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

Next comes the standard sacrificial ceremony: burning incense, offering wine, playing music, kneeling and bowing...

Throughout the entire process, Liu Xie was like a puppet, mechanically performing every action.

The sacrificial ceremony finally came to an end.

Liu Xie practically fled the Imperial Ancestral Temple.

Back on the imperial carriage, he slumped into his seat, his underwear soaked with cold sweat.

As Lü Bu watched the imperial carriage depart, he said to Jia Xu, "Wenhe, the arrangements were excellent."

Jia Xu smiled and said, "It's all Fengxiao's plan. He said that we should not only make His Majesty fear us, but also let the whole world see the General's achievements and methods."

Guo Jia chuckled from the side, "With the Jingguan Map now out, those who still harbor disloyal intentions should think twice."

Lü Bu nodded: "How are the preparations for the victory celebration banquet going?"

"It's all ready." Cao Xing stepped forward. "A main banquet will be held in the main hall of the palace to entertain all officials and generals. Sub-banquets will be held in each military camp, with plenty of wine and meat for the soldiers. Continuous banquets will be set up on the main streets of the city, where the people can take as much as they want."

"Very well." Lü Bu mounted his horse. "Return to the palace for a grand banquet!"

The Imperial Palace, the Hall of Qilin.

This palace was originally built during the reign of Emperor Wu of Han. It suffered some damage from war, but after restoration, it remains magnificent. The palace is filled with desks and tables arranged according to the rank of the officials.

The main seat was naturally Liu Xie's throne, but today an additional seat was set up next to it, almost level with the throne—that was for Lü Bu.

On the left are the civil officials, led by Yang Biao; on the right are the military officers, led by Cao Xing.

When Lü Bu entered the palace, all the officials rose to greet him.

"Congratulations on the General's triumphant return!"

"The General's achievements will last for a thousand years!"

Congratulatory messages poured in.

Lü Bu walked straight to the seat next to the throne and sat down. He didn't look at Liu Xie, but simply waved to the officials: "Please be seated, everyone."

Liu Xie sat awkwardly on the throne, feeling like a mere decoration.

The banquet begins.

Palace maids filed in, bringing out wine and dishes. There was roasted whole lamb, stewed beef, steamed fish, various seasonal vegetables, and also noodles and pastries characteristic of Guanzhong. The wine was fine yellow wine, with a wonderfully fragrant aroma.

The musicians played the music of "Deer Cry," and the dancers began to dance gracefully.

On the surface, everything seemed peaceful.

Lü Bu raised his cup: "This great victory is entirely due to the bravery of our soldiers and the support of the people. This cup is a toast to all the sons who fought for our country!"

"To the Great General!" All the officials raised their cups in unison.

He drank it all in one gulp.

Lü Bu poured another cup: "This second cup is for everyone present. During my absence from Chang'an, it is thanks to your assistance to His Majesty that the court has been stabilized."

These words were spoken politely, but to Yang Biao and the others, they were a great irony.

They assist His Majesty? They are the treacherous officials plotting rebellion, as Lü Bu claims!

But he still had to put on a smile and say, "General, you flatter me. This is our duty."

Drink again.

With the third cup, Lü Bu looked at Liu Xie and said, "This cup is to Your Majesty. Without Your Majesty's great fortune, our army would not have achieved such a great victory."

Liu Xie hurriedly raised his cup: "It is...it is the great general's divine might and the soldiers' bravery that have brought me...I am merely reaping the benefits."

These words were spoken in a humble manner, almost as if they were trying to curry favor with Lü Bu.

Lü Bu smiled and drank it all.

After three cups of wine, the banquet got down to business.

The generals took turns toasting and recounting amusing anecdotes from the battlefield. Zhang Xiu recounted the night raid on the Xianbei camp, Ma Chao spoke of the general's decisive victory over Kebineng, and Xu Huang recounted intercepting Han Sui… Although embellished, the basic facts remained.

The officials were terrified.

They knew Lü Bu was a capable fighter, but they hadn't expected him to be this powerful. He defeated 20,000 barbarian cavalry with only 10,000 men, pacifying Bingzhou in a matter of weeks; then he turned around and annihilated Han Sui's 50,000-strong army. Such achievements would be legendary in any era.

Yang Biao glanced at Lü Bu.

The man was talking quietly with Jia Xu, looking calm and composed, as if these military achievements were nothing to mention.

He felt bitter.

How could these scholars possibly contend with such a figure?

Halfway through the banquet, Lü Bu suddenly said, "Your Majesty, I discovered something strange during this campaign."

Liu Xie's heart tightened: "W-what is it?"

"Han Sui confessed that he raised an army because he received a secret edict from His Majesty, ordering him to come to the emperor's aid and to kill the treacherous officials." Lü Bu stared at Liu Xie and slowly asked, "Did His Majesty issue such an edict?"

Liu Xie's face turned deathly pale. He dared not look at Lü Bu, but hurriedly denied it, saying, "Forged! That's a false edict! I never issued such an edict!"

"That's strange then." Lü Bu raised an eyebrow. "Who is so audacious as to forge an imperial edict and wreak havoc on the world? If such a treacherous official is not found out, the consequences will be endless."

The hall fell silent instantly.

The musicians stopped playing, the dancers stepped aside, and everyone looked at Liu Xie.

Liu Xie's forehead was sweating, and he looked at Yang Biao for help.

Yang Biao lowered his head and remained silent.

Zhao Wen, Zhang happy, and others wished they could bury their heads in the desk.

Jia Xu spoke up at the opportune moment: "General, today is a day of celebration, a time of great joy. It is not appropriate to discuss such a sour topic. The treacherous villains can be dealt with later. For now, we should enjoy ourselves to the fullest."

Lü Bu glanced at Jia Xu and nodded: "Wenhe is right. Come, let's continue drinking!"

The music resumed, and the dancers danced again.

But the atmosphere had changed.

Yang Biao and his companions lost their appetite, and the wine tasted like bitter herbs in their throats.

They knew that Lü Bu was warning them: "I know you did it. I'm not killing you now to save face for the victory banquet. After the banquet, it will be time for reckoning."

Liu Xie was extremely uneasy.

He kept stealing glances at Lü Bu, trying to glean clues from the other's expression, but Lü Bu remained calm, occasionally chatting and laughing with his generals, as if what he had just said was just a casual remark.

The banquet lasted until late at night.

Lu Bu drank a lot of wine, but showed no signs of intoxication.

He stood up and said, "Your Majesty, I am feeling a little tired, so I will take my leave now."

Liu Xie quickly said, "General, you've worked hard. Please rest early."

Lü Bu bowed to his officials and said, "Please continue, everyone, enjoy yourselves!"

Having said that, he left with Jia Xu, Guo Jia, and the others.

After Lü Bu left, the atmosphere in the hall became even more eerie.

Yang Biao and the others looked at each other, their eyes filled with fear.

They dared not linger and all took their leave.

Looking at the empty hall, Liu Xie suddenly grabbed a wine jug and smashed it on the ground.

"Clang—"

Porcelain shards scattered everywhere.

The eunuchs and palace maids who were serving them were so frightened that they all knelt on the ground.

"Get out, all of you get out!" Liu Xie roared.

The group scrambled out of the area.

Liu Xie slumped onto his throne, tears streaming down his face.

For the next three days, Chang'an was immersed in revelry.

In the military camp, the soldiers drank wine from large bowls and ate large chunks of meat.

Lu Bu kept his promise, rewarding all the soldiers who participated in the battle according to their merits, and providing generous compensation to the families of the fallen.

The army's morale was high, and their loyalty to Lü Bu reached its peak.

Ordinary people could freely take food from the street banquets, and many families even saved their own food rations just to eat a few more meals at the government's table.

In restaurants and teahouses, storytellers began to compose and sing stories such as "The Tale of Marquis Wen Jing Lu" and "The Flying General's Great Defeat of the Northern Barbarians," embellishing them and making Lü Bu sound like a god descended from heaven.

The entire Guanzhong region was singing praises of Lü Bu's achievements.

In contrast, the palace was eerily deserted.

Liu Xie was placed under house arrest in his palace, and all the eunuchs and palace maids around him were replaced with new ones.

These people were outwardly respectful, but in reality, they were monitoring his every move.

Outside the residences of Yang Biao, Zhao Wen, Zhang happy, and others, there were always city defense troops patrolling. Ostensibly for protection, but in reality for surveillance.

Their families wanted to leave the capital and return to their hometowns to escape, but they were all politely advised to return: "For the young master's safety, it is best to stay home as much as possible."