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

On the 20th day of the tenth month of the sixth year of Chuping (195 AD), the Wuji Colonel under the Western Regions Chief Administrator's Office built the wall of Gaochang.

Just past Chen Shi (7-9 AM), a cloud of dust rose from the eastern Gobi Desert. The sentries on the city wall squinted and saw a dark mass of cavalry galloping toward the city, their banners fluttering in the wind.

"They're here! The imperial army is here!" the sentry shouted excitedly.

The city walls immediately erupted in commotion.

The Western Regions Chief Administrator Su Yan and the Wuji Colonel Wei Bing were discussing matters on the city tower when they heard the noise and hurriedly came out. The two of them shaded their eyes with their hands and looked eastward. They could see that the cavalry was getting closer and closer, and they could already make out the characters "Han", "Jin", and "Lü" embroidered on the banners.

"The main force of the imperial army, led by the Prince of Jin, has arrived!" Wei Bing's voice trembled.

Su Yan's old eyes reddened as he murmured, "Twenty years have passed. I have guarded the Western Regions for twenty years, and finally, I have seen the royal army from the Chang'an court again..."

The two hurriedly went down from the city and summoned the Han officials and soldiers in the city, as well as Western Region nobles such as King Hulandi of the Former Cheshi Kingdom, King Bimiduo of the Eastern Qiemi Kingdom, and King Dulujian of the Beilu Kingdom, to come to the city gate to welcome them.

The gates of Gaochang Bicheng were wide open.

Although Su Yan was over fifty, he stood tall and straight. Wei Bing, wearing tattered armor with a ring-pommel sword at his waist, stood beside Su Yan. Behind them, hundreds of Han officials, soldiers, and laborers stood in solemn rows, many with tears in their eyes.

The three kings of the Western Regions stood beside the Han Chinese procession.

Foxlandi was about forty years old, with dark skin, dressed in the distinctive fur clothing of the Cheshi tribe, and a jade-inlaid short knife hung at his waist. Himido was slightly younger, in his early thirties, wearing a felt hat, his eyes gleaming. Dulujian was the oldest, with gray hair and beard, leaning on a cane, followed by several nephews and nieces.

"Look, that's the King of Jin from the Han Dynasty!" someone exclaimed.

The cavalry had come to a stop a hundred paces outside the city. The lead rider was crimson like flames, and the general on horseback wore golden armor and a black robe, holding a halberd. His face was resolute, and his eyes were like lightning. It was none other than Lü Bu, the King of Jin.

Behind Lü Bu stood Guan Yu in green robes, sword in hand, and Zhang Fei in black armor, spear at his side, with Dian Wei and Xu Chu flanking him. Further back, four thousand elite cavalry stood solemnly, covered in dust from their long march, yet their disciplined bearing and palpable killing intent remained undiminished.

Su Yan took a deep breath, knelt down first, and said loudly, "Su Yan, the Prefect of the Western Regions, leading the Wuji Colonel, the city's Han officials, and the garrison soldiers, respectfully welcomes His Highness Prince Jin!"

Wei Bing and hundreds of Han Chinese behind him knelt down in unison: "Welcome, Your Highness Prince Jin!"

The Western Region nobles, including Hulandi, Bimituo, and Dulujian, also bowed and greeted the King of Jin of the Great Han Dynasty in broken Chinese.

Lü Bu dismounted and quickly stepped forward to help Su Yan up: "Chief Secretary Su, please rise. Gentlemen, please rise as well."

Su Yan stood up, looking at the Prince of Jin who had traveled thousands of miles from Chang'an in just over half a month to lead the expedition, and his lips trembled with excitement: "Your Highness's personal expedition to the Western Regions has greatly excited this old minister, truly..."

He couldn't continue, tears streaming down his face.

Wei Bing, his eyes also red-rimmed, said, "This humble general, Wei Bing, Colonel of the Wuji Division, pays his respects to Prince Jin. Your Highness is unaware that we have been garrisoning the Western Regions for twenty years, cut off from all communication with the Central Plains court. Our supplies have been insufficient, and our soldiers are ragged and our weapons are rusty. Today, seeing the royal army is like seeing family!"

Lü Bu patted Wei Bing on the shoulder and said in a deep voice, "Chief Secretary Su, Colonel Wei, and all the soldiers guarding the border, you have worked hard. When I was in Chang'an, I heard about the troubles in the Western Regions, the death of General Huo Gu in battle, and the fall of Wubuhou City. My heart was filled with grief. You held firm in the face of adversity, protecting our Han borders and our Han people. This is a great achievement. I have come here today for two reasons: first, to annihilate the Xiongnu, and second, to reward you, these meritorious soldiers guarding the border."

Su Yan wiped away his tears and said, "Your Highness is too kind. This is our duty."

Lü Bu then looked at the Western Region kings, including Hulandi: "The three kings have upheld their loyalty to the Xiongnu and have not surrendered, which is also a meritorious act."

Hu Lan Di quickly bowed: "Your Majesty, you flatter me. The Xiongnu barbarians slaughtered my people and destroyed my royal court; this enmity is irreconcilable. Although I am weak, I know loyalty and righteousness; how could I surrender to the enemy?"

Himita and Tsurukami echoed in agreement.

Lü Bu nodded: "Alright, let's go into the city and talk."

The crowd escorted Lü Bu into the city.

The streets of the city were packed with Han Chinese and people from the Western Regions. They looked at this elite army that had come from faraway Chang'an, at the Prince of Jin in his golden armor and black robes, and at the mighty generals Guan Yu and Zhang Fei. Some cheered, some wept, and some knelt down to kowtow.

"The imperial court has not forgotten us..."

"Long live the Prince of Jin!"

"The Han army is mighty!"

The calls rose and fell.

As Lü Bu walked and looked around, he saw that the houses in the city were dilapidated, the streets were dirty and messy, and many people were emaciated and dressed in rags. The armor worn by the soldiers was mostly rusty, and the spears and ring-pommel swords in their hands were also old.

He sighed inwardly and said to Su Yan, "The Western Regions are isolated beyond the Great Wall. It is truly remarkable that you have been able to hold out until now."

Su Yan smiled bitterly, "Your Highness is unaware that before the Yellow Turban Rebellion, the imperial court had already severed ties with the Western Regions. With supplies running low and weapons unrepaired, we have had to rely on aid from neighboring countries and on farming to sustain ourselves. This summer's drought has resulted in a poor harvest, and we've also been plundered by the Xiongnu; the city's food reserves are almost depleted..."

Wei Bing added: "Originally, the stored grain was enough to feed 800 people for more than half a year, but after the Xiongnu invasion, they took in Han officials and civilians who had fled, as well as princes and nobles from the Western Regions. Now there are more than 2,000 people in the city, and the grain will not last much longer."

Lü Bu waved his hand: "There's no need to worry about supplies. Now that I'm here, I have a plan."

As they spoke, the group arrived at the residence of the Commandant of Wuji.

This mansion was originally Wei Bing's office and residence, but it is now dilapidated. The main hall is still quite spacious, but the paint on the beams and pillars is peeling off, and the floor tiles are cracked in many places.

Lü Bu sat in the main seat, with Guan Yu and Zhang Fei standing on his left and right, Dian Wei and Xu Chu guarding the door, and Su Yan, Wei Bing, and the three kings of the Western Regions sitting on either side.

"Where is General Ma Chao now?" Lü Bu asked.

Wei Bing replied, "After General Ma lifted the siege of Gaochangbi, the Xiongnu retreated northward, and General Ma led 2,500 cavalry in pursuit. They have been traveling for several days. Yesterday, a messenger reported that the Xiongnu had approached the area of ​​the Eastern Qiemi royal court, and General Ma is leading his troops to continue following them."

Lü Bu nodded: "Mengqi did a good job. The Xiongnu are carrying the looted grain and valuables, so they can't move fast. This will keep them occupied."

He paused, then looked at Su Yan and Wei Bing: "I traveled at breakneck speed without any baggage train. Are you wondering where the provisions and supplies for my four thousand troops came from?"

Su Yan hesitated and said, "This old minister does indeed have this suspicion. Your Highness is traveling light and quickly; could it be that the provisions are still at the rear?"

Wei Bing also said, "If the provisions haven't arrived, the city's grain reserves will be insufficient to support the army..."

Lü Bu laughed heartily and stood up, saying, "Please come with me, both of you."

Confused, the crowd followed Lü Bu out of the main hall and arrived at the treasury.

This warehouse was originally a place to store grain for the military farms, but now it is mostly empty, with only a small amount of wheat, millet and dried meat piled up in the corner.

Lu Bu stood in the center of the warehouse and said to Su Yan and Wei Bing, "Aren't you worried about the grain supplies? Take a good look."

With a thought, a pile of sacks filled with grain appeared out of thin air in the open space of the treasury, forming a small mountain. Then, a second pile, a third pile…

In no time, the entire granary was filled with grain sacks, piled up to the roof beams.