Chapter 654

"The subordinate lost Peng Cheng; I ask the lord to forgive my sin."

Cao Cao waved his hand,

"No matter. Peng Cheng could not be defended; I should even reward you for your decisiveness."

He looked around,

"Gentlemen, Liu Bei has now taken Xuzhou and most of Yanzhou and is heading toward Ditao. Tell me, what should we do?"

Everyone looked at each other,

and Cheng Yu cupped his hands,

"My lord, Liu Bei occupies Jiyin Commandery and has connected it with Chen Liu. The southern commanderies like Runan and Chen State are in danger."

Everyone sighed. It was truly a case of defeat coming like a collapsing mountain. Liu Bei had swallowed the entire Central Plains with the momentum of thunder, but they had just been defeated and couldn't do anything.

Sima Yi cupped his hands,

"My lord, our army has just been defeated and it is difficult to compete with Liu Bei in the Central Plains. I suggest abandoning the heartland of the Central Plains and contracting the defense line."

Cao Cao's face was very ugly,

"Are you asking me to abandon the entire Central Plains?!"

"My lord, our army can send troops to guard Puyang City and keep Dong Commandery to compete with Liu Bei. My lord can reorganize your forces in Hebei and strive to occupy the Central Plains again."

Zhong Yao and Cheng Yu also had this intention. It wasn't that they didn't want to defend, but the situation now could not be defended.

Cao Cao frowned,

"Who can defend Puyang City south of the Yellow River?"

Cao Pi stepped out,

"Father, I am willing to guard Puyang for you and will never retreat!"

Cao Cao looked at Cao Pi, then at Sima Yi,

"My son has grown up and has his own ideas. Good, I will leave you and Sima Yi and the others to guard Puyang City."

Cao Cao looked at the map,

"Let Xia Hou Yuan lead troops to retreat to Pingyuan State and defend strictly."

Although the area of southern Qingzhou was large, Pingyuan State had a population of over one million and was more important.

Cao Cao looked at Xuxian again,

"Xuxian is a trouble. Zhuge Liang is in the south, and Guan Yu and Lu Xun are in the north."

"Think of a way for me."

At this time, he didn't want to abandon it, but he had no choice!

Sima Yi cupped his hands,

"My lord, you can let Xia Hou Dun, Cao Xiu, and others divide their troops into several routes and lead elite troops to retreat."

Cao Cao sighed,

"Very well, let's save as many as we can."

Xuxian had become an isolated city. Even if it could be defended for half a year, it would eventually be broken, so it was better to let the great generals retreat.

Cao Cao suddenly remembered,

"My Cong'er and Jie'er are still in Xuxian!"

Cao Pi sighed secretly. His father indeed valued Cao Chong highly. He felt he had no chance in Yecheng, so he listened to Sima Yi's suggestion and asked to guard Puyang, keeping several tens of thousands of troops in his hands.

Sima Yi cupped his hands,

"My lord, do not worry. With Xia Hou Dun and Cao Xiu there, they will surely bring the young master and young lady back to Yecheng safely."

Cao Cao's worry was useless; he could only do this.

He sighed in his heart. Fortunately, he listened to Xun Yu's suggestion and moved the families of the civil and military officials of Xuxian to Yecheng.

Although he lost the Central Plains, he had brought most of the talents of the Central Plains to Hebei, which was a blessing in misfortune.

Xun Yu sent word that after this great defeat, Hebei was unstable.

Cao Cao left thirty thousand troops for Cao Pi, totaling sixty thousand, and left Wen Chou and other great generals for him, telling him to guard the bridgehead of Puyang well, while he himself led men back to Yecheng.

Xuxian,

was in total chaos at this time.

Xia Hou Dun frowned,

697

"Young lady, don't be stubborn, let's go with us."

Cao Jie shook her head firmly,

"Chong-di is seriously ill and cannot withstand the bumpy journey, let alone the possibility of being pursued by the great army."

Cao Xiu also advised,

"Young lady, if you stay, you will be captured by Liu Bei as hostages."

Both were in a dilemma. If Cao Chong, who was seriously ill, were to have any trouble on the run, it would be hard to explain.

Cao Cao loved this prodigy Cao Chong very much.

But staying here would inevitably make them Liu Bei's prisoners.

Cao Jie said in a crisp voice,

"My medical skills are not bad; I know Chong-di's condition clearly. Liu Bei is benevolent and righteous and will surely not make things difficult for us two siblings."

Seeing that Cao Jie, though young, was extremely decisive and spoke very reasonably, they had no choice but to do this.

Man Chong also said,

"Liu Bei has always promoted benevolence and righteousness, and his medical skills are brilliant. Perhaps he can even help Young Master Chong cure his serious illness."

Cao Jie's beautiful eyes flowed, her dark pupils turning,

This could really work!

The famous physicians in the city had no way; perhaps Liu Bei had a way.

If Liu Bei knew that this daughter of Cao Cao was not only not afraid of him but also wanted to sponge off his medical skills and had designs on him, he wouldn't know what to think...

That night,

Xia Hou Dun, Man Chong, and Cao Xiu fled Xuxian in three routes.

Zhuge Liang naturally sent troops to pursue them and had set up ambushes in the north in advance.

Xia Hou Dun was routed, and only two thousand of his ten thousand troops escaped, suffering another great loss under Zhuge Liang.

Cao Xiu was beaten up by Lu Xun in Chen Liu, also suffering losses of troops and generals.

Only Man Chong turned to Liang State and then went north, safely returning to Dong Commandery with eight thousand elites, performing brilliantly.