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

As the last wisp of smoke dissipated over the walls of Guzang City, and as the last organized resistance force from Penglai was utterly annihilated by Zhao Yun's White Horse Cavalry in a warehouse area south of the city—

Guzang City, the capital of Liangzhou, which had been corrupted by Penglai's evil magic and turned into a demon's lair for months, finally... fell completely into the hands of Gu Rubing after paying the price of countless blood and lives!

The banner representing the Gu family name finally flew high once again at the highest point of Guzang City!

The waning, weary glow of the setting sun finally shone unhindered upon the ruins of Guzang City, no longer obscured by the eerie swirling clouds that had shrouded and distorted the light all day.

However, this long-awaited "normal" daylight revealed a massive city riddled with holes and almost reduced to ruins, with wreckage and dark red bloodstains everywhere.

Gu Rubing stood silently atop the ruins of the governor's mansion, his feet resting on broken tiles, charred beams, and withered, shattered, and strange materials.

He looked down at the ravaged land before him, but his face showed little joy of victory, only a deep weariness and an inescapable solemnity.

The cost of this battle was far too high.

Countless soldiers who were once vibrant, loyal to him, and fought alongside him in bloody battles now lie buried here, their blood soaking every inch of Guzang's land.

The vast land of Liangzhou has suffered greatly from the evil magic of Penglai. Its earth veins are damaged, and its vitality is withered. It is unknown how many years it will take to recover.

Just as Gu Rubing took a deep breath of the air thick with the stench of blood and burnt flesh, preparing to order the thorough cleanup of the battlefield, the reassurance of the surviving civilians, and the tallying of casualties, his peripheral vision suddenly caught something unusual—

At the end of several remote streets and alleys that were not yet fully under control in the distance, there were several figures dressed in ordinary clothes like ordinary Penglai soldiers or Divine Marchers, yet moving with extreme speed.
Using the ruins and shadows as cover, they moved silently toward the outskirts of the city, and soon only a few blurry figures remained, disappearing behind the broken walls and rubble.

That wasn't a rout!
Gu Rubing's pupils suddenly contracted. The fleeing soldiers were in a state of panic and disorder, but these few people moved with a clear direction and astonishing efficiency. It was clear that they had planned their escape route before the explosion, taking advantage of the final chaos and the fact that their own side was busy clearing out the main enemy forces in the city to escape!

A chill crept up Gu Rubing's spine, making his already chilly body, which was already feeling cold due to internal injuries, feel even colder.

What does the departure of these people mean? It means that the core of Penglai may not have been wiped out here as they had previously thought!
There are still extremely dangerous individuals, like venomous snakes lurking in the darkness, who have successfully escaped and are hiding in unknown corners, watching them with cold eyes, waiting for their chance to strike.

"Brother, the initial cleanup of the battlefield is almost complete. We are currently tallying the captured weapons and armor, and the prisoners have been gathered and are being held in custody."

Zhang Fei's rough voice came from behind him, interrupting his thoughts.

Zhang Fei was wrapped in many bandages, but he was full of energy, and the excitement of killing enemies still lingered in his leopard eyes.

Gu Rubing turned around and looked at the generals Guan Yu, Zhao Yun, Ma Chao, Huang Zhong, and others, who were also injured and exhausted but trying to keep up their spirits, and slowly began to speak.

"Thank you all for your hard work."

We have won this battle, captured Guzang, and destroyed the core of the evil formation.

The generals all showed a relieved expression, but then Gu Rubing's next words led them into deeper contemplation.

“However,” Gu Rubing changed the subject, his tone becoming heavy.

"We have only broken through the most solid defense line that Penglai has made visible."

Those bizarre, incredibly strong, and painless divine soldiers; those unpredictable and deadly spells; and those three powerful guardians… Gentlemen, ask yourselves honestly, when fighting such enemies, which of us hasn't teetered on the brink of death countless times? Have we ever felt our backs tremble with fear?

Upon hearing this, everyone fell silent. Recalling the perilous battle, especially the terrifying power of the Evil Heart Crystal and the formidable strength of the guardians, it was indeed a chilling experience.

Guan Yu's hand, which was stroking his beard, paused slightly, and a trace of solemnity flashed in his phoenix eyes; Zhao Yun subconsciously tightened his grip on his bright silver spear; Ma Chao licked his slightly chapped lips; and Huang Zhong silently touched his bow scabbard.

Zhang Fei also suppressed his excitement and grinned.

"Damn it, those ghostly things are really eerie!"

"After Penglai, what else is there?"
Where exactly is their headquarters? How many other strongholds like Guzang are there?

What is their ultimate goal?

Gu Rubing asked a series of questions, his voice echoing across the ruins.

We know nothing about it.

The appearance of Penglai has completely disrupted all our original strategic plans and preparations for dealing with Cao Cao and Sun Jian.

The current situation is perhaps more complex and dangerous than it was before we conquered Guzang.

He glanced at everyone and finally made his decision.

"Pass down the order: the entire army shall rest for a day! Take the time to treat the wounded, replenish their strength, and repair their armor."

A day later, except for the necessary garrison troops, the main force immediately set off towards the rear of Liangzhou to continue its advance! We must seize the opportunity to expand our gains, recover as much lost territory as possible, and at the same time... find out where Penglai is hiding!

"I will obey your orders!"

The generals accepted the order in unison, knowing that this was no time to be complacent.

However, shortly after Gu Rubing issued the order to rest, and before he even had a chance to step down from the ruins, a scout captain in charge of perimeter security and intelligence gathering rushed over, covered in dust and looking anxious. He knelt on one knee and spoke urgently.

"Report! My lord! Urgent military intelligence!"

Gu Rubing's heart tightened suddenly.

"speak!"

"According to the latest scout reports, Cao Cao's vanguard troops broke through the northern defense line of Yizhou yesterday and entered the southeastern border of Liangzhou! Furthermore..."

They didn't engage the remaining resistance forces of our army; instead... instead, they joined forces with a remnant army of about 20,000 from Penglai, currently stationed in the 'Black Wind Pass' area to the southeast, their movements unknown! "What?!"

Upon hearing this, not only did Gu Rubing's expression change drastically, but the generals behind him also gasped in shock!
Cao Cao actually chose to join forces with the remnants of the Penglai army at this crucial moment?!

This is undoubtedly the worst news!

This means that what they will face next may no longer be enemies fighting individually, but a more difficult-to-deal-with united force led by the warlord Cao Cao and incorporating the strange and evil magic of Penglai!

The captain took a breath and continued his report.

"In addition, Sun Jian's forces of the Anluo Empire are still blocked outside the northern part of Liangzhou by our border garrison relying on the strategic fortifications. However, their offensive is extremely fierce, continuing day and night, putting enormous pressure on the garrison and making it difficult for them to hold out for long."

Bad news keeps coming!
The smoke of battle in Guzang City had not completely dissipated, and the air was still filled with the strange smells of blood, burnt remains, and a stubborn trace of evil energy.

Amidst the ruins, the surviving soldiers silently cleared the horrific battlefield. They carefully retrieved the remains of their comrades from the rubble and piles of corpses, arranged them neatly, and prepared for a proper burial.

The enemy's corpses were gathered together, doused with kerosene, and burned. The billowing black smoke carried the stench of burning flesh, all to prevent the spread of plague.

The triumphant cheers that should have been there were completely overshadowed by the enormous casualties and the devastation of the city. The atmosphere in the entire city of Guzang was heavy and solemn, as if a huge boulder was pressing on everyone's heart.

Gu Rubing still stood atop the ruins of the governor's mansion. The setting sun, like blood, stretched his tall but weary figure long, as if it too was tinged with a blood-red halo.

He did indeed win this extremely fierce siege, severing Penglai's central influence in Liangzhou, but the price he paid was immeasurable. Nearly half of his core elite troops were lost, and those who survived were all wounded, leaving the region severely weakened.

Guan Yu, Zhang Fei, Zhao Yun, Ma Chao, Huang Zhong, and other generals who were his trusted lieutenants were all covered in marks, indicating a significant depletion of their internal energy. As for himself, his internal organs were injured, and his meridians were damaged from burning his life force. He also urgently needed time to calm down and recuperate.

However, what troubled him most, like a bone stuck in his throat, was the back view of those few ordinary fleeing soldiers who quietly disappeared in the chaos at the end of the battle.

The extraordinary and monstrous power that Penglai displayed here—the fearless and incredibly strong divine army; the various evil arts that were impossible to defend against and were bizarre and insidious;

And those twisted and dangerous evil creations that seemed to crawl out of the depths of a nightmare... Even now, thinking back on all of this still fills Gu Rubing with a deep, lingering sense of dread that is hard to shake off.

The mountains of corpses and seas of blood beneath Guzang City, and the fierce battles within the governor's mansion, all clearly told him that in fighting such an enemy, any negligence could have devastating consequences.

"Did we really win?"

This thought sometimes pops up uncontrollably.

In the Battle of Guzang, they achieved a pyrrhic victory, destroying an important lair and the core of the evil array. However, a voice deep within Gu Rubing warned him that this might only be the tip of the iceberg of the enemy's vast and dark conspiracy!
The true foundation, ultimate purpose, and potentially more terrifying methods of Penglai remain hidden behind layers of mist, like a giant beast lurking in the deep sea, only revealing a few of its ferocious dorsal fins.

The real storm, powerful enough to sweep the world, is far from over; it may even be... just beginning to brew.

The order to rest had been given, and the exhausted soldiers finally got a precious chance to catch their breath. Soon, heavy snoring filled the camp.

However, Gu Rubing's heart felt as if it were being roasted over a low flame, unable to get any real rest.

He stood in the hastily cleared central command tent, his gaze fixed on the rough map of Liangzhou, his brows furrowed.

He knew all too well that time, at this moment, was the most precious thing in the world, and it was not on his side.

To the north, Cao Cao, that cunning old fox, has already broken through the defenses of Yizhou and entered the southeastern border of Liangzhou, where he has joined forces with the scattered remnants of Penglai!
This is undoubtedly an extremely dangerous signal!

This means that the threat from the north has not been eliminated by the capture of Guzang, but may have become more complicated and unpredictable due to Cao Cao's intervention!
Cao Cao was a brilliant strategist with countless advisors and fierce generals under his command. If he were to integrate the strange and troublesome remnants of Penglai and gain some help from evil magic, to what extent would his power expand? Just thinking about it sends chills down one's spine.

To the east, Sun Jian, that greedy tiger, was temporarily held back by the border garrison relying on its strategic fortifications, but his ambition for expansion and his opportunistic nature meant that he would never let go of any possible opportunity.

Once he finds a weakness in the defense line, or learns that his main force is bogged down in Liangzhou and that Yizhou in the rear is empty, his army will surely surge forth like a flood bursting its banks!

Looking at the Liangzhou land beneath my feet, which has just been recovered, it is now a scorched earth ravaged by both evil magic and war!
The city was in ruins, the villages were reduced to wasteland, the fields were barren, the surviving people were displaced, and the people were filled with fear and anxiety.

To revitalize this land, a massive investment of manpower, resources, and time is needed, and these are precisely what he lacks most right now.

Meanwhile, Yizhou, the land on which he relied for survival and development, was under tremendous pressure due to Cao Cao's invasion and Sun Jian's threat!
No matter how capable Lu Su was, even a skilled cook cannot cook without rice. How long could he hold out when his troops were stretched thin?

Every decision is like walking a tightrope over a bottomless abyss, concerning the very survival and rise and fall of the entire force!
The immense pressure almost suffocated him.

After only one day of rest, just as the eastern sky was beginning to lighten, the resounding bugle call once again shattered the still lingering silence of Guzang City.

The army sets off once again!
Several thousand soldiers with serious injuries who needed to recuperate remained in Guzang City, along with a group of officials who were urgently appointed to appease the people and maintain basic order.

Gu Rubing personally led the main force that was still capable of fighting, with a tragic yet resolute atmosphere, stepping through the morning dew, and continued to advance towards the northwest of Liangzhou.

The decision to choose this direction was made after discussions among the generals and strategists. The northwest was the area where the Penglai forces initially infiltrated and operated for the longest period of time, and the terrain was also more complex, with undulating mountains and crisscrossing ravines.

Those remnants of the enemy forces that were routed in the Battle of Guzang are most likely to have fled here, using the complex terrain to put up a stubborn resistance, and may even be hiding secret strongholds in Penglai that have never been exposed.

However, the sights along the way were even more shocking and chilling than the devastation inside Guzang City!

The once densely populated village is now reduced to a few charred earthen walls and scattered bones, completely turned into a wasteland.

The fields that should have been full of crops are now barren, overgrown with weeds, and the soil has a sickly gray-black color; most of the rivers and streams are polluted, emitting a foul odor, and are murky in color, with no fish or shrimp to be found.

The few surviving people you occasionally encounter are all emaciated and poorly clothed. Their eyes are empty and numb, filled with fear of the past disasters and despair for the future, as if their souls have been ripped out.

Although Penglai's rule was short-lived, its cruelty and far-reaching influence were like a devastating plague, not only slaughtering lives but also utterly destroying the vitality and hope upon which this land depended for survival! (End of Chapter)