Cao Cao's face was gloomy, and Chen Qun, Liu Ye, Xun Yu and others standing below also had solemn expressions.
Xun Yu said: "Your Majesty, the army led by Wang Can has a total of more than 100,000 people. Among them, Huang Zhong leads 50,000 left army and Zhao Yun leads 50,000 right army. There are already 100,000 people. In addition, Wang Can leads 50,000 people.
There are at least 60,000 to 70,000 troops in the central army, as well as the vanguard army under Lu Meng. The total number is more than 160,000. With so many people attacking Handan, it is inevitable that General Xu will not be able to defend it."
Chen Qun continued: "Handan was defeated. I wonder what General Xu's condition is like?"
"Snapped!!"
Cao Cao slapped his hand on the desk and said loudly: "I am angry because of the loss of Handan. But more importantly, I am angry that Xu Huang is stubborn and does not know how to adapt. Wang Can led an army of more than 100,000 to attack Handan.
Unable to resist, couldn't he retreat? But Xu Huang stayed in Handan to defend, and was defeated in the end. If he retreats, will I blame him?"
After a pause, Cao Cao continued: "The city of Handan was destroyed, and Xu Huang became a loyal minister, but it was of no use to the overall situation. Especially when Wang Can sent his army straight down, the situation became even more difficult."
Liu Ye said: "Your Majesty, Wang Can is marching his army forward. The two generals Cao Hong and Zhang Jia will not sit idly by and ignore it. They will probably lead their troops to intercept Wang Can. This is probably what Wang Can wants."
Cao Cao said: "What do you think?"
Xun Yu said: "Report to your Majesty, the purpose of setting up a defense line in the north was to stop Wang Can. However, Wang Can's soldiers and horses were stronger, and his weapons were more powerful. An ordinary city could not stop him. With his jaws open, Cao Hong and Xu Huang were scattered and could not
We rescued them in time, so Handan was captured. I think the two of them should be transferred back immediately."
Cao Cao frowned and said, "Transferring the two of them back means that all the arrangements in the previous stage were in vain."
Xun Yu shook his head and said: "Your Majesty, this is just a temporary retreat, not a retreat to Yecheng to defend it."
Cao Cao waved his hand and said, "Wen Ruo, what do you have in mind?"
Xun Yu said loudly: "What we need to do now is to defend Ye City. I think we should transfer Cao Hong back to the outside of Ye City, let Cao Hong find a place to station within twenty miles northwest of Ye City, and let Zhang Jaw lead his army back.
They were stationed within twenty miles northeast of Ye City. The two armies were distributed around Ye City, looking for places that were easy to defend and difficult to attack to defend Ye City. If Wang Can attacked Ye City, the two of them could lead the army to rescue them. If Wang Can attacked Ye City, they could lead an army to rescue them.
On one side, Your Majesty can send troops to support it, so that it will not be defeated by Wang Can one by one."
Liu Ye frowned and said: "Although the method proposed by Wen Ruo is feasible, it is not impossible to break it. If Wang Can wants to win, he can divide his troops to stop the attack and defeat them one by one. This can also be broken."
Cao Cao said with confidence: "Zi Yang, our soldiers are also elite. Wang Can wants to divide his troops to stop the attack, but there are still some difficulties. Don't be afraid. If Wen Ruo's opinion is feasible, let's do it."
"Tap! Tread!!"
While Cao Cao was discussing with a few people, Man Chong hurriedly walked in. Man Chong bowed to Cao Cao, raised his hands and said, "Your Majesty, I just received news from Cao Ren and Xia Houyuan that the situation in the south is unfavorable!"
Cao Cao asked: "What's the disadvantage?"
Man Chong said seriously: "Lu Xun of Yuzhou, with the help of Zhang Liao and Huang Xu, has defeated Cao Ren who entered Yuzhou, and sent his army into Yanzhou, and joined the Shu army from the east of Hulao Pass. At present, Gan Ning, Taishi Ci,
Zhang Liao, Gao Shun, Xu Rong and other Shu army generals have entered Yanzhou with great momentum and are about to capture Chenliu."
"What about Xia Houyuan's situation?" Cao Cao asked again.
Man Chong replied: "The war in Xuzhou was also unfavorable. Governor Xiahou led Zang Ba to resist Xu Shu, and lost consecutive battles. He has withdrawn from Xuzhou and returned to Qingzhou. Xu Shu sent his army to Qingzhou, and had already joined forces with Gan Ning and Zhang Liao.
trend. At present, our army is already in a tight situation across the board and the situation is very difficult."
Cao Cao raised his eyebrows, changed the topic, and said, "What do the ministers of the DPRK think?"
Man Chong sighed, paused for a moment, and then continued: "Your Majesty, some of the ministers in the court are just grassroots, wine bags and rice bags, so there is nothing to worry about. As long as your Majesty can defend Yecheng and stabilize the situation in Qingzhou and Yanzhou, it is okay.
"
Cao Cao waved his sleeves and said, "You don't need to comfort me, I know the situation."
Cao Cao was well aware of the thoughts of some of the ministers in the court.
The Wei army was defeated, and some officials had begun to plan a way out, thinking of surrendering. But it was impossible for Cao Cao to surrender. He would definitely choose to fight to the end. Cao Cao took a deep breath and said: "As long as I am still here, the situation in the court will be chaotic.
No. Now use all your strength to stop Wang Can and Wen Ruo. Pass the news to Cao Hong and Zhang Jia, and ask them to return with their troops immediately."
"promise!"
Xun Yu bowed his hands in agreement and immediately turned around to carry out the order.
…
Feixiang County, county seat.
After receiving Cao Cao's order, Zhang Jia ordered the soldiers stationed in Feixiang County to pack their bags and prepare to leave Feixiang County and go south. After receiving the news, the generals under his command came to the county government collectively to visit Zhang Liao. These people all had the same plan.
I don't want to withdraw to Yecheng, but I want to prepare for a decisive battle with the Shu army.
After Zhang Liao heard what his general said, he smiled bitterly.
He looked at the faces and said: "Everyone, Your Majesty asked us to withdraw. It was not to withdraw to Yecheng and stay there, but to station outside Yecheng. There would be plenty of opportunities to attack the Shu army. At that time, we sent troops to attack the Shu army.
With the support of His Majesty's army, we will not be alone. If we attack now, it will be like hitting an egg with a stone. Go pack your bags and prepare to withdraw."
After the generals heard this, they left silently.
Zhang Liao also quickly packed his bags and left the county government.
The army left Feixiang County, and Zhang Liao moved all the equipment and food left in the county. As for the people in the city, Zhang Liao believed that they would not be attacked by the Shu army.
…
The Zhang River flows through the border between Wei County and Guangping County. There is a series of camps at the foot of the hillside near the river.
This camp is where Cao Hong lives.
In the main tent of the Chinese army, Cao Hong looked livid and looked very unhappy. He was not unhappy because of the news from Cao Cao, but because Sima Lang failed to persuade Sima Yi to deal with Wang Can. Instead, he was arrested by Wang Can. This time
The situation made Cao Hong feel extremely ashamed and angry.
Cao Hong held the message from Cao Cao, pondered for a long time, and finally ordered a retreat. Although Cao Hong wanted to send troops to kill Wang Can and avenge him, he did not have the urge in the end.
…
The two armies of Cao Hong and Zhang Jia retreated, as Guo Jia expected.
The Shu army had a smooth road and did not encounter any obstacles when heading south. It took three days for the army to enter Wei County and approach Ye City. It took another three days and was stationed thirty miles north of Ye City.
At this time, Zhang Jia and Cao Hong also returned to Yecheng.
Of the two armies, Cao Hong was stationed in the northwest and Zhang Jiao was stationed in the northeast. The Shu army camp was about to attack Ye City, and the Wei army located in the northwest and northeast of Ye City attacked. Moreover, Ye City is not a city like Handan, but a city of Wei State.
The capital of the country has become a strong city after repeated reinforcement and construction.
Not only was a moat built outside Ye City, but also a solid barbican city was built, which was equivalent to having an outer city for defense and an inner city to resist the Shu army's attack.
Such fortifications cannot be captured easily.
In the main tent, Wang Can summoned civil officials such as Jia Xu, Sima Yi, Guo Jia, Fazheng, and generals such as Zhao Yun, Dianman, Chen and Lu Meng to discuss the attack on Yecheng.
