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

On the 21st day of the 11th lunar month, at dusk, a few miles southwest of Puyang City.

Lu Bu's army hid in the mountains and forests, and Lu Bu, Huang Zhong, Zhao Yun, and Cheng Lian climbed to a high place to look out.

The city walls of Puyang were about three zhang high, with a moat and sentries at all four gates, but the garrison was sparse. The garrison commander, Xiahou Dun, had transferred most of his troops to Juancheng to protect Cao Cao's family, leaving only five hundred county soldiers in Puyang.

Zhao Yun whispered, "Chen Gong has agreed that at midnight tonight, he will light a fire at the south gate as a signal to open the city gate and provide support."

Lü Bu nodded and said to Cheng Lian, "Order the soldiers to have a good meal and rest, and we will move out at midnight."

Night fell, and a cold wind howled.

South of Puyang City, the residence of Chen Gong.

Chen Gong sat opposite Zhang Miao and Zhang Chao, all three of them wearing armor.

"The Duke of Jin's army has arrived outside the city." Chen Gong lowered his voice. "Xiahou Dun inspected the city's defenses today and has returned to the prefect's residence to rest. His five hundred soldiers are divided to guard the four gates. The commander of the south gate is my former subordinate, Sima Zhao Shu, who has already agreed to defect."

Zhang Miao said, "My Zhang family has three hundred men lying in ambush in the streets and alleys outside the prefect's mansion. We are just waiting for the fire at the south gate to start so we can rush into the mansion and capture and kill Xiahou Dun."

Zhang Chao added, "Most of the officials, such as the Prefectural Magistrate and the Chief Clerk, have already secretly pledged allegiance. Tonight, we will surely succeed."

Chen Gong took a deep breath: "Success or failure hinges on this. If we succeed, the gentry of Yanzhou can be spared Cao Cao's ravages; if we fail, we will all die without a burial place."

Zhang Miao declared with conviction: "Cao Cao's massacre of the city and its soldiers is an outrage against both gods and men. Today's actions are in accordance with the will of Heaven and the hearts of the people; success is assured!"

It's almost midnight.

On the south gate tower, the garrison commander Zhao Shu stood with his hand on his sword, seemingly on patrol, but his palms were actually sweating. He turned to look at the dozens of personal guards behind him—all his trusted confidants.

"General, the time is almost up," a guard whispered.

Zhao Shu nodded, took out a tinderbox from his pocket, lit a torch soaked in oil, walked to the crenellations, and waved it three times in the darkness outside the city.

A moment later, three lights appeared outside the city in response.

Without further hesitation, Zhao Shu turned and shouted, "Open the city gates and welcome the Duke of Jin's army!"

The guards rushed to the winch, lowered the drawbridge, and opened the city gate.

The heavy city gates slowly opened, and Xiahou Dun's trusted soldiers reacted and fought for the gates. Zhao Shu led his confidants into a fierce battle.

In the darkness outside the city, Lü Bu took the lead, his Red Hare like a blazing fire, galloping into the city, followed by three thousand iron cavalry who surged into the city gate like a flood.

"When Duke Jin enters the city, those who surrender will not be killed!" Cheng Lian shouted as he rode his horse.

Seeing thousands of armored cavalry surging in, the city gate guards realized their situation was hopeless and dropped their weapons, kneeling down to surrender.

Almost simultaneously, shouts of battle came from the direction of the prefect's residence.

Xiahou Dun had already gone to sleep when he was suddenly awakened by his personal guards banging on the door: "General, something has happened at the south gate! Chen Gong and Zhang Miao have rebelled!"

Xiahou Dun sat up abruptly, donned his armor, grabbed his spear, and rushed out of the room. He saw flames shooting into the sky outside the mansion, and the sounds of battle were almost within reach.

"Chen Gong, you dog!" Xiahou Dun's eyes were bloodshot as he led dozens of his personal guards out of the mansion, only to run into Zhang Miao's troops.

The two sides engaged in a chaotic battle in the streets and alleys.

Xiahou Dun was brave and killed more than ten people, but Zhang Miao's troops were numerous and gradually surrounded him.

"General, the city gates have fallen, and Lü Bu's army has entered the city!" A fleeing soldier ran up crying.

Xiahou Dun knew the situation was hopeless. He feigned an attack, forcing the enemy soldiers to retreat, then mounted his horse and shouted, "Retreat! To Juancheng!"

He led several dozen personal guards to break through the north gate, but before he could leave the city, he was overtaken by Lü Bu, who was riding Red Hare.

"Xiahou Yuanrang, where do you think you're going!" Lü Bu shouted, spurring his horse to give chase.

Upon hearing Lü Bu's voice, Xiahou Dun was terrified and dared not engage in battle. He desperately spurred his horse and fled towards the north gate.

The guards at the north gate saw Xiahou Dun rushing towards them and hurriedly opened the gate. Xiahou Dun rushed out of the city gate and looked back to see that Lü Bu had already caught up to within two hundred paces.

Red Hare was swift, closing in in an instant.

Xiahou Dun tried to continue his escape, but saw Lü Bu rushing forward and taking out a powerful bow with a ten-stone capacity from his spatial storage, and shooting an arrow at him.

With his perception and archery skills both increased to 130 points, even while galloping through the darkness, Xiahou Dun was shot in the back by an arrow from Lü Bu. The arrow pierced through his armor and he fell from his horse, dying instantly.

Lu Bu sheathed his powerful bow, spurred his horse to catch up, and looked at Xiahou Dun's corpse, saying calmly, "Give him a proper burial."

All the soldiers who escaped from Puyang were either captured or killed, and the city was completely under control. No one escaped to report the incident.

Chen Gong, Zhang Miao, and Zhang Chao came to see him, all kneeling and bowing: "Greetings, Duke Jin! We have abandoned darkness for light and are willing to serve you like dogs and horses!"

Lü Bu dismounted and helped him up, saying, "Gentlemen, you are all deeply righteous and have assisted the court in recovering Yanzhou. Your merit is immeasurable. Chen Gong, I hereby appoint you as the Governor of Yanzhou, in charge of all government affairs in Yanzhou. Zhang Miao will be the Prefect of Dongjun, and Zhang Chao will continue to serve as the Prefect of Guangling."

The three men were moved to tears: "Thank you, Lord Jin!"

Lü Bu asked, "What is the situation in Juancheng?"

Chen Gong said, "Xun Yu is stationed in Juancheng with about two thousand troops, mostly from the prefecture. Cao Cao's family is also in the city. Cheng Yu's generals are guarding Fan County with five hundred troops. Zao Zhi is in Dong'e County with about three hundred troops."

Huang Zhong laughed and said, "Although Juancheng has Xun Yu, its military strength is weak. My lord should fight a quick battle and take advantage of Cao Cao's absence to wipe out his stronghold in one fell swoop."

Lü Bu nodded and said to Chen Gong, "Gongtai, quickly send people to contact all the counties and prefectures in Yanzhou, announce that the imperial court has recovered Yanzhou, and order the officials to surrender. Those who surrender will retain their original official positions; those who resist will be burned to ashes when the army arrives."

He then said to Cheng Lian, "You will lead a thousand cavalry to garrison Puyang and assist Chen Gongtai in stabilizing the political situation in Yanzhou. Huang Zhong and Zhao Yun, follow me eastward to take Juancheng!"

"promise!"

On the morning of the 22nd day of the 11th lunar month, Lü Bu led 2,000 cavalry out of Puyang and, taking advantage of the fact that no one had escaped the previous night and that Juancheng had not yet received the news, sped towards Juancheng lightly equipped.

Juancheng is about 100 li away from Puyang, but Lü Bu's army arrived at the city by noon.

The city walls of Juancheng were higher than those of Puyang, and the moat was wider.

When the city guards saw a large army suddenly arriving bearing the banners of the imperial court and the character "吕" (Lü), they hurriedly closed the city gates and raised the drawbridge.

Xun Yu was in his residence discussing the allocation of provisions for Cao Cao's eastern expedition with Cheng Yu when he heard the report and was greatly alarmed: "Lü Bu? How did he get to Juancheng?"

The two rushed up to the city wall, where they saw two thousand cavalrymen arrayed outside the city. Although their numbers were small, their military bearing was disciplined and their killing intent was palpable. Under the central banner, Lü Bu, clad in golden armor and a red robe, stood holding a halberd, while his Red Hare neighed with its head held high.

Xun Yu's face was pale: "With Lü Bu here, Puyang must have already fallen, and Xiahou Yuanrang is probably in grave danger."

Cheng Yu gritted his teeth: "There are only two thousand soldiers in the city, how can they hold it? Quickly send someone to break through the siege and report to our lord in Xuzhou!"

Before he could finish speaking, Lü Bu outside the city had already ordered his personal guards to shout:

"Listen up, defenders of the city! I am Lü Bu, Grand Marshal, Chancellor of the Imperial Secretariat, and Duke of Jin, here by imperial decree to punish the traitor Cao Cao! Cao Cao, assuming the post of Governor of Dongjun and assuming the post of Governor of Yanzhou, disregards the laws of the court and now dares to attack Xuzhou, massacring the city's inhabitants and committing heinous crimes! You are all subjects of Han, why do you follow the rebels? Open the city gates and surrender to avoid death; resist and you will be executed along with your entire family when the city falls!"

His voice was as loud as a bell, echoing throughout the city walls.