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

"Reporting to the Grand Commandant, the Wei army has suffered a complete rout, and Cao Cao has abandoned his camp and fled east. Our army has successfully captured the enemy camp."

A scout galloped over and reported the results of the battle to Xiao He.

Guan Yinping was overjoyed and excitedly exclaimed:
"My lord, we've won! We've won!!"

Xiao He remained silent.

Guan Yinping turned around and realized that her husband had fallen asleep and drifted off to sleep.

"No matter when, no matter if the sky falls or the earth collapses, he can fall asleep anytime he wants. He hasn't changed at all over the years..."

Guan Yinping shook her head and gave a bitter smile, then gently shook Xiao He awake.

Xiao He yawned, stretched, and then slowly woke up.

"My lord, wake up! The battle is over, our army has won!"

Guan Yinping smiled, her nose slightly upturned, though she seemed a little annoyed.

"Huh? It's over so quickly? I just took a nap..."

Xiao He rubbed his eyes, lazily got up, and held up his binoculars to take a closer look.

Sure enough, the sky above the Wei camp was filled with "Chu" and "Xiao" flags. Apart from the Wei soldiers kneeling and surrendering, there was no longer any Wei army resisting.

They did indeed win.

"Excellent, excellent! These young calves, Shizai, fought a brilliant battle! I must report their merits to the King!"

Xiao He nodded in satisfaction, then waved his hand and shouted:
"Send word to all generals that Cao Cao is already a dog with no home, so there is no need to worry about him anymore."

"Each army will pursue the routed Wei army separately, and the first to enter Xingyang City will be credited with the greatest merit!"

Although Xingyang is not as strategically important as Hulao Pass, it is still an important town west of Yanzhou. If Cao Cao were to retreat into Xingyang, he could barely put up a fight.

If Xingyang were lost, unless Cao Cao wanted to die, his only option would be to pack up and flee back to Hebei.

Xiao He is no longer afraid of those young calves rushing forward; he intends to use the victory in capturing Xingyang as an incentive for them to compete for credit.

Upon receiving the order, the young generals were instantly energized, each leading their own troops in a relentless pursuit.

Five armies marched eastward, relentlessly pursuing the Wei army.

Cao Cao, however, was like a frightened bird. He passed by Xingyang but dared not enter, abandoning this important town in western Yan and continuing to flee eastward.

Relying on his superior cavalry command, Deng Ai was the first to enter Xingyang City without bloodshed, thus gaining the greatest credit in this battle.

The following afternoon, Xiao He arrived and entered Xingyang City.

Heading east from Rongyang, the land is flat and there are no natural defenses to be found.

With the overall situation settled, Xiao Hesui was no longer in a hurry to pursue Cao Cao and ordered the entire army to rest and reorganize in Xingyang, waiting for Liu Bei's main force.

At this time, Liu Bei had just led an army of 150,000 men through the undefended Dagu Pass and entered Luoyang City.

Before he even set foot in Luoyang, he received a report of victory from Xiao He, who had come from Xingyang.

This unexpected joy naturally greatly excited Liu Bei.

He immediately dispatched 20,000 troops westward to Hangu Pass to reinforce Gan Ning, left 20,000 troops to guard Luoyang, and personally led 110,000 main forces eastward to Hulao Pass to Xingyang.

three days later.

Inside Xingyang City, Liu Bei and his minister Xiao He met again on the city wall.

"Bowen, I really didn't expect that in this battle you not only captured Luoyang, but also severely damaged Cao Cao's main force, and took Xingyang as well."

"With my army advancing eastward, the road ahead will be wide open. Cao Cao will be powerless to resist, and Yanzhou will be within our grasp."

"In terms of military strategy, both ancient and modern, no one can surpass you, Xiao Bowen!"

Liu Bei patted Xiao He's shoulder lightly, praising him with admiration and genuine respect.

Xiao He smiled faintly and said self-deprecatingly:
"Your Majesty is too kind. My original intention was only to take Luoyang and then join forces with Your Majesty before heading east to recapture Xingyang from Hulao Pass."

"Unexpectedly, Cao Cao insisted on making a desperate struggle, using trickery to lure Wen Yuan and his men out of the pass to pursue them. I had no choice but to turn the tables and take advantage of the situation to defeat Cao Cao's main force."

"This victory is thanks to the blessing of the Emperor. Cao Cao insisted on handing a victory to the Emperor."

Liu Bei knew that Xiao He was intentionally trying to take credit and flatter him, but he didn't expose him and just laughed heartily.

The two, master and subject, understood each other perfectly and smiled at one another.

"Bowen, tell me, how should I deploy my troops next?"

Liu Bei stopped laughing and turned his fierce gaze to the landscape of Yanzhou before him.

Xiao He had already planned this all along, and pointed with his hand:
"As His Majesty also said, once Xingyang is lost, Yanzhou is now a vast plain, and Cao Cao has no more defensible terrain."

"With the war at this point, even if Cao Cao is unwilling, he should know that the fall of Yanzhou is a foregone conclusion. If he continues to resist, he will only lose both people and land."

"Therefore, I am certain that Cao Cao will urgently order his troops to abandon the counties of Yanzhou and retreat back to Hebei."

Liu Bei nodded slightly; Xiao He's analysis was exactly what he had judged.

Then Xiao and Guan Yinping brought out the map and spread it out in front of Liu Bei.

"There are many ferry crossings south of the Yellow River, but Puyang is the most important. It is closest to the various counties of Yanzhou and the various Wei armies, and its ferry crossing is also the largest ferry crossing in the middle reaches of the Yellow River."

"Therefore, I deduce that Cao Cao will order all Wei troops, as well as officials and powerful clans in various prefectures, to retreat to the Puyang line and escape to Jizhou from that ferry."

"Then our army's advance will naturally be directed towards Puyang."

"The western route is led by the king himself with an army of 200,000, advancing eastward along the Yellow River, capturing Yanjin, Baima and other ferry crossings, and heading straight for Puyang."

"The General of the Eastern Front will lead an army of 100,000 to first seize the line from Cangting to Dongwuyang, and then advance westward along the river to capture Qinting, Zhenxian and other cities, with his troops pointing directly at Puyang."

"Our two armies advanced from the east and west, and eventually met at the foot of Puyang City."

"If Puyang falls and the Yellow River is blocked, then the counties of Yanzhou can be pacified with a mere proclamation!"

Xiao He, pointing out the strategic points, quickly outlined Liu Bei's next military strategy. Liu Bei wholeheartedly agreed, patted the map, and happily said:
"Alright, let's follow Bowen's plan and quickly send the order to Yunchang."

"I and he advanced from the east and west, with an army of 300,000, and joined forces at the foot of Puyang City!"

When the king's order was issued, the entire army was in an uproar.

Two hundred thousand Chu troops once again marched eastward in a mighty force.

On the land route, Liu Bei personally led the main infantry force eastward from Xingyang.

Gan Ning then moved his troops from Hangu Pass to Mengjin and led his navy downstream.

From Cangting.

After receiving Cao Cao's order to retreat, Wei generals such as Cao Chong and Xu Huang had no choice but to abandon the Cangting area, which Cao Cao had carefully built, and retreat along the Yellow River towards Puyang.

Guan Yu led an army of 100,000 and captured Cangting without bloodshed, then continued his westward advance.

The Wei troops at each ferry crossing along the river were terrified at the mere mention of it, and either crossed the river to retreat north or retreated towards the Puyang line.

Two Chu armies stormed into the plains of Yanzhou, one sweeping all before them and advancing directly towards Puyang.

...

North of Puyang City, at the ferry crossing.

On the Yellow River, boats and rafts shuttled back and forth, carrying thousands of officials, gentry, and Wei soldiers to the north bank.

Inside the ferry, retreating soldiers, officials fleeing from various prefectures, and powerful families unwilling to remain in Yanzhou crowded together, vying for a chance to board the ship.

On an official ship.

Supported by Cao Chong, Cao Cao, with a gloomy face, looked down at the chaos on the ferry.

Since his defeat at Xingyang, Cao Cao's hair had turned half white in just a few days, and he seemed to have aged ten years overnight, exuding a desolate and senile aura.

"Father, the Chu navy is not far from Puyang and will arrive in two days at most."

"At this rate of chaos and overcrowding, we simply don't have enough time to transport all these soldiers and civilians to the north bank in two days."

"Once the Chu navy arrives and blocks the river, it will be difficult for these people to cross the river again."

Cao Chong pointed to the crowded soldiers and civilians at the ferry and reminded them with concern.

Cao Cao was silent for a moment, then pointed with his cane:
"By my order, the soldiers and gentry shall be allowed to cross the river first. Any officials or gentry who dare to contest the crossing shall be executed!"

Cao Chong stiffened.

He understood that Cao Cao intended to use all his transportation resources to rush the soldiers.

As for the officials, powerful figures, and gentry, they will all be sacrificed as pawns.

"Your subject knows that every soldier is extremely valuable to our Great Wei, so naturally we should try to get as many as possible."

"However, these officials, gentry and nobles who fled to Puyang could have surrendered to Liu Bei on the spot and served the new lord, but they still abandoned their families and came to follow their father."

“If Father abandons them on the south bank, I fear he will lose the hearts of all the people of Yanzhou.”

"When Father King crosses the Yellow River and marches south to reclaim the lost territories, who in Yanzhou will still welcome the royal army?"

Cao Chong, however, was concerned about the hearts of the people.

Cao Cao's lips curled into a bitter smile as he countered with a question:
"Chong'er, do you really think we still have a chance to take back Yanzhou?"

Cao Chong was speechless.

After a long pause, he finally understood Cao Cao's deeper meaning and could only let out a helpless sigh.

Cao Cao had come to terms with reality and had given up any illusions.

With the loss of Yanzhou, all the land south of the Yellow River fell to the State of Chu, thus establishing a power structure where Chu was strong and Wei was weak.

All they can do now is to fight with all their might and rely on the natural barrier of the Yellow River to hold onto their small piece of land in Hebei.

It's already good enough that we can hold Hebei; do you really expect to take back Yanzhou?

Isn't that just deceiving yourself?

Since there is no hope of retaking Yanzhou, why bother about the will of the people of Yanzhou?
"Ah~~"

Having understood Cao Cao's predicament, Cao Chong had no better solution and could only sigh helplessly.

As soon as Cao Cao issued his order, cries of anguish quickly rose from the ferry crossing.

Hundreds and thousands of people from Yanzhou were driven away by Wei soldiers. Anyone who dared to push forward and fight for the loot was mercilessly cut down by the Wei soldiers.

Order was quickly restored at the ferry crossing, and the Wei soldiers rushed to board the boats and cross the river.

Meanwhile, the officials and gentry of Yanzhou who had fled thousands of miles to Puyang, hoping to stand with their King Wei, knelt outside the ferry with their families, begging their King Wei not to abandon them.

Apart from Cao Chong and Jiang Ji, most of the Wei rulers and ministers, including Cao Cao, remained indifferent.

Only Cheng Yu, a native of Yanzhou, couldn't help but grit his teeth as he looked at his fellow villagers kneeling and begging outside the ferry.

"Your Majesty, it's almost time. Let's cross the river to the north bank as soon as possible."

Xu Chu stepped forward to remind and urge him.

Cao Cao didn't speak, but only nodded slightly.

Xu Chu understood and immediately urged his soldiers to untie the ropes and set sail north.

at this time.

Cheng Yu's eyes narrowed, as if he had suddenly made a decision.

So he took a deep breath and bowed to Cao Cao:
"Your Majesty, I request to stay and lead seven thousand elite troops to defend Puyang to the death."

"I am willing to risk my life to secure even a small piece of land south of the Yellow River for my Great Wei, so that Your Majesty may one day lead your army across the river to recover the Central Plains and preserve a glimmer of hope!" (End of Chapter)