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

Zhang He's expression suddenly changed drastically, and he retorted sharply:

"Sima Zhongda, do you know what Yijing means to you? You actually want me to give it up?"

Sima Yi's eyes were bitter.

How could he not know how important Yi Jing is?
Once this line of defense falls, it means that nothing can stop the 300,000 Chu troops from entering Youzhou.

This means that the fall of Youzhou is inevitable.

Cao Cao had no choice but to lead his remaining troops and flee in disgrace to Bingzhou.

Sima Yi sighed and asked in return:
"General Zhang, don't you know what it means for both of us if we continue to defend like this?"

Zhang He felt a chill run down his spine and suddenly shivered.

He couldn't possibly be unaware of what Sima Yi was implying.

The soldiers' morale had collapsed, the Chu army had breached the city completely, and the fall of Yijing was irreversible.

If they continue fighting, they will both die here!
Sima Yi was implying that in order to save their lives, they should abandon the city and flee.

The immediate life-or-death situation is far greater than the loss of Youzhou, and far greater than the future survival of the Wei Kingdom.

"Very well, we are the pillars of the nation. If we were to perish with Yi Jing, wouldn't Your Majesty be losing your right and left arms?"

"For the survival of the Great Wei, we have no choice but to cut off our own arm to stay alive and preserve our usefulness..."

After consoling himself, Zhang He sighed and prepared to give the order to abandon the city and retreat.

The words were on the tip of his tongue when he suddenly realized something and swallowed them back.

Before Cao Cao left, he gave them an imperial edict ordering them to defend Yijing to the death and wait for Cao Cao's return.

If he were to order the abandonment of Yijing now, and Cao Cao were to punish him in his rage, wouldn't he be the one to take the blame?
He won't take the blame for this.

After rolling his eyes a few times, Zhang He said:
"The King has not ordered me to take control of the troops in Yijing, nor do I have the authority to order the entire army to abandon the city. Zhongda, you are the King's most trusted advisor, so you should issue this order."

Sima Yi frowned.

You cunning Zhang He, you seem like an honest man on the surface, but it turns out you're a sly old fox.

If you don't want to take the blame, do you think I, Sima Yi, would be so stupid as to take the blame?

After swallowing hard, Sima Yi said with a bitter face:

"General Zhang, I am merely a civil official with no military power. How can I make such a decision?"

"General Zhang's prestige in the army is second only to the Grand General. Although His Majesty has not granted you the authority to command all the armies, you should step forward and take responsibility in this time of crisis."

Sima Yi decisively declined, offered a string of flattering words, and then passed the blame back to Zhang He.

Zhang He, of course, wasn't buying it and immediately tried to push it back.

Just then.

Xiahou Wei rushed over in a panic, shouting:
"General Zhang, Zhongda, our defenses have fallen completely. I'm afraid we can't hold Yijing anymore. What should we do now?"

Sima Yi and Zhang He exchanged a glance, their eyes immediately conveying a tacit understanding.

Sima Yi feigned fear and said in a trembling voice:
"The situation is hopeless. If we continue to fight, we will likely be wiped out here, and we will all perish in Yijing."

"The wisest choice now is to abandon the city and retreat north, so as to preserve the king's strength."

"Unfortunately, Yi is a civil official and has no decision-making power."

Zhang He, standing to the side, nodded in agreement, saying helplessly:

"The king has ordered us to defend Yijing together. Moreover, I am not a member of the royal family and have no right to order the city to be abandoned and retreated."

"General Xiahou, you are a member of the imperial family. We outsiders should obey your orders. Please make a decision."

The two of them, working together, passed the buck to Xiahou Wei.

Xiahou Wei was young and inexperienced, so how could he possibly outmaneuver these two old foxes?

Upon hearing Zhang He's request, Xiahou Wei, without hesitation, shouted:
"Then what are we waiting for? Immediately issue the order: the entire army must abandon the city and retreat north!"

Zhang He and Sima Yi breathed a sigh of relief and exchanged another glance.

Someone's already taken the blame, so what's there to hesitate about? Pack your bags and run!

The two hurriedly left the city, shouting as they fled that they were abandoning the city and retreating.

The Chu army fled at the mere sight of the enemy, and Yijing fell completely.

Before dusk, along the ten-mile-long Yijing defense line, Chu's battle flags were raised everywhere.

This supposedly impregnable and unbreakable defensive line was breached in less than half a day.

As the sun began to set, Liu Bei climbed the dilapidated city tower.

Inside and outside Yijing, the cheers of the soldiers echoed deafeningly.

Looking into the distance, the entire land of Youzhou can be seen.

“Back then, Yuan Shao fought for two years to capture Yijing, but Your Majesty has conquered it in less than a month.”

"The road north is now unobstructed, and Youzhou is secured!" Xiao He pointed to the land of Youzhou and laughed heartily.

Liu Bei laughed loudly and cracked his whip:
"By my order, the army need not rest, but continue the pursuit northward."

"I will seize the opportunity and bring Youzhou into my territory in one fell swoop!"

The order was given, and the three armies were greatly encouraged.

Three hundred thousand Chu soldiers, riding high on their great victory, crossed the Yijing fortifications and marched straight into the heart of Youzhou.

...

It was late at night in Ji County.

Squads of Wei soldiers, under the cover of night, stealthily infiltrated the Youzhou prefecture through the west gate.

On the West Gate tower.

Li Tong and Xiahou Ba, two generals, met Cao Cao, who had arrived weary from his journey.

"Where is the Chu army now?"

Before the two men could even exchange greetings, Cao Cao eagerly asked them the question.

"Your Majesty, according to the latest intelligence from my scouts, the Chu army is advancing north along the Sang River, and their vanguard is no more than thirty li from our Ji County."

"I predict that the Chu invaders will reach the walls of Ji County by tomorrow morning at the latest."

Upon hearing Xiahou Ba's report, Cao Cao breathed a sigh of relief, then turned and looked at Jia Xu with a cold smile:

"Wenhe, it seems your plan has succeeded. We arrived just in time."

Jia Xu, however, dared not be careless and cupped his hands in greeting, saying:
"Your Majesty, to prevent the news from leaking out, I believe that martial law should be immediately imposed in Ji County, allowing only entry but no exit!"

Cao Cao agreed wholeheartedly, and then instructed Xiahou Ba and others:

"You have all heard Wenhe's words. Immediately issue an order to the four gates: without my personal edict, not a single soldier or civilian may leave Ji County. Anyone who disobeys will be executed on the spot!"

Xiahou Ba and the others hurriedly accepted the order.

Although the military order was given, Xiahou Ba had doubts and couldn't help but ask:
"I have heard that Your Majesty has returned with 40,000 troops. Together with my troops who are defending the city, there are at least 45,000 men."

"Our army outnumbers the invading Chu army several times over, so there is no need for passive defense. I think Your Majesty should lead us south to defeat the Chu invaders head-on."

Cao Cao patted Xiahou Ba on the shoulder and said in the tone of an elder instructing a younger man:
“Zhongquan, you are right. With my 40,000-strong army, we can take the initiative and defeat the Chu invaders.”

"But have you considered that if I launch a large-scale attack, Lu Xun and Guan Ping, upon hearing the news, will become wary and dare not come to fight, choosing instead to retreat to Yongnu City? How can I then quickly defeat them?"

"If we cannot defeat them quickly, how can I return to Yijing in time?"

Xiahou Ba suddenly realized.

The reason Cao Cao bypassed the west gate, entered the city at night, and ordered that no one should leave, was to deceive people and prevent Lu Xun and others from knowing that he had led a large army back and that the situation in Ji County was unknown.

Therefore, Lu Xun and others led 10,000 Chu troops to attack Ji County in a swaggering manner.

At that time, Cao Cao led an army of over 40,000 men to suddenly attack Ji County, which was the only way to annihilate the 10,000 Chu bandits in one fell swoop.

In this way, the fire in his backyard can be extinguished quickly, allowing him to return to Yijing with lightning speed.

This was precisely Jia Xu's strategy.

"Your Majesty understands, Your Majesty is wise!"

Xiahou Ba, suddenly realizing the truth, hurriedly bowed and expressed his admiration.

He then had no further questions and passed on Cao Cao's edict.

In one night, 40,000 Wei troops silently entered the city under the cover of darkness.

At the same time, all four gates were tightly closed, not even a fly was allowed to escape, in order to prevent Chu spies from sending messages.

Cao Cao ordered his soldiers to rest for one night, and before dawn the next day, he set up cooking pots and prepared a meal for the soldiers.

The next day, before dawn.

Cao Cao ascended the south gate of Ji County.

Along the city line, there were only a little over a thousand soldiers defending the city, with sparse flags, giving the impression of weak defenses.

More than 40,000 Wei soldiers, already clad in armor and armed with weapons, stood solemnly inside the city gate, each one eager to fight.

Cao Cao, leaning on his cane, gazed intently southward.

Everything was ready; all that was left was for Lu Xun and Guan Ping to lead 10,000 Chu troops to attack. Once the city gates opened, 40,000 troops would pour out, catching the Chu army completely off guard.

"It will only take me five days to get back to Yijing. Zhang He and the others should be able to hold out..."

Cao Cao silently calculated in his mind, and confidence gradually rekindled between his brows.

"Your Majesty, Your Majesty——"

Xiahou Ba was greatly alarmed and stumbled as he climbed up the city wall.

He didn't even have time to catch his breath, and knelt down at Cao Cao's feet, his voice trembling as he cried out:
"An urgent report just arrived from the south: Yijing... has fallen!" (End of Chapter)