These were the only eight words that came out of Cao Pi's mouth.

But just these eight words made all the experienced officials of Cao Wei Zhuguo in the hall fall into shock.

In an instant, all the ministers' attention was diverted from Cao Pi's physical condition, and instead focused on the dangerous situation facing the Wei army.

It's not that these dozens of ministers haven't experienced ups and downs, it's actually that the shock brought by Cao Pi's eight words was too great.

Previously, the ministers in Wancheng might have guessed that the Wei army must have been severely defeated, but they did not expect that the 70,000 Wei army was not defeated miserably, but reached the point where the entire army was annihilated.

The annihilation of the entire army does not mean that all 70,000 Wei troops were killed in battle, but that the 70,000 Wei troops were completely defeated.

Even if some Wei troops escape within a period of time, it will basically be difficult to convert them into combat power.

The annihilation of the entire army is the most tragic result after the defeat of an army in cold weapons wars.

For all the important ministers of Cao Wei, when there were 30,000 Cao Wei soldiers among the 70,000 Wei troops, the shock brought by such tragic results made many ministers have a look of fear on their faces.

What's more, the faces of some Wei ministers were as ugly as if their parents had died.

Even Liu Ye, who had previously guessed that the Wei army would be defeated, was no less shocked than others after learning that the Wei army had been defeated so miserably.

The violent noise in the main hall was partly caused by the exclamations coming from the mouths of important ministers of Wei State.

Some of them, some relatively calm ministers of Cao Wei, began to discuss the current war situation intensely.

Just like when the Wei army was defeated in the Battle of Hanzhong, a group of Wei soldiers gathered under Cao Cao and discussed with each other where the Wei army should go next.

In the minds of many ministers, they thought that after the Han army won a great victory, they would definitely continue to attack Wancheng with all their strength.

The situation in the Battle of Hanzhong back then was quite similar to the Battle of Xiangfan today.

Xia Houyuan, the frontline commander of the Wei army, was killed in the battle, and the Wei army suffered tens of thousands of casualties in the battle.

The only difference is that in the current battle of Xiangfan, Cao Wei's central army still suffered heavy losses.

Under such circumstances, the deliberations among the ministers in the main hall seemed more intense than the deliberations in Nanzheng City back then.

However, no matter how intense the discussion is, there will always be a moment when it gradually subsides.

While Cao Pi was sitting on the throne and silently looking at the officials below, amidst the heated and noisy discussion, a certain opinion gradually gained momentum in the battle.

Because it was similar to the situation in the Battle of Hanzhong, many ministers unconsciously remembered what Cao Cao did back then.

Cao Cao's approach was very simple. Since the Wei army could not defeat the Han army in Hanzhong County in a short period of time, he might as well retreat in order to advance.

Move as many people as possible out of Hanzhong, and then abandon the strategic location of Hanzhong.

After this idea gradually emerged in the minds of most ministers, a suggestion that Cao Pi follow Emperor Wu's story began to appear in Cao Pi's ears.

But after Cao Pi heard this suggestion from many ministers, a strange flush appeared on his face.

This weird flush symbolizes the anger in his heart.

After taking that medicine, Cao Pi not only felt that his entire physical condition had improved, but also

Even his thoughts became sharper than before.

With this keen thought, Cao Pi remembered Cao Cao's earnest instructions to him during his lifetime.

Among those many sincere instructions, Cao Cao mentioned the importance of Wancheng to Cao Pi many times.

This city, which is no smaller than Ye City, is the most important barrier in the Central Plains to defend against the south.

Wancheng is no longer a strategic location for Cao Wei, but a vital location.

How could he give up so easily in a place like this?

He summoned the ministers today to ask them to make suggestions for him to resist the Han army, not to destroy the foundation of the Wei Dynasty.

But even though he had this idea in his heart, the cruel fact made him faintly shaken after hearing this proposal.

Just when Cao Pi was wondering whether to accept this suggestion, a minister with a disdainful smile on his face stood up.

This minister is Liu Ye.

When they saw Liu Ye standing up from his seat, other ministers in the hall cast strange looks at him.

This man is a talented person of Wang Zuo, but he is also a descendant of the former Han Dynasty.

The sensitivity of Liu Ye's identity made him, like Jia Xu, receive all kinds of looks from ministers.

But facing these strange looks, Liu Ye seemed very indifferent.

He had never spoken a single word in various councils in Wancheng before. It was not because he did not have good ideas in mind.

But he knew that because of the sensitivity of his identity, no one would listen to what he said until the Wei army experienced a major defeat.

Now that the defeat of the Wei army has become a fact, it is time for him to come out.

Liu Ye walked out from the crowd of ministers like a lone traveler. When he came to Cao Pi, he bowed to Cao Pi and said:

"Wancheng must not be abandoned."

When Liu Ye said these words, all the ministers who had just suggested that Cao Pi abandon the city to temporarily avoid the Han army immediately cast angry looks at Liu Ye.

Because Liu Ye directly rejected their proposal.

But after Cao Pi saw Liu Ye come out and make these suggestions, some hope emerged in his heart.

Liu Ye, of course he didn't believe it.

Not to mention Liu Ye, but most of the ministers present, there were very few whom he truly trusted.

But whether you believe it or not is one thing, and whether you use it or not is another.

Cao Pi has always wanted to get rid of Cao Cao's influence since he succeeded to the throne. He did not want to become an emperor under Cao Cao's shadow after Cao Cao's death.

But after experiencing successive defeats, especially after the defeat of the Wei army in the Battle of Xiangfan, some of Cao Pi's thoughts began to change.

There was no need for him to disobey Cao Cao's instructions on some things.

For example, Liu Ye's talent was highly praised by Cao Cao when he was still alive.

With this in mind, Cao Pi looked at Liu Ye expectantly. He asked Liu Ye: "If you have any opinions, please tell me."

This chapter is not over yet, please click on the next page to continue reading! Any suggestions must be supported by corresponding reasons, otherwise it will be empty talk.

For example, some ministers just used the story of Emperor Wu as the biggest reason to support their views.

However, Liu Ye, who has unique insights into the current situation, since he can offer advice, naturally he will not try to use Cao Cao's tiger skin to prove his point of view.

Liu Ye bowed to Cao Pi and said:

"The speaker just now suggested that Your Majesty should abandon Wanbei and return home, based on the story of Emperor Wu back then. But how could things back then be the same as today?"

"Although Hanzhong is a battleground for military strategists and is the gateway to Shuzhong, it is separated from Guanzhong by mountains."

"For this reason, the late emperor sent a large army to defend Hanzhong, and spent countless troops on supplies and equipment.

Within a few months, our army was already showing signs of fatigue, so we had no choice but to retreat.

Dan Wancheng is adjacent to Yuzhou to the east and Sili to the north, and is close to the wealthy areas of the Central Plains.

Based on this terrain, in less than half a month, troops and supplies from the Central Plains can rush to aid Wancheng. In less than a month, reinforcements from all walks of life in Hebei can also gather outside Wancheng.

Concentrate the power of Yuan and Hebei, and even if the bandit army launches a large army to attack Wancheng, what will our army have to worry about?"

"Furthermore, Guanzhong is separated from Hanzhong by high mountains. Abandoning it temporarily will not threaten the land of Guanzhong."

"But after Wancheng is the heartland of our empire. If the rebel army takes Wancheng and sends elite troops to harass the hinterland of our Central Plains, the Central Plains will be in chaos.

And once turmoil breaks out in the Central Plains, our foundation in the Wei Dynasty may be in danger of turmoil."

Compared with just now, Chen Jiao, Chen Qun and other ministers who were not familiar with military affairs used the example of Cao Cao abandoning Hanzhong to admonish Cao Pi.

Liu Ye's advice was based on the actual current situation to advise Cao Pi.

Whether it was the feasibility of defending Wancheng or the dangers of abandoning Wancheng, Liu Ye made a sharp analysis of Cao Pi.

In such a comparison, Liu Ye's suggestion was undoubtedly unanimously agreed by the ministers who were familiar with military affairs.

In their hearts, they did not agree with the suggestion of Chen Jiao, Chen Qun and others to abandon Wanbei and return.

So in addition to Liu Ye's dissuasion to Cao Pi, other ministers such as Sima Yi, Jia Kui and other ministers who knew military affairs also stood up and came behind Liu Ye to second his suggestions.

After Cao Pi saw that not all the ministers in the hall disappointed him, the sullenness in his heart began to slowly disappear.

However, Liu Ye's analysis just now is only rough.

Even though Cao Pi now doesn't want to give up Wancheng easily, he wants to hear Liu Ye's specific tactical suggestions more than general strategies.

So after Cao Pi adjusted his sitting posture, he then asked Liu Ye:

"Your words are close. However, our army suffered a disastrous defeat in the Battle of Xiangfan. The people in Nanyang County are bound to be in turmoil. On this occasion, how should our army defend Wancheng?"

In fact, it is not that there are no Wei troops inside and outside Wancheng. What Zhang Liao took away from Wancheng was only a large part of the Wei army, not all of it.

According to detailed statistics, there are currently at least 20,000 Wei troops inside and outside Wancheng, and among them, the proportion of Cao Wei's army is very high.

Wancheng's city defense must be among the best in the world.

Judging from the data on paper, it seems that it is not a difficult task for the Wei army to defend Wancheng.

But for city defense, the most important thing is the people's hearts.
To be continued...