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

He immediately turned to Zhao Yun, his eyes sharp as knives.

"Zi Long!"

"The general is here!"

"From this moment forward, the priority of reconnaissance for your crossbow captains is raised to the highest level! At all costs, investigate deep into their territory! I need to know roughly where the main force of this 'Swift Army' operates, and where their hideout might be!"

Furthermore, an operation of this scale must require logistical support. Find their supply lines! Even if it means losing men, bring back the information!

Gu Rubing's order carried a resolute determination, as if he had already decided to burn his bridges.

"Yun, I obey!"

Zhao Yun solemnly clasped his hands in a fist salute, his eyes showing no hesitation whatsoever.

"In addition," Gu Rubing's gaze swept over everyone, finally landing on the meticulous Wang Ping.

"Wang Ping, select a few of your most alert and skilled camouflage brothers and find a way to infiltrate Sun Jian's army stationed on the border, as well as... the outer perimeter of Cao Cao's camp in Yizhou!"
You don't need to do anything, just keep a close watch on them and see if they come into contact with anyone of suspicious identity, especially... anyone who might be connected to Penglai!
Liangzhou has become the eye of the storm; any slight disturbance could cause the situation to collapse completely. We must grasp all the variables!

"I will finally understand!"

Wang Ping responded in a deep voice.

Once the order was given, the entire secret base began operating at high speed, like a wound-up machine.

The crossbowmen under Zhao Yun's command, like the most loyal and silent night owls, once again blended into the vast, desolate, and treacherous land of Liangzhou.

With their superhuman endurance, exceptional camouflage and tracking skills, and extraordinary memory of terrain, they carefully followed the brutal traces left by the "God March"—burnt camps, congealed dark red bloodstains, and hoofprints that seemed to carry an ominous power.

The tracking process is fraught with danger and uncertainty.

The "Divine March" was elusive and possessed a strong counter-surveillance awareness, often deliberately taking detours and even leaving false trails. The crossbowmen had to devote a great deal of energy to distinguishing the genuine from the fake, resulting in slow progress.

Several days later, a secret report stained with dried dark brown blood and Gobi dust was delivered to the secret base by a wounded and nearly exhausted crossbow captain at great risk.

The captain, a scout in charge of reconnaissance in the northwest, brought back shocking news. According to his description, they had stumbled upon an unequal chase on the edge of a desolate desert north of Wuwei County.

A detachment of about 300 "Swift Army" soldiers is pursuing a group of about 50 or 60 bandits.

The scout lay prone behind a distant sand dune, risking being discovered, and carefully observed the entire process using a specially made telescope.

He wrote in detail in his secret report.

"...When they charged, it was almost silent! Only the muffled sound of horses' hooves hitting the sand and the panting of the horses after their vigorous run could be heard; the sound of weapons cutting through the air was barely noticeable."

Their teamwork was so seamless that it was beyond what training could achieve; they were as one.

Although the bandits were fierce and brave, their resistance crumbled like ice meeting boiling water. The efficiency of their slaughter was horrifying…

However, what truly chilled the scout and prompted him to risk staying to continue observing was the scene after the battle.

After slaughtering the bandits, the "Divine March" did not loot the property like ordinary armies or bandits, nor did they routinely destroy the evidence. Instead, a knight who seemed to be the leader dismounted and walked to a relatively flat sandy area.

The leader took out a leather pouch from his robes and poured out a viscous liquid that appeared dark red in the afterglow of the setting sun—it was definitely not ordinary cinnabar or pigment, and it emitted a faint fishy smell, seemingly a mixture of blood and some unknown material.

Gu Rubing gently twirled the small amount of dark red sample that had already solidified and hardened, then brought it to his nose and sniffed it carefully.

That extremely faint yet unusually persistent strange smell, a mixture of fishy sweetness and decay, burrowed into my nasal cavity like a maggot clinging to my bone, bringing both physical discomfort and a psychological alarm.

"This is definitely not the blood of ordinary livestock..."

He repeated in a low voice the assessment brought back by the scout, his eyes sharp as knives, as if trying to pierce through the small sample and see the truth hidden behind it.

"There must be something else mixed in, perhaps...human blood, or some kind of medium that we cannot understand."

His gaze shifted to the simple map spread out on the rough wooden table, and his finger pointed heavily at the area in the northwest that was roughly outlined with charcoal and represented a branch of the Qilian Mountains.

"The Qilian Mountains are characterized by high mountains, deep valleys, dense forests, and secluded caves. Since ancient times, they have been a place rarely visited by people and have many legends."

Gu Rubing's voice echoed in the dimly lit underground stronghold, carrying a cold decisiveness.

"If Penglai truly has something to plot in Liangzhou and needs a secret hideout to carry out their shady dealings, then that place... is undoubtedly the best choice!"

He suddenly raised his head, his gaze sweeping over the five generals surrounding him: Guan Yu, Zhang Fei, Zhao Yun, Ma Chao, and Huang Zhong, as well as Zhao Yun's deputy general Wang Ping, who was in charge of intelligence.

"Send the order!"

Gu Rubing's voice was resolute.

"Cease tracking of the scattered 'Divine March' units. Concentrate all available crossbowmen and deploy our strongest reconnaissance forces to the northwest! Target: the Qilian Mountains!"

"Search every inch of this place like you're combing my hair! Even the steep cliffs and deep caves must be explored! Find Penglai's stronghold and find out what they're up to!"

"The last general takes command!"

Zhao Yun solemnly clasped his hands in a fist salute, his eyes showing no hesitation whatsoever.

The order was quickly relayed. Soon, batches of the most elite and experienced crossbow captains, like falcons leaving their nests, silently disappeared into the vast and treacherous mountainous region of northwestern Liangzhou.

However, reality was far more brutal than expected.

The Qilian Mountains, like a silent ancient behemoth, form a natural barrier with their rugged rocks, dense and difficult-to-access primeval forests, ever-changing harsh climate, and complex terrain that inspires despair.

The mountains are towering and the ravines are deep. In many places, there are no roads at all. You can only climb by ropes and bare hands. If you are not careful, you will fall into the abyss and never be found.

This is just the test of nature.

What's even more alarming is the extensive and inescapable security network that the "Divine Marching Army" has established in this area.

Their patrols were not aimless, but rather conducted frequent and irregular cross-patrols along several key ridgelines, valley entrances, and possible mountain passes.

The members of these patrol teams all possessed senses far more acute than humans, and their familiarity with the environment far surpassed that of outsiders.

The crossbowmen made several attempts to approach the core area, but were detected in advance by the enemy. If they had not relied on their superb stealth skills and decisive retreat, they would have been caught up and forced into a deadly battle.

For several days in a row, the scouts sent out brought back disheartening news.

"My lord, there is a canyon to the northeast that appears to be a passage. At least three teams of 'Swift Army' are on guard at the entrance, taking turns to patrol. They are heavily guarded and we cannot get close."

"When attempting to climb a mountain ridge to the west, we encountered enemy sentries and were nearly discovered, forcing us to retreat."

"In the south... we lost contact with a group of brothers in the south, a total of three. It has been two days past the agreed time, and there has been no news of them since."

The final message instantly plunged the atmosphere within the outpost to freezing point. Losing contact in such a dangerous place was practically tantamount to death.

A heavy, oppressive sense of anger and powerlessness permeated everyone's hearts.

The sound of teeth grinding seemed to fill the air. Zhang Fei slammed his fist on the earthen wall, sending dust flying, and roared.

"You bastard!

These cowardly rats! If you've got the guts, come out and fight your Grandpa Zhang for real! Hiding in the deep mountains and forests playing these underhanded tricks, what kind of people are you!

Guan Yu narrowed his phoenix eyes, stroked his long beard, and said in a deep voice.

"Third brother, calm down. The enemy is in the dark while we are in the light, and the terrain is in their hands. A direct assault and reconnaissance is not a good strategy; it will only increase casualties."

Ma Chao frowned, his handsome face filled with anxiety.

"Are we just going to stand here and wait? Who knows what those demons are plotting in these mountains? The longer we wait, the bigger the consequences might become!"

Huang Zhong, mature and prudent, sighed.

"The mountain is steep and heavily guarded. Without someone familiar with the route to guide you, it would be difficult to accomplish anything."

Just when everyone was at a loss, Zhao Yun, who had been silently pondering, suddenly had a glimmer of light in his eyes.

He stepped forward and clasped his hands in greeting to Gu Rubing.

"My lord, I may have a method that we can try."

All eyes immediately turned to Zhao Yun.

Gu Rubing looked at him.

"What good plan do you have, Zilong? Please speak freely."

Zhao Yun gathered his thoughts and spoke.

"In my early years, I traveled to Liangzhou and once, while tracking a group of bandits, I went deep into the heart of the Qilian Mountains and accidentally met an ancient Qiang tribe that had lived there for generations."

This tribe is small in number, extremely isolated, and has almost no contact with the outside world. They live by hunting and gathering rare medicinal herbs from the mountains.

He paused and continued to explain.

"They were born and raised here for generations, and they knew the Qilian Mountains, especially the mountains near their area of ​​activity, like the back of their hand. They knew which valleys were passable, which caves were safe to hide in, and which paths could bypass the treacherous places."

If we could get their help, perhaps... we could find a path to bypass the 'Gods' frontal defenses and quietly infiltrate their territory.

Upon hearing this, Guan Yu pondered for a moment, then nodded slightly.

"This method... does sound feasible."

These mountain tribes often possess secret paths that are unknown to outsiders.

But he immediately changed his tone and poured cold water on the idea.

"However, such ancient tribes are usually extremely xenophobic and highly vigilant. We are all outsiders, and moreover, Han Chinese. Whether they are willing to trust us and take great risks to help us is still unknown. If we do not handle this properly, we may not only fail to get help, but we may also alert them and even attract hostility."

Zhao Yun nodded in agreement.

“Brother Yun is absolutely right. Dealing with such tribes requires great patience and sincerity; we must never use force.”

Gu Rubing tapped his fingers unconsciously on the table, his gaze sweeping back and forth between the map and the faces of the generals.

The current predicament is obvious. Both direct assault and conventional reconnaissance are proving ineffective. Zhao Yun's proposed method, though fraught with uncertainty, is indeed the only hope that might break the deadlock.

Risks and opportunities coexist.

After a moment's deliberation, a decisive look flashed in Gu Rubing's eyes, and he made a sudden decision.

"Let's follow Zilong's plan! We must try it no matter what!"

He looked at Zhao Yun and gave the order.

"Zilong, you are in full charge of this matter. Immediately select several capable subordinates who are quick-witted, know some Qiang language, and are good at communicating with people."

Bring plenty of salt, ironware, cloth, and tea; these are valuable commodities in the mountains. Consider them gifts to show your sincerity. You will personally lead the expedition to find that ancient Qiang tribe!

"I will obey your orders!"

Zhao Yun solemnly accepted the order.

“Remember,” Gu Rubing emphasized, giving a final instruction.

"The primary objective of this trip is to establish contact, gain trust, and scout routes. We must proceed with caution and avoid any conflict. If things become unfeasible, we must ensure our own safety and retreat safely!"

"Rest assured, my lord, Yun understands!"

Zhao Yun clasped his hands in a deep fist salute, then turned around to select men and prepare gifts.

Wang Ping, chosen by Zhao Yun, led two capable crossbowmen who were somewhat fluent in the Qiang language, along with prepared gifts, and quietly left the secret base, plunging into the vast Qilian Mountains.

The search was far more difficult than expected.

Based on Zhao Yun's vague memory and general direction, they trekked arduously through the towering mountains.

There are no roads here; you have to find your way and follow the tracks of wild animals to make your way forward. Sometimes you have to climb near-vertical rock walls, sometimes you have to cross icy, snowmelt streams, and sometimes you get lost in the dense primeval forest.

The mountain wind at night sounded like the wailing of ghosts, carrying a chilling aura.

The howls of various unknown wild beasts rose and fell, forcing people to be constantly vigilant and take turns keeping watch, making it impossible to get any sleep.

The provisions they brought were quickly depleted, forcing them to rely on picking wild fruits and hunting small animals to stave off hunger.

Seven or eight days passed, and they had traversed almost every possible valley in the area Zhao Yun remembered, but they hadn't even spotted a trace of the Qiang tribe.

The two accompanying captains could hardly hide their fatigue and doubt. If they didn't have absolute trust in Zhao Yun, they probably would have already considered leaving.

"General, are you sure... that tribe is really in this area? Could it be... they've already migrated?"

A captain couldn't help but ask in a low, hoarse voice.

Zhao Yun frowned, his gaze sweeping firmly over the surrounding treacherous mountains, and said in a deep voice.

"According to the old hunter's description from back then, it should be in this mountainous area."

These ancient tribes cherish their ancestral lands immensely and will never easily migrate unless absolutely necessary. Let's search more carefully; perhaps... we've discovered some hidden entrances we've overlooked.

As soon as he finished speaking, Wang Ping, who was leading the way, suddenly made a concealment gesture. Everyone immediately fell silent and quickly hid behind a huge rock.

In the distance, several agile figures darted through the forest like monkeys. Clad in animal hides, their movements were light and swift, demonstrating an intimate knowledge of the terrain. They quickly disappeared behind what appeared to be an ordinary crevice in the mountainside. (End of Chapter)