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

Just then, shouts of battle and the sound of horses' hooves came from outside the mansion.

Getting closer.

"Report—" A bodyguard scrambled in, "Lü Bu is outside the mansion, and the personal guards can't stop him!"

Cao Ren's eyes were bloodshot: "My lord, let's go quickly, or it will be too late!"

He stepped forward to pull Cao Cao away.

But Cao Cao shook off his hand and straightened his clothes.

"Bring me that sword."

The guards presented Cao Cao's sword—a hundred-times-refined steel sword with a long blade and a jade-inlaid hilt, which Cao Cao commissioned a master craftsman to forge when he was the governor of Yan Province.

Cao Cao drew his sword, its blade flashing like water.

"My lord!" Xun You knelt on the ground, "As long as we live, we can temporarily surrender to Lü Bu and wait for the right opportunity..."

"Temporary surrender?" Cao Cao shook his head and smiled bitterly. "Gongda, Lü Bu will not allow me to live, and I will not kneel before him."

He looked at Cao Ren, Cao Chun, Yue Jin, Xun You, Xi Zhicai, and others.

"Gentlemen, you have served Cao Cao for many years, and your contributions are immense. Today's situation is entirely Cao Cao's fault. Lü Bu only wants my head; he will not make things difficult for you. After my death, you may surrender to Lü Bu, preserve your lives, and plan for the future."

"My lord, you mustn't!" Cao Ren cried, tears streaming down his face. "If we're going to die, we'll die together!"

"Foolish!" Cao Cao roared. "You all have families to support; how can you follow me to my death? Remember, live on, the Cao family bloodline must not be extinguished!"

The sounds of battle shouts outside the mansion were already very close.

Lu Bu's voice boomed like thunder: "Cao Mengde, come out and face your death!"

Cao Cao took a deep breath and strode out of the hall.

Cao Ren and the others hurriedly followed.

The gates of the prefect's mansion had been breached, and Lü Bu led several dozen cavalrymen into the courtyard. The guards inside were putting up a last stand, but they were being pushed back step by step, and no one could stop Lü Bu in a single blow.

Cao Cao walked into the courtyard and stood facing Lü Bu at a distance of thirty paces.

This was the first time the two of them had looked at each other at such close range.

Lu Bu rode on Red Hare, clad in golden armor and a black robe, his halberd stained with blood, exuding an awe-inspiring presence like a god descending to earth.

Cao Cao stood on the steps, dressed in a deep robe and covered with soft armor, holding a long sword. Despite being in dire straits, his spine remained straight.

"Cao Mengde, will you surrender?" Lü Bu asked in a deep voice.

Cao Cao laughed: "Lu Bu, I never thought that you would be the one who would hold the power of the world in the end."

"Fate is in my hands," Lü Bu said calmly. "You allowed your soldiers to eat people, incurring the wrath of Heaven and the resentment of the people. This is the end you deserve."

"Cannibalism..." Cao Cao's smile was bitter. "In chaotic times, people exchange children to eat, and burn bones for fuel. Do you think I would want to do that? But if I don't, my soldiers will starve to death. I have no choice."

"So you chose this path." Lu Bu pointed his halberd at Cao Cao. "Today, I will seek justice for the people of Pengcheng, for those innocent people you cooked and ate."

Cao Cao nodded: "Very well, you may take my life. But please spare my family, and spare the generals and advisors who followed me. They were merely following orders; their crimes do not warrant death."

Lu Bu pondered for a moment: "Alright, you may commit suicide, and I will spare their lives."

"My lord, you mustn't!" Cao Ren roared, drawing his sword and charging forward.

"Zixiao!" Cao Cao roared, "Step back!"

Cao Ren stood frozen in place, his eyes bloodshot.

Cao Cao looked at Lü Bu: "Fengxian, can your words today be trusted?"

Lu Bu said solemnly, "After your death, the Cao family will be moved to Chang'an and placed under house arrest, but they will be provided for without worry. Those civil and military officials under your command who are willing to surrender will be employed according to their talents, and those who are unwilling to surrender will be given wages and sent back. They will not be harmed."

"Alright." Cao Cao nodded. "I'll trust you this once."

He raised his longsword and held it across his neck.

"My lord—" Xun You, Xi Zhicai, and others knelt down and wept bitterly.

Cao Cao took one last look at the sky; the blazing sun was blinding.

In the sixth year of Zhongping (189 AD), he distributed his family wealth, raised an army, and attacked Dong Zhuo.

In the third year of the Chuping era (192 AD), he recruited troops from Qingzhou, occupied Yanzhou, and vied for control of the Central Plains.

It is now July of the fifth year of Chuping (194 AD). He is trapped in Pengcheng, with no food or reinforcements.

In five years, he went from a spirited cavalry captain to a defeated general at the end of his rope.

Then, apply force with your wrist.

The blade sliced ​​across his neck.

Blood splattered.

A once-powerful figure has fallen.

"My lord—!!!"

Cao Ren let out a beastly roar, drew his sword, and charged at Lü Bu: "Lü Bu, you traitor! I'll fight you to the death!"

Lu Bu remained expressionless and met the attack with his halberd.

clang!

Swords and spears clashed.

Cao Ren's martial arts skills were far inferior to Lü Bu's, and now, filled with grief and indignation, his moves became completely chaotic.

Lu Bu deflected his sword with a single halberd strike, then swept it horizontally with a second.

Cao Ren retreated hastily, but the halberd blade still grazed his breastplate.

Nail cracked, bleeding.

Cao Ren staggered backward, and Lü Bu rode forward, bringing down his third halberd strike.

Cao Ren raised his sword to parry.

clang--!

The knife broke.

The halberd blade fell, from head to abdomen.

Cao Ren's eyes widened as the corpse slowly fell to the ground, landing next to Cao Cao.

The steps were stained with blood from the two men, master and servant.

The courtyard was deathly silent.

Lu Bu swept his gaze across the Cao family members and officials in the courtyard, his eyes flashing with murderous intent: "Cao Mengde is dead, why don't you surrender? Do you want me to slaughter all your families and relatives?"

Le Jin's shoulder injury had not yet healed. At this moment, looking at the corpses of Cao Cao and Cao Ren, then at Lü Bu who was like a god of death, and then thinking of his family and relatives, the knife in his hand finally fell to the ground with a "clang".

He knelt on one knee: "This sinful general...is willing to surrender."

Xun You closed his eyes for a long time before finally kneeling down: "Xun You... is willing to surrender."

Xi Zhicai coughed violently. He was already critically ill, and now that he saw Cao Cao dead, his spirits had completely broken.

He struggled to his feet, cupped his hands to Lü Bu, and said, "A loyal minister does not serve two masters. I beg you, Duke of Jin, grant me death."

Lu Bu looked at his pale face and remained silent for a moment.

"You may go by yourself."

Xi Zhicai bowed deeply, then took out a short sword from his robes and plunged it into his heart.

The body fell to the ground.

Looking at the scene in the courtyard, Lü Bu was filled with emotion.

Cao Cao, the warlord who unified the north and laid the foundation for the Cao Wei dynasty in the original history, died in Pengcheng, by his own hand.

History has truly been changed.

He took a deep breath and said in a deep voice, "Issue the order: Although Cao Cao is a traitor, he was once a governor of the Han Dynasty. He shall be buried with the honors due to the former governor of Yan Province. Cao Ren, Cao Hong, Xi Zhicai, and others shall be buried together. All members of the Cao family shall be moved to Chang'an and properly settled, and shall not be mistreated. Cao's surrendered soldiers who wish to join the army shall be incorporated into the auxiliary troops, and those who do not wish to be given wages and sent back. The officials of Pengcheng shall remain in their original positions for the time being to maintain order."

"Yes, sir!" The guards behind him obeyed.

Lü Bu then looked at Xun You, Yue Jin, and the others: "Gongda, Wenqian, since you are willing to submit, then come back to Chang'an with me. The court is in need of capable people and will certainly not treat you unfairly."

Xun You prostrated himself on the ground and said, "Thank you, Duke of Jin, for sparing my life."

Le Jin also kowtowed: "This humble general will certainly do his utmost."

Only after dealing with all of this did Lü Bu truly breathe a sigh of relief.

Cao Cao, the greatest threat, has finally been eliminated.

Next came Tao Qian of Xuzhou, Yuan Shao and Gongsun Zan in the north, and Liu Biao and Yuan Shu in the south...

But none of that is urgent.

With Yizhou and Yanzhou under his control, plus the soon-to-be-acquired Xuzhou, his population will exceed ten million, and his system will be upgraded to level six.

What new rewards will there be then?

Lu Bu looked up at the sky; the blazing sun was still blinding.

But he still has a long way to go.