My father-in-law Guan Yu, I persuaded Liu Bei to launch a surprise attack on Xiangyang at the beginn

Everyone was taken aback, their astonished gazes fixed on Cao Cao.

Has our King of Wei been driven mad by Xiao He?

He actually started to believe in ghosts and gods, openly admitting his guilt of massacring the city and killing people, and claiming that Xiao He was sent by heaven to punish him.
Even if you believe these words, you can keep them to yourself; how can you say them out loud?

Aren't you just adding insult to injury to an already demoralized army?

really.

When Cao Cao uttered these nonsensical words, all the soldiers around him were terrified, trembling with fear and at a loss for what to do.

"Your Majesty, the reason why Xiao was able to break my ambush was merely by chance, not because he saw through Commandant Cheng's plan."

"Your Majesty is the chosen one of Heaven, and Heaven blesses you. How could Heaven send down that traitor Xiao to punish Your Majesty?"

"Your Majesty must not lose your composure because of this, and believe in some ghosts and gods, thus disrupting the morale of our army!"

Sima Yi indeed stepped forward and vehemently "refuted" Cao Cao, attempting to boost Cao Cao's confidence.

The words trailed off.

Dust billowed in the west, and the sounds of battle roared like thunder.

Banners bearing the characters "Chu" and "Xiao" led countless Chu soldiers, who were pursuing them like tigers and wolves.

The Wei army was terrified and fled in panic like startled birds, running headlong towards their camp.

Jia Xu, sweating profusely, quickly cupped his hands in a gesture of respect and reminded him:

"Your Majesty, no matter what, we cannot stay here. We must retreat to our camp immediately!"

Cao Cao's out-of-control emotions subsided slightly, and fear replaced his helplessness. He hurriedly shouted:

"Retreat! The entire army must retreat to camp!"

Surrounded by Cao Cao on both sides, they hurriedly retreated towards the main camp.

The 60,000 Wei troops, like frightened lambs, abandoned their armor and weapons, scrambling and fighting for loot, and fled eastward in a chaotic rout.

at last.

After suffering nearly ten thousand casualties, Cao Cao and his defeated troops finally retreated into their camp.

The direction behind you.

Deng Ai and Zhang Liao pursued the enemy relentlessly, killing thousands of Wei soldiers before halting outside the Wei camp to await the arrival of Xiao He's army...

At nightfall.

The main force of the Chu army arrived, totaling 40,000 troops, and stood solemnly outside the Wei camp.

Xiao He stopped on his horse and looked towards the Chu camp.

"My lord, you can see it more clearly with a telescope."

As usual, Guan Yinping presented the telescope.

Xiao He did not answer, but sneered:
"With Cao Cao's defeat so complete, the collapse of his army's morale is a foregone conclusion. Is there any need to look through a telescope?"

Guan Yinping was taken aback.

Xiao He then looked back behind him.

Forty thousand Chu soldiers stood solemnly, their young faces blazing with fierce fighting spirit.

Everyone knew that their Commander Xiao was about to issue the order to launch a final attack on the Wei army.

If we win this battle and defeat Cao Cao's main force, Yanzhou will belong to the Great Chu!
"Grand Commandant Xiao, just give the order!"

Zhang Liao rode forward and eagerly requested orders.

At this moment, he was even more eager to use a great victory to wash away his previous mistake of hasty pursuit.

Xiao He took a light breath, and a fierce killing intent suddenly ignited on his handsome and calm face.

"Fellow soldiers, after this battle, the puppet Wei generals will no longer be able to stop our army from marching east out of Hulao Pass and recapturing Yanzhou!"

"This battle is the final battle to drive the traitor Cao Cao out of the south of the Yellow River!"

"This is your last chance to distinguish yourself. Are you willing to fight to the death?"

Xiao Hehuan swept his gaze across the assembled soldiers, and asked with an imposing and unrestrained voice.

The generals' passion was instantly ignited.

"We are willing to fight to the death for the Great Chu!"

"Slay all the Wei invaders!"

"Drive Cao Cao out of the south of the Yellow River!"

Tens of thousands of Chu soldiers brandished their weapons, their shouts echoing like a tidal wave.

"it is good!"

"The whole army obeys the order!"

Xiao He looked back at the Wei camp, his riding whip pointing sharply:
"Move out the entire army, launch a five-pronged attack, and raze the Wei camp to the ground!"

Hao Lie's chilling shouts echoed through the night sky.

woohoo~~
The somber sound of bugles soon followed.

More than 40,000 Chu troops were suddenly routed.

Zhang Liao, Deng Ai, Zhang Bao, Guan Xing, Guanqiu Jian.

The five generals each commanded 40,000 Chu troops, which surged toward the Wei camp like five torrents.

Watching her soldiers roll away, Guan Yinping was so excited that she clenched her fists. If she weren't a woman, she probably would have personally gone into battle to fight the enemy.

Xiao He dismounted, laughing as he flicked his whip:
"Yinping, bring my beanbag chair over and warm up the wine for me."

"Let us sit here and drink wine while we watch our generals achieve this great feat!"

Guan Yinping was taken aback, then smiled and gave the order.

Soon, a beanbag chair was placed down, and plum wine was brewed, its aroma wafting through the air.

Xiao He leaned back in his chair, holding a telescope in one hand to watch the five-pronged attack on the enemy, while sipping his wine with relish in the other.

In the darkness of night, along the Wei camp stretching for over a hundred paces, countless flames had risen, illuminating the night sky as bright as day.

Five armies of Chu, totaling 40,000 soldiers, pounced on the enemy camp like countless tigers and wolves.

The Wei soldiers in the camp were all in a state of panic, their hands trembling as they gripped their swords and spears…

Wei Camp.

Inside the royal tent.

Cao Cao looked blank and ashen-faced, holding a bowl of medicine in his hand, lost in thought.

Outside the main tent, the sounds of horns, war drums, and battle cries thundered in my ears.

Cao Cao was in a daze, while Cheng Yu, Jia Xu, and Sima Yi were as anxious as ants on a hot pan.

Jia Xu and Sima Yi, in particular, kept glancing around with their eyes, seemingly pondering how to escape and save their lives if the situation turned bad.

Everyone knows that the Chu army is launching a fierce attack on the camp from five directions.

Although the Chu army numbered only 40,000, which was slightly less than the Wei army by several thousand, it had the upper hand in terms of morale and combat effectiveness.

The fall of Luoyang and this morning's reversal of victory have already shattered the morale of the Wei army.

At this point, the Wei army was merely putting up a stubborn resistance and making a last-ditch effort.

It was only a matter of time before the main camp fell.

Abandoning the main camp and immediately retreating to Xingyang would be the wisest choice.

Jia Xu and Sima Yi, these shrewd individuals, were perfectly aware of this.

Even Cheng Yu knew perfectly well.

But he didn't have the courage to advise Cao Cao.

There was no other way; the plan to lure the snake out of its hole by vomiting blood and fainting was his own idea.

The Wei army suffered such a crushing defeat that Cao Cao was so enraged that he vomited blood, and he could not escape blame.

At this point, how could he possibly have the nerve to persuade Cao Cao to abandon the main camp, only to be utterly humiliated by Xiao He and flee to Xingyang?

"Your Majesty, we cannot continue to hold out like this. The camp cannot be defended. We must retreat eastward to Xingyang immediately to preserve our strength."

Only Jiang Ji could no longer stand idly by and reluctantly stepped forward to offer his advice.

"Bang!"

Cao Cao smashed his medicine bowl on the ground and roared:

"Our forces are still stronger than Xiao's, how can we let him defeat us and force us to abandon our camp and flee like stray dogs?"

"You help me to the camp wall. I will personally command the soldiers of my Great Wei to drive back that wicked man surnamed Xiao!"

Cao Cao struggled to get up, grabbed his cane, and stumbled out of the tent.

Xu Chu and the others hurriedly got up and rushed forward to help him up.

Cao Cao pushed everyone aside and stubbornly limped towards the tent entrance.

"Wow!"

The tent flap was lifted, and the Tiger Guards rushed in in fear.

"Your Majesty, the northern camp has been breached by the Chu army!"

"Your Majesty, the southern camp wall has fallen, and Chu general Zhang Bao has broken into our southern camp!"

"Your Majesty, the traitor Zhang Liao has breached the main camp, and the General of the Flying Cavalry is retreating step by step in resistance. We implore Your Majesty to make a swift decision..."

A flurry of terrible news flooded into the tent.

Wei's camp has fallen across the board.

As Cao Cao was repeatedly struck on the head with a club, he could no longer support himself and staggered backward.

"Your Majesty!"

The crowd rushed forward and helped Cao Cao up.

Jia Xu finally lost his composure and earnestly advised in a trembling voice:

"Our army's morale has collapsed. Although we have a large number of troops, we are no match for the Chu army."

"Now that the camp walls have fallen, the fate of the camp is sealed. Your Majesty, please consider the nation's interests and order an abandonment of the camp and a retreat eastward!"

"Your Majesty, I kneel and beg your permission!"

As he spoke, Jia Xu even knelt down, almost begging.

This seasoned strategist, experienced in countless grand battles, finally lost his composure in the face of Xiao He's onslaught. "Yes, Your Majesty, the camp cannot be held. Please, Your Majesty, quickly order a retreat to preserve our strength."

Jiang Ji also knelt down and pleaded with him.

Seeing this, Sima Yi had no choice but to reluctantly kneel down and earnestly plead:
"Your Majesty's fate rests on the shoulders of the entire nation. If we do not retreat now, and the Chu army attacks our central camp, and something happens to us, our Great Wei will be doomed!"

"Your Majesty, please consider the survival of our Wei Kingdom and retreat!"

The strategists knelt down one after another, grabbing Cao Cao and pleading with him to abandon the camp.

Those words of advice, those repeated pronouncements that "the situation is hopeless," pierced Cao Cao's heart like knives.

The pain of having one's heart ripped out is unbearable...

No one understood better than him what this retreat meant.

The desperate struggle to retake Hulao Pass will end in utter failure.

With Liu Bei's 200,000 Chu troops no longer facing any obstacles, they will surely advance unimpeded and storm into Yanzhou.

Liu Bei possessed the advantages of favorable timing, geographical location, and popular support.

He would have no hope of holding onto Yanzhou, the last remaining piece of Henan province.

The result was that he would be driven back north of the Yellow River by Liu Bei in a disheveled and humiliating manner, like a stray dog.

The Central Plains will soon change hands.

The power structure of Chu being strong and Wei being weak was about to take shape, and even with the full support of powerful clans, it could not be changed.

Liu Bei installed Liu Xie's son as emperor and occupied the old capital Luoyang, dominating the Central Plains. From now on, he was the rightful and indisputable legitimate ruler.

After losing Luoyang, the Central Plains, and the title of "Emperor," he would be reduced to a complete warlord like Yuan Shu and Lü Bu.

He was unwilling to accept it, he was so unwilling...

Cao Cao grew increasingly frustrated and indignant. He abruptly pushed aside his ministers and shouted:

"I am the chosen one, the king of the Great Wei. How can I allow myself to be humiliated by that traitor Xiao again and again? How can I retreat again and again?"

"I will not leave! This time, I will not back down no matter what!"

"By my command, the entire army will fight to the death alongside me to repel the enemy. I will live and die with this camp—"

All the ministers were stunned.

What's going on with Cao Cao?
Knowing full well that defeat was inevitable, yet stubbornly clinging to pride and insisting on continuing the fight—isn't that just courting death?

He's gone mad! Our King Wei has been driven insane by Xiao He!

Jia Xu and Sima Yi both frowned deeply, their eyes darting around nervously, and they were already moving, preparing to make their escape.

"Your Majesty, you must not act rashly!"

Cheng Yu finally held on, knelt down with tears in his eyes, hugged Cao Cao's legs, and cried as he pleaded:
"Your subjects followed Your Majesty in the past, surviving countless battles, to establish the foundation we have today. It was no easy feat!"

"If Your Majesty is stubborn and refuses to abandon the camp and retreat, you will surely die at the hands of that traitor Xiao today. The foundation that Your Majesty and your ministers have built will then be handed over to Liu Bei!"

"Your Majesty, please withdraw! I beg you!"

Cheng Yu clung tightly to Cao Cao's leg, completely disregarding his image and appearance.

Cao Cao flew into a rage and cursed:

"Xiao's attack on Luoyang was your mistake, and my crushing defeat yesterday was also your mistake!"

"If it weren't for your utter stupidity, how could I have been forced into such a predicament by that scoundrel Xiao?"

"Now that you're still so afraid of death, what use are you to me—"

Cao Cao was so enraged that he lost his mind and suddenly drew his sword, swinging it at Cheng Yu.

The ministers were greatly alarmed.

Even Cheng Yu himself was stunned and stood there dumbfounded.

He was the chief strategist of Cao Wei and a key figure in Cao Cao's rise to power.

Even if Cao Cao was furious, could he be so furious as to want to kill him?
Xu Chu was stunned and forgot to stop him.

Jia Xu and Sima Yi instinctively retreated, fearing they might be accidentally injured by Cao Cao's sword.

Only Jiang Ji rushed forward, grabbed Cao Cao's wrist, and pleaded:
"Your Majesty, although Commandant Cheng has made mistakes, he is a pillar of the state. Now he is offering loyal advice. Your Majesty must not wrongly execute a loyal minister!"

Cao Cao was so enraged that he lost his mind and wouldn't listen to Jiang Ji's advice. He slammed his elbow into Jiang Ji's face.

"boom!"

With a muffled thud, Jiang Ji's nose was broken, and blood splattered out.

Cao Cao then raised his sword, ready to kill Cheng Yu again.

Cheng Yu already felt guilty, and he thought that Cao Cao was determined to defend to the death and would surely die today, so he, as a Wei subject, would also be unable to escape death.

It's better to die by Cao Cao's sword than by the Chu army's blade.

So when faced with Cao Cao's sword, he neither dodged nor avoided it, but closed his eyes and accepted his fate.

"Your Majesty, a loyal subject must not be killed!"

Ignoring the excruciating pain in his nose, Jiang Ji cried out and lunged forward again, grabbing Cao Cao's sword as it was about to strike.

"Crack!"

With a sharp crack, blood splattered.

Jiang Ji's two fingers were severed instantly.

"Ah~~"

With a scream, Jiang Ji clutched his severed finger and collapsed to the ground.

The splattered blood sprayed all over Cao Cao's face.

The warm, pungent smell of blood, however, was like a bucket of cold water, abruptly waking the irrational Cao Cao.

The murderous intent in Cao Cao's eyes receded like a receding tide.

Even if Cheng Yu has made mistakes, he is still a meritorious official who followed the emperor and an important minister of the country, so he should not be killed.

Jiang Ji's courageous remonstrance truly moved him.

After taking a deep breath, Cao Cao kicked Cheng Yu away, turned around, and staggered out of the tent with his sword in hand.

Xu Chu finally came to his senses and hurriedly followed him out.

Jia Xu, Sima Yi, and the others glanced at Cheng Yu and Jiang Ji, then hurriedly followed them out of the tent.

Cheng Yu opened his eyes and was stunned to see that Jiang Ji had had two fingers cut off by Cao Cao in order to save him.

He was stunned for a while before he suddenly snapped out of it, and hurriedly tore off a piece of his shirt to bandage Jiang Ji's wound...

Outside the account.

With Xu Chu's help, Cao Cao mounted his horse and, carrying his blood-stained sword, headed straight for the camp wall.

Before he had gone more than fifteen steps, countless Wei soldiers, fleeing like startled birds, surged forward.

In the distance, the "Xiao" and "Chu" banners had entered the main camp and were leading countless Chu soldiers, pursuing them like tigers and wolves.

"Your Majesty, the main camp walls have fallen. I have done my utmost, but the Chu army's offensive is too fierce, our army's morale is low, and I cannot hold them off!"

Cao Ren, who had spurred his horse forward, cried out in grief and indignation.

Cao Cao ignored Cao Ren's tearful pleas and shouted sternly:

“What’s the use of your crying here? Quickly reorganize the defenses and push the Chu army out of the country.”

"Anyone who dares to desert in the face of battle will be executed on the spot!"

Helpless, Cao Ren had no choice but to turn his horse around and order his soldiers to turn back and fight the enemy.

To no avail.

The morale of the Wei army had collapsed. The soldiers abandoned their armor and fled like stray dogs. Who would still take Cao Cao's orders seriously?

Cao Cao was furious and ordered Xu Chu to lead the Tiger Guards to the front to supervise the battle. All soldiers who retreated were to be killed.

Despite killing dozens of fleeing soldiers, they still could not stop the Wei army's rout.

The ministers on both sides were already in despair.

Only Cao Cao remained enraged and furious, still brandishing his longsword and shouting:

"Fight to the death to repel the enemy, and live or die with the camp—"

Suddenly, a burst of cold light appeared ahead.

Countless arrows rained down from the night sky, heading straight for Cao Cao.

"Protect the king!"

Xu Chu, disregarding the need to oversee the battle, hurriedly turned his horse and rushed back to Cao Cao, wildly brandishing his broadsword to block him.

The Tiger Guards hurriedly brandished their swords, deflecting the incoming rain of arrows.

However, the rain of arrows was too dense, and it was impossible to block them all in such a short time.

Yet another sharp arrow pierced through the curtain of blades, heading straight for Cao Cao's face.

Seeing the arrows coming, Cao Cao dared not disregard the dignity of the King of Wei and instinctively shrank back onto his horse.

"boom!"

With a sharp crack, the arrow whizzed past his head, knocking his helmet to the ground.

In an instant, Cao Cao's hair was shot off, leaving him disheveled and looking like a madman.

This incredibly dangerous arrow instantly shattered Cao Cao's fury and resentment, shattering his madness and rage.

All that's left is fear!

"Retreat! Abandon the camp and retreat!"

"Zhongkang, quickly protect the orphan and retreat!"

Cao Cao, his backside sticking out, lay on the horse's back, his spirit broken. He screamed in terror, turned his horse around, and fled in a frenzy.

Cao Cao collapsed and fled.

Xu Chu breathed a sigh of relief, hurriedly scolded the Tiger Guards, and chased after Cao Cao.

Jia Xu, Sima Yi, and others were all treated as if they had been granted a general amnesty, and they all fled in disarray.

The Wei army collapsed completely, fleeing eastward like ants from a broken nest.

In the central army of Wei, the Wei royal banner was cut down, and a Chu banner was slowly raised. (End of this chapter)