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

But all of this was like cutting flesh with a dull knife; it was impossible to achieve a decisive breakthrough in the short term and to completely defeat Cao Cao.

"We can't keep dragging this on!"

Gu Rubing slammed his hand on the edge of the sand table.

"Issue the order! At dawn tomorrow, concentrate our forces and launch a probing attack on Cao Cao's left flank! Let's see what Cao Cao's true strength is!"

He decided to speed things up, even if it meant taking some risks, to try and break through Cao Cao's defenses.

However, just before he was about to issue the order to attack, an urgent letter from Liu Ye, who was in charge of procuring supplies and weapons from the rear, was delivered to him by fast horse.

Gu Rubing unfolded the letter and his face instantly turned extremely grim. The letter stated that due to the prolonged fighting and enormous consumption at the Yizhou front, even with the artisans working day and night, the production of gunpowder could not keep pace with the rate of consumption!

In particular, those heavy and complex fortifications were extremely difficult to transport on the rugged and mountainous roads of Yizhou. Many were damaged en route due to bumps and collisions and could not be put into use.

Today, the military's gunpowder reserves are running low, making it difficult to sustain large-scale, prolonged, and intense offensive and defensive battles!

"Insufficient gunpowder..."

Gu Rubing gripped the letter and slowly sat back down in his chair, as if all his strength had been drained. Gunpowder and cannons were among his most important weapons in fighting Cao Cao and dealing with the strange tactics of Penglai.

Now that this reliance is about to run out, his original idea of ​​opening up the situation through a strong attack was instantly extinguished.

Without sufficient gunpowder to cover the attack, forcibly attacking Cao Cao's well-prepared defenses would be tantamount to sending soldiers to fight against the enemy's fortified walls and sharp arrows with their own flesh and blood. The casualties would be extremely heavy, and the chances of victory would be slim.

He forced himself to calm down and reassess the situation.

Fortunately, Cao Cao's situation was equally difficult. After a series of battles, Cao Cao's army suffered considerable losses, and morale was quite low.

Moreover, although the gunpowder reserves are running low, relying on the city walls and existing fortifications to defend the city and using it sparingly should allow them to hold out for some time.

"Insufficient offense, defense... is acceptable."

Gu Rubing took a deep breath and made a difficult but rational decision.

He changed the order.

"Order the entire army to cancel the attack plan scheduled for dawn tomorrow. All units shall switch to a defensive posture, fortify their camps, dig deep trenches, and consolidate the areas we have already recovered."

"No offensive action is permitted without my order!"

He wanted to temporarily halt the direct assault on Cao Cao, first stabilize the Yizhou front, and shift his main focus to the direction that made him even more uneasy—Liangzhou!
Since we cannot go to Liangzhou immediately, we must send our most capable and reliable people!

His gaze swept across his generals, finally settling on the one who was courageous, calm, and decisive.

"Zi Long!"

Gu Rubing called out.

"The general is here!"

Zhao Yun stepped forward, his silver armor gleaming coldly in the candlelight.

Gu Rubing walked up to Zhao Yun, his expression more solemn than ever before.

"A major upheaval may be brewing in Liangzhou, where Penglai lies in wait, its ambitions far-reaching. The war in Yizhou is at a stalemate, and I cannot go there in person."

"You are hereby ordered to select one hundred of your most elite and vigilant crossbowmen, remove all unnecessary baggage, and carry only their personal weapons, rations, and reconnaissance equipment. They must then secretly infiltrate Liangzhou as quickly as possible!"

He stared into Zhao Yun's eyes and gave his instructions, word by word.

"Your mission is not to fight, but to scout! Get me three things straight."

First, what is the true nature of that mysterious cavalry force, and is it actually under the command of Penglai? Second, what are the exact whereabouts and objectives of Yu Ji and Zuo Ci? Third, what is the current true situation in Liangzhou, and what unusual movements are taking place among the various forces?

Remember, investigation is paramount, and your own safety is of utmost importance. Once you have ascertained crucial intelligence, report back immediately without fail!

Zhao Yun solemnly clasped his hands in a fist salute, his voice firm.

"Yun obeys! I will certainly not fail my lord's trust!"

Gu Rubing's most elite reconnaissance force—the Ranger Captains—numbered only a little over two hundred men. They were scattered across various battlefields, undertaking the most dangerous and important intelligence gathering tasks.

Now, Gu Rubing has assigned all 100 of the best-performing men who haven't yet carried out missions to Zhao Yun, which is practically sending out half of his "eyes" and "ears"!

Watching Zhao Yun's departing figure as he accepted the order, Gu Rubing's worries did not lessen in the slightest.

He walked outside the tent and looked at the deep night sky in the northwest, as if he could see through thousands of mountains and rivers to the Liangzhou land that was now shrouded in mist.

His concern for Liangzhou had reached an unprecedented level.

Zhou Yu stood outside his own tent, seemingly gazing at the starry sky, but in reality, he kept a close eye on the movements of the central command tent out of the corner of his eye.

When he saw Zhao Yun take the order, gather a hundred elite crossbowmen, and set off lightly equipped overnight towards the northwest, his constantly furrowed brows finally relaxed almost imperceptibly, and he secretly breathed a sigh of relief.

"King Lie finally listened..."

Zhou Yu thought to himself.

His biggest worry was that Gu Rubing, preoccupied with the war in Yizhou, would overlook the enormous changes brewing in Liangzhou.

Now, Gu Rubing not only takes it seriously, but has also dispatched his most elite reconnaissance forces, which undoubtedly shows that the threat from the west has been given extremely high priority in his mind.

"As long as Gu Rubing and Penglai clash in Liangzhou, regardless of the outcome, both sides will inevitably have to invest a lot of energy and get bogged down in a long-term entanglement and attrition."

Zhou Yu's thoughts raced.

"In this way, the pressure they exert on the Anluo Empire will be greatly reduced. My lord, King Wu, may be able to gain more room to maneuver in this gap, and even... have the opportunity to reconsider that dangerous agreement with Penglai."

He placed all his hopes on the fact that Gu Rubing could effectively restrain Penglai, but little did he know that the binding force of that contract was far beyond that of ordinary alliances.

The central army tent was brightly lit with candles.

Gu Rubing dismissed his attendants and stood alone in front of the huge map.

His fingertips, heavy with emotion, slowly traced the vast, somewhat desolate territory on the map that represented Liangzhou.

Wuwei, Zhangye, Jiuquan, Dunhuang... place names flashed across his fingertips, but in his mind, reports about that mysterious cavalry kept replaying in his mind—"elusive movements," "unpredictable tactics," and "unclear objectives."

These cavalrymen, like a flock of vultures circling in the northwest sky and hidden behind the clouds, were casting an increasingly clear and heavy shadow on his heart as the investigation deepened.

"We must not allow Penglai to gain a foothold in Liangzhou!"

Gu Rubing's gaze was sharp as a knife.

He was well-versed in history and knew that the worst thing in any major battle was being attacked from both sides.

The war in Yizhou is not yet over. If Liangzhou were to catch fire again at this time, and Penglai were to stab him in the back, the situation he had worked so hard to establish in Yizhou could collapse instantly, and he might even face the danger of his entire army being wiped out! On the Yizhou side, the threat posed by Tong Fei was temporarily eliminated due to that earth-shattering explosion, which was a stroke of good fortune amidst misfortune.

However, the fact that figures like Yu Ji and Zuo Ci could sneak into Liangzhou so quietly suggests that their schemes were far more profound and ambitious than ordinary separatist rebellions.

What they likely want is a base of operations that they can completely control, allowing them to either advance and look towards the Central Plains or retreat and defend themselves!

Before Zhao Yun set off, Gu Rubing specially summoned him to the inner tent, dismissed everyone else, and personally gave him instructions.

“Zilong,” Gu Rubing’s voice was low and serious.

"The matter of Liangzhou is shrouded in mystery and involves many complexities. Your journey is not for war, but to serve as my eyes and ears."

Zhao Yun stood at attention and listened attentively.

"Please inform us, Your Excellency."

"Your mission can be summarized in eight words: uncover the truth and protect yourself!"

Gu Rubing stared at Zhao Yun, speaking slowly and deliberately.

"No matter what, bring me back alive! If necessary, abandon all other actions and prioritize survival!"

"Yun, I understand!"

Zhao Yun sensed the gravity and concern in Gu Rubing's words and clasped his hands in a deep fist salute.

"I will certainly live up to my lord's trust!"

As Zhao Yun and his entourage disappeared into the night, Gu Rubing's strategic adjustment orders for the Yizhou battlefield began to be issued level by level. The noisy atmosphere of preparation for war was gradually replaced by a quiet and orderly busyness.

The main force has fully shifted to a strategic defensive posture!

The order was relayed to all armies, and the soldiers of the Liejun Army, who had been in an offensive posture, began to retreat in an orderly manner to pre-selected strategic terrain. Large-scale earthworks were then carried out, utilizing the newly recaptured hills, woodlands, and waterways.

The camp's fences were raised and reinforced, and deep and wide trenches were dug around the perimeter. In front of the trenches, a large number of deer antlers and chevaux-de-frise were set up, forming death zones that hindered the enemy's advance.

The few remaining cannons were carefully pushed to several carefully selected high points.

Under Deng Ai's personal guidance, the gunners repeatedly calculated the firing arc and adjusted the muzzle angles to ensure that each cannon could cover key passages and form a crossfire network with no blind spots with neighboring gun positions. Although the gunpowder reserves were limited, every bit had to be used wisely.

The defenses have been reorganized and strengthened.

Guan Yu led his troops to guard a key pass on the left flank, controlling a mountain pass. His Green Dragon Crescent Blade was stuck upside down beside him, his phoenix eyes were slightly closed, and he exuded an imposing aura without anger.

Zhang Fei roared and urged his men to guard a narrow waterway on the right flank leading to the water source. No one dared to slacken their guard when their spears were pointed at them. Generals such as Zhang He, Deng Ai, and Zhong Hui were constantly inspecting the various camps and fortresses, checking the progress of the fortifications, and urging the soldiers to remain vigilant.

The entire Liejun defense line resembled a fierce beast that had just finished a fierce battle, temporarily retracting its claws, curling up its body, and pointing all its sharp spikes outwards.

It lay dormant in silence, seemingly having given up the attack, but its formidable defenses and hidden killing intent clearly indicated that any enemy who dared to invade would face a thunderous counterattack.

The Lie Army's rapid and thorough transformation naturally did not escape Cao Cao's notice.

At first, Cao Cao thought it was a trap set by Gu Rubing to lure the enemy, and cautiously sent out several small groups of troops to launch a probing attack.

However, these attempts were quickly thwarted by the Lie army's tight defenses.

Before the charging Cao army even reached the trench, they suffered heavy losses from the precise artillery fire from the high ground and the arrows and rocks cascading down from the cliffs on both sides, making it impossible for them to shake the ironclad defense line.

After several unsuccessful attempts to probe the enemy's defenses, Cao Cao stood on the command platform, gazing at the suddenly silent yet increasingly dangerous Liejun camp opposite him, his brow furrowed in deep thought.

"Gu Rubing...why did he suddenly switch from offense to defense? And why is he defending so resolutely, so...impenetrably?"

Cao Cao muttered to himself. Suddenly, a thought flashed through his mind. He recalled some scattered intelligence about the appearance of unidentified forces on the Liangzhou border, and combined this with Gu Rubing's abrupt strategic shift...

"That's it! It must be Liangzhou!"

A knowing glint flashed in Cao Cao's eyes, followed by a complex smile that combined relief with a hint of schadenfreude.

"Gu Rubing, Gu Rubing, you were ultimately held back by the affairs of the West! Penglai... heh, those demons are indeed not to be trifled with!"

He quickly sorted out his thoughts.

Gu Rubing must have noticed Penglai's major moves in Liangzhou and felt a great threat, so he had no choice but to shift his main energy and attention to the west.

In Yizhou, he had no choice but to adopt a defensive posture in order to stabilize the front lines and avoid fighting on two fronts.

“Moreover,” Cao Cao stroked his short beard and continued his analysis.

"The people of Penglai are elusive and their methods are unpredictable."

If Gu Rubing wants to ascertain the true situation in Liangzhou, or even intervene, he himself must not easily leave the front line in Yizhou, otherwise the morale of the army will be thrown into chaos.

He could only sit there and direct operations remotely.

In this way, he would have to simultaneously focus on the stalemate in Yizhou and the dramatic changes in Liangzhou, which would undoubtedly be far more mentally taxing than before!

Having figured this out, Cao Cao felt much of the gloom that had been hanging over Tong Fei's disappearance dissipate.

He seemed to see a heavy burden already resting on the shoulders of his old rival.

"Pass the order."

Cao Cao withdrew his gaze and gave instructions to the generals behind him.

"Since the Lie army has switched from offense to defense, our army need not be in a hurry to achieve victory. Each unit should hold its camp, strengthen its fortifications, and confront them."

Furthermore, send out more scouts to keep a close eye on Gu Rubing's every move, especially his communication channels with the outside world! I want to see how he manages to deal with this predicament on both the eastern and western fronts!

In his view, Gu Rubing's forced devotion to Liangzhou was undoubtedly an opportunity for him.

Even if they cannot break through the enemy's defenses in the short term, this long-term attrition and restraint can gradually wear down Gu Rubing's sharpness and strength.

Zhou Yu and Lu Xun were both seasoned warriors with a keen, hound-like sensitivity to changes in the atmosphere of the army.

Within a day or two, they clearly sensed that the atmosphere of the entire Liejun camp had quietly shifted from an aggressive, combat-ready posture to a calm, restrained, and defensive posture centered on solid defense.

What bothered them even more was that Gu Rubing's focus seemed to be shifting from Cao Cao in front of them to the distant northwest.

Zhou Yu visited Gu Rubing's central command tent several times, subtly probing the shift in strategic intent in his words.

"Your Highness, our army's morale is currently high. Why have we suddenly switched to a defensive posture? Is there a new consideration?"

Zhou Yu gently waved his feather fan, his tone calm.

Gu Rubing sat upright in the main seat, his face bearing a perfectly measured hint of weariness, calmly handling the situation. (End of Chapter)