Chapter 33

In the rear of the central military tent, the air was humid.

Yuan Fang was sitting in a large wooden tub, enjoying the hot water, with his eyes closed, resting.

The maid, Xiao Cha, stood behind him, her sleeves rolled up high, revealing a pair of fair, smooth arms, carefully rubbing his back.

"Travelling through time is really enjoyable. If this were in modern times, how could I enjoy such a pleasure of having a beauty rub my back..."

Xiao Cha rubbed diligently, moving from his back to his front, getting so close that the scent of her body wafted to him.

Opening his eyes, he saw the half-covered, drooping softness and the deep valley between them.

The young man's heart couldn't help but flutter.

Xiao Cha, who was rubbing diligently, inadvertently looked down and saw her young master's eyes wandering over her chest.

Xiao Cha's cheeks instantly turned red, and a wave of shyness washed over her.

Though shy, Xiao Cha did not cover herself, allowing Yuan Fang to admire the exposed beauty.

As a personal maid, she not only had to serve her master's daily life but also had to offer her body if the master desired.

Xiao Cha, of course, knew her responsibilities. Even if Yuan Fang suddenly pounced to possess her, she would not dare to resist.

At this moment, Yuan Fang, who was taking a break, had such intentions.

"Master, good news, absolutely good news, Liu Bei has led his army away from Gaotang." Suddenly, Hao Zhao's excited voice came from outside the tent.

Yuan Fang's heart leaped, and he jumped out of the tub, striding out.

As he stood up, his youthful, iron-like body was fully exposed to Xiao Cha.

Xiao Cha immediately blushed, her breathing quickened to the extreme, and her heart almost leaped out of her chest.

Yuan Fang, however, had no time to care. He put on his robe and strode out of the tent.

"Master, the intelligence from the southern shore just arrived. Liu Bei has led 7,000 troops away from Gaotang to save Kong Rong in Beihai. Currently, only 3,000 enemy troops remain in Gaotang." Hao Zhao said excitedly, presenting the secret report.

Yuan Fang read it carefully, and a smile crept onto his lips.

Everything was as he had predicted. Liu Bei had indeed fallen for his feigned injury plan.

"Master's brilliant strategy is truly remarkable." Hao Zhao praised, raising his thumb. "Liu Bei has led the main force away, and only Zhang Fei and 3,000 troops remain in Gaotang. We should launch an attack immediately, cross the southern shore, and capture Gaotang in one fell swoop."

Yuan Fang was also excited, but he quickly calmed down and analyzed the situation.

Although only 3,000 enemy troops remained in Gaotang, Yuan Fang knew that Zhang Fei was not easy to deal with. If he launched a full-scale attack, Zhang Fei could hold out for a few days, and Liu Bei, who had just left, would return with his army.

At that time, all his plans would be in vain.

"Liu Bei may have left, but we cannot be overly optimistic. We need a plan to capture Gaotang quickly..."

Yuan Fang paced in the tent, his fingers touching his chin, his thoughts swirling.

After much contemplation, Yuan Fang stopped, and a hint of mystery appeared on his handsome face.

He had a plan.

Yuan Fang did not rush to attack but continued to feign illness, even spreading the word that his injuries were severe and he needed to return to Ye to recover.

On the surface, he was feigning illness, but secretly, he instructed Hao Zhao to prepare for the river crossing.

At the same time, the spies in Qingzhou were closely monitoring Liu Bei's movements.

Seven days later, the spies reported that Tian Kai and Liu Bei had led the main force of Qingzhou into Beihai, engaging in fierce battles with the Yellow Turban leader Guan Hai, with no clear winner yet.

The time had come.

Yuan Fang gathered his generals and announced that they would mobilize all their troops, cross the Yellow River, and capture the key city of Gaotang.

The generals, who had been restrained for a long time, were filled with fighting spirit. Seeing Yuan Fang's determination, they were all fired up and ready for battle.

"Master, I am willing to lead the charge and cross the southern shore." Zhu Ling was the first to step forward.

Guo Huai and Hao Zhao also volunteered, eager to lead the charge.

Yuan Fang, however, waved his hand to calm the excited generals and said calmly, "Zhang Fei is not an ordinary man. This time, we must capture Gaotang through strategy. We need to take the ferry point quietly and take advantage of Zhang Fei's lack of reaction to capture Gaotang."

Capture the ferry point quietly?

The generals looked at each other, all showing signs of difficulty.

There were over a thousand enemy troops at the ferry point outside the city. If they were to attack the ferry point, they would have to cross the river by boat, which would inevitably draw the enemy's attention. How could they do it quietly?

Yuan Fang, however, smiled and turned to Guo Huai, "Guo Boji, I need you to perform a play. Are you willing?"

Guo Huai was taken aback, puzzled, "I don't know what play Master wants me to perform."

"Merchant." Yuan Fang lightly said two words.

Guo Huai was bewildered, unable to understand what Yuan Fang meant.

...

A few days later.

At dusk, the Yellow River shimmered with golden waves.

Guo Huai stood on the deck, looking down at his merchant attire, which made him feel quite uncomfortable.

Looking back, over twenty merchant ships followed closely behind, the "Mi" character merchant flag on the mast fluttering in the wind.

The Mi family was the wealthiest in Xu Province, and their merchant caravans traveled between Qing and Xu. Guo Huai was traveling under the guise of the Mi family's merchant caravan.

Guo Huai's mission was to capture the ferry point quietly, as ordered by Yuan Fang.

On the surface, the merchant ship was manned by rowers and sailors, but in the cabin, over fifty elite soldiers were hidden, forbidden to appear on deck without orders.

As evening approached, the merchant ships reached the waters of Gaotang and slowly approached the southern shore ferry point.

Seeing the approaching ships, a group of alert southern troops quickly rushed to the pier. The leading officer ordered his men to draw their bows and arrows and shouted from the shore, ordering the merchant ships not to approach.

"Sir, please don't shoot. We are a merchant caravan from the Mi family in Xu Province. It is already dark, and we dare not continue sailing. We only wish to dock at the ferry point for the night. Please have mercy."

Guo Huai bowed and smiled, jumping off the ship and wading ashore.

The Mi family was a well-known family in Qing and Xu. Hearing it was the Mi family's caravan, the officer's vigilance relaxed slightly, but he still said sternly, "Superiors have ordered that no civilians may enter the ferry point. You should leave quickly."

"It's already dark, and the crew is tired. Please be kind, sir." Guo Huai smiled and approached, casually handing a money bag to the officer as if bowing.

The officer weighed the money bag, knowing it was substantial, quickly pocketed the money, and changed his demeanor, waving his hand, "Sailing at night is indeed dangerous. I will make an exception and allow you to stay at the ferry point for the night. However, you must all stay on the ship and not disembark, understood?"

"Understood, thank you, sir." Guo Huai thanked him repeatedly, calling the other merchant ships to dock and ordering the crew to bring out the prepared food and drink to reward the alert troops on shore.

With the money taken and the drinks consumed, the southern troops became even more relaxed, lowering their vigilance.

Watching the soldiers eating and drinking, a cold smile appeared on Guo Huai's face, and he muttered, "Master said money can make the devil push the mill, and it's true..."

Unnoticed, night had fallen.

Seeing the right moment, Guo Huai ordered the soldiers hidden in the cabin to disembark. Hundreds of Yuan troops silently landed.

Snap! Snap!

With a swift movement, the drunk guards were killed in their sleep.

Guo Huai successfully secured the shore and urgently ordered three signal fires to be lit, signaling the main force on the northern shore.

Soon, one by one, the boats and rafts, guided by the signal fires, smoothly entered the ferry point.

Generals Zhu Ling and Hao Zhao led thousands of Yuan troops, jumping off the boats and charging into the enemy camp.

Without alertness and completely unprepared, the thousand enemy troops were slaughtered, their cries of terror echoing.

Yuan Fang, wielding his skull-crushing club, rode like the wind, charging from the shore. The 92-pound iron club swept through, and heads exploded like watermelons.

At dawn, as the first ray of sunlight pierced through the morning mist, Yuan Fang, standing on a mountain of corpses outside the camp, saw the key city by the water.

Gaotang City was right before him.

Yuan Fang, who had not slept all night, felt no fatigue. Looking at the city of Gaotang, still half-asleep in the morning mist, a cold smile appeared on his stern face.

Taking a deep breath, Yuan Fang raised his skull-crushing club and shouted, "All troops, attack the city! The first to enter Gaotang City will be heavily rewarded!"

At the command, the ten thousand Yuan troops, still filled with the desire to kill, surged towards Gaotang City like a pack of wild beasts.

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