Your Majesty, please spare Diao Chan; your yang energy is too strong.

It's all because of my own intentions.

How could he not break through his defenses?

How could one not feel the intense malice?

I am currently focused on dealing with Yuan Shu, so I have no energy to concern myself with matters concerning your Ji Province.

As a result, you end up putting all sorts of blame on yourself.

Anyone would be unable to break through her defenses.

The key point is that if it really was something you did yourself, then that's one thing.

But I had no contact with Zhang Yan at all from beginning to end.

Let alone giving orders to the other party.

They didn't even know what the other person looked like.

He had already done a good job by taking the blame for killing Yuan Shao's son once before.

Now we're being blamed for something this big.

I haven't done anything wrong all day, but I'm being blamed for everything.

Even if Boss Cao had the best temper, he couldn't help but curse at this moment.

"This... could it really not be at the Lord's behest?"

The other civil and military officials were also dumbfounded.

Frankly, they didn't believe Cao Cao was behind it either.

But the rumors circulating outside are quite detailed and convincing.

Even Yuan Shao withdrew his troops from Youzhou.

We are prepared to fight them to the death.

If we say that Cao Cao didn't do it, there's irrefutable evidence.

Nobody in the world believes it.

"Of course not. I've been with you all this time, fighting against Yuan Shu."

"We don't have time to care about Yuan Shao."

"what on earth is it?"

Cao Cao gritted his teeth.

He unwittingly took the blame for harming Yuan Shao's son.

He transferred his 30,000 troops to the border of Yanzhou.

This has made his attacks on Yuan Shu very difficult during this period.

They paid a heavy price to successfully appease Yuan Shao.

And then it happens again?

"Regardless of whether it was done by our lord or not, since our lord previously bowed to Yuan Shao, everyone in the world believes that our lord has some connection with Zhang Yan."

"It's even possible that Zhang Yan has secretly defected to our lord's side."

"Now, no matter what our lord says, Yuan Shao will never believe it again."

"Even if it wasn't done by our lord, the people of the world will think it was."

Guo Jia sighed.

I didn't dwell on the issue; I saw the essence of the matter at a glance.

"But I really didn't do this."

Cao Cao gritted his teeth.

"Of course I know, we are with our lord every day, but the rest of the world doesn't know."

"All the people in the world know is that our lord previously joined forces with Zhang Yan to kill Yuan Shao's son and seize Yuan Shao's Zhen family property."

"The two sides are locked in a stalemate at Guandu."

"That's tantamount to admitting indirectly that it was our lord who did it."

"Now that Zhang Yan has made such a big move, even if it wasn't done by our lord, everyone in the world will definitely think it was done at our lord's behest."

Guo Jia sighed.

He knew perfectly well that Cao Cao was completely unaware of this matter.

But this is the current situation.

This is no longer Cao Cao. Does Cao Cao even acknowledge this?

Instead, everyone believed that Cao Cao was responsible.

So even if it wasn't Cao Cao who did it, it was Cao Cao who did it.

There is absolutely no room for argument.

"What we should be considering now is not whether or not our lord did this."

"But what followed was Yuan Shao's reaction."

"And then Yuan Shu's reaction, and the reaction of the people of the world."

"Our lord has already offended Yuan Shao because of the matter concerning Yuan Shao's son."

"Now that this has happened again, it seems that the conflict between Yuan Shao and our lord is no longer reconcilable."

"The enemy's withdrawal from Youzhou this time is very likely in order to attack our Yanzhou."

Guo Jia's words were still spot on.

The current situation was analyzed very clearly.

"What should we do now?"

Cao Cao suppressed his anger and said through gritted teeth.

Although I don't want to admit it, I have to.

At this point, Guo Jia was right.

Even if Cao Cao refuted it, who in the world would believe what Cao Cao said?

"With the troops we have left in Yanzhou, it is impossible for us to stop Cao Cao's army."

"The only solution is to withdraw the troops."

Cheng Yu thought for a moment and said.

"Withdrawal?"

All the generals around him frowned deeply.

After all, they worked hard to achieve what they have today.

The consequences of withdrawing troops would be unimaginable.

Not to mention forcing Yuan Shu to his death.

It might even provoke the other side to turn against them, at which point they would truly be in a predicament of being surrounded by enemies.

Not to mention his withdrawal of troops this time.

That would be tantamount to betraying all of our allies.

Without him as the legitimate orthodox figure...

Without his powerful presence at the forefront...

Other feudal lords, both large and small.

How could he possibly be a match for Yuan Shu?

Defeat was only a matter of time.

After this incident, Cao Cao's reputation among the people will truly be ruined.

How could this not surprise them?

The consequences are far too severe.

"That's right, there's no other way."

"If we don't withdraw our troops, once the enemy's troops that withdrew from Youzhou return to Jizhou..."

"What awaits us is utter annihilation."

"If we lose Yanzhou, then even if we capture Yuan Shu, it will be of no use."

Xun You also sighed.

This clearly indicates support for the idea.

"But, but... if we rashly withdraw our troops, what will happen to Yuan Shu's side?"

"What about the other feudal lords?"

"Wouldn't that make us offend all the feudal lords in the world at the same time?"

"Wouldn't our mission to suppress the traitors become a joke?"

"If you want to withdraw, then withdraw; I'm not withdrawing."

Xiahou Yuan was furious.

We've finally achieved this result; all we need is time.

Two years at most.

If things go well, it could even take a year.

Then we can successfully defeat Yuan Shu.

And then, at this most critical moment, you actually tell me we have to withdraw our troops?

Isn't this irresponsible towards the Allied forces?

Isn't this irresponsible to the world?

If Yuan Shu were to seize this opportunity to turn against his own side, the consequences would be unimaginable.

Not only were all the achievements made during this period destroyed, but also...

It could even plunge them into an abyss of no return.

"Miao Cai, do you think we want to retreat? We have no choice but to retreat now."

“If we don’t retreat, once Yanzhou is lost, we will lose our base, and all your family, relatives and friends will fall into the hands of the enemy.”

"Even if you took over Jianghuai at that time, so what?"

Cheng Yu said.

"But, but..."

Xiahou Yuan wanted to say something, but Xun You interrupted him before he could finish.

"There are no buts. The reason we are not withdrawing is not because we want to, but because we have no choice but to withdraw."

"As for the Allied forces, all we can say to them is sorry."

Xun You sighed.

"Ahhh, I'm so angry! Who on earth is it that keeps plotting against me, Cao Cao, time and time again?"

"Don't let me find out who he is. If I find out who he is, I will skin him alive to vent my hatred."