Chapter 66

The heavy footsteps sounded, and Zang Ba, with a gloomy face, entered the large tent.

His figure was quite heavy, clearly indicating that although Yuan Fang's arrow had not taken his life, it had caused him considerable suffering.

"Whether you want to kill me or cut me to pieces, just give me a quick death," Zang Ba said solemnly upon meeting.

This Zang Ba indeed had a fiery temper.

However, Yuan Fang smiled faintly and said, "Life is precious; how regrettable it would be to die. Beauty and wealth will all be irrelevant to you then."

Zang Ba's expression slightly changed, as if Yuan Fang's words had touched him.

His subtle change could not escape Yuan Fang's sharp eyes. Yuan Fang could see that although Zang Ba was a tough man, he was still made of flesh and blood. If he could live, would he truly wish to die?

As Zang Ba hesitated, Yuan Fang already threw the silk letter with the intelligence onto the table and said coolly, "After reading this message, if you still insist on dying, I will certainly grant your wish."

The elite guards passed the intelligence from Xuzhou to Zang Ba.

Zang Ba, not understanding Yuan Fang's intention, was momentarily stunned but still took the intelligence and unfolded it to read.

Upon reading it, Zang Ba's face immediately changed. His teeth ground together, and the veins on his face bulged as waves of anger surged to his face.

"Ta Qian, how dare you treat me like this!" Zang Ba spat out his words of indignation through clenched teeth.

The intelligence detailed how Ta Qian had appointed Liu Bei as the Governor of Langya.

Zang Ba had been defeated and captured, yet Ta Qian did not send troops to rescue him. Instead, he quickly appointed Liu Bei as the Governor of Langya, leading troops to seize the territory that originally belonged to Zang Ba.

Ta Qian's actions were clearly a betrayal, abandoning Zang Ba.

Enraged, Zang Ba tore the silk letter in his hand into pieces.

Seeing Zang Ba's indignation, Yuan Fang nodded secretly; this was exactly what he wanted to see.

Taking advantage of Zang Ba's anger, Yuan Fang said coldly, "You, Zang Ba, who dominated Langya, must have long been a source of jealousy for Ta Qian. You probably don't know that Ta Qian sent you to deal with me merely to use my hands to weaken your power."

These harsh truths, like a bucket of cold water, were poured over Zang Ba's head, making him shudder and suddenly realize.

"Ta Qian once served as the Inspector of Youzhou. Liu Bei, a native of Youzhou, is almost a fellow townsman to him. Appointing Liu Bei as the Governor of Langya to guard the northern part of Xuzhou is naturally much more reassuring to him than using you, Zang Ba. What do you think, Zang Xuangao?"

Yuan Fang took the opportunity to pour salt on Zang Ba's wounded heart.

If he did not provoke Zang Ba, how could he make him see Ta Qian's true face? How could Yuan Fang win over this tiger general?

Hearing these harsh truths, Zang Ba's body swayed, and his spirit suffered another blow.

He fell silent, his face showing complex emotions, his teeth grinding in hatred, but ultimately, he became desolate.

Being abandoned by Ta Qian and now captured by Yuan Fang, Zang Ba, who once dominated Xuzhou, was now left with nothing.

Such a fate could not help but make a hero feel disheartened.

Seeing that Zang Ba had been sufficiently struck, Yuan Fang knew his opportunity had come.

He stood up abruptly and said seriously, "You, Zang Ba, are a formidable general. Serving under a self-preserving bandit like Ta Qian, don't you feel humiliated? Why not surrender to me, Yuan Fang, and help me achieve great things? One day, I will surely attack Xuzhou and help you take revenge and clear your name."

After laying the groundwork, Yuan Fang directly offered to recruit Zang Ba.

Zang Ba, in his desolation, was suddenly shaken, looking at Yuan Fang with an incredulous gaze.

Hope rekindled in his eyes.

Yuan Fang's generous offer of recruitment seemed to bring a glimmer of hope to Zang Ba, who was in despair.

After all, Yuan Fang had never provoked him, yet he had come to attack at the most critical moment for Yuan Fang.

Even in the battle outside Gaomi, he had almost put Yuan Fang's life in danger.

Despite all this, Yuan Fang did not hold a grudge and instead offered to recruit him.

Such magnanimity could not help but shock Zang Ba.

Moreover, with Ta Qian seizing his territory, he had nowhere to go. Surrendering to Yuan Fang was his only choice.

After much contemplation, Zang Ba took a deep breath and made his decision.

Without hesitation, he knelt on one knee and clasped his hands, saying, "Thank you, Sir, for your trust and for not holding past grievances against me. I, Zang Ba, am willing to surrender to you and will do anything for you, even if it means facing fire and water."

The first great general of Xuzhou, Zang Ba, who was renowned in Qing and Xu, finally surrendered.

"Having Xuangao's assistance is truly like adding wings to a tiger. Ha ha—" Yuan Fang was greatly pleased, personally helping Zang Ba up and patting his shoulder to comfort him.

Zang Ba also laughed heartily, all past grievances forgotten.

Yuan Fang immediately issued an order, appointing Zang Ba to replace Guo Huai and garrison Dongwu City. He also assigned the counties of Pingchang, Zhu, and Gumu, which bordered Qing and Xu, to Zang Ba's jurisdiction.

Zang Ba had considerable prestige in this area, and Yuan Fang intended to use his influence to secure the southern part of Qingzhou, allowing him to focus on the current situation.

Zang Ba was secretly surprised. He never expected that Yuan Fang would not only accept his surrender magnanimously but also immediately entrust him with important responsibilities.

Surprised, Zang Ba could not help but ask, "Sir, you trust me so much, but are you not wary of me?"

Yuan Fang laughed heartily and said boldly, "I, Yuan Fang, have always trusted those I use. I believe you, Zang Xuangao, are a man of honor. Since you have surrendered to me, you will have no second thoughts. What is there to be wary of?"

These straightforward words warmed Zang Ba's heart, deeply moved.

Compared to Ta Qian's distrust and suspicion, Yuan Fang's trust and favor were like heaven and earth. How could Zang Ba not be moved?

He jumped up and said excitedly, "Thank you, Sir, for your trust. I have no way to repay you. I am willing to gather my scattered troops and form an army to help you capture Duchang City."

Most of Zang Ba's troops had been defeated by Yuan Fang. If he could indeed gather them, it would indeed be a considerable force.

Yuan Fang was delighted and said happily, "If so, Xuangao, go ahead. I will be waiting for you in Duchang."

Zang Ba did not hesitate, bowed deeply, and left.

Yuan Fang personally saw him off, watching as Zang Ba rode away, a satisfied smile on the young man's handsome face.

Riding back to the camp, Yuan Fang could not help but recall the strange incident outside Gaomi City and the change in his eyes at the critical moment.

If it were not for that unexpected change, he would probably have become Zang Ba's victim, and how could he have won Zang Ba's allegiance?

"It can be confirmed that my eyes suddenly gained the ability to magnify targets, which must be due to the biochemical virus. However, I do not know if this change is just a one-time occurrence or if it can be sustained. If it can be sustained, how can I activate it again..."

Back in the tent, Yuan Fang began to ponder the sudden change in his eyes.

Previously, he had been preoccupied with various matters and had put this aside. Now that he finally had some free time, he could finally study it.

After all, if this ability could be activated at will, it would greatly improve his poor archery skills in a short time.

This ability was like giving a poor marksman a sniper rifle with a scope, allowing his shooting skills to rival those of expert marksmen.

Yuan Fang stood quietly in the tent, clearing his mind of distractions, and fixed his eyes on a copper ring on the tent wall, repeatedly thinking: Magnify, magnify for me.

After a few breaths, Yuan Fang suddenly felt a slight itch in his right eye, which quickly passed.

In the next moment, the copper ring, which was no larger than a palm, suddenly doubled in size, almost filling his field of vision.

"It's activated, it's really activated again!" Yuan Fang was overjoyed and exclaimed excitedly.