Chapter 148: The Duel Between the Two Yuans

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Cao Peng had been thinking that if it were only him leading the Tiger and Leopard Cavalry to break through, it would be effortless. But how could he take the people of the Zhen family with him? Now, it was much simpler—just take Zhen Mi alone, and no one could stop him.

After making the necessary preparations, Guan Yu and Zhao Yun led the Tiger and Leopard Cavalry into an attack formation, ready to break through at any moment. Zhen Mi, who could not ride a horse, shared one with Cao Peng.

As the city gates opened, the Tiger and Leopard Cavalry charged like blazing fire and swift wind toward the enemy—this was the weakest point in Yuan’s defenses.

At the forefront were Guan Yu and Zhao Yun. Wherever their spears and blades passed, blood and flesh flew, carving a bloody path through the ranks.

The cavalry behind them, clad in sharp armor and wielding equally lethal spears, cut through the enemy formations like a razor blade—more like a scythe reaping wheat.

Unstoppable, they burst forth.

In this way, they tore open a gap in the encirclement. Out of five hundred Tiger and Leopard Cavalry, only six fell.

Meanwhile, Yuan Tan led his forces in preparation to storm the city, only to find that Cao Peng had already abandoned it.

Soon, reports came in: Cao Peng had broken through with the Tiger and Leopard Cavalry.

Though enraged, Yuan Tan was powerless and could only enter the city.

Once inside, the first thing Yuan Tan did was eagerly command Zhen Yan to take him to find Zhen Mi.

He wanted that fickle woman to know who the real hero was.

In his mind, he imagined her kneeling before him, begging for mercy.

But to his surprise, upon arriving at the Zhen residence, he found everyone present except for Zhen Mi.

Yuan Tan’s murderous gaze swept over the family; all lowered their heads, avoiding his eyes.

“Where is she?”

“Don’t just keep bowing your heads! Tell me where she went!” Yuan Tan demanded fiercely again.

“A mistress, she left with Cao Peng...” a servant whispered under the pressure.

Zhen Yan immediately exploded in anger, kicking the servant to the ground.

“Mi was eagerly waiting day and night for the general to arrive. How could she possibly leave with Cao Peng?”

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After berating them, Zhen Yan hurriedly turned.

“General, it must be that Cao Peng forced my sister!” he pleaded anxiously.

He was terrified that Yuan Tan would blame him.

Seeing Yuan Tan’s face dark as thunder, Zhen Yan nervously stepped forward to plead again.

Unexpectedly, Yuan Tan raised his palm and slapped him across the face.

“Too noisy! Shut up!” Yuan Tan snapped.

He refused to believe that Zhen Mi had been coerced by Cao Peng; he had witnessed how attentive and affectionate that fickle woman had been towards Cao Peng—surely she went willingly.

Staring at the furious Yuan Tan, Zhen Yan clutched his burning cheek in disbelief.

Though he hated Yuan Tan deeply, he feared him immensely.

Suddenly, Zhen Yan realized his mistake; Yuan Tan’s eyes were filled with murderous intent.

Had the Zhen family been pushed into an abyss of endless suffering?

Yuan Tan ignored Zhen Yan and continued to brood angrily.

How could he not be furious? In his eyes, he had always been captivated by the Zhen family’s beauty and wealth.

His desire for Zhen Mi’s beauty surpassed even his greed for their riches.

Now, Zhen Mi had run away with Cao Peng.

To him, Zhen Mi was like his own woman.

All the daydreams he had just entertained were now shattered illusions.

This left him feeling deeply humiliated.

Though Cao Peng’s harm to him this time was limited, the insult was profound.

He could not understand why Zhen Mi would follow Cao Peng willingly.

In frustration, he drew his sword and hacked at a nearby wooden table, shattering it into splinters.

“Ah...” The women of the Zhen family screamed in terror at Yuan Tan’s madness.

“Cao Peng! I swear I won’t rest until I kill you!” Yuan Tan gritted his teeth.

At that moment, footsteps approached from afar, followed by a shout.

“General, bad news!”

An armored captain burst in hurriedly and knelt before Yuan Tan.

Already irritable, Yuan Tan snapped, “What’s all this shouting? Have some decorum!”

The captain, frightened by Yuan Tan’s murderous glare, quickly knelt and begged for forgiveness.

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Angered, Yuan Tan coldly demanded, “What is it?!”

The captain finally dared to raise his head and clasp his hands.

“Reporting to my lord: Yuan Shang, that traitor, launched a sudden attack on our rear while we were dealing with Cao Peng.”

“Intelligence now confirms Yuan Shang has surrendered several of our cities and slain many of our generals...”

“Yuan Shang?!” Yuan Tan’s eyes blazed with fury.

He had never expected that after granting Yuan Shang a brief respite, the latter would turn and strike him so boldly.

It seemed that the time spent here battling Cao Peng had allowed some of the treacherous to defect back to Yuan Shao.

“Don’t panic. Deploy the troops immediately—I will teach my brother how a man should behave.”

Yuan Tan did not even glance at Zhen Yan; in his eyes, Zhen Mi was no longer part of the Zhen family.

Thus, the entire Zhen family was now merely a treasure chest to him, with no further value.

He would discard it completely once he had taken what he wanted.

As for their wealth, he only needed to send some soldiers in to plunder it.

Now, his priority was to don his armor and ride out to meet Yuan Shang’s assault.

A fierce clash between Yuan Tan and Yuan Shang was imminent.

Cao Peng had anticipated all this; after all, this was the plan he had laid out.

Man Chong must have already accomplished the task Cao Peng assigned him.

Thinking this, Cao Peng led his soldiers rapidly toward the border of Jizhou.

Zhao Yun, in good spirits, shouted loudly, “General, we should reach our homeland within an hour.”

Cao Peng smiled and gently stroked the pale, delicate hand resting on his waist.

He and Zhen Mi rode the same horse.

The lovely Zhen Mi blushed deeply, leaning against Cao Peng, her slender hand clasping his waist.

Cao Peng could feel the indescribable sweetness enveloping him.

Having brought Zhen Mi away was his greatest achievement.

As for the Zhen family’s wealth, even if Yuan Tan retained it temporarily, what did it matter?

Those two fools wouldn’t last long.

By then, not only the Zhen family’s fortune, but the whole of Jizhou—and even all of Yuan Shao’s former territories—would belong to him.