Chapter 85

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The news of Nanpi being burned and the 500,000 hu of grain supplies of the Youzhou army being completely destroyed quickly spread throughout the entire army.

Every officer and soldier in Yuan's army was elated by this news, and morale soared.

On the Youzhou army's side, upon learning that their grain supplies had been burned, the army was in turmoil, and the soldiers were in a state of panic.

Gongsun Zan had no choice but to withdraw over ten thousand troops from the front lines to return to Nanpi for rescue, and he had no intention of attacking Pingyuan City anymore.

The offensive of the Youzhou army suddenly diminished.

In Pingyuan City.

In the hall, Yuan Fang was listening to the scouts' reports about the Youzhou army's retreat and closure of their camps, and his mood was greatly improved.

At this moment, Mi Huan entered the hall and asked in surprise, "Young Master, I heard that the grain supplies of the Youzhou army in Nanpi were burned. Could it be that you sent someone to attack from the sea?"

Yuan Fang smiled slightly, "Of course it was me. If not, why would I have borrowed ships from your family? In a way, this is also your contribution."

Upon hearing Yuan Fang's personal confirmation, Mi Huan was surprised to believe that the rumors she had heard were actually true.

"The sea is unpredictable, and attacking from the sea is risky. You actually dared to take such a big risk, that's too...," Mi Huan was deeply shocked by Yuan Fang's courage and didn't know how to evaluate it.

Yuan Fang, however, said calmly, "The greater the risk, the higher the reward. War is like business, Miss Mi, as a businesswoman, you should understand this best."

Mi Huan's slender figure trembled deeply, and her face showed an expression of disbelief.

She thought she had understood Yuan Fang before, but now she suddenly realized that she didn't understand him at all.

"This person, I can never guess what he will do next. He is truly too hard to fathom..." Mi Huan's thoughts were like waves, unable to calm down.

At this moment, a guard outside the hall reported that Taishi Ci, leading the victorious troops from the surprise attack, had returned and was now on the northern bank.

Taishi Ci's safe return made Yuan Fang very happy. Without further ado, he mounted his horse and left the mansion, ordering all his officials and generals to gather and accompany him to welcome Taishi Ci.

Just as he left the city gate, Taishi Ci had already led his troops to the city walls.

"Taishi Ziyi, well done. This fire you set has greatly pleased me, hahaha—" Yuan Fang was in high spirits and laughed as he galloped forward to greet Taishi Ci.

Taishi Ci also spurred his horse forward, saluted, and said with a smile, "If it weren't for Young Master's brilliant strategy, I wouldn't have had the opportunity to achieve such a great feat."

Yuan Fang laughed and pointed to Guo Jia beside him, "This plan wasn't just my idea; we owe a lot to Guo Fengxiao."

Guo Jia, who was holding a wine gourd high, shook his head vigorously and waved his hands, "This has nothing to do with me, the drunkard. It's all Young Master's achievement."

Although Guo Jia assisted Yuan Fang, he seemed to be a man indifferent to fame and fortune, only seeking pleasure, and he didn't consider his contribution as a significant achievement.

Yuan Fang, well aware of Guo Jia's free-spirited nature, didn't emphasize his contribution and entered the city with Taishi Ci and the victorious troops.

Upon entering the hall, Yuan Fang was about to order a banquet to celebrate Taishi Ci's victory when Taishi Ci suddenly remembered something and said, "During this sea attack on Nanpi, besides burning Gongsun Zan's grain supplies, I also brought back a gift for Young Master."

A gift?

Yuan Fang became interested and asked Taishi Ci to bring the so-called gift.

Soon, a dirty and disheveled man was dragged in and thrown to the ground.

The man was very unhappy, struggled to get up, and faced Yuan Fang with his chest out.

Only then did Yuan Fang recognize that this man was Gongsun Fan, whom he had released earlier.

Seeing Gongsun Fan, Yuan Fang's anger flared, and a chill appeared in his eyes.

Gongsun Fan, however, pretended to be calm and composed, neither kneeling nor bowing to Yuan Fang, keeping his head high.

With a gaze like a blade, Yuan Fang shouted, "A defeated general captured twice, and you still dare to be arrogant in front of me? Yuan Gui, make him kneel!"

Yuan Gui stepped forward and kicked Gongsun Fan's legs hard.

Gongsun Fan screamed in pain, his legs gave way, and he fell to his knees in front of Yuan Fang.

Gongsun Fan, humiliated, tried to stand up but was held down by Yuan Gui, who pressed his shoulders, preventing him from getting up no matter how much he struggled.

"Yuan Fang, you dare to treat me so rudely. When my brother captures Pingyuan, he will not spare you!" Gongsun Fan, enraged and ashamed, shouted hysterically.

Yuan Fang glared at him and said sternly, "You still have the nerve to shout at me. I ask you, when I let you go and told you to deliver a message to Gongsun Zan, why did you lie?"

Faced with Yuan Fang's questioning, Gongsun Fan, who was originally angry, suddenly showed a hint of shame.

On that day, Gongsun Fan lied in front of many people, claiming that Yuan Fang admitted to killing Gongsun Xu. Many people witnessed this, and Yuan Fang heard about it from his spies.

Yuan Fang had spared Gongsun Fan's life, but this man broke his promise and lied openly, which made Yuan Fang furious.

Gongsun Fan, who thought he had escaped, never imagined that he would be captured by Yuan Fang again.

Faced with Yuan Fang's questioning, Gongsun Fan suppressed his shame and coldly said, "Why should I listen to you? You clearly killed my nephew but didn't dare to admit it. I was just telling the truth."

Even in such a dire situation, Gongsun Fan still dared to lie.

Yuan Fang was enraged, his eyes filled with killing intent. He slammed his hand on the table and shouted, "You, a man of no integrity, have brought this upon yourself. Take him away and behead him!"

The guards stepped forward and dragged Gongsun Fan away.

Gongsun Fan was shocked and never thought that Yuan Fang would dare to kill him. He shouted, "Yuan Fang, you scoundrel, my brother has tens of thousands of troops. He will capture Pingyuan and tear you to pieces!"

Gongsun Fan, facing death, did not beg for mercy but still dared to threaten Yuan Fang with Gongsun Zan.

How could he not know that Yuan Fang, who was already under pressure, hated being threatened and belittled the most?

Yuan Fang coldly snorted and waved his hand, "After beheading him, hang his head high on the city wall of Pingyuan so that Gongsun Zan can see what happens when he provokes me."

"Yuan Fang, you scoundrel, my brother will not spare you, will not spare you..." Gongsun Fan's hysterical cries gradually faded as he was dragged away.

The sword rose and fell, and the head rolled.

That day, the bloody head was hung high on the northern gate of Pingyuan City.

In the north of the city, at the Youzhou army's camp.

Gongsun Zan was pacing back and forth, his brows deeply furrowed, and his face filled with unease.

The grain supplies in Nanpi were burned, and his brother Gongsun Fan's fate was unknown. Despite his overwhelming momentum, he had suffered repeated setbacks, which made him very unhappy.

Losing to Yuan Shao several times was one thing, but now he couldn't even defeat Yuan Shao's illegitimate son, which damaged his reputation as the fearsome White Horse General.

Just as he was feeling uneasy, Guan Jing rushed in, shouting, "Lord, bad news! General Zhonggui's head has been hung on the city gate by the enemy."

"What!" Gongsun Zan was shocked and rushed out of the tent, leading a group of cavalry to the city gate of Pingyuan.

From a distance, he could see a large head hanging on the city gate.

Upon closer inspection, the head was indeed that of his brother, Gongsun Fan.

Instantly, Gongsun Zan was overwhelmed with shock and anger, almost losing his balance.

His son, Gongsun Xu, was killed by Yuan Fang, and now his brother, Gongsun Fan, was also killed by Yuan Fang. Gongsun Zan had become a lonely man, all because of Yuan Fang.

Although Gongsun Xu and Gongsun Fan's deaths were due to their initial provocation of Yuan Fang, Gongsun Zan, in his extreme anger, was blinded by rage and ignored everything.

"Yuan Fang, you scoundrel, you killed my son and now my brother. I, Gongsun Zan, will not forgive you, will not forgive you!"

In his extreme hatred, Gongsun Zan's eyes were filled with bloodshot veins, and he roared like a madman, "Pass my order: divide the troops to attack and plunder the counties of Pingyuan. Whether it's a village or a city, men, women, and children, all must be killed. I will wash Pingyuan in blood!"

In his extreme anger, Gongsun Zan, unable to break through Pingyuan City or kill Yuan Fang, vented his anger on the people of Pingyuan.

When this order to massacre was issued, even the Youzhou army's soldiers were shocked and changed color.