Chapter 270

But once they retreated.

Hua Xiong, who was less than five li away from them now.

Would definitely order a pursuit at the first opportunity!

Regardless of whether Cao Cao and Gongsun Zan chose to stay and fight Hua Xiong or continue to retreat, the troops under their command would suffer heavy losses because of this.

And on the side of the grain and fodder storage site, the soldiers left behind would also be quickly slaughtered by the Trap Camp.

To put it bluntly.

The Cao Cao army and the Gongsun Zan army had been forced into a desperate situation.

No matter how they chose, they would have to pay a painful price for this today!

Cao Cao gritted his teeth fiercely.

As the saying goes.

If you don't risk the child, you can't catch the wolf.

The grain and fodder must be saved.

Otherwise, whether the army could successfully return to the Yanzhou base was a question that was hard to say.

But if the army under his command was completely wiped out because of going to save the grain and fodder, it would appear to be putting the cart before the horse.

At the critical moment, Cao Cao revealed his side as an overlord!

I saw him quickly summon the generals of the Cao army.

Soon, Xia Houyuan, Cao Ren, Cao Hong, Li Dian, Yue Jin, Yu Jin, and others all rushed over.

"My lord, what are your orders?"

"Are we going to launch a general attack on that scoundrel Hua Xiong?"

The generals of the Cao camp did not know about the Trap Camp's surprise attack on the grain and fodder storage site at this moment.

They thought that Cao Cao finally couldn't help it and was going to take the initiative to attack Hua Xiong!

Who knew.

Cao Cao sighed desolately.

Subsequently, he signaled Cheng Yu to tell them about the desperate situation currently faced by the Cao army.

After listening, the generals all fell into silence.

Everyone was not a rookie who was on the battlefield for the first time, and naturally understood the urgency of the situation at this moment.

To put it bluntly, Cao Cao now, whether he fought or retreated.

If he was not careful, the army under his command would likely face a desperate situation of being completely wiped out!

Scanning the generals, Cao Cao sighed:

"Everyone, I intend to leave behind a portion of troops as a rearguard to block Hua Xiong."

"The remaining main army will immediately follow me back to the grain and fodder storage site."

"I don't know, who among you is willing to stay behind as a rearguard?"

When saying this, Cao Cao's heart felt like it was being cut by a knife.

The generals of the Cao camp, each of their abilities was quite good.

But there was no way.

Leaving behind a major general and a portion of soldiers as a rearguard army was the only way to avoid the main army being completely wiped out.

However, this major general who stayed behind as a rearguard would nine times out of ten die.

At this moment.

The generals of the Cao camp all fell into deep thought.

And the next instant!

All of them stood out without exception, wanting to apply to stay behind as a rearguard.

Including Xia Hou Dun, who was wrapped in blood from head to toe, also clamored to stay behind as a rearguard.

But before he could speak, he was quietly pulled by his sleeve by Xi Zhicai.

As a strategist of the Cao camp, Xi Zhicai saw more thoroughly than these Cao camp martial generals.

No matter who stayed behind as a rearguard, Cao Cao could not let Xia Hou Dun stay!

Sure enough.

Cao Cao scanned the generals once.

Finally, he stopped at Yu Jin.

Except for Yu Jin.

The remaining few generals of the Cao camp all came to defect when Cao Cao first raised his army, or even before he raised his army.

Only Yu Jin originally followed the Jibei Minister Bao Xin.

After Bao Xin died, Yu Jin led his remaining troops to defect to Cao Cao.

(PS: It is clearly recorded that Yu Jin officially defected to Cao Cao's camp in the third year of Chuping (192 AD).)

In terms of personal feelings.

Compared to other generals of the Cao camp.

The friendship between Cao Cao and Yu Jin was the shallowest.

But in terms of ability.

Yu Jin was good at governing the army, and his personality was relatively steady.

Staying behind as a rearguard could be said to be quite reliable.

Therefore, among the other generals of the Cao camp, Cao Cao ultimately chose to sacrifice Yu Jin.

Facing Cao Cao's gaze, a flash of helplessness flashed in Yu Jin's eyes.

But he also knew that he was indeed the most suitable candidate to stay behind as a rearguard.

"General Yu Jin is willing to share the worries for my lord."

Yu Jin said, cupping his hands.

Hearing this, Cao Cao sighed:

"Wen Ze, rest assured."

"If you encounter any misfortune, I will raise your wife and children."

Yu Jin revealed a miserable smile.

But subsequently, a flash of firmness flashed in his eyes.

He quickly selected 5,000 elite soldiers from under Cao Cao's command, preparing to serve as the rearguard army.

At the same time.

The same scene was happening on Gongsun Zan's side.

Ultimately, it was decided that Wang Men would lead 3,000 soldiers to stay behind as a rearguard.

But...

Whether it was Yu Jin or Wang Men.

Or the 8,000 rearguard troops.

None of them understood what the significance of this rearguard action was.