Chapter 1572

Cao Cao looked at the empty battlefield with mixed feelings. He was both glad that he could escape from that sudden disaster and regretful that he had failed to completely eliminate Gu Yi. Sima Yi stood to the side with a solemn expression, seemingly thinking about something as well.

"My lord, that mysterious army's origins are unknown, but it is clearly related to Gu Yi." Sima Yi broke the silence. "We must find out their identities to prevent another surprise attack in the future."

Cao Cao nodded; he knew deeply that this war was far from over, Gu Yi's escape was only temporary, and the real contest was still ahead. Thus, he ordered the entire army to rest and reorganize while dispatching scouts in all directions to collect intelligence on Gu Yi and his mysterious allies.

On the other side, under the cover of the mysterious army, Gu Yi led his remaining troops to flee into a hidden valley. The terrain here was dangerous and easy to defend but difficult to attack, making it an ideal place for temporary recuperation. Gu Yi looked gratefully at the leader of the mysterious army, only to see the other party slowly remove their mask, revealing a young and cold face.

"Many thanks for your assistance, sir. If not for your timely appearance, I, Gu Yi, would likely not have escaped this disaster today." Gu Yi cupped his hands in thanks.

The leader nodded slightly, their voice low: "General Gu, you are too kind. I am the leader of the Shadow Guards, sent here to assist you by the order of my master. My master says that in chaotic times, heroes should support each other and fight against strong enemies together."

Gu Yi's heart stirred, guessing that this "master" might be some reclusive expert or a warlord who had not yet revealed themselves, but since the other party was unwilling to reveal their identity, he did not ask further. He turned to inquire about the history and strength of the Shadow Guards, intending to understand the background of this new ally.

The Shadow Guard leader briefly introduced the history and training of the Shadow Guards; they were an elite force specializing in special missions, skilled in concealment, assassination, and intelligence gathering. For this operation, they were ordered by their master to come and assist Gu Yi in overcoming the crisis.

After learning of the Shadow Guards' strength, Gu Yi felt slightly at ease. He began to reorganize his army while discussing the next action plan with the Shadow Guard leader. They decided that before Cao Cao found out the truth, they would remain still, secretly accumulating strength while waiting for the opportunity to counterattack.

Time passed quietly; Cao Cao's army searched everywhere for Gu Yi's whereabouts but found nothing. Meanwhile, Gu Yi was sharpening his weapons and feeding his horses in the valley, and his strength gradually recovered. At the same time, the Shadow Guards also brought an important piece of intelligence—Cao Cao was preparing for a large-scale military operation, intending to eliminate all warlords who opposed him in one stroke and establish his hegemony.

After learning this news, Gu Yi realized that he could no longer sit idly by. He decided to unite with other warlords to fight against Cao Cao's ambition together. He dispatched envoys to secretly contact warlords in various places, explaining the pros and cons and calling on them to unite to resist Cao Cao's threat together.

After some effort, Gu Yi successfully united several powerful warlords. They agreed that before Cao Cao launched his attack, they would strike first and launch a surprise attack on Cao Cao's territory.

The battle broke out again; this time, Gu Yi's allied army occupied the initiative. Utilizing the weakness of Cao Cao's dispersed forces, they concentrated their superior forces to launch fierce attacks on several of Cao Cao's important strongholds. Cao Cao was caught off guard and suffered heavy losses.

However, just as the allied army was about to achieve a complete victory, Sima Yi once again demonstrated his wisdom. Utilizing the advantages of terrain and troop deployment, he cleverly resolved the allied army's offensive and successfully counterattacked a portion of the allied army's forces.

Both sides fell into a stalemate, and the battle was exceptionally intense. Gu Yi and Sima Yi, two wise generals, unfolded a contest of wits on the battlefield. They each commanded their armies, flexibly applying tactics, attempting to find the other's flaws.

In this protracted war, both sides paid a huge price. The soldiers were exhausted, and supplies were becoming increasingly scarce. However, neither Gu Yi nor Cao Cao had any intention of giving up. They knew that this war was not only related to personal honor and disgrace but also to the belonging of the world.

Just as the war entered the white-hot stage, sudden news broke the stalemate. A mysterious envoy arrived at the battlefield, bringing shocking news—an unknown force was secretly manipulating this war, intending to take this opportunity to overturn the order of the entire Central Plains.

After learning this news, Gu Yi and Cao Cao both felt an unprecedented crisis. They realized that if they continued to fight like this, it would only allow that unknown force to succeed in the end. Thus, they decided to temporarily cease hostilities and jointly deal with the threat of this unknown force.