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

"For today's plan..."

Zhou Yu gazed in the direction of Gu Rubing's main tent, his eyes flickering.

"Only by letting the King of Wu see that King Lie Gu Rubing is still a powerful force that cannot be ignored, and even capable of slightly rivaling Penglai."

Only if the King of Wu believes that maintaining the alliance with Gu Rubing is far more valuable than fulfilling the dangerous agreement with Penglai, perhaps... there is a glimmer of hope.

He had to prove to Sun Jian that Gu Rubing was a valuable asset! The way to prove this was to demonstrate Gu Rubing's resilience, potential, and... the possibility of winning the battle for Yizhou.

This also reveals another deeper meaning behind his plan to launch a surprise attack on Mianzhu—if successful, it would not only relieve Gu Rubing's siege but also demonstrate to Sun Jian Zhou Yu's vision and the continued destructive power and strategic value of Gu Rubing's group.

Unlike Zhou Yu, who focused on the big picture and strategic maneuvering, the young Lu Xun concentrated his energy on more specific matters.

He was calm and meticulous in his thinking. Taking advantage of the opportunity to assist in handling military affairs, he took the initiative to contact the core civil and military officials under Gu Rubing.

He discussed the details of grain transport and labor conscription with Lu Su, exchanged ideas with Deng Ai on optimizing camp layout and defensive fortifications, and even consulted some mid-level generals about the Lie Army's manuals and tactics.

His attitude was humble and eager to learn, and his words and actions revealed his admiration for the many talented people under King Lie's command, as well as his concern for the current war situation.

These contacts were not casual conversations, but were purposeful—to gain a deep understanding of the internal workings, personnel structure, and true war potential of this potential ally.

He silently kept these subtle observations and judgments in mind, using them as important evidence to assist Zhou Yu in making the final decision.

The night in the new capital quietly slipped away amidst Gu Rubing's hesitation, Zhou Yu's covert assessment, and Lu Xun's meticulous observation.

Inside the new capital, the dilapidated city walls, shrouded in darkness, resembled the skeleton of a lurking beast, silently recounting the devastation of the day.

Gu Rubing did not relax despite the temporary respite; he knew that beneath the calm surface, turbulent currents were brewing.

In their limited meetings with Zhou Yu and Lu Xun, the two sides seemingly exchanged views on the latest movements of Cao Cao's army in a harmonious manner.

"According to the reports from the crossbowmen, Cao's army retreated ten miles and set up camp. The camp was brightly lit and patrols were frequent, as if they were on high alert to prevent our army from launching a night attack."

Gu Rubing pointed to the rough sand table, his tone steady.

Zhou Yu gently waved his feather fan and replied.

"Cao Cao has just suffered a defeat and lost... such support, he must be a frightened bird at this moment."

Their inaction is partly a way to lick their wounds and regroup, and partly a way to observe and see what our army's next move will be.

He cleverly omitted the name "Tong Fei," but both sides understood each other implicitly.

Lu Xun, however, focused more on details, he added.

"When Cao Cao's army retreated, the supply train was orderly and there was no panic, which shows that its foundation was not damaged and its main force was still intact. Moreover, the location of its camp was chosen with its back to the mountains and its front guarding the waterway, which is in line with the essential principles of camping. It will be difficult to take it in the short term."

In these conversations, Zhou Yu and Lu Xun spoke cautiously, yet always managed to hit the nail on the head, demonstrating their exceptional military skills.

However, whenever the topic inadvertently touches upon the words "Penglai," the atmosphere inside the tent always instantly becomes subtle and heavy.

Zhou Yu would subtly steer the conversation away, while Lu Xun remained silent, but the fleeting worry in their eyes did not escape Gu Rubing's notice.

In a private conversation in which only Lu Su was present, Lu Xun couldn't help but sigh softly.

"The power of Penglai is truly beyond human capability... Even with so many fierce generals under King Lie's command, it still... Alas."

His unfinished words were filled with a deep apprehension about the extraordinary power of Penglai. Even the mighty Gu Rubing had suffered greatly at its hands; if their Anluo Empire were to confront it head-on, the consequences would be unimaginable.

This understanding led Zhou Yu and Lu Xun to harbor deep-seated resentment and anxiety regarding Sun Jian's cooperation with Penglai.

For this reason, they placed almost all their hopes of persuading Sun Jian to change his stance and get rid of Penglai's influence on Gu Rubing.

They hoped that Gu Rubing could demonstrate sufficient strength and resilience in this battle, proving that he was still a reliable ally worthy of Sun Jian's investment and even capable of counterbalancing Penglai to some extent.

However, they selectively ignored a crucial question—how much autonomy does Sun Jian still retain after signing that mysterious contract?
Has he already lost control of his own destiny?
Gu Rubing always maintained just the right amount of courtesy and gratitude towards Zhou Yu and Lu Xun.

He has stated this on multiple public occasions.

"If it weren't for Gongjin and Boyan's timely rescue, Xindu would have been in danger. I will always remember this kindness."

He was never stingy with rewards and condolences, giving the two of them ample face.

But beneath this politeness and gratitude, Gu Rubing's vigilance never wavered for a moment.

Like a seasoned hunter, he calmly observed the every move of his two "allies".

He noticed that Zhou Yu would often gaze thoughtfully at his own defense map, and he noticed the seemingly casual but actually insightful questions Lu Xun asked when talking to Deng Ai and others.

“Sun Wentai is by no means a person who would willingly be subordinate to others. His assistance to me is simply out of fear that Cao Mengde’s power is too great and that he threatens Anluo.”

Gu Rubing privately analyzed this for Lu Su.

"Once Cao Cao's threat diminishes or a greater temptation arises, it remains to be seen where this opportunist will turn. Our alliance with him is fragile, like a tower built on sand."

To this end, Gu Rubing took a series of covert measures.

He not only greatly increased the number of overt and covert spies facing Cao Cao's army to closely monitor Cao Cao's every move, but also assigned a group of elite personnel, led by trusted confidants, to secretly keep a close eye on Zhou Yu's camp of five thousand troops.

Their daily drills, the receipt of supplies, the entry and exit of personnel, and even some seemingly unintentional contacts with the locals were all recorded in detail and compiled on Gu Rubing's desk.

He was on guard against any signs that might leak intelligence, ensuring that Sun Jian's "eyes" and "hands" wouldn't cause him unexpected trouble at a crucial moment.

According to Gu Rubing's calculations, Sun Jian's goal was nothing more than to play both sides, profit from the chaos, and maintain his separatist status.

But he could never have imagined that Sun Jian, under the irresistible power and temptation of Penglai, was plotting something far bigger and more dangerous than he thought!

Meanwhile, at Cao Cao's army camp ten miles away, the atmosphere was completely different from the tense vigilance in Xindu; it was a kind of oppressive silence and panic.

Inside the central command tent, the flickering candlelight illuminated Cao Cao's gloomy face, which seemed almost dripping with gloom. Below, Xiahou Dun, Cao Ren, Zhang He, Xu Huang, and other generals stood with their heads bowed, not daring to breathe. The daytime siege had failed, resulting in heavy losses, and worse still… the Penglai Immortal Master Tong Fei, considered their "trump card," had vanished without a trace since chasing Gu Rubing into those mountains! Neither alive nor dead!
An ominous premonition hung over everyone's heart.

The power that Tong Fei displayed had long exceeded their understanding of "human beings"; it was an existence that was almost like a ghost or a god.

The fact that even someone like him could fall into Gu Rubing's hands has had a devastating psychological impact on Cao Cao's army.

"Trash! They are all a bunch of trash!"

Cao Cao slammed the military report in his hand to the ground, his voice hoarse, filled with suppressed anger and a hint of barely perceptible...fear.

"Tens of thousands of troops couldn't even conquer a ruined city! They still have to rely on... rely on external forces!"

He ultimately didn't dare to utter the words "Penglai" directly, as if it were a taboo.

His feelings toward Penglai were extremely complex. He deeply feared its unpredictable and treacherous ways of doing things, and was well aware of the dangers of dealing with a tiger for its skin; but deep down, he had to admit that he had been secretly relying on this transcendent power.

Whether it was Yu Ji's fog formation or Tong Fei's terrifying personal strength, both were key elements that he had high hopes for and used to break the deadlock.

Tong Fei's whereabouts were unknown, casting a dark shadow over Cao Cao's heart. He wanted to see him alive or dead!

He was absolutely unwilling to lose such an important asset, and he could not bear the torment brought by the unknown.

He immediately dispatched a large number of elite scouts and search teams to conduct a thorough search around the new capital, especially the mountainous areas in the direction of Gu Rubing's retreat, leaving no stone unturned.

However, a day passed, then two... and the search team brought back disheartening news.

They found no clear trace of Tong Fei, no corpse, no belongings, and almost no trace of power belonging to Tong Fei's level that should have been left after a decent battle.

This "cleanliness" gradually extinguished the last glimmer of hope in Cao Cao's heart—either Tong Fei had been completely obliterated in that horrific explosion, or he had suffered unimaginable injuries and escaped using some secret method, making it impossible to contact him.

When the search party finally found the mountain peak that had been blasted down and was in ruins, Cao Cao personally arrived at the scene under the protection of his elite guards.

Standing atop that mountain that seemed to have been struck by lightning, with shattered boulders and churning scorched earth beneath my feet, the air seemed to still carry a pungent smell of gunpowder mixed with some strange energy.

On some of the broken rocks, there were dark red bloodstains that had turned black but were still faintly discernible. The extent and shape of the bloodstains could not have been caused by ordinary injuries.

Cao Cao squatted down, grabbed a handful of scorched earth mixed with blood scabs, his fingers trembling slightly.

He looked around at the battlefield, which resembled a purgatory, and could almost recreate the tragic scene in his mind—Gu Rubing must have set up an extremely vicious and powerful trap to lure Tong Fei here, and then… He dared not think any further.

Even if he is not dead... he must be severely injured and will have no strength to fight again in the short term.

Cao Cao slowly stood up, his face so dark it seemed like it could be wrung out of water. The last glimmer of hope in his heart had been shattered. Losing Tong Fei meant he had lost his sharpest spear and his strongest shield, his greatest asset in breaking the stalemate with Gu Rubing.

"Send the order!"

Cao Cao's voice, husky and suppressed, carried on the mountain breeze.

"All units must immediately consolidate their defensive lines, abandon unnecessary outposts on the perimeter, and concentrate their forces on the main battlefield in Xindu and several key strongholds! Fortify the camps, dig deep trenches, and no one is allowed to engage in battle without my order!"

He had to hold his ground and prevent Gu Rubing from launching a counterattack.

At the same time, his gaze turned to the rear—Mianzhu Pass!

"Furthermore," Cao Cao said, looking at the general in charge of logistics and rear defense, his tone unusually serious.

"Immediately draw another five thousand elite troops from the reserves and send them to reinforce Mianzhu Pass! Tell the commander guarding the pass that he has only one order—defend to the death! Even if Gu Rubing's troops curse the heavens below the pass, even if they are only a few dozen men, they are not allowed to leave the pass! Anyone who disobeys will be executed on the spot!"

"King Wei, Mianzhu Pass is a natural fortress, already guarded by 10,000 troops. Adding another 5,000... is that appropriate?"

Some staff members felt that this was making a mountain out of a molehill.

Cao Cao suddenly turned his head, his eyes sharp as knives, interrupting him.

"What do you know! Gu Rubing's military tactics are always cunning and cannot be judged by ordinary standards!"

If he could devise a scheme to kill Tong Fei, who can guarantee he won't come up with some other ingenious plan to steal our supplies? Mianzhu Pass is the lifeline of our army; it cannot be lost! It's better to be prepared and not need it than to need it and not be prepared!

His fear of Gu Rubing had penetrated to the bone. Mianzhu Pass was indeed a natural fortress that was easy to defend and difficult to attack; under normal circumstances, 10,000 defenders would be enough to hold off an enemy force several times larger.

But he dared not gamble; he had to eliminate even the slightest risk.

The command was executed swiftly.

Generals such as Cao Ren and Xiahou Dun also roused themselves, dispatching a large number of scouts to monitor the Lie Army's every move in the new capital city day and night, like hawks, to prevent Gu Rubing from making any unusual moves.

However, despite these arrangements, Cao Cao's unease did not lessen. The shadow of losing Penglai's support gnawed at his heart like a venomous snake.

He knew that with his current strength, the chances of defeating Gu Rubing and regaining the strategic initiative in the short term were extremely slim.

"We can't just sit here and wait to die..."

Cao Cao paced back and forth in his tent, a hint of resentment and ruthlessness flashing in his eyes.

He must try to contact Penglai again! Tong Fei's fate is unknown, but Penglai cannot possibly only have Tong Fei and Yu Ji! What about Zuo Ci? Are there other possible Penglai disciples?

He immediately went to the desk, spread out a silk cloth, and began to write furiously. In the letter, he first described how Tong Fei had disappeared after chasing Gu Rubing and was suspected of having met with misfortune, his tone heavy with sorrow and anxiety.

Next, he emphasized that Gu Rubing was an obstacle to Penglai's great cause, and if he was not eliminated, there would be endless troubles. Finally, he earnestly requested that Penglai send another expert to assist them in their great endeavor.

After writing it, he carefully sealed it with sealing wax and summoned his young, brave, and skilled horseman, Cao Zhang.

"Ziwen!"

Cao Cao solemnly handed the secret letter to Cao Zhang, staring intently at him.

"This letter concerns the life and death of our army! You must immediately select the fastest horse, take your most capable guards, and at all costs, rush to Penglai Immortal Island as quickly as possible. You must personally deliver this letter to... to any Penglai Immortal Master you can find!"
Remember, there must be no delays along the way, and above all, your whereabouts must not be revealed! (End of Chapter)