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

"Is Brother worried that Cao Cao will become enraged and send troops to attack?"

"It's not just worry... it's inevitable!"

Gu Rubing said decisively, his eyes sharp.

"Cao Cao, with his ruthless and ambitious nature, would never sit idly by and watch his foundation crumble. With the source of evil destroyed, he can no longer peacefully hide behind his camp, relying on sorcery and delaying tactics to wear down our army. He only has two paths left..."

He paused, his voice becoming even lower.

"Firstly, they could swallow their pride and continue to hold their ground. However, morale would continue to decline, internal conflicts might erupt, and time... would no longer be on their side. Secondly..."

His gaze swept over the crowd.

"It means we are forced to launch a decisive battle ahead of schedule! We must exert all our strength to fight our army to the death, in order to achieve a quick victory, reverse the situation, and deter internal forces!"

"Given Cao Cao's personality, he would never choose the first path!"

Gu Rubing's tone was resolute.

"He will definitely choose a decisive battle! And... it won't be long! Our army... must prepare for battle!"

Upon hearing this, everyone felt a jolt, followed by a surge of emotions mixed with tension, excitement, and determination. Was the long, suffocating stalemate finally about to end? The final clash that would determine the fate of Liangzhou, and even the future of the entire realm, was about to begin!

Just as Gu Rubing had predicted!
The afternoon following Gu Rubing's recovery, despite his severe injuries, after listening to reports from various parties, adjusting defenses, and even being carried on a soft couch by his personal guards to inspect some key fortifications—

"Thump! Thump! Thump! Thump! Thump—!!!"

The deep, powerful, and continuous sound of war drums, as if striking the hearts of everyone, finally boomed out from the direction of Cao Cao's camp like a long-suppressed thunderclap! Immediately following was the long, mournful sound of countless horns blowing at the same time!
"Report! My lord! Generals! There's been a disturbance in Cao Cao's camp!"

The sentries on the watchtower scrambled to report, their voices trembling with excitement and fear.

"Cao's army... Cao's army is marching out of the camp! Banners are like a forest, stretching as far as the eye can see! They... they've formed their battle formation!"

Gu Rubing was having his dressing changed by the military doctor in the tent when he heard the report. He suddenly pushed the doctor's hand away and said sternly.

"Help me up! Let's go to the lookout tower!"

"My lord! Your injury..."

The military doctor and guards were greatly alarmed.

"Go!"

Gu Rubing's gaze left no room for doubt.

The guards, left with no other choice, had to carefully help Gu Rubing, together with Zhao Yun who had rushed over, up the highest wooden watchtower in the camp. Guan Yu, Zhang Fei, Ma Chao, and the other strategists and generals followed suit.

Standing atop the high platform, gazing into the distance, the scene, though vast in distance, was still enough to shock and even suffocate any seasoned general.

Cao Cao's camp, stretching for dozens of miles, resembled a primordial beast awakening, its gates wide open. Countless black banners, embroidered with the surnames and ranks of various generals, surged forth like a black forest, blotting out the sky! Beneath these banners lay an endless expanse of Cao Cao's troops, their armor gleaming!

The infantry phalanx resembled a moving steel wall, with spears like a forest and shields like a mountain, their orderly and heavy steps causing the earth to tremble slightly. The cavalry, like a black torrent, surged and roamed on both flanks of the phalanx, their hooves thundering and kicking up clouds of dust.

Archers, chariot soldiers, and all sorts of siege weapons... Cao Cao's army had brought out almost all of its resources, slowly unfolding a massive and murderous battle formation on the open field!

Sunlight shone on the forest of swords and spears, reflecting a chilling, piercing light that coalesced into a terrifying sea of ​​metal. The oppressive atmosphere, even from a distance of ten miles, felt like a palpable cold wave, sweeping over you!

Cao Cao was finally enraged and cornered.

He abandoned the strategy of playing it safe and chose the most direct and brutal approach—to launch a full-scale attack and fight to the death! He wanted to settle things once and for all with Gu Rubing on this war-torn land of Liangzhou!

Gu Rubing gripped the railing, his severely injured body trembling slightly. His face was even paler due to blood loss and excruciating pain, but his spine remained ramrod straight.

Gu Rubing slowly but firmly raised his hand, which was trembling slightly from blood loss and intense pain.

On the high platform behind him, the drummer who had been waiting for a long time saw the signal and suddenly swung his drumsticks!

"Thump—! Thump! Thump! Thump! Thump—!!!"

The powerful, desolate, and bloodthirsty sound of war drums, like the roar of a sleeping dragon, soared into the sky from Gu Rubing's camp! In an instant, it drowned out the howling wind across the open field, creating a tense standoff with the distant drumbeats of Cao Cao's army!

"Waaaaah—!"

Immediately afterwards, the same long and solemn bugle call rang out from all over the camp, piercing the sky and echoing across the vast battlefield! This sound seemed to awaken the blood and fighting spirit in the bones of every Gu soldier!

"Open the camp gates! All units, proceed out of the camp and form ranks as ordered!"

As the generals at all levels shouted themselves hoarse, the heavy gates of Gu Rubing's camp were slowly pushed open, and the drawbridge was lowered.

The troops, who had already assembled and were ready to go, poured out of the camp in an orderly manner, like a floodgate being opened, following the predetermined sequence and route, and quickly unfolded on the relatively open field in front of the camp.

On the camp walls, the archers and auxiliary soldiers who remained were nervously checking the last of their equipment and carrying arrows and logs. Inside the camp, the medics of the wounded and sick were taking stock of the herbs and bandages for the last time, and a somber and tragic atmosphere filled the air.

Gu Rubing, still recovering from serious injuries, refused the suggestion to stay in the safe area behind the lines.

He was carried by his personal guards in a specially made soft palanquin with a backrest and armrests, and placed on a slightly higher earthen slope slightly forward of the central army formation.

This position allowed him to overlook the entire battlefield and command the troops, while also being protected by the core forces of the central army. Several layers of elite guards, armed with large shields and clad in heavy armor, tightly surrounded him, like an iron barrel.

His face was still pale, his lips were chapped, and he even needed to drink ginseng soup from time to time to keep his spirits up. But his straight back and his firm, rock-solid eyes were like an invisible anchor, making all the soldiers who saw him feel a sense of security and determination – their lord was with them through thick and thin!
The left wing was commanded by Guan Yu.

His troops were mostly veterans who had fought the bloody battle against Sun Jian on the eastern border and followed him to reinforce Liangzhou. They were silent and resilient, like rocks weathered by storms. Guan Yu did not ride a horse, but stood under a tall banner bearing the character "Guan," holding his Green Dragon Crescent Blade, his phoenix eyes slightly narrowed. He coldly gazed at the distant black tide, his imposing and unwavering aura of a master instilling a sense of security in the soldiers on the left flank.

The right wing was handed over to Zhang Fei.

His troops had suffered heavy casualties in the previous raids and breakouts, but now, inspired by Zhang Fei's inexhaustible courage, each of them had a burning desire for revenge and to fight to the death.

Zhang Fei rode a strong black horse, his eighteen-foot spear pointing diagonally at the ground. His leopard eyes were wide open, and his beard and hair were bristling, like a fierce tiger ready to devour its prey. He occasionally let out a low, impatient roar, waiting for a command to pounce and tear the enemy apart.

After emergency replenishment and a short rest, Zhao Yun's White Horse Cavalry, although not fully recovered in number, remained the most elite mobile force.

They were positioned at the rear of the central formation, temporarily lying low, with everyone's eyes fixed on the front, like falcons with their wings folded, waiting for the most crucial moment to take flight.

The sound of their horses' hooves may truly determine the outcome of this decisive battle.

Ma Chao's Xiliang cavalry, like a pack of nimble wolves, roamed the outer flanks of the entire formation.

They were few in number, but swift as the wind and incredibly fierce. Their mission was to use the mobility of cavalry to hold back Cao Cao's cavalry on the flanks, and to find opportunities to counterattack when Cao Cao launched an attack, disrupting his offensive rhythm.

On the opposite side, Cao Cao's army's formation was even larger and more imposing, like an endless, slowly moving black steel forest.

Under the sunlight, countless swords, spears, and halberds reflected a cold, dazzling light, converging into a sea of ​​metal that made one's heart tremble. Just looking at it, one could feel the overwhelming, almost suffocating sense of oppression.

Beneath the tallest black banner in the central army, embroidered with the large character "Cao" and the title of Chancellor, Cao Cao's figure could be vaguely seen.

He did not appear to be riding a horse, but rather standing on a specially made chariot that resembled a mobile platform.

He was shrouded in a very thin layer of hazy black mist that distorted the surrounding light. Even from such a great distance, the strangely shaped demonic sword in his hand seemed to exude an ominous and chilling aura.

He was like the center of this black ocean, exuding the aura of a tyrant who controlled everything.

Within the massive army formation, one could still spot some figures whose movements were somewhat stiff and who seemed out of place among the surrounding soldiers—these were the modified Divine Marchers.

Their numbers seemed to have decreased compared to before, but that only made them more conspicuous and ferocious, like lifeless rocks mixed in with a black iron torrent, exuding a cold, deathly stillness.

Cao Jun's deployment intentions were quite clear.

They concentrated their strongest forces in the central main attack direction and slightly protruding positions on the left and right flanks. A typical powerful offensive formation: a central breakthrough followed by flanking maneuvers!

Clearly, although Cao Cao was forced into a decisive battle, he remained confident and intended to crush and defeat Gu Rubing's army with his overwhelming troop strength!
On the open field, the two massive war machines, one in the east and one in the west, had completed their final formation and standoff.

On one side were the wounded soldiers, whose morale had been revived by the successful surprise attack, supported by Gu Rubing's severely injured body; on the other side was a black torrent with superior forces, driven by rage, and intent on achieving victory in one fell swoop.

The world seemed to fall silent instantly. Even the wind seemed to freeze, afraid to blow across the battlefield, which was now utterly desolate. Only the fluttering battle flags of both sides remained, silently locked in a struggle, and the occasional low neighing of warhorses in their anxiety.

The air was thick with oppressive tension, almost palpable, and filled with an invisible yet omnipresent, chilling killing intent!
Countless gazes, separated by miles, silently converged and collided in the air! In those gazes were hatred, determination, a desire for victory, and indifference to death.

This is a decisive battle that neither side can afford to lose!

Gu Rubing sat on the palanquin and took a deep breath. The cool air entered his lungs, but it triggered a sharp pain in his chest, causing him to furrow his brow almost imperceptibly. However, he immediately suppressed all discomfort and slowly raised the apricot-yellow triangular command flag that represented his command.

He knew the moment of truth had arrived. Cao Cao's army had been preparing for a long time, and their first wave of attack would be like a landslide and a tsunami! Whether his side could withstand this fierce opening assault and stabilize their position would directly determine the course of the entire battle, even their very survival!

As if in response to his own judgment—

"Thump! Thump! Thump! Thump thump thump thump thump—!!!"

Within Cao Cao's army formation, the war drums, which had maintained a heavy rhythm, suddenly changed! They became incredibly rapid! Incredibly violent! Like a sudden downpour striking rubble, or like countless hearts pounding wildly!

The sound of drums is the command!

"kill--!!!"

"Crush the enemy lines! Slay Gu Rubing!"

"For the Prime Minister! Kill them all!!!"

A deafening roar, seemingly tearing the sky apart, erupted like a tsunami from the center of Cao Cao's army! Immediately afterward, the central part of that black torrent of steel, like a raging river with its floodgates opened, poured out with a thunderous roar!

Tens of thousands of Cao Cao's elite infantrymen, driven by their generals and supervisors, raised their long spears like a forest and their heavy shields, marching with steps that were initially somewhat chaotic but quickly became uniform and heavy as thunder.

Like a moving city wall, or a black raging torrent bursting its banks, it charged towards Gu Rubing's central command position with overwhelming ferocity, carrying the momentum to crush everything!

Just as the infantry in the center of Cao's army launched a massive, tsunami-like charge, the cavalry groups on both flanks, which had been poised to attack, also began to slowly accelerate, like ferocious beasts that had received a command!
On the left flank, several thousand Cao army light cavalry and some heavy cavalry were mixed together, forming a huge, gleaming scimitar, and began to maneuver around the right flank of Gu Rubing's army.

The sound of hooves gradually evolved from a dull rolling to a thunderous roar, the dust they kicked up resembling a giant yellow dragon. Their objective was obvious—to flank the enemy, attack the weak points in the formation, and form a pincer movement with the main force breaking through from the center!

On the right flank, Cao's cavalry of similar size were also performing a similar maneuver, like another giant pincer reaching out to the left side of Gu Rubing's army formation.

"Flanking cavalry! Enemy forces are encircling us!"

"Archers! Turn to the flanks! Pikemen, prepare your spear formation!"

"Hold the formation! Do not retreat even a single step!"

In Gu Rubing's army, all the generals, captains, and even centurions and platoon leaders were shouting at the top of their lungs, their voices almost hoarse. Faced with such a comprehensive and fierce offensive, any confusion could be fatal.

The soldiers gritted their teeth and, following the steps they had practiced countless times, adjusted their formation rapidly and tensely under the officers' commands. The shield bearers on both flanks slammed their large shields heavily on the ground, bracing themselves against the ground, while the spearmen in the rear extended their spears, each over ten feet long, through the gaps in the shields.

The spears pointed diagonally forward, forming a formidable forest of guns. The archers swiftly turned to the flanks, drawing their bows and nocking arrows, the arrowheads subtly adjusting their direction as the enemy cavalry moved. (End of Chapter)