Chapter 38

(Calling for votes early in the morning, today there will still be three updates)

Yan Liang furrowed his brows, his anger mixed with a hint of doubt.

How could Yuan Fang's keen eyes miss the thoughts of this rough warrior? He knew that Yan Liang still had doubts about whether Guo Tu had secretly colluded with the enemy, leading to his defeat.

After a moment, Guo Tu was roughly dragged up by two soldiers.

Yuan Fang glared at him and sternly questioned, "Guo Gongze, you have such audacity, daring to secretly collude with the enemy, causing Yan Zizheng to suffer defeat and humiliation."

He deliberately emphasized that this battle had brought shame to Yan Liang, intending to provoke his anger.

Sure enough, the drunken Yan Liang, his face contorted, shouted at Guo Tu, "Guo Tu, you have such audacity, how dare you secretly collude with the enemy?"

As soon as he finished speaking, Yuan Fang gave a subtle nod to the two soldiers.

The two soldiers understood and immediately released Guo Tu.

With his legs broken, how could Guo Tu stand? He fell to his knees before Yuan Fang and Yan Liang.

This act of kneeling made it seem as if he was admitting guilt due to his fear, and was begging for mercy.

"It seems this scoundrel is guilty and has confessed under our questioning." Yuan Fang took the opportunity to fan the flames.

Yan Liang's face turned even darker, his nostrils flaring with anger. Seeing Guo Tu on the ground "confessing," his rage only intensified.

In a fit of anger, Yan Liang kicked Guo Tu to the ground, shouting, "Guo Tu, you traitor, I, Yan Liang, have no grudge against you, why do you want to put me to death?"

Yan Liang, a top martial artist whose skills had reached the level of organ training, possessed incredible strength. Even this casual kick was far beyond what Guo Tu, a scholar, could endure.

Guo Tu let out a muffled groan, was kicked several steps away, and spat blood, lying motionless on the ground.

Faced with Yan Liang's accusations, Guo Tu, with his tongue cut out, could not defend himself, only making incoherent sounds and flailing his arms, looking as if he was begging for mercy from Yan Liang.

Yuan Fang, standing with his hands behind his back, watched Guo Tu's miserable state and a cold smile flashed across his lips.

This was exactly the effect he wanted.

Yuan Fang knew that with Guo Tu's cunning, even if he had indeed colluded with the enemy, he would never admit it to Yan Liang's accusations.

He might even turn the tables and claim that Yuan Fang had tortured him.

Therefore, Yuan Fang had broken his legs, making him "guilty" and kneel, and cut his tongue, preventing him from defending himself.

If a careful person were to observe, they would likely notice the anomalies.

Unfortunately, Yan Liang was a rough and impulsive man, further clouded by alcohol and anger, and could not see through the ruse.

Everything unfolded as Yuan Fang had predicted.

Guo Tu's helpless demeanor convinced Yan Liang that he was indeed the traitor. In his rage, Yan Liang cursed at Guo Tu.

The moment had arrived.

Yuan Fang suddenly drew his sword and threw it to the ground, shouting, "Guo Tu, you traitor, you colluded with the enemy to frame Zizheng, causing him a crushing defeat and tarnishing his reputation. How can I forgive you? Men, use this sword to execute this traitor on the spot."

"Understood!" Yuan Gui, a few steps away, responded, preparing to draw the sword.

The sword was right in front of Yan Liang.

Stirred by Yuan Fang's words and fueled by alcohol, Yan Liang's hatred had completely clouded his judgment.

Clang!

With a ringing sound, Yan Liang suddenly drew the sword from the ground, pointing it at Guo Tu and shouting, "Guo Tu, you traitor, you caused me this great defeat. If I don't kill you, I can't relieve my anger!"

Roaring with anger, Yan Liang took a large step forward, raising his sword high and slashing down at Guo Tu.

Guo Tu was terrified, his heart and soul nearly shattered, struggling desperately and making incoherent sounds.

But the determined Yan Liang paid no heed, and his sword fell mercilessly.

In the instant before the blade struck, Guo Tu's terrified eyes caught a glimpse of Yuan Fang's cold smile behind Yan Liang.

At that moment, he suddenly realized that Yuan Fang's true purpose in breaking his legs, cutting his tongue, and even letting him know about the grain raid, was only one thing.

To lure him into a trap and use Yan Liang's hands to kill him.

What a ruthless and cunning plan!

Only then did Guo Tu truly recognize that the "worthless" man who had been a nobody for twenty years was actually a hidden hero.

But it was too late to realize this.

Yan Liang's sword fell, and Guo Tu's bloody head rolled to the ground.

Yuan Fang let out a long breath, feeling a rare sense of satisfaction as he looked at Guo Tu's head.

This accomplice of Yuan Tan, who had always plotted against him, was finally dead. How could Yuan Fang not feel satisfied?

Yan Liang also felt a great sense of relief, unaware that all his actions were part of Yuan Fang's plan.

Shao Huai, standing nearby, finally understood the meaning of the "borrowed sword" strategy Yuan Fang had mentioned.

That night, after Yan Liang had vented his anger and left, the tent returned to calm.

Shao Huai, now understanding, clasped his hands and praised, "Young Master, you have killed Guo Tu without getting your hands dirty. This borrowed sword strategy is truly brilliant."

Shao Huai suddenly remembered something and worried, "Guo Tu was a trusted advisor of the Lord and a confidant of the eldest son. Although killing him has relieved your anger, it may bring trouble from the eldest son and the Lord."

Yuan Fang replied nonchalantly, "If not for this, why would I use the borrowed sword strategy to kill Guo Tu?"

Shao Huai was stunned for a moment, then suddenly realized, his eyes shining with excitement, "Yan Liang is the fourth son's man. By using Yan Liang's hands to kill Guo Tu, are you trying to incite a conflict between the eldest son and the fourth son?"

Yuan Fang smiled but said nothing, confirming Shao Huai's guess.

Yuan Fang knew the intentions of Yuan Tan and Yuan Shang. One sent Guo Tu to plot against him, and the other sent Yan Liang to vie for credit. How could he not know their plans?

Yuan Fang's strategy was to incite them to fight each other, so he could benefit from their conflict.

With a faint smile, Yuan Fang waved his hand and said, "Write a letter for me and report what happened here to Ye City."

"Understood," Shao Huai understood Yuan Fang's meaning and immediately wrote the letter.

In the letter, he "truthfully" wrote that Guo Tu had confessed to colluding with the enemy, and that Yan Liang, in a fit of anger, had killed Guo Tu on the spot.

The letter was sent, and Guo Tu's body was buried on the spot to destroy evidence and prevent any suspicious person from uncovering the ruse.

A few days later, the news reached Ye City, causing a great stir.

The news that Yuan Shao's trusted advisor had colluded with the enemy and was killed by his trusted general immediately sparked widespread discussion in the city.

In the Chariot and Cavalry General's residence, Yuan Tan, reading the shocking news, was stunned.

After the shock, Yuan Tan flew into a rage, slamming his fist on the table and shouting, "Yuan Shang, you not only secretly helped that worthless man, but now you dare to let your men kill my confidant. I will not let this go!"

In his rage, Yuan Tan immediately wrote a letter to the front lines in Changshan, defending Guo Tu and accusing Yan Liang of unjustly killing a high-ranking official.

At the same time, Yuan Tan sent secret letters to Xu You, Xin Ping, and others, instructing them to incite the scholars of Runing to launch a verbal and written attack on Yan Liang.

The news reached Changshan, and Yuan Shao was naturally shocked, unable to believe that Yan Liang had dared to kill Guo Tu.

Xu You, Xin Ping, and the scholars of Runing launched a collective attack on Yan Liang, all claiming that he had unjustly killed a high-ranking official and should be punished.

Faced with the overwhelming criticism from the scholars of Runing, the scholars of Hebei, including Ju Shou, remained silent.

It was no wonder; Yan Liang's actions were indeed out of line, leaving them unsure how to defend him.

Even if Guo Tu had colluded with the enemy, as a high-ranking official, he should have been handed over to Yuan Shao for questioning before any action was taken.

Now, without Yuan Shao's permission, Yan Liang had擅自 executed Guo Tu in a fit of anger, such a bold and reckless act left the scholars of Hebei, including Ju Shou, at a loss for how to defend him.

In the Chariot and Cavalry General's residence.

Liu Shi and Yuan Shang, mother and son, sat solemnly, clearly troubled by the situation with Yan Liang.

"Mother, the eldest brother's people are all attacking Yan Liang, demanding severe punishment from Father. Should we protect Yan Liang?" Yuan Shang, unsure of what to do, asked Liu Shi.

Liu Shi sighed, "This Yan Liang, his actions are really out of line. How could he do something as foolish as killing Guo Tu? How can we protect him?"

"Then, Mother's meaning is..." Yuan Shang had already guessed Liu Shi's intention.

After a moment's thought, Liu Shi's face hardened, and she said coldly, "For a mere soldier, it's not worth disrupting the big picture. Abandon Yan Liang."

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