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

Their eyes were sometimes unfocused and sometimes frantic; some people experienced unnatural twitching in their limbs; others, despite being burning hot, kept complaining of the cold and shivering even wrapped in several blankets.

The epidemic spread like wildfire through the exhausted and tense military camp! The military doctors' initial diagnosis of "a cold" was completely overturned; this was by no means an ordinary illness!

They searched through medical books, tried various prescriptions, and even used acupuncture and bloodletting, but the effects were minimal, and some patients even died faster due to mistreatment.

Panic, a panic even deeper than the one during the beast attack last night, began to grow and spread uncontrollably among the lower-ranking soldiers.

"It's a plague! It's a plague brought by those monsters!"

"It's over... This disease is incurable; if you get it, you're doomed..."

"I don't want to die... I want to go home..."

Is God punishing us?

Whispers circulated among the tents, and morale plummeted at a visible rate. Non-combat casualties worsened, and even healthy soldiers became paranoid for fear of infection, reluctant to approach the sick camps, disrupting even normal drills and patrols.

Gu Rubing soon received a detailed report.

He personally went to check outside the isolation area for patients, and from a distance he could smell the stench emanating from there—a mixture of herbs, excrement, and an indescribable, foul odor of disease. Seeing the soldiers lying on makeshift beds, their expressions pained or numb, their bodies covered in black spots, his heart was heavy.

"How much of the medicine left in the army supplies? Is it likely to be effective?"

Gu Rubing asked the official in charge of medicine.

The official's face turned pale, and sweat beaded on his forehead.

"Reporting to my lord, the army's regular supply of typhoid and wound medicines is already quite large. This time, the patients require a large amount of medicine, and... moreover, the illness is strange, and many medicines seem to be ineffective."

The inventory... the inventory is critically low. We've already sent an urgent message to Yizhou for help, but it will take at least ten days for the new medicinal herbs to arrive, and given the long distance and significant losses, I'm afraid... I'm afraid it will be a drop in the ocean."

"Could they be purchased in nearby states or counties?"

“The eastern part of Liangzhou was already desolate. After the war and the devastation of Penglai, people’s livelihood was difficult. Pharmacies had very few medicines in stock. Moreover, if this disease is really a ‘plague’ brought by an evil beast, I’m afraid ordinary medicines will be ineffective.”

Silence fell over the tent. The strategists frowned, and the generals looked grim.

The oppressive silence was broken by Gu Rubing, who stood up abruptly, his voice resolute.

"Go to the wounded and sick camp."

Everyone was startled, and the strategist quickly tried to dissuade them.

"My lord, the epidemic is dangerous and there is a risk of infection. You are responsible for the entire army and should not venture into dangerous areas!"

"It is precisely because my actions concern the entire army that I must see for myself whether this is a natural disaster or something else!"

Gu Rubing's gaze was cold.

"If it really is Cao Cao's evil magic at work, can we really avoid it by hiding here? Prepare the horses!"

Without saying a word, he took only a few guards and the official in charge of medicine and went straight to the quarantine zone set up in the southwest corner of the camp.

The area was further separated by a simple wooden fence, and the complex smells that had been present before were now even stronger. Groans, coughs, and occasional incoherent murmurs came from inside, making one's heart sink.

Gu Rubing stood outside the fence and did not go in.

He saw dozens of low tents inside, where some soldiers with milder symptoms could still move around and take care of their seriously ill comrades who were lying on the ground, wrapped in thin blankets and with deathly pale faces.

Several military doctors, their mouths and noses covered with cloths, moved among the crowd, administering medicine and performing acupuncture. They were so busy that their feet barely touched the ground, but their faces showed deep fatigue and helplessness.

"Lord!"

An elderly military doctor with gray hair saw Gu Rubing and quickly ran over to salute him through the fence.

"No gift."

Gu Rubing raised his hand to stop him and asked in a deep voice.

"How is the situation? Have you found the cause and treatment?"

The old military doctor wiped the sweat from his forehead, his voice hoarse.

"My lord, this epidemic has come on fiercely and changed extremely quickly. It initially resembles a cold, followed by persistent high fever, vomiting and diarrhea. When the pathogen enters the blood, it causes black spots, and when it disturbs the mind, it causes delirium and madness. In my decades of medical practice, I have never seen such a bizarre disease. The prescriptions I use are either like mud oxen entering the sea, or they exacerbate the condition... What's even more troublesome is..."

He lowered his voice, his face showing fear.

“Several patients’ wounds have not festered, but there is a faint black aura lingering around them, which is somewhat similar to… to the lingering aura of that evil beast from last night. I’m afraid… I’m afraid this is no ordinary epidemic.”

Gu Rubing's heart sank to the bottom. It really was related to evil magic! This was very likely a slow-spreading "plague" caused by the evil energy contamination from Cao Cao's camp, carried by evil beasts or spread through some clandestine means! Things from Penglai, indeed, are corrupting and bring endless trouble!
"Spare no effort to save him! I will have people do their utmost to procure the necessary medicines."

At the same time, all patients should be immediately isolated according to the severity of symptoms and the time of onset. Those who are not yet ill must have their food and water kept separate. Anyone who comes into contact with patients must wash their hands with boiling water and fumigate their clothing with mugwort. In any case, the spread must be controlled!

Gu Rubing quickly gave the order. He knew that these measures might have limited effect on the evil plague, but something had to be done.

"Yes, I obey!"

The old military doctor readily agreed.

Just as Gu Rubing was overwhelmed with worry about the epidemic, suppressing his frustration and thinking about how to deal with this invisible enemy, a fast horse from the rear, carrying even worse news, rushed into the camp.

"Report! My lord, something terrible has happened!"

The messenger nearly fell off his horse and scrambled into the central command tent.

"Three days ago, a large grain convoy departing from Wudu was attacked by an unknown force in the Fushui River Valley! The enemy used the terrain to their advantage, first blocking the road with rolling stones and logs, then launching a fire attack. More than half of the two thousand soldiers escorting the convoy were killed or wounded, the civilians scattered, and the grain carts..."

More than 70% of the grain carts were burned! Survivors said the attackers were swift and ruthless, unlike ordinary bandits, but rather...like an elite army in disguise!

"what?!"

Upon hearing this, everyone in the tent paled! Zhang Fei slammed his fist on the table and roared angrily.

"What kind of thief dares to rob my brother's grain! Can you even see the banner?!"

The messenger shook his head.

"It was dark, and the attackers were all masked with black cloths and carried no banners. But... but their movements were measured and their coordination impeccable; they were definitely not a rabble." Gu Rubing felt a chill run from his feet to the top of his head. The supply convoy had been raided! And the losses were devastating! The army's food supplies were already stretched thin, relying entirely on the rear for sustenance; this was a fatal blow!

Who did it? Cao Cao? How could he send elite troops deep into the rear to intercept supplies while simultaneously confronting the enemy on the front lines? Or were they the remaining die-hard elements from Penglai within Liangzhou who hadn't been completely wiped out? Or perhaps... other covetous forces?

No matter who the murderer is, the result will be the same—adding insult to injury!
Bad news came like a flood bursting its banks; once the breach was made, it came in waves. The exact figure for the loss of supplies was quickly estimated, a number that would make any commander faint. The military advisor reported this, his face ashen.

"My lord, after this ordeal, even if the rear makes every effort to procure supplies, our army's grain reserves will only last for half a month at most before the next batch of grain arrives, and we will have to drastically reduce the rations."

The order to reduce rations had to be issued. The soldiers, who were already fearful and anxious because of the epidemic, found that their daily rations had changed from thick porridge to thinner porridge, and were even mixed with more inedible wild vegetable roots and bran. Inevitably, complaints began to grow.

"How can we fight a war if we can't even get enough to eat?"

"People are falling ill every day, and food supplies are dwindling. We can't fight this war anymore..."

"I heard that Cao Cao's army is having a good meal, and even has dried meat..."

"Shh, keep your voice down..."

These suppressed discussions quietly spread among the tents and in the water-fetching teams.

To make matters worse, Cao Cao seemed to have keenly sensed the predicament within Gu Rubing's camp. The harassment by Cao's army, which had subsided somewhat due to the ambush, became frequent and rampant once again.

Not only did their nighttime raids intensify, but they also dared to send small groups of elite cavalry to approach the outer defenses of Gu Rubing's camp in broad daylight, swaggering around at the edge of crossbow range.

They loudly mocked and insulted the enemy, deliberately leaving tattered flags or other miscellaneous items marked with the character "Gu" in front of the camp, doing everything they could to humiliate them.

"Gu Rubing, you coward! We've run out of supplies, how many more days can we hold out?"

"Listen up, soldiers! Surrender now! The Prime Minister is merciful and will reward you with a full meal! Why follow Gu Rubing and starve or die of disease!"

"Look at your lord, he can't even afford to feed him anymore, hahaha!"

These shouts and curses drifted into the camp on the wind, tearing at the hearts of the soldiers guarding the camp like knives. Some were so enraged that they volunteered to charge out and fight, but were strictly forbidden from doing so. Frustration, anger, uncertainty about the future, fear of hunger and disease... all sorts of negative emotions fermented and accumulated in the army.

Beset by internal and external troubles, like two tightening iron clamps, Gu Rubing's army was firmly gripped. Morale was visibly slid towards collapse. Finally, on the third night after the order to reduce supplies was issued, a small-scale desertion occurred in the camp.

Although the patrol team quickly discovered and stopped the perpetrators, and only a few escaped, the incident itself was like a crack appearing on a seemingly solid fortress, foreshadowing a more terrifying collapse.

Inside the central command tent, the lights remained on all night. Gu Rubing's eyes were bloodshot, yet he showed no signs of sleepiness. Guan Yu, Zhang Fei, Zhao Yun, Ma Chao, and several key strategists were gathered in the tent, their faces grave, the atmosphere so oppressive it was almost palpable.

"Brother, we can't go on like this!"

Zhang Fei's fists clenched so tightly they cracked, and he paced anxiously back and forth inside the tent.

"Brothers, we can't hold on much longer! We'll either starve to death, die of disease, or be driven to our deaths by Cao Cao's army! I, Old Zhang, would rather lead my men out and fight Cao Cao to the death than die here in misery!"

Ma Chao also said.

"My lord, Cao Cao's provocations are intensifying, clearly taking advantage of our army's exhaustion. If this continues, morale will collapse, and we will crumble without a fight. We must take action, even if it's just a small victory, to boost morale."

Guan Yu stroked his beard in silence, but his phoenix eyes burned with both fighting spirit and worry. Zhao Yun, on the other hand, calmly analyzed the situation.

"A direct assault on Cao Cao's camp is absolutely not feasible. We have already tried raiding the supply lines, and Cao Cao will surely be prepared. Moreover, our army is currently in a condition where it cannot sustain a long-distance raid. The ongoing epidemic is an even greater hidden danger."

One of the advisors sighed.

"The best course of action now is perhaps... perhaps we should consider a temporary retreat, back to Guzang or even the border of Yizhou, to rest and recuperate in the city, and then make our next move once we have sufficient food and supplies and the epidemic has subsided. Although we may lose our fighting spirit, we can preserve our foundation."

"Retreat?"

Another advisor immediately objected.

"If we retreat now, Cao Cao will surely lead a large army to pursue and attack us. Our army's morale is low, and we are hampered by the epidemic. Retreat could easily turn into a rout! The losses will be incalculable, and Liangzhou may be lost again!"

The debate remained unresolved, but everyone knew that maintaining the status quo meant certain death. The balance of power in the stalemate had completely tipped in Cao Cao's favor. With each passing moment, their situation grew increasingly precarious.

Gu Rubing remained silent, listening to the debate, but his gaze was fixed on the blood-stained intelligence map on the table, especially the "evil magic area" highlighted in the northeast corner. Cao Cao's emphasis on this place, the attacks by evil beasts, the strange plague... these clues spun and collided rapidly in his mind.

Suddenly, he raised his head, a glint of almost insane determination flashing in his eyes. That light dispelled the fatigue and gloom of the past few days, replacing it with a do-or-die, desperate spirit.

"Everyone."

Gu Rubing's voice was not loud, but it clearly reached everyone's ears, carrying an undeniable power.

"Continuing the standoff is tantamount to waiting for death. Retreating and moving away is tantamount to courting death. What Cao Cao wants is to trap and wear us down here."

He stood up, walked to the map, and pointed heavily at the mark of the sorcery area.

"Look here. Why does Cao Cao value this place so much? Is it merely because it's an experimental site for the Penglai legacy? Perhaps. But scouts report that there are altars, black-robed sorcerers, and possibly something being produced there."

During the daytime feigned attack, he even hastily dispatched his Tiger and Leopard Cavalry to protect him. For the nighttime counterattack, he used the same evil beasts originating from there… I suspect this place is not only his secret weapons workshop, but also likely a source of some kind of confidence, or even a link in his logistical system that we haven't yet understood!

Perhaps...some kind of fel energy supply can be produced there to sustain those Divine Legions, fel beasts, and maybe even...something related to disease!

Everyone was taken aback upon hearing this. After careful consideration, they realized that Gu Rubing's words were not entirely without merit. Cao Cao's army was large in scale, and relying solely on conventional provisions would put them under considerable pressure, yet the enemy seemed to have no such worries.

Those divine soldiers and evil beasts clearly did not eat ordinary rice and grains.

"What is your intention, my lord?"

Zhao Yun vaguely guessed what was going on, and his expression became unusually serious.

Gu Rubing turned around, his gaze sweeping over each general in the tent, and said, word by word.

"No longer engage Cao Cao in a direct confrontation at his camp. Concentrate all remaining elite troops into a suicide squad, which I will personally lead. We will bypass Cao Cao's main defenses, utilize our intelligence on the weak points, and launch a long-range raid straight into his heartland!"
There's only one goal—to completely destroy this area of ​​evil magic! Severing Cao Cao's arm, which relies on evil magic, and destroying his potential source of fel energy might... lead to clues to a cure for the plague!

These words shocked everyone in the tent! Even Zhang Fei's eyes widened in surprise.

"Brother! That was too dangerous!"

Guan Yu was the first to object.

"Deep behind enemy lines, isolated and without reinforcements, once our whereabouts are exposed, it will be a certain death! You are the commander of the three armies, how can you personally risk such a peril?!" (End of Chapter)