Although he had killed Gongsun Zan in this battle and all but annihilated the White Horse Volunteers, his own forces had also lost over ten thousand men. The losses were devastating!
But what angered him most was not the loss of soldiers and officers.
It was the humiliation Gongsun Zan had inflicted on him!
"An empty city actually frightened my thirty-thousand-strong army into retreat!"
"Gongsun Zan... what strategy, what nerve you had!"
Fury blazed in Yuan Shao's eyes. Though he ground his teeth with hatred, he also felt admiration for Gongsun Zan.
By now, how could he fail to realize that Yi City had been nothing but an empty city?
Gongsun Zan had concealed all his troops along the Ji Province Army's retreat route, waiting to ambush him when he lowered his guard!
Had he not remained composed in the face of danger and responded calmly, and had his army not far outnumbered Gongsun Zan's, the outcome of this battle would still have been an open question.
The man who died might very well have been him!
His face full of self-reproach, Tian Feng said, "My lord, the failure to see through the enemy's scheme was my fault. Please punish me!"
He truly had not expected the enemy to make such a risky move.
They had abandoned their defenses and chosen an ambush instead!
But regardless, the army's heavy losses were an undeniable fact. As its chief strategist, he bore an inescapable responsibility and willingly accepted punishment.
"Shhk!"
Cold steel flashed, and blood spattered.
As Tian Feng spoke, Yuan Shao severed Gongsun Zan's head with a single stroke of his sword, then said expressionlessly, "We will discuss punishment when we return. The most important thing now is to take Yi City!"
"Pass on my order! The army is to march!"