Chapter 1000 "Significant Retreat" Please note that the translation above is already in English, so no further translation is required.

Cao Ang hurried towards Pengcheng, but before reaching Xiang County, he received new news.
刘繇密邀乐进、程奂二人前往平原，意图谋害的计划落空，二人皆率部东撤，准备退往济南国。
Upon learning of this matter, Cao Ang breathed a sigh of relief.
知晓刘繇反叛之后，曹昂最担心的便是乐进、程奂二人。二人本就位于边境，再加上刘繇这个内鬼在身边，处境必然不会太好。尤其是乐进和豹韬军，作为曹昂初建的六军之一和一军统帅，一旦出事，必然会在徐州内部引起极大地震动，影响军心。
News of the retreat of the two individuals satisfies Cao Ang greatly.
存人失地，人地皆存；存地失人，人地皆失。一个平原郡曹昂并不在乎，只有保存有生力量，才有反击的能力。
However, this is the only positive news.
曹昂未到城父，兖州的消息便传来。吕布和袁绍合谋设计，曹操兵困韦乡。
这个消息让曹昂格外震惊，吕布这个好马，竟又吃了回头草。曹昂有些不明白，你吕布为啥非得再次投靠袁绍？难道投靠他曹昂不香吗？
As for the matter of Cao Cao being trapped, Cao Ang is not worried.
曹操一生经历的失败太多了，堪称打不死的小强，区区一个吕布，还真不能对付的了曹操。
当然曹昂也没有坐视不管，而是命张辽、典韦二人，分别出击，接应曹操。
曹昂还专门停下来给曹操写了一封信。告诉父亲，濮阳、鄄城，能守则守，若是不能守，便立刻放弃二地，南撤入陈留郡。
其实曹昂并不想让曹操死守濮阳、鄄城，毕竟二地离得邺城太近，若是将战场南移到山阳一线，虽然丢了半个东郡和半个济阴，可袁绍的补给线将会拉长一倍，于曹昂来说，仗便更好打了。
之后曹昂担心兵力不足，又令位于彭城的周马率右骁卫骑兵增援。
Shortly after, the news of the fall of Dongwuyang City and the death of Zang Hong arrived.
曹昂对东武阳破的这么快有些吃惊，这才不到五个月，历史上的东武阳可是守了快一年。
Wait for the news that Zhao Yi has surrendered the city, Cao Ang finally became a little unhappy.
自己这个老朋友，在错误的路上越走越远，还不断给自己惹麻烦，真真是惹人讨厌。通敌叛主，难道是君子所为吗？
However, this matter is not too important for Cao Ang after all.
虽然没了东武阳臧洪这颗钉子，冀州军可以毫无顾忌地南下，可东武阳能发挥的作用，本就有限，有他没他，都不重要。
Cao Ang continued to tirelessly ride his horse, urging it on without resting, until he finally arrived at Xiang County.
可没等曹昂喘口气，又有消息送达，这次来送信的乃是曹昂的堂弟草原，二叔曹彬的长子。
"Elder brother!"
Caoyuan was wearing mourning clothes. Upon seeing Caoang, he immediately kneeled down and started crying.
曹昂大吃一惊，站了起来，立刻问道：“阿原，这是出了何事？”
Cao Ang unconsciously began to worry about his grandfather.
"Eldest brother, my father is in Bohai and has died in battle."
曹昂顿时惊愕万分，难以置信，看着曹原，喃喃地说道：“这不可能，袁绍岂敢伤我叔父？”
曹昂之前并不担心曹彬安危。在曹昂看来，哪怕曹彬兵败，袁绍也不可能害他性命，否则相互报复，曹昂怕是要把袁绍在汝南的族人杀绝了。
“我父兵败逃入章武，为贼人所害，义不受缚，自刎而死。”
Upon hearing this, Cao Ang couldn't help but shed tears.
"Uncle, how could it come to this, how could it come to this!"
曹昂满心地哀伤，接过了羊毅呈上的战报。因为杨恪和许定已经先后撤入乐安郡，所以羊毅对于渤海的战况了解的很详细，悉奏之。
Cao Ang looked at the situation described in the letter and felt extremely saddened.
叔父曹彬战死，大将赵浮遇刺，好友司马朗战死，渤海两万驻军只逃出来三四千人，简直是惨不忍睹。
Cao Ang took a few deep breaths to calm down.
这时曹原说道：“我父是袁谭所害，求兄长允我前往青州，为父报仇。”
Nonsense!
曹昂生气地说道：“你现在是家中顶梁柱，别人都能慌，唯有你不能乱。一家老小尚未安顿好，叔父的后事尚未办理，你现在吵着去报仇，这些事交给谁，难道叔父就能瞑目吗？”
曹原被曹昂骂了一场，有些不知所措，只得在那里哭了起来。
Cao Ang sighed and asked Xu Chu to help him down.
叔父曹彬的身死，于整个大局并非坏事，反而能起到同仇敌忾的效果，可于整个曹家来说，绝对是震撼的。
Grandfather lost his son in his old age, father lost his brother in middle age, both were heavy blows.
最最关键的是，袁荧怎么面对曹家人。这些针对袁荧的压力，不仅仅是在外部，内部也会无比强大。
Cao Ang was at a loss for what to do.
Should he really let Yuan Ying leave Pengcheng?
这个想法曹昂很快便否决了。自己的妻子，自己三个孩子的母亲，难道自己都护不住吗？
That meant all my years of struggle had become a joke.
曹昂立刻招来刘周。自诸葛瑾前往邺城，刘晔前往南阳之后，自己身边反倒没有秘书了，只得以刘周临时充任。
“表兄，立刻传信陈琳，让他将袁绍无耻偷袭的事情写成檄文，发布天下。要利用所有的途径，让天下人知道，袁绍无义无德。
同时传信我五叔和班英，命他们在彭城大张旗鼓地为我二叔发丧，气氛越悲怆越好，要让整个徐州上下感受到悲伤，生起同仇敌忾之心。
其三，命徐晃放弃东平国，退往泰山郡，紧守阳关。命典韦在接应了我父之后，放弃山阳郡，退守亢父（治今山东省济宁市南）。
其四，命朱盖率左威卫进驻湖陆，命程普率右威卫进驻丰县。命丁胜为沛县督，率右翊卫进驻沛县，总领三卫。
Furthermore, I instructed Zhang Liao to retreat and hold the position in Jundi after completing the task of assisting my father.
曹昂这一次，直接将大半个兖州都让给袁绍，但这于袁绍来说，并不是什么好事。
整个兖州，自讨董以来，数年间连战不休，尤其是兖州内乱，几乎将大半个兖州都打烂了。
至少在明年秋收之前，袁绍别想从兖州获得足够的军粮，除非他去抢夺豪强大族，那曹昂求之不得。
现在的兖州是一滩沼泽，曹昂让开了路子，就看袁绍怎么陷进去。