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

The grain convoy arrived at a place called "Luoyan Gorge". The terrain here is treacherous, with the official road passing between two steep cliffs. The road is narrow, only wide enough for two carts to pass side by side, and the cliffs are covered with dense trees, making it an excellent ambush location.

The scouts reported nothing unusual, but Zhao Yun's heart tightened. He raised his hand to signal the team to slow down, his eyes scanning the quiet forests on both sides with lightning speed.

Sure enough, just as the supply convoy had fully entered the middle of the canyon, a sudden change occurred!
"kill--!"

A sharp whistle shattered the silence, followed by shouts of battle erupting from the forests on both sides of the canyon! Countless arrows rained down from the cliffs like locusts, their targets aimed directly at the supply wagons and the people in the ranks!

At the same time, Cao's infantry appeared at the front and rear valley entrances, wielding swords, shields, and spears, shouting as they charged forward, intending to block the retreat and swallow the grain convoy whole!
The laborers screamed in terror, instinctively cowering or seeking cover, and the scene descended into chaos.

However, the anticipated massacre did not actually occur.

Those seemingly panicked "guards" quickly raised their round shields to protect their vitals the moment the arrows rained down. Although their formation was slightly loose, it did not collapse.

Even more surprisingly, the side panels of those grain carts, which were piled up extremely high, were suddenly kicked open from the inside!

"White Horse Cavalry, kill!"

With a deep, angry roar, dozens of agile white figures leaped out of the grain carts like tigers unleashed from their cages! While still in mid-air, their bows and arrows were already fired! Their arrows were accurate and deadly, targeting the exposed archers and commanders of Cao Cao's army on the cliff face!
Screams suddenly came from the cliff face, and several Cao army archers fell to the ground.

Almost simultaneously, Zhao Yun, who was among the guards, suddenly spurred his horse, and the brown warhorse neighed and reared up! He casually tore off his ordinary armor, revealing the gleaming silver chainmail underneath, and with a flick of his wrist, he took the bright silver spear from beside the saddle, drawing a cold arc in the morning light.

"Zhao Zilong of Changshan is here! How dare you, you cowards, set up an ambush!"

The clear shouts echoed through the canyon, momentarily drowning out the sounds of battle.

The Cao army infantry, who had been charging forward, noticeably halted their advance upon hearing the name "Zhao Zilong," and their faces showed fear.

Their orders were to raid an ordinary grain convoy, but who would have thought that Zhao Yun, the god of war, was hiding inside?
The Cao army captain in charge of the ambush, surnamed Li, was directing the operation from behind a protruding rock on the cliff face. Upon seeing this, he was greatly alarmed and inwardly cried out in alarm. However, with the die already cast, he gritted his teeth and urged his men forward, brandishing his sword.

"Don't panic! They outnumber us! Surround them, kill Zhao Yun, and the Prime Minister will reward you handsomely!"

Before he could finish speaking, a silver light shot towards him like a meteor! It was Zhao Yun drawing his bow on horseback and shooting an arrow straight at his face!
Lieutenant Li hurriedly raised his sword to parry.

With a clang, the arrow deflected, the impact numbing his arm and filling him with horror. At that moment, Zhao Yun, leading dozens of White Horse Cavalry who had charged out from the supply wagons, was like a red-hot dagger, thrusting straight into the Cao army attempting to block their path!
The gleaming silver spear danced, transforming into a sky full of stars. Wherever it passed, Cao's soldiers fell like grass, and no one could withstand a single blow.

The White Horse Cavalry followed closely behind, slashing and thrusting with perfect coordination, tearing a bloody gash through Cao Cao's numerically superior army.

Seeing that the situation was not good, Lieutenant Li knew that he could not gain anything today, so he had the idea of ​​retreating. He was about to call on the archers on the cliff to provide cover while he led his men to retreat from the back entrance of the valley.

However, the moment he showed his face, the silver figure broke through the obstruction in front of him, its gaze like lightning locking onto him!

"The thief will leave!"

Zhao Yun shouted and spurred his horse straight down the cliff.

The warhorse seemed to possess a spirit, leaping several times among the rugged rocks before approaching Lieutenant Li's location. Lieutenant Li was terrified; he drew his sword to defend himself, but Zhao Yun's spear deflected his weapon, and the second spear, swift as lightning, pierced straight for his heart!
"Pfft!"

The spear tip pierced through the armor. Lieutenant Li stared wide-eyed at the spear shaft in front of his chest in disbelief, then collapsed and tumbled down the cliff.

With their commander dead, Cao Cao's ambush troops were thrown into chaos. The archers on the cliff lost their commander and were targeted and killed by the White Horse Cavalry, causing their morale to collapse and them to scatter and flee.

The infantry on the ground had no will to fight. With a shout, they abandoned dozens of corpses and fled in disarray into the depths of the mountains and forests.

"Pursue the remaining enemy, but don't pursue them too far!"

Zhao Yun reined in his horse and gave the order in a deep voice. The White Horse Cavalry obeyed and pursued the enemy for another while, killing many. They then withdrew and cleaned up the battlefield.

In this battle, approximately three hundred of Cao Cao's ambush troops were annihilated, and the commanding officer was killed in action. The Chinese side suffered only twenty casualties, and apart from two or three supply wagons that were initially destroyed by rockets, the rest were preserved. When the news reached the main camp, the entire army was greatly encouraged.

After this battle, Cao Cao's harassment of the supply lines indeed decreased significantly. The frequency and scale of the harassment both dropped markedly. Clearly, Cao Cao realized that Gu Rubing was prepared and capable of launching a fierce counterattack. If he continued to launch small-scale attacks with the same recklessness as before, the losses might exceed what he could bear.

Taking advantage of this opportunity, Zhao Yun led the White Horse Cavalry and some light cavalry to launch a proactive attack, clearing out several small strongholds and abandoned villages that Cao Cao's army might use for assembly and hiding. Although the spoils were not many, they further compressed the operational space of Cao Cao's small units.

He even led his elite cavalry to approach the outermost camp of Cao Cao's army several times, galloping back and forth outside the range of crossbows, showing off his power and causing Cao Cao's camp to send out frequent alarms and beat drums, but he never dared to open the gates to fight.

The pressure on the logistics line was temporarily relieved, and the efficiency and security of food transport improved. The anxiety in the barracks caused by the harassment was also greatly calmed by this clean and decisive counterattack.

However, Gu Rubing, Zhao Yun, Zhang Fei, and others all knew that this was merely a temporary solution. Cao Cao's main army remained entrenched behind their fortified camps stretching for dozens of miles, with deep trenches, high walls, and impeccably maintained banners, showing no sign of engaging in battle. The stalemate on the main battlefield remained unchanged.

Time continued to pass, and their own supplies continued to dwindle. Although the harassment had decreased, the losses and delays inherent in long-distance transport remained with the supplies being transported from Yizhou. Lu Su did his best to procure supplies, but Yizhou itself faced pressure and could not supply the front lines indefinitely.

Inside the central command tent, the atmosphere once again became heavy. Zhang Fei repeatedly requested permission to launch a strong attack on one of Cao Cao's camps, but Gu Rubing sternly rejected his requests each time.

"Yide, Cao Cao's military strategy was most adept at using stillness to control movement and waiting for the enemy to tire themselves out."

His camps, seemingly independent, are actually interconnected; a move in one will have far-reaching consequences. If you launch a fierce attack on one camp, the others will surely send troops to harass my flanks or cut off my retreat. Our army is already outnumbered, and having marched a long distance, we cannot afford such attrition.”

Gu Rubing pointed to the sand table and patiently explained.

"So we're just going to wait and see? Wait until we run out of food?"

Zhang Fei frantically grabbed his hair.

Ma Chao also said.

"My lord, could we devise a plan to lure the enemy into battle? For example, could we feign running out of supplies and retreating?"

Gu Rubing shook his head. "What kind of person is Cao Cao? How could such a crude scheme fool him? He might even take advantage of the situation to kill us."

He paused, his gaze becoming deep.

"The current stalemate is due to the fact that the enemy knows us well, while we do not know them well enough. What is the true state of Cao Cao's camp? Where are his provisions stored? How are his troops specifically distributed? In particular... to what extent have he used those Penglai remnants he gathered? We know very little about these things."

He paced back and forth a few steps, then stopped and looked at Zhao Yun, who was standing to the side.

"Zilong, you were quite familiar with the surrounding terrain when you guarded the supply route last time. I want to take a risk and send out my most elite scouts deep into Cao Cao's camp to find out what's going on. This is no small matter; it requires someone who is bold, meticulous, exceptionally skilled, and proficient in stealth. Do you have any suitable candidates under your command?"

Zhao Yun's expression hardened, and he said solemnly.

"My lord, I do have several scout captains under my command who have ventured deep into dangerous areas to conduct reconnaissance many times. They are experienced and highly skilled."

Three of them were particularly outstanding: one was Chen Wu, skilled in climbing and possessing exceptional hearing and eyesight; another was Han Lie, a former hunter who was adept at tracking and ambushing in the mountains; and the third was Shi Chuan, meticulous in thought, with an excellent memory, able to remember everything he saw. However… Cao Cao's camp was heavily fortified, far from ordinary, and this journey would be extremely dangerous…”

"I knew it was dangerous."

Gu Rubing interrupted him, his tone resolute.

"However, without taking this risk, it will be difficult to break the deadlock. You should secretly summon these three men, and I will personally give them instructions."

That night, Chen Wu, Han Lie, and Shi Chuan were quietly led into the central command tent. In the candlelight, the three were dressed as ordinary soldiers, but their eyes were sharp, their figures were agile, and their auras were steady, making it clear at a glance that they were elite soldiers who had survived countless battles.

Without wasting any words, Gu Rubing pointed directly to the area on the sand table that represented Cao Cao's army camp.

"The three of you will set off tonight to infiltrate Cao Cao's camp. I need you to find out three things. First, where Cao Cao's army mainly stores its provisions and how well it is defended; second, the communication routes between his various camps, the patterns of troop movements, and the weak points in his defenses; third..."

He paused, lowering his voice.

"Observe carefully whether there are any soldiers in Cao's camp behaving abnormally, similar to the soldiers of the former Divine March Army. If so, note their numbers, distribution, and any differences. Remember, your mission is reconnaissance, not combat. Your top priority is to conceal yourselves and bring back information. If things become impossible, retreat immediately and do not force it."

The three exchanged a glance, clasped their hands in unison, and whispered.

"Your subordinate obeys! I will do my utmost!"

"Alright, go and prepare. Zilong, arrange for them to set off via the least noticeable route and make preparations for rendezvous."

Gu Rubing waved.

At midnight, dark clouds obscured the moon, and the surrounding area was pitch black. A hidden palisade behind Gu Rubing's camp was quietly moved aside, and three dark figures, as if blending into the night, slipped out silently and disappeared into the shadows of the wilderness outside the camp in a few leaps.

Dressed in dark night clothes, their faces smeared with black and gray, and carrying short blades, hooks, and other items, they moved nimbly and skillfully; they were none other than Chen Wu, Han Lie, and Shi Chuan.

Relying on daytime observation and the rough route provided by Zhao Yun, the three moved quickly and cautiously in the darkness, avoiding possible patrol routes and checkpoints. The night wind in eastern Liangzhou carried a chill, whistling through the weeds and rocks, just enough to mask their extremely faint footsteps.

It took them nearly an hour to quietly approach the outer perimeter of Cao Cao's continuous camps.

Even in the dead of night, Cao Cao's camp remained brightly lit, and the torches of the patrol teams moved rhythmically like a flowing river of stars along the passageways and ramparts between the various camps. The outlines of the fences, trenches, and watchtowers appeared exceptionally imposing in the firelight.

The three of them lay prone in a low-lying ditch, observing carefully for a long time. Han Lie said in a low voice.

"It's difficult to enter from the front, and the patrols are too dense. The camp to the east is built against the mountain, and the forest extends to the vicinity of its fence, which may be an opportunity to take advantage of it."

Chen Wu squinted and looked at it.

"There must be hidden sentries in that mountain forest."

Ishikawa Road.

"Go around to their side and try from the shadows where the two battalions meet. Pay attention to the pattern of the lights and the intervals between the patrols."

With the plan settled, the three men, like cunning cats in the night, began to maneuver in the chosen direction, taking advantage of the terrain and the cover of darkness. The process was extremely difficult; Cao Cao's army had more sentries, both visible and hidden, than they had anticipated, and the patrol intervals were very short.

They had to spend a lot of time lying still, waiting for the right moment, or taking advantage of extremely brief gaps to dart from one shadow point to another at an astonishing speed.

Several times, the patrol team's torches almost swept past the bushes or crevices where they were hiding, their footsteps so close that the three of them held their breath, their hearts pounding like drums, pressing themselves tightly to the ground until the footsteps faded away before they dared to slowly exhale.

And so, stopping and starting, it took them most of the night before they finally crossed the outermost trenches and obstacles and successfully infiltrated Cao Cao's camp.

Upon entering the camp, the solemn military atmosphere intensified, the air thick with the distinctive smells of firewood, leather, horses, and a large gathering of people. The tents were densely packed, crisscrossed by roads, and although it was late at night, many tents still had lights on, from which whispers or snores could be heard.

The three dared not be careless. According to the established division of labor, Chen Wu was responsible for climbing high to observe the overall layout and finding tall buildings or concentrated areas that were suspected to be grain storage.
Han Lie used his hunter's intuition to search for trails, secluded spots, and possible gaps in warehouse security within the camp; Shi Chuan, on the other hand, silently memorized the paths, tent layout, and patrol patterns.

They moved cautiously through the shadows between the tents, avoiding the main passageways. At first glance, it didn't seem much different from any other large military camp.

However, as they ventured deeper into the area, approaching a relatively isolated region on the northwest side of the camp that was significantly more heavily guarded, an anomaly occurred.

The tents in this area were arranged more neatly, but the lights were unusually scarce, making it exceptionally dim and quiet. Patrols seemed to slow their pace as they passed through. And when a patrol carrying torches walked by, the light briefly illuminated a watchtower on the edge of the area.

Two sentries stood guard at the foot of the watchtower, each holding a spear.

However, the posture of the two sentries caused Chen Wu and his two companions, who were hiding behind a pile of debris dozens of steps away, to suddenly contract their pupils.

The two men stood ramrod straight, almost motionless, like two statues. The torchlight swept across their faces, illuminating empty, dull eyes that showed almost no emotion. (End of Chapter)