Chapter 8

Yuan Fang did not return to Ye City, where there were many people and eyes, and numerous spies. A million coins was no small sum, and it could not be hidden easily.

Although Yuan Fang had no status in the Yuan family, over the years, he had accumulated some savings. Several months ago, he had instructed Yuan Gui to purchase a secluded estate outside the city.

He had placed the million coins in this private estate, preparing to take them with him when he left Ye City with his troops.

By the time he arrived at the estate and made all the arrangements, it was already noon.

When he returned to the main hall, the steward Zhao knelt down and pleaded, "Young Master, I have done everything you asked. Please, let me go."

"Let you go?"

Yuan Fang sneered and countered, "If I let you go, and you go and inform on me, wouldn't that just cause me trouble?"

"Please, Young Master, I swear I won't say a word to anyone," the steward Zhao vowed earnestly.

A cold and ruthless glint appeared in Yuan Fang's eyes as he stared at the steward. "I, Yuan Fang, have sworn that I will repay those who oppressed and belittled me tenfold. Zhao, do you really think I will let you go?"

A chilling aura of killing intent radiated from Yuan Fang, even making Yuan Gui feel a chill.

The steward Zhao was almost suffocated by Yuan Fang's intense killing intent, his entire body enveloped by it.

Even now, he found it hard to believe that the worthless illegitimate son could suddenly have such means and presence.

"Y-Young Master, I... I..." The steward Zhao stammered, at a loss for what to do.

Yuan Fang's brows furrowed, and he waved his hand, ordering, "Yuan Gui, take care of him. Do it cleanly."

Yuan Gui, receiving the order, commanded his subordinates to drag the steward out.

Only then did the steward realize that Yuan Fang had intended to kill him from the beginning.

His pleas failing, the steward Zhao screamed hysterically, "Yuan Fang, if you dare to kill me, the First and Third Young Masters won't let you off, they won't..."

Yuan Fang remained calm, having already turned away and playing with the countless copper coins in the large chests.

The sound of the coins clinking in his hands flowed, while outside in the courtyard, Yuan Gui was directing his subordinates to dig a pit and bury the steward alive.

Looking at the shiny copper coins, Yuan Fang felt greatly pleased, muttering, "The problem of the military pay is solved. It's time to leave this place of trouble as soon as possible, and with my troops, carve out a territory that belongs to me, Yuan Fang..."

...

Two days later, at the Yuan residence.

In a lavish hall, Yuan Tan and Yuan Xi, the two brothers, were present.

Yuan Xi paced back and forth, his brows furrowed, his face full of anxiety.

A trusted family servant entered, bowing and reported, "Young Master, we have searched all the places where Steward Zhao usually goes, but there is no sign of him."

"Hmm, it seems that this Zhao has indeed taken the money and fled," Yuan Tan mused.

Yuan Xi was furious, grinding his teeth and cursing, "That dog, Zhao, we treated him as a confidant, and he dares to embezzle my money. He truly has the nerve of a dog. I will find this dog and tear him to pieces!"

The two Yuan brothers, unaware of the true situation, believed that Steward Zhao had taken the million coins and fled.

Steward Zhao had been their trusted confidant for many years, and now, at a critical moment before Yuan Xi's campaign, he had embezzled such an important military fund, dealing a heavy blow to Yuan Xi. How could he not be both heartbroken and enraged?

Yuan Xi cursed for a long time until he was hoarse, finally sitting down, panting heavily.

"Xianyi, don't be too angry. It's just a million coins. At worst, you can use your private savings. Your resources are a hundred times better than that bastard's. Don't let this unexpected trouble disrupt your plans."

Hearing Yuan Tan's words, Yuan Xi's rage and anger gradually subsided.

He nodded heavily, "Brother, you're right. A million coins won't stop me. I will set out tomorrow and capture Bing Province before that bastard does."

"There's no rush. It's not too late to set out after everything is prepared. I have already set a trap in secret, ensuring that the bastard won't even be able to set out."

Yuan Tan smiled coldly, his sunken eyes revealing a sinister and mysterious glint.

...

A hundred miles away, in Quliang City.

In the main hall of the Zhen family residence, Zhen Yi, the head of the Zhen family, sat upright, listening to the reports from his various stewards on the family's various businesses.

The Zhen family was originally from Zhongshan, but due to its proximity to Youzhou and their determination to support Yuan Shao, Zhen Yi had moved the entire family to Quliang City, a subordinate of Wei Commandery. Only a few trusted servants remained in Zhongshan to manage the family's local properties.

With the current turmoil in Hebei, where Yuan Shao and Gongsun Zan were locked in a fierce struggle, the Zhen family had profited from the war, their income doubling compared to previous years.

Hearing the sound of coins pouring in, Zhen Yi smiled slightly, looking pleased.

At that moment, his eldest son, Zhen Yao, rushed in and said solemnly, "Father, something has happened. The million coins we gifted to the Third Young Master Yuan have been embezzled by their steward, Zhao."

Zhen Yi was startled, his face changing abruptly. He quickly dismissed the stewards and asked Zhen Yao for details.

Zhen Yao then took out Yuan Xi's secret letter and presented it to his father.

After reading it, Zhen Yi slammed the letter on the table, angry, "This Third Young Master Yuan, how could he be so incapable of judging people? To use such a treacherous person as a confidant, causing me to lose a million coins for nothing."

"Even if the Third Young Master Yuan is not the best, he is still a hundred times better than that bastard. We have already delivered our gift, and he will still appreciate our gesture," Zhen Yao consoled.

Zhen Yi sighed for a long time before calming down, nodding, "You're right. Even without our million coins, with the Third Young Master Yuan's strength, he will surely defeat that bastard Yuan Fang. A million coins is just a small loss."

Zhen Yi was not just consoling himself. The Zhen family's annual income was in the tens of millions, and a loss of a million coins was indeed a negligible amount to them.

"I hope the Third Young Master Yuan can do well and win this contest soon. Then I can marry my daughter to him, and our Zhen family will be secure under the Yuan family's protection," Zhen Yi sighed.

Zhen Yao smiled, "Father, don't worry. The Third Young Master Yuan won't lose to that bastard. Just wait for the good news of his victory in Bing Province."

The father and son looked at each other and smiled, full of confidence in Yuan Xi.

Unbeknownst to them, a young girl was eavesdropping outside the window.

"That million coins must have been secretly taken by the Second Young Master. I didn't expect him to have the courage. It seems my judgment was indeed correct..."

A faint, satisfied smile appeared on the beautiful face of the young girl.