King Sansang finally made his decision. He would punish General Yeon Gaesomun, but not in a way that would provoke further unrest. The king issued a decree stripping Yeon Gaesomun of his command and placing him under house arrest.
The punishment was meant to serve as a warning to others, a reminder that insubordination would not be tolerated. Yet, the king also knew that he could not afford to alienate the military entirely. He appointed a new general to lead the army, a man known for his loyalty and discipline named Jang Gidu.
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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