Chapter 238 Cao Cao gives up command?

Xuzhou, Xiaopei.

Although it had been rainy these days, Tao Qian had many arguments with Cao Cao about sending troops.

When the quarrel became intense, Tao Qian almost led his men to attack directly.

When the news of Liu Yao's annihilation reached Xiaopei, Tao Qian, who was full of resentment towards Cao Cao, froze in place for a moment and subconsciously touched his head which was still on his neck. If they were the first to send out troops, they would probably become scapegoats for Liu Yao. How unfair and worthless would their death be?
In the study, Tao Qian smiled apologetically: "Meng De, it's my fault that I was impatient a few days ago and didn't listen to your explanation. I almost caused a disaster." "Ye Feng, this little fox, is really cunning and sly."

"He actually targeted our reinforcements. Yangzhou Governor Liu Yao escaped death, but all his elite troops were killed. This route is equivalent to nothing."

"The key to turning defeat into victory now lies in you and me."

"But no one knows whether Ye Feng is keeping an eye on us. If we send out troops rashly, will we be followed by him?"

"It's better."

Seeing Tao Qian backing down, Cao Cao's eyes flashed with disdain, but he quickly put this contempt behind him and shook his head with a smile: "Mr. Tao, you worry too much."

"Ye Feng only has 100,000 men. He has deployed 10,000 to 20,000 men at Yingchuan, a strategic grain and grass route, to guard against our surprise attack from behind and cut off their grain supply."

"Outside Runan City, there are only 80,000 people at most."

"We ambushed Liu Yao's 40,000 elite soldiers and resolved the battle in just two hours. There must be at least 20,000, or even 30,000 or 40,000 of them."

"That means there are at most 60,000 or even 40,000 people outside Runan City."

"Ye Feng still has the energy to send someone to deal with the two of us?"

"The two of us together have an army of 100,000. How can Ye Feng defeat us?"

Tao Qian's eyes lit up: "Then let's go through Jiuli Mountain and Mangdang Mountain according to the plan, go around Yingshui to Rushui, and support Liu Bei?"

Cao Cao shook his head: "Although the water route is safe, the speed is too slow. It will take at least two months to go around like this, plus the time it takes to requisition ships."

"Can Liu Bei hold off Ye Feng for two months?"

"We have to go by land."

"By land?"

Tao Qian's expression changed slightly: "What if we provoke Ye Feng?"

Cao Cao shook his head slowly: "No, because Liu Bei and Wen Pin will not give him the opportunity to make trouble again."

"If they come to deal with us, the remaining troops outside Runan City will be a piece of fat meat. How could Ye Feng be so unwise?"

Tao Qian's expression eased a little: "Okay, I'll listen to you this time, Meng De."

"When shall we set off?"

"tomorrow!"

"Can!"

"I'll go to the city to make arrangements first."

After Tao Qian finished speaking, he turned and left.

Looking at his back, Cao Cao sighed and said, "It's not that I don't want to tell you the truth, but I'm afraid you won't dare to send troops."

"My lord, you have done a good job in fulfilling your duty to the heavens and the people. You have no need to feel guilty."

The person who spoke was Xun Yu, who had just hidden behind the screen. At this moment, Xun Yu had a smile on his face, and his eyes were full of admiration as he looked at Cao Cao.

Cao Cao sighed, "Wen Ruo, are you sure Ye Feng is waiting for us to take the bait?"

"Is Ye Feng so courageous?"

Xun Yu nodded solemnly: "If I were Ye Feng, I would never allow our 100,000-strong army to rush to Runan."

"If we destroy this force, Yanzhou, Qingzhou, and Xuzhou will all fall into Ye Feng's hands."

"The reason why we targeted Liu Yao is that we are keeping our troops in place, and Ye Feng wants to lure us out."

"Ye Feng divided his troops into three groups, which means that there are not many people outside Runan City. We can let Liu Bei and Wen Pin unite their troops and destroy them." "My lord, lead your elite troops back south and rush to Jingxiang from Yangzhou."

"In the Yuzhou situation, we had 30,000 men, and Tao Qian had 40,000 men to delay Ye Feng's main force, as well as him himself. The losses were already great enough."

"The remaining elite troops, together with Cai Mao and Kuai Yue, are enough to take Jingxiang."

"Jingxiang is the real place to stand and the place where heroes can display their talents."

Cao Cao nodded slowly: "It is just that sending these 70,000 loyal troops directly into Ye Feng's hands is unacceptable."

Xun Yu said: "Facing Ye Feng, if you can injure 800 enemies and lose 1,000 of your own, it is already extremely rare."

"The more you demand, the more flaws you will reveal, and you won't be able to win the next big victory."

"For the sake of the rejuvenation of the Han Dynasty, necessary sacrifices must be made."

Cao Cao nodded and looked towards Runan City: "Ye Feng, will you come? Will you be as magical as Wen Ruo said?"

The next day, the rainy sky finally cleared up.

Accompanied by Tao Qian, at Cao Cao's order, an army of 100,000 marched from Xiaopei towards Runan City.

After marching dozens of miles a day, Cao Cao fell seriously ill the next day.

Tao Qian hurried to see him. Seeing Cao Cao's pale face and hesitant words, he could not help but frowning, "Meng De, you are the commander of the three armies. You got sick just after the expedition. Rumors have been spreading among the army these past two days. If this continues, we will lose our morale before we reach Runan and fight Ye Feng. How can we fight?"

"Is your military doctor good enough? Or should I find you a famous doctor?"

Cao Cao coughed violently and shook his head. "I've been traveling a lot and fighting on the battlefields for a while now. This is an old problem. It will be gone in a few days."

"But let's hand the command to Lord Tao. Otherwise, if we encounter any unexpected situation, everyone will have their own ideas, and it will waste time, right?"

"Please don't refuse, Lord Tao. Otherwise, if the army gets into trouble because of me, I will die a hundred times without redemption."

"cough cough"

Tao Qian never expected that Cao Cao would give up power on his own initiative.

However, he could not be sure of Cao Cao's thoughts, so he declined again.

After the two of them had several exchanges, Tao Qian finally confirmed Cao Cao's "sincerity".

After exchanging pleasantries for a while, Tao Qian finally left.

As the news of Cao Cao's resignation spread, the entire camp immediately began to move.

Tao Qian, commander's tent.

The civil and military officials stood still in front of him.

Cao Bao, the most powerful general in Xuzhou, laughed and said, "Cao Cao is ignorant of the current situation, but God helps me, this commander should have been the governor of Taozhou."

"Not much, not bad."

"Under the leadership of the governor, we will surely be able to lift the siege of Runan and revive the Han Dynasty."

"That's right. With a hundred thousand troops and internal and external support, how can we lose?"

While all the officials in Xuzhou were jubilant, Mi Zhu, who was close to Tao Qian, frowned slightly. He approached Tao Qian and said, "Mr. Governor, how could Cao Cao be so kind?"

"Could there be some trick?"

"Fraud?"

Tao Qian shook his head: "Cao Cao is seriously ill. I saw it with my own eyes. How could it be false?"

"Besides, whether it's lip service or sincerity, we'll know in two days, so there's no need to worry about it now."

Mi Zhu nodded, but the worry in his eyes had not completely disappeared. He just looked at Tao Qian's smug smile, and for some reason, that uneasy feeling became more obvious.

After a night of celebration, at dawn the next day, the army continued to march southwest under the leadership of Tao Qian. Along the way, Cao's army obeyed his command, which dispelled Tao Qian's last bit of worry.
(End of this chapter)