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

"promise!"

Knowing the heavy responsibility on their shoulders, the two captains solemnly accepted the order, took the heavy package, clasped their hands in a deep fist salute to Zhao Yun, and then turned around and disappeared into the vast Gobi Desert like two wisps of smoke, heading in different directions to desperately rush towards Yizhou.

Perhaps it was fate, or perhaps it was the desperate efforts of the two captains, but these two intelligence reports, which carried the earth-shattering secrets of Liangzhou, were delivered to Gu Rubing in the new capital almost at the same time.

Almost at the same time he unfolded Zhao Yun's blood-written secret report, an urgent military intelligence report about the Anluo Empire sending 10,000 reinforcements to the Liangzhou border was also delivered to his desk by fast horse!
In an instant, all the clues and intelligence collided and exploded in Gu Rubing's mind!

Zhao Yun's intelligence, like the final piece of the puzzle, completely confirmed his worst suspicions—Penglai wasn't just making trouble in Liangzhou; they were trying to build a fully-fledged army composed of "inhuman" warriors! Their ambition and the harm they caused were beyond words!
Sun Jian's move to reinforce the border at this critical juncture was, in Gu Rubing's view, almost obvious in its intentions!
This clearly shows they saw Penglai making moves in Liangzhou and wanted to take advantage of the situation to get a share of the spoils! They might even have already reached some kind of tacit agreement with Penglai!
"Sun Jian has been found in Penglai... but what about Cao Cao?"

Gu Rubing's heart sank.

"That contract... Cao Cao must be involved too! Now, this piece of fat meat, Liangzhou, is probably being eyed by Penglai, Sun Jian, and Cao Cao!"

He abruptly stood up and walked to the enormous map of the world. Before him stretched over 100,000 troops of Cao Cao, poised to pounce on the capital city of Xindu, like a hungry tiger ready to pounce at any moment.
To the west, in Liangzhou, a malignant tumor nurtured by Penglai, capable of overturning everything, is growing and expanding wildly; further away, in the southeast, in the Anluo Empire, Sun Jian, this so-called "ally," is secretly deploying troops on the border, sharpening his sword!

Yizhou, Liangzhou, Jiangdong… the three forces are intertwined, their interests entangled, both overt and covert. The game in Liangzhou has become incredibly complex and dangerous!
He felt as if he were standing on the edge of a bottomless abyss, with a tangled mess beneath his feet. Any wrong step could lead to total defeat and utter ruin!

In the still of the night, the lights in the central command tent burned brightly, illuminating Gu Rubing's solemn and iron-like face.

He paced back and forth in the tent with his hands behind his back, each step feeling as if he were stepping on a red-hot iron.

He had to make a choice, a strategic choice that would determine his future!

Should they continue to confront Cao Cao, who is so close at hand, and prioritize resolving the imminent threat of Yizhou?
Or should we risk the collapse of the Yizhou defense line by decisively dividing our forces, or even going there ourselves, to deal with the "distant worry" in Liangzhou that, although still in its infancy, poses a long-term threat that could destroy everything?
Time ticked by, the candlelight crackling like the death knell. Outside the tent, the night wind howled, as if carrying the weeping of wronged souls from Liangzhou and the cold laughter of demons from Penglai.

Finally, Gu Rubing stopped in front of the map.

His gaze passed over the dense banners representing Cao Cao, and over the thousands of mountains and rivers of Yizhou, fixing firmly on the area representing Liangzhou, which at this moment seemed to be shrouded in dark clouds.

His gaze, initially filled with struggle and deliberation, gradually sharpened, like a drawn sword, and finally transformed into a resolute determination, as if he had already committed a do-or-die mission!
"Penglai...you want to plant a malignant tumor there and overturn the order of this world...I, Gu Rubing, will never allow it!"

He muttered to himself, his voice low, but carrying an undeniable determination.

"The situation in Yizhou can still be stalemated. But if the fire in Liangzhou is not extinguished soon, it will spread like wildfire, and then it will be too late! This battle is no longer about the gain or loss of a single city or place, but about the future格局 (geju, a concept encompassing the overall situation, the overall landscape, and the destiny of the world)! I must go!"

He finally made up his mind!

"Somebody come!"

Gu Rubing turned around abruptly, his voice resolute, breaking the silence of the night.

"Send word! Summon Lu Su, Deng Ai, Zhang He, and Zhong Hui to come before me immediately!"

"Furthermore, send an urgent message to Zhuge Liang in the rear! All reinforcements, provisions, and weapons from Yizhou, except for those needed to maintain the minimum requirements of the front lines, shall be redirected and, under the command of..., proceed to the Liangzhou border at the fastest speed to await orders!"

"Further orders: Wei Yan shall strictly guard the five cities and the grain supply routes; the troops under Jiang Wei and Guo Huai shall be placed under his command to ensure the safety of the rear!"

He will arrange the defense of Yizhou as quickly as possible, and then entrust the heavy responsibility here to trustworthy people like Lu Su.

He wanted to personally lead the available mobile forces, along with reinforcements arriving from the rear, deep into the now extremely dangerous Liangzhou land!

He wanted to personally confront the ghost riders "manufactured" by Penglai and sever Penglai's poisonous hand reaching towards Liangzhou!

No matter what lies ahead, whether it be a mountain of knives or a sea of ​​fire, or a den of dragons or tigers, he has made up his mind to risk his life and never retreat!

Beneath the new capital, the banners still fluttered, but the atmosphere inside the central command tent was entirely different.

Gu Rubing's decision has been made and cannot be changed.

He will use the five legendary generals Guan Yu, Zhang Fei, Zhao Yun, Ma Chao, and Huang Zhong as his spearheads, and personally go to Liangzhou to face the invisible terror and killing intent.

Before his departure, he summoned Lu Su for the last time, his expression solemn and his tone heavy as iron.

"Zijing, I entrust the affairs of Yizhou entirely to you."

Cao Cao is cunning and will not relax his guard just because I am gone; on the contrary, he may seize the opportunity to launch a fierce attack. You, Shi Zai, Jun Yi, and Shi Ji must work together to firmly defend the line, digging deep trenches and building high walls. You must not rashly go out to fight.”

He walked up to Lu Su, his gaze sharp and fixed on his eyes, and said in a more emphasizing tone.

"Keep a close eye on Cao Cao! I suspect he's also colluding with Penglai. You must use every available spy and crossbowman to keep a close watch on Cao Cao's camp!"
If any sign is found that Cao Cao has any contact with Penglai, or... that he has any intention of sending troops into Liangzhou, no matter how vague the information is, it must be relayed to me immediately and as quickly as possible!
The situation in Liangzhou is extremely complex and interconnected; any slight movement in Yizhou could affect my decisions in Liangzhou!

Looking into Gu Rubing's resolute and determined eyes, Lu Su knew that he could not persuade him this time no matter what.

His heart was filled with worry, but even more so with a heavy sense of responsibility.

He took a step back, straightened his clothes, and bowed deeply to Gu Rubing, his voice tinged with a barely perceptible sob.

"My lord...go forth with peace of mind! I, Su, will do everything in my power to defend Yizhou and keep a close watch on Cao Cao! I earnestly hope that my lord...take care! Liangzhou is treacherous; in any event...your own safety must be the priority!"

"I know."

Gu Rubing patted Lu Su on the shoulder, said no more, turned around and strode out of the tent.

Outside the tent, Guan Yu and his four companions were already fully armed and standing solemnly, their faces grim, and an invisible aura of killing intent permeated the air.

Without much ceremony, Gu Rubing mounted his horse, glanced at the five men, and said in a deep voice.

"set off!"

The six riders, along with a small number of absolutely loyal guards, shot out of the camp like arrows and quickly disappeared at the end of the official road leading to the northwest.

Traveling swiftly, the closer they got to Liangzhou, the more different the atmosphere became. The border sandstorms were still fierce, but when they brushed against their faces, they seemed to carry a faint, almost imperceptible, stench of blood and an indescribable chill. When Gu Rubing truly set foot on Liangzhou's territory, what hit him was not merely the physical sandstorm, but an invisible, pervasive, and chilling aura of death!

It was as if this vast land itself was trembling under some terrifying force.

Following the pre-arranged code and route, after several detours, they finally met Zhao Yun, who was waiting for them, at a beacon tower located deep in the desolate Gobi Desert, which had been abandoned for countless years.

This secret outpost was hidden beneath an extremely concealed entrance at the base of the beacon tower, deep underground, in a cold and damp place.

The only source of light was a few flickering oil lamps, their dim yellow light casting long, distorted shadows onto the rough earthen walls, like countless lurking ghosts ready to pounce at any moment, creating an oppressive atmosphere that made it hard to breathe.

"Lord!"

When Zhao Yun saw Gu Rubing, he immediately stepped forward and clasped his hands in greeting. His face showed the fatigue of days of scouting, but his eyes were still as sharp as an eagle's.

Behind him, Wang Ping and several other core members of the crossbow corps also saluted, each with a solemn expression on their face.

"Zilong, thank you for your hard work."

Gu Rubing helped Zhao Yun up, and without exchanging any pleasantries, went straight to the point.

"What's the situation? Tell me in detail!"

Zhao Yun led Gu Rubing to a table in the center of the stronghold, made of rough wooden planks, on which lay a simple map depicting the southern region of Liangzhou.

He pointed to the map, his voice deep and clear.

"My lord, the situation is worse than we anticipated."

The cavalry unit known as the 'God Marching Army' has become increasingly rampant and treacherous in recent days!

No longer content with attacking scattered caravans and small tribes, they began purposefully and systematically eliminating the remaining Qiang forces that refused to submit to them in several relatively fertile areas!

His finger traced several points on the map, his tone chilling.

"This humble general sent men at great risk to approach and observe the camp after their attack... It was a horrific scene, truly a place where not a single chicken or dog was left alive, and not a single blade of grass grew! Men, women, children, livestock... not a single one survived!"

Moreover, they didn't seem to be acting solely for plunder or to establish their authority; the brutality of their methods suggested they were... carrying out some kind of purge order.

Zhao Yun paused, glanced at Wang Ping beside him, and Wang Ping, understanding, stepped forward and added.

"My lord, based on the fragmented information we obtained from that prisoner and our multiple observations from a distance, we can basically conclude that the core members of this 'Divine March Army' are definitely not soldiers who have undergone normal training."

They possess immense strength and incredible stamina, seem to feel no pain from ordinary injuries, and fight like emotionless killing machines!
This is beyond human capability; it must have been forged by Penglai using evil magic and secret techniques!

Wang Ping's voice carried a hint of barely suppressed fear.

"What's even more disturbing is that there seems to be an extremely clear and massive objective behind their actions."

Their clearing operations were not aimless; the areas they selected were either key routes leading to certain deep mountain valleys or near certain ancient, legendary sacrificial sites.

This doesn't seem like simple destruction; it's more like... clearing the way for some larger plan, or rather... performing an evil ritual sacrificed with blood and lives!

Zhao Yun took over the conversation, his tone extremely heavy.

"In the ruins of several camps that were completely destroyed and littered with corpses, I found the same strange runes carved on the ground with some kind of dark red pigment."

The structure and strokes of those runes were definitely not those of Qiang or Hu witchcraft, nor any known Taoist or Buddhist school in the Central Plains; they were filled with an eerie and ominous aura! We have made a copy; please take a look, my lord.”

As he spoke, he handed over a rough piece of linen cloth, on which a twisted, complex, and bizarre pattern, resembling countless venomous insects entangled together, was imprinted with charcoal. Just one glance at it was enough to make one feel dizzy and disgusted.

Gu Rubing listened in silence, his fingers unconsciously tapping on the simple map, making a dull "tap-tap" sound.

The light from the oil lamp illuminated his sharply defined profile, making him appear incredibly cold and hard.

On the map, the mountains, rivers, counties, and passes of Liangzhou appeared somewhat blurry in the dim light, as if shrouded in an ominous haze.

The news of Sun Jian's troops mobilizing on the border was like an invisible thorn stuck in his back, making him uneasy.

Cao Cao's inaction on the front lines in Yizhou was, in Cao Cao's eyes, more like a venomous snake lurking in the shadows, coldly watching, and no one knew when it would suddenly strike and deliver a fatal blow!
The pressure, as if it were a tangible force, pressed in from all directions.

He repeatedly looked at the information brought back by Zhao Yun and Wang Ping, especially the burlap sack imprinted with strange runes, and the description of the "Divine March Army's" systematic extermination operations.

A chill ran through me, not from the cold of the earth, but from the depths of my heart that I could not suppress.

He slowly raised his head, his gaze sweeping over the five generals Guan Yu, Zhang Fei, Zhao Yun, Ma Chao, and Huang Zhong gathered around the table. His voice was low and carried an unprecedented solemnity.

"Gentlemen, it now seems that Penglai's ambitions are far more than just occupying a corner of Liangzhou."

His finger pressed heavily on the area on the map marked with multiple attacks and rune discoveries.

"They seem to be searching for something on this land... something we can't understand. Or, even more terrifying, they are using the entire Liangzhou as a giant altar, or a... military camp for mass-producing those 'divine marching armies'!"

This deduction sent a chill down the spines of all the generals present. Beyond city defense and power struggles, Penglai's actions had completely deviated from the current landscape of warring states, carrying an ancient and sinister ritualistic feel that brought an unprecedented sense of crisis.

"Can't wait any longer!"

Gu Rubing slammed his palm on the wooden table, causing the oil lamp flame to flicker violently.

"We must take the initiative and disrupt their rhythm! At the very least, we need to figure out what they're up to! Otherwise, once they're ready, Liangzhou will never have peace, and it might even affect the entire world!" (End of Chapter)