148 Yuan Shao: I never in my wildest dreams imagined I would be killed by a horse.

Yuan Shao was traveling along the official road toward Ye City, while Qu’a took a shortcut, crossing mountains and ridges to return to Ye City.

Therefore, Qu’a arrived back at Ye City a step ahead of Yuan Shao.

“Master!” Qu’a hurried back and reported to Su Ming, “Yuan Shao has returned. It should only take about the time it takes for an incense stick to burn; he’s probably at the city gates by now.”

Upon hearing that Yuan Shao had returned, Su Ming’s eyes brightened involuntarily.

Since taking Ye City, Su Ming had been lying in wait here, patiently anticipating Yuan Shao’s return to the city.

With about one incense stick’s worth of time left, Yuan Shao would soon arrive at the city gates.

Su Ming also needed to hasten his preparations.

What was Su Ming preparing for?

He needed to disguise himself.

It should be remembered that back at Guandu, on the battlefield, Su Ming had fought single-handedly against Guan Yu, Zhang Fei, and Zhao Yun.

He had shown remarkable valor on the front lines, leaving a deep impression on Yuan Shao.

Su Ming had to change his appearance so that Yuan Shao would not recognize him.

Originally, Su Ming had pale skin and no beard; he used wax to dye his face a waxy yellow and then glued some facial hair onto it.

This transformation altered his appearance so drastically that not only Yuan Shao but even Zhang Liao and Taishi Ci would have to look closely to recognize him as Su Ming.

Then, Su Ming ordered the soldiers on the city walls to change into Yuan army armor, and the banners were switched to those of Yuan’s forces.

Moreover, within a mile of the city gates, no civilians were allowed to come near today.

Anyone daring to approach the gates would be executed.

Once all these arrangements were in place, Yuan Shao was nearly at the gates.

“Report.”

Soon, a scout came with the news that Yuan Shao was only about the time it takes to finish a cup of tea away from the city gates.

Upon hearing this, Su Ming instructed his men to play their roles convincingly, making sure no one suspected a thing.

The soldiers atop the walls readied their powerful bows and crossbows. Once Yuan Shao arrived, Su Ming would give the order, and they would unleash a volley of arrows.

Su Ming personally led fifty or sixty elite troops, stationed at the gate under the guise of soldiers inspecting the entrance.

Soon, Yuan Shao arrived at the gates with his troops.

Seeing the familiar Ye City, tears nearly welled in Yuan Shao’s eyes.

When he had left Ye City before, he had been magnificent.

A grand army of hundreds of thousands, boasting to others that it was a million strong.

Well-supplied with soldiers, horses, and provisions, Yuan Shao was the foremost lord in the land at that time.

But now?

Wu Chao had been burned, and after the defeat at Guandu, Yuan Shao was as frightened as a stray dog, fleeing back to Ye City.

Now at the city gates, he had only about five thousand men with him.

The more Yuan Shao thought about it, the more sorrowful and distressed he became.

Normally, as the lord, Yuan Shao should have been in the center of his troops.

But now, anxious to return, Yuan Shao rode at the very front, wanting to be the first to enter Ye City.

Ye City was Yuan Shao’s headquarters; entering it would bring him some peace of mind.

Logically, once inside Ye City, Yuan Shao should feel reassured.

Yet, inexplicably, the closer he got, the more uneasy he felt.

At that moment, Su Ming made a show of welcoming Yuan Shao, keeping a close watch on him.

He was waiting for Yuan Shao to come near so he could capture him alive.

“Clop.”

“Clop, clop.”

Just as Yuan Shao was about thirty paces from Su Ming, a sudden, urgent sound of hooves approached from behind.

Already anxious, Yuan Shao became even more unsettled upon hearing the hooves.

He wondered where the sound was coming from and why the pursuit was so urgent—could it be that Cao Cao’s troops were chasing him?

Instinctively, Yuan Shao shouted, “Giddy-up!”

He urged his horse forward, its hooves pounding swiftly as he sought to hurry into the city.

The hoofbeats arrived first, followed by shouts.

“Master, come back quickly! Do not enter the city!”

“Master, come back quickly! Do not enter the city!”

“Ye City has fallen to Cao Cao! There are traps inside!”

Hearing those familiar voices, Yuan Shao realized it was Zhang He shouting.

Upon learning that Ye City had been lost, Zhang He had immediately pursued Yuan Shao.

When he caught up, he saw Yuan Shao preparing to enter the city and shouted at the top of his lungs.

Ye City had fallen to Cao Cao?

There were traps inside the city?

Hearing Zhang He’s warning, Yuan Shao was thrown into total panic, his mind in chaos.

No wonder he felt increasingly uneasy the closer he got.

With this realization, Yuan Shao turned his horse, intending to return and join Zhang He.

He pulled sharply to turn, but the horse did not move.

Looking closely, Yuan Shao saw a young officer gripping the horse’s mane tightly.

The officer’s face was familiar, but Yuan Shao couldn’t place him immediately.

That officer was none other than Su Ming.

Just as Yuan Shao had heard the hooves and instinctively wanted to enter the city, Su Ming, seeing Zhang He catch up, feared Yuan Shao would escape.

So, he hurriedly dashed toward Yuan Shao.

Just as Yuan Shao was about to turn back upon hearing Zhang He’s voice, Su Ming arrived and seized the horse’s mane.

“Neigh!”

Yuan Shao’s mount was a fine steed, one with a perceptive nature.

The horse understood Yuan Shao’s wish to turn and run but was restrained by Su Ming’s grip on its mane.

In frustration, the horse raised a hoof and kicked toward Su Ming.

Seeing this, Su Ming thought, “If you kick me, I’ll kick you back.”

He responded with a strong kick aimed at the horse’s leg.

Who was Su Ming?

In the late Han and Three Kingdoms period, he was undoubtedly a paragon of martial prowess.

Not just any fine horse, even the legendary Red Hare would not withstand his kick.

“Crack!”

A sharp sound rang out as the horse’s leg was broken by Su Ming’s blow.

With a broken leg and sharp pain, the horse stumbled and fell, throwing Yuan Shao off.

Once unseated, Yuan Shao no longer cared about his appearance; he rolled and scrambled frantically toward Zhang He’s direction.

At that moment, Yuan Shao’s accompanying soldiers reacted, spurring their horses to gallop forward and protect him.

But Su Ming had no intention of letting the prey escape.

Thinking quickly, Su Ming grabbed the horse’s head and swung it, slamming it forcefully toward Yuan Shao.

Yuan Shao’s horse was a tall, heavy beast, weighing over a thousand pounds.

Its own weight, combined with the momentum of Su Ming’s swing, was like a mountain crushing down on Yuan Shao.

Running frantically, Yuan Shao felt as if a small hill was pressing down upon his head.

(End of chapter)