Chapter 92

Zang Ba has been besieged in Dongwu City for over a month, and it is estimated that he has reached his limit. If Yuan Fang does not go to save him soon, the city will surely fall to the troops of Xu Province.

However, before returning to the south to save Zang Ba, Yuan Fang first needs to have a big meal.

Riding back to the city, Yuan Fang did not have time to enjoy the welcome of the common people of the plain. He rushed straight to the hall and, as soon as he entered, shouted, "Bring me half a sheep's leg!"

Half an hour later, a pot of fragrant mutton was finally placed before him.

Yuan Fang, who was starving, without a word, began to devour the meat like a ravenous wolf.

He was so hungry that he was almost fainting.

Although the ability to harden his skin was miraculous, it also consumed a tremendous amount of energy from his body. This consumption could only be replenished by eating a large amount of meat.

In a moment, half of the pot of mutton had been devoured by Yuan Fang, yet he continued to eat voraciously, showing no signs of being full.

"Sir, slow down a bit. Come, have a cup of wine to moisten your throat, don't choke," Xiao Cha, holding a cup of wine, advised with a bitter smile.

Xiao Cha was already accustomed to Yuan Fang's astonishing appetite, but the maids and servants in the hall were all amazed by their master's incredible eating capacity.

Light footsteps sounded, and Mi Huan, with a joyful expression, entered the hall, saying, "Congratulations, Sir, on your great victory and fame across the land."

Yuan Fang, however, did not have time to respond. With his mouth full of meat, he mumbled, "Sit down first, we'll talk later."

Saying this, still hungry, Yuan Fang lowered his head and continued to gnaw on the meat.

Mi Huan was taken aback, staring at Yuan Fang's extremely "wild" eating manner, momentarily stunned.

All along, in her eyes, Yuan Fang had been a confident and arrogant yet steady and experienced hero. This was the first time she had seen him eat so voraciously.

It could be said that Yuan Fang's eating manner was quite unrefined.

After a moment of shock, Mi Huan smiled.

"Who would have thought he has this side to him, he's really quite interesting..."

Mi Huan laughed to herself, but for some reason, seeing Yuan Fang eat like this did not make her feel unrefined; instead, it made her feel a bit closer to him.

Xiao Cha, however, felt a bit awkward and forced a smile, "My lord... sometimes... has a rather large appetite. Miss Mi, please wait a moment."

"No problem, Lord Yuan has been in a hard battle, it's natural for him to be hungry. I won't disturb him for now," Mi Huan said without any concern, and then took her leave.

As she stepped out of the threshold, Mi Huan turned back and looked at Yuan Fang, who was still eating voraciously, and couldn't help but laugh softly before leaving.

Watching Mi Huan's departing figure, Xiao Cha seemed to be deep in thought, as if she had seen through something.

After a while, Yuan Fang finally finished eating. The entire pot of mutton, meat and broth, was completely devoured.

"Ah, that's satisfying~"

Yuan Fang, now full of wine and meat, let out a long breath, patted his bulging stomach, and stretched comfortably.

"Where is Mi Huan?" Yuan Fang looked up and realized that Mi Huan was gone.

Xiao Cha laughed and sighed, "Sir, it's your eating manner that scared Miss Mi away."

Yuan Fang laughed heartily, not taking it seriously.

At this moment, Xiao Cha couldn't help but say, "In my opinion, Sir, you should pay attention to your demeanor in front of Miss Mi, so as not to leave a bad impression."

Yuan Fang was taken aback and said, "Being pretentious and putting on airs is not my style. Besides, my relationship with Mi Huan is just one of mutual benefit. It's just a meal, why should I care about her impression?"

Xiao Cha shook her head and smiled, "Sir, you are always focused on great matters. Have you not noticed that Miss Mi Huan has feelings for you?"

Feelings for him?

Yuan Fang's wild laughter subsided, and he fell silent, carefully pondering Xiao Cha's words.

Thinking about Mi Huan's attitude towards him, her every move, every word, and every smile, and recalling what she had said before, he realized that there might be some truth to it.

With Yuan Fang's keen insight, how could he not have noticed? However, in recent times, he had been constantly surrounded by enemies and had no time to think about personal matters.

Even with Zhen Mi, whom he had promised, he had no time to think, let alone Mi Huan.

After today's great victory, his tense nerves finally relaxed. Reminded by Xiao Cha, he began to reflect on the implications.

"Mi Huan..." Her beautiful and dignified face involuntarily appeared in his mind.

Just then, Guo Jia entered the hall, laughing, "Sir, you are truly remarkable. When I woke up, I heard that you had already defeated Gongsun Zan completely, and even took his helmet and weapons. Is that true?"

Guo Jia's arrival quickly put aside the matter of Mi Huan.

He smiled and kicked the golden helmet at his feet, sending it clattering down the steps.

Guo Jia then knew that the rumors were true, and a look of surprise flashed across his relaxed face.

Although he did not practice martial arts, he knew that Gongsun Zan was a formidable warrior. The fact that Yuan Fang, in a single battle, could force Gongsun Zan to flee in disgrace was truly surprising, even to this "outsider."

After sighing in admiration, Guo Jia praised, "According to Yan Liang, he had the chance to pursue and kill Gongsun Zan, but you deliberately let him go. That was a wise move, leaving Gongsun Zan alive is most beneficial to you."

Guo Jia was extremely clever. What Yan Liang couldn't figure out, he immediately guessed Yuan Fang's intentions.

Yuan Fang stood up and said happily, "The one who understands me is none other than Fengxiao. Now that Gongsun Zan has been defeated, Fengxiao, prepare yourself and follow me south to deal with the old dog Tao Qian."

"What preparation is needed? I have a flask of wine, that's enough," Guo Jia raised the wine flask in his hand.

Yuan Fang laughed heartily and immediately ordered the entire army to rest for a day. The next day, they would cross the Yellow River and head straight for the State of Beihai.

That night, Yuan Fang generously distributed the wine and meat seized from the enemy camp to the soldiers, rewarding them well.

The next morning, Yuan Fang left Hao Zhao with three thousand troops to guard the city, while he led ten thousand troops and the generals, including Yan Liang, heading south.

The army traveled day and night, and in a few days, they reached the State of Beihai.

Yuan Fang met up with Zhu Ling's troops in Douchang, combining a total of fourteen thousand troops. With the momentum of defeating Gongsun Zan, they advanced southward, heading towards the besieged Dongwu City.

...

North of Dongwu City, the main camp of the Xu Province army.

In the central tent, the commander Cao Bao sat high, stroking his beard, listening to the reports of his subordinates.

"The counties of Langya, Dong'an, and Gumu in the northern part of Langya have all been captured by our army. The counties of Pingchang, Anqiu, and Chang'an in the State of Beihai, as well as the counties of Qianzou in the State of Donglai, have all changed their flags and surrendered to our army. Within a radius of five hundred miles, only Dongwu City remains unyielded."

Cao Bao nodded slightly, a satisfied look on his face, even a bit proud.

After a month of campaigning, not only had he recovered the lost territories in the northern part of Langya, but he had also captured several counties in Qingzhou. Such achievements could not fail to make Cao Bao feel proud and satisfied.

As long as he captured the isolated city of Dongwu and dealt with the traitor Zang Ba, his reputation would soar.

"The young Yuan Fang is restrained by Gongsun Zan and cannot come to the aid of Dongwu. Our army will capture this city in no time, and General Cao will soon be famous across the land," Liu Bei, standing in the tent, bowed and flattered.

Cao Bao laughed heartily and ordered a strong attack the next day.

Just as he finished speaking, a guard rushed in and bowed, "Report to the general, scouts have reported that the enemy leader Yuan Fang is leading a large army of infantry and cavalry towards Dongwu!"

The shocking news fell like a thunderbolt.

In the tent, including Cao Bao and Liu Bei, everyone's expression instantly turned to stone.