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

Jinyang City was the seat of Bingzhou.

Known as the strongest fortified city in Bingzhou, it could store enough grain to last for a year.

Xiahou Dun placed his last hope on holding Jinyang, hoping to hold out until Cao Cao could defeat Liu Bei.

Guo Huai opened his mouth to offer advice, but when the words reached his lips, he suddenly found himself speechless and could only shake his head and sigh.

He had nothing more to say to persuade him.

With the situation having reached this point, the Han army was already in a position to trap and defeat them, and there was no way to escape.

To persuade Xiahou Dun to surrender to the Han?

how can that be possible.

As a minister of Wei, you advised the Wei general to surrender to Han.

Where is your loyalty and righteousness?

In his rage, Xiahou Dun would probably have no choice but to kill him with a single blow.

Xiahou Dun truly had no other options but to hold Jinyang.

Having understood Xiahou Dun's helplessness, Guo Huai could only choose to remain silent.

"General, less than 20,000 of our troops fled to the west bank, and the troops cut off on the east bank, apart from the dead and wounded, number only a little over 40,000."

"The Han army has 300,000 men!"

"With only 40,000 troops, how can they possibly withstand the siege of 300,000 Han troops while holding Jinyang?"

"If we hold fast to Jinyang, we will likely end up like Liyang and Yecheng!"

Wang Ling, however, failed to grasp the situation and poured cold water on Xiahou Dun's head.

"Then tell me, besides holding Jinyang, what else can I do?"

"Do you intend for me to subdue that big-eared thief?"

Enraged, Xiahou Dun roared at Wang Ling.

Wang Ling was speechless.

None of the generals on either side dared to utter another sound.

Xiahou Dun took a deep breath, forced an arrogant expression onto his face, and said sternly:

"My mind is made up. The entire army will retreat to Jinyang and perish with Jinyang!"

"Anyone who dares to utter even the slightest word that could shake the morale of the army will be executed!"

The generals were terrified and all lowered their heads, not daring to look directly at him.

Xiahou Dun immediately ordered the entire army to change course to the northeast and head straight for Jinyang.

Meanwhile, the Wei army that was attacking Lin County, as well as the various Wei armies that were retreating towards Lin County, all received military orders to retreat towards Jinyang City.

On the Han army's side.

Zhang Yan led nearly 10,000 elite troops to Lin County, where they took over the defense and continued to blockade the Yellow River.

Zhao Yun then led his cavalry across the river and into the territory of Xihe Commandery to continue carrying out the order previously given by Xiao He to sweep away the five tribes of the Xiongnu.

On the southern front.

Upon learning that Xiahou Dun had retreated to Jinyang, Liu Bei proceeded with his original plan, leading his main force of 100,000 men northward from the Fen River to directly attack Jinyang.

The northern and central armies, commanded by Zhang Fei, Zhang Liao, and Lu Xun, captured Jingxing Pass, Huguan Pass, and Pingcheng without bloodshed. The three armies then crossed the Taihang Mountain Pass and advanced towards Jinyang from all directions.

The Wei army abandoned all the cities along the way, and the Han army advanced unimpeded, sweeping all before them.

Four armies, totaling 300,000 Wei troops, converged on Jinyang with overwhelming force.

...

Huayin, the main camp of the Wei army.

Cao Cao was still seated on his throne, listening to Sima Yi read aloud the military report sent from Lin County.

"According to the latest battle report, nearly 20,000 of our troops have crossed the river from Lin County and successfully retreated into Xihe County."

"The 10,000 troops led by Yang Fu and Song Xian have now arrived in Lin County and are crossing the river."

"The rest of the troops are also converging on Lin County, and they should all be able to cross the river within seven days at the latest."

"The most dangerous force right now is actually the General's 20,000 troops. To buy time for the other armies to retreat westward, the General is still desperately holding Jiexiu Pass to block Liu Bei's main force of 100,000..."

Sima Yi read them aloud one by one, his expression gradually becoming more relaxed. Cao Cao's deeply furrowed brows eased slightly, and he nodded with a sigh:
"At the critical moment of life and death, Yuan Rang was able to sacrifice himself and personally cover the rear to delay the Big-Eared Bandit. Such courage and responsibility are worthy of our dynasty's great general and worthy of being my brother!"

Cao Cao's tone clearly indicated that he was quite satisfied with Xiahou Dun.

Judging from the current progress, it should be no problem for the 80,000-strong Bingzhou army to retreat safely back to Guanzhong.

With these 80,000 fresh troops, he had enough confidence to defend Puban Pass, guard the Yellow River defense line, and block the Han army's route to invade Guanzhong from Bingzhou.

The situation in Wei would not have deteriorated to the point of complete collapse and annihilation.

At least, he can cling to life for a few more days.

Thinking about all this, Cao Cao's mood naturally improved considerably, and he was finally able to breathe a sigh of relief.

"Your Majesty, according to my estimation, it should take at most five days for my 80,000 troops to cross the Yellow River to the west."

"I am worried that if the general abandons the border and retreats westward by then, he will be caught up by the pursuing Han army and may not be able to escape unscathed."

"Your Majesty should issue a secret edict to the General, ordering him to leave 5,000 troops to defend the border pass to the death, while the General should lead the main force to retreat westward as soon as possible."

"Thus, although we lost 5,000 soldiers, we saved the majority of our troops. So those 5,000 soldiers died a worthwhile death."

Sima Yi offered a plan.

Cao Cao agreed wholeheartedly and immediately ordered pen and ink to be brought, intending to personally write a decree to Xiahou Dun.

With a flourish of his pen, he finished writing the imperial edict and was about to send it out.

"Your Majesty, Your Majesty~~"

A sob escaped.

A man, covered in dust and looking extremely anxious, rushed into the tent and knelt before Cao Cao.

The visitor was none other than Yang Fu.

Everyone was taken aback.

Cao Cao put down the still-wet imperial edict and looked at Yang Fu in surprise. A sense of extreme foreboding instantly enveloped his entire body.

"Yang Yishan, what...what is this?"

Cao Cao asked, his voice trembling.

Yang Fu knelt on the ground and said in a sorrowful voice:

"Your Majesty, the Han army has seized Linxian Ferry first, and Liu Bei has completely blocked the westward retreat route of our Bingzhou army!"

Cao Cao was shocked and his hand dropped the imperial edict. His face froze in astonishment.

Inside the tent, chaos erupted.

Both Sima Yi and Jia Xu were greatly alarmed.

Everyone present knew what Yang Fu's devastating news meant.

With the capture of Linxian Ferry, the 80,000-strong army was trapped in Bingzhou!

At that point, it won't just be a matter of losing people and land, but losing both people and land.

Without Xiahou Dun and his 80,000 precious soldiers, what will their emperor use to defend Puban Pass and resist the Han army's offensive launched from Bingzhou?

The State of Wei is finished!

"You...what did you say? Say it again?"

"I only received the report the day before yesterday that you had arrived at Lin County and the army was crossing the river. How could you suddenly... be attacked by the Han army?"

Cao Cao jumped up, his voice and expression agitated, and he roared at Yang Fu almost hysterically.

Yang Fu let out a long sigh and could only recount in sorrow the fall of Lin County, the execution of Song Xian, and the annihilation of five thousand soldiers.

Cao Cao swayed and collapsed onto the dragon throne, his entire being stiffening like a statue, as if his soul had been shattered.

Inside the large tent, there was an eerie silence.

The ministers looked at each other, their faces filled with shock and despair.

"why?"

Why did Zhao Yun's ten thousand Han cavalry arrive in Lin County at such a crucial and opportune moment?

"Why, why on earth is this happening?"

Cao Cao's voice trembled as he muttered to himself, his entire being lost in a daze. (End of Chapter)