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

"My lord, three more grain convoys that set out from Wudu County were attacked yesterday. Fifteen grain carts were lost, more than a hundred escorting soldiers were killed, and dozens were wounded."

The military officer in charge of logistics coordination reported with a solemn expression; each update to the figures in the ledgers meant an increase in pressure.

"Although General Zhao Yun's White Horse Cavalry did their best to patrol back and forth, the battle line was long and the Cao army's harassment points were numerous and scattered, making it difficult to cover every aspect."

Gu Rubing tapped his fingers lightly on the table, making a rhythmic tapping sound.

He looked up at Zhao Yun, who stood solemnly beneath the tent.

"Zilong, the supply lines are the lifeline of our army and cannot be lost. I am sending you two hundred elite light cavalry to expand the patrol area, especially along the section from Qishan Road to the main camp. Set up more hidden sentries, hiding by day and moving out at night, to actively seek out and annihilate those harassing enemies. I want Cao Cao's scouts and small groups to never return!"

Zhao Yun clasped his hands in a fist salute, his silver armor gleaming coldly in the lamplight inside the tent, his eyes sharp as an eagle's.

"Your subordinate obeys! I will do my utmost to protect the supply route. However... the men harassing us are all elite veterans who are skilled in mountain warfare and familiar with the local terrain. It will take time to eliminate them completely, and our cavalry will find it difficult to fully utilize their strengths in the narrow mountain paths."

"I see."

Gu Rubing nodded.

"We do not seek to annihilate them all at once, but rather to create a deterrent, so that they dare not act rashly and slow down the rate at which our food supplies are depleted. At the same time, we order the rear to increase the number of escort troops, concentrate the food convoys, shorten the intervals between batches, and reduce any opportunities for them to take advantage."

"promise!"

Zhao Yun accepted the order, turned around, and strode out of the tent to make arrangements.

On the main battlefield, Gu Rubing also tried to break Cao Cao's entrenched position.

He knew that Cao Cao was cunning and shrewd, and that his provocation might not work, but he still had to give it a try.

The next day, Zhang Fei received orders, mustered five hundred elite soldiers, and carrying his eighteen-foot spear, he arrived menacingly outside Cao Cao's camp. He found a high spot and began to hurl insults at them.

"Cao Cao! You cowardly rat! All you do is cower in your shell like a tortoise. Do you dare to come out and fight your Grandpa Zhang for three hundred rounds?!"

Zhang Fei's voice was booming, and even from a great distance, the soldiers guarding the Cao camp's walls could hear it clearly.

"You all aid and abet evil, siding with those demons of Penglai. How can you face the world? You have utterly disgraced the Cao family ancestors!"

He cursed with increasing fervor, from Cao Cao himself to his generals, his words crude yet sharp, causing the soldiers behind him to chuckle softly, while the Cao army soldiers opposite him blushed, yet dared not abandon their posts, gripping their weapons tightly and glaring angrily.

After cursing for about half an hour, Cao's camp gate remained unmoved, with only a few "No War" signs swaying slightly in the wind.

Zhang Fei's eyes widened, and he roared in anger.

"You son of a bitch! You've really become a spineless coward! Men, come closer and curse me!"

Having said that, he spurred his warhorse forward and closed the distance by more than a hundred paces.

This time, Cao Cao's camp reacted. The gate opened a crack, and a general led several hundred cavalry out, reining in their horses just outside the range of arrows.

The general remained calm and shouted from afar.

"Zhang Yide, cease your arrogance! My Prime Minister is a master strategist; how could he fall for such a crude provocation? If you have the guts, then come and attack our camp!"

When Zhang Fei saw someone come out, his spirits lifted, and he was about to step forward with his spear.

"State your name, general! My Serpent Spear does not discriminate against nameless nobodies!"

The general Cao sneered.

"Why bother leaving a name when I'm killing you, you brute? Take this arrow!"

Before he finished speaking, the archers behind him fired arrows in unison, and a rain of arrows poured down. Although the force had weakened due to the distance, it still forced Zhang Fei and his soldiers to raise their shields to block, and the momentum of their charge was halted.

Taking advantage of this opportunity, Cao's general turned his horse around and led his men back into the stockade. The stockade gate slammed shut, and no matter how much Zhang Fei jumped up and down and cursed outside, there was no more sound.

Similar scenes played out repeatedly over the next few days. Sometimes it was Zhang Fei, sometimes it was Ma Chao. Ma Chao's verbal battle tactics weren't as varied as Zhang Fei's, but the fierce spirit of the Xiliang cavalry and Ma Chao's own cold-blooded killing intent could still put pressure on Cao Cao's army.

Occasionally, Cao Cao's camp would send out generals to fight, such as Zhang He and Xu Huang, who had all fought against Zhang Fei and Ma Chao.

However, these encounters all carried a clear sense of probing and restraint. Often, after fighting for twenty or thirty rounds, Cao's general would feel that victory was difficult to achieve, or that his side was at a slight disadvantage.

He immediately feigned an attack, turned his horse and fled, retreating back to the range of arrows and crossbow bolts on the stockade wall. If Zhang Fei and Ma Chao pursued too closely, the stockade wall would unleash a volley of crossbow bolts and prepare rolling logs and stones, ensuring they had no chance to approach the stockade gate.

"My lord, Cao Cao is determined to be a coward."

After returning empty-handed from a verbal battle, Zhang Fei gulped down a mouthful of water, wiped his mouth, and angrily addressed Gu Rubing.

"They don't really fight, they run faster than rabbits, it's so frustrating!"

Ma Chao also frowned.

"Cao Cao's camp is well-fortified and mutually supportive; a direct assault would result in heavy casualties. They clearly intend to wear our army down."

Gu Rubing nodded silently.

How could he not know Cao Cao's intentions? On the surface, neither side suffered large-scale casualties in this stalemate, but in reality, an invisible war of attrition had begun, and the balance of power was gradually tilting towards their side, which had come from afar and had a long supply line.

Anxiety, like slowly growing moss, began to spread throughout the military camp.

The initial high morale, boosted by the capture of Guzang, the sweep of Heisha Pass, and the great victory on the eastern front, was gradually worn down by the daily standoffs and lack of progress. The soldiers' faces grew increasingly weary, and private discussions began to increase.

"How long is this war going to last? We're guarding the front lines every day, and we're almost out of food."

"Cao Cao's army is mostly fortified, and it seems they are prepared to fight us to the bitter end."

"I've heard that when grain is transported from Yizhou, two or three out of ten parts are lost on the way. If this continues..."

"Will Sun Jian attack again? What about our hometown..."

These whispers naturally did not escape the ears of officers and military judges at all levels, and eventually reached Gu Rubing.

He knew that morale was like flowing water, and it was better to guide it than to block it, but at present there was no way to break the deadlock, and any empty encouragement would seem pale.

The more pressing pressure came from food supplies. Soldiers had to report on inventory and consumption almost daily, and the numbers became increasingly urgent each time.

"My lord, based on current consumption, our grain reserves can only last for a little over a month. Although subsequent supply convoys have been dispatched, the journey is long, and Cao Cao's army is constantly harassing us. It is uncertain whether they will arrive on time and in sufficient quantity. Should we... begin to reduce the daily rations?"

The voice of someone joining the army was filled with caution.

Gu Rubing closed his eyes for a moment, then slowly shook his head.

"No. The soldiers have been locked in a standoff for days, and their physical and mental strength have been greatly depleted. If their rations are further reduced, their morale will collapse even faster."

The order is given: rations will remain unchanged for now, but the cooks are instructed to find a way to mix in some wild vegetables and dried sweet potatoes to make the porridge appear thicker. Additionally, efforts to gather wild vegetables and hunt game in nearby safe areas should be intensified; every little bit helps.

"But my lord, almost all the areas nearby that could be used for gathering have been searched several times. Wild vegetables are hard to find, and wild animals have long been scared away..."

"Do your best."

Gu Rubing interrupted him, his tone leaving no room for argument.

"At the same time, in my name, I wrote to Lu Su again, instructing him to ensure the supply of provisions to the front lines under all circumstances. He may purchase provisions from the people of Yizhou at a higher price or borrow from allies, with the priority being to stabilize the front lines!"

"promise……"

Having no other choice, he had to withdraw from the army and comply.

In the stillness of the night, the lights remained on in the central command tent. Gu Rubing stood alone before the enormous map of Liangzhou, his gaze fixed on the densely packed camp markers representing Cao Cao's army. The candlelight cast his tall figure against the tent wall, making him appear somewhat solitary.

A direct assault? The thought flashed through his mind, but he immediately rejected it. Cao Cao was not Sun Jian, much less one of those remnants of Penglai who fought with sorcery and madness.

His camp was a true war machine meticulously constructed according to military strategy, with trenches, ramparts, barricades, watchtowers, and crossbow formations layered upon each other, and the various camps supporting each other. His own battle-hardened soldiers were his last asset, and he absolutely could not throw them into such a costly and arduous siege.

So, how do we break this deadlock?

What were Cao Cao's weaknesses?

He seemed invincible—he had a strong army, ample supplies, a sturdy camp, and a calm and collected commander.

Are we really destined to be dragged down here? Or are we hoping Cao Cao will make a mistake?

Gu Rubing's gaze slowly moved across the map, from Cao Cao's main camp to the surrounding mountains and terrain, and then to the distant cities and road markers. Where did Cao Cao's provisions come from?

Yanzhou? Yuzhou? Or are they being conscripted locally in eastern Liangzhou? If the latter, where will they be stockpiled? With such a massive army, the daily consumption is staggering; could their supply lines and water sources also be compromised?

The scouts he previously sent out mostly focused on investigating the Cao army's camp defenses and forward movements, but they did not investigate the deeper logistics hubs enough.

"Perhaps we should send out elite scouts again, no, we should send someone with more influence and ability to personally lead the team deep into the heart of Cao's territory."

Gu Rubing muttered to himself, a resolute glint in his eyes.

"We need to find not only the locations where grain and fodder are stored, but also the true connection points of their defense system, the patterns of troop movements in each camp, and even... the specific location and defenses of Cao Cao's central command tent."

Know yourself and know your enemy, and you will never be defeated. Now, we have exhausted our ability to "know ourselves".

Knowing the enemy, however, remains superficial. The first step to breaking the deadlock must be to obtain more crucial and in-depth intelligence.

Cao Cao's ability to remain calm and collected stemmed from his confidence in his own defenses and his assessment of Gu Rubing's predicament. If he could find even a crack in Gu's seemingly impenetrable defenses, or make Gu realize that holding firm was not a foolproof strategy…

The night wind howled outside the tent, carrying the chill of the eastern wilderness of Liangzhou. Gu Rubing knew that this silent contest had entered its most challenging and dangerous phase.

Cao Cao was waiting—waiting for his supplies to run out, for his morale to collapse, and for other possible variables to emerge. He, on the other hand, had to find the key to breaking the deadlock before the situation completely deteriorated.

He summoned his personal guards and gave them instructions in a low voice.

"Go and summon General Zilong to see me immediately. Also, have Yide and Mengqi prepare to be at my disposal at any time. Remember, do it quietly and do not alert anyone."

The guards obeyed and left. Gu Rubing returned to his desk, spread out a more detailed map of the area, and, by the light of the lamp, began to carefully sketch out possible infiltration routes and key targets for investigation. Only the faint sound of the pen gliding across the silk remained in the tent, intertwined with the distant, lingering sound of the night patrol's clapper.

Cao Cao's strategy of harassing supply lines did not completely stop after a failed counter-ambush; it simply became more covert and cunning.

They no longer easily attacked large supply convoys, but instead turned their attention to smaller, less heavily guarded auxiliary and laborer convoys, specifically targeting terrain with rugged mountain roads, dense forests, and deep ravines that were not conducive to the rapid deployment of cavalry.

Often, a few rockets would be fired, setting a few grain carts ablaze, or dozens of fierce soldiers would suddenly emerge from hiding, cutting down some laborers and guards, seizing some grain or simply burning it, before quickly fleeing into the mountains and disappearing without a trace.

While this "wolf pack" tactic may seem to cause only minor direct losses each time, it occurs frequently and has a particularly severe impact on the morale of the logistics personnel. The laborers begin to hesitate, and the auxiliary soldiers escorting the supplies are filled with anxiety, inevitably affecting the speed of the grain transport.

In addition to the actual figures for food supplies, the daily loss reports submitted by the soldiers also included more and more casualty records, most of which occurred during the tedious and dangerous transport process rather than on the front lines.

As Gu Rubing looked at these reports, his brows furrowed deeper and deeper.

He knew that Cao Cao's move was to use this slow, insidious method of bleeding himself dry until his logistical system could no longer bear the burden.

"Passive defense will only lead to being led by the nose and running around in circles."

He spoke to Zhao Yun, Zhang Fei, Ma Chao, and other generals who were standing in the tent.

"We must make Cao Cao's claws hurt once, and let him know how great the price of harassment is."

His gaze fell on Zhao Yun.

"Zilong, Cao Cao's army is familiar with the terrain and moves erratically, making it difficult to eliminate them with regular patrols. I hereby give you a secret order: you may select your most elite and skilled warriors, who are also proficient in horsemanship and archery, to disguise themselves as escorts and use the grain convoy as bait to set up an ambush."

The specific timing and location are up to you to decide. What I want is not to repel them, but to annihilate as many of their troops as possible, and to kill their commander, as a warning to others!

Zhao Yun's eyes lit up, and he clasped his hands in a deep voice.

"This subordinate understands! I will certainly not fail my lord's trust!"

A few days later, a grain convoy that seemed no different from any other set off from the rear camp in the morning mist, slowly making its way along the official road leading to Gu Rubing's main camp. The number of grain carts was moderate, with about two hundred laborers escorting the convoy and about one hundred guards, all under the guise of transporting rice and pickled vegetables.

The laborers in the group seemed more silent than usual, walking with their heads down. The guards, though their armor and weapons were no different from those of ordinary auxiliary soldiers, were more steady in their steps if observed closely. Their eyes occasionally swept over the mountains and forests on both sides of the road with a hunter's vigilance.

Zhao Yun himself did not ride his conspicuous Jade Lion, but instead rode an ordinary brown warhorse, wearing the armor of an ordinary captain, and mingled in the guard team, his gaze calmly fixed on the winding road ahead.

Behind him, several grain carts piled high didn't contain grain sacks, but rather dozens of elite White Horse Cavalry soldiers. They lowered their banners, lowered their drums, drew their swords, nocked their arrows, and waited breathlessly. (End of Chapter)