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

"King Wei need not be in a hurry to refuse. Gu Rubing's reliance is nothing more than the advantage of gunpowder and the strength of the city walls."

"If I had a way to greatly reduce the power of their gunpowder, even to the point of making it impossible to use, and at the same time render the defending soldiers as blind and unable to discern directions, how many more days and how many more soldiers' lives would it take to break through Mianzhu, King Wei?"

"Oh?"

Cao Cao stopped tapping his fingers on the table, and leaned forward slightly, clearly intrigued.

Tell me more!

He was extremely curious about the methods Ji had mentioned for limiting gunpowder and confusing the defenders, especially the latter. If it could really make the defenders lose sight of the city, the difficulty of attacking the city would be greatly reduced.

Yu Ji nodded slightly and, without keeping them in suspense, spoke directly.

"I can set up a formation called the 'Misty Chaos Formation'."

Once activated, this formation can gather the moisture between heaven and earth, forming a thick, persistent fog within a radius of several miles around Mianzhu City.

This fog is extraordinary; it not only greatly obstructs vision, making it impossible for people to see more than ten feet away, but also, with its unique properties, it can soak gunpowder, making it damp and difficult to ignite. Even if it is managed to ignite, its power is reduced to less than one-tenth.

At that time, the Wei King's army will take advantage of the fog to attack the city. The defending troops will not be able to see our army's movements, and their most powerful gunpowder will be almost ineffective. Won't Mianzhu City be completely at the Wei King's mercy?

"Manipulating fog? Influencing celestial phenomena?"

Upon hearing this, even Cao Cao, with his vast experience and unwavering resolve, couldn't help but gasp in shock, his face showing an expression of extreme astonishment.

Although he had heard some legends about Qimen Dunjia and the ability to summon wind and rain, the impact of seeing someone so casually claim that they could do it was still enormous.

This has completely gone beyond the scope of ordinary warfare!
His gaze toward Yu Ji and Tong Fei held less contempt and more deep apprehension, but at the same time, his inner desire to conquer Mianzhu was growing wildly like weeds.

If... if they could really do that...

The atmosphere inside the tent subtly changed.

Cao Cao's previous firm resistance began to waver in the face of the beautiful scenery of the breached city described by Yu Ji.

He pondered for a moment, then his fingers began to tap unconsciously again, but this time the rhythm revealed his inner turmoil and struggle.

Yu Ji and Tong Fei took in Cao Cao's changing expression and knew that the time was right.

Tong Fei spoke again, his voice still icy and devoid of any emotion.

“King Wei, there is no such thing as a free lunch. My Penglai helped you break through Mianzhu and defeat Gu Rubing, and you must do something for my Penglai in return.”

Cao Cao's mind sharpened, snapping him out of his reverie about the city's fall, and he thought to himself, "They're here."

He composed himself and asked in a deep voice.

"What is it? Tell me first."

"After you defeat Gu Rubing and stabilize the situation in Yizhou," Tong Fei said, emphasizing each word.

"I want you to give your all to help my Penglai conquer the entire Liangzhou!"

"What? Liangzhou?!"

Upon hearing this, Cao Cao almost thought he had misheard, his face filled with astonishment and confusion.

He suddenly stood up, paced around the tent a couple of times, turned around, and looked sharply at Tong Fei and Yu Ji.

"Are you two joking? I am currently locked in a stalemate with Gu Rubing in Yizhou, and I have already exhausted all my strength. The outcome is still uncertain! Even if I am fortunate enough to win, it will take time to digest the gains and stabilize the situation."

"To divert my attention now to plot against Liangzhou? Liangzhou is vast and sparsely populated, a melting pot of Qiang and Hu tribes, and figures like Ma Teng and Han Sui are not to be underestimated. This would mean opening a second front; how could I possibly have the resources for that now?"

He paused, then asked the question that had been nagging at him.

"Furthermore, there is something I do not understand. As far as I know, the core of Penglai consists of only a handful of people, and even if we include those on the periphery, how many are there?"

What do you want with this vast Liangzhou? Even if I help you conquer it, what troops do you have to defend it? Do you think you can rule an entire province with just a few people?
This is far too frivolous!

Faced with Cao Cao's barrage of questions, Yu Ji simply shook his head mysteriously, his face still bearing that enigmatic smile. He tapped his palm lightly with the handle of his whisk and spoke slowly in an unquestionable tone.

"King Wei, there's no need for further questions. This is a secret of Heaven, not to be revealed. You only need to know that Penglai has its reasons for wanting Liangzhou. You only need to answer: yes or no?"

Silence fell once again inside the tent.

Cao Cao frowned, his mind racing.

Penglai's demands were too bizarre, and the cost far exceeded his expectations. Taking Liangzhou would be no easy task; it meant making a huge adjustment to his future strategic focus, and could even lead to a multi-front war.

But if they didn't agree, the hope of breaking through the city seemed so close... On one hand, there was the imminent opportunity to break through the city, and on the other hand, there was the potentially bottomless quagmire in the future. This choice was extremely difficult.

Cao Cao frowned, his gaze sweeping back and forth between Yu Ji and Tong Fei's faces, trying to glean deeper information from their calm and composed expressions.

He always felt that Penglai's actions concealed a huge scheme, which was not simply about occupying a piece of land.

What use is territory to a few reclusive people?

They had neither offspring to carry on their lineage nor the ability to govern the people, which was completely contrary to common sense.

He subconsciously turned his gaze to Xun Yu beside him, hoping that this strategist who understood him best could give him some hints.

However, Xun Yu at this moment had his eyelids slightly lowered, as if he were lost in thought, and did not react to Cao Cao's probing gaze, like a silent clay sculpture.

He wasn't unaware of Cao Cao's doubts; on the contrary, upon hearing the demand to "take over the entire Liangzhou," combined with the letter from his family and his mentor Sima Hui, a vague yet startling conjecture quickly took shape in his mind. This conjecture sent chills down his spine and made him unable to speak at that moment.

“Penglai… is going to personally intervene…” Xun Yu silently cried out in his heart.

He instantly grasped the key point! Penglai may have a small population, but they don't need to do everything themselves!
They possess knowledge and power far beyond this era, and may even hold secrets that offer... immortality or similar allure!

With these connections, they had already secretly woven a vast network of relationships.

The Xun family of Yingchuan is by no means an isolated case. There are probably many more aristocratic families like them who have either been promised benefits they could not refuse or have been caught red-handed and have secretly sided with Penglai!
In this chaotic world, with the covert support of a few top-tier powerful figures, money, provisions, and even rudimentary private armies can be quickly gathered.

With the unpredictable methods of the people of Penglai, it would not be difficult for them to quickly train an elite force or to control an existing power through unconventional means.

They were no longer content with operating from behind the scenes; they wanted to step into the limelight, become regional warlords, and establish their own independent regimes!

Their purpose in wanting Liangzhou is obvious—it is located on the frontier, with mixed forces and weak central control, making it an ideal place to establish a foothold and quietly develop!

"So what's next? What happens after we take Liangzhou?"

An even more terrifying thought popped into my head uncontrollably.

"Could it be that Penglai's ultimate goal is... to usurp the Han throne and establish himself as emperor?!"

The thought exploded in Xun Yu's mind like a thunderbolt, almost suffocating him. If that were true, then what were they, the scholars who assisted Cao Cao, anyway?
They have always aspired to restore the Han Dynasty, but now they may have to pave the way for forces that will overthrow it.

A profound sense of absurdity and fear gripped him, leaving him speechless and unable to offer Cao Cao any "wise" advice in this state of mind.

The silence inside the tent continued, the atmosphere so oppressive it was hard to breathe.

Seeing that Xun Yu made no move, Cao Cao became even more suspicious, but he remained expressionless, only tapping his fingers on the table more slowly and heavily.

He was rapidly weighing the pros and cons. Penglai's help was the only hope to break the current deadlock, but the price was likely to be letting a wolf into the house. In the future, he might have to face an opponent who was even more terrifying and uncontrollable than Gu Rubing.

Yu Ji seemed to see through Cao Cao's inner struggle. His eyes, which seemed to be able to see into people's hearts, narrowed slightly. He knew that he needed to add fuel to the fire to completely dispel Cao Cao's concerns.

He took a small step forward, flicked his whisk, and casually dropped a bombshell.

"King Wei need not worry too much about the affairs of Liangzhou."

This matter is not solely the responsibility of the King of Wei. Sun Jian, the King of Wu of the Anluo Empire, has already agreed to join forces with us to launch a military campaign and provide our full assistance in conquering Liangzhou.

"Sun Jian?"
He agreed too?

Upon hearing this, Cao Cao's pupils suddenly contracted, and for the first time, an expression of undisguised shock appeared on his face.

This news was completely unexpected! How could Sun Jian, that opportunist, so readily agree to Penglai's almost absurd request?
But the shock lasted only a moment. Cao Cao's shrewd mind immediately began to work at high speed, and he figured out the key to the matter almost instantly.

Yes! It's perfectly "reasonable" for Sun Jian to agree! Gu Rubing's power looms over Sun Jian like a shadow, and Liangzhou is the only way for Gu Rubing's forces to directly threaten Sun Jian, who is confined to the borderlands!
If Liangzhou were to fall to Penglai, it would be tantamount to erecting a solid barrier between Gu Rubing and Sun Jian.

Sun Jian could not only rest easy and get rid of the potential threat from Gu Rubing, but also continue his traditional skill of playing both sides, waiting for the best offer among Penglai, Gu Rubing and himself, and regain the strategic initiative!

For Sun Jian, this deal was a sure thing!

Having figured this out, Cao Cao's mind immediately shifted! If Sun Jian had already joined the fight, then the pressure of his so-called "giving it his all" would be much less.

At that time, it is very likely that only nominal support will be provided, or symbolic troops will be sent to contain them, while the main battles will be fought by Penglai itself and Sun Jian.

He could gain a golden opportunity to break through Mianzhu, severely damage or even eliminate Gu Rubing, his biggest threat, without paying much of a price!
This deal seems...to be a great deal!
Seeing the glint in Cao Cao's eyes and the slight twitch at the corners of his mouth, Yu Ji knew that the time was right.

He calmly took out a scroll from the wide sleeves of his Taoist robe. It was neither silk nor paper and had a faint, strange luster.

The scroll slowly unfurled, revealing terms written in ancient vermilion runes that seemed to possess a special rhythm. The core content required the signatories to promise to mobilize all available resources within the agreed timeframe to assist the Penglai forces in seizing and completely controlling the entire Liangzhou region.

Cao Cao's gaze was immediately drawn to a bold and elegant signature and a clear seal in the lower right corner of the scroll—"Sun Jian"!
Indeed, it was Sun Wentai's handwriting and seal!

He actually signed it!
At this point, even the last vestige of hesitation in Cao Cao's heart vanished. If even the cunning and treacherous Sun Jian dared to sign, what did Cao Mengde have to fear?
Moreover, the immediate benefits are simply too tempting.

"Very well! Since Brother Wentai also shares this intention, I will cooperate with you!"

Cao Cao finally made up his mind. He laughed loudly, took the specially made cinnabar pen handed to him by Tong Fei, and solemnly signed his name on the peculiar contract, affixing his golden seal as the King of Wei.

The moment the seal was affixed, the names of Sun Jian and Cao Cao on the scroll seemed to flicker almost imperceptibly, as if some invisible force had been activated.

Only then did Yu Ji's face show a genuine "smile." He carefully put the scroll away, as if it were a rare treasure.

Then, he raised his head, looked at the smug Cao Cao, and slowly spoke in a calm yet strangely powerful tone.

"King Wei is indeed straightforward. In that case, I will tell you about the 'miraculous' aspects of this contract. This contract was made by my fellow Daoist Zuo Ci of Penglai using a secret method and contains the power of a Heavenly Oath."

Once signed, it will be subject to the scrutiny of Heaven. If the agreement is fulfilled on time, there will be no problem, and one may even enjoy some blessings; however, if the agreement is breached or outwardly complied but inwardly defied…

He paused deliberately, observing Cao Cao's instantly serious expression, before continuing.

"...then you will surely suffer a backlash from Heaven. At best, your fortune will decline and your foundation will be shaken; at worst...you may even face danger to your life and bring disaster upon your descendants. This contract should not be taken lightly. I hope that King Wei will remember it carefully and not say that I did not warn you."

Yu Jina's calm yet chilling words pierced Cao Cao's heart like an ice pick, instantly cooling the slight heat that had just risen from his decision. In its place, a bone-chilling coldness shot from the soles of his feet straight to the top of his head!

Heaven's backlash? Declining fortune? Life in danger? Misfortune affecting future generations?!

He suddenly looked down, staring intently at the bright red fingerprint he had just pressed, and the name next to it, still wet with ink, as if it were no longer a simple promise.

Instead, it was a death warrant, an invisible chain that bound him and the entire Cao family firmly to the strange warship of Penglai!

Sun Jian's signature on the scroll now seems incredibly ironic. It's hardly a testament from an ally; it's clearly bait to lure him into trouble!
"You... you..."

Cao Cao's face turned extremely pale, his chest heaving violently as an indescribable wave of regret and anger surged within him; he could almost hear his teeth grinding together. (End of Chapter)