Choose Liu Bei at the start, I am the only one who knows the plot of the Three Kingdoms.

The provisions that Cao Ren had painstakingly collected to support his 200,000-strong army were reduced to ashes in a very short time!
Having completed his mission, Zhang Fei did not linger in battle. He immediately led the Ironclad Cavalry to retreat and quickly returned to Linjiang City.

When news of the burning of the grain supplies reached Cao Ren, he was already planning the next phase of the siege.

Upon hearing this news, Cao Ren's face instantly turned so dark it seemed to drip water, and he snapped the command arrow in his hand with a "crack"!
"Gu! Ru! Bing!"

He forced out those three words through gritted teeth, his chest heaving violently. With their supplies burned, the army could not sustain a prolonged campaign, and the original attrition warfare plan was disrupted.

He remained silent for a long time, then finally took a deep breath, forcibly suppressing his anger, and spoke to his trusted confidant beside him.

"Immediately write a letter and send it to the lord with the utmost urgency, informing him that the grain supplies have been burned and the current situation in Linjiang City."

Immediately, a ruthless and decisive glint flashed in his eyes, and he gave orders to his generals.

"Order the entire army to change the plan! Execute the second step—chaos! All units shall act according to the plan and thoroughly disrupt the area surrounding Linjiang City!"
-
Zhang Fei led five hundred Ironclad Cavalry, returning in triumph with the glorious achievement of burning Cao Cao's army's supplies.

Before he even arrived, his rough, hearty laughter and the shout, "Old Zhang is back!" could be heard.

The roar had already spread throughout Linjiang City.

At the city gate, Gu Rubing personally led Lu Su, Deng Ai, and other civil and military officials to welcome his third brother, who had made extraordinary contributions, and gave him the highest honors.

That evening, Gu Rubing ordered a grand victory banquet to be held in the army to reward Zhang Fei and his five hundred brave warriors.

The campfire blazed, the aroma of meat filled the air, and the clinking of wine bowls mingled with the cheers of the soldiers. The oppressive atmosphere of days of fierce fighting was somewhat eased by this hard-won victory.

Gu Rubing personally poured Zhang Fei a full bowl of wine and said loudly.

"Yide has rendered a great service, blunting the enemy's morale and enhancing our army's prestige! We shall drink this cup to the brim!"

"Hahaha! Thanks a lot, brother! With me, Old Zhang, on the job, I'm worth two men!"
That brat Cao Ren is probably jumping up and down in anger right now!

Zhang Fei, beaming with pride, took the wine bowl and drank it all in one gulp, drawing cheers from the surrounding soldiers.

However, Gu Rubing only made a brief appearance at the victory banquet, offering a few words of encouragement to the soldiers before quietly leaving. The relaxed look on his face faded, replaced by a solemn expression.

He knew that Cao Cao was no ordinary man, and that the burning of their supplies was a great humiliation that Cao Cao would not let go of. He knew that Cao Cao would surely follow up with even more ferocious and cunning retaliatory actions.

Instead of returning to his residence to rest, he went straight to the council hall of the government office and urgently summoned key advisors and generals such as Lu Su and Deng Ai.

"My lord, although General Yide burned their provisions, we cannot afford to be complacent in the slightest when a formidable enemy is at hand."

As soon as Lu Su entered, he said in a deep voice that he shared the same thoughts as Gu Rubing.

Gu Rubing nodded, his gaze sweeping over the crowd.

"exactly.

Having lost his supplies, Cao Ren had only two options left.

First, they should spare no expense and fight a swift victory to forcibly break through Linjiang before our reinforcements arrive; second, they should take a risky gamble and attempt to recapture or seize new supplies.

Whichever path he chooses, the days ahead will be anything but easy. We must plan ahead and take precautions.

While Gu Rubing was discussing countermeasures with his subordinates, the atmosphere inside Cao's army camp was icy cold.

News of the burning of the grain supplies had already spread. Inside the central command tent, Cao Ren sat in the main seat with a grim face. Below him knelt the deputy general who had deserted the battlefield and abandoned the grain supplies. He was now ashen-faced and trembling like a leaf.

"Three thousand defenders were routed in a single charge by Zhang Fei's five hundred cavalry, and all their provisions were burned... How dare you return to see me?"

Cao Ren's voice was not loud, but it carried a chilling edge.

The lieutenant was in tears, kowtowing repeatedly.

"General, spare us! General, spare us! It's not that we are unwilling to fight, it's just that Zhang Fei... Zhang Fei is too fierce, and the brothers are afraid before the battle even begins..."

"Cowardice before the battle even begins?"
What use are you then!

Cao Ren slammed his hand on the table and shouted sternly.

"Guards! Take this derelict and incompetent wretch out and behead him as a warning to others! Send his head to each camp as a deterrent! Anyone who again hesitates to advance against the enemy will suffer the same fate!"

"General, spare my life—!"

The desperate pleas for mercy quickly ceased.

After punishing the derelict generals, Cao Ren's anger did not subside; instead, it intensified.

He gave the order immediately.

"Pass down the order: concentrate the remaining grain and fodder under guard, triple the number of troops for defense, and double the number of patrol posts! We must not give Gu Rubing any further opportunity!"

However, waiting to be killed was not the style of Cao Cao's army. Having lost a large amount of grain and supplies, the logistical pressure increased sharply, and Cao Ren knew that delaying would be detrimental to him.

After his initial rage, he quickly calmed down and began executing his planned "chaotic battle," adding new elements—

He decided to take the initiative, not only to disrupt Gu Rubing's plans, but also to try to reclaim some of the grain, or at least destroy the grain stored in Gu Rubing's hands!
Late the night after Zhang Fei's return, Cao Ren dispatched several elite squads to infiltrate Linjiang City under the cover of darkness, attempting to either attack potential Han army grain depots or commit arson, sabotage, and create chaos.

However, all of this was almost exactly what Gu Rubing had anticipated!

As soon as Zhang Fei returned from successfully raiding the grain, Gu Rubing immediately strengthened the city's defenses and vigilance, and dispatched a large number of crossbowmen and sentries, like a net covering the sky, to keep a close watch on every move of Cao Cao's army camp.

The news of Cao Jun's unusual movements during the night had already reached Gu Rubing's ears.

"Sure enough, it's here!"

Gu Rubing sneered and immediately gave the order.

"According to the pre-arranged plan, let's 'welcome' our guests!"

The Cao army squad responsible for the night raid was ambushed by the Han army as soon as they approached the city wall or tried to find a way to infiltrate!
Arrows shot out from the shadows, and the patrol reacted swiftly, with torches suddenly lighting up the city walls, illuminating the Cao soldiers who were trying to climb, leaving them nowhere to hide.

Several minor disturbances were quickly quelled as soon as they began to emerge.

Cao's surprise attack yielded nothing but dozens of corpses and a few prisoners, and instead revealed Cao Ren's anxious state of mind.

After this setback, Cao Ren realized that Gu Rubing's defenses were tight and it would be difficult to succeed in a surprise attack in a short time. The pressure of the army's increasingly scarce food supplies cast a shadow over the faces of some generals and soldiers, and the offensive was inevitably affected.

Meanwhile, Gu Rubing was methodically implementing his follow-up plans.

He took only a portion of the best quality and easiest-to-store grain from the captured provisions to replenish the army's supplies. He left the majority of the grain to Deng Ai to handle.

After receiving the order, Deng Ai quickly organized people to divide and pack the grain, and then, under the protection of the army, transported it to the villages around Linjiang City that were ravaged by war and lacked food and clothing.

"King Lie has decreed that grain be distributed to relieve the people!"

The shouts echoed through the countryside.

When bags of life-saving food were delivered to the emaciated people, countless people were moved to tears and knelt down to kowtow in the direction of Linjiang City.

"Thank you, King Lie! Long live the King Lie!"

The calls for it are endless.

This move not only alleviated the people's suffering but also greatly won their hearts, deeply embedding Gu Rubing's image as a "benevolent and righteous king" in the hearts of the people of northern Yizhou.

But this is not enough.

Gu Rubing knew that the power of war lay within the people.

He once again ordered the mobilization of able-bodied young people in and around the city to assist in the defense of the city! This was not a forced conscription, but rather an organization tasked with transporting defensive equipment, assisting in patrols, treating the wounded, and making arrows, all under the banner of "protecting the homeland and defending the country."

At the same time, it was announced that people's daily activities would not be restricted, but a strict system of mutual responsibility would be implemented, and people would be especially vigilant against strangers.

Gu Rubing announced this to the entire city.

"All citizens of our city, regardless of whether they are scholars, farmers, artisans, or merchants, if they discover anyone acting suspiciously or hear any remarks that are detrimental to the city's defenses, they may immediately report to the patrolling soldiers or even directly to the government office!"
Once verified, a hefty reward will be given! Whoever thwarts Cao Cao's plot will be a hero in defending the city!

Once this order was issued, the entire city of Linjiang seemed to transform into a massive surveillance network comprised of countless eyes and ears.

The people were both victims and active participants in the war. It was difficult for any disturbance to escape the notice of these local inhabitants.

The spies sent by Cao Cao's army, those cunning individuals who attempted to incite internal strife, were often discovered and reported by vigilant civilians as soon as they made a mistake, and were subsequently captured quickly.

Cao Ren's plot to undermine the Linjiang defense line from within through "chaotic battles" was repeatedly thwarted by the united front of the army and the people.

Faced with the sudden and impenetrable defense of Linjiang City, Cao Cao's generals all looked grim, feeling helpless.

With supplies running low and morale beginning to decline, the army was no longer able to maintain the previous offensive intensity.

However, Gu Rubing's actions did not stop there.

His vision extended further. Although Linjiang City had been temporarily stabilized, the northern defense line of Yizhou was long, and it was hard to guarantee that Cao Ren wouldn't resort to desperate measures and attack other weak points instead.

“Shi Zai,” Gu Rubing summoned Deng Ai to his side and pointed to the map on the wall.

"Although Linjiang City is fortified, the surrounding passes must not be neglected. You shall set off immediately, take my command arrow, and inspect several important passes in the vicinity."

First, contact the garrison commanders of surrounding cities and urge them to actively cooperate in defense, forming a defensive network and not slacking off. Second, carefully inspect the defensive fortifications of various passes and find any that are dilapidated or lack infrastructure. Immediately conscript laborers and craftsmen to reinforce them, and allocate the necessary materials from Linjiang.
We must not allow Cao Cao's army to find any opportunity to exploit and use it as a breakthrough to threaten our flanks and rear!

"The last general takes command!"

Deng Ai led the troops personally selected by Gu Rubing and arrived at Yangping Pass, an important node in the northern defense line of Yizhou, without stopping.

This place was strategically important and easy to defend, but when Deng Ai and his party entered the pass, the sight before them made their hearts sink instantly.

Without taking a break, he immediately led his personal guards to conduct a thorough inspection of the pass's defensive facilities.

This sight made him frown even more, filled with worry.

The once majestic and imposing gate wall was severely weathered in many places, and several shocking cracks appeared on the wall, the widest of which was almost big enough to fit a fist!
The crenellations are also quite damaged, clearly indicating that they have been neglected and poorly maintained over the years.

However, the dilapidated city walls were not the most troublesome problem for Deng Ai.

He inspected the armory and found that most of the bowstrings of the crossbows stored inside were loose, the number of arrows was insufficient and many were rusted, and the reserves of defensive supplies such as logs and stones were also scarce.

Even more serious is that the morale of the garrison inside the pass is extremely low!
The soldiers were listless and their eyes were dull. When they saw this general who had come from above, they just saluted lazily, without any sense of tension about the impending battle or responsibility for defending the territory.

Knowing the gravity of the situation, Deng Ai dared not delay and immediately took swift and decisive action.

On the one hand, he urgently organized all available manpower within the pass, including the garrison and conscripted laborers, to immediately begin repairing the cracks in the city wall and reinforcing the weak sections. On the other hand, he ordered the artisans to work day and night to manufacture new crossbows, arrows, and defensive weapons.

On the other hand, he gathered all the garrison commanders and soldiers in the pass to the drill ground to give a speech in an attempt to boost their demoralized morale.

On the drill ground, Deng Ai stood on the command platform, his gaze sweeping over the sparse, slouching soldiers below. He took a deep breath and spoke loudly.

"Fellow soldiers! I am Deng Ai, a general under King Lie, and I have come here to assist in the defense of Yangping Pass by order of the king! Cao Cao's army is wicked and has repeatedly invaded our territory. Although their grain supplies have been burned by General Yide, they are still like cornered beasts fighting for their lives and will surely seek trouble everywhere!"

Yangping Pass is the northern shield of Yizhou. As long as the pass stands, Yizhou is safe; if it falls, the people are in danger! King Lie, benevolent and compassionate, cares for us all and has specially ordered me to come here to live and die with you all, to defend this pass together! I urge all soldiers to rouse their spirits, repair their defenses, and vow to live and die with this pass!

His words were forceful, attempting to ignite the soldiers' fighting spirit.

However, he was met with a deathly silence and even more numb, and slightly mocking, stares.

Clearly, such empty slogans have long lost their effectiveness for these border guards who have been neglected, poorly equipped, and without hope.

After the order was given, the soldiers, urged by their officers, began to lazily move stones, mix mortar, and repair the city wall.

But their movements were slow and listless, and they were even complaining to each other in low voices.

"What's the point of repairing this dilapidated wall? If Cao Cao's army really attacks, it'll collapse after a few hits..."

"Exactly, the crossbows are all outdated and can't even shoot far, how can we defend?"

"Let whoever wants to guard it guard it, I don't want to lose my life in this godforsaken place..."

"I heard that Cao Cao's army is getting good treatment, while we can't even get enough to eat here..."

These whispers, though not loud, clearly reached Deng Ai's ears, making his face grow increasingly grim.

He suppressed his anger, walked to the section of wall where the repairs were progressing the slowest, and said in a deep voice to the veteran leader in charge of the area.

"Why is the progress so slow? If this continues, how will we defend ourselves when Cao Cao's army attacks?"

The veteran leader glanced at Deng Ai, his face devoid of any respect, but instead displaying a roguish air of "what's the use of being a nobody," and muttered something.

"General Deng, it's not that the brothers aren't putting in the effort. You can see for yourself, this wall is rotten to the core. What's the point of patching it up? And those weapons are all outdated; in a real fight, they'd be no different from fire pokers." (End of Chapter)