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

The situation in Hedong took a sharp turn for the worse.

Twenty thousand Han troops arrived at Pubanjin and joined forces with Wen Qin's troops.

With ample manpower and high morale, the Han army formed an impregnable defensive line from Puban to Longmendu.

Cao Cao's massive military campaign and the hundreds of ships and rafts he painstakingly built were rendered useless, a futile effort.

Why?

The Wei army has too few soldiers.

You have 40,000 troops, which is twice the size of the 20,000 Han troops on the other side.

In a land battle, this advantage is called an advantage.

In the context of a river-crossing battle, an advantage becomes a disadvantage.

With only twice the troops and simple wooden rafts, they thought they could break through the Yellow River defense line garrisoned by 20,000 men and successfully march onto the east bank?
This is no joke.

Cao Cao dared not cross the river and could only stand anxiously on the west bank with his 40,000 soldiers, gazing at the river with longing.

East of the river.

Liu Bei personally led 80,000 infantry and cavalry, marching north along the Fen River.

At this time, Xiahou Dun had already led 20,000 Wei troops into Hedong Commandery and had already reached Linfen, 30 li north of Anyi.

When Xiahou Dun learned that Liu Bei's main force had arrived and Cao Cao was blocked at Puban, he was greatly alarmed.

Upon learning that the main force of the Han army was heading north, he dared not engage in direct combat, nor did he dare to defend the city, so he had no choice but to lead his troops to retreat step by step.

The Han army captured Linfen, Xiangyi, and Yong'an without shedding a drop of blood, taking control of the entire Hedong region.

Within three days, the Han army's iron cavalry had already stormed into Taiyuan County and were heading straight for Jiexiu Pass.

North of the Hedong Basin lies the Taiyuan Basin.

Jiexiu Pass is located between two basins, with Jiexiu Mountain and Mianshan Mountain to the east and Fen River to the west.

Jiexiu Pass was built amidst mountains and rivers.

Compared to Tongguan, Jiexiu Pass is not particularly dangerous in terms of mountains or water, and the terrain of the pass is not particularly treacherous, so it is difficult to call it a formidable and dangerous pass.

However, beyond this pass to the north lies the Taiyuan Basin, a flat plain with no natural defenses.

Jiexiu Pass is the only pass south of Taiyuan Prefecture that can barely be considered a strategically important pass.

Left with no other option, Xiahou Dun dared not retreat any further and had no choice but to order the entire army to hold the Jiexiu Pass.

Twenty thousand Wei troops then stood ready at Jiexiu Pass.

Xiahou Dun ordered his soldiers to reinforce the pass while sending men south via Xihe County to Puban Pass to ask Cao Cao for help.

...

Puban Pass.

Cao Cao stood atop the city wall, his brow furrowed, gazing intently at the situation of the Han army on the opposite bank.

Along the eastern bank of the Yellow River, battle flags blotted out the sky, and military camps stood in rows.

Twenty thousand Han troops have arrived and built an impregnable defensive line on the east bank.

"Your Majesty, we have enough rafts. What are we waiting for? Let's cross the river and launch a full-scale attack immediately."

Xu Chu was impatient and pointed to the opposite bank, shouting.

Cao Cao glared at Xu Chu.

That look seemed to be cursing:
You reckless fool, do you think that with just 40,000 men, we can break through the Yellow River defense line that is defended by 20,000 Han soldiers?
"Our army is only twice the size of the enemy's, and our means of crossing the river are all wooden rafts. We don't even have a decent boat. If we force a crossing of the Yellow River, the Han army will easily attack us while we are halfway across."

"General Zhongkang, you must not be rash."

Sima Yi sighed, revealing Cao Cao's predicament.

Xu Chu was taken aback at first, then pointed to the opposite bank and said anxiously:

"Even so, we can't just sit idly by and watch the 100,000-strong army of the Big Ears bandit march north to Jinyang, can we?"

"The general can only mobilize 20,000 troops. How could they possibly stop them?"

Cao Cao gripped his cane tightly, making a clicking sound.

At this moment, he seemed to have a premonition that Bingzhou would follow in the footsteps of Youzhou's fall. With the loss of Yijing, Youzhou was easily flattened by Liu Bei.

With the loss of Hedong, Bingzhou could be described as a flat plain.

How could a mere Jiexiu Pass, with its 20,000-strong Wei army, possibly withstand Liu Bei's military might?
Moreover, there are still more than 200,000 Han troops attacking along the Pingcheng, Jingxing Pass, and Huguan line.

At this time, the morale of the troops in each pass must have been greatly shaken and panicked, and there was always the possibility that they could not be defended.

Once the passes in the Taihang Mountains fall, hundreds of thousands of Han troops can drive straight in and converge on Taiyuan County from all directions to besiege Jinyang.

What could Xiahou Dun use to block?
I fear that this last great general of the imperial clan, his last right-hand man, will follow in the footsteps of his brother Cao Ren.

"Your Majesty, I believe, I believe..."

Jia Xu had something to say, but hesitated and dared not speak.

After all, he had a blemish from his previous failed attempt to sow discord, and he wasn't sure if Cao Cao was still blaming him.

"Wenhe, the country is in such a critical state, please tell me if you have any good ideas."

Cao Cao waved his hand lightly, displaying great magnanimity.

Jia Xu felt slightly relieved, took a deep breath, and cupped his hands in greeting:

"Your Majesty, I believe that at this point, the hope of defending Bingzhou is already slim."

"I believe that it would be better to take advantage of the fact that the Han army has not yet broken into Taiyuan County and has not yet cut off the Yellow River, and to order the General to immediately lead the entire army to abandon Bingzhou and retreat into Guanzhong from Shang County of Xihe."

Cao Cao's heart tightened, and his brows furrowed.

Jia Xu is trying to get him to give up Bingzhou.

Wei only has three provinces left. If it abandons Bing Province, wouldn't it only have two provinces left?

Moreover, with the occupation of Bingzhou, the natural barrier of Tongguan Pass would become meaningless, and the Han state could launch an attack on Guanzhong from Bingzhou.

With only the remaining two provinces of Yong and Liang, how could he possibly withstand the overwhelming attack of the Han army?

Giving up Bingzhou meant giving up the last hope for the survival of the Wei Kingdom.

All that's left is to wait for death.

"Then tell me, if I abandon Bingzhou, and the false Han dynasty attacks my Guanzhong region from Bingzhou and invades my Chang'an, what foolproof plan do you have to stop the big-eared traitor?"

Cao Cao's gaze pierced Jia Xu like a blade, and he questioned him sharply.

Jia Xu was speechless.

After a long pause, he shook his head helplessly:
"Your Majesty, with my limited wisdom, I truly cannot devise a way to reverse the situation."

"All I can think of is to preserve the 80,000 troops in Bingzhou, so that Your Majesty can retain a vital force."

Cao Cao gripped his cane even tighter.

Jia Xu's meaning is crystal clear:
I'm in a bind right now, I can't even take care of myself, I can't control whether I live or die, I can only worry about the present.

"Do you mean I should preserve those tens of thousands of troops and then be trapped in these two states to wait for death?"

Cao Cao questioned him with a bitter face.

Jia Xu lowered his head silently, not daring to answer, nor knowing how to respond to Cao Cao's question.

Cao Cao's gaze swept over his advisors, and his voice trembled with sorrow as he questioned them:

“You are all wise strategists and pillars of the nation. Tell me, do you really have no means to turn the tide?”

The ministers sighed and silently lowered their heads.

The atmosphere was deathly silent, filled with an aura of despair.

Cao Cao was consumed by grief and rage. He pounded his cane on the ground, wanting to roar at these "useless" people.

At this time.

Sima Yi's eyes lit up, and he spoke first:

"Your Majesty, I have come up with a plan that may offer a glimmer of hope for preserving Bingzhou."

Cao Cao's heart skipped a beat, and his eyes instantly lit up with wild joy. He hurriedly asked:
"Zhongda, tell me quickly, what other ingenious strategies do you have to turn the tide?"

Sima Yi took a deep breath and pointed north:
"Borrow troops from the Southern Xiongnu!" (End of Chapter)