Chapter 56

（Thank you, brothers, for your rewards and votes, here is the second update.）

In the large tent, two rows of axe-wielding soldiers stood solemnly, each exuding a fierce aura.

Yuan Fang sat high above, his eyes half-open, the 92-jin heavy skull-crushing club laid across the table, its bloodstains reflecting a crimson light.

The tent flap was lifted, and Mi Zhu, with a sullen face, cautiously stepped inside.

As soon as Mi Zhu entered, he was intimidated by the solemn atmosphere and couldn't help but shiver.

Mi Zhu took a deep breath, stepped forward, and bowed, saying, "Mi Zhu from Donghai pays his respects to the young master."

This Mi Zhu was quite respectful, not daring to be arrogant in front of Yuan Fang.

Yuan Fang slowly opened his hawk-like eyes, looked down at the wealthy man, and said in a deep voice, "Mi Zhu, you conspired with Kong Rong and Liu Bei against me, Yuan Fang. Do you have any last words to say?"

The phrase "any last words" made Mi Zhu's expression change drastically, and a layer of cold sweat instantly appeared on his forehead.

In panic, Mi Zhu hurriedly stammered, "Young master, you misunderstand. Zhu was just doing business in Duchang by chance and has no connection with those two people. Please see through this clearly."

"No connection?" Yuan Fang snorted coldly, "If you have no connection, why did you escape with Liu Bei? Why would Liu Bei, who is so capable, bring along a weakling like you, making his escape more difficult?"

Yuan Fang's gaze was like a blade, and his words were sharp, quickly exposing Mi Zhu's lies.

Mi Zhu was left speechless, his forehead drenched in cold sweat, stammering and unable to defend himself.

Seeing the intimidation was effective, Yuan Fang said, "Speak the truth, and I might consider sparing your life. If you continue to play dumb in front of me, I will smash your skull right now."

As he threatened, Yuan Fang's hand rested on the skull-crushing club on the table.

Mi Zhu trembled, glancing at the bloodstains on the club, remembering that Dan Jing and Tian Kai had both died from this iron club.

Those two were both high-ranking officials, and Yuan Fang had killed them without hesitation. How much more so for a mere merchant like Mi Zhu?

"This Yuan Fang is intimidating and perceptive, not at all as incapable as Liu Bei and Kong Rong described. It seems I cannot deceive him any longer..."

Thinking this, Mi Zhu dared not hide anything and recounted the escape truthfully.

It turned out that Liu Bei had intended to break out but was constrained by Kong Rong's pride. He secretly asked Mi Zhu to propose to Kong Rong to seek help from Xu Province, using the pretext of protecting Mi Zhu to gain Kong Rong's permission to lead troops out.

"So that's how it is. In other words, you were just being used by Liu Bei?" Yuan Fang's expression softened slightly.

Mi Zhu recalled how Liu Bei had solemnly promised to protect him during the breakout, but when they encountered ambush, Liu Bei abandoned him to the Yuan army.

All these events made Mi Zhu deeply resent Liu Bei. When Yuan Fang asked, he suddenly realized that Liu Bei had only wanted to use him to escape the city.

Sighing deeply, Mi Zhu said sarcastically, "I was indeed used by Liu Bei. I never thought he would abandon me in a critical moment. I, Mi Zhu, have truly misjudged him."

A cold smile appeared on Yuan Fang's lips. He thought to himself that Liu Bei was a cunning hero who could abandon his own family without hesitation, let alone a merchant he had just met.

"So, you were not actually part of Liu Bei's group. Then why did you risk escaping?" Yuan Fang asked again in a deep voice.

Mi Zhu hurriedly replied, "To be honest, it's because Liu Bei said that you, young master, are cruel and inhumane, and that you would surely allow your troops to burn, kill, and plunder once you captured the city. I was afraid, so I..."

Mi Zhu didn't dare to say more, but Yuan Fang already understood everything.

It turned out that Liu Bei, the big-eared scoundrel, had been spreading rumors about his cruelty.

This was not surprising. Historically, Cao Cao, apart from the massacre in Xu Province, did not commit many cruel acts.

On the contrary, Cao Cao implemented land reclamation, making the army self-sufficient and greatly reducing the burden on the people, unlike other warlords who heavily taxed their subjects.

Despite this, wherever Liu Bei fled, the reputation of Cao Cao's cruelty spread, while his own reputation for benevolence grew louder.

Yuan Fang now understood Liu Bei's tactics. To highlight his own benevolence, he had to first tarnish his enemy's reputation.

"Liu Bei, your methods are truly poisonous..."

Yuan Fang thought to himself and said, "Since you were deceived by Liu Bei and did not intentionally oppose me, Yuan Fang, I will show mercy and spare your life."

Mi Zhu was overjoyed, heaving a sigh of relief and bowing, "Thank you, young master. I will repay your kindness if I ever have the chance."

That's exactly what I wanted to hear.

Yuan Fang cleared his throat and said calmly, "Life is short. Since you want to repay me, why wait for the future? I'll give you the opportunity now."

Mi Zhu was taken aback, his face showing confusion.

He had only said it out of politeness, but Yuan Fang was not being polite at all and was now demanding repayment.

"May I ask... how would you like me to repay you?" Mi Zhu asked suspiciously.

"Very simple," Yuan Fang waved his hand, "My army is in dire need of funds. Your family, the Mi family, is one of the wealthiest in the land. Donate fifty million coins as a token of gratitude for sparing your life."

Fifty million coins!

Mi Zhu took a deep breath, finally realizing that Yuan Fang was extorting him, demanding a large sum of money in exchange for his life.

Moreover, Yuan Fang was asking for a huge amount, fifty million coins.

Yuan Fang, however, remained calm, enjoying Mi Zhu's shocked expression and thinking to himself, "Fifty million coins, enough to fund an army of ten thousand for a year. Yuan Tan, you cut my military funds, hoping to demoralize my troops, but you never expected me to catch a cash cow here."

The Mi family was one of the three wealthiest families in the land. Fifty million coins, though a large sum, was a mere drop in the bucket for the Mi family.

Yuan Fang was confident that Mi Zhu would not refuse to pay such a sum to save his life.

Sure enough, after a moment of shock, Mi Zhu sighed helplessly, indicating that he accepted Yuan Fang's terms.

"Mi Zizhong is indeed a straightforward man. Bring me pen and ink," Yuan Fang laughed and ordered.

The attendants brought the prepared pen and ink, and the helpless Mi Zhu had to write a letter, instructing his family to send fifty million coins to Duchang as soon as possible.

After the letter was written, Yuan Fang sent someone to deliver it to the Mi family in Xu Province.

Seeing Mi Zhu's cooperation, Yuan Fang did not make things difficult for him and ordered that he be placed under house arrest, treated well.

Two days later, Yuan Fang sent a thousand troops, led by Guo Huai, to Gao Mi County in the south of Beihai, to urgently reinforce the defenses and build fortifications.

Based on Yuan Fang's and his generals' speculation, if Tao Qian indeed sent troops to rescue Kong Rong, they would come from Langya, along the Wei River, and directly reach Duchang.

If so, Gao Mi County would be the inevitable route for the Xu Province troops.

Yuan Fang wanted to strengthen the defenses of Gao Mi, so that once the Xu Province troops advanced north, he could reinforce Gao Mi and block the enemy.

While guarding against the Xu Province troops, Yuan Fang also intensified the pressure on Duchang. Under his intimidation, the Beihai soldiers in Duchang began to defect, starting with a dozen and increasing to several dozen.

In less than ten days, nearly four hundred Beihai soldiers had abandoned Kong Rong and surrendered to Yuan Fang.

Kong Rong was in a dire situation, anxious and desperate, but fortunately, Taishi Ci was there to help, barely suppressing the soldiers' defection.

Kong Rong was in a dire strait, and Yuan Fang's situation was not much better.

In the main tent,

"Young master, the soldiers' pay for this month has been delayed for twenty days, and the soldiers are starting to complain. This cannot go on," Zhu Ling said gloomily to Yuan Fang.

Yan Liang also said solemnly, "Young master, at this point, to stabilize the troops, we must not hesitate. Order the collection of additional taxes from the various counties. Anyone who refuses to pay will be executed, and see who dares to complain."

Faced with the two generals' requests, Yuan Fang continued to read his military book, not even looking up, "There's no need to worry. In a few days, someone will bring us the pay."

Yan Liang and Zhu Ling exchanged glances, both puzzled, not understanding Yuan Fang's confidence.

Who else would provide the pay for their ten thousand troops besides Ye Cheng?

Just as the two generals were about to ask again, Yuan Gui rushed in excitedly, "Young master, a young woman surnamed Mi has arrived with many mule carts, claiming to be from the Mi family of Donghai, and has come to support the army."

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