Capítulo 446: 432. Shifting Tides Of The Central Plain War
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Xiahou Yuan took the scroll and broke the seal, unfurling the letter. He read its contents quickly, his expression growing serious as the content if the letters inform him to retreat from Jibei and fortify Puyang. Li Dian watched him intently, waiting for Xiahou Yuan to inform him. Closing the letter, Xiahou Yuan inform Li Dian of the order they received from Cao Cao which caused the two of them to grimace as the sacrifices made on Jibei could be said to be a waste for them.
Xiahou Yuan and Li Dian exchanged weary glances. "It seems all the sacrifices we've made here have been in vain," Li Dian remarked, frustration evident in his voice.
Xiahou Yuan nodded solemnly. "We have no choice but to follow Lord Cao Cao's orders. We must retreat and fortify Puyang. Let's ensure this withdrawal is as orderly as possible. We can't afford any unnecessary casualties."
Li Dian shake his head as he heard what Xiahiu Yuan said. "To receive such an order to retreat from a hard-fought siege, the situation elsewhere must be dire," Li Dian mused.
Xiahou Yuan nodded in agreement. "Indeed. We must trust that Lord Cao Cao and the masters knows what they were doing. Our task now is to ensure the retreat is executed flawlessly. We cannot allow our men to falter."
With their decisions made, the commanders began organizing the retreat. Orders were issued, and the soldiers, though weary and battered, moved with disciplined precision. They dismantled their encampments, gathered supplies, and prepared to march.
The withdrawal was conducted under the cover of darkness, minimizing the risk of detection. Scouts were dispatched to monitor the surroundings and ensure that no surprise attacks disrupted their plans.
In their camp, Dian Wei and Chen Deng received reports of the enemy's unexpected retreat. Dian Wei furrowed his brow, confusion evident on his face. "Why would they retreat now, after such a fierce battle?"
Chen Deng considered the possibilities. "There must be something urgent that requires their attention elsewhere. We should remain cautious. This could be a strategic withdrawal, or there may be reinforcements arriving."
As dawn broke, the Baihu Army scouts cautiously ventured out to confirm the reports. They found the besieging forces withdrawing in an orderly manner, leaving behind only the token force to maintain a semblance of pressure.
Dian Wei and Chen Deng, while relieved by the respite, remained vigilant. "We can't let our guard down," Dian Wei warned. "There may be more to this than meets the eye."
Chen Deng nodded in agreement. "We must fortify our positions and prepare for any eventuality. The enemy may return, or we may face new threats. For now, we will use this time to strengthen our defenses and tend to our wounded."
As the battle in west of Jibei ended with a draw, to the northeast of Jibei at Beihai, the siege had been equally or even more grueling than what happened at Jibei for Cao Cao's Army sent here.
Xu Chu and Yue Jin alongside their army had been locked in fierce combat with the defenders, their forces clashing in a brutal struggle to take control of Beihai back but they was cut off without any supplies sent more as the crossing port to the north had been captured by Lie Fan's navy under Jiang Qin.
Right now they are facing series of targeted raids launched by Taishi Ci and Fan Chou under Bu Zhi's coordination, where their encampments defences doesn't managed to hold them off.
As the battle raged on, a messenger arrived with urgent orders from Cao Cao, instructing them to cease their siege and retreat to Chenliu to fortify their positions, the same order as what Xiahou Yuan and Li Dian received but the differences was on the town they were told to retreat to.
Xu Chu read the orders, his expression darkening. "Retreat? After all the blood we've shed here? I don't like it." The letter in his hand was thrown to the table with a huge force by Xu Chu, which produced a large sound across the tent.
Yue Jin, understanding the gravity of their situation, tried to reason with him. "Xu Chu, we must follow Lord Cao Cao's orders. He wouldn't ask us to retreat without good reason. There's something larger at play here."
Xu Chu's face was set in a stubborn scowl. "But we've sacrificed so many men to reach this point. I'm sure that with another push, we could change the situation, and soon Beihai would be ours."
Yue Jin placed a hand on Xu Chu's massive shoulder, speaking with conviction. "Thats exactly the point think about our men! We've already lost many, and a hasty decision could cost us even more. We need to trust LordbCao Cao's judgment. If we don't, we might end up losing everything we've still hold until now."
Xu Chu looked around at the weary faces of his soldiers, their determination tempered by fatigue. Finally, he let out a heavy sigh. "Fine. We retreat. But we'll make sure our men get out safely and that we leave nothing for the enemy to use against us."
With the decision made, Xu Chu and Yue Jin began organizing their withdrawal. The orders were relayed to the troops, who, though reluctant, began preparing to move out. The retreat was carefully orchestrated to ensure that no one was left behind and that their departure was as orderly as possible.
As Xu Chu and Yue Jin organized their troops for the retreat, they made a strategic decision to head towards Jibei's direction first, planning to use the crossing port near Jibei and then make their way to Puyang before finally reaching Chenliu.
The route was chosen to ensure the safety of their men and to avoid any potential ambushes along the way, and was the only path with the highest safety rating for their army.
Meanwhile, within Beihai's walls, Taishi Ci and Bu Zhi were busy planning their next attack. As they meticulously mapped out their strategy, they were surprised to see the enemy troops suddenly retreating.
Taishi Ci immediately saw an opportunity that four be done. "This is our chance! We should launch a cavalry raid and hit them while they're vulnerable. We can inflict significant damage and possibly force them into a full rout."
Bu Zhi, however, remained cautious. "General Taishi, while the idea is tempting, we must consider the state of our own forces. We've been engaged in constant battle, and our men are exhausted. Pushing them right now could lead to unnecessary casualties and weaken our overall strength."
Taishi Ci frowned, clearly frustrated by the thought of letting the enemy retreat unchallenged. "But this is our chance to strike a decisive blow! We can't just let them get away."
Bu Zhi placed a calming hand on Taishi Ci's shoulder. "I understand your desire for victory, but we must think strategically. Their retreat means they've acknowledged their defeat here. We need to take this time to fortify our defenses, tend to our wounded, and prepare for the next phase of the campaign. There's no guarantee that a raid would yield the results we want, and it could leave us vulnerable."
Taishi Ci, though begrudgingly, nodded in agreement. "Very well, Master Bu Zhi. We'll hold off on the raid. But we'll keep a close eye on their movements, to see if this is just a trci they were playing for us or not."
As the orders were given, Taishi Ci and Bu Zhi focused on consolidating their gains and ensuring their troops were ready for whatever came next. Their decision to hold back and recuperate would ultimately strengthen their position and allow them to face future challenges with renewed vigor.
Back on the road to Jibei, Xu Chu and Yue Jin's forces moved steadily, maintaining a disciplined formation. They encountered minimal resistance, and the sight of their orderly retreat left the local populace and remaining defenders in Jibei and Beihai cautiously optimistic about their own chances of holding their territories.
Xu Chu, riding alongside Yue Jin, glanced back at the retreating column. "We'll regroup and come back stronger. This isn't the end."
Yue Jin nodded, his eyes fixed on the path ahead. "Indeed. We'll be ready for the next confrontation. Lord Cao Cao's strategy must have a larger purpose, and we need to be in top condition to play our part."
In Xuchang, the atmosphere in Cao Cao's court was tense and somber. The continuous flow of reports from the front lines had kept the court in a state of emergency. The latest news of Bao Xin's death had sent shockwaves through the court, shaking even the most seasoned advisors.
Cao Cao sat at the head of the table, his face a mask of controlled fury. Around him were his most trusted advisors Xun Yu, Guo Jia, Xi Zhicai, and Cheng Yu. The room was filled with a heavy silence as they absorbed the implications of their recent losses.
"Bao Xin's death is a significant blow," Xun Yu said, breaking the silence. "We cannot afford to lose more of our key commanders. The enemy's strategies have been too effective against our current offensive."
Guo Jia, always the pragmatist, nodded in agreement. "It's clear that our current approach is not yielding the results we need. We must reassess our strategy and consider a defensive posture to regroup and strengthen our positions."
Cao Cao leaned forward, his eyes scanning the faces of his advisors. "The decision to shift from an offensive to a defensive stance is not one I take lightly. Our forces have suffered heavy losses, and we cannot continue to press an attack when the favor has been against us. What do you suggest?"
Xi Zhicai spoke up, his tone measured. "We should consolidate our remaining forces and fortify our key positions. This will buy us time to rebuild our strength and gather more intelligence on the enemy's movements."
Cheng Yu added, "We also need to secure our supply lines and ensure that our troops are well-provisioned. A defensive strategy will allow us to stabilize our situation and prevent further losses."
Cao Cao took a deep breath, weighing the counsel of his advisors. "Very well. We will order a strategic retreat and fortify our positions. Our focus will shift to defense and recovery. We cannot afford to lose more ground."
With a decisive nod, Cao Cao gave the orders. Messengers were dispatched to relay the new directives to the front lines. The remaining forces were to pull back to defensible positions and prepare for a protracted defense.
As the meeting adjourned, Cao Cao's advisors left the room with a sense of resolve. The shift in strategy was necessary, but it also marked a pivotal moment in their campaign. Cao Cao remained in the room, staring at the map of the battlefield. His thoughts were a whirlwind of strategies and contingencies. The losses had been severe, but he was determined to turn the tide. He knew that in the art of war, adaptation and resilience were key.
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Name: Lie Fan
Title: Three Heroes Who Defeat Lu Bu
Age: 31 (198 AD)
Level: 16
Next Level: 462,000
Renown: 825
Cultivation: Yin Yang Separation (level 9)
SP: 1,121,700
ATTRIBUTE POINTS
STR: 936 (+20)
VIT: 598 (+20)
AGI: 583 (+10)
INT: 587
CHR: 96
WIS: 509
WILL: 397
ATR Points: 0
PENSAMENTOS DOS CRIADORES 
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