The Garrison Commander was also startled upon hearing this, but looking at the white warhorse and the dark halberd, he still snorted coldly:
"Hmph, how do I, this commander, know if what you're saying is true or just a fabrication? Considering you're from the Zhen Family of Jizhou, leave the warhorse and the halberd, and you may go."
"This... Yes, thank you, Commandant Feng, for sparing my life. Tonight, I will treat Commandant Feng to a drink."
Although the middle-aged Zhen Family merchant was somewhat unwilling, he dared not defy the Garrison Commander. He forced a smile onto his stiff face and said.
A smile appeared on the Garrison Commander's face. With a wave of his hand, a group of soldiers was about to step forward to take the treasured horse and divine weapon.
"Wait!"
"Feng Fang, did you not see this young master? How dare you snatch things from this young master's hands? Do you really think my Yuan Family is so easily bullied?"
Just as the city guards were about to take away the treasured horse and divine weapon, a cold snort sounded. The tall, imposing young man with a powerful stride looked coldly at the smiling city guard commander and snorted.
"This... Yuan Shao, Cao Cao!" Commandant Feng Fang, the city guard commander, only then noticed the tall, imposing young man with a powerful stride, who was looking at him coldly, and the short, stout, unruly young man beside him. His scalp immediately tingled.
Feng Fang instantly recognized the two.
The short, stout young man was named Cao Cao, styled Mengde.
And the tall, imposing young man with a powerful stride was named Yuan Shao, styled Benchu.
The two alone could not truly make Feng Fang fear them. After all, they were just two young men. Yuan Shao had only just been nominated as filial and incorrupt, and Cao Cao was merely a minor Counselor. As the Garrison Commander, why should Feng Fang fear them?
What truly troubled Feng Fang was their backgrounds.
Cao Cao's father, Cao Song, was the current Grand Minister of Agriculture and Grand Herald, holding a high and powerful position among the Nine Ministers.
Yuan Shao's background was even more intimidating. Yuan Feng and Yuan Kui, who held positions among the Three Ducal Ministers and were at the head of all officials, were his father and uncle, respectively.
The power of the Yuan Family could be summed up in one sentence:
The Yuan Family had produced three Ducal Ministers over four generations, and its proteges and former subordinates were spread throughout the land.
"Ah, it's Young Master Cao Cao and Young Master Yuan Shao. Are you two also here to watch the selection of imperial guards?"
Feng Fang, clad in armor and in his thirties, forced a smile and greeted Cao Cao and Yuan Shao.
"Hmph, Commandant Feng, did you not hear this young master's question? How dare you snatch things from this young master's hands? Do you think my Yuan Family is so easily bullied?"
Facing Feng Fang's warm flattery, Yuan Shao snorted back impolitely.
"You..." Hearing Yuan Shao's icy interrogation, Feng Fang's expression instantly turned extremely ugly, his chest heaving with anger.
If he could, Feng Fang had an impulse to directly order a beating for Yuan Shao.
When had Feng Fang ever suffered such humiliation?
He, Feng Fang, was once a prominent figure in Luoyang.
Because Feng Fang's father-in-law was the Grand Eunuch Cao Jie in the palace.
Cao Jie was also a Regular Attendant, and during Liu Hong's reign, he was promoted to Grand Steward, wielding immense power in court and commanding great respect.
As the only son-in-law of the Grand Eunuch and Grand Steward Cao Jie, Feng Fang naturally held his head high. Who wouldn't show him some deference? Even the Yuan Family, he didn't put in his eyes and dared to confront them.
However, all this glory vanished with Cao Jie's death from illness in February of this year.
Without his father-in-law Cao Jie, everyone dared to bully him now.
His expression shifting between dark and light, Feng Fang looked grim. Though his heart was filled with extreme reluctance and unwillingness at the sight of the obviously rare treasured horse and divine Fangtian Halberd, Feng Fang clearly knew that he would have to concede today.
Otherwise, he feared that his position as Garrison Commander would be lost by tomorrow.
"This... Young Master Yuan Shao, what are you saying? How dare I, Feng, snatch things from Young Master Yuan Shao? Why aren't you sending the divine weapon and treasured horse to Young Master Yuan Shao's residence?"
Feng Fang forced a smile onto his stiff face and quickly said.
As Feng Fang's words fell, the surrounding commoners instantly stirred. Looking at the imposing Yuan Shao, their eyes were filled with envy and awe.
That was the Yuan Family! Now, even a Garrison Commander was afraid of a junior member of their family.
Everyone could see the unwillingness in Feng Fang's eyes, but he had no choice but to yield.
"Hmm, no need to trouble Commandant Feng."
Yuan Shao glanced at Feng Fang and said indifferently.
The disdainful tone made Feng Fang's mind jump frantically, his expression growing even uglier, but he dared not say anything more.
"Take them away!"
Yuan Shao waved his hand at his retainers without ceremony.
Immediately, a group of armed retainers were about to take the treasured horse and divine weapon from the city guards.
Just then, a faint voice sounded, startling everyone.
"Heh heh, the Yuan Family, what great prestige. I also wish to try if I can wield this divine weapon, and if this treasured horse is obedient or not. Put them down for now."
The faint voice resonated. The middle-aged Zhen Family merchant, Feng Fang, Cao Cao, and others were all startled, turning in unison to look towards the source of the voice.