Ji Ling was captured, Yang Hong was defeated, Sun Ce also retreated as promised, and the 20,000 Huainan vanguard army collapsed.

The defeated enemy troops did not dare to enter Xutai again and retreated to Huailing City upstream.

Xutai City was empty of troops, so Yuan Fang took the opportunity to advance westward and captured this important town on the Huai River almost without a single blow.

Once at Xutai City, Yuan Fang had established a firm foothold on the south bank of the Huai River. Grain and grass supplies could be smoothly transported from Surabaya to the Huai River and to the Xutai front line.

After a big battle, all the soldiers were exhausted, so Yuan Fang ordered the army to rest and recuperate in Xutai City, waiting for Yuan Shu's main army to attack.

When Yuan Fang successfully captured the city, the defeated troops of Yang Hong and Sun Ce were fleeing to Huailing City in embarrassment.

Huailing, Huainan Army Camp.

In the large tent of the Chinese army, the music was playing wildly, and a group of beauties were dancing gracefully, with their flowers blooming.

Yuan Shu's plump figure was lying on the soft cotton couch, enjoying the wine brought to his lips by concubine Ji and admiring the graceful dancing in front of him.

Huailing City is located on the upper reaches of the Huai River, only a hundred miles west of Xutai. Even if the army marches slowly, it can reach Xutai in less than two days.

However, Yuan Shu stayed in Huailing for five days without advancing.

Firstly, the march was too tiring, and secondly, he was convinced that with Sun Ce and Ji Ling as generals, and his own think tank Yang Hong as assistant, the vanguard army alone could defeat the little thief Yuan Fang.

In this case, there was no need for him to rush into the army. All he had to do was drink, dance, and wait for the success of the vanguard.

"Urgent report from Xutai!" The scout rushed in, shouting urgently, disturbing the atmosphere in the tent.

However, Yuan Shu did not get angry. Instead, he said happily: "We have achieved success so soon, but have Bo Fu and the others defeated that little bastard Yuan Fang?"

"My lord, our Xutai vanguard army has been severely defeated by the enemy. General Ji was captured alive by Yuan Fang, General Sun was also defeated, and Xutai City has been occupied by the enemy."

"What!"

Yuan Shu exclaimed, his plump body sitting up suddenly, unable to sit firmly, and almost falling off the couch.

Barely able to keep his body steady, Yuan Shu grabbed the battle report presented by the scout. He glanced at it, becoming more and more frightened and angry.

Wow!

Yuan Shu was furious and tore the silk book into pieces. He cursed: "Trash. They are all trash! You actually let that little bastard be defeated. You have really embarrassed me, Yuan Shu!"

Yuan Shu was so angry that he didn't have the mood to listen to music and dance anymore, so he dismissed the dancers. His plump body paced in the tent, and he kept cursing Ji Ling and others for their incompetence.

In anger, pro-army troops outside the tent came to report that it was Yang Hong and Sun Ce who had returned from defeat.

"If they still have the nerve to come back, tell them to get out of here!" Yuan Shu shouted angrily.

Not long after, Yang Hong and Sun Ce entered one after another.

Yang Hong looked panicked and ashamed, while Sun Ce was calm and composed, with a thick bandage wrapped around his arm.

As soon as the two entered the tent, Yuan Shu became furious and started questioning them.

Yang Hong was scolded by Yuan Shu, and when Yuan Shu's anger subsided, he held his hands and said: "Yuan Fang stood still at that time. We were only afraid that the little thief would attack Xutai City, so Bo Fu led his troops to reinforce the city."

Fang Xutai. My subordinates only wanted to guard the camp. Unexpectedly, Ji Ling was so eager to perform his duties that he refused to listen to his subordinates' advice and insisted on attacking the enemy camp. In the end, he fell into the thief's trick of luring the enemy and became a thief.

Captured."

Yang Hong's words put all the responsibility on Ji Ling.

Anyway, Ji Ling had been captured by Yuan Fang and was probably dead. Sun Ce was not around at the time, so he didn't know the inside story, so it wasn't all up to him.

"Ji Ling, you idiot, I have wasted my trust in you. You are so unsatisfactory. I am so angry."

Yuan Shu believed Yang Hong's explanation and turned all his anger on the captured Ji Ling.

Yang Hong secretly breathed a sigh of relief.

Yuan Shu cursed Ji Ling, then turned his attention to Sun Ce. Seeing a bandage on his arm, he asked what was going on.

"Returning to my lord, Ce heard that the camp was lost, so he led his troops to rescue him. He met Yuan Fang's army on the way, and Ce fought to the death. However, the enemy army was too powerful, and Ce was seriously wounded in the arm, so he had to retreat."

Sun Ce made up a lie about being injured. Naturally, his purpose was to use the injury as an excuse to shirk the orders given to him by Yuan Shu in order to abide by the bet with Yuan Fang.

Yuan Shu had obviously been deceived by the two of them, and his dissatisfaction with them quickly subsided.

"Yuan Fang, you ignorant little bitch, do you think you can escape death by being lucky enough to defeat our vanguard army? I, Yuan Shu, will never let you go!"

In anger, Yuan Shu was no longer in the mood to eat, drink and have fun, and immediately ordered the entire Huailing army to rush toward Xutai City.

Two days later, Yuan Shu's army arrived in the west of Xutai City, on the south bank of the Huai River, seven miles away from the city, and forced the city into the stronghold, forming an offensive posture.

When Xutai was defeated, Yuan Shu lost more than 10,000 soldiers. After gathering the defeated soldiers to join the main force, Yuan Shu still had 45,000 soldiers.

Taking advantage of his military strength, the arrogant Yuan Shu immediately launched a powerful offensive against Yuan Fang.

It's a pity that Yuan Shu has been unable to do anything to Yuan Fang despite the violent attack that lasted for several days, whether it was Xutai City or the Horn Camp in the south of the city.

It's no wonder that Yuan Shu's own military capabilities are far inferior to Yuan Shao's, and the southern army under his command is also weaker than the powerful northern soldiers.

I think back then, Yuan Fang could even block Yuan Shao's attack, let alone Yuan Shu.

After attacking and defending for several days, the two sides reached a stalemate on the front line of Xutai.

However, Yuan Shu knew very well that Yuan Shu had no enemies in Huainan, so he could afford to delay and fight a protracted war, but he could not afford to delay.

It is almost winter, and Surabaya will soon enter the dry season. By then, the water that besieged Xiapi City will surely recede on its own.

At that time, how could the five thousand soldiers and horses besieging Xiapi be able to trap Liu Bei again?

Even if Liu Bei launches a counterattack and defeats the 5,000 besiegers left behind, he will be cut off from his return route and will be attacked from the north and south by Liu Bei and Yuan Shu, trapped on the line of the Huai River.

No matter what, Yuan Fang must fight quickly.

That day, in the south of Xutai City, there was the Jiaojiao Camp.

Ji Ling, who had been captured for several days, was finally remembered by Yuan Fang, and was taken out of the prison car and taken to the main tent.

The depressed Ji Ling had already embraced the decisive battle to the death and prepared to die as a hero. When he came to the big tent, he wanted to enter.

"My lord is busy, I don't have time to see you now, so I'll wait outside." The soldier guarding the door scolded.

Ji Ling was furious, but as a prisoner, he had no choice but to endure it and wait outside the tent with a livid face.

At this moment, a faint conversation came from the tent.

"Lord, our five hundred thousand dendrobium of grain and grass have all been transported to Cangting."

"Well, very good, there is enough food and grass, and we can spend enough time with Yuan Shu."

"It's just that the Cangting Grain Camp has only a thousand defenders. I'm afraid the force is a bit weak. If Yuan Shu sends people to sneak attack, wouldn't it be dangerous?"

"Yuan Shu doesn't know the strength of our grain camp, so how can he dare to take the risk to rob the camp? Besides, our army's strength is already small, and we can't send more troops. That's it."

"Then my subordinates will resign first."

Yuan Fangzheng was obviously talking to his subordinates in the tent. Although the voice was not loud, Ji Ling could vaguely hear it clearly through only one layer of tent.

The curtain was raised, and Taishi Ci stepped out of the tent, glared at Ji Ling with contempt, and walked away.

At this time, Yuan Fang called in Ji Ling.

Ji Ling took a deep breath, put on a generous and fearless face, and strode into the tent with his head held high.

In the tent, Yuan Fang was sitting high, and his sharp eagle eyes immediately glanced at him.

Those sharp eyes seemed to be able to see through people's thoughts, which made Ji Ling feel like a ray of light on his back, making him quite uncomfortable.

Ji Ling had no choice but to turn aside, pretending to be disdainful, and shouted generously: "Yuan Fang, I, Ji Ling, have been captured by you. If you want to kill me, please give me a good time."

"This Ji Ling does have some spirit..." Yuan Fang secretly admired him.

He could remember that Ji Ling in history was the number one general under Yuan Shu, and he had fought against strong men like Guan Yu and Zhang Fei, and ended up dying tragically.

In terms of pure martial arts, Ji Ling should be in the late stage of film condensation. In terms of his ability to command troops, he is probably on par with Zhu Ling.

Nowadays, Yuan Fang's territory is getting bigger and bigger. Although he has many good generals under his command, he is still stretched thin. It would be a good thing if he can recruit a general of Ji Ling's level.

However, Yuan Fangjin had other motives for summoning Ji Li.

Yuan Fang stopped thinking and said in a deep voice: "Ji Ling, I think you still have some talent, and I can't bear to kill you. I will give you a chance now. If you surrender to me, I will spare your life."

Only then did Ji Ling understand why Yuan Fang had not killed him. It turned out that he wanted to surrender to him.

Faced with Yuan Fang's kindness, Ji Ling snorted coldly and said with emotion: "How can Ji be that person who is greedy for life and afraid of death? I have been so kind to Yuan Gong, how can I betray him? Yuan Fang, stop talking nonsense and kill him if you want."

If you want, give me a good time!"

"You are looking for death!" Yuan Fang was furious and ordered Ji Ling to be killed on the spot.

Ji Ling, however, stood with his head held high, not afraid at all, as if he was ready to die.

At this time, Guo Jia on the side said hurriedly: "Lord, please calm down. Ji Ling has been captured. Are you still afraid that he will not surrender sooner or later? Why not take him into custody first, I believe he will figure it out sooner or later."

Yuan Fang's anger subsided, and he waved his hand and shouted: "I'll give you a life for now. Come on, please take him to me and take care of him."

The soldiers on the left and right rushed forward fiercely and dragged Ji Ling out without any explanation.

As soon as Ji Ling left, Yuan Fang's solemn expression suddenly revealed, and a sly smile appeared on the young man's face.

"Fengxiao, you're overacting. I can't get used to you being so serious. I almost laughed out loud." Yuan Fang looked at Guo Jia and teased.

Guo Jia sighed helplessly and laughed at himself: "My play should be played by Tian Yuanhao. He is born with a stern face, which is perfect for him. My lord asked me to play it, so this is the only effect I can get."

Yuan Fang burst out laughing and asked, "Have all the preparations been arranged?"

"We are all ready. It just depends on whether Ji Ling has the courage." Guo Jiadao.

Yuan Fang nodded and sneered: "Don't worry, this Ji Ling is quite bloody. He is not even afraid of death. How can he not have this little courage? Let's wait and see." (To be continued, please search Piao Tian Literature.
Chapter completed!