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

"Your Majesty, Yan—"

When Cheng Gongying saw that Cao Pi showed hesitation, she felt like an ant on a hot pan, anxiously trying to offer her advice again.

Cao Pi, however, had a cold and stern gaze, his eyes revealing an unquestionable authority. With a wave of his hand, he decisively interrupted Cheng Gongying.

Seeing this, Cheng Gongying opened her mouth helplessly, but in the end she had no choice but to shut her mouth and swallow back all the words she wanted to say.

Cao Pi's emotions seemed to gradually regain some rationality thanks to Yan Xing's advice.

He lowered his head slightly, lost in thought for a moment, weighing the pros and cons.

After a moment, Cao Pi took a light breath and waved his hand, saying:

"Very well, since you, Lord Yan, are pleading for him, I will spare his life!"

Having said that, his gaze sharpened, and he continued to give orders:

"Drag Jiang Wei away and give him forty lashes!"

After weighing the options, Cao Pi decided to give Yan Xing some face.

Yan Xing breathed a sigh of relief, his tense nerves finally relaxing a little.

Jiang Wei's face remained indignant, his eyes filled with a sense of grievance.

Although Cao Pi spared his life, he still ordered him to be flogged, which was undoubtedly a great humiliation for him.

Why should I suffer this unwarranted punishment when I have done nothing wrong?
"Jiang Boyue, why aren't you thanking the emperor?"

Seeing that Jiang Wei was standing there silently, Yan Xing became anxious and quickly reminded him, while also giving him a series of meaningful glances.

Although Jiang Wei was extremely resentful, he knew he couldn't act impulsively.

So he could only silently kowtow and thank Cao Pi for sparing his life.

"Issue the order: the entire army will follow me north. I am going to retake Jieting!"

Cao Pi lashed out with his whip, pointed north, and his eyes instantly blazed with fierce fighting spirit, like an enraged lion.

This time, Cheng Gongying and Jia Xu's expressions changed simultaneously, and they were taken aback.

The Han army had 30,000 elite troops and had captured Jieting.

With only 40,000 troops, the Wei army did not have a significant numerical advantage and its morale was low. Under such circumstances, how could they possibly recapture Jieting?

Cheng Gongying knew that Cao Pi's actions were irrational, and was about to speak to persuade him, but swallowed her words back.

He secretly pondered that his earlier actions of stirring up trouble had just directed Cao Pi's anger towards Jiang Wei.

If we were to object now, we might anger Cao Pi and bring trouble upon ourselves.

So he chose to remain silent and stood quietly to the side.

"Your Majesty, attacking Jieting is unwise!"

Cheng Gongying remained silent, but Jia Xu could not stand idly by and allow Cao Pi to act impulsively. He quickly stepped forward, blocking Cao Pi's path, and advised him:

"The Han army has captured Jieting City. Our army of 40,000 men has almost no chance of retaking Jieting."

"If we are forced to defend Shilao City, with our soldiers killed or wounded and our supplies depleted, how will we resist when Guan Yu and Xiao He lead the main Han army to attack?"

Jia Xu's words were insightful and persuasive, attempting to convince Cao Pi to recognize the current situation.

Cao Pi wouldn't listen. His eyes widened, as if he were about to spit fire, and he roared:
"If we don't have enough soldiers, we'll send more. If we don't recapture Jieting, what will I use to stop the hundreds of thousands of Han troops from entering Longxi in the future?"

Upon hearing this, Jia Xu was speechless.

Clearly, Cao Pi's actions were not impulsive, but rather a reluctant decision made after weighing the pros and cons.

If the Wei army could recapture Jieting, they would still have a glimmer of hope to hold Liangzhou.

If we sit idly by and watch Jieting fall, waiting for Guan Yu and Xiao He to lead hundreds of thousands of Han troops to attack, then we are simply waiting to die.

Rather than waiting to die, why not take a chance?
Cao Pi drew his sword and shouted sharply:
"Jieting is a matter of life and death for the Great Wei. Even if it costs me 40,000 soldiers, I will take it back!"

"Anyone who tries to dissuade me will be executed without mercy!"

Everyone felt a chill run down their spines.

Jia Xu shuddered and dared not utter another sound, only letting out a silent sigh.

No one could stop Cao Pi anymore.

Therefore, the 40,000 Wei troops immediately headed north and rushed straight to Jieting.

...In the Grand Marshal's residence in Chang'an City.

"Report—Good news from Longxi!"

A soldier rushed into the mansion, shouting excitedly.

"Victory report from Ma Chao and Deng Ai!"

"Our army has captured Maijishan and annihilated the Wei army. Deng Ai has beheaded the enemy general Wang Shuang!"

"Jieting City has been recaptured!"

"Cao Pi is leading his army to attack Jieting, while Generals Ma and Deng are leading our troops to defend Jieting!"

A series of good news broke out in the lobby, instantly causing a stir.

Guan Yu and the others were greatly encouraged and all showed joy on their faces.

"Bring it!"

Guan Yu eagerly reached out and took the news of victory, as if he had obtained a rare treasure, and couldn't wait to open it and examine it closely.

Good news is coming.

It details how Ma Chao blocked Cao Pi at Xianqin's place, and how Deng Ai discovered Wang Shuang's secret spring and cut off its water source.

The course of the Battle of Jieting is crystal clear.

"Bowen is a genius!"

Guan Yu slapped the table in admiration, his gaze filled with praise and excitement as he looked at Xiao He.

"Just as you predicted, Bowen, Wang Shuangguo has a hidden spring on Maiji Mountain. The course of this battle was entirely within your expectations!"

Guan Yu held up the victory report and showed it to Xiao He and everyone else.

Everyone was thrilled and praised Xiao He, once again impressed by him.

"Brother, I think that little traitor Cao is leading his army to launch a fierce attack on Jieting, surely wanting to retake it and re-seal Longshan!"

Zhang Fei, impatient and unable to contain his excitement, jumped out and shouted:

"Let's mobilize our entire army, head straight for Jieting, and wipe out that little traitor Cao Cao in one fell swoop!"

All the generals wanted to claim credit and volunteered to fight.

In an instant, calls for battle arose one after another.

Although Guan Yu's face was filled with fighting spirit, he remained calm and waved to the crowd, signaling them to be quiet.

Everyone fell silent, and the hall finally quieted down.

"Bowen, what do you think?"

Guan Yu's gaze fell upon his son-in-law.

For such a major event as destroying Wei, it was up to Xiao He to make the decision; how could Guan Yu dare to make a decision on his own?

Xiao He took a sip of tea and said slowly:
"It is only natural that Shi Zai was able to defeat Wang Shuangji, and it is also expected that Cao Pi would want to take back Jieting after losing it."

After a slight pause, Xiao He continued:

"However, I think we don't need to send troops immediately. We can use Jieting to wear Cao Pi down!"

Upon hearing this, Guan Yu was taken aback at first, but then suddenly understood.

Xiao He, this is going to use Jieting to bleed Cao Pi dry.

The Wei Kingdom was left with only Liangzhou, which was already short of soldiers and food, and its national strength was weak.

If Cao Pi fails to capture Jieting after a prolonged siege, he will consume precious provisions and gradually deplete the nation's remaining strength.

Ma Chao and Deng Ai commanded 30,000 troops, a number roughly equal to that of the Wei army, and were fully capable of holding Jieting, leaving Cao Pi in a dilemma.

In this way, Cao Pi's national strength and military strength were depleted, while his hundreds of thousands of Han troops could recuperate and build up their strength here.

When Cao Pi's army was exhausted and their supplies were depleted, their hundreds of thousands of Han troops could then march westward and wipe out Liangzhou with overwhelming force.

In this way, pacifying the puppet state of Wei and killing Cao Pi would be as easy as turning one's hand.

This is Xiao He's strategy. (End of Chapter)