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

When Liang Xing exposed the truth, Han Sui's face darkened: "Liang Xing, what do you want?"

Liang Xing suppressed his smile and said seriously, "My lord, we have followed you for many years. Even if we have not made any great contributions, we have certainly worked hard. Today, in this desperate situation, you want to abandon us and flee for your own life. This is truly disheartening."

Cheng Yin also said, "My lord, surrendering to Lü Bu is not necessarily a dead end. Didn't Ma Teng surrender as well? He's still leading troops. If you come back with us and lead the whole army to surrender, perhaps Lü Bu will show leniency."

Han Sui gritted his teeth: "You want to use me to claim credit?"

Liang Xing shook his head: "It's not about seeking credit, it's about survival. My lord, look at the situation, where can you escape to? Even if you cross the mountains, won't Lü Bu send troops to pursue you? Even if you return to Jincheng, won't Ma Teng send troops to besiege you? The world is vast, but there is nowhere for you to hide."

Han Sui remained silent.

He knew Liang Xing was right, but surrendering was simply impossible. He had accepted Lü Bu's provisions and then betrayed him; if captured, he would surely die.

Han Yong suddenly drew his sword and stood protectively in front of Han Sui: "My lord, run! I'll hold them off!"

The other four guards also drew their swords.

Liang Xing sneered: "Just the five of you?"

With a wave of his hand, seventy or eighty people behind him dispersed and surrounded the six men.

Seeing that the situation was turning against him, Han Sui suddenly pulled out a brocade pouch from his robes, poured out more than a dozen pearls and several gold ingots, and threw them on the ground: "Liang Xing, Cheng Yin, these are for you! Let me go, and you will be richly rewarded in the future!"

The pearls shimmered in the firelight, and the gold ingots crashed heavily to the ground.

Liang Xing didn't even look at him: "My lord, today is not for money."

Han Sui then pulled out a stack of land deeds: "I own a thousand acres of farmland and houses in Jincheng, and three shops in Guzang. I'll give them all to you!"

Cheng Yin was somewhat tempted and looked at Liang Xing.

Liang Xing shook his head: "My lord, these material possessions can only be enjoyed if one is alive. If you insist on leaving, I will have to offend you."

In despair, Han Sui cried out hoarsely, "Liang Xing! I have treated you well, why have you driven me to this point!"

Liang Xing sighed, "Our lord has treated me well, but the lives of tens of thousands of soldiers are of greater importance. You raised an army for your own selfish reasons, and now you want to abandon the army and flee. If I let you go, how can I face the brothers who died?"

He waved his hand: "Take it down!"

Seventy or eighty people rushed forward.

Han Yong and his four companions fought desperately, but outnumbered, they were quickly hacked to death. Han Sui, a man of extraordinary martial prowess, killed more than ten men, but ultimately, outnumbered as well, he was finally bound tightly.

"Liang Xing, you'll die a horrible death!" Han Sui cursed.

Liang Xing said expressionlessly, "Take him back."

When Han Sui was escorted back to the camp, it was already dawn.

Yan Xing and Cheng Gongying rushed over upon hearing the news, and were stunned to see Han Sui bound like a rice dumpling.

"Liang Xing, how dare you kidnap our lord!" Yan Xing roared, drawing his sword to strike Liang Xing.

Liang Xing remained unyielding: "General Yan, first ask our lord what he did last night."

Cheng Gongying had already guessed most of it, and asked Han Sui in a trembling voice, "My lord, last night..."

Han Sui lowered his head in dejection, speechless.

Liang Xing sneered, "Our lord intended to abandon the camp and flee, crossing the mountains alone to return to Jincheng. If I hadn't discovered it, he would have already flown far away, leaving us here to die."

Yan Xing was struck dumb, and the knife in his hand slowly fell to the ground. He looked at Han Sui, his eyes filled with disappointment, anger, and heartache.

Cheng Gongying sighed deeply and bowed to Han Sui, saying, "My lord, you have disappointed us greatly."

When the soldiers in the camp gathered upon hearing the news, they were in uproar upon learning that Han was going to abandon them and flee for his life alone.

"We risked our lives for him, and he wants to run away?"

"No wonder they told us to hold our ground; they wanted us as bait to die!"

"We surrender! We surrender!"

The sentiment is indignant.

Yan Xing looked around and saw that the army's morale had collapsed; he knew the situation was hopeless. He took a deep breath and said to Liang Xing, "General Liang, what are your plans?"

Liang Xing said, "Binding Han Sui and surrendering might be the only way to save our lives."

Cheng Gongying smiled wryly: "That's all we can do."

After discussion, the generals decided to immediately organize their troops, open the camp gates, and raise the white flag.

Liang Xing, Yan Xing, Cheng Gongying, Cheng Yin, Li Kan, and Zhang Heng personally escorted Han Sui out of the camp on foot and headed towards the Han army camp.

Lu Bu had just gotten up and was having breakfast when he heard the report that "Han Sui's generals have captured Han Sui and brought him to surrender." He immediately put down his bowl and chopsticks with delight and said, "Let them in."

The six generals entered the tent and knelt down to pay their respects.

Liang Xing said, "The guilty general Liang Xing, together with Yan Xing, Cheng Gongying, Cheng Yin, Li Kan, and Zhang Heng, has bound the traitor Han Sui and brought him to surrender. We beg the General to decide his fate."

Han Sui was pushed to the ground, struggled to his knees, and cried out in tears, "General! General, spare my life! I was confused for a moment, deceived by the treacherous officials' false edict, and thus started a rebellion. Now I know I was wrong, and I am willing to surrender all my troops and territory, lay down my arms and return to my fields. I only beg the General to spare my life!"

Lu Bu looked at Han Sui calmly: "Han Wenyue, you received my provisions and salary, yet you rebelled under a false imperial edict—that's your first crime; you raised an army to attack the pass, resulting in the deaths and injuries of thousands of soldiers—that's your second crime; you attempted to abandon your army and flee after your defeat—that's your third crime. All three crimes must be punished together. Tell me, how should I forgive you?"

Han Sui kowtowed repeatedly, pleading, "General, I'm willing to offer up my wealth and become your servant, I just want to live! Please spare me this time, for the sake of our past relationship!"

Lü Bu shook his head: "If everyone who rebels fails can live by kowtowing and begging for mercy, then what will become of military law? How can the world be governed?"

He said to his personal guards, "Take Han Sui away, put him in a prison cart, and keep him under strict guard. When we return to Chang'an, we will publicly execute him."

"promise!"

Han Sui collapsed to the ground and was dragged away.

Lü Bu then looked at Liang Xing and the other six: "Although you followed the rebels, you finally realized your mistakes and surrendered by binding the rebels, so you can be spared the death penalty. However, you cannot escape punishment—you will all be demoted to captains, and you will be allowed to serve in the army to atone for your crimes."

The six men kowtowed, saying, "Thank you, General, for sparing our lives!"

Lü Bu then said, "All the surrendered soldiers under Han Sui's command should be dispersed and reorganized, and after screening, they should be assigned to various units. Those who do not wish to join the army should be given travel expenses and sent back."

"promise!"

After finishing his business, Lü Bu stood up and said, "At noon today, the army will enter Dazhen Pass."

At noon, the city gates of Dazhenguan were opened wide.

Wei Xu led the garrison troops inside the pass to line up and greet them.

"This humble general, Wei Xu, respectfully welcomes the triumphant return of the Great General!" Wei Xu knelt on one knee, with thousands of soldiers kneeling behind him.

Lu Bu dismounted and helped him up, saying, "You've had a hard time these past few days."

Wei Xu laughed and said, "This humble general is merely guarding the pass, not comparable to the great general's achievements of traversing thousands of miles and defeating the Xianbei, Xiongnu, and Han Sui."

The two entered the pass side by side.

The garrison at the pass erupted in cheers upon seeing Lü Bu's banner. They had endured immense pressure these past few days, and today they finally saw the light at the end of the tunnel.

A banquet has been prepared inside the pass; although it is not lavish, there is plenty of meat.

Lü Bu sat in the main seat, flanked by Ma Teng and Wei Xu, with Cheng Lian, Zhang Xiu, Ma Chao, Pang De, and other generals seated in order below.

After several rounds of drinks, Lü Bu raised his cup and said, "The swift pacification of Liangzhou in this battle is entirely due to the bravery of our soldiers. Those who died in battle will be generously compensated; those who made contributions will be rewarded according to their merits."

After the banquet, Lü Bu summoned Ma Teng for a private talk.

"Shoucheng, Liangzhou is a place where Qiang and Hu peoples mingle. Although Han Sui has been defeated, the local strongmen and Qiang tribes may not be truly convinced. As the governor of Liangzhou, you should focus on pacification, using both suppression and appeasement," Lü Bu said.

Ma Teng nodded: "Teng understands. The Qiang people value profit, so we can open a trade market to exchange tea, salt, and cloth for their cattle and sheep; the powerful and influential value reputation, so we can recruit their sons and brothers as officials to win their hearts."

Lü Bu praised, "That's exactly right. I will leave you 50,000 shi of grain, 100,000 guan of cash, and 5,000 bolts of cloth for pacification. I will also transfer 2,000 cavalry to your command. If anyone disobeys, you can suppress them with swift and decisive force."

Ma Teng was moved: "General, your kindness is beyond my ability to repay."

Lü Bu waved his hand: "Governing Liangzhou well is the best reward for me."

He paused, then continued, "After Han Sui is brought back to Chang'an, I will execute him in public as a warning to others. At that time, some people in Liangzhou may be dissatisfied, so you must stabilize the situation."

Ma Teng solemnly replied, "Teng will certainly live up to your trust."