"retreat...!"
These were the two words Cao Cao didn't want to hear the most, and they were what Cao Cao had to admit.
The only way out now.
Beyond that, it seems like we are really being cornered!
Retreating is easy, all it takes is a word from Cao Cao.
But where to retreat?
Gangneung? Xiangyang? Newfield? Or Xuchang?
With this retreat, the offensive pressure is gone, but you will soon face the defensive pressure!
The first battle after becoming king and founding the country, all manpower and material resources were put on the line. Is this the end?
"Feng Xiao, there is still a bloody battle in Jiangdong, and Zhou Yu is also involved in Lujiang. Maybe if you persist a little longer, there will be a turning point!"
In the end, Cao Cao was still unwilling to admit defeat.
In addition to the dilemma of Wulin Camp, other aspects are still developing in favor of Cao Jun.
Externally, Liu Zhang of Qin State was also extremely stable and had no intention of invading.
Cao Cao can be seen as competing for his heritage.
See who can persist to the end and win the final victory!
Guo Jiaqiang endured the annoyance and heat in his chest and spoke again to persuade.
"King Wei, if we retreat now, we can still preserve the main force of our army! We can still occupy important towns such as Xiangyang and Jiangling in Nanjun with strong troops and completely block Liu Bei in Jingnan."
"If the stalemate continues without fighting, the army will be overwhelmed by the epidemic. It will be too late to regret it!"
In fact, ever since the army entered Jingxiang, soldiers have been falling ill or even dying due to acclimatization.
The weather is getting hotter, more humid, and it rains more frequently, which encourages the spread of diseases and causes extremely heavy casualties!
If you want to curb this situation, you have to at least wait until the weather cools down completely.
It will take at least two to three months.
Guo Jia couldn't believe how many people would die after such a long time!
"King Wei, it will be much more difficult to capture Jing, raise the two states, and pacify Liu Bei and Sun Quan than we thought!"
"Why don't we return to the north for now, recruit soldiers who are good at water-based skills, and train them more. When everything is ready, it won't be too late to go south!"
After hesitating for a long time, Cao Cao still could not accept the suggestion of retreat.
"Fengxiao, this time we go south to seize the opportunity when Liu Zhang is unable to go east. As time goes by, Liu Zhang's threat will become greater and greater!"
"Furthermore, this trip south has consumed a lot of energy. If we want to recover, it may take several years!"
"Shan Yue, the Yellow Turbans and our army in Hefei have not yet been defeated. Wouldn't retreating at this time give Sun Quan a good opportunity to breathe?"
"I have made up my mind and vow to fight Sun Quan to the end!"
Guo Jia felt anxious upon hearing this. Just as he was about to speak, he couldn't help but cough.
"Cough cough cough...!"
It lasted for a long time before it relaxed slightly.
"King Wei, please tell me the truth. The key to the Shanyue uprising is a sudden attack. If successful, it will be within ten days."
"The longer you delay, the lower the chance of success, I'm afraid...cough cough cough cough!"
Cao Cao quickly slapped Guo Jia on the back.
"Fengxiao, stop talking!"
"I have a hunch that whether we can unify the world depends on this battle with Sun Quan!"
Guo Jia clutched his chest, unable to speak a word due to the severe pain.
But his eyes were extremely sad.
He was watching Cao Cao move towards the abyss, but was unable to drag him back.
At this time, Cao Cao's eyes were exactly the same as Guo Jia's!
If Guo Jia's body continues to be dragged like this, I'm afraid he won't be able to survive for a few days!
"Fengxiao, navy training does not happen overnight, and the decisive battle with Lu Xun does not happen in ten days."
"How about you return to Xuchang for the time being to recuperate, and then come to help me when the decisive battle comes?"
Guo Jia was even more excited when he heard this. How could he abandon Cao Cao because of personal health reasons?
"King Wei, even if I die in Wulin, I can never take a step back!"
"If King Wei doesn't leave, I will never leave!"
"Cough cough cough...!"
Guo Jia is still facing such a dilemma here.
If he leaves and leaves Cao Cao here alone, there might be some trouble!
The army has suffered nearly 100,000 casualties, and the remaining 100,000 people are Cao Cao's foundation.
If there is another large-scale loss, it will really lead to a huge change!
Cao Cao was extremely moved. If he didn't have a reason to stay, he would have been persuaded by Guo Jia.
"Fengxiao, don't get excited, just listen to me!"
"Now that the army is here, it mainly trains the navy. It doesn't make any difference whether you are here or not!"
"Lu Xun is busy with the civil strife in Jiangdong and has no energy to take care of us. Therefore, we do not need to fight in a short period of time."
Seeing that Guo Jia had firm eyes and refused, Cao Cao quickly held him down.
"Fengxiao, now that our army has been defeated one after another, there seems to be some undercurrent in Xuchang!"
"I asked you to go back to recuperate, but it is actually for the sake of the stability of our rear!"
"You also know that the emperor has always been dishonest!"
Guo Jia frowned, he really didn't know about this matter.
Previously, Xuchang didn't have to worry about Guo Jia, Xun Yu was in charge of everything.
Since Cao Cao became king, Xun Yu's appearance and spirit have been different, and he has gradually lost Cao Cao's trust.
In contrast, Xun Yu's contributions are gradually decreasing.
If turmoil breaks out in Xuchang, the harm caused is really beyond what Cao Cao can accept now.
"King Wei, is this really the case?"
Cao Cao nodded helplessly.
Originally this was a family scandal and he didn't want to make it public.
Now I have to tell the truth.
"Fengxiao, I won't hide anything from you. Cao Pi, Gu's eldest son, works in Xuchang and is now very close to the Yingchuan family!"
"This time I sent you back to Xuchang in the name of recuperation, just to keep an eye on them."
Guo Jia had known about this for a long time, and Cao Pi had always had a good impression of Sima Yi.
"King Wei is worried that the eldest son will...?"
Cao Cao waved his hand quickly.
"That's not true. Cao Pi doesn't have the courage! I'm just worried that he will be taken advantage of."
"Especially since Guzai Jingxiang has suffered one setback after another, I'm afraid many people who are suspicious can no longer bear it."
This reason made the excited Guo Jia gradually calm down.
Internal turmoil is as harmful as external defeat.
For Guo Jia, if defeat is already an irreversible fact, then ensuring internal stability is naturally the only way out.
Cao Cao was so persistent that he would not give up until he fought to the last soldier.
After a long time, Guo Jia sighed.
"Hey... King Wei has an order, and I dare not disobey it!"
"I just hope that King Wei will promise me something."
Facing Guo Jia's pleading eyes, Cao Cao nodded heavily.
As long as he is not asked to retreat, there will never be any hesitation.
"Fengxiao, just say it!"
"King Wei, Lu Xun is not an easy person, and Jiangdong Army cannot be defeated easily!"
"Even if the navy training is completed, it is impossible to rush ahead because of greed for merit. Safety must be the top priority in everything!"
Looking at the several failures since going south, they were all caused by greed and desire, and Guo Jia had to express concern about this.
Cao Cao nodded again, with a reassuring look in his eyes.
"Don't worry Fengxiao, Gu will never trip over the same stone twice! Just rest assured and go back to Xuchang to recover in peace!"
"Gu Bing will defeat Lu Xun and capture Sun Quan's son and the big-eared thief alive!"
