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

"Take the initiative to abandon large swathes of territory in Hanzhong, Wudu, and even Jiaozhou... shrink the defensive line to Nanjun, Nanyang, Lingling, and Guiyang... Hmph, that's decisive enough. Knowing they can't maintain it, they want to retreat and prolong their lives?"

The strategist Cheng Yu stepped forward and whispered.

"Prime Minister, this is a golden opportunity! Gu Rubing's core fighting force is completely destroyed, his morale is low, and he has voluntarily ceded so much fertile land. Our army should take advantage of his weakness and strike him dead! We should march south in one fell swoop, recover the lost territory, and even invade Jingzhou to completely eliminate this major threat!"

Another strategist, Jia Xu, shook his head slightly, his tone calm.

"Prime Minister, Gu Rubing's move, though seemingly a retreat, is actually a strategic advance. He has concentrated his forces in several key locations, forming a defensive triangle, and relying on the Yangtze River and strategic passes, making them easy to defend and difficult to attack. If our army is eager to swallow the land he has relinquished, we will inevitably have to divide our troops to garrison it, and it will take time to digest it."

Meanwhile, Gu Rubing could take the opportunity to lick his wounds and recover his strength in their core area. Moreover, their retreat was orderly and did not collapse; their main force remained, and they should not be underestimated.

Cao Cao listened to the opinions of the two strategists without comment, but his gaze turned to two other directions—Liu Zhang of Yizhou and Sun Jian of Jiangdong.

He believed that both sides would soon receive the news and... would certainly not remain indifferent.

Sure enough, a few days later, secret reports from Yizhou and Jiangdong were delivered one after another.

When Liu Zhang learned that Gu Rubing had been seriously injured and defeated, and had abandoned his northern territory, he was initially overjoyed.

He already harbored resentment towards Gu Rubing forcibly "borrowing" his passage and intimidating Yizhou. Now that he saw Gu's power weakening, he immediately felt that an opportunity had come.

Some of his radical generals and strategists, such as Zhang Song and Fa Zheng, also encouraged him to take the opportunity to send troops to reclaim the territory "occupied" by Gu Rubing, and even to join forces with Cao Cao to divide up Jingzhou.

Sun Jian of Jiangdong reacted more directly and greedily.

He had just been defeated by Guan Yu on the eastern border, suffering heavy losses, and was seething with anger.

Upon hearing that Gu Rubing was seriously injured, the Five Tiger Generals were almost all crippled, and the military forces in Jingzhou and Jiaozhou were being withdrawn, he immediately felt that this was a golden opportunity to make up for the losses and even make a fortune!

He immediately began mobilizing troops and assembling a fleet, his eyes fixed intently on the coastal counties of Jiaozhou that Gu Rubing had "abandoned," as well as the seemingly undefended eastern part of Jingzhou.

In an instant, Cao Cao, Liu Zhang, and Sun Jian, like sharks smelling blood, began to stir restlessly.

Their vanguard scouts and probing squads began to appear on the edge of the territory abandoned by Gu Rubing's army, and even small-scale frictions and conflicts began to occur in order to compete for some rich cities and passes.

With interests at stake, the fragile, brief tacit understanding that existed due to the confrontation with Gu Rubing quickly crumbled. All three parties were thinking about seizing as much territory as possible, weakening each other, and strengthening themselves.

The conflict quickly escalated from verbal sparring and small-scale brawls to a local standoff, and even broke out into several fierce battles involving thousands of people!
In the southeast of Liangzhou, the north of Yizhou, and the coastal areas of Jiaozhou, war broke out everywhere. The three forces were about to engage in a chaotic battle in order to seize the "vacuum zone" left by Gu Rubing.

Just as the generals under Liu Zhang and Sun Jian were bloodthirsty and preparing to mobilize more troops for a full-scale battle, some of Cao Cao's generals could no longer contain themselves and requested permission to send troops to seize key locations—

Cao Cao's calm, even cold, voice was like a bucket of ice water poured over the heads of the somewhat feverish crowd.

"enough!"

Cao Cao stood in the tent, his gaze sweeping over the generals and strategists below, whose faces showed excitement or confusion.

"Gu Rubing is not dead yet, and his main force is still in the core area, ready for battle! You are all in a hurry to kill each other for a few petty gains, aren't you just playing into his hands?"

Cao Cao's voice carried an unquestionable authority.

"He threw out these lands to make us fight over them, to create chaos, and to exhaust our resources! Look at this! In just a few days, how many clashes have we had with Liu Jiyu and Sun Wentai's troops over a few empty cities? How many men have we lost?"

Upon hearing this, everyone was taken aback. Thinking back carefully, they realized that in the past few days, they had indeed had many clashes with the other two families in their struggle for territory. Although the scale was not large, the cumulative casualties and losses were considerable.

"What benefits would there be in turning against Liu Zhang and Sun Jian at this moment, other than making Gu Rubing a laughingstock and getting our army bogged down in a multi-front war?"

Cao Cao said in a deep voice.

"Order all units to immediately cease all conflicts with Liu Zhang and Sun Jian's forces! If any territory has already been seized by the other side, do not contest it for the time being; if our army has seized it first, defend it strictly, but do not provoke them. At the same time, in my name, write letters to Liu Zhang and Sun Jian respectively."

A shrewd glint flashed in his eyes.

“Tell them that Gu Rubing is cunning and treacherous, and this is a scheme to lure the enemy into a divide. At this time, we should cooperate sincerely to kill this villain. As for Liangzhou and Yibei, we can discuss their division according to our merits after we defeat Gu.”

Right now, our primary objective remains the heavily wounded and retreating Gu Rubing! Anyone who jeopardizes the greater good for petty gains will be an enemy of Cao Mengde, and will be condemned by the entire world!

His words contained both threat and enticement, and highlighted where the greatest immediate interest lay. The generals and strategists in the tent pondered carefully and had to admit the Prime Minister's words made sense. Fighting to the death with Liu Zhang and Sun Jian now would indeed benefit Gu Rubing.

Cao Cao's tough stance and shrewd calculations acted like an invisible hand, temporarily calming the restless hearts of Liu Zhang and Sun Jian, who were driven by self-interest. The three parties engaged in a brief but tense negotiation through envoys.

Ultimately, under Cao Cao's leadership, a temporary and fragile plan for the distribution of benefits was finalized.

The three parties held a brief, symbolic meeting in a neutral town on the border of Liangzhou and Yizhou. Cao Cao demonstrated his strength and skill as the strongest party, and the final solution largely met his expectations.

Cao Cao, as the main force and the strongest in the fight against Gu Rubing, gained actual control of the northern Yizhou region that Gu Rubing had abandoned.

These places are adjacent to Cao Cao's Liangzhou base, making them easy to digest and control, and can also make up for some of the resource losses caused by the destruction of the evil magic workshops.

Liu Zhang was relatively weak, and there was considerable resentment within his ranks regarding Gu Rubing's "invasion." Cao Cao redirected his efforts to appease him primarily to the south. Liu Zhang gained most of the Jiaozhou territory that Gu Rubing had relinquished, except for the commanderies of Lingling and Guiyang.

Although these places were remote, they were fertile and rich in resources, enough to satisfy Liu Zhang's appetite and divert his attention from the northern part of Yizhou, which directly threatened Cao Cao.

Sun Jian, an "outsider" from the Anluo Empire with a strong desire for the Central Plains, received the smallest share in this spoils distribution—only the Nanhai Commandery. However, Sun Jian seemed largely unperturbed by this. His Anluo Empire was vast, well-equipped, and well-supplied; what he valued more in terms of Han territory was a stable bridgehead and springboard for penetrating deep into the Central Plains. The Nanhai Commandery, bordering the sea and possessing excellent ports, facilitated his supply lines from the Anluo Empire and was also adjacent to Yangzhou, making its geographical location extremely important.

With this foothold as a buffer and base for advancement, he had more opportunities and time to plot his re-entry into the core territory of the Han Dynasty, and even... seize the chance to reclaim the Yangzhou he had always longed for. Nanhai Commandery was the nail he had driven into the southeast of the Han Dynasty.

The three parties temporarily set aside their disputes and turned their attention back to Gu Rubing, who was "severely wounded and hiding." Cao Cao began to consolidate the newly conquered Yibei region, Liu Zhang was busy sending troops to take over the new territory in Jiaozhou, and Sun Jian intensified his efforts to consolidate Nanhai Commandery, using it as a base to continuously probe and infiltrate towards Yangzhou.

Meanwhile, personnel adjustments were also being carried out intensively within Gu Rubing's faction.

In a secluded mountain villa near Chengdu in Yizhou, Jiang Wei received a transfer order and appointment letter, delivered by fast horse, personally written by Gu Rubing, with an earnest tone and even a hint of entrustment.

He was appointed as the chief military advisor of the Jiaozhou camp, with full authority over the military and political affairs of Jiaozhou, and he could also control generals such as Zhang He and Zhang Ren.

Looking at the familiar handwriting and the heavy seal, Jiang Wei remained silent for a long time.

He had initially promised to help three times to repay Gu Rubing for sparing his life and recognizing his talent. Now that the three promises had been fulfilled, he was no longer obligated. Deng Ai and Zhong Hui were also present; they were among the few friends under Gu Rubing whom Jiang Wei could communicate with on equal terms.

"Boyue, our lord and the generals Guan Yu, Zhang Fei, and Zhao Yun are seriously injured this time, and the situation is extremely precarious. The 100,000 soldiers and the people of several counties in Jiaozhou urgently need someone who can take charge of the overall situation and turn the tide. Our lord's letter is sincere and earnest, truly a matter of entrusting one's life and fortune. There is no one in the world more capable than you."

Deng Ai spoke earnestly.

Zhong Hui also offered his advice.

“Brother Jiang is a man of great talent. How could he be content to remain secluded in the mountains and forests? Now is the time for heroes to display their prowess. Although our lord is temporarily in trouble, his spirit has not been broken, and the foundation of his forces remains intact.”

If you can stabilize Jiaozhou, you will be protecting the southeastern flank of our lord, a truly great achievement. Our past agreement was a favor, and entrusting you with this crisis is a matter of righteousness. Boyue, you value loyalty and honor above all else, how can you stand idly by?

Jiang Wei's gaze fell once again on the earnest letter. He seemed to see Gu Rubing lying on his bed, seriously injured, yet still forcing himself to write the orders. He also seemed to see the bewildered faces of 100,000 soldiers under the walls of Lingling and Guiyang.

He sighed deeply and finally made his decision.

"Very well. I am grateful for your kindness, my lord. I am willing to do my best again."

Jiang Wei put away the order, his eyes sharpening again.

"Please inform our lord that Jiang Wei will depart immediately to assume his post in Jiaozhou. He will do everything in his power to stabilize the southeast and live up to your expectations!"

A few days later, Jiang Wei, traveling light, arrived at Lingling County, where the Jiaozhou camp was located. Zhang He and Zhang Ren had already received Gu Rubing's stern orders, which not only required them to absolutely obey Jiang Wei's command, but also declared that "even if Military Advisor Jiang orders you to abandon the city, you must not disobey."

Although the two men were not entirely convinced of the young parachuted strategist's authority, military orders were absolute, especially the strict orders from their lord while he was seriously injured, so they dared not disobey in the slightest.

They treated Jiang Wei's arrival with utmost respect and courtesy, reporting in detail on camp affairs, troop deployment, and food reserves, without making any obstructive moves.

Jiang Wei also displayed a maturity and composure beyond his years.

Instead of rushing into sweeping reforms, he first went deep into the camps to understand the soldiers' conditions, inspect the defenses, and listen to the opinions of lower-ranking officers. At the same time, he used his intelligence and knowledge of the geography of the south to re-examine the defense systems of Lingling and Guiyang.

Some subtle but crucial adjustments were made, strengthening the intelligence network and rapid response mechanism. Zhang He and Zhang Ren observed this, and their initial doubts gradually dissipated, leading them to genuinely cooperate with this young but truly capable strategist.

Just as various forces were rearranging their positions and undercurrents were surging, Gu Rubing and others had been recuperating for a full month inside the Dunhuang Prefectural Governor's Mansion.

For Gu Rubing, this month was far from a simple period of bed rest. Although the wound on his shoulder blade began to heal slowly under Hua Tuo's careful care, and the evil influence was gradually being expelled, every breath and every slight movement still brought excruciating pain.

However, his brain never stopped working.

Almost every day, encrypted military intelligence reports would be delivered to his bedside.

Almost every day, he would endure the pain, listen to brief reports, and then dictate or write down orders, which would be polished by trusted advisors and quickly issued.

His orders covered all directions.

In the Jingzhou direction, he instructed Lu Su to strengthen trade ties with Jiangdong to appease Sun Jian with mutual benefits, while secretly reinforcing the river defenses to guard against a sneak attack.

In the direction of Yizhou, he tacitly approved Deng Ai and Zhong Hui's strategy of contraction and defense, and reminded them to pay attention to Liu Zhang's possible small moves, especially to guard against his secret collusion with Cao Cao.

What worried him most was the urgent military report from the north.

On the border of Youzhou, the Wuhuan, Xiongnu, Xianbei and other tribes outside the Great Wall, which had been defeated by him and Gongsun Zan and had been dormant for a long time, had their ambitions reignited after learning that Gu Rubing was seriously injured and that there was a civil war in the Central Plains!
The remnants of different tribes, under the leadership of several ambitious leaders, surprisingly united again to form a cavalry coalition of over 40,000 men! Taking advantage of the fact that the Youzhou garrison's attention was drawn to the war in the Central Plains and that some border defenses were lax, they brazenly marched south to raid the border!

Due to the negligence and inadequate defense of some of the garrison commanders in Liaoxi Commandery, this allied cavalry force swept through the region with unstoppable momentum. In just a few months, they successively captured several border cities and occupied most of Liaoxi Commandery! They burned, killed, looted, and committed all sorts of atrocities. Countless border residents were killed, wounded, or fled, and the flames of war were once again ignited in the northern frontier!
Upon receiving this urgent report, tinged with the scent of war, Gu Rubing was so enraged that his wounds nearly burst open! He immediately ordered the execution of the Liaoxi Commandery's main garrison commander, who had neglected his duties and caused the collapse of the defenses, and to display his head at all border posts as a warning to others!

At the same time, Chen Dao, the commander of the White Feather Army who had just recovered from his injuries and was known for his steadiness, was urgently summoned to the front line of Liaoxi County overnight to take command, stabilize the situation, organize defenses, and wait for an opportunity to counterattack.

"If the northern frontier is unstable, the central plains will be in turmoil. The barbarians are greedy and will seize any opportunity to advance. It is because we have been away from the borders for too long that we have been negligent."

Gu Rubing sighed as he looked at Zhuge Liang, Guan Yu, and the others who were standing by the bedside.

After a month of treatment by Hua Tuo's skillful hands and precious medicinal herbs, the injuries of the five legendary generals—Guan Yu, Zhang Fei, Zhao Yun, Ma Chao, and Huang Zhong—finally showed significant improvement. Their broken bones began to heal, their damaged meridians were nourished, and much of their depleted qi and blood was replenished.

They were able to move freely, appeared no different from ordinary people, and could even occasionally practice a few martial arts moves. (End of Chapter)