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

When Yuan Shu's envoy arrived in Wu Commandery, Sun Ce received the order and discussed it with Zhou Yu.

"Gongjin, Yuan Shu has summoned me. How should I respond?" Sun Ce was only nineteen years old, yet his spirit was brimming with youthful vigor.

Zhou Yu pondered, "Bo Fu, the court has appointed you as the governor of Yangzhou, which is your official title. Yuan Shu will surely suspect you of disloyalty, and this journey will be perilous."

"But my mother, siblings and I are all being held hostage in Shouchun." Sun Ce frowned. "If I don't go, Yuan Shu will surely harm them."

"Then go, but be prepared," Zhou Yu said. "Take 500 elite soldiers under the guise of protection. After meeting Yuan Shu, speak humbly and express your loyalty. Say that the court's appointment was a scheme by Lü Bu to sow discord, and that the Imperial Seal is now in Gonglu's hands. He is the chosen one, and you must be loyal to him without any disloyalty. At the same time, secretly contact your old subordinates. If things don't go well, return to Jiangdong immediately."

Sun Ce followed the plan, and Zhou Yu, along with his trusted generals Jiang Qin, Zhou Tai, Cheng Pu, and Han Dang, disguised themselves and followed him to find out the location of Sun Ce's mother, younger brother, and sister-in-law, and to adapt to the situation.

Upon arriving in Shouchun, Huainan, Yuan Shu was surprised to find that Sun Ce had actually answered the summons. Realizing he had misunderstood Sun Ce, he hosted a banquet in his honor. During the banquet, Yuan Shu asked, "Bo Fu, the court has appointed you as the Governor of Yangzhou. What are your thoughts?"

Sun Ce said solemnly, "I owe my current position to your patronage and the troops you have provided. The imperial appointment is a treacherous scheme by Lü Bu, intended to sow discord between me and you. I will never accept this false edict and only wish to follow you in our endeavors."

Yuan Shu asked suspiciously, "Really?"

"Absolutely true!" Sun Ce rose, knelt on one knee, and swore to Heaven: "I will serve only you, my lord, for the rest of my life. If I break this oath, may I be struck down by Heaven!"

Seeing Sun Ce's earnest words, Yuan Shu's expression softened slightly: "Get up, I believe you. However, Danyang and Wu Commandery are newly pacified and need to be strengthened. I will send Ji Ling with 5,000 troops to help you guard Danyang, what do you say?"

Sun Ce felt a chill run down his spine, knowing that this was an attempt to divide his territory, but he remained outwardly calm: "Thank you, Lord Xie. With General Ji's assistance, Jiangdong will surely be as solid as a rock."

Yuan Shu was overjoyed, thinking that Sun Ce was no longer a threat.

Back at the inn, Sun Ce said to Zhou Yu, "Yuan Shu doesn't trust me and wants to send Ji Ling to share power. I agreed on the surface, and Yuan Shu was very happy."

Zhou Yu sneered, "Since that's the case, we might as well strike first. I've already found out the location of your mother and siblings. Tonight, we'll rescue them, break through the encirclement, and return to Jiangdong to establish our own independent regime."

Sun Ce nodded: "Alright, let's leave tonight!"

That night, Sun Ce led his generals Jiang Qin, Zhou Tai, Cheng Pu, Han Dang, Huang Gai, and five hundred personal guards in a surprise attack on a mansion in the city. He rescued his mother, Lady Wu, his brothers Sun Quan, Sun Yi, and Sun Kuang, his sister Sun Shangxiang, and others, and they left the city overnight.

Yuan Shu was awakened from his sleep by his personal guards. Upon receiving the report, he was furious and hurriedly dispatched Ji Ling and Zhang Xun to lead troops in pursuit. However, Sun Ce personally led several top generals to cover the rear, and Yuan Shu's army could not cross the line.

Ji Ling faced Sun Ce, but his martial arts were slightly inferior to Sun Bofu's, and the battle dragged on without a clear victor. With Jiang Qin arriving to assist, Ji Ling was forced to retreat.

On the other side, Zhang Xun was almost killed by Zhou Tai and Han Dang, but was rescued by his personal guards and escaped with his life.

Of course, after forcing Ji Ling and Zhang Xun to retreat, Sun Ce and the others did not dare to delay and immediately fled east.

Ji Ling and Zhang Xun were no match for Sun Ce and other top generals, so they dared not pursue them and could only watch helplessly as Sun Ce and his men departed.

After crossing the Yangtze River at Liyang and returning to Jiangdong, Sun Ce immediately reorganized his troops and was appointed Governor of Yangzhou by imperial decree. He seized control of Danyang and Wu Commandery, and remotely governed Jiujiang, Lujiang, Kuaiji, and Yuzhang Commandery. He turned Jiujiang and Lujiang, which were occupied by Yuan Shu, into his own territory, denounced Yuan Shu as a traitor, and openly broke with Yuan Shu.

Yuan Shu was furious and sent 30,000 troops to attack Jiangdong. However, Sun Ce held the Yangtze River and could not cross it, so the two sides were locked in a stalemate.

Thus, Yuan Shu was also tied down and unable to respond to Yuan Shao's invitation to attack Yanzhou and Sili.

Upon receiving the report, Lü Bu laughed heartily: "This rabble will crumble without a fight."

……

In early February, Liu Yan, the governor of Yizhou, passed away.

Liu Yan entered Yizhou in 188 AD and established his own independent regime, harboring ambitions of usurpation. He built an imperial carriage in Mianzhu, modeled after the imperial palace, and also privately manufactured imperial chariots and clothing, revealing his ambition. However, he was already old and eventually died of illness.

His son, Liu Zhang, courtesy name Jiyu, was about thirty years old and had a weak and introverted personality. Before Liu Yan died, he entrusted his son to Zhang Song, the Prefectural Governor, and Wang Lei, the Chief Administrator, among others.

Chengdu, the governor's residence.

Liu Zhang knelt before the coffin, weeping uncontrollably. Zhang Song, Wang Lei, and other civil and military officials stood on either side.

"My lord, please accept my condolences," Zhang Song advised. "Now that our lord has passed away, Yizhou cannot be without a ruler for even a day. I request that you succeed as the governor of Yizhou to reassure the people."

Liu Zhang wiped away his tears: "I...can I do it?"

Wang Lei said solemnly, "Young Master is the legitimate son of the old lord, and his claim is rightful. Moreover, Yizhou has a strategic location that is easy to defend and difficult to attack. As long as we employ the right people, we can surely protect the territory and ensure the safety of the people."

During the discussion, a scout reported: "Zhang Lu, the governor of Hanzhong, upon hearing of our lord's death, has reinforced his troops along the Jinniu and Micang roads, and seems to be making unusual moves!"

Liu Zhang was greatly alarmed: "Could it be that Zhang Lu intends to rebel?"

Zhang Song narrowed his eyes: "Zhang Lu has always been a separatist in Hanzhong and has never obeyed orders. Now that our lord has passed away, he is taking the opportunity to launch an attack. Could it be that he wants to take control of Chengdu? Young master, you should make preparations quickly."

"How should we prepare?" Liu Zhang asked in a panic.

Wang Lei suggested: "We should strike first and send troops to attack Hanzhong. Although Zhang Lu holds a strategic position, he has no more than 30,000 soldiers and no more than 100,000 civilians. Our Yizhou has more than 100,000 armored soldiers. If we launch a full-scale attack, we may not be unable to win."

Liu Zhang hesitated: "But... Zhang Lu has the Five Pecks of Rice sect, with many followers, and the entire population is a soldier..."

Zhang Song said, "That's precisely why we need to act quickly. If we wait until they are fully prepared, it may be difficult to subdue them."

At this time, rumors suddenly spread throughout Chengdu, which were naturally fabricated by spies sent by Lü Bu.

"Have you heard? Zhang Lu is secretly colluding with Lü Bu, intending to surrender Yizhou to Lü!"

"No wonder he's increasing troops on the border; he's trying to lure Lü Bu into Shu!"

"I've also heard that Zhang Lu has sent someone to Chang'an, promising that if Lü Bu agrees to let him serve as the governor of Yi Province, he will lead the imperial army to attack Chengdu!"

When the rumors reached Liu Zhang's ears, he, who had been somewhat hesitant, suddenly became furious.

Taking advantage of the situation, Zhang Song advised, "My lord, it's better to believe it's true than not. If Zhang Lu truly surrenders to Lü Bu, Hanzhong will fall, and Yizhou will be wide open. It would be better to strike first and take Hanzhong while he is unprepared."

Wang Lei also said, "Zhang Lu's mother is still in Chengdu. We should capture her first to deter Zhang Lu."

Liu Zhang finally made up his mind: "Very well! We shall do as Ziqiao (Zhang Song's courtesy name) said. Let Zhang Ren be the general and Wu Yi the deputy, leading 50,000 troops to attack Hanzhong in the north. Also, imprison Zhang Lu's mother and her family. If Zhang Lu does not surrender, execute them all!"

After Liu Yan's burial, Liu Zhang assumed the post of Governor of Yizhou. Zhang Lu's mother and more than thirty of her family members in Chengdu were all imprisoned. Zhang Ren and Wu Yi led an army of 50,000 out of Jiange and attacked Yangping Pass.

At this time, rumors began to circulate in Hanzhong that Zhang Lu's mother had been murdered by Liu Zhang in Chengdu. Furthermore, Liu Zhang intended to conquer Hanzhong and exterminate Zhang Lu's entire clan.

Upon hearing the news, Zhang Lu was furious.

"Liu Zhang, you little brat!" He drew his sword and chopped off the corner of the table. "I will surely wash Chengdu in blood and avenge my mother!"

Subsequently, Zhang Lu ordered Yang Ang and Yang Ren to each lead 10,000 troops to attack the heart of Yizhou from two routes: Jinniu Road and Micang Road.