"Nonsense."
Yuan Shao smiled faintly, extending his finger to point, "Zhang Xin is already dead."
"His head fell off."
"Dong Zhuo chopped it off."
"It can't be reattached."
After speaking, Yuan Shao lay down again, closed his eyes, then opened them again and sat up.
Eyes closed.
Eyes open.
His personal guard was still before him, still covered in blood, still looking anxious.
"He really came? "
Yuan Shao's eyes instantly widened, and he was no longer sleepy.
The personal guard nodded frantically.
"He's about to reach the Prefectural Governors Residence! Our brothers are resisting on the streets. Lord, please come with me! "
Just then, a faint shout came from outside the residence.
"Marquis Xuanwei Zhang Xin is here! Those who surrender shall be spared death! Do you wish to aid the tyrant? "
"Holy crap! "
Yuan Shao instantly sprang up, pacing anxiously around the room.
"He's not dead? "
"How could he not be dead? "
Dong Zhuo's side said Zhang Xin was dead, and they even held a funeral for him.
Yet now Zhang Xin had already arrived at his doorstep.
Ignoring Pingyuan, leading his army directly to attack Nangpi…
This is Zhang Xin's style of warfare!
That's right!
Even if Yuan Shao was foolish, he had reacted by now.
He had been deceived by Dong Zhuo!
It was likely Dong Zhuo and Zhang Xin had colluded, deliberately spreading false information to make him complacent, creating conditions for Zhang Xin's surprise attack on Nangpi.
Having figured this out, Yuan Shao cursed loudly.
"Old thief Dong Zhuo, you are truly shameless! "
"Little brat Zhang Xin, you really are in league with Dong Zhuo! "
After cursing, Yuan Shao's face showed a panicked expression again.
"Ah? What should I do now…"
"Lord, the best course of action now is to quickly leave the city! "
The personal guard said urgently, "Our brothers have already prepared a carriage for you, Lord. Zhang Xin's army entered the city from the North Gate; you can exit from the South Gate and head to Dongguang first! "
Yuan Shao came to his senses upon hearing this.
Dongguang was fifty li south of Nangpi.
Not long after Chunyu Qiong's army set out, a torrential rain began. He had sent someone back to report that the heavy rain made travel difficult, and his army was currently encamped north of Dongguang.
There were still five thousand troops there; as long as he escaped to them, ensuring his own safety should not be a problem.
"Good, good! "
Yuan Shao nodded repeatedly, "Then I shall follow your advice."
The personal guard pulled Yuan Shao and started to leave.
"Wait."
Yuan Shao broke free, pointing at Yuan Shang on the bed, saying, "Bring my son too."
The personal guard stepped forward, pulled back the blanket covering Yuan Shang, and carried him on his back.
"Lord, hurry."
"Good."
Yuan Shao quickly followed behind the personal guard.
Inside the Prefectural Governors Residence, chaos reigned.
Several personal guards rushed into the backyard, each going to find Yuan Shao's wives and sons, scaring the maids and concubines in the backyard into continuous screams.
The situation was urgent, and Yuan Shao couldn't bother with others. He only pulled Lady Liu and Yuan Xi, along with Yuan Shang, a family of four, onto the carriage prepared by the personal guards and headed toward the South Gate.
As for his other concubines, he left them in the courtyard.
Not long after Yuan Shao left, Dian Wei led his army to break into the Prefectural Governors Residence and surrounded these concubines.
After confirming it was safe, Zhang Xin walked in, his eyes bloodshot as he looked at the concubines, as if he wanted to devour them.
"Where is Yuan Shao? "
Zhang Xin's voice was extremely cold.
The concubines shivered upon hearing him.
"I asked you, where is Yuan Shao? "
Zhang Xin roared, "Are you deaf?! "
"He… he fled in a carriage…" a slightly bolder concubine said timidly.
"Where did he flee to? " Zhang Xin asked again.
"South… south…"
Zhang Xin nodded, looking at a servant.
"Are there horses in the residence? "
Zhang Xin's main task was to attack the city, and horses couldn't be carried on the boats. Therefore, this army, from him downwards, had no warhorses.
To pursue Yuan Shao, who was in a carriage, relying on two legs would definitely not be enough.
"Yes, yes."
The servant quickly said, "I'll take you, sir."
Zhang Xin gave a personal guard a look.
The personal guard nodded and took a few men to retrieve the horses with the servant.
Not long after, the personal guard led five warhorses over.
"Lord, this is all there is."
Zhang Xin asked the servant, "How many people did Yuan Shao take with him when he fled? "
"Dozens of people," the servant replied.
"Were they on horseback or on foot? " Zhang Xin asked again.
"They were all foot soldiers…"
Zhang Xin looked at Dian Wei.
"Old Dian, take a hundred men and follow me in pursuit."
"Understood." Dian Wei clasped his fists in response.
Zhang Xin then looked at a personal guard, "Go tell Guan Jian that he is temuan Benchu, where are you going? "
Zhang Xin galloped his horse, laughing loudly.
"Zhang Zi Qing is here to settle the score with you! "