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

Two courier riders stumbled in and collapsed to the ground. One of them stammered, "Commander, the Northern Xiongnu Left Dulu King Xubu Danghe led 5,000 cavalry to invade the south. The Later Cheshi Kingdom was destroyed, Jinman City fell, and the Marquis of Huogu was killed in battle..."

Zhan Ping was struck dumb, standing there as if by lightning.

After a long silence, he asked in a trembling voice, "Is Huo Gu dead in battle?"

"We heard from the Xiongnu who were chasing us that Huo Buhou refused to surrender and died a heroic death for his country..." The courier wept bitterly.

Zhan Ping closed his eyes, tears streaming down his face. He and Huo Gu had known each other for over twenty years. Although they were stationed in different places, they would always exchange news and supplies every year. Now, his old friend had died in battle, the city had fallen, and he was powerless to help.

"Captain, what should we do?" the lieutenant asked.

Zhan Ping wiped away his tears and gritted his teeth, saying, "Raise the troops and prepare for war, strengthen the city's defenses. Also, dispatch two courier teams to deliver the news: one to the Western Regions Prefectural Governor's Office in Liuzhong, and the other to the Liangzhou garrison at Yumen Pass. Tell Liangzhou that 5,000 Northern Xiongnu cavalry have invaded the south, and the Western Regions are in imminent danger. Please send troops to their aid immediately!"

"promise!"

……

September 21st, Yumen Pass.

The general guarding the pass was Zhao Ang, a new army commander from the Liangzhou Group Army, who was about thirty years old. He was originally a subordinate of Ma Teng, but after surrendering to Lü Bu, he was reorganized into the new army. Due to his bravery in battle, he was promoted to major and led a thousand soldiers to guard Yumen Pass.

He held the letter of appeal for help sent by Zhan Ping, his brows furrowed.

"Captain, this is a serious matter. Should we report it immediately?" the lieutenant asked.

Zhao Ang nodded: "Immediately send an urgent message (800 li) to General Wei Xu. At the same time, strengthen the defenses of the pass and send out more scouts to investigate. If any Xiongnu people approach, report back immediately."

"promise!"

The courier carried the urgent report and headed east out of the pass.

……

September 24th, Liangzhou Prefecture seat, Guzang County, Wuwei Commandery.

Liangzhou Army Group Commander Wei Xu is inspecting the newly formed cavalry at the drill ground.

"General, urgent report from Yumen Pass!" A personal guard rode up and presented the document.

Wei Xu took a look and his expression changed drastically.

"Five thousand Northern Xiongnu cavalry invaded the south, the rear of the Cheshi Kingdom was destroyed, the city of Wubu fell, and Huogu was killed in battle..." Wei Xu roared angrily, "These barbarians dared to invade my Han city and kill my Han general!"

He immediately ordered, "Summon Ma Chao!"

A moment later, Ma Chao, commander of the 9th Army of the Liangzhou Group Army, rode up.

"Mengqi, take a look at this." Wei Xu handed the urgent report to Ma Chao, who had just dismounted.

After reading it, Ma Chao's eyes flashed with a cold light: "The Xiongnu are courting death! General, I request permission to lead the 9th Cavalry Division to reinforce Yiwu!"

Wei Xu nodded: "That suits me perfectly. You will lead three thousand light cavalry, each with two horses, traveling light and swiftly, and must reach Yiwu within ten days. I will then send reinforcements to deliver provisions and supplies. Once you arrive, you will join forces with Zhan Ping, the Commandant of Yihe, and hold your position while awaiting reinforcements. I will immediately send someone with an urgent message to the court in Chang'an to request aid. The Prince of Jin will surely make a decision."

"Yes, sir!" Ma Chao clasped his hands in a fist salute, then turned and left.

Wei Xu then summoned a clerk: "Draft a report and send it to the Prince of Jin's residence in Chang'an!"

"promise!"

……

September 28th, Chang'an, Prince Jin's residence.

Lü Bu was in the council hall discussing with his cabinet ministers matters concerning the conquest of the southern warlords and the unification of the world.

"My lord, the autumn harvest is complete, and all provinces have ample provisions and complete military equipment." Chen Gong, the Second Grand Secretary and Minister of Revenue, pointed to the map. "I suggest that we launch an attack in October, first taking Nanyang. Nanyang is the gateway to Jingzhou. Taking it will allow us to threaten Xiangyang and force Liu Biao to surrender. If Liu Biao does not surrender, we can then sail down the Han River and join forces with Cao Xing of Yizhou to attack Jingzhou from both sides."

Cabinet advisor Guo Jia, however, said: "I believe we should attack Yuan Shu first. Yuan Shu is the descendant of four generations of high-ranking officials, and he has the most civil and military officials under his command, as well as a large army and sufficient supplies. Moreover, he has a deep-seated hatred for our lord for the destruction of his brother Yuan Shao, so his will to resist is the strongest. If we defeat Yuan Shu first, the southern warlords will be terrified and may surrender without a fight."

Grand Secretary and Minister of Personnel Jia Xu stroked his beard: "Both policies are acceptable; please make the decision, my lord."

Just as Lü Bu was about to speak, hurried footsteps suddenly came from outside the door.

"Report—" A soldier rushed into the hall, kneeling on one knee, "An urgent dispatch from Liangzhou, eight hundred li away!"

Lu Bu took the urgent report, unfolded it, and his face instantly darkened.

Seeing this, everyone sensed something was wrong.

"My lord, what is it?" Jia Xu asked.

Lu Bu handed him the urgent report and said coldly, "The remnants of the Northern Xiongnu, the Left Dulu King Xubudanghe, led 5,000 cavalry to invade the Western Regions. The Later Cheshi Kingdom was destroyed, the Wubu Houcheng fell, and the Han general Huo Gu, who was guarding the border, was killed in battle."

The hall erupted in uproar.

"How dare those Xiongnu barbarians!" Zhang Liao, the Second Grand Secretary and Minister of War, roared. "They actually dare to invade our Han territory!"

Cabinet advisor Xun You frowned: "The Western Regions Prefectural Governor's Office has existed in name only for many years, yet there are still Han soldiers guarding it. Is this Huo Gu a descendant of Huo Qubing?"

"No, General Huo Qubing has no descendants. This is a descendant of a collateral branch of the Huo family," said Ju Shou, the cabinet minister and minister of rites. "But Huo Gu guarded the border for twenty-three years, preferring death to surrender, and died a heroic death. All eighty-seven soldiers died in battle, and nearly all three hundred civilian laborers were wiped out. This is a national tragedy."

Everyone felt grief and indignation, but politicians are rational and cold-blooded.

Jia Xu pondered for a moment and said, "My lord, the Western Regions are remote, and the Xiongnu have only five thousand cavalrymen. They are not a threat. The most urgent task is to move south and unify the country. It is not too late to deal with the Western Regions after the country is unified."

Chen Gong echoed, "Wenhe's words are quite right. To repel external aggression, we must first pacify the internal situation. The southern lords have not yet been pacified, so it is not advisable to send troops on a distant expedition."

Guo Jia looked at Lü Bu and saw a cold glint in his eyes, which stirred something within him.

Sure enough, Lü Bu slowly got up, walked to the large map hanging in the hall, and pointed to the Western Regions.

"Wenhe, Gongtai, you are right," Lü Bu said calmly, yet with an undeniable air of authority. "But do you know what Huo Gu's last words were before he died in battle?"

Everyone looked at him.

Lü Bu turned around and glanced at the officials: "He said, 'The Han soldiers guarding the border would rather die than surrender.' Eighty-seven old soldiers and more than three hundred laborers, despite losing contact with the Central Plains and being cut off from supplies, still held the city of Wubu for more than twenty years. When the city fell, not a single one surrendered; they all died in battle."

He paused, then raised his voice: "For whom did these people die? For the emperor in the palace? Or for the Han court, which had long since ceased to exist? No, they died for the name 'Great Han,' for the land behind them!"

"Although I am not a member of the Han imperial family, having received the title of King of Jin and wielding great power in the court, I have a responsibility to protect the territory and safeguard the people. The Western Regions have been Han territory since the time of Emperor Wu of Han. The Protectorate of the Western Regions has been established for over a hundred years, with its Chief Administrator's Office, Wuji Colonel, Yihe Commandant, Wubu Marquis City... all of these are proof of the Han court's existence in the Western Regions!"

Lu Bu slammed his finger heavily on the map: "In my eyes, as long as there is even one Han soldier garrisoning the Western Regions, the Western Regions are Han territory! Now, these barbarian Xiongnu dare to invade our land, kill our soldiers, and destroy our vassal states. If we do not avenge this, how can we establish a nation? How can we command respect?"

Jia Xu wanted to offer further advice: "My lord, the southern lords..."

"The southern warlords?" Lü Bu sneered. "Yuan Shu, Liu Biao, Sun Ce, Shi Xie—they're nothing but withered bones in their tombs, easily destroyed with a flick of the finger. But those who offend the might of my mighty Han, though far away, shall be punished!"

He looked at the crowd and said decisively, "My mind is made up. First, I will conquer the Western Regions, destroy the Xiongnu, and rebuild the Protectorate of the Western Regions. Once the Western Regions are pacified, I will turn my army south and unify the world!"