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

Moreover, if Sun Jian were to completely break through the eastern defense line, his military might even threaten the fragile logistical supply line connecting Guzang with the rear, and even directly endanger Guzang, the capital of the newly recovered state!

Should we immediately return to Shidong to rescue them?

Then the remaining bandits of Penglai in the west, who have not yet been completely wiped out, will be given a chance to breathe, and may even rise from the ashes.

They are familiar with the terrain and use unorthodox methods. If they secretly collude with Cao Cao in the east at this critical juncture, working together from within and without, they could very well cause another disaster that sweeps across Liangzhou, causing the victory in Guzang, which they had paid a huge price for, to be lost!
This is an absolute dilemma! Choosing either side will inevitably lead to the enormous risk of neglecting one aspect for the other, and could result in irreparable serious consequences.

Gu Rubing remained silent for a long time, with only the unconscious tapping of his fingers on the rough table echoing in the quiet military tent, as if it were an outward manifestation of his intense inner struggle and weighing of options.

The flame of the oil lamp danced in his deep pupils, reflecting countless possibilities and heavy costs.

Finally, the knocking stopped abruptly.

A resolute glint flashed in Gu Rubing's eyes. He suddenly raised his head, his voice hoarse from exhaustion, yet carrying a firm resolve that cut off all hesitation.

"Summon Guan Yu and Huang Zhong to come see me immediately!"

"The general is here!"

Guan Yu and Huang Zhong, who had been waiting outside the tent, entered upon hearing the call. Both of them still carried the dust and murderous aura left from the days of clearing out the remaining enemies.

Gu Rubing stared intently at the two men with sharp eyes and quickly issued orders.

"Yun Chang, Han Sheng! I order you two to immediately muster 30,000 troops, mostly infantry, equipped with sufficient bows and crossbows, and march eastward day and night to provide reinforcements!"

His finger landed heavily on the areas on the map that were most deeply pierced by orange arrows and were already in imminent danger.

"Your mission is to rush to the eastern border and, at all costs, halt Sun Jian's advance! Remember, the goal in this battle is not to annihilate the enemy, but to force them back, stabilize the eastern front, curb their rampage, and buy time for the rear!"

As he spoke, he picked up a command arrow that represented the authority to mobilize troops and solemnly handed it to Guan Yu.

Guan Yu stretched out his hands and calmly accepted the command arrow. In his slightly narrowed phoenix eyes, a cold light flashed like a knife. He responded in a deep voice.

"I, Guan, obey your orders! I will certainly live up to your trust, brother, and make sure that Sun Wentai will not be able to cross the line even half a step!"

Huang Zhong also cupped his hands in greeting, his powerful voice carrying the confidence and determination of a veteran of a hundred battles.

"Rest assured, my lord! With Han Sheng's bow, we will surely let the Anluo barbarian cavalry taste the might of our Divine Archer Battalion!"

"Alright! Let's not delay, let's set off immediately!"

Gu Rubing slammed his hand heavily on the table.

Guan Yu and Huang Zhong said no more, bowed to Gu Rubing, then resolutely turned around and strode out of the military tent. Soon, the hurried sounds of troops being mobilized and assembled could be heard outside.

After seeing off the generals who came to reinforce the east, Gu Rubing's gaze returned to the western part of the map, his eyes becoming even sharper and more urgent.

He took a deep breath and gave the order again.

"Summon Zhang Fei, Zhao Yun, and Ma Chao!"

"The general is here!"

The three entered in response. Zhang Fei remained impatient, Zhao Yun was composed, and Ma Chao was sharp and aggressive.

Gu Rubing looked at his three most capable and battle-hardened generals, his voice filled with the urgency of racing against time.

"Yide, Zilong, Mengqi! Sun Jian is causing havoc in the east. Yunchang and Hansheng have already gone to intercept him."

The advance in the east may be temporarily halted, but our westward march must not stop; on the contrary, it must be accelerated!

His fingers traced across the vast and complex region in northwestern Liangzhou.

"The three of you will follow me and lead the remaining main force to continue westward! Abandon the previous strategy of steady advance and accelerate the clearing speed! I'm giving you one month. Within one month, you must completely wipe out all remaining enemies in the northwest and eliminate all threats from Penglai in this area! Can you do it?"

Zhang Fei was the first to shout "Waaah!"

"Don't worry, brother! With me, Old Zhang, here, who cares about those remnants of Penglai? We'll just chop them all down! A month? I think twenty days will be enough!"

Zhao Yun clasped his hands in a fist salute, his eyes resolute.

"Yun will do everything in its power to eliminate the bandits and will never allow any more trouble to break out in the west!"

Ma Chao paused with his spear and shouted loudly.

"Meng Qi and the valiant men of Xiliang are willing to be the vanguard, clearing roads through mountains and building bridges over rivers, to pacify the Northwest for our lord!"

"it is good!"

Looking at the three generals, who were full of fighting spirit, Gu Rubing felt somewhat relieved.

"Go and prepare yourselves. At dawn tomorrow, we will break camp and head west!"

"I will obey your orders!"

Gu Rubing stared at the markers on the map that represented the crises on both the eastern and western fronts, his eyes sharp as knives.

In this precarious and difficult situation, dividing forces to meet the enemy is undoubtedly a risky move, but it is also the only feasible strategy at present!

He must race against time and contend with formidable enemies on both the eastern and western fronts.

On the eastern front, there was Guan Yu, a peerless general whose fame shook the land and whose loyalty was as high as the heavens. His steadfastness was as solid as a mountain and his sharpness as sharp as a knife, making him more than capable of shouldering great responsibilities. Furthermore, there was Huang Zhong, an old general who was still strong and skilled in archery and acted with composure.

With the two of them working together, along with the troops stationed on the eastern border who were familiar with the terrain and were fighting a bloody battle, they could build a solid barrier to resist or even find an opportunity to repel Sun Jian's greedy and fierce attack.

This reflects his absolute trust in Guan Yu and Huang Zhong's abilities, as well as his expectations for the soldiers in the east.

He himself had to personally lead his three core generals—Zhang Fei, Zhao Yun, and Ma Chao—who were equally valiant, along with his most important main force, to eliminate the hidden dangers in western Liangzhou with overwhelming force and as fast as possible! Only by completely stabilizing the rear and eradicating all remaining threats from Penglai could he focus all his strength and energy on dealing with Cao Cao, the greatest enemy who remained inactive, lurking like a venomous snake, and posing the greatest threat!
Military orders are absolute and were swiftly transmitted to the entire army. The massive army, like a sophisticated machine, began to operate and separate efficiently.

An eastern reinforcement force of 30,000 men, mainly composed of infantry and archers, led by Guan Yu and Huang Zhong, was quickly assembled.

They didn't make any grand pronouncements, only their resolute gazes and the somber atmosphere.

At Guan Yu's command, the troops, amidst billowing dust, sped towards the eastern border, a battlefield raging with battle, like a resolute torrent of steel!

Watching the flags of the Eastern Reinforcements disappear into the dust, Gu Rubing stood still for a long time.

He took a deep breath of the air, carrying the dry, dusty scent unique to the western wilderness, forcibly suppressing the deep-seated worry and concern he felt for the situation in the east and for the soldiers who were fighting hard. Now was not the time for distraction.

His gaze, like the most steadfast rock, once again turned to the northwest—that vast, unknown land, full of danger and uncertainty.

The arduous challenges and heavy pressure brought about by fighting on two fronts had, at this moment, become as real as if they had descended upon his shoulders.

After seeing off the reinforcements from the east, Gu Rubing did not delay at all. He immediately led the remaining main force to continue advancing towards the northwest with even greater force and urgency than before!

However, the deeper one ventures into the northwestern hinterland of Liangzhou, the harsher and more unapproachable the surrounding environment becomes.

The ground beneath our feet was no longer solid soil, but vast expanses of cracked, hardened, and lifeless crust. As far as the eye could see, the desert stretched out in all directions, with yellow sand filling the sky.

The gale howled ceaselessly, like the wailing of wronged souls, whipping up rough sand and gravel that lashed at the soldiers' armor and faces, causing sharp pain.

Water became extremely scarce, and the air was filled with the smell of dryness and dust, making even breathing uncomfortable for the lungs.

The remaining forces of Penglai made full use of the complex and varied terrain and the extremely harsh environment.

They completely abandoned any form of direct combat, breaking into smaller groups and disappearing into the desolate land like ghosts.

They hid behind the rolling sand dunes, lurked in the deep crevices of canyons, and lingered in ancient beacon towers that had long been abandoned and were now just ruins.

Instead of seeking to inflict casualties, they used poisoned arrows, meticulously laid quicksand traps and animal snares, as well as various small-scale but extremely insidious harassing spells to constantly delay, harass, and wear down Gu Rubing's massive main force.

The long supply lines became the most fatal weakness.

The grain and water transported from Guzang in the rear had to cross this vast desert, constantly encountering small groups of enemy attacks along the way. The grain convoy suffered heavy losses, and supplies were intermittent, forcing the army to strictly control its daily consumption.

Many soldiers from Yizhou and eastern Liangzhou found it difficult to adapt to the extremely dry climate and the huge temperature difference between day and night. They began to experience symptoms of acclimatization problems, and non-combat casualties such as heatstroke, dehydration, and sand blindness increased, which greatly affected the morale and combat effectiveness of the troops.

The entire battle atmosphere became exceptionally arduous, oppressive, and grueling.

The enemy is like a venomous scorpion lurking in the shadows. You don't know exactly where they are hiding, or when or from what unexpected angle they will suddenly strike you with a fatal blow.

This ubiquitous threat is more nerve-wracking than the sword fights on the front lines.

"You son of a bitch! If you've got the guts, come out and fight me, Old Zhang, for real! Hiding and dodging, what kind of skill is that!"

Zhang Fei's furious roars often echoed in the desert. He possessed the strength to uproot mountains and lift cauldrons, but at this moment, it was as if his fists were hitting cotton, unable to exert any force, and he was so frustrated that he was about to explode.

The originally valiant cavalry under Zhao Yun and Ma Chao were greatly restricted in their mobility in the soft sand and complex terrain. Their horses stumbled and struggled to launch effective charges, greatly reducing their power. Most of the time, they had to dismount and fight on foot, or serve as a mobile reconnaissance force.

Even Gu Rubing himself often felt a sense of frustration, as if he had no way to exert his strength.

He had tens of thousands of soldiers and many fierce generals, but in this vast and strange desert, he was bound by invisible ropes, and his progress was far slower than expected.

Faced with such a predicament, Gu Rubing knew that he had to find the enemy's core stronghold and strike it with lightning speed in order to break this suffocating stalemate.

He dispatched several times more scouts, disregarding casualties, to conduct reconnaissance deep into dangerous areas; at the same time, he intensified the interrogation of prisoners.

Persistence pays off. Based on the intermittent and ambiguous testimonies of several prisoners, as well as the scattered pieces of intelligence obtained by scouts at the cost of their lives, and through the piecing together and analysis by the strategists, a crucial piece of information gradually emerged.

The scattered forces of Penglai seem to be consciously gathering towards an ancient ruin called "Black Sand Pass" in the northwest!
It is said to be the ruins left by an ancient kingdom that has long since vanished. The terrain is extremely complex, easy to defend and difficult to attack, and it seems to have been pre-planned by Penglai as an emergency retreat point and a secret storage place for supplies.

Currently, those gathered there and organizing these harassing actions are several mid-level leaders with considerable strength who survived the massive explosion in Guzang, along with some sorcerers.

The target has finally been locked on!

A cold glint flashed in Gu Rubing's eyes, and he no longer hesitated.

He immediately summoned his generals and issued clear instructions.

"The entire army shall adjust its course, overcome all difficulties, and march straight for Heisha Pass! We must encircle and annihilate the enemy's main force here before they can fully establish a foothold or flee again!"

However, the tracking process was far more difficult than imagined, much like searching for a specific grain of sand in a vast, boundless sea of ​​sand.

The remaining enemies of Penglai were clearly aware of the crisis. They left behind a large number of false marching traces and set up many misleading markers in an attempt to lead Gu Rubing's army astray or delay their advance.

Gu Rubing's main force, like a tenacious dragon, trudged through the vast and harsh desert.

Above us was the scorching sun, so intense it felt like it could dry out our blood; beneath our feet was hot, soft quicksand; and all around us was a relentless gale, whipping up coarse sand that stung our cheeks.

The army's advance was forced to slow, but it steadily and step by step tightened the encirclement towards the target area.

This was all thanks to the experienced Qiang guides in the army who were familiar with the geography of the Northwest, and the increasingly tenacious will of all the soldiers, honed by the harsh environment and potential enemies!
The closer they got to the Black Sand Pass area indicated in the intelligence, the more frequent and intense the small-scale, high-intensity battles they encountered along the way became.

The enemy clearly realized that the end was near, and they were fighting desperately!
Using their familiarity with the terrain, they ambushed lone scout squads, raided soldiers tasked with finding water, and even launched brief night raids under the cover of sand dunes before quickly disappearing into the darkness.

All actions were aimed at the same goal—to stop and delay Gu Rubing's army from approaching their last stronghold, Black Sand Pass, at all costs!
The most dangerous incident occurred during a sudden, massive sandstorm that blotted out the sky. Gale-force winds howled, yellow sand filled the air, visibility plummeted to less than a few meters, and the world was shrouded in chaos.

The army struggled to maintain its formation amidst the sandstorm, yet still nearly lost its way.

At this moment when the power of heaven and earth was at its peak and people were most bewildered, a cavalry force of about five hundred men from Penglai, like ghosts emerging from a sandstorm, launched a surprise attack on the flank of the central army, relying on their familiarity with the local environment!
A chaotic battle erupted amidst a sandstorm with extremely low visibility! (End of Chapter)