Chapter Twelve Suspicious Character

  Hooray! Hooray! Hooray!

  On the training ground, Yuan Fang's fists flew out like the wind, practicing hard on Zhu Ling's "Tiger Step Fist".

  With every punch thrown out, exercising the large muscles on his body, Yuan Fang felt his own body becoming stronger and more powerful day by day.

  He took a deep breath, pressed his fists against his abdomen, and then simultaneously threw out both fists in the "Fierce Tiger Pounces on Sheep" move, exhaling as he did so, producing a loud "Hoo-hoo!" sound like a tiger's roar.

  The two fists burst out and hit the wooden board in front of him, which was about two fingers thick. With a loud "crack", the wooden board split into two pieces.

  This plank is a hard oak plank, which Yuan Fang specially found to test his strength.

  "Hmm, this Tiger Step Fist is indeed a good boxing technique. I've only been practicing for a month and my strength has increased so much. With my current abilities, even if I were to fight Yuan Xi again head-on, I'm sure I'll win..."

  Yuan Fang's fists shattered the wooden board, and he looked at his own hands, then at his increasingly robust body. He closed his eyes, filled with joy.

  Carefully feeling his limbs, waist and abdomen, chest and back muscles, casually gesturing a few times with the tiger-step boxing's Tempering Fist technique, Yuan Fang discovered that every fist movement seemed to be able to connect all the strength of these large muscle groups together.

  A punch can penetrate the entire body's large muscle groups with its power.

  Yuan Fang didn't stop, continuing to practice the Tiger Step Fist, grasping every minute to improve his martial arts.

  An hour passed, Yuan Fang was drenched in sweat, panting like a cow, and finally couldn't hold on, just then he withdrew his fist.

  "Master, don't tire yourself, come in and take a rest, I've already cooked a pot of mutton according to your instructions."

  By the martial arts arena, watching the sweat-drenched young master, Xiao Cha's face was filled with heartache.

  Yuan Fang finally dragged his tired body back to the central army tent, and was greeted by a strong meaty aroma.

  "Master, have it while it's hot." Xiaocha placed a large bowl of mutton in front of him.

  Yuan Fang sat down and started eating like he had been starving for days, wolfing down food as if the wind was sweeping away the remaining clouds.

  According to Zhu Ling, practicing martial arts must follow a gradual progression, and two hours a day is already the limit. It's not possible to practice too intensely or for too long, lest one injures their body.

  Yuan Fang couldn't afford to waste any more time, his body had been delayed for twenty years, he must make up for the wasted time as much as possible and improve his martial arts.

  So Yuan Fang practiced desperately, practicing at least four hours a day.

  Such crazy training, the damage to the body is naturally extremely heavy. Fortunately, Yuan Fang's body has a super strong self-healing ability, and physical injuries can be quickly recovered on their own.

  It was precisely because of this ability that Yuan Fang could practice martial arts in a nearly "self-mutilating" manner.

  However, this self-repairing ability is not generated out of thin air. Every repair consumes its own energy.

  That's why Yuan Fang feels hungrier than ordinary people and needs to eat a large amount of food every day, especially meat, to replenish the consumption.

  Before long, a large pot of mutton was eaten up by Yuan Fang, leaving nothing but a clean pot.

  Xiao Cha looked at the empty pot in amazement, knowing that it was enough for at least three people, but Yuan Fang had easily cleaned it out by himself.

  "For nearly a month now, the young master's appetite seems to have become unusually large..."

  Xiao Cha was still in shock when Yuan Fang had already stood up and strode out of the big tent.

  After eating a pot of mutton, Yuan Fang's physical strength recovered instantly, and his fatigue disappeared. He was refreshed and started practicing his fist technique again.

  "The young master seems like a different person since he recovered from his leg injury."

  Looking at the young master practicing boxing, a hint of admiration and envy also appeared in Xiaocha's surprised eyes.

  Just after a set of boxing, Hao Zhao hurried over, his face still with a few points of excitement.

  "Your Highness, there's news from Ye City that the Third Prince was defeated by Zhang Yan of the Black Mountain bandits in Shangdang and suffered a loss in the first battle." Hao Zhao said in a low voice.

  "Let's go inside and talk." Yuan Fang didn't seem too surprised, put away his fist, and calmly walked back to the big tent.

  Hao Zhao followed him in and reported in detail how Yuan Xi had failed.

  Yuan Xi relied on his strong army and abundant supplies, planning to quickly capture Pingzhou. He launched a large-scale attack on the Upper Party County, where the Black Mountain bandits were entrenched, just a few days after sending out his troops.

  However, Yuan Xi blindly advanced his troops and was ambushed by Zhang Yan with 700 cavalrymen, who attacked him from behind, killing him in a great defeat, losing over 3,000 soldiers.

  "They all underestimated the Black Mountain Army, thinking it was just a gang of Yellow Turban remnants. But Zhang Yan is not someone to be trifled with." Yuan Fang said coldly.

  Hao Zhao saw that Yuan Fang did not show a hint of surprise, as if Yuan Xi's defeat was within his expectations. This made him sincerely admire Yuan Fang's foresight.

  In fact, Yuan Xi's defeat was indeed within his expectations.

  Yuan Fang knew that the Black Mountain bandits had not been pacified even when Yuan Shao took control of the four provinces of Hebei, and it was only after Cao Cao conquered Hebei that Zhang Yan led the Black Mountain bandits in surrendering.

  Such a stubborn force, even if Yuan Shao himself came out, would be hard to withstand, let alone Yuan Xi.

  "Yuan Shao, you initially sent Yuan Xi to take Pingzhou, thinking that the Black Mountain bandits were easy to deal with. Now, shouldn't you be regretting it?"

  With a cold smile in his heart, Yuan Fang immediately ordered to strengthen the vigilance along the Ganling line and strictly inspect suspicious people coming and going.

  Yuan Fang estimated that since Yuan Xi's side had failed and lost face, they would certainly secretly make trouble for him.

  Hao Zhao took the order and increased the manpower, setting up checkpoints at all major roads to strictly inspect anyone coming and going, especially those from Ye City heading towards Pingyuan Prefecture.

  Four days later in the evening, Yuan Fang was practicing martial arts when Hao Zhao rushed over again and reported that he had intercepted a suspicious person while inspecting the checkpoints.

  "Who is this suspicious person?" Yuan Fang asked curiously.

  "This man's name is Guo Hua, and he serves as the prefectural magistrate. According to what I know from my subordinate, this person is indeed a noble young master." Hao Zhao spoke with great certainty.

  Kuo Huai!

  A name that may not be as thunderous as some others, but is enough to evoke many historical memories for Yuan Fang.

  If Yuan Fang is not mistaken, this man was the governor of Liangzhou in Wei State during the late Three Kingdoms period. He had defeated Shu State's invasion several times and was a general who should not be underestimated.

  At this time, Guo Huai was like Hao Zhao, who had not yet made a name for himself and was just a small prefectural administrator.

  "Are you certain this Guo Hua is Yuan Tan's man?" asked Yuan Fang.

  Hao Zhao nodded heavily: "Subordinates remember people at a glance, subordinates dare to guarantee that this Guo Huai is indeed the son of the Grand Duke."

  Yuan Fang nodded slightly, his fingers lightly stroking his chin, a hint of doubt flickering in his eyes.

  Guo Huai, as the governor of Weijun, and also being a man of Yuan Tan, ran to Qinghe State, and still wanted to go east, which was indeed very suspicious.

  Yuan Fang soon thought of it and realized that Guo Huai's appearance was likely to have Yuan Tan's conspiracy in it.

  After a moment of contemplation, Yuan Fang sneered coldly: "Bring this Guo Huai up here, be slightly polite, I want to have a good chat with him."

  Hao Zhao withdrew and soon brought in a man named Guo Huai.

  Yuan Fang looked him up and down, seeing that Guo Hua was a few years older than himself, but his demeanor was extremely calm and composed, with a hint of maturity in his eyebrows.

  "The subordinate has seen the second young master." Guo Huaie made a courtesy call, his tone and expression were also respectful.

  Yuan Fang nodded and motioned for Guo Hua to take a seat. After he sat down, Yuan Fang said: "Guo Boji, as far as I know, you are the prefect of Wei Commandery, why have you come to Qinghe Prefecture?"

  "It is like this, recently the bandits in Qingzhou have risen again, their momentum is quite grand. I am following the imperial edict, going to Qingzhou to investigate the true situation of the bandits." Guo Huai replied promptly.

  The terrain of Qingzhou is vast, with the western part of Pingguo and other counties occupied by Gongsun Zan, while the eastern part of Beihai and other counties are under the jurisdiction of the court-appointed governor, Jiao He. Guo Huai's reason is not suspicious in this regard.

  If Yuan Fang had not known that Guo Huan was a man of Yuan Tan, he might have believed it, but now, even if Guo Huan's reason is more sufficient, how could Yuan Fang believe it.

  "I have an imperial edict to carry out and must hurry to Qingzhou. If the two young masters have no further instructions, I will take my leave." Guo Huai stood up, intending to withdraw.

  Yuan Fang's mind had already made up its mind as his thoughts turned around.

  "There's no rush to leave Qingzhou for now, what's the hurry? I've long heard that Guo Boji's talent surpasses others. Now that we've met by chance, it's only right that we have a few good drinks together."

  Without waiting for Guo Huai's response, Yuan Fang had already burst out laughing and waved his hand, shouting: "Bring people! Quickly set up the wine, this young master wants to have a long conversation with Gu Boji over wine, discussing everything under the sky."

  Guo Huai's eyebrows furrowed slightly.

  P.S: Collecting, recommending, Swallow begs for all support.

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