Chapter 34

Yuan Fang held the skull-crushing staff in his hand, leading the charge, with Zhu Ling and Hao Zhao flanking him, while Guo Huai led two hundred cavalry to clear the way.

Taking advantage of the morning mist, ten thousand of Yuan Fang's troops surged like a tide to the northern gate of Gaotang.

Due to the sudden attack, the city of Gaotang had not yet realized what was happening and, as usual, opened the city gates on time.

While the guards at the gate were still dozing, Yuan Fang's cavalry descended upon them like divine soldiers from the heavens.

Iron hooves rolled over, and in a moment, the guards at the city gate were scattered. Yuan Fang led ten thousand of his troops, flooding into the city of Gaotang like a deluge.

As the army entered the city, they killed anyone in sight.

The once-quiet city of Gaotang was soon awash with blood, the cries of the wounded shaking the heavens, turning it into a battlefield of slaughter.

Yuan Fang, wielding his skull-crushing staff, shattered the heads of the enemy soldiers one by one, moving through the carnage as if he were in a realm without resistance.

While the Yuan army was on a killing spree, in the government office, Zhang Fei was still sound asleep, hugging a wine jar.

Unprepared, Zhang Fei had gathered his generals the night before, drinking heavily until the early hours of the morning.

Even as the city was in chaos, with the sounds of battle and screams shaking the heavens, Zhang Fei remained asleep.

It wasn't until several of his personal guards burst in, frantically shaking him awake, that Zhang Fei finally opened his eyes, still groggy.

"General Yide, wake up! Something terrible has happened, the Yuan army has breached the city!" one of the guards shouted in alarm.

Zhang Fei, still dazed, raised his hand and slapped the guard, cursing, "What nonsense! With the Yellow River between us, how could the enemy possibly breach the city?"

"The little one dares not lie. Last night, Yuan Fang led his troops to attack the ferry, secretly crossing the Yellow River, and took the city by surprise. They are almost at the government office now," the guard, holding his face, explained with a sense of grievance.

Zhang Fei, straining to listen, could faintly hear the sounds of battle approaching, and his face suddenly changed.

"How is this possible? Wasn't Yuan Fang injured and recuperating in Ye? How could he lead an army to attack? Quickly, prepare my horse!"

Zhang Fei, both shocked and angry, staggered to his feet, supported by his subordinates, and barely managed to leave the government office.

The deafening sounds of battle shook Zhang Fei's eardrums. To the north, a large force of the Yuan army was surging down the street, while his own troops were collapsing in disarray.

Zhang Fei was greatly alarmed, now believing that Yuan Fang had indeed breached the city.

In a moment of shock and anger, he struggled to mount his warhorse, intending to lead his troops to resist the Yuan army.

However, due to the excessive drinking the night before, Zhang Fei was still under the influence of alcohol, and he wobbled, almost falling off his horse.

With the approaching Yuan army, the morale of his troops had already collapsed, and with their commander, Zhang Fei, too drunk to command effectively, the generals had no choice but to escort him, fleeing towards the southern gate in a panic.

By noon, the sounds of battle had gradually subsided.

The banners of the Yuan army now flew high over the four gates of Gaotang, proudly fluttering, overlooking the blood-soaked city.

The second most important city in Pingyuan and the largest ferry on the lower Yellow River had fallen into Yuan Fang's hands.

Most of the commanderies and states of Qingzhou were south of the Yellow River, but a large part of Pingyuan was north of the river.

By capturing Gaotang, Yuan Fang had opened the gateway to the heart of Qingzhou, taking a crucial step towards conquering the entire region.

After this great victory, Yuan Fang seized the city's treasury and rewarded his brave soldiers.

Yuan Fang's clear rewards and punishments earned the admiration and loyalty of his troops.

That day, Yuan Fang held a banquet in the government office to reward his generals and discuss the next strategy.

"Governor Tian Kai still controls most of Qingzhou. If he and Liu Bei hear of the fall of Gaotang, they will surely mobilize their armies to retake it. We need to prepare a strategy, my lord," Zhu Ling reminded him.

Yuan Fang nodded in agreement, recognizing the strength of the enemy despite the successful capture of Gaotang.

Tian Kai, the governor of Qingzhou, had at least ten thousand troops, and Liu Bei had nearly four thousand. If Kong Rong's forces were added, the enemy would have over twenty thousand troops.

If these twenty thousand troops counterattacked, Yuan Fang, with only ten thousand troops, would be hard-pressed to cope.

Not only did he need to defend Gaotang, but he also had to consider the threat from Gongsun Zan to the north of the Yellow River, which would force him to divide his forces.

Dividing his forces would significantly reduce the number of troops available for the defense of Gaotang, making the situation even more unfavorable.

After a moment of contemplation, Yuan Fang called for ink and brush, and personally wrote a report, ordering it to be sent to Yuan Shao in Changshan, both to report his success and to request additional troops.

"My lord, the master favors the third prince. It was already difficult to get reinforcements last time, and this time..." Hao Zhao was not optimistic.

Yuan Fang, however, smiled coldly. "The situation is different now. By capturing Gaotang, I have cut off Gongsun Zan's connection to Qingzhou, which will surely prompt him to launch an attack. We are tying down so many enemies that even if my father is biased, he won't be foolish enough to ignore this."

Yuan Fang had a clear understanding of the situation, but he was not blindly optimistic. He knew that Yuan Tan would try to obstruct him.

Therefore, while sending the report to Yuan Shao, Yuan Fang also sent a secret messenger to Ye, instructing Yuan Shang to use his influence to assist him.

The messenger left Gaotang on the day the battle ended, heading for Ji Province.

At this time, Zhang Fei, leading his defeated troops, was fleeing to the state of Beihai.

In the capital of Beihai, Duchang, the atmosphere in the governor's office was pleasant, filled with the aroma of wine.

Governor Kong Rong of Beihai was smiling broadly, warmly welcoming his benefactors, Tian Kai and Liu Bei.

These two had led an army of fifteen thousand from the state of Qi, sweeping away the Yellow Turban rebels along the way, and outside Duchang, they had killed the leader of the Yellow Turban rebels in Qingzhou, Guan Hai, rescuing Kong Rong, who had been besieged for a long time.

With Guan Hai dead, the remaining Yellow Turban rebels either scattered or surrendered, and the crisis in Beihai was finally over.

Kong Rong, deeply grateful, could not help but thank Tian Kai and Liu Bei generously.

As they were enjoying their conversation, a soldier rushed in, bowing and reporting, "Governor, urgent news from the west: a few days ago, Yuan Fang led his troops to secretly cross the Yellow River, capturing Gaotang. General Zhang Yide was unable to resist and fled in defeat."

Upon hearing this, everyone's faces changed.

The joyful atmosphere instantly vanished, and the hall fell into a state of shock and solemnity.

Tian Kai, Liu Bei, and even Kong Rong were all stunned and bewildered.

After a moment, Liu Bei asked in shock, "How is this possible? Wasn't Yuan Fang injured by an arrow? How could he lead an army to attack Gaotang?"

The soldier dared not answer but presented the detailed report.

Tian Kai and Liu Bei quickly read it. When they saw that Yuan Fang had personally led his troops to slaughter the defenders of Gaotang, leaving no survivors, and that Zhang Fei had fled in disgrace, they were both greatly alarmed.

After a moment of shock, Liu Bei suddenly realized that Yuan Fang's injury had been a ruse, a trap to lure him into rescuing Kong Rong.

"Yuan Fang, that deceitful child, has tricked me again. How hateful!" Liu Bei clenched his teeth, his eyes flashing with cold anger.

"Tian Kai, what is this? Didn't you say that Yuan Fang would never attack Gaotang?" Tian Kai asked, dissatisfied.

Liu Bei, feeling ashamed but not showing it, replied sternly, "Now is not the time for blame. Governor Tian, Gaotang is a key location and must not be lost. We must immediately mobilize our troops to retake it."

Tian Kai had no choice but to order the immediate mobilization of his troops.

Kong Rong, to repay Tian Kai and Liu Bei for rescuing him, immediately proposed to send troops from Beihai, including his general Taishi Ci, to follow Tian Kai and Liu Bei west to retake Gaotang.

That day, nearly twenty thousand troops from the coalition of Qingzhou set out from Beihai, heading for Gaotang.

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