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

In the northern part of Ji Province, Changshan State, Gaoyi County.

The winter wind blew across the dilapidated city walls, whipping up the banner bearing the character "Zhang" atop them. Zhang He stood behind the parapet, his hand on his sword, gazing solemnly at the sprawling camps outside the city.

Those camps belonged to Zhang Liao.

More than half a month ago, Zhang Liao and Gao Shun marched east out of the Taihang Mountains and attacked Changshan.

Although Zhang He led his troops to resist, the newly formed Bingzhou army under Zhang Liao and Gao Shun was fierce and unstoppable. After three consecutive battles, Zhang He was defeated and had no choice but to abandon Yuanshi, the capital of Changshan Commandery, and retreat to Gaoyi, the capital of Jiuzhou in Jizhou.

"General," the lieutenant Qian Zhao said in a low voice as he walked up to the city wall, "our provisions are only enough for ten days."

Zhang He didn't turn around: "Any news of reinforcements?"

"No." Qian Zhao shook her head. "Ye City... is probably in dire need of protection itself."

These words made Zhang He's heart sink.

A few days ago, a deserter brought news that Lü Bu had captured Ye City and Yuan Shao had led his remaining troops eastward. However, no one knew the specifics of the situation. Zhang He sent three groups of scouts towards Ye City, but all their efforts were in vain.

"Report—" A courier rushed up the city wall, knelt on one knee, and said, "General, urgent report from Ye City!"

Zhang He turned around: "Speak!"

"Lü Bu... Lü Bu has captured Ye City!" The courier's voice trembled. "General Yan Liang is dead, and Lord Yuan led his remaining troops east to Ganling. Now Ye City has fallen into Lü Bu's hands!"

The city walls were deathly silent.

Although he had expected it, Zhang He still felt a wave of dizziness upon hearing the news. He leaned against the parapet and took a deep breath: "My lord... is my lord alright?"

"They say he's alright, but..." The courier hesitated, then stopped himself.

"But what?"

"But Ye City fell too quickly, and many soldiers' families did not have time to evacuate and fell into Lü Bu's hands," the courier whispered.

Zhang He gripped the hilt of his sword tightly.

He knew what this meant.

With many soldiers' families in Lu Bu's hands, morale is bound to collapse. If they continue to hold out, the soldiers may mutini.

"General," Qian Zhao stepped forward, "Gaoyi City is small and short of food, with no reinforcements from outside. Zhang Liao and Gao Shun are besieging us without attacking, clearly intending to starve us to death. Continuing to hold out will only lead to our demise."

Zhang He was well aware of this.

However, he owed a debt of gratitude to Yuan Shao, having been promoted from a military officer under Han Fu to a colonel, and eventually to a general, commanding the troops of Changshan. Now that his lord had been defeated and fled, wouldn't it be disloyal of him to surrender?

Just as they were hesitating, another messenger arrived: "General, someone outside the city is requesting an audience, claiming to be your elder brother Zhang Lan!"

Zhang He was taken aback: "Brother?"

He hurried down the city wall and arrived at the city gate tower. Looking through the arrow slit, he saw a middle-aged scholar standing by the moat, followed by only two attendants.

It was his elder brother, Zhang Lan.

"Open the city gates and lower the drawbridge," Zhang He ordered.

A moment later, Zhang Lan was led up to the city wall.

Upon seeing each other, Zhang He anxiously asked, "Brother, what brings you here? What is the situation in Ye City?"

Zhang Lan looked at his younger brother and saw that he looked haggard. He sighed and said, "Junyi, Ye City has fallen, and our lord... our lord was also captured alive by Lü Bu in Ganling."

"What?!" Zhang He was struck dumb. "Our lord has been captured?"

"Yes." Zhang Lan recounted the Ganling Incident in detail, from Xu You and Han Meng's betrayal to Yuan Shao's capture, Tian Feng and Ju Shou's capture, and Gao Gan's death in battle, leaving nothing out.

Zhang He stood there dumbfounded after hearing this.

His lord has been captured, yet he remains guarding this high city. For whom is he guarding it?

"Junyi," Zhang Lan pressed down on his younger brother's shoulder, "the situation is hopeless. Duke Jin possesses the divine ability to build a granary overnight, and Yecheng fell in a single day. Xu You and Han Meng are opportunistic. How many days can you hold out in this small city of Gaoyi? Are there any soldiers in your army who are like Xu You and Han Meng?"

Zhang He remained silent.

Qian Zhao whispered from the side, "General, Zhang Liao sent a message by arrow yesterday, saying that if you are willing to surrender, he will spare your life and the lives of your soldiers. If you resist to the end, when the city falls, not a single chicken or dog will be spared."

Zhang Lan pressed his advantage: "Junyi, our lord has been captured. Whom will you serve? Are you willing to sacrifice the lives of these thousands of soldiers? Although Lü Bu holds the emperor hostage to command the other lords, his rule over Sili, Bingzhou, and Liangzhou is peaceful, the people are well-fed and clothed, and the soldiers are paid. Unifying the world in the future is already a foregone conclusion. If you surrender now, you still have a chance to make a contribution; if you resist, you will only face death!"

Zhang He looked up and gazed at the continuous camps outside the city.

Yes, even the lord has been captured, what is there for him to defend?

"What about Gao Lan of Zhao..." Zhang He asked.

"I have already sent someone to make contact," Zhang Lan said. "General Gao is also besieged by Zhang Yan in Xiangguo County, in a similar situation to yours. If you are willing to surrender, I can write to him and persuade him to join us."

Zhang He pondered for a long time before finally letting out a long sigh: "Fine... Issue the order to open the city gates and surrender."

"General, you are wise!" Qian Zhao breathed a sigh of relief.

That afternoon, the gates of Gaoyi slowly opened.

Zhang He removed his armor and helmet, wearing only ordinary clothes, and led his generals out of the city on foot. When he reached Zhang Liao's camp a hundred paces away, Zhang He knelt on one knee: "Zhang He, the defeated general, leads the people of Changshan to surrender to the imperial court!"

Zhang Liao rode out of the camp, dismounted, and helped Zhang He up: "General Junyi is a man of great wisdom and righteousness. I will certainly report to the Duke of Jin and ask him to treat the general and his soldiers well."

"Thank you, General." Zhang He stood up and then asked, "I wonder... how will the Duke of Jin deal with us?"

Zhang Liao laughed and said, "Junyi, rest assured, Duke Jin employs people based on their talents and will surely give them important positions."

Zhang He felt somewhat relieved.

The surrender proceedings continued until dusk.

Zhang He had tens of thousands of soldiers under his command. Those who wished to join the army were incorporated into the imperial army, while those who did not were given travel expenses to return home. The generals all retained their original positions and were temporarily placed under the command of Zhang Liao.

That night, Zhang Liao hosted a banquet for Zhang He.

During the meal, Zhang Liao spoke of Lü Bu's recent achievements: counterattacking Chang'an, pacifying Guanzhong, intimidating the Northern Di, subjugating Xiliang, seizing Yizhou, conquering Xuzhou, killing Cao Cao, and accepting the surrender of Liu Bei, Guan Yu, and Zhang Fei. Now, he has also conquered Jizhou and captured Yuan Shao.

Zhang He was alarmed upon hearing this.

"The Duke of Jin is truly the chosen one," Zhang He exclaimed.

"Indeed." Zhang Liao raised his cup. "General Junyi's surrender today is timely. Once Hebei is pacified, Duke Jin will surely launch a southern campaign against Yuan Shu and unify the world. General, you will follow Duke Jin to achieve merit, and being ennobled and appointed as a general will be just around the corner."

Zhang He raised his glass in a toast, and the last trace of hesitation in his heart vanished.

The following day, Zhang Lan went to Handan to persuade Gao Lan to surrender.

Upon learning that Yuan Shao had been captured and Zhang He had surrendered, Gao Lan lost the will to fight and surrendered the city to Zhang Yan.

With this, both Changshan and the State of Zhao were pacified.

Lu Bu then received an urgent report from Zhang Liao while traveling north to Bohai.

"My lord, Zhang He and Gao Lan have both surrendered!" A messenger presented a document. "The two commanderies of Changshan and Zhao have been pacified. General Zhang Liao requests instructions on the next steps."

Lü Bu took the document and examined it carefully, a smile appearing on his face: "Good! Zhang Junyi and Gao Yuanbo are both famous generals from Hebei. With their allegiance, Ji Province can be secured."

Cheng Yu cupped his hands and said, "My lord, now that Yuan Shao has been captured, Yuan Tan has fled overseas, and Zhang He and Gao Lan have surrendered, there is no longer any organized resistance in Ji Province. We can send proclamations to all the counties, ordering them to open their gates and surrender."

"That suits me perfectly." Lü Bu nodded. "Wenruo, draft a proclamation and send it in the name of the imperial court to the counties of Zhongshan, Julu, Anping, and Hejian. Those who open their gates shall have their officials retained and their soldiers reorganized; those who resist shall have their entire clan exterminated on the day the city falls."

"promise."