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

Three days later, Lü Bu led his army away from Dazhen Pass and returned east to Chang'an.

An extra prison cart appeared in the procession, and Han Sui, with disheveled hair, was imprisoned inside. The people of Dazhen Pass gathered around, pointing and whispering.

Ma Teng led the generals of Liangzhou to escort them a few miles below the pass, watching Lü Bu's army head east into the distance.

Pang De whispered, "My lord, Lü Bu is truly a ruthless and ambitious man."

Ma Teng nodded: "In chaotic times, there are only three types of people who can achieve great things: those with unparalleled martial prowess, those with extraordinary wisdom, and those who are destined by heaven. Lü Bu possesses all three, so this world will be his sooner or later."

He turned back to the pass: "Let's go, back to Wuwei. We must fight for a future under the General's command."

On the third day of the third lunar month, at Shili Pavilion, ten miles west of Chang'an City.

As dawn broke, the roadsides were already packed with people.

From the city gate of Chang'an to Shili Pavilion, there was a guard every five steps and a sentry every ten steps, all of whom were soldiers of Cao Xing's city defense army.

They carried long halberds, wore ring-pommel swords at their waists, and their armor was gleaming as they maintained order.

A temporary platform was erected at Shili Pavilion, with the emperor's throne set up on it and officials' seats arranged on either side. The musicians from the Court of Imperial Sacrifices were already in place, with bells, chimes, drums, zithers, and other musical instruments neatly arranged.

Emperor Liu Xie sat on his throne, dressed in a ceremonial robe with twelve imperial symbols and a crown reaching to the heavens, but his face was pale, and his fingers gripped the armrests tightly. He was only twelve years old, and the thought of the situation he might face next made him feel breathless.

On the left and right sides, the three dukes and nine ministers are arranged in order.

Grand Commandant Yang Biao stood at the head of the civil officials, his beard and hair graying, his official robe new but his back slightly hunched. He lowered his head, his eyes fixed on the ground, lost in thought.

Situ Zhao Wen and Sikong Zhang happy stood to the left and right, respectively, both silent. Behind them, the veteran officials Huangfu Song, Zhu Jun, Zhou Zhong, Shi Sunrui, and others all wore complex expressions.

On the military side, led by General Cao Xing, the Commander of the Capital Region, generals Hao Meng, Song Xian, Hou Cheng, and others stood in the ranks of military officers, fully armored and with their hands on their swords.

The common people were allowed to watch the soldiers' salute from behind the cordon, forming a dense crowd stretching for miles. Many people stood on tiptoe, peering westward and whispering among themselves.

"I heard that the Great General has beheaded the Xianbei king and killed the rebellious king of the Southern Xiongnu!"

"They even built a huge mound of corpses, piled high with the bodies of several thousand barbarians!"

"That scoundrel Han Sui has been captured too, and today he'll be paraded through the streets as a warning!"

"Serves them right! These barbarians and traitors should have been killed long ago!"

Amidst the discussions, the sound of bugles could be heard in the distance.

"They're here! They're here!"

The crowd stirred.

Dust began to rise on the western official road. First, several scouts galloped up, dismounted before the pavilion, and reported: "Your Majesty, the General has led his army to within two li!"

Liu Xie trembled and looked at Yang Biao.

Yang Biao stepped forward and said in a low voice, "Your Majesty, according to etiquette, you should rise."

Liu Xie took a deep breath and stood up with the help of the eunuchs. The officials also rose and straightened their clothes.

The musicians began to play music, with bells and chimes ringing out and zithers playing in harmony. It was the "Kairong Music," a piece specially used by the Han Dynasty court to welcome victorious armies.

The smoke and dust were getting closer.

Finally, the flag came into view.

At the forefront was a massive banner, three zhang tall, with a red background and black characters, embroidered with a huge character [吕]. Behind the banner were various generals' flags and camp flags, densely packed, obscuring the sky.

Next came the cavalry.

A thousand heavily armored guards and cavalrymen, their iron helmets and armor reflecting a cold light in the sunlight.

The warhorses, clad in leather armor, thundered with their hooves, causing the ground to tremble slightly.

Although there were only a thousand people, the solemn atmosphere made the onlookers involuntarily hold their breath.

Following the heavy cavalry were the light cavalry, numbering about four thousand. Although their armor was inferior to that of the heavy cavalry, they were all spirited and skilled horsemen.

Further behind were infantry formations, their steps perfectly synchronized, their spears like a forest.

At the central command post, Lü Bu rode Red Hare slowly along.

Today, he was not wearing his gleaming armor, but rather a specially made general's uniform: a black robe over a brocade battle robe, with a long sword at his waist. Standing nine feet tall with a broad back and powerful build, his imposing presence was palpable even from a distance.

Red Hare was entirely crimson, except for its four snow-white hooves, and was exceptionally swift and spirited. It was equipped with a high-bridged saddle and double stirrups, all new types of horse tack promoted by Lü Bu.

To Lü Bu's left were Cheng Lian and Zhang Xiu, and to his right were Ma Chao, Xu Huang, and other generals. All of them were covered in dust, but their eyes were sharp, clearly indicating that they were seasoned veterans.

Even more striking were the prison vans in the procession.

Han Sui was imprisoned in the first prison van.

He was disheveled, dressed in tattered prison clothes, his hands and feet shackled, huddled in the corner of the cage. A wooden sign stood on the wooden bars of the prison cart, bearing the four large characters: [Traitor Han Sui].

Behind them were dozens of prison carts, holding Xianbei and Southern Xiongnu prisoners who had only killed one Han Chinese or less and needed to be brought back to Guanzhong to suffer hard labor. These people were also disheveled and looked dejected.

Following the prison van was a long convoy of vehicles.

The wagon was loaded with captured supplies: boxes of gold and silver jewelry, bundles of furs, bags of grain, and war trophies unique to the Northern Barbarians, such as musical instruments, weapons, and flags.

The most conspicuous item was a cartload of severed heads—these were some of the heads of non-Han nobles that were deliberately preserved during the construction of the Jingguan (a mound of skulls). They were preserved with lime, placed in wooden boxes, and prepared for sacrifice at the Imperial Ancestral Temple.

The army stopped a hundred paces away.

Lü Bu led his generals to dismount and walk to the high platform.

According to the established etiquette, when a victorious general meets the emperor, he must perform a grand ceremony, kneeling and acknowledging himself as a subject.

But Lü Bu only walked ten steps to the front of the platform, cupped his hands and said, "Your subject Lü Bu, having been ordered to quell the Di, has now pacified the northern frontier, captured and beheaded the traitors, and has come to report back."

He didn't kneel, didn't bow, and didn't even offer a simple bow.

The officials on the stage changed color.

Liu Xie clenched his fists tighter, his nails digging into his flesh. He thought of the cup of poison that Dong Zhuo had given his brother Liu Bian, and of the days and nights he had been held hostage by Li Jue and Guo Si. Now, he had to face an even more powerful Lü Bu.

But he could only force a smile: "General, you have worked hard. This campaign against the Di has enhanced our national prestige and revitalized the Han Dynasty. Your achievements will last for generations. I... I am very pleased."

His words were dry and devoid of emotion.

Lu Bu looked up and glanced at Liu Xie. His gaze was calm, yet it sent a chill down Liu Xie's spine.

"Serving the country is my duty," Lü Bu said calmly. "However, during this trip, I discovered that there seem to be treacherous officials in the court who dared to forge imperial edicts and secretly order the lords to rebel. Han Sui was misled by these forged edicts, which is why he raised an army to rebel against Han. I have already captured Han Sui and seized several forged edicts, which I will report to Your Majesty later."

Liu Xie's face turned deathly pale.

Yang Biao and the others were deeply shocked.

None of the assassins they sent out returned, and among all the feudal lords in the land, only Han Sui raised an army, which showed that things were not going well.

Now it's clear that the secret edict has indeed fallen into Lü Bu's hands!

Jia Xu stepped forward at the opportune moment, cupped his hands, and said, "Your Majesty, the General has traveled a thousand miles, and the soldiers have fought valiantly to achieve this great victory. Today, upon our triumphant return, we should first reward those who have contributed and appease the soldiers. As for the treacherous officials in the court, they can be investigated later."

These words, seemingly to extricate Liu Xie from a difficult situation, actually conveyed to everyone that while a public reckoning was not immediately possible, the matter was far from over.

Liu Xie nodded hurriedly: "What Minister Jia said is absolutely right. The General and all the soldiers have worked hard and made great contributions, and they deserve a rich reward!"

He looked at the official in charge of ceremonies: "According to protocol, play the triumphant music to welcome the royal army into the city!"