"My lord, General Xia Houyuan is reporting urgently."
Xi Zhicai took the urgent report and went directly to Cao Cao's tent.
"Miaocai is urgent to report. Could it be that Yuan Shu sent troops?"
Upon hearing Xia Houyuan's urgent report, Cao Cao couldn't help but frown.
"My lord, Yuan Shu's more than 100,000 troops have left Chaisang and entered Xiaji. General Xia Houyuan has led his army back to Xiling."
Xi Zhicai nodded to Cao Cao, Yuan Shu would have to take a trip into this muddy water after all, and the next step would be difficult.
"Yuan Benchu is also a waste. He hasn't taken Xiangyang after so many days. What a waste."
After hearing Xi Zhi's definite answer, Cao Cao couldn't help but feel depressed. Yuan Shao, a fool, couldn't win a Xiangyang city for so many days. Otherwise, how could they face the current situation.
"Lord, we have to find a way out now."
Although Yuan Shu has just entered Jiangxia, the current battle situation is somewhat unclear. What he should do next is the most critical.
"Looking for a way out, there is still a way out. As long as Yuan Jiujiu is driven out even if we capture Wuling County now, we can only fight in one battle. Combine Yuan Benchu's troops and horses to defeat Yuan Jiujiu. Only in this way can we
Solve the current dilemma."
Cao Cao glanced at Xi Zhicai. Although they now have nearly 100,000 troops, to put it nicely, they are rootless duckweeds without a base. To put it badly, they are a lost dog. If they fight against Yuan Shu in the north this time, the great Han will be defeated.
He doesn't know where his next home will be.
"Then why don't we send someone to Nanyang now to see what Yuan Shao thinks?"
Xi Zhicai's heart sank after hearing Cao Cao's words. He was really frustrated by being chased around by Yuan Shu during this period. Cao Cao had no choice but to have this idea. If it were anyone else, he would have given up long ago.
"No, now lead the army back to Xiling and fight Yuan Shu there. If Yuan Shao can really see Yuan Shu's threat, he will definitely lead his army to support him. If he can't see it, I will not disdain such a mediocre person.
Yu Lianhe, if Xiling can't be defended, then it's my fate, Cao Cao, not to resist."
Cao Cao shook his head. Now he sent someone to Xiangyang to contact Yuan Shao. Would he come?
What should I do?
Rather than being like this, it would be better to have a vigorous fight with Yuan Shu.
If he loses, then give up. Maybe he was born to be defeated by Yuan Shu, and there is no need to continue struggling. If he really wants to retreat to Jiaozhou, he might as well die.
"Lord, we haven't lost yet. We have survived for so long, and we don't care about this time."
Listening to Cao Cao's decadent words, Xi Zhicai couldn't help but feel a sense of pessimism.
"It's okay. I haven't given up. I just want to try again to see if this trend is in my hands. Cao Cao, go ahead. I'm tired."
Cao Cao waved his hand dejectedly to Xi Zhicai, he was a little tired.
"promise."
Xi Zhicai glanced at Cao Cao, clasped his fists and left Cheng Nuo's tent to issue Cao Cao's order.
Cao Cao's order quickly spread among the army, and then the army immediately took action. In half a day, it left Dangyang and retreated towards Xiling.
"General, Cao Cao's troops have retreated."
As soon as Cao Jun retreated, Cai Mao in Dangyang City immediately got the news.
"Zirou, do you think it won't be Cao Cao's trick this time?"
Cai Mao glanced at Kuai Liang next to him, and there was doubt in his eyes. He was really afraid of being deceived. He was afraid that Cao Cao would pretend to retreat. When he led his army north to support Xiangyang, another one would immediately come back and kill him. Then he would be finished.
.
"This time it shouldn't be false. Didn't Xiandu say that Yuan Shu has agreed to send troops to Jiangxia? If Cao Cao doesn't retreat now, he will probably be cut off by Yuan Shu and besieged under Dangyang City. In this case, he will really be finished."
Kuai Liang glanced at Cai Mao and expressed his opinion directly.
"Then should we immediately send troops north to support Xiangyang?"
Hearing Kuai Liang's analysis, Cai Mao was also delighted. If Cao Cao really retreated, then he could divide his troops and go north to support Liu Biao.
"Don't divide your troops and go north for now. Wait until Cao Cao is far away. Also, if Yuan Shu enters Jiangxia, Yuan Shao may also take action. Maybe he will abandon Xiangyang and garrison Nanyang directly. In this way, it will be meaningless for us to return to Xiangyang.
If Yuan Shu needs support, we can still send troops from Dangyang."
Kuai Liang thought for a while and decided to wait a little longer. If Yuan Shao and Cao Cao wanted to capture Yuan Shu first, he could also send troops to support them.
"Okay, send someone to Xiangyang immediately."
Cai Mao nodded. What Kuai Liang said is correct. Let's stabilize it first and see the situation clearly before talking.
After Cao Cao left, Yuan Shao, who was far away in Xiangyang, also took action. Except for the remaining 30,000 troops who stayed in Deng County, the remaining 60,000 troops evacuated directly from Xiangyang City and then turned south to Sui County.
Prepare to enter Jiangxia and join forces with Cao Cao to fight against Yuan Shu.
"Lord, Yuan Shao has withdrawn."
News of Yuan Shao's retreat quickly reached Liu Biao.
"Okay, okay, okay, Yuan Shu entered Jiangxia, Yuan Shao must have reacted, not bad, not bad."
After hearing the news, Liu Biao was also in high spirits. This was probably the best news he had received in this period of time. He was in high spirits during a happy event. In an instant, Liu Biao felt that the cold and cold symptoms that had plagued him were much better.
"Lord, although Yuan Shao's withdrawal of troops has lifted the siege of Xiangyang, the situation has not changed for us."
Kuai Yue glanced at Liu Biao. Yuan Shao was most likely withdrawing his troops to fight Yuan Shu. If Yuan Shu was defeated, Jingzhou would definitely fall into the hands of Yuan Shao and Cao Cao.
"How to say?"
Liu Biao looked at the frowning Kuai Yue and couldn't help but let out a chuckle.
"I'm afraid that now Yuan Shao will leave here and join forces with Cao Cao to fight Yuan Shu. If Yuan Shu is defeated, then they will turn around and come back, and our situation will be even more dangerous."
Kuai Yue directly expressed his thoughts.
"Then what should we do?"
Hearing Kuai Yue's words, Liu Biao's interest that he had just raised was immediately extinguished. If Yuan Shu was really fucked, then he would really be finished.
"For the current plan, we can only take one step at a time. Let's first take a look at Cao Cao's situation in Dangyang. If he also withdraws his troops, then both sides may be ready for a decisive battle with Yuan Shu. In this case, we must also have
action."
After thinking about it for a while, Kuai Yue also felt that something was not good, but he did not dare to act rashly. He could only tell after seeing the situation clearly.
"Well, send someone south to Dangyang immediately to see what's going on there."
Liu Biao nodded. Now they must focus on stability. They only have this small number of troops. If they want to do anything and are ambushed by Yuan Shao, they will be doomed.
Yuan Shao and Cao Cao acted independently. Cai Hao and Liu Biao were also flying scouts. Yuan Shu went north along the way after capturing Xia Pheasant. Jin Chun surrendered without a fight, and then the army rushed directly to E County. Xia Houyuan continued to retreat all the way.
