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

After a day and a night of rest, on the third day of the twelfth lunar month, Lü Bu instructed Zhao Yun and Xun Yu to stay in Ganling County to guard Yuan Shao and his family and handle the affairs of the surrendered soldiers. He then led Zhang Xiu, Guan Yu, Zhang Fei and others to continue eastward to attack Yuan Tan in Qingzhou.

At the same time, in the eastern part of Qinghe Kingdom, ten miles west of Yu County.

Yuan Tan, who had just led his army out of the city, reined in his horse, his face ashen.

He was about twenty-four or twenty-five years old, with a square face and thick eyebrows. He wore fish-scale armor and a crimson battle robe. He was originally a heroic figure, but now his face was distorted with anger and fear.

"What did you say? Say it again!" He grabbed the courier by the collar.

The scout said in a trembling voice, "My lord, Ganling County fell the night before last. Xu You and Han Meng betrayed us, opening the west gate to let Lü Bu into the city. Our lord... our lord has been captured alive, and Mr. Tian Feng and Mr. Ju Shou have also been captured. General Gao Gan has died in battle..."

"Bang!"

Yuan Tan slammed his fist on the saddle, making a cracking sound.

Behind him, five thousand elite soldiers remained silent. These soldiers had been following Yuan Tan on a mission to the west to support Yuan Shao, and upon hearing this devastating news, their faces turned ashen.

The strategist Xin Ping rode forward and whispered, "My lord, this place is only two hundred li from Ganling. Lü Bu's cavalry will arrive in an instant. The most urgent task is to retreat quickly and defend the natural barrier of the Yellow River."

Yuan Tan gritted his teeth: "My father has been captured, how can I..."

"Young Master!" Xin Ping exclaimed urgently, "With our lord captured, Qingzhou now reveres you. If anything were to happen to you, our lord's lineage would be utterly finished! As long as we're alive, we can always fight again!"

Yuan Tan's chest heaved violently. After a long silence, he finally managed to squeeze out two words through clenched teeth: "Withdraw the troops!"

"Withdraw to Yu County, then cross the Yellow River at Gaotang Ferry. Order all troops in Pingyuan Commandery to take provisions and supplies south and cross the river at Pingyuan Ferry! After crossing, burn the boats and dismantle the ferry crossing. We must not allow Lü Bu to cross the river easily!"

"promise!"

Upon receiving the order, the 5,000 elite troops turned around and retreated swiftly eastward.

Upon returning to Yu County, while his subordinates were taking stock of the grain, provisions, and supplies, Yuan Tan convened a meeting with the civil and military officials who remained in Yu County to discuss matters.

The atmosphere inside the main hall of the county government office was oppressive.

Xin Ping unfolded the map, his finger tracing the Yellow River: "Young Master, the troops in Qingzhou are scattered and difficult to regroup in a short time. Adding the five thousand elite soldiers you personally lead, Pingyuan County currently has ten thousand troops, all of whom can cross south. There are still thirty thousand troops in Jinan, Le'an, Qi, and other places, but..."

He paused, then continued, "According to this morning's urgent report, Song Xian of Xuzhou has led his army into the Beihai Kingdom, capturing Duchang and Ju County (the seat of Beihai Commandery) in succession, and is now advancing towards the Qi Kingdom. Once the Qi Kingdom and Jinan fall, Song Xian's army can advance directly towards Pingyuan. At that time, our army will be attacked from both sides, and we will be in grave danger."

Yuan Tan slammed his fist on the table: "That traitor Lü is attacking from two directions, leaving me no way out!"

General Wang Zhao cupped his hands and said, "My lord, this humble general is willing to lead five thousand troops south to intercept Song Xian!"

"No," Xin Ping shook his head. "Song Xian's 4th Army, with nearly 10,000 troops, is Lü Bu's earliest and most elite force, well-equipped. Dividing them up to intercept him would play right into Lü Bu's hands. The only plan now is to concentrate our forces, cross the Yellow River to the south, and defend the river. The Yellow River is wide and deep, with silt accumulated at the bottom. Even if Lü Bu has divine assistance, building a bridge to cross the river will not be easy."

Another strategist, Guo Tu, said, "Xin Zhongzhi is mistaken! When Lü Bu crossed the river at Anyangjin, Zhangshui, and Jieqiao, he always managed to build bridges in an instant. Although the Yellow River is wide, how many days can it hold him back? In my opinion, it would be better to go north to Bohai, join forces with the second prince Yuan Xi, and then contact Gongsun Zan of Youzhou. Perhaps then we can make a comeback."

Yuan Tan waved his hand impatiently: "Bohai? Father failed, how long can we hold Bohai? It's like walking into a trap!"

He stood up and paced around the hall.

The cold wind howled outside the window, whipping up withered leaves that rustled against the window paper.

Seeing Yuan Tan's pained and conflicted expression, Xin Ping finally revealed the solution that no one wanted to talk about, but which was indeed the only option: "My lord, there is another solution."

Yuan Tan asked, "What is it?"

Xin Ping said leisurely, "Surrender directly, use the tens of thousands of troops of Qingzhou led by the young master as a bargaining chip, submit to Duke Jin, and ask Duke Jin to spare the lives of the lord and the young master, or even continue to hold power and command the army."

Upon hearing this countermeasure, Yuan Tan slumped onto his couch.

He also knew that Xin Ping's strategy didn't involve any betrayal. Qu Yi, Xu You, and Han Meng had already betrayed them, and with the Yuan family at its wits' end, it was only natural for their subordinates to seek their own way to survive.

Xin Ping's proposed solution was actually Yuan Tan's best chance of survival at that moment. However, he was afraid—afraid that his father, as the leader of the alliance against Lü Bu, would not receive Lü Bu's forgiveness. Or rather, he feared that Lü Bu might agree on the surface but then settle scores later, leaving him and his father powerless to retaliate.

At least he still holds military power and controls his own destiny.

He didn't want to hand over his fate to others, and he didn't want to be at Lu Bu's mercy.

After a long silence, a resolute glint flashed in Yuan Tan's eyes: "Order all troops to immediately cross the river to the south. After crossing, burn the ferry crossing and the boats; leave not a single grain of food for Lü Bu!"

"promise."

On the fourth day of the twelfth lunar month, on the south bank of the Yellow River at Gaotang Ferry.

Yuan Tan stood on the embankment, watching the last batch of soldiers board the ferry. The river was over two hundred zhang wide, and although the current was slow, it was said to be over ten zhang deep in the middle. In winter, the river water was icy cold, and without a boat, it was impossible to swim across.

"My lord, seventy percent of the grain and supplies from Pingyuan County have been transported," Wang Zhao reported. "The remaining portion was simply not in time and has been burned on the spot."

"It's good to burn it, it's good to burn it," Yuan Tan murmured. "We can't leave it for Lü Bu..."

He turned and looked towards the north bank.

With his father captured, his soldiers disloyal, and his cause on the verge of collapse, a wave of sorrow washed over him.

Xin Ping said softly, "My lord, after crossing the Yellow River, there is still Gaotang County to defend. Qingzhou is a vast territory; if Lü Bu wants to take it all, his forces will inevitably be scattered. At that time, we may be able to contact Yuan Shu of Huainan and Liu Biao of Jingzhou to jointly resist Lü Bu."

Yuan Tan smiled bitterly: "Uncle Yuan Shu? He'd love for my father and me to die so he can rule the Yuan family alone. Liu Biao is stuck in Jingzhou, not thinking of making any progress; why would he send troops for me?"

Just then, a fast horseman arrived from the north bank in a small boat.

The knight, soaked to the bone, knelt and urgently reported, "My lord, Lü Bu's vanguard has reached Yu County, less than a hundred li from here! Scouts report that Lü Bu is personally leading four thousand elite cavalry, each with two horses, traveling lightly and swiftly, and will reach the north bank of the Yellow River by tomorrow at the latest!"

Everyone in the hall was astonished.

"So fast?" Yuan Tan's face turned pale.

Xin Ping urged, "My lord, quickly order the remaining troops to cross the river! Wang Zhao, you lead three thousand men to cover the rear. Once the main army has crossed, immediately burn all the facilities at the crossing point, leaving not a single boat!"

"promise!"