Chapter 373 Cao Mengde's Enlightenment

"The enemy commander has been defeated, and all soldiers join me in striking down the foe!" Cao Cao roared as he, wielding the Yitian Sword, led the reserve troops and charged out at the forefront.

At these words, the spirit of the Elite Troops of Danyang plummeted. Although they could fight without a commanding officer, the sight of their commander fleeing from battle left them questioning for whom they were fighting. The Danyang Troops, despite embodying the qualities of elite soldiers, were essentially mercenaries. Even though Tao Qian had employed the majority of them for many years, even decades, their relationship was purely transactional. The flight of Cao Bao, combined with his skimping on supplies, instantly drained the Danyang Troops of any desire to fight.