Listening to Xiahoudun finish what happened, Cao Cao really looked painful. Although he didn't personally see the kind of explosion that Xia Houdun said could emit great power. However, at this time, Cao Cao also felt the same way, and also thought about how helpless and panicked he would be if such a thing was in front of him.

"Lord, now, the battle line in the north of our army is no longer defensible, and the situation in other aspects is also unfavorable to our army. Therefore, please also ask the lord to make a decision on the contingency strategy of our army as soon as possible. Our army is a war ...... Or ......" Xiahoudun didn't dare to say clearly whether it was a battle or a surrender, and paused and skimmed over: "If it is a war, how can our army fight the New Han Army now?" ”

Cao Cao was silent, staring at Xiahoudun with a slightly complicated look, and after looking at it for a while, he found that Xiahoudun always had a slightly dull look in his eyes, which made Cao Cao's heart even more troubled.

You must know that Xiahou Dun bravely crowned the three armies, was one of the generals he relied on most by Cao Cao, and was also his own brother, so there was no doubt about his loyalty. However, at this moment, Cao Cao could no longer see the slightest battle intent from Xiahoudun's eyes, and it seemed that the whole person had lost his soul and lost the unwinding spiritual energy that he should have.

Even Xiahoudun tasted this, so what about the generals and soldiers below? When facing the New Han Army, is there still a need to fight?

Suddenly, Cao Cao felt a little sad, it turned out that his situation had fallen to such an unfavorable point now.

His own territory of power, unconsciously, has been surrounded and compressed by the New Han Army, and slowly shrank back to the surrounding area centered on Xu Du, and he has no power to fight back in the face of this oppression of the New Han Army. And their own strength. It was also consumed by the New Han Army little by little, and there was less territory every day. The number of troops is being reduced every day.

What made Cao Cao even more stretched was that. Now, Xiahoudun, who he relied on the most, has lost his due spirit. Another member of his own clan, the brother general, Xiahou Yuan. He was seriously injured and did not return. Of course, Cao Cao hoped that he would gain something and never return to Xudu, because if Cao Ren also returned to Xudu, it would prove that he had completely lost the war in Yanzhou. What about Cao Hong? Enough loyalty to oneself, but. But it has always been useless, and it is difficult to help himself.

As for the generals with different surnames under his account, Cao Cao felt a little heartache when he thought of it. Xu Huang and Yu Ban, who were loyal to themselves, one was seriously injured and the other was captured. The two generals surnamed Zhang, who made Cao Cao extremely valued, Zhang Liao was originally highly valued by Cao Cao, thinking that he had the ability to share his worries, but loyalty was enough. But his loyalty to himself is insufficient, and now, he is trapped in Runan and passively resists. While all the generals have lost all their fortified cities. But only Zhang Liao can defend one of his cities. However, judging from the current situation, Zhang Liao held Runan City. But it is not beneficial to their own overall situation, even. Cao Cao has already guessed, estimated. Zhang Liao has been able to hold Runan City until now, and I am afraid that it is also the result of Zhang Liao and the New Han Army reaching some tacit understanding, but Cao Cao has nothing to say, and it is difficult to find an excuse to reprimand or condemn Zhang Liao. What about Zhang He? Cao Cao has known him for a long time, and he still appreciates Zhang He's talent, but Cao Cao always feels that Zhang He is too greedy for life and may not be truly loyal to himself. To put it bluntly, Zhang He is like a wall grass swinging in the wind. If the New Han Dynasty threw an olive branch to him, Cao Cao really didn't dare to say whether Zhang He would immediately throw himself into the arms of the New Han Dynasty.

Many of the rest of the generals, Cao Cao felt that their strength was not enough to help him turn the tide of the battle. Le Jin, Li Dian, Wen Ping, Zhang Xiu, etc., as well as a group of generals, Cao Cao believes that they are all slightly incompetent.

So far, Cao Cao felt that it was difficult for him to find a working general on hand, and it was difficult to find a future who could capture the flag for himself.

Now, Xiahoudun asked himself how to fight, and Cao Cao really couldn't answer for a while.

"Yuan let ......" Cao Cao was silent for a while, and then he seemed to be a little embarrassed to say: "Although I am your lord and your brother, there is a sentence, and I Cao Cao doesn't know whether to say it or not." That is, we are all grasshoppers tied to a rope, how can there be eggs under the country? What you just said is too demoralizing. Since ancient times, the king of Cheng defeated Kou, the success of the king, the defeat of the Kou, I Cao Cao, when I decided to raise troops, I have long thought of this day. Therefore, no matter when and where, I, Cao Cao, will never bow to the enemy. The soldiers will block, and the water will cover the earth. Why be afraid? ”

Xiahoudun heard Cao Cao bluntly say that he had lost his fighting spirit at the moment, and he couldn't help but feel red. He lowered his head and said abruptly: "Yes, the lord is right, but the general is too anxious." ”

"No matter what, our loyalty will not change, and if the situation has reached this point today, we have no way out. At present, we can only fight to the death with the New Han Army, put it to the death and survive, and then we can still have any life. Otherwise, even if we surrender to the New Han Dynasty, I am afraid that the outcome of our waiting can be imagined. Think about it, if we are replaced, in the situation of taking full advantage, the new Han Dynasty Liu Yi surrendered to us, you say, what are we going to do with him? So? Only death. Cao Cao said, his face was straight, a little firm, he stepped forward and helped Xiahoudun hard, protected Xiahoudun's arms and said: "Yuan Rang, at present, in our Xu Capital, there is only one of you who can use the general, and the rest are not available." Therefore, I want you to return to the front line immediately, and in any case, you will delay the advance of the New Han Army from the north for a period of time for our army. You are in the area of Chenliu, Zhongmu, and Changshe, and there are hundreds of thousands of elite troops. You only need to hold Cao for a while, and Cao will gather all his troops, go to support, and fight to the death with the Xinhan army. ”

After Cao Cao finished speaking, he said a little tragically: "The strength of the New Han Army is too strong, and it presses us from all directions, so that I can't breathe." Under such circumstances, Cao felt that it was impossible for us to completely resist the advance of the New Han Army. So we're just going to take a gamble and give me time. Quietly transferred the elite troops from Yanzhou, Yingchuan and other places back to Changshe, Zhongmu, and Chenliu. Fight to the death with Liu Yi. Defeated, naturally there is nothing to say. If we can defeat Liu Yi, then our army will directly move north and enter Luoyang. In this way, first, it can directly jump out of the encirclement of the New Han Army, and second, it can directly shake the foundation of the New Han Dynasty, and the New Han Dynasty will lose Luoyang, and its army will definitely be in chaos. When the time comes, it's our chance. ”

Cao Cao deserves to be called a hero with great talent, and at this time, he can still think of such a feasible strategy.

This really seems to be Cao Cao's only chance now.

Now, the military horses of the New Han Army are still in Yanzhou, Xuzhou, Yuzhou Yingchuan and other places. The total strength of the middle army led by Liu Yi is estimated to be about 700,000 to 800,000. Cao Cao's troops on the northern front are estimated to be more than 400,000, if the New Han Army does not know about it. Secretly withdrew his military horses from Yanzhou, Xuzhou, Yuzhou and other places, directly joined Xiahoudun's Northern Route Army, and fought a decisive battle with Liu Yi's Middle Route Army with a million troops. If Cao Cao's army defeated Liu Yi's New Han army in the middle, it would be equivalent to directly swinging his army to Luoyang. When the time comes. The New Han army and horses in Yanzhou, Xuzhou, Yuzhou and other places will definitely not be able to come to the rescue, and it will be difficult to return to Luoyang to defend the New Han Dynasty Kyoto.

I also have to say. In Cao Cao's heart, he really never considered the issue of compromising and surrendering to Liu Yi.

He can die in battle. But you can't surrender.

"When the time comes, the prime minister will personally lead the army to a decisive battle with Liu Yi. It depends on whether the meta makes you confident or not. Hold off the New Han Army for a while. Cao Cao looked at Xiahou and said.

Xiahoudun's heart suddenly surged into a sense of tragedy and grandeur that the hero had not yet arrived. He also seemed to see that Cao Cao was helpless in the face of the unheard of and unseen Liu Yi's new weapon. It is precisely because there is no way to deal with it that it can only make such a desperate strategy. This does seem to be a no-brainer.

Cao Cao tasted it so tragic, what was he afraid of Xiahoudun?

In an instant, Xiahoudun's heart also swelled with pride, and how much fighting spirit he had recovered. He stood up and said tragically and firmly: "Lord, please rest assured! The last general will return to Chenliu now, pack up his troops and horses, and will definitely hold on until the day when the lord's army arrives. The last general and Chen Liucheng, the city is in the people, and the city is dead! ”

"Yuan let ......," Cao Cao said with a rare look in his eyes.

"Brother, there is no need to say more, the last general will go, please take care of the lord!"

After Xiahoudun finished speaking, he glanced at Cao Cao deeply, turned around, and strode away.

"Lord!"

The generals of the Cao army on the left and right, seeing Xiahoudun leaving as if he were going away and never returning, all couldn't help but feel related, knelt down together, and screamed sadly.

"Hehe, it's okay, the generals will obey the order!" Cao Cao smiled and suddenly ordered: "You and others will immediately prepare to go north to the battlefield of Chenliu, in addition, send fast horses, Cao Ren, Zhang He, Zhang Xiu, Cao Hong, Le Jin, Li Dian, Hou Cheng, Xia Houen, Cao Chun, etc., all the generals outside, with them leaving a small number of troops, pretending to be a large army to defend all places, and then, its main army, concealing the spies of the New Han Army's military horses, quickly returned to Xudu to gather." Make no mistake! ”

"No!" The generals responded in unison.

"Ladies and gentlemen, this battle is about the life and death of each of us here, as well as our glory and wealth. This should not be taken lightly. This battle may also be the last battle of our army. If anyone dares to leak the secret and leak the rumors, Hugh blames Cao for not remembering the old love! In this battle, the elite of our army will do their best, and when the time comes, all our trebuchets and crossbows will come in handy, and it is time to fight to the death with the New Han Army. ”

"Please rest assured, I will live up to our justice!"

"Good! Very good! Go ahead! ”

The generals hurried away and prepared their own way.

After Cao Cao saw everyone leaving, he thought about it, wrote another letter at the desk, and recruited another confidant soldier, and said to him: "Sneak to Runan secretly, see Zhang Liao as much as possible, take my handwritten letter to him, and be sure to personally kiss Zhang Liao's hand." ”

The soldiers took the letter and hid it, and after giving a salute, they said goodbye.

For Cao Cao, it seemed that he really didn't have time to let him slowly deal with the New Han Army. Especially after listening to what Xiahoudun said, the New Han Army had that kind of huge lethal weapon that he didn't know what it was, which made him feel that it was completely meaningless to expect to defend the capital according to Xu. Therefore, the real situation forced Cao Cao to fight to the death with the New Han Army in advance, forced him to fight a decisive battle in advance, and forced Cao Cao, in such an unfavorable situation, to strive for a certain initiative as much as possible, specializing in Liu Yi's middle route army, and not allowing all of Liu Yi's army to gather in Xu Dulai before fighting Liu Yi again, in that case, Cao Cao was even more uncertain.

In general, Cao Cao's move was indeed wise.

Gather all his strength and attack the new Han army's military horses, only in this way can he have a chance to fight.

In fact, Cao Cao should have done this a long time ago. Earlier, he had been unwilling to give up too much, and his power territory seemed to be important, and he was reluctant to take the initiative to give up. If Cao Cao could give up some of his territory early and concentrate all his military horses to attack one of the military horses of the New Han Army, I am afraid that Cao Cao may not necessarily lose. Maybe, it is really possible for Cao Cao to steal a glimmer of life, at least, to break Liu Yi's strategy of forming a huge encirclement of the Central Plains from the topography.

In the final analysis, Cao Cao was probably wrong from the beginning. His strength was not as good as that of the New Han Army, but he still had to scatter his troops throughout the Central Plains to defend it. This made Cao Cao congenitally deficient from the beginning.

However, it is no wonder that in Cao Cao's position, the Central Plains he occupies are surrounded by the territory of the New Han Dynasty, and in his eyes, his Central Plains territory is so important everywhere, all of them contain each other, and if one is lost, one state will be lost, and more states and counties will be lost. No one will be willing to accept this, especially at the beginning of the war, no one will take the initiative to give up so much of their own territory.

Now, Cao Cao has no choice, he can only use such a strategy of breaking the jar and breaking it to make the last desperate bet.

Now that the order was issued, Cao Cao felt that there were still some things that he had to explain to the ministers in the court.

In the entire Xudu Imperial Court, Cao Cao, as the prime minister, grasped the military and politics with one hand, but in terms of political power, Cao Cao was difficult to be ****. Even the **** on the surface is based on the deterrence of military power. If one day Cao Cao's military power cannot deter the courtiers, then the court will definitely be in chaos.

Therefore, Cao Cao decided to personally lead the army to fight Liu Yi to the death, and he had to stabilize this court. (To be continued.) )