Chapter 64

As the wine cup fell to the ground, the warm wine splashed all over him, and Liu Bei's expression instantly turned to one of shock.

Guan Yu and Zhang Fei, with their red and black faces, also showed signs of surprise, as if they could hardly believe their ears.

"Rubbish!"

Zhang Fei was the first to regain his senses and burst out in a rage: "Zang Ba has fifteen thousand elite soldiers, and he only just captured Gao Mi City yesterday. How could he have been defeated so easily? Could it be that Yuan Fang has grown wings and flown into the city to kill?"

Guan Yu nodded repeatedly, and Liu Bei also stared with wide eyes, unwilling to believe this utterly unreasonable report.

The bodyguards, however, looked innocent and quickly presented the detailed report about the defeat at Gao Mi, which had been delivered by the scouts.

Liu Bei snatched it away and read it with a face full of suspicion. As he read on, his ashen face was once again overwhelmed by shock.

It turned out that Yuan Fang had set fire to Gao Mi City and ambushed Zang Ba's fleeing forces, achieving a miraculous victory in just one night, defeating the mighty Xu Province army.

Moreover, he had even captured Zang Ba, the top general of Xu Province.

With a long sigh, Liu Bei threw the silk scroll onto the table with a weak hand.

Guan Yu and Zhang Fei hurried over to pick it up and read it carefully. As they read, the two brothers were also plunged into shock.

"Yuan Fang, that boy, actually really..." Zhang Fei's mouth opened wide, and he was speechless.

Guan Yu's red face turned extremely dark, and he unconsciously gripped his beard harder, breaking several strands without realizing it.

"To set fire to Gao Mi in one night and capture Zang Ba, Yuan Fang, that scoundrel, is truly devious. I can't imagine how he did it."

Liu Bei sighed repeatedly, racking his brains but unable to understand how Yuan Fang could have achieved such a miraculous feat, setting the entire city of Gao Mi ablaze.

While the three brothers were still in shock and marveling, the bodyguards rushed in again, exclaiming, "Lord, Yuan Fang, riding the momentum of his victory, is leading his cavalry and infantry towards our Dong Wu City."

Liu Bei was greatly alarmed, and his body trembled.

Zhang Fei, however, flew into a rage, leaping up and shouting, "Yuan Fang, that scoundrel, is too overbearing. Brother, let's fight him!"

"Yi De, don't act rashly," Liu Bei suppressed the agitated Zhang Fei and said solemnly, "That boy is riding the momentum of a great victory, and his forces are extremely sharp. How can I risk my hard-earned five thousand troops in a battle with him? We must temporarily avoid his sharp edge and preserve our strength."

Liu Bei, unwilling to engage Yuan Fang in battle, immediately led his five thousand troops south, retreating hundreds of miles without stopping, to the second largest city of Langya, Ju County, to set up defenses. He also sent messengers on horseback to the state capital, Tan City, to inform the state governor, Tao Qian.

As soon as Liu Bei left, Yuan Fang led his cavalry and infantry to attack, and without much effort, he captured Dong Wu City.

With the capture of this city, Yuan Fang's iron hooves had already stepped onto the land of Xu Province.

After capturing Dong Wu City, Yuan Fang stopped his southward advance.

Although he had achieved a great victory over Zang Ba and gained a reputation in Qing and Xu Provinces, Yuan Fang had not been blinded by his success and remained calm.

He knew that Tao Qian's strength was still formidable. If his forces advanced further into the heart of Xu Province, it would inevitably provoke a strong reaction from Tao Qian. If Tao Qian mobilized his entire army to confront him, it would be disadvantageous for Yuan Fang.

However, with Gao Mi burned, Yuan Fang had lost the southern barrier of Qing Province. Therefore, he had to capture Dong Wu City to replace Gao Mi as the southern stronghold defending Qing Province.

On the day of the capture of Dong Wu City, Yuan Fang left Guo Huai with three thousand troops to garrison the city, while he led two thousand cavalry and infantry, along with the captured Zang Ba, back to Du Chang City.

He wanted to use the momentum of his victory over the Xu Province army to completely shatter Kong Rong's hope of holding out for reinforcements and capture this last city, thereby securing the entire Qing Province.

While Yuan Fang was still on his way back, the messengers had already delivered the news of his great victory at Gao Mi to Du Chang City.

In the camp surrounding Du Chang, in the afternoon.

In one of the military tents, Mi Huan was bent over a desk, writing a letter.

The content of the letter was roughly to inform her brother, Mi Zhu, of the good news that she had obtained Yuan Fang's promise to exempt the Mi family's business in Qing Province from taxes, urging Mi Zhu to make preparations.

After a short while, having finished the letter, Mi Huan called in a trusted family servant who was waiting outside.

"Return to Xu Province as soon as possible and deliver this letter to the head of the family. Inform him of the good news that Yuan Fang has exempted our Mi family from commercial taxes," Mi Huan instructed.

The servant took the letter but asked curiously, "Miss, didn't you bet with Yuan Fang that he could defeat Zang Ba within seven days? It's only been less than three days, and it doesn't seem like the outcome is clear yet."

Mi Huan smiled, a confident look on her beautiful face, and said calmly, "Yuan Fang does have exceptional abilities, but he is a bit too arrogant. Even if he had three heads and six arms, how could he defeat Zang Ba's army in just seven days? I am sure to win this bet, and I am just giving my brother the good news in advance."

The servant understood her meaning and was also delighted, immediately taking the letter and preparing to leave.

At that moment, a commotion suddenly broke out in the camp outside the tent.

"Good news, good news, good news from Gao Mi!"

"Victory, victory, the young master has won!"

This sudden announcement of victory stirred the entire camp, and the soldiers all came out of their tents, discussing and cheering, creating a lively scene.

Curious, Mi Huan also stepped out of the tent and saw that the entire Yuan camp was in an uproar, with the soldiers all excited and running around, spreading the news.

Mi Huan, still not understanding what was happening, stopped a soldier and asked, "Brother, what's going on? Why is everyone so excited?"

"The young master set fire to Gao Mi, defeated the Xu Province army, and captured the top general of Xu Province, Zang Ba. How could everyone not be excited with such good news!" the soldier replied excitedly.

Mi Huan was greatly shocked, and her graceful figure froze on the spot.

Her beautiful face was instantly filled with shock and disbelief.

Yuan Fang, had actually won!?

Not only did he defeat the Xu Province army, but he also captured the top general of Xu Province, Zang Ba!

All of this happened in less than three days!

Countless shocks and questions flooded Mi Huan's mind, leaving her completely stunned and in a daze.

It seemed as if none of this was real, as if it had never happened.

"Miss, should this letter still be delivered to the head of the family?" the equally stunned servant asked cautiously.

Mi Huan finally snapped out of her daze. In the boiling camp, seeing the excited Yuan soldiers, she realized that everything was real.

Yuan Fang had won.

Not only had he won this battle with a significant disparity in strength, but he had also won the bet with her, Mi Huan.

"Do I need to ask? Give me the letter back!" Mi Huan glared at the servant and said irritably.

The servant quickly returned the letter and stepped aside, not daring to anger his young mistress.

Mi Huan looked at the letter in her hand, as if it were a joke she had created herself. Thinking of her earlier confident demeanor, she felt a bit embarrassed.

With a light sigh, Mi Huan tore the silk scroll to shreds and threw it into the wind.

Looking around the boiling camp, hearing the cheers of the Yuan soldiers, and listening to their admiration and praise for Yuan Fang, Mi Huan's shocked expression gradually took on a different meaning.

Her wise eyes turned south, and she murmured, "Yuan Fang, with his intelligence and bravery, and his many cunning plans, has truly exceeded my expectations. It seems that the Mi family really needs to invest heavily in him..."

PS: There have been many donations this week. Thank you to all the brothers who have donated. I would also like to ask for a few more recommendation votes to see if we can move up one more place on the category recommendation list.

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