Chapter 69

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Amidst the shouts and the sound of footsteps growing louder, Kong Rong knew that a large number of Yuan Shao's troops had already stormed into his governor's residence.

Kong Rong's heart was pounding in his throat, but he tried his best to remain calm, putting on an air of composure as if nothing could shake him.

Crash!

With a loud bang, the main door of the hall was kicked open, and a group of bloodstained Yuan Shao's troops burst in.

At the forefront was Zang Ba.

These fierce Yuan Shao's troops, upon seeing a neatly dressed scholar sitting calmly on the dais, looking composed and at ease, suddenly fell silent.

Zang Ba waved his hand to stop the soldiers, pointed his spear at Kong Rong, and shouted, "Who are you? Where is Kong Rong?"

Kong Rong did not even lift his head, but replied coolly, "I am Kong Rong. Go and call your commander Yuan Fang to come and see me."

As he spoke, Kong Rong's nerves were already stretched to the limit, and a layer of cold sweat had soaked his back, but he dared not show the slightest sign of panic.

Only then did Zang Ba realize that the person before him was Kong Rong, and he immediately sent someone to fetch Yuan Fang.

Outside the governor's residence, Yuan Fang was riding slowly, accompanied by Zhu Ling, and entered the city of Douchang with his head held high.

Once the city was breached, the more than a thousand remaining Beihai soldiers either died or surrendered, and they were easily eliminated. The banner of the Yuan family was now flying high over Douchang.

As the army stormed into the city, Yuan Fang followed and entered, ordering all the soldiers not to harass the civilians, and threatening severe punishment for any violators.

Under Yuan Fang's strict military discipline, the soldiers did not dare to burn, kill, or plunder, and the people of Douchang were spared from disaster.

When Yuan Fang entered the city, he was pleasantly surprised to find that many of the citizens had spontaneously come out to welcome and comfort the incoming Yuan army.

"It seems the people of Douchang have been looking forward to our breaking the city," Yuan Fang remarked.

Beside him, Zhu Ling sighed, "According to my knowledge, since Kong Rong took office as the governor of Beihai, he has not understood how to develop the land or restore the livelihood of the people. Instead, he has imposed heavy taxes under various pretexts. The people of Beihai have long suffered under Kong Rong's harsh policies. Now that you have defeated Kong Rong, it is something the people here have long hoped for, and they cannot help but be grateful to you."

So that's how it is.

A mocking smile appeared on Yuan Fang's face, and he coldly snorted, "Kong Rong, this so-called celebrity, seems to be nothing more than a pedantic scholar who can only show off his learning but has no practical skills. The Han court has raised so many people who can only argue over words but cannot do anything practical. It's no wonder the world is in chaos."

"Your Excellency is absolutely right," Zhu Ling nodded in agreement.

Just as he finished speaking, a scout galloped up, reporting that Zang Ba had captured Kong Rong at the governor's residence and was asking for instructions on how to deal with him.

"Xuan Gao has actually captured Kong Rong alive. Let's go and see that pedantic scholar," Yuan Fang said excitedly, urging his horse and heading straight for the governor's residence.

Holding his skull-crushing club, he strode into the hall. As soon as he entered, Yuan Fang saw Kong Rong sitting high on the dais.

Kong Rong was staring intently at a scroll in his hand, nodding his head and muttering to himself, completely absorbed in his reading and oblivious to the outside world.

Seeing this, Yuan Fang's eyebrows furrowed, and his eagle-like eyes suddenly flashed with a murderous intent.

Kong Rong, this scoundrel, had already been captured, yet he still dared to sit high and act so composed and dignified. He must be asking for a quick death!

Zhu Ling, who had followed him in, seeing Yuan Fang's anger, hurriedly whispered, "Your Excellency, Kong Rong is, after all, a descendant of a sage and a famous scholar. He may be a bit arrogant, but if we can persuade him to surrender, it would be better."

Yuan Fang understood Zhu Ling's meaning. He was concerned about Kong Rong's reputation and feared that killing him would tarnish his own image as a killer of scholars.

"I have my own plans," Yuan Fang replied, raising his head and shouting, "Yuan Gui, I ask you, who does this city of Douchang belong to now?"

Yuan Gui was taken aback and quickly replied, "Of course, it belongs to Your Excellency."

"Since it's my territory, why is there a pedantic scholar daring to sit in my seat?" Yuan Fang glared at Kong Rong and shouted sternly.

Kong Rong, who was pretending to be calm, was shocked and angry when he heard Yuan Fang call him a "pedantic scholar."

At this moment, Yuan Gui understood his master's intention and strode up the steps, grabbing Kong Rong and dragging him down to the front of the hall without any explanation.

Kong Rong, treated so rudely, was both angry and embarrassed, struggling and roaring, "Let me go! I am a descendant of a sage and a famous scholar. How dare you treat me so rudely!"

Yuan Gui, hearing Kong Rong's insults, became even more rough, dragging him like a dead dog.

Yuan Fang was satisfied, and he strode up the steps, sitting in the high seat. He placed his heavy skull-crushing club on the table with a thud and sneered, "A defeated general dares to act so haughty before me. Truly, you are asking for your own humiliation."

In front of everyone, being dragged down so rudely, Kong Rong, who had lived a life of luxury and respect, had never experienced such "humiliation."

Kong Rong was furious, feeling that his dignity had been insulted in an unprecedented way.

Kong Rong, who had fallen to the ground, suddenly jumped up, his face flushed, and shouted at Yuan Fang, "Yuan Fang, your family has held high offices for four generations, and you are from a noble family. How can you treat me so rudely? Where is your father Yuan Benchu's teaching? Where is your cultivation?"

In his anger, Kong Rong's voice became shrill and hoarse, sounding like a drake's squawk.

Faced with Kong Rong's accusations, Yuan Fang's lips curled in disdain, and he said coldly, "Now you remember that I am from a noble family. When you were on the city wall, you called me a bastard in front of thousands of people. How could you forget so quickly?"

When they were enemies, Kong Rong had insulted Yuan Fang as a bastard, but now that he was captured and in Yuan Fang's hands, he claimed that Yuan Fang was from a noble family and expected him to show the manners of a noble and treat him kindly.

Yuan Fang's words exposed Kong Rong's hypocrisy and inconsistency.

His sarcastic words left Kong Rong speechless, his face turning red with anger and embarrassment, unable to respond.

Watching Kong Rong's awkwardness, Yuan Fang felt slightly relieved and said coldly, "Kong Rong, I won't waste words with you. Today, I will give you one last chance. Will you surrender or not?"

Yuan Fang was not without a sense of the bigger picture, and Zhu Ling's advice was also reasonable. Although Kong Rong was just a pedantic scholar, he still had some reputation. If he could force him to surrender, it would greatly enhance Yuan Fang's influence.

Seeing the benefits, how could Yuan Fang not take advantage of them?

Hearing Yuan Fang's commanding tone, Kong Rong's anger grew even more intense.

A descendant of a sage and a famous scholar, if he were to kneel and surrender to a mere child, and a bastard at that, what would become of his reputation?

What would become of his dignity?

The more he thought about it, the angrier he became. Kong Rong straightened his back and said proudly, "I, Kong Rong, can only surrender to your father, Yuan Benchu. How could I surrender to you? Hmph!"

Kong Rong's response was roughly what Yuan Fang had expected.

Clearly, Kong Rong meant that only someone as noble as Yuan Shao deserved his surrender.

And you, Yuan Fang, are just a lowly bastard of the Yuan family, not worthy of his surrender.

Yuan Fang's anger was rapidly growing, his fists clenched, and the killing intent in his eyes was intensifying.

"So, this is your answer. You think I, Yuan Fang, am not worthy of your surrender, is that it?" Yuan Fang's voice was filled with murderous intent.

Kong Rong did not respond, only snorted and stood with his hands behind his back, refusing to look at Yuan Fang.

This attitude was equivalent to a refusal, showing that he looked down on Yuan Fang and was unwilling to surrender to him.

Kong Rong's arrogant attitude and his disdain for Yuan Fang even made Zhu Ling frown and feel angry.

"Kong Rong, I swore that day that I would not stop until I shattered your skull. Now, it seems the time has come for me to fulfill my promise."

Each word was like a blade. Yuan Fang slowly stood up, holding his skull-crushing club, and walked step by step toward Kong Rong.

Seeing the murderous Yuan Fang, Kong Rong finally panicked and tried to act tough, saying, "Yuan Fang, I warn you, don't do anything rash. I have a relationship with your father, Yuan Benchu. If you dare to harm me, Yuan Benchu will not forgive you."

The more Kong Rong threatened, the more intense the killing intent in Yuan Fang's eyes became, and his skull-crushing club was slowly raised.

Kong Rong was desperate, his voice trembling, "Yuan Fang, what are you going to do? My ancestor is Confucius. How dare you harm me?"

At this point, Kong Rong still refused to submit to Yuan Fang, repeatedly invoking his noble status to try to intimidate him.

He did not realize that everything he said was deeply angering Yuan Fang.

The skull-crushing club was raised high, and Yuan Fang's face twisted with a cruel smile. "Those who insult me must die. You, the self-righteous pedantic scholar, die now!"

With a roar, the 92-pound skull-crushing club crashed down.

"Wait, no, don't—"

Bang!

The heavy club ignored Kong Rong's terrified screams and came down with a heavy thud.

In an instant, Kong Rong's head, like a watermelon, was shattered by Yuan Fang's club.