Chapter 47

With the momentum of a swift sword cutting through tangled hemp, Yuan Fang swiftly dealt with Gongsun Xu and secretly crossed the river back to Gaotang before Tian Kai’s intelligence could be updated, catching Tian Kai off guard.

This was Yuan Fang’s strategy.

Although this plan was somewhat risky, it proved to be successful.

Several hundred steps away, Liu Bei had recovered from his shock, his anger and embarrassment boiling over. He shouted, "Even if that bastard Yuan Fang is here, what is there to fear? A mere bastard, how can he stand against our thousands of troops? Lord Tian, do not hesitate, charge the entire army forward!"

Tian Kai, having recovered from his shock and anger, was provoked by Liu Bei’s words and roared, "All troops, advance! Flatten the city of Gaotang for me!"

The sound of war drums rose again, and 15,000 troops from the rear of the Qingzhou army surged forward toward Gaotang.

Tian Kai had mobilized his entire force. In his view, even if Yuan Fang’s main force was in the city, he would not be a match for him.

The thunderous sound of war drums jolted the surprised Qingzhou soldiers back to their senses, and they mustered their courage, shouting as they charged forward.

Facing the surging tide of enemies, Yuan Fang, standing with his staff, showed no trace of fear on his handsome and calm face.

He did not even frown, standing as proud as a green pine, completely at ease.

Two hundred steps.

One hundred steps.

Fifty steps.

In the blink of an eye, the surging tide of enemies, like wild beasts breaking free from their restraints, had rushed to the front.

The moment had arrived.

Yuan Fang’s brows furrowed, and a chilling aura of killing intent radiated from his body. He swung his skull-crushing staff forward and shouted, "Where is Yan Liang? Don’t just stand there, charge out and sweep away the enemy!"

A whistle sounded, and the city gates, which had been half-open, suddenly burst wide open. The thunderous sound of iron hooves shattered the sky as 700 cavalry charged out.

Although Yuan Fang had only 200 warhorses, he had used them to train additional cavalry in rotation. In the battle on the plain, he had captured 500 fine horses from Gongsun Xu, and within a few days, he had transformed his well-trained infantry into 500 loyal cavalry.

Under Yan Liang’s command, the 700 cavalry rolled past Yuan Fang, crossing the drawbridge and charging straight at the enemy.

The 700 cavalry, with their long spears pointed at the sky, formed a dense forest of sharp blades, creating the sharpest spear in the world, charging with the momentum to crush everything in their path, colliding with the advancing Qingzhou army.

Tian Kai and Liu Bei both changed color, and even fierce generals like Zhang Fei and Taishi Ci could not help but change color.

The 20,000 Qingzhou soldiers were stunned by the sudden appearance of 700 Yuan Fang’s cavalry.

"How is this possible? That bastard Yuan Fang clearly had fewer than 200 cavalry. How could he suddenly have so many?" Tian Kai exclaimed in shock, his face full of horror and confusion.

The situation was sudden, and with only fifty steps between the two armies, Tian Kai had no time to react before Yan Liang’s 700 cavalry had already charged in.

The surging cavalry, like a massive black blade, crashed into the vanguard of the Qingzhou army.

Where the cavalry passed, the air was filled with the screams of the wounded, blood mist flying, and countless severed limbs and weapons splattered into the sky.

These Qingzhou infantry, focused on charging and capturing the city, had not formed a dense formation. When they were hit by the sudden cavalry charge, their already wavering morale was shattered in an instant.

The army’s morale collapsed, and hundreds of Qingzhou soldiers discarded their armor and weapons, covering their heads and fleeing.

The vanguard’s collapse affected the 15,000 troops following behind, and the entire Qingzhou army, in a chain reaction, quickly fell into a state of total collapse.

"Yan Liang is indeed a formidable general of this era. His skill in leading cavalry charges is truly remarkable. Unfortunately, Yuan Shao did not know how to use him. Such a charging-type general was made to lead the main army at the Battle of Guandu, leading to his death at the hands of Guan Yu’s surprise attack..."

Watching the unstoppable Yan Liang, Yuan Fang secretly rejoiced at having gained such a formidable general for his charges.

Seeing the enemy’s collapse, it was time to pour more fuel on the fire.

Pointing his skull-crushing staff forward, Yuan Fang shouted, "All troops, charge out of the city and crush the enemy—"

Boom! Boom! Boom!

On the city walls, over a dozen large drums sounded, the deafening drumbeats like a mountain collapsing.

Behind him, Zhu Ling and Guo Huai led the 9,000 hidden Yuan troops out of the city, charging like a flood.

The enraged soldiers, like wild beasts released from their cages, pounced on the collapsing enemy.

A grim smile appeared on Yuan Fang’s lips as he spurred his horse, charging forward like a white streak of light.

The 9,000 troops charged forward in a frenzy.

Several hundred steps away, Tian Kai was already in a panic, shouting, "All troops, do not retreat! Hold your ground, hold your ground—"

The generals, receiving the order, could only勉强打起精神，勉强垂死一战。

在乱军中，颜良的冲锋速度终于被稍稍遏制，张飞率领一队精兵赶到，硬生生地封住了他的去路。

杀得正兴起的颜良，岂会收手，纵马舞刀，直取张飞而去。

两个武道均修至练脏境界的高手，一个使刀，一个舞矛，疯狂地战在了一团，一时难分胜负。

颜良的冲势虽稍稍被阻，但张飞却挽救不了败局。

袁方的九千主力步军，沿着骑兵开出的血路，已如潮水般卷至。

碾压，屠杀，袁军的刀枪无情地斩向敌首，如虎豹驱羊一般，杀得青州军鬼哭狼嚎。

惊慌之下，田楷已急令太史慈，率本部的北海兵，去阻挡敌军。

可惜，转眼间，太史慈的五千北海兵，就被袁军冲击分割成数段，陷入四分五裂的地步。

太史慈更是被郭淮和朱灵二将合击，一时之间难以抽身。

兵败如山倒的青州军，不是败溃，就是被围，要么就是各自为战，败局已无法挽回。

看着崩溃之势，田楷心如刀绞，冲着刘备叫道：“刘玄德，你不是保证那贱种在北岸吗，现在你怎么解释。”

“使君，我……”刘备羞愧不已，面对这突变的形势，不知该如何解释。

迎面处，大股的袁军已冲破了田楷的亲军队，如潮水般涌了上来。

兵潮之中，袁方手舞碎颅棍，冲在潮头浪尖之中，铁棍左右飞舞，辟波斩浪，直取田楷中军所在。

面对杀势如魔的袁方，刘备大生畏惧，忙道：“田使君，眼下败局已定，不是追究责任的时候，速速先退兵回齐国，待整顿兵马再复仇不迟。”

刘备保持冷静，田楷却是怒火填胸。

堂堂青州刺史，名动天下的田楷，竟给袁方一个黄毛小儿，杀得一败再败，如耍猴一般的接连戏耍。

今日若再遭惨败而逃，他田楷还有何脸面，面对公孙瓒对他的信任。

“我绝不撤兵，袁方小儿，我要取你贱命！”愤怒冲昏头脑的田楷，拍马舞刀，杀向了袁方。

血染征袍的袁方，眼见将旗之下，一敌将飞驰而来，挥刀杀向自己，一眼就猜出是田楷。

若能杀田楷，公孙瓒在青州的势力群龙无首，就要面临崩盘的境地，田楷送上门来，正是给了袁方绝佳的机会。

“田楷，你自己来送死，我就收下你的人头了！”

心中杀念狂燃，袁方雄心壮志一起，一声长啸，舞动碎颅棍，杀破乱军，迎着田楷而去。

两骑如两道流光，穿越漫天血雾，轰然而撞。

空气中发出一声震耳欲聋的金属激鸣，惊亮之极，竟是生生的压过了战场的喊杀之声。

错马而过，袁方气血只微微一荡，便平伏下去，回马之时，看到的却是田楷震惊的表情。

碎颅棍九十二斤力道的冲击之下，巨力灌入身体，直搅得田楷气血翻滚，握刀的虎口处，竟然已是开裂。

“这厮的力量竟如此之强，难道说他阵斩单经，并非是侥幸？”

一招交手，田楷才意识到，自己犯了一个严重的错误，他根本低估了袁方的实力。

只差一步就要迈入凝膜境界的袁方，对付田楷这个缩筋中期都不到之徒，又岂在话下。

袁方也不给他喘息的机会，拍马冲上，碎颅棍挟着狂澜之力，狠狠地轰向田楷。

田楷心知武功不及，只恐再战数招，就要命丧于袁方手下，急是放声尖叫：“玄德助我，玄德快来助我～～”