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

"Your Majesty, I, Li Tong, have done my utmost!"

On the battlefield, Li Tong's tragic voice was choked and hoarse, filled with endless sorrow and resentment.

Zhang Fei's face was ashen, and he abruptly retracted his dragon-like spear.

In an instant, Li Tong's body swayed, and blood gushed from his chest like a burst dam.

He let out a piercing wail, making a final struggle before his life was extinguished, and then collapsed to the ground.

This move was an instant kill!

Crisp and neat, without any sloppiness.

Zhang Fei didn't even bother to cut off Li Tong's head.

He merely glanced contemptuously at the fallen corpse, then spurred his horse forward, spear in hand, and charged at the Wei soldiers once more like a whirlwind, exuding a chilling aura.

Seeing their commander Li Tong killed in a single move, the Wei soldiers around them were immediately thrown into a panic, their mental defenses crumbling instantly.

Their already taut nerves snapped completely at that moment, and fear spread rapidly like a tidal wave.

The Wei soldiers abandoned their armor and weapons, and fled in disarray at the mere sight of the enemy.

They fled in all directions, wishing they had two more legs, completely disregarding the fallen comrades behind them.

The fortifications directly facing Puban Pass were mercilessly breached by this wave of defeat.

The seemingly impregnable fortifications proved to be as fragile as paper in the face of the Han army's fierce attack and the Wei army's rout.

Tens of thousands of Han soldiers poured in through the breach like a surging tide, their shouts shaking the heavens and earth, as if they were about to overturn the entire world.

They quickly spread out to both flanks of the fortress, like a giant net, enveloping the Wei army.

One gap, five gaps, ten gaps...

The breach spread rapidly through the walls like a plague.

In less than fifteen minutes, the entire defense line was completely breached.

Sixty thousand Wei soldiers fled in droves, like mosquitoes fleeing their nest.

Some soldiers fell while running and were trampled over by those behind them.

Some soldiers dropped their weapons, covered their heads with their hands, and desperately pushed forward.

Some soldiers were so terrified that they collapsed to the ground, forced to watch helplessly as the Han army drew ever closer…

"The tide has turned, the tide has turned, alas..."

Seeing this tragic scene, Xu Huang was filled with sorrow and helplessness.

The battle was beyond saving, and the defeat of the Wei army was a foregone conclusion.

He let out a long sigh of helplessness, then turned his horse around and followed the tide of defeated soldiers toward Puban Pass.

On the city wall, Cao Cao's face was ashen.

His body froze, frozen in place without uttering a word, his eyes filled with anger, resentment, and helplessness, like a volcano about to erupt, yet ruthlessly suppressed.

He never expected that the Puban defense line he had painstakingly set up would be breached by the Han army in such a short time.

"In less than half an hour, our army was broken through by the Han army?"

Cao Cao's voice trembled, his eyes filled with disbelief.

"This is impossible, this is impossible!"

Sima Yi, standing beside him, was as pale as a sheet, and was uttering incoherent, panicked cries.

His eyes were filled with fear and panic, and his heart was filled with regret for his decision and fear for the future.

It was he who persuaded Cao Cao to take a gamble, abandoning the opportunity to withdraw his entire army and insisting on holding the Puban defense line.

He originally thought that with the strategic location of Puban Pass and the elite troops of the Wei army, they would have a chance to withstand the Han army's attack.

But now, reality has dealt him a heavy blow.

In less than half an hour, the entire defensive line collapsed.

Now that the Han army has closed in, there's no way to retreat, and these 60,000 Wei soldiers are in danger of being completely annihilated. How can he face Cao Cao?
He dared not look Cao Cao in the eye with anger, and could only lower his head, silently enduring the torment in his heart.

"It is fate, it is fate..."

Looking at the rout and the complete loss of the front lines, Jia Xu's face was filled with sorrow, and he let out a long, helpless sigh.

The outcome of a war is never solely determined by human effort; it is also influenced by fate.

Now that the Wei army's momentum has waned, perhaps this is the will of Heaven.

"Sima Yi, Jia Xu, you—"

Cao Cao suddenly awoke as if from a nightmare, his eyes filled with anger and questioning as he glared at his two advisors.

It was the two of you who strongly urged me to take a gamble, which led to this unmanageable situation.

You owe me an explanation!

Cao Cao wished he could tear these two strategists to pieces to vent his anger.

Sima Yi's forehead was covered in cold sweat, and his face was filled with shame and panic.

His body trembled incessantly, like a leaf drifting in a gale.

He didn't know how to face Cao Cao's questioning, so he could only lower his head and dare not speak.

Jia Xu, however, was much more composed. He bowed to Cao Cao and said calmly:

"Your Majesty, this is the will of Heaven, and I have no choice but to accept it."

"The Han army has now breached the defensive line, and there is no way to reverse the situation. I urge Your Majesty to issue an order to abandon the pass and retreat immediately."

"Given the current situation, all we can do is try to minimize the number of soldiers we lose."

Cao Cao swallowed back the complaints and reprimands that were about to come out of his mouth, thanks to Jia Xu's few words.

He knew, of course, that Jia Xu was telling the truth.

Now that the tide has turned, it's pointless to dwell on the issue of responsibility.

The most important thing now is to minimize losses and preserve the strength of the Wei army.

At this moment, Xu Huang, covered in blood, also hurriedly climbed up the city wall.

His body was covered in blood and wounds. He collapsed to the ground with a thud, his voice trembling as he said:
"Your Majesty, the Han army's offensive is too fierce. Our defenses are as fragile as paper under their onslaught."

"The river defenses have fallen, the Han army has broken through on all fronts, and will soon be attacking the main city."

"The situation is hopeless, Your Majesty. Issue an order to abandon the pass and retreat immediately, and preserve our strength as much as possible."

Xu Huang knelt on the ground, his face full of sorrow and helplessness, and pleaded with Cao Cao almost in tears.

Everyone understood that if they continued to hold out, the Wei army would suffer even greater losses, and might even be completely wiped out.

Abandoning the pass and leaving is the wisest choice at present.

Cao Cao raised his head shakily, looking at his own army that was crumbling like ants, and at the overwhelming Han army sweeping in. All his anger and resentment turned into a long, helpless sigh.

He was desperate.

He knew all too well that he was powerless to change the situation.

The Wei army lost this war!
A complete and utter defeat!

"Retreat, retreat!"

"By imperial decree, the entire army shall abandon Puban Pass and retreat south!"

His face showed helplessness. He trembled as he waved his hand and weakly issued the order.

This final, feeble sigh was uttered with weakness, like the last sigh of a giant about to fall.

Everyone breathed a sigh of relief.

Their emperor finally calmed down at the last moment and chose to abandon the city and flee.

Everyone knew that this nightmare was finally coming to an end. (End of Chapter)