Chapter 37

Guo Tu was instantly stunned.

He had never imagined that Yuan Fang would summon him in the dead of night, and before they even exchanged a word, he would attempt to break his legs.

Guo Tu barely suppressed his shock and forced a smile, saying, "Young Master, you really know how to joke around."

He thought Yuan Fang was just playing a prank. After all, aside from being a close confidant of Yuan Tan, he, Guo Tu, was still a trusted advisor to Yuan Shao. Just based on this, he didn't believe that Yuan Fang would dare to harm him.

Yuan Fang, however, said coldly, "Who's joking around? Yuan Gui, get to it."

Yuan Gui, upon receiving the order, grabbed an iron rod and rushed towards Guo Tu.

Seeing the menacing Yuan Gui and the cold, iron-like Yuan Fang, Guo Tu realized that Yuan Fang wasn't joking. He was truly panicked.

"Second Young Master, let's talk this out, let's talk this out..."

Guo Tu tried to reason, but Yuan Gui had already stepped forward, and without a word, swung the iron rod and viciously smashed it into Guo Tu's calf.

Crack!

With a sharp, muffled sound, Guo Tu let out a pig-like scream and collapsed to the ground, clutching his broken left leg and howling in pain.

Yuan Fang finally raised his head and looked at the writhing, screaming, and agonizing Guo Tu, a satisfied smile appearing on his handsome face.

"Calling you to help Yuan Tan and repeatedly plot against me, it's no wonder I didn't kill you today..."

Feeling satisfied, Yuan Fang sneered, "Guo Tu, how does it feel to have your leg broken?"

Guo Tu, who had just recovered from the initial intense pain, turned his distorted face towards Yuan Fang and shouted in hatred, "Yuan Fang, you have a lot of nerve! How dare you treat me like this? I will definitely report you to the Lord!"

The pain of having one leg broken had not yet taught Guo Tu a lesson, and his attitude towards Yuan Fang remained arrogant.

"It seems you still haven't learned your lesson."

Yuan Fang's brows furrowed, and he waved his hand, ordering, "Yuan Gui, break his other leg as well."

Guo Tu, upon hearing this, was terrified and shouted fiercely, "Yuan Fang, are you crazy? If you dare to touch me again, I will never let you off!"

Yuan Fang didn't even bother to look at him and took a sip of wine.

Below, Yuan Gui had already ordered two soldiers to lift the leg-broken Guo Tu. With a swing of the iron rod, he struck Guo Tu's left leg again.

"Ah~" Guo Tu let out another heart-wrenching scream, and his right leg was also broken.

With both legs broken, Guo Tu was in such pain that his teeth were grinding, his face was contorted beyond recognition, and he was gasping for breath, almost on the verge of fainting.

Yuan Fang sipped his wine, enjoying Guo Tu's agony.

After a while, Guo Tu finally recovered from the pain and lay trembling on the ground, as if he had just collapsed from exhaustion.

At this moment, Yuan Fang put down his wine cup and said calmly, "Guo Tu, you can continue to be arrogant, but you still have two arms. I can break them as well."

After two strikes, with both legs broken, Guo Tu was filled with hatred towards Yuan Fang, but he dared not show it. He had deeply felt Yuan Fang's ruthlessness and knew that if he continued to be arrogant, he would lose his arms as well.

"Why, Second Young Master, why do you treat me like this?" Guo Tu stared at Yuan Fang, his voice trembling and filled with grievance.

"Why?"

Yuan Fang stepped forward, looking down at Guo Tu, and said coldly, "In Ye City, you deliberately withheld my military pay and secretly helped Yuan Tan plan against me, constantly plotting to kill me. How dare you ask why!"

Each word was like a blade, piercing through Guo Tu's actions.

A trace of shame crossed Guo Tu's pained face, but it was quickly replaced by endless grievance.

"Master, you are mistaken. How could I dare to harm you? I did not." Guo Tu refused to admit it.

Yuan Fang's face showed a mocking expression, and he said disdainfully, "A true man acts with integrity. You did it but dare not admit it, truly a despicable person. Yuan Gui, break his left arm."

Yuan Gui, upon receiving the order, raised his iron rod again.

Guo Tu was terrified and no longer dared to be stubborn. He quickly said, "Master, please show mercy. I was actually forced by the First Young Master. I had no choice."

A despicable person is a despicable person. Under such a threat, he indeed confessed.

"The Yuan family is doomed to fall because of people like you. It's only fitting." Yuan Fang sighed and turned back to his seat.

Guo Tu didn't understand the deeper meaning in Yuan Fang's words. He thought that by confessing, Yuan Fang would soften and let him off.

His eyes darted around, and he quickly added, "I have already admitted my mistake. I humbly request that Master give me a chance to redeem myself. If Master spares me, I will personally testify against the First Young Master before the Lord and reveal the truth of his plot against you."

Yuan Fang's gaze was like a blade, cold and contemptuous, staring at Guo Tu, making him feel as if needles were piercing his back, unable to raise his head.

"If I let you go now, you will return to Ye City and, together with Yuan Tan, report me to Father. Do you think I am foolish?" Yuan Fang asked coldly.

Guo Tu's scheme was exposed, and cold sweat rolled down his forehead. He swore, "Master, please rest assured. I, Guo Tu, swear to the heavens that I will not reveal a single word to the Lord. I will say that I fell off my horse and broke my legs. If I break this oath, may I be struck by heaven."

To save his life, Guo Tu first betrayed Yuan Tan and now even swore an oath.

Yuan Fang knew that in this era, people valued their word and would not easily make oaths. Guo Tu's actions showed that he had no integrity whatsoever.

The person kneeling before him was a complete despicable person.

"If a despicable person's words were trustworthy, there would be no lies in this world. Guo Tu, pay the price for your actions."

A killing intent flashed in his eyes, and Yuan Fang raised his hand and ordered, "Yuan Gui, cut out this treacherous person's tongue so that he can never speak another word of slander."

"Understood!" Yuan Gui, upon receiving the order, threw the iron rod and drew his dagger.

Guo Tu was terrified, almost fainting, and desperately cried, "Master, please show mercy, Master, please show mercy~"

Yuan Gui ignored him, pried open his mouth, and with one cut, severed his tongue.

Guo Tu, with his tongue cut, was in excruciating pain, blood gushing from his mouth.

Yuan Gui felt a sense of relief and said resentfully, "Master, this person has bullied you for years. Cutting his tongue is too lenient. We should just kill him."

"Don't let him die from the blood. Keep him alive for now; I have other uses for him." Yuan Fang's lips curled into a sly smile.

Yuan Fang then ordered that Guo Tu be dragged away, not to be killed yet, and to wait in the tent.

The next evening, Yan Liang, who had gone to raid the enemy's supplies, finally returned.

He had failed.

He had left with four thousand troops but returned with only two thousand, many of them injured, clearly having suffered a major defeat.

Entering the main tent, Yan Liang said angrily, "It's damn infuriating. I was about to succeed in the raid, but suddenly an enemy force appeared and caught me off guard. Otherwise, how could I, Yan Liang, have returned in defeat?"

Guo Huai, standing to the side, looked at Yuan Fang, knowing the inside story, and his eyes held a deeper meaning.

Yuan Fang, however, feigned surprise and said, "It seems the enemy knew you were going to raid the supplies, so they ambushed you?"

Yan Liang was puzzled and said, "I was quite secretive in my movements. How could Tian Kai have known?"

Yuan Fang remained silent, feigning suspicion, and gave a subtle nod to Guo Huai.

Guo Huai understood and said, "Master, I believe there must be a spy in our army who has been secretly communicating with the enemy."

"Indeed, Bo Ji's words make sense." Yuan Fang nodded heavily and ordered, "Bo Ji, I command you to search for suspicious individuals and find that spy for me."

Guo Huai received the order and left.

Yuan Fang then set up a banquet to calm Yan Liang, who had returned in defeat.

"Zi Zheng, don't be upset. Once I find the spy, I will have him executed to avenge you." Yuan Fang comforted him while hinting to the attendants to keep pouring wine for Yan Liang.

Yan Liang, feeling frustrated, drank cup after cup, and before he knew it, he had drunk several jars of wine, becoming half-drunk.

At this moment, Guo Huai hurriedly entered the tent and bowed, saying, "Master, we found a letter from Tian Kai in Guo Tu's tent. It turns out that Guo Tu is the spy."

"Guo Tu?"

Yuan Fang feigned surprise, quickly read the letter that Guo Huai had found, and could not help but become furious.

Slam!

He slammed his hand on the table and shouted, "Guo Tu, how dare you secretly communicate with the enemy! This is unforgivable. Bring the spy Guo Tu to me!"