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

The gaze shifts south to Yuzhou, Runan Commandery, Pingyu City.

Because of the deterioration of his relationship with Sun Ce, Sun Ce even gave his sister to Lü Bu as a concubine, which was a sign that he was about to submit to Lü Bu. Huainan and Shouchun were in danger of being attacked from both Yangzhou and Xuzhou at any time. Therefore, Yuan Shu moved his governor's office to Pingyu County, Runan Commandery.

Before the Lunar New Year, in the latter half of the twelfth lunar month, Yuan Shu, wrapped in a brocade fur coat, leaned back on a soft couch covered with a white tiger skin, playing with the Imperial Seal of the State in his hand.

Chief Secretary Yang Hong, carrying several scrolls of silk, strode into the hall, his face somewhat grim.

"My lord, the scouts from the north have reported back, but the information is incomplete and contains many contradictions," Yang Hong said, bowing.

Chief Clerk Yan Xiang frowned and said, "Sili, Yanzhou, and Xuzhou are all under Lü Bu's control. Our spies can hardly use the official post stations. They can only take detours through mountain roads and small paths, or disguise themselves as merchants. The transmission of information is slow and they are easily intercepted by Lü Bu's patrol teams."

Yuan Shu put down the imperial seal and sat up straight: "Tell me what news you have."

Therefore, Yang Hong told Yuan Shu about Lü Bu's great victory at Anyangjin, Chunyu Qiong's death in battle, and Lü Bu's approach to Ye City. At this time, it was possible that Ye City had already fallen, but this was uncertain.

Yuan Shu was somewhat annoyed after hearing this, as he had hoped that Yuan Shao and Lü Bu would fight to the death. However, he hadn't expected that even Chunyu Qiong's defense of Anyang Ferry would fail, allowing Lü Bu's army to reach Ye City.

At this time, the news was delayed, and it was unknown whether Ye City had been captured by Lü Bu.

He harbored a sliver of hope, thinking that with Yan Liang, Wen Chou, Zhang He, and Gao Lan—the Four Pillars of Hebei—Yuan Shao, even if he couldn't defeat Lü Bu, should be able to hold Ye City.

In this scenario, it would be most advantageous for him to have Yuan Shao and Lü Bu locked in a deadly battle in Ye City, depleting each other's troops and supplies.

However, Yuan Shu's dream was soon shattered by a series of bad news.

On the 28th day of the twelfth lunar month, Yuan Yin (Yuan Shu's cousin), the secret envoy sent by Yuan Shu to Hebei, rushed into Pingyu in a disheveled state. His clothes were tattered, and his face was covered in dust. Upon seeing Yuan Shu, he knelt down and wept bitterly: "Brother, terrible things have happened! Ye City... Ye City has fallen!"

Yuan Shu was shocked: "What did you say? When was it breached?"

"It fell by the end of winter!" Yuan Yin cried. "Lü Bu built a forty-zhang-high platform on the south bank of the Zhang River, and his catapults bombarded Ye City across the river, destroying the city walls! Later, Lü Bu used his divine ability to build a bridge across the river and attacked the city. Yan Liang was killed in battle, and Lord Yuan led his remaining troops eastward, and his whereabouts are now unknown!"

The hall was deathly silent.

Yuan Shu sat there for a long time, then suddenly stood up: "Impossible! Ye City is a fortified city in Hebei, with ample supplies and tens of thousands of troops. How could it have fallen in a single day? It must be a rumor!"

Yuan Yin kowtowed and said, "It's absolutely true! I personally witnessed the fleeing soldiers from Ye City, and they all said that Lü Bu was divinely aided, building a high platform out of thin air in an instant, which terrified the defending army..."

Yang Hong asked in a trembling voice, "The divine granary bestowed by heaven, could the rumors be true?"

Yan Xiang's face turned deathly pale: "If Ye City really falls in a single day, then Lord Yuan...

Before the words were finished, another scout rushed in: "Report—Latest news from Ji Province: Lord Yuan has been captured alive by Lü Bu in Ganling County, Tian Feng and Ju Shou have been taken prisoner, and Wen Chou and Gao Gan have died in battle!"

Yuan Shu's legs went weak, and he slumped back onto the couch.

The scout added, "When I fled, I heard along the way that Generals Zhang He and Gao Lan had surrendered to Lü Bu, and most of Ji Province had submitted to him!"

"Zhang He and Gao Lan have also surrendered?" Yuan Shu murmured. "Then... what about Qingzhou? What about Yuan Tan?"

The scout whispered, "News from Qingzhou hasn't arrived yet, but Song Xian from Xuzhou has already invaded Qingzhou. If he and Lü Bu form a pincer attack, I'm afraid Young Master Yuan Tan might..."

Yuan Shu's mind was buzzing.

Yuan Shao, who dominated Hebei, was defeated just like that? Defeated so quickly and so thoroughly?

He truly deserves to be called a son of a concubine; he is not worth discussing matters with.

"My lord!" Ji Ling rushed into the hall. He had received orders to return from the front lines. "This humble general has just received a secret report that the two young masters, Yuan Tan and Yuan Xi, seem to have escaped by sea, and Qingzhou and Jizhou have fallen into the hands of Lü Bu!"

Yuan Shu panicked completely.

He had originally hoped that Yuan Shao would hold off Lü Bu so he could reap the benefits. Now that Yuan Shao has been defeated and killed, and Hebei is entirely under Lü Bu's control, what will Lü Bu do next?

The answer is obvious—go south.

"Quickly, issue the order!" Yuan Shu roared hoarsely, "Withdraw all troops and return to defend Yu Province! Fortify the defenses of all counties and cities, stockpile grain and fodder, and conscript able-bodied men, now!"

Yan Xiang remained relatively calm: "My lord, do not panic. Although Lü Bu has pacified Hebei, Ji Province and Qing Province have just been annexed and need time to be appeased and reorganized. Moreover, there is still Gongsun Zan of You Province in the north, so Lü Bu may not be able to march south immediately."

Yuan Shu calmed down slightly, but his fear remained: "Gongsun Zan? How many days can he hold off Lü Bu?"

He looked at the map, his finger trembling as he traced the Yellow River: "Once Lü Bu has consolidated his power in Hebei, his next move will inevitably be south. Yuzhou, Jingzhou, and Yangzhou are all under his military might."

Ji Ling cupped his hands and said, "My lord, the most urgent task is to consolidate our forces and focus on defending Nanyang, Yingchuan, Peiguo, and Jiujiang. At the same time, we should send envoys to Liu Biao in Jingzhou and Sun Ce in Yangzhou to reaffirm our alliance against Lü Bu."

Yuan Shu nodded dejectedly: "Let's proceed as proposed. Also, send out more scouts to keep a close watch on the situation in Hebei. Report back immediately if there is any news from Youzhou!"

"promise!"

……

Lu Bu ignored the panic of Yuan Shu and others. The north had just been pacified, and it was indeed necessary to digest the situation for a while before making any further moves.

In the second month of the sixth year of the Chuping era (195 AD), ten li east of Chang'an City, at Ba Shang Pavilion.

The emperor's carriage stopped outside the pavilion. Under the yellow canopy, the fourteen-year-old Emperor Liu Xie, dressed in imperial robes, sat expressionlessly on the imperial palanquin. His hands were tucked into his sleeves, his fingertips icy cold.

His gaze swept around the area, and he saw thousands of Imperial Guards standing solemnly outside the pavilion, holding halberds.

These soldiers were nominally imperial guards, but their actual commander was Cheng Lian, Lü Bu's trusted and beloved general. Their sharp eyes constantly scanned Liu Xie and his entourage of officials, as if they were monitoring a group of prisoners.

Among the officials, the Three Dukes were no longer present, and most officials at all levels kept their eyes down, not daring to make eye contact with the guards.

A sense of humiliation welled up in Liu Xie's heart.

Ba Shang is the place where Prince Ziying of Qin surrendered to Liu Bang, the ancestor who conquered Guanzhong, in a plain carriage and on a white horse, with a rope tied around his neck. Today, Jia Xu is forcing him to welcome Lü Bu's triumphant return at Ba Shang with the rites due to an emperor welcoming a subject, which is quite similar to the idea of ​​Ziying welcoming Emperor Gaozu.

This truly humiliated him, yet he was powerless to do anything about it.

"Your Majesty," came the gentle yet authoritative voice of Li Mao, the Grand Attendant, "the Duke of Jin is about to arrive. I request that Your Majesty tidy your appearance to show respect."

Li Mao had a fair complexion and spoke respectfully, but there was no trace of awe for the emperor in his eyes.

Liu Xie knew that if he showed his dissatisfaction now, there might be some inappropriate things in his dinner that night.

He then thought of his elder brother, Liu Bian, the Prince of Hongnong.

When Dong Zhuo poisoned Liu Bian, he used a pot of poisoned wine. Now, his situation is not much better than his brother's back then. He can't even control his own meals or water, and he doesn't know when he will be poisoned and die silently.

"I understand," Liu Xie said in a low voice, trying to keep his voice calm.