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

When Xun Yu, Cheng Yu, Xi Zhicai and others rushed over upon hearing the news, they saw Cao Cao already in armor and holding a sword, looking like a mad tiger.

"My lord, there might be something fishy about this!" Xun Yu urged urgently. "Although Zhang Kai is a general under Tao Qian, he is a remnant of the Yellow Turban Rebellion, and his treacherous nature is hard to change. It's unlikely that Tao Qian ordered him to do this. We should first send an envoy to question him and find out the truth..."

"Find out the truth?" Cao Cao shattered the wooden frame beside him with a single stroke of his sword. "My father's body is barely cold, and you want me to find out the truth? Tao Qian is the governor of Xu Province, and his generals killed my father; he is guilty! Issue the order to mobilize all the troops of Yan Province and launch an eastern expedition against Xu Province. I will wash Xu Province in blood, leaving no one alive!"

Cheng Yu stepped forward and said in a deep voice, "My lord, Lü Bu is eyeing us covetously in the west, while Yuan Shu and Yuan Shao hold sway in the north and south, respectively. We must also be wary of them. If we launch a major eastern expedition, Yan Province will be left vulnerable. If either Lü Bu or the two Yuans were to attack, we would be caught off guard and our great cause would be in grave danger!"

The unexpected death of his father drove Cao Cao to madness: "If they dare to come, I will kill them all! My mind is made up, and anyone who tries to dissuade me will be executed!"

Xi Zhicai coughed as he knelt down: "My lord... cough... even if you wish to take revenge, please only execute the ringleaders Tao Qian and Zhang Kai, and do not implicate the common people in the massacre... this would be an act that loses the hearts of the people..."

"Popular support?" Cao Cao kicked over the charcoal brazier, sparks flying. "My father died a tragic death, what do I need popular support for? Order the entire army to march immediately! For every city in Xuzhou that is captured, slaughter the inhabitants for three days, to appease my father's spirit in heaven!"

Xun Yu wanted to persuade him further, but Cao Cao had already turned and left.

The following day, Cao Cao mobilized 50,000 troops from Yan Province, claiming a total of 100,000. He left Xun Yu, Cheng Yu, Zao Zhi, Xiahou Dun, and others to guard the rear, while he himself led generals such as Cao Ren, Cao Hong, Xiahou Yuan, Yue Jin, Yu Jin, and Li Dian to attack Xu Province.

Wherever the army passed, rivers of blood flowed.

To vent his anger, Cao Cao actually carried out a massacre of the city. Within a month, he captured more than ten border counties of Xuzhou. After each city was captured, he allowed his troops to plunder and kill, resulting in tens of thousands of civilian deaths and injuries. The corpses blocked the roads, and the Si River stopped flowing.

Bian Rang, a renowned scholar from Yanzhou, was known for his integrity and uprightness. Upon hearing of Cao Cao's massacre of a city, he wrote a letter denouncing Cao Cao's atrocities. Cao Cao was furious and sent troops to arrest Bian Rang, who was then publicly beheaded, and his entire family was executed.

When the news reached Yanzhou, the scholars were shocked.

In Puyang, the capital of Dongjun, Chen Gong, who had been ordered by Cao Cao to remain in Dongjun to guard against Lü Bu, received news of Bian Rang's death. He slammed his fist on the table, his hair and beard bristling: "Cao Mengde! Slaughtering the people and murdering renowned scholars, how is he any different from Dong Zhuo? I misjudged this man!"

The brothers Zhang Miao, the Attendant Gentleman of the Palace, and Zhang Chao, the Prefect of Guangling, were also present, and upon hearing this, their faces turned pale.

Zhang Miao said in a trembling voice, "Gongtai, Cao Cao is so tyrannical, the gentry of Yanzhou are in grave danger. If he kills Bian Rang today, won't he kill you and me tomorrow?"

Zhang Chao gritted his teeth: "Brother, Cao Cao has launched an eastern campaign against Xu Province, leaving Yan Province vulnerable. Lü Bu is implementing benevolent policies in Chang'an, reforming the system to bring peace to the people, and has even adopted the imperial calendar. Why don't we abandon the darkness and embrace the light, and submit to the Duke of Jin?"

Chen Gong paced back and forth in the hall, then suddenly stopped, a resolute glint in his eyes: "I, Chen Gong, welcomed Cao Cao into Yanzhou because I thought he could bring peace and order to the people. Who knew he would turn out to be no different from Dong Zhuo, Li Jue, and Guo Si, even more tyrannical! Back then, during the incident with Lü Boshe, he said he would rather betray the world than let the world betray him. This man is extremely suspicious, callous, and ungrateful; he is definitely not a wise ruler!"

He turned to Zhang Miao and Zhang Chao: "Meng Zhuo (Zhang Miao's courtesy name), Meng Gao (Zhang Chao's courtesy name), are you two willing to join me in this great undertaking, to welcome the Jin Dynasty's army into Yanzhou?"

Zhang Miao hesitated: "Lü Bu's reputation is also not good, as he killed Ding Yuan and Dong Zhuo in his early years."

Chen Gong said solemnly, "Those are all old stories; times have changed. Lü Bu has now been promoted to Duke of Jin, in charge of the government, and has heavily relied on strategists like Jia Xu and Guo Jia. He has implemented the Nine-Rank System, the Imperial Examination, and military reforms, and the people of Guanzhong are living in peace. It is even rumored that he possesses a divine granary, receiving countless provisions and supplies from the gods daily. This not only supplies the army but also provides a surplus for the people's welfare and poverty alleviation, resulting in extremely low taxes and a gradual recovery of livelihoods. Compared to Cao Cao's massacres and killings, which is more benevolent or tyrannical?"

Zhang Chao clapped his hands: "Gongtai is absolutely right! I am willing to follow Gongtai and welcome Duke Jin together!"

He then advised his elder brother Zhang Miao, stating that once Lü Bu gained power, he would surely conquer the world, and that by submitting to him now, they might be able to gain merit by following the rise of a new dynasty.

After some deliberation, Zhang Miao agreed.

Chen Gong immediately picked up his pen and wrote a letter: "I will secretly contact Hou Cheng, the governor of Henan, and ask him to forward it to the Duke of Jin. We have many old friends in the various prefectures of Yanzhou, so we can make secret contacts. Once the Duke of Jin's army arrives, we will open the city gates in response."

The secret letter was sent to Luoyang, Henan, by Chen Gong's trusted confidant disguised as a merchant.

Chang'an, the Duke of Jin's residence.

Lu Bu was looking at samples of the new military rank insignia on the drill ground when his strategist Guo Jia hurried over and whispered a few words in his ear.

Lü Bu's eyes lit up: "Chen Gong's secret letter? Bring it here!"

Back in his study, Lü Bu unfolded the letter and read it carefully, his smile growing wider with each reading.

"Well done, Chen Gongtai!" Lü Bu handed the letter to Jia Xu. "Cao Cao has slaughtered Xuzhou and killed Bian Rang, thus losing the hearts of the gentry in Yanzhou. Chen Gong, Zhang Miao, and Zhang Chao are willing to act as inside agents to welcome our imperial army into Yanzhou."

Jia Xu quickly finished reading, clapped his hands and laughed, "This is a golden opportunity! Cao Cao's army is all in Xuzhou, Yanzhou is empty, and Chen Gong is an inside agent. Taking Yanzhou is as easy as taking something out of a bag."

Guo Jia pondered: "My lord, the various armies are currently undergoing reorganization and re-equipment. A large-scale mobilization may affect the reform process."

Lü Bu rose and walked to the map: "No need for a large army. Yan Province is undefended, with only a few thousand troops left to defend it, scattered across various counties. Cao Cao's elite forces have all followed him on his eastern expedition, leaving only Xiahou Dun, Xun Yu, Cheng Yu, and a small number of county soldiers to guard it. I will personally lead three thousand elite cavalry, three horses per person, traveling light and swiftly, and we can reach Yan Province in a few days. I will also order Zhang Yan of Shangdang, Zhang Yang of Hanoi, and Hou Cheng of Henan, who are adjacent to Yan Province, to each send two thousand troops to take over the city's defenses. That will be sufficient."

Jia Xu nodded: "My lord has a divinely bestowed granary carrying provisions and military supplies, which allows for a surprise attack from a thousand miles away. While Cao Cao is still away, we can seize his stronghold of Juancheng in one fell swoop. By the time Cao Cao receives the news, Yanzhou will have already changed hands, leaving him homeless, and his army's morale will surely be thrown into chaos."

Lü Bu immediately ordered: "Cheng Lian, gather 1,000 men from your personal guard. Huang Zhong and Zhao Yun, each lead 1,000 light cavalry, for a total of 3,000 men, each with three horses. They will depart with me tomorrow. Jia Xu and Guo Jia, you will remain in Chang'an and continue to implement the reforms."

Another order was issued: "The courier should immediately inform Zhang Yan of Shangdang, Zhang Yang of Henan, and Hou Cheng of Henan: each must prepare two thousand troops and, upon receiving my order, immediately advance eastward to Yanzhou to take over the defense."

"promise!"

At dawn on the tenth day of the eleventh lunar month, before daybreak, three thousand cavalrymen, each with three horses and one rider, quietly departed from the capital. Lü Bu rode Red Hare, with Huang Zhong, Zhao Yun, and Cheng Lian following closely behind.

In order to speed up the process, Lü Bu put all the food, weapons, armor and water into his storage space, and his soldiers traveled lightly, wearing only their swords.

One man and three horses took turns traveling, covering more than two hundred li a day. When resting along the way, Lü Bu would take out cooked meat, bread, and water from his spatial storage. The soldiers would eat their fill and then sleep, and would continue their journey as soon as they woke up.

On the fourteenth day of the eleventh month, Lü Bu arrived in Luoyang, Henan.

Hou Cheng had already received orders to prepare 2000 troops and head to Yanzhou. Lü Bu rested for half a day and continued eastward, quickly surpassing the troops in Henan and continuing his advance.

On the seventeenth day of the eleventh month, we entered the territory of Dongjun in Yanzhou.

The guide sent by Chen Gong was already waiting at the border, leading Lü Bu's army to take a shortcut, bypassing the counties along the way, and heading straight for the prefectural capital, Puyang.