Transmigrating to the Three Kingdoms as Lu Bu: I Have a Pseudo-Apocalypse System

February 25th, outside Longxian County.

After more than ten days of rapid marching south along the Yellow River, the combined forces of Lü Bu and Ma Teng, numbering over 20,000, swept to the city like a whirlwind.

Longxian was the seat of Hanyang Commandery, located at a strategic point in the Longshan Mountains, and was originally the eastern gateway to Liangzhou. When Han Sui attacked Dazhen Pass, he set up this city as a logistics base, storing most of the grain, fodder and military equipment there, and ordered his general Hou Xuan to lead two thousand soldiers to guard it.

Hou Xuan is thirty-five years old this year. He is a veteran general under Han Sui and is known for his caution.

When the scouts reported that a large army with banners [吕][马] had appeared in the north, he was inspecting the city walls when he heard the news and was greatly alarmed.

"How many people?" the candidate asked urgently.

"A dark, endless mass, at least twenty thousand, almost all cavalry!"

Hou Xuan's face turned ashen as he rushed to the top of the battlements to look out.

Dust billowed into the sky on the northern official road, like a yellow dragon rolling, and banners appeared and disappeared in the dust. At the very front, a large banner was held high, with a huge character [吕] written on it.

"Lü Bu, what's he doing here?" Hou Xuan muttered to himself, then suddenly realized, "Quickly, send a fast horse out of the city to Dazhen Pass to report! Tell them that Lü Bu and Ma Teng's allied forces have reached Long County, and request that our lord return to their aid immediately!"

"promise!"

A courier rushed out to the east and galloped towards Dazhen Pass.

Hou Xuan then urgently ordered: "Close all four gates, everyone go up to the city walls, archers and crossbowmen take their positions, bring up all the rolling logs and stones!"

Chaos erupted on the city wall as Liangzhou soldiers ran and shouted, carrying defensive equipment onto the wall.

But many people looked terrified—there was an army of more than 20,000 outside the city, and only 2,000 defenders inside. Longxian was not a big city. How could they fight this battle?

Two quarters of an hour later, Lü Bu's army arrived and lined up two miles outside the city.

Ma Teng rode up to Lü Bu's side, cupped his hands, and said, "General, this humble general is willing to go to the city walls to persuade Hou Xuan to surrender. I know this man, and perhaps I can convince him."

Lü Bu nodded: "Agreed."

Ma Teng, with only ten riders, arrived at a point about a hundred paces from the city walls, raised his head, and shouted, "Is General Houxuan here?"

Hou Xuan leaned out from the crenellations: "Ma Shoucheng? Shouldn't you be following the imperial edict to attack Lü Bu? Why are you with him?"

Ma Teng declared loudly, "General Hou, the secret edict you received was forged by treacherous officials in the court. Han Sui fell for the trap and raised an army against the Grand General, and is now in dire straits. Now the Grand General has personally led the royal army here, and Long County, an isolated city, is difficult to defend. If you surrender, the Grand General will surely forgive past grievances and continue to employ you. If you resist stubbornly, when the city falls, we will all perish!"

Hou Xuan remained silent for a moment, then shook his head and said, "General Ma, it's not that I'm ignorant of the times. Lord Han has treated me with great kindness; how could I betray him? I have already sent a messenger to inform General Han. Once Lord Han returns with his troops, we can attack from both inside and outside; the outcome is still uncertain!"

Ma Teng sighed, "Han Sui's 50,000 troops are trapped at Dazhen Pass, suffering thousands of casualties and unable to advance an inch. Even if they were to return, how could they possibly be a match for the General? General, please reconsider!"

Hou Xuan did not reply, but turned and disappeared into the battlements.

Ma Teng returned to his camp and shook his head at Lü Bu: "Hou Xuan refuses to surrender."

Lu Bu remained calm: "Then let's attack the city."

He reined in his horse and rode out to the city walls, coming to within two hundred paces. At this distance, the arrows from the city walls could not reach him, but the soldiers guarding the walls could clearly see his face.

Hou had already heard of Lü Bu's divine archery skills. He hid behind the crenellations and several shields, and when he saw Lü Bu through the gaps, his heart tightened—this was the world-famous Lü Bu.

The man was nine feet tall, broad-shouldered and burly, riding a crimson warhorse. Though unarmored, his imposing presence was overwhelming. Most chilling were his eyes, sharp as a hawk's, which, when sweeping across the city wall, made Hou Xuan feel as if the man was looking directly at him.

Just then, Lü Bu raised his hand.

The next moment, everyone on and below the city walls stared wide-eyed.

Thirty catapults and twenty ballistae appeared out of thin air on the open ground in front of the city. Wooden frames, iron arms, thick ropes, and heavy hammers gleamed coldly in the sunlight. Then came mountains of stone projectiles and crossbow bolts, as well as dozens of siege ladders and battering rams.

"The divine granary bestowed by heaven! Lü Bu truly possesses the divine granary bestowed by heaven!" a soldier from Liangzhou exclaimed in a trembling voice.

The candidate was also stunned.

He had heard rumors of the divine granary bestowed by heaven, but thought they were just exaggerations. Only after seeing it with his own eyes today did he realize that the rumors were true.

This kind of skill is beyond the reach of ordinary people!

Lü Bu's voice, as firm as iron, echoed across the city walls: "Hou Xuan, I'll ask you one last time—surrender, or die?"

Hou Xuan gritted his teeth and stubbornly said, "Lu Bu, so what if you have sorcery? I, Hou Xuan, will defend the city to the death!"

"Alright." Lü Bu said only one word, then turned his horse around and returned to his formation.

He ordered: "Load the catapults, cock the ballistae. First volley: bombard the gate tower and the walls on both sides. Second volley: cover the defenders on the city walls. Third volley: expand the gains. After three volleys, the infantry will attack the city."

"promise!"

Once the order was given, the soldiers operating the catapults and ballistae quickly completed the loading process with practiced skill.

Hou Xuan, who had a clear view from the city wall, urgently ordered: "Everyone take cover! Archers, prepare to return fire!"

But the garrison on the city walls was in disarray.

Many people's legs went weak when they saw the thirty enormous machines that suddenly appeared outside the city. Some huddled behind the battlements, trembling, while others muttered, "Lu Bu has a divinely bestowed granary; how can we fight him?"

"Release!" Lü Bu brandished his halberd.

"Buzz—Bang!"

Thirty giant stones soared into the air, arcing through the air, and crashed down on the city wall.

The first shot hit the city gate tower.

"boom!"

Wood and stones flew everywhere, and half of the roof collapsed. Several soldiers hiding inside were buried, not even having time to scream.

Then came the second shot, the third shot...

"Boom! Boom! Boom!"

Boulders rained down, and the rammed earth and brick walls trembled under the tremendous impact, bricks and stones cracked, and dust flew everywhere.

The ballistae were also fired; the thick bolts pierced the air and embedded themselves in the city wall, penetrating more than a foot deep, their tails humming and vibrating.

In the second round, stone projectiles began to cover the city walls.

A huge rock crashed into the rampart, turning the three crossbowmen behind it into mincemeat.

Another bullet flew over the city wall and landed in the city's streets and alleys, smashing a house and sending dust billowing into the sky.

Screams, cries of alarm, and the sound of collapse mingled together.

Hou Xuan hid behind the ruins of the city wall, covered in dust and dirt.

He witnessed a platoon leader being hit in the face by a stone and dying instantly; he also saw a pot of boiling oil being overturned by a stone, scalding seven or eight soldiers.

The morale of the defending troops collapsed instantly.

"Run!"

"We can't hold on any longer!"

Some people dropped their weapons and ran down from the city walls.

Hou Xuan killed two people in succession, but could not stop the collapse.

After the third round of bombardment, the city wall was damaged in many places, and the city gate tower collapsed completely.

Seeing that the time was right, Lü Bu ordered, "Ma Teng, attack the city!"

Gao Shun's elite infantry battalion remained in Bingzhou, but Ma Teng's Liangzhou infantry siege troops, carrying ladders and shields, began their assault on the city.

Arrows fell sparsely from the city walls, most of them blocked by shields.

Hou Xuan, his eyes red with desperation, shouted: "Roll logs! Smash stones! Pour hot oil!"

But few responded.

Many people were only concerned with escaping for their lives, and the few loyal ones who showed themselves were targeted and killed by crossbowmen outside the city.

A brave warrior erected the first siege ladder on the city wall, and more and more siege ladders followed.