Chapter 60

Mihu agreed to the bet.

Yuan Fang slapped the table and laughed, "Miss Mi, you are indeed straightforward. Let's settle it this way."

Mihu felt she had made a great deal and secretly rejoiced. In her excitement, she said, "Then let's pinky promise it."

As she spoke, Mihu raised her hand and extended her little finger.

With this gesture, her water sleeves slid down, revealing her arm, which was as smooth as a lotus, whiter than jade, and tender like snow, with a hint of red.

Yuan Fang was taken aback. Although Mihu was exceptionally intelligent, she was still a woman and, in her moment of joy, resorted to this childish method of making a promise.

However, this innocent nature made Yuan Fang feel a sense of familiarity.

He shook his head and smiled, extending his hand to pinky promise with her.

Their fingers touched, and he felt her little finger, soft and smooth like a young onion, as if it had no bones.

After the pinky promise, Mihu quickly regained her composure and smiled faintly, "Then I will wait here for good news from you, sir."

She bowed and took her leave.

Watching her graceful figure depart, Yuan Fang's lips curled into a cold smile, and he muttered, "Mihu, you think you've made a sure deal, but I'll give you a lesson."

...

The next day, before dawn, Yuan Fang led four thousand infantry and cavalry south from Duchang to Gao Mi.

Along the way, scouts and spies continuously reported the military situation in the south.

Twenty thousand troops from Xu Province, with Zang Ba leading fifteen thousand as the vanguard and Liu Bei commanding five thousand as the rearguard, set out from Kaixiang, Zang Ba's stronghold, and reached Dongwu, the northernmost city of Langya, within a few days.

Zang Ba's military movements were swift. Without hesitation, he entered the territory of Beihai from Dongwu and advanced towards Gao Mi under the cover of night.

The distance from Gao Mi to Duchang was almost the same as the distance to Dongwu. Yuan Fang, fighting on his home turf, had a chance to reach Gao Mi before Zang Ba's army.

However, upon learning that Zang Ba's army had entered the territory, Yuan Fang deliberately slowed down his pace.

That morning, they were forty miles from Gao Mi.

A scout galloped up to Yuan Fang's horse and saluted, "Sir, General Guo reports that Zang Ba's forces are only twenty miles from Gao Mi."

Hearing this, Yan Liang was startled and said urgently, "Sir, our march is too slow, and we are already twenty miles behind the Xu Province army. We won't be able to catch up. I suggest I lead the cavalry ahead to reinforce Gao Mi before the enemy encircles the city."

Yan Liang was extremely anxious, fearing that they would not arrive in time to reinforce Gao Mi. The city had only a thousand troops under Guo Huai, and if it were besieged by twenty thousand Xu Province troops, it would likely fall within days.

If Gao Mi fell, the gateway to Duchang would be wide open, putting the situation at a great disadvantage for Yuan Fang's army.

However, Yuan Fang was not at all worried. Not only did he not approve Yan Liang's request, but he also waved his hand and said, "Send a message to Guo Huai. It's time to abandon the city. Tell him to make it look real."

"Understood!" The scout galloped away.

Yan Liang was shocked and exclaimed, "Sir, we rushed here to hold Gao Mi and block the enemy. How can you abandon it so easily?"

Yan Liang couldn't understand why Yuan Fang would suddenly make such an unexpected decision.

"If we rush into Gao Mi, we might be surrounded by the Xu Province army and trapped in the city. That would be truly disadvantageous for us," Yuan Fang said dismissively.

Yan Liang was taken aback and asked, "But if we don't hold Gao Mi, how can we resist the twenty thousand Xu Province troops?"

"Who said I would hold it?"

Yan Liang let out a cold laugh, and a cold, determined look appeared on his handsome face.

He fixed his eagle-like eyes on the south, gripping his skull-crushing club, and said proudly, "I will fight a decisive battle and annihilate the Xu Province army, so that Tao Qian will never dare to provoke me again!"

Yan Liang was stunned. Even he, who prided himself on his bravery, would not dare to speak so boldly against the advancing Xu Province army, let alone claim to annihilate them completely.

Moreover, he wanted a quick victory.

Yuan Fang's "recklessness" truly surprised Yan Liang.

However, he was soon infected by Yuan Fang's recklessness. His blood boiled, and he said generously, "Sir, tell me how to fight this battle, and I will follow your orders."

Yuan Fang pointed forward with his horsewhip and shouted, "The entire army will continue to advance and set up camp fifteen miles north of Gao Mi. We will join forces with Guo Huai and defeat the enemy!"

...

At dusk, the dust rose over Gao Mi, and the battle flags waved like waves.

Fifteen thousand troops from Xu Province were surging towards Gao Mi like a tide.

The "Zang" banner flew proudly, leading this fierce army.

At the forefront was a black-bearded general, holding a large iron spear, with a frown on his face, looking very imposing.

This man was Zang Ba, the mighty ruler of Mount Tai.

"General, that's Gao Mi ahead?" asked his subordinate Wu Dun excitedly.

Zang Ba looked up and saw the outline of the city.

Zang Ba's tiger-like eyes opened, and he shouted, "Order the entire army to attack the city directly. I must capture Gao Mi before the enemy reinforcements arrive."

The order was given, and the fifteen thousand Xu Province troops, full of spirit, rushed towards the enemy city.

In no time, the Xu Province army reached the city walls. Without resting, Zang Ba ordered the troops to attack the city from all sides.

He had already learned that Gao Mi had only a thousand Yuan troops, and Yuan Fang seemed to be held back by Kong Rong, unable to send reinforcements to Gao Mi.

This was why, upon receiving Tao Qian's order, Zang Ba had marched day and night to capture Gao Mi first.

Zang Ba knew the terrain of Qingzhou well. He was clear that once he captured Gao Mi, Yuan Fang would have no power to stop his advance.

The fifteen thousand Xu Province troops rushed towards Gao Mi, but to Zang Ba's surprise, the city was empty.

When the troops entered the city, they found no trace of Yuan troops, and even the thousands of civilians had abandoned the city.

Zang Ba entered Gao Mi without any resistance.

After the army entered the city, Zang Ba captured a few remaining civilians and questioned them. He learned that Guo Huai had led a thousand troops out of Gao Mi in a hurry in the afternoon.

Zang Ba then sent scouts north and found that the road was littered with abandoned flags, drums, and armor, clearly indicating a hasty retreat by the Yuan troops.

On the northern city wall, Zang Ba listened to the report of the scout and a satisfied smile appeared on his lips.

"General, you were right to march day and night. Guo Huai must have been afraid of being surrounded and fled in a hurry," Wu Dun said excitedly.

Zang Ba stroked his beard and looked even more pleased.

Wu Dun flattered him, "With the fall of Gao Mi, defeating that young Yuan Fang is a sure thing. I congratulate you in advance on your appointment as the Governor of Langya."

Although Zang Ba had dominated Langya, he had never had an official title. Now, Tao Qian had ordered him to rescue Kong Rong, promising to officially appoint him as the Governor of Langya if he succeeded.

The Governor of Langya, a high-ranking official with a salary of two thousand stones, was a position that only those whose ancestors had held such a position could aspire to.

For Zang Ba, who had risen from a bandit of Mount Tai, becoming the Governor of Langya would be a great honor.

This was why Zang Ba had mobilized all his troops and marched towards Beihai with determination.

Hearing Wu Dun's flattery, Zang Ba was pleased and laughed heartily. He waved his hand and ordered, "Tell the troops to rest in Gao Mi for a few days. I believe that once Yuan Fang learns of the fall of Gao Mi, he will retreat without my army. This will allow me to lift the siege of Beihai without any effort."

That day, the fifteen thousand Xu Province troops entered Gao Mi and finally had a chance to rest after their long march.

...

Fifteen miles away, Yuan Fang had set up camp.

In the evening, Guo Huai led a thousand troops and hurriedly arrived to join them.

Once Guo Huai's troops arrived, the news of the fall of Gao Mi quickly spread through the army, and the morale of Yuan Fang's troops was greatly affected, leading to much discussion.

In the main tent.

Yan Liang strode in, anxious, "Sir, the troops are demoralized after hearing that Gao Mi was abandoned without a fight. Their morale is already low, which is even more disadvantageous for us."

Before he finished speaking, Guo Huai, covered in dust, entered the tent.

Yuan Fang did not respond to Yan Liang but turned his gaze to Guo Huai and asked, "Is everything ready?"

Guo Huai nodded vigorously, "Sir, everything is ready as you instructed a few days ago. We are just waiting for today."

"Good!"

Yuan Fang slapped the table, his spirits lifted, and he said with a cold smile, "Zang Ba thinks he has taken Gao Mi without a fight and gained a great advantage. Tonight, we will make him regret it."