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

After Huang Zhong, Zhang Fei, Chen Dao and others led their troops into the city, they quickly divided their forces to sweep away and eliminate the remaining enemy, while the main force rushed towards the county government office to meet up with Gu Rubing.

The battle within the city quickly turned into a one-sided affair as a large influx of Gu Rubing's fresh troops poured in. The Xiongnu soldiers who stubbornly resisted were divided, surrounded, and annihilated, while many more dropped their weapons, knelt down, surrendered, or took advantage of the chaos to flee to other city gates.

About half an hour later, the main fighting in Liucheng was basically over. Gu Rubing, under the protection of Guan Yu and Zhao Yun, successfully joined forces with the army led by Huang Zhong and Zhang Fei on a main street.

"Brother! Are you okay?"

Zhang Fei breathed a sigh of relief when he saw that Gu Rubing, though disheveled, was still alive.

Gu Rubing shook his head and immediately gave the order.

"Search the entire city immediately! Focus on finding the leaders of the Xiongnu, Wuhuan, and Fuyu tribes! Find them alive or dead! Especially that Luandimeng, I don't believe he died so easily!"

"promise!"

The generals received the order and immediately split up to lead a thorough search.

However, the results of the search left everyone feeling frustrated and angry.

The county government office, wealthy households' residences, military camps, even cellars and secret rooms... they searched every possible place. Aside from capturing a large number of ordinary Xiongnu soldiers and a few low-ranking officers, they found absolutely no one of Luandimeng's stature!
They didn't even capture any of the named chieftains or high-ranking officials from the Wuhuan and Fuyu tribes! They only managed to capture some minor leaders from other tribes who didn't have time to escape or whose status was low.

“My lord, we have carefully examined the body of the ‘alliance leader’ in the county office. Although he was dressed in fine clothes, his hands did not have calluses from years of holding a knife and drawing a bow, and he did not have the totem tattoos unique to tribal leaders. He was definitely a double!”

Chen Dao reported with a grim expression.

"Several possible hiding places and secret passages within the city have been found to have traces of people leaving, pointing towards the north gate. I'm afraid... the real leaders may have already slipped away before we breached the city, or in the chaos immediately following the breach."

Liu Bao added dejectedly.

So all that fighting tooth and nail in Liucheng, killing countless enemies, and finally taking down their highest-ranking target was just an imposter? They didn't even get close to the leaders of the major tribes?
Gu Rubing stood in front of the dilapidated courtroom of the county government, looking at the already cold body of the substitute on the ground, his face terribly gloomy.

A surge of anger, a feeling of being mocked and belittled, welled up inside him.

He had thought that killing the "Alliance Leader," even with an ambush, would disrupt the enemy forces, allowing him to coordinate with the main army outside the city to annihilate this stubborn enemy in one fell swoop. He hadn't expected the enemy to be even more cunning, using a decoy to draw fire and buy time, while the true leader had already prepared an escape route!
"Excellent, what a brilliant escape!"

Gu Rubing forced out a few words through gritted teeth, his fists clenched so tightly they cracked. But even in his anger, he knew that getting angry now was useless.

Shortly afterward, the crossbowmen sent north to track them reported back that a large group of cavalry had left Liucheng and sped north. The number was not large, about a thousand riders, but they were all fine horses and extremely fast. They had already gone deep into the grasslands and could not be caught up with.

Two days later, urgent reports from the borders of various counties in Youzhou were successively compiled and sent to Liucheng.

As if by prior agreement, all the allied forces of the Xiongnu, Wuhuan, and Fuyu tribes that had invaded southward this time quickly abandoned all the strongholds and camps they had occupied in Youzhou after the news of the fall of Liucheng spread. They retreated from the Great Wall like a tide and retreated into the depths of the vast grasslands.

Moreover, their retreat was extremely "clean." Apart from the heavy items they couldn't take with them, they looted almost all the people, livestock, and valuables they could carry, leaving behind only burned villages and desolate wastelands filled with corpses.

Gu Rubing stood atop the ruined city wall of Liucheng, gazing at the boundless grasslands to the north. His killing intent remained, but he could only let out a helpless sigh.

He wanted to pursue, but what could he use to do so? His most capable cavalry had suffered considerable losses, and most of them were Han cavalry. Deep in the grasslands, supplies, terrain, and climate were all problems.

More importantly, once these barbarians returned to the grasslands, they were like fish returning to the sea.

Tens of thousands of troops may sound like a lot, but scattered across the vast grasslands into dozens or even hundreds of tribes, how do you find them? Even if you find one or two and wipe them out, it won't make a difference to the whole.

They can gather and disperse at any time, which is the most helpless yet most effective way for nomadic peoples to deal with the Central Plains dynasties for thousands of years.

"My lord, the grasslands are vast, and the barbarians are cunning, coming and going like the wind. Although we were unable to completely wipe out their leaders this time, the recapture of Liucheng and the expulsion of them from the border is already a great achievement. Youzhou is in dire need of reconstruction. The most urgent task is to appease the people and rebuild the border defenses."

Zhuge Liang, whose injuries had slightly improved and who was barely able to accompany the army as a staff officer, gently advised from the side.

Gu Rubing understood this principle perfectly well.

He withdrew his gaze, suppressing his resentment deeply.

"Order that Chen Dao and Liu Bao be responsible for rebuilding and reinforcing the defenses of Liucheng and the counties in Liaoxi, and that scouts be dispatched extensively to guard against any further invasions by the barbarians. Liu Ye shall be fully responsible for the civil administration, pacification, and post-war reconstruction of the counties in Youzhou, and shall ensure the restoration of people's livelihoods and the resettlement of displaced people as soon as possible."

"promise!"

In the following period, Gu Rubing stayed in Youzhou, on the one hand urging Liu Ye and others to restore order in Youzhou as soon as possible, and on the other hand, and most importantly, to let all the core personnel, including himself, recuperate in peace.

Guan Yu, Zhang Fei, Zhao Yun, Ma Chao, Huang Zhong, and Zhuge Liang all needed time to heal their physical and mental wounds. Although Youzhou was bitterly cold, it was temporarily far from the strife in the Central Plains, making it a relatively quiet place for recuperation.

However, the tree may wish to be still, but the wind will not cease. Just when Gu Rubing thought he would have a chance to catch his breath and planned to take advantage of the winter when the barbarians were at rest and the Central Plains were also digesting the previous battle results, an urgent military report from the southeast front was delivered to his desk by fast horse.

This was no ordinary intelligence report; it was an urgent plea for help, tinged with the atmosphere of war!

The letter came from Kuaiji County, the southernmost part of Yangzhou. The messenger was covered in dust, his lips were chapped, and his eyes were bloodshot and filled with anxiety.

"My lord! After Sun Jian of Nanhai Commandery completely took control of the commandery and established a firm foothold, he has been sending spies to investigate our strengths and weaknesses."

Recently, they discovered that the main camps in Jingzhou and Jiaozhou have only been presided over by Generals Zhang Liao, Pang De, and Jiang Wei. Generals Guan Yu, Zhang Fei, Zhao Yun, and even you, my lord, have not made a public appearance for a long time. Based on this, Sun Jian deduced that you and the other generals are still recovering from serious injuries and are unable to participate in battle!

The messenger, panting, continued.

Sun Jian believed this was a golden opportunity to avenge the defeat at the eastern border by General Guan and to expand his territory while the enemy was vulnerable!
He has appointed his general Zhou Yu as commander-in-chief, with the veteran general Huang Gai as vanguard, and has gathered troops from Nanhai Commandery and those transferred from the Anluo Empire, claiming a force of 100,000. These troops are divided into two routes, advancing by land and water, and have brazenly crossed the border, launching a fierce attack on Kuaiji Commandery!

"The garrison of Kuaiji Commandery was caught off guard and its forces were already insufficient. Faced with the fierce attack of Zhou Yu's army, although they fought desperately, they temporarily blocked Huang Gai's troops by land by relying on the advantages of the city's terrain."

However, Zhou Yu's personally led navy has broken through our river defenses, landed at multiple points along the coast, burned granaries, and attacked our rear. Kuaiji Commandery is now under attack from both sides, and the situation is extremely critical!
General Zhang Liao's reinforcements from the Jingzhou camp are tied down by Cao Cao's army in the Nanyang direction, making it difficult for them to advance south quickly; General Pang De and General Jiang Wei are dealing with the movements of Liu Zhang's forces in southern Jiaozhou and are also stretched thin! The Prefect of Kuaiji has specially dispatched this humble general to break through the siege and come under cover of darkness to request reinforcements!

Gu Rubing gripped the military report so tightly that his knuckles turned white. The old wound under his ribs seemed to be throbbing again.

He slowly raised his head, his gaze sweeping over Guan Yu, Zhang Fei, Zhao Yun, and the others who had rushed to the hall upon hearing the news, their expressions equally solemn.

The air in the hall seemed to freeze because of this military report, filled with oppression and a chilling atmosphere. Gu Rubing's old wound under his ribs seemed to be aroused by this sudden bad news, and he felt a dull pain, but he couldn't care less about that at the moment.

He slowly placed the military report, stained with sweat and dust, on the table, his fingertips turning slightly white from pressing it down.

"Sun Jian... his hands and feet are so fast."

Guan Yu spoke in a deep voice, a cold glint flashing in his phoenix eyes.

He was also still recovering from his injuries, but his arrogance and fighting spirit remained undiminished.

"It seems they've decided we're no longer able to look south."

Zhang Fei was so angry that he roared loudly.

"That green-eyed bastard! A greedy rat who takes advantage of the chaos! Brother, give me, Zhang, 30,000 troops, and I'll go and take back Kuaiji County, and twist that Zhou Yu's head off to use as a chamber pot!"

Zhuge Liang sat at the lower end, his face still pale. Hearing this, he gently shook his head, his voice weak but clear.

"General Yide, please be at ease. The journey from the South China Sea to Kuaiji is long and arduous, and is also blocked by rivers. Sun Jian has been plotting for a long time, and Zhou Yu's military tactics are meticulous. They must have already calculated that our army will not be able to provide reinforcements easily. If we hastily send troops now, we may be playing right into their hands, besieging the city and attacking the reinforcements."

Sure enough, as if to confirm Zhuge Liang's judgment, even worse news came just two days later.

First came the urgent report that Zhang He's troops, responsible for marching north from the Jiaozhou camp, had been ambushed. Upon receiving the urgent order from Kuaiji, Zhang He did not hesitate at all. He immediately mustered his most elite 20,000 infantry and cavalry troops, lightly armed and simple, and rushed to Kuaiji's aid as quickly as possible.

However, as soon as the army entered the hilly area where Yuzhang County and Luling County meet, they were ambushed by Sun Jian's army, which had been prepared in advance!
The ambush did not come from the front, but rather took advantage of the complex terrain to launch a surprise attack from the flanks and rear. The general leading the army was none other than Han Dang, another fierce general under Sun Jian.

Instead of engaging Zhang He's army in a direct confrontation, they used crossbows to harass them from a distance, employed pre-set traps and obstacles to slow their march, and continuously launched surprise attacks with small elite units, targeting supply lines and rear guards.

Although Zhang He was a seasoned general, he was eager to advance and was not as familiar with the terrain as the enemy. For a time, he was held back by the enemy's persistent tactics, making it difficult to move forward. He suffered considerable casualties every day, and his advance speed dropped sharply.

"That scoundrel Sun is cunning! His ambush troops are avoiding a direct confrontation and are only provoking and delaying us!"

Zhang He wrote angrily in a military report sent to the rear.

"Although I fought bravely to repel their several raids and captured over a thousand, I also suffered considerable losses myself, and the morale of my troops is low and our supply lines are constantly under threat. If this continues, I fear that before we even reach Kuaiji, our army will be completely exhausted."

As if things weren't going to go wrong, just as Zhang He was being held back by Han Dang in the southern mountainous region of Yuzhang, the situation in Kuaiji Commandery took a sharp turn for the worse.

The garrison of Kuaiji Commandery was already short-handed. Facing Zhou Yu's 100,000-strong army, which advanced by land and water, it was already remarkable that they were able to hold out for several days by relying on the city's terrain and the soldiers' bravery.

However, the most fatal blow did not come from the outside, but from within!

In Kuaiji Commandery, and even throughout Jiangdong, many local powerful families felt much closer to Sun Jian, this "old acquaintance," than to Gu Rubing, who came later!
When Sun Jian served as the Prefect of Changsha and the Marquis of Wucheng in his early years, he had many dealings with the powerful clans of Jiangdong. He was tough but also knew how to exchange benefits, and he relied on and treated the powerful clans with great favor.

Gu Rubing rose to power in Youyan, with his roots in the north. He had not been in power in Jiangdong for long, and due to his style of doing things and certain policies, his relationship with these deeply entrenched Jiangdong families was never harmonious, and was even somewhat tense.

Now, Sun Jian has returned with renewed vigor, his army poised to strike Kuaiji. In the eyes of these Jiangdong gentry, this is nothing short of the "return of the king's army"! Compared to Gu Rubing's predicament—his generals are seriously injured, his lord is far away in Youzhou, and reinforcements are slow to arrive—Sun Jian's side is strong and well-equipped, their momentum unstoppable. The difference in strength seems obvious.

Thus, as Zhou Yu's army approached Shanyin City, the capital of Kuaiji Commandery, undercurrents began to surge within the city.

Some powerful families who were not of one mind with the governor of Kuaiji, or who had been secretly flirting with Sun Jian, began to stir.

On the third day, as Zhou Yu's army launched another fierce offensive outside the city and the defending troops were exhausted, the west and south gates of Shanyin City were opened almost simultaneously by the gatekeepers and soldiers who had been bribed beforehand and the private soldiers of aristocratic families! Sun Jian's vanguard Huang Gai's troops, who had been waiting outside, poured into the city like a flood bursting its banks!
With collusion from within and without, the city gates were breached, and the defending army was instantly caught in a desperate situation, attacked from both sides. Although the prefect and some loyal generals led their personal guards in a desperate fight to recapture the city gates or retreat to the inner city, all resistance seemed futile in the face of overwhelming numerical superiority and sudden betrayal.

In less than half a day, Shanyin City changed hands. The prefect was killed in battle, and a few generals either committed suicide or led their remaining troops in a breakout, their whereabouts unknown. Kuaiji Commandery, a crucial stronghold of Gu Rubing's forces in the southern part of Yangzhou, fell completely to Sun Jian after holding out for less than three days.

What made Gu Rubing's side even more disgusted and angry was that when Sun Jian's army entered Shanyin City, there were no fewer than ten prestigious clans in the city, led by their clan leaders or important figures, carrying large quantities of grain, cloth, and even gold and silver.

They waited early on both sides of the main street, as if welcoming their master home, and respectfully welcomed Sun Jian and his main generals into the city, presenting them with so-called "gifts to reward the army" to show their willingness to "serve".

The news spread rapidly, and its influence quickly expanded. Some powerful families in Wu Commandery and Danyang Commandery, which bordered Kuaiji and had always maintained a distant relationship with Gu Rubing's regime, or even harbored resentment, seemed to sense the shift in the political climate and began to become active in secret.

According to information gathered by Gu Rubing's clandestine channels, at least three or four powerful families from Wu and Danyang counties had secretly contacted Sun Jian, who had already established himself in Kuaiji. Their letters were filled with obsequious flattery and solemn promises. (End of Chapter)