King of Wei Has Been Acting Strange Lately

There are many factors that influence a war, and the forces of nature are often among them.

The relentless lashing of the north wind caused the battlefield situation to shift abruptly. The Cao Army, already at a slight disadvantage, instinctively pulled back their defensive lines.

The initial engagement between the two sides was merely a probe, yet it involved twenty to thirty thousand troops. Each unit began sending urgent reports to the center, for without timely adjustments, this opening battle risked ending in defeat.

"My King, the north wind has risen suddenly, and the soldiers are struggling to endure it," Zhao Yan reported, having rushed back from the front lines with a face full of anxiety.

"Oh? Then pass the order to sound the gong and retreat. Have the rear guard cover the withdrawal to the main camp," Cao Cao replied languidly.

"Understood." Zhao Yan turned immediately to relay the order. He couldn't shake the feeling that something was wrong with Cao Cao today; although the retreat was deployed without issue, it was a far cry from the bold, heroic style he usually displayed. He planned to consult with several generals once they returned to camp.

As the Cao Army sounded the gongs and began their withdrawal, Guan Yu directed the Jing Province troops to seize the opportunity and press the attack. However, after pursuing for less than a mile, he chose to pull back. Facing such a massive number of enemies, a total rout or annihilation in a single battle was nearly impossible. Even slaughtering a hundred thousand head of cattle and sheep requires a plan and time to butcher them.

In this battle, the Jing Province troops killed five thousand of the enemy while suffering nearly two thousand casualties of their own. Though it was only a minor