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

Lu Bu pondered for a moment and said, "We can't mobilize troops for the time being. There are still Yuan Shu, Liu Biao, Sun Ce, and Shi Xie to deal with domestically. When I return, I will prepare for the southern expedition. As for the Western Regions, I can only rely on myself."

He paused, then said, "Issue an order to elevate the Western Regions Prefectural Administration by half a rank (a rank higher than a prefectural governor but lower than a state governor) to better oversee all military and political affairs in the Western Regions. Establish four prefectures: Kucha, Yanqi, Cheshi, and Xihai (governing the area surrounding Jinwei Mountain). Officials for each prefecture can be selected from the surrendered troops. Also, select able-bodied men from the surrendered soldiers to supplement the 9th Army. The Western Regions are so vast; it seems we need at least 20,000 troops to maintain order."

And Qu Mi suddenly clasped his hands in a fist and said, "Yes!"

Lü Bu then said, "Send envoys to the countries of Shule, Congling, Yuzhi, Jingjue, Shanshan, and Loulan, conveying my order that they each send envoys to Taqian City to pay homage, submit petitions of submission, and become vassals of the Han again. Those who fail to arrive by the appointed time will regret it when the army arrives."

"yes!"

……

On the seventeenth day of the first month, the Wusun envoy Huyanjie returned to Yancheng and entered the palace, prostrating himself on the ground: "Wusun envoy Huyanjie greets Your Majesty the King of Jin! The Great Kunmi has agreed to the King of Jin's conditions, and Princess Dielanzhu has set off from Chigu City and will arrive in Yancheng soon!"

Lu Bu nodded: "Good, Great Kunmi is very kind. I will treat Die Lanzhu well after she arrives."

Huyan Jie added, "The Great Kunmi has also prepared five hundred fine horses, one hundred pieces of goldware, ten pairs of jade discs, and one thousand sable furs as a dowry to show the sincerity of Wusun."

Lü Bu laughed: "The Great Kunmi is quite generous. Go back and tell him that I have accepted the dowry. After Die Lanzhu arrives, I will marry her, and Wusun and the Han court will become in-laws. From now on, with Wusun guarding the western front, I can rest assured."

Huyanjie was overjoyed and kowtowed repeatedly, saying, "Thank you for your kindness, Prince Jin. I will immediately report back to the Great Kunmi!"

……

On the 25th day of the first lunar month, outside the east gate of Yancheng.

Lü Bu, along with Ma Chao, Su Yan, Wei Bing, Guan Yu, Zhang Fei, Dian Wei, Xu Chu, Qiequ Mitu, and others, went out of the city to welcome them.

In the distance, a procession slowly approached. At the head were dozens of Wusun warriors, surrounding a magnificent carriage. Dozens of maids rode alongside the carriage. Behind the procession were hundreds of mules carrying gifts.

The carriage stopped at the city gate, the curtain was lifted, and a young girl slowly stepped out of the carriage with the help of a maid.

She was about sixteen or seventeen years old, and was truly beautiful. She was tall and had an exotic look. She was dressed in the finery of a noblewoman from Wusun, with a fur hat adorned with pearls and jade. Her large, clear eyes were curiously observing the Han general in front of her.

Lu Bu rode forward and said, "I am Lu Bu, King of Jin of the Great Han Dynasty. Princess, you have come from afar. You must have had a long and arduous journey."

Die Lanzhu was slightly taken aback, but quickly recovered and returned the greeting, saying in somewhat broken Chinese, "Die Lanzhu greets His Highness Prince Jin."

Lü Bu laughed: "Princess, you speak Han language quite well."

Die Lanzhu lowered her head and said, "I have learned some, but I can't explain it well. Please don't laugh at me, Prince Jin."

Lu Bu said, "Princess, you are too modest. Come into the city, and I will host a welcome feast for you."

……

That evening, the Yancheng Royal Palace was brightly lit and decorated.

Lü Bu hosted a banquet to entertain Die Lanzhu and the Wusun envoy.

Ma Chao, Guan Yu, Zhang Fei, Dian Wei, Xu Chu, Qiequmitu, Hulandi, Himita, Dulujian, Bai Ba, Nali, Bochou, Qiufu, Bogan, Ronglu, and others accompanied him.

Die Lanzhu sat beside Lü Bu, curiously observing everyone in the hall.

These days, she heard her brother and the envoys talk a lot about the King of Jin: how he defeated the Xianbei, took control of the Han court, conquered the Xiongnu, and subjugated Yanqi and Kucha; how he built a platform of stones and took things out of thin air.

She had assumed that this Prince of Jin must be a fierce and ruthless man with three heads and six arms.

Unexpectedly, he was such a heroic and extraordinary middle-aged man.

Lu Bu noticed her gaze and turned to look at her: "What are you looking at, Princess?"

Die Lanzhu blushed and quickly lowered her head: "No, it's nothing."

Lü Bu laughed: "Princess, there's no need to be so formal. Now that you've married me, you're family. If you need anything, just say so."

Die Lanzhu looked up and said softly, "Die Lanzhu, I have a favor to ask of you."

Lü Bu said, "Speak."

Die Lanzhu said, "Die Lanzhu is newly married to the Prince and is unfamiliar with Han customs. If, if I have been impolite in any way, please forgive me, Prince Jin. Also, Die Lanzhu wishes to learn Han language and etiquette, and requests that the Prince Jin send someone to teach her."

Lü Bu nodded: "Of course, I will have my female attendants teach you. In a few days, come back to Chang'an with me, and I will arrange for you to receive systematic training."

Die Lanzhu bowed her head and said, "Thank you, Prince Jin."

……

On the first day of the second lunar month, it was Qiancheng.

The new site of the Western Regions Protectorate, formerly the site of the Western Regions Protectorate of the Han Dynasty.

Ma Chao sat in the main hall, looking at the mountain of documents piled on the table, his head spinning.

These days, he's overwhelmed by a mountain of tasks: setting up prefectures and counties, appointing officials, reorganizing surrendered soldiers, registering households, and compiling statistics on money and grain.

He was originally a warrior, how could he have done these things?

Just as he was worrying, a personal guard came in and reported: "General, envoys from Loulan, Shanshan, Jingjue, Yuzhi, Shule, and the Pamir Mountains have arrived outside the city and are requesting an audience with you."

Ma Chao's spirits lifted: "Please come in quickly!"

A moment later, the envoys from various countries entered the hall and paid their respects in turn.

The Loulan envoy spoke first: "Loulan's Prime Minister Angui, on the orders of the King, submits a petition to submit to the Han Dynasty. Loulan is willing to become a vassal state of the Han, paying tribute annually and awaiting the command of the Western Regions Governor's Office."

The envoy from Shanshan said, "Xiu Mo, the prime minister of Shanshan, has submitted a memorial of allegiance on the orders of the king. Shanshan wishes to establish a lasting alliance with the Han court to jointly safeguard the peace and tranquility of the Silk Road."

The envoy from Jingjue said, "The King of Jingjue has sent me to pay homage, wishing to remain a vassal state of Han forever."

……

After the envoys from various countries finished speaking, they all knelt down and presented their respective kings' letters of credence and lists of tribute.

Ma Chao was overjoyed and accepted the gifts one by one, saying, "Please rise, everyone. Since all countries are willing to submit, they are now vassals of the Han Dynasty. The Western Regions Prefectural Administration will treat them all equally and protect their safety. In the future, if there are any disputes between the countries, they can come to Qiancheng to appeal, and the Prefectural Administration will make a ruling. Merchants from all countries can travel freely, and the Han army will protect them along the way. All countries must pay their tribute according to the established rules and without delay."

The envoys from various countries replied in unison, "As you command!"

Ma Chao continued, "The King of Jin has decreed that each kingdom may retain its throne, but military power must be placed under the unified command of the Western Regions Prefectural Administration. The best soldiers from each kingdom will be selected to join the Han army, and the rest will be dismissed and allowed to return to farming. Any kings, nobles, or other members of the kingdoms who wish to serve in the army may become generals in the Han army. The Han court will not mistreat anyone."

The envoys from the six countries looked at each other in bewilderment.

The Loulan envoy hesitated, "General, this military power..."

Ma Chao waved his hand: "This is the order of the King of Jin, and all countries must obey it. The countries of Cheshi, Yanqi, and Kucha have all complied. If you are unwilling, you may go back and tell the King that the King of Jin's army will arrive soon, and then it will not be a matter of handing over military power."

The envoys from the six kingdoms' expressions changed, and they hurriedly said, "We are willing to obey the King of Jin's orders and follow the orders of the Chief Administrator's Office!"

Ma Chao nodded: "Very well, in that case, all of you should go back and report to the King, and come to Taqian City as soon as possible to complete the handover procedures. The Prince of Jin will be returning to Chang'an soon, and he must make proper arrangements for all matters in the Western Regions before he leaves."

"yes!"