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

Xu Shu stroked his beard and said, "My lord, I believe that although Sun Ce harbors rebellious intentions, the proper course of action should be to let Jiangdong continue its struggle against Yuan Shu, Huang Zu, and Liu Biao, resulting in mutual destruction, from which you, my lord, can reap the benefits. However, this would inevitably cause suffering to the people, who will all be under your rule in the future. It is always better to minimize casualties. Now that you have unified the north, pacified the western regions, and are marching south with the momentum of the world, your unification of the world is unstoppable. There is no need to play the game of the snipe and the clam fighting while the fisherman benefits. With the power of the divine granary bestowed by heaven, you can simply and honorably pacify the south. If they do not surrender, then attack."

Lü Bu nodded: "What you say makes sense, sir. Pass down the order..."

The generals focused their attention.

Lü Bu said, "Order Song Xian, commander of the Xu Province army, to accelerate the attack on Jiujiang Commandery, threaten Yuan Shu's rear, and force Yuan Shu to retreat!"

"Order General Wei Xu to expedite the attack on Nan Commandery and tie down Liu Biao's forces in Jingzhou!"

"Order Hou Cheng and Huang Zhong's armies to attack northern Yuzhou as originally planned, primarily as a deterrent; there is no need for rash advances!"

"I will personally lead an army of 20,000 to first attack Xiangyang, then fight Jiangxia, and the siege of Jiangdong will be lifted!"

"Also, send scouts to inform Sun Ce that I have led five armies on a southern expedition, that I have already captured Nanyang, and that I will soon take Xiangyang."

The generals replied in unison, "Yes, sir!"

……

July 13th, outside the west gate of Nanyang City.

Twenty thousand elite Han cavalrymen stood in formation, ready to depart, with banners waving and swords and spears flying everywhere.

Lu Bu, clad in golden armor and riding a red horse, stood at the front of the battle. Behind him, Guan Yu, Zhang Fei, Dian Wei, Xu Chu, Xu Shu, and others followed closely.

Ji Ling remained in Nanyang to suppress the surrendered troops and generals, and to prevent Yuan Shu from sending people from Yuzhou to launch a counterattack.

Ji Ling led the officials to kneel and see Lü Bu off.

Lü Bu said to Ji Ling, "Nanyang is now in your hands. Your troops are sufficient to handle it. If there is any emergency, send an urgent message to me immediately."

Ji Ling kowtowed: "Your Highness, rest assured, this humble general will do his utmost to defend Nanyang."

Lu Bu nodded and waved his hand: "Let's go!"

The war drums sounded, and the bugles blared.

Twenty thousand iron cavalrymen, like a rolling torrent, headed south towards Xiangyang.

……

July 14th, Jiyang.

Jiyang was a small county southeast of Wancheng, which was originally under the jurisdiction of Ji Ling. The garrison had been transferred to the prefectural capital, Wancheng, by Ji Ling. Since Ji Ling had already surrendered and there were no garrison troops in the city, the county magistrate, seeing the imperial army pressing in, surrendered without saying a word.

The army camped outside the city. Lü Bu entered the city, rested for a night, pacified the people, and continued south.

On July 15, the army arrived in Yuyang County.

The magistrate of Yuyang County also surrendered, and Lü Bu appeased him as well.

The pacification envoys sent to the northern counties of Nanyang Prefecture also encountered no obstacles. With all the soldiers and officers transferred to Wancheng, the prefecture capital, by Ji Ling, and no heavy troops stationed in the counties, the local officials either surrendered or had already fled, leaving an empty city for the court to take over.

……

On the 16th day of the seventh month of the seventh year of the Chuping era (196 AD), in the afternoon.

Outside Xinye City, dust swirled.

Twenty thousand elite Han cavalry surged forward like a tide, halting three miles north of the city. Scouts were dispatched in all directions, guarding the area within a ten-mile radius. Under the central army banner, Lü Bu reined in his horse and looked out. He saw that Xinye City was low and narrow, with walls no more than two zhang high, constructed entirely of rammed earth without even brick cladding.

"This is Xinye?" Zhang Fei rode forward, grinning. "You call this a city? I, Old Zhang, could pierce a hole in it with one spear!"

Guan Yu stroked his beard and said, "Third brother, don't underestimate the enemy. Although the city is low, if the defenders fight to the death, it will take some effort."

Lü Bu nodded: "Yun Chang is right. Send the order to set up camp and attack the city tomorrow."

"promise!"

……

On the city wall of Xinye, Deng Ji, the Nanyang Commandant appointed by Liu Biao, leaned against the battlement with a solemn expression.

He was about forty years old, with a robust build. He was a veteran general under Liu Biao, having followed Liu Biao for many years and guarding the northern front of Xiangyang since the initial conquest of Jingzhou. But at this moment, his hand holding the sword trembled slightly.

The imperial army outside the city was clad in gleaming armor, their banners fluttering like a forest, and their discipline impeccable. Even the way they arrayed themselves and set up camp revealed them to be battle-hardened elites.

A lieutenant whispered, "General, the Han army is numerous and powerful, while we only have two thousand men. This city is also low; I'm afraid we can't hold it."

Deng Ji raised his hand to interrupt him: "No need to say more. The lord has ordered that we defend if we can, and retreat to Fancheng if we cannot. Our mission is not to defend Xinye to the death, but to find out Lü Bu's true siege tactics."

The lieutenant was taken aback: "Reconnaissance tactics?"

Deng Ji nodded: "Have you heard those rumors? That Lü Bu can shoot arrows from hundreds of paces away to kill enemy soldiers, can conjure objects out of thin air to build platforms, and can set up catapults on platforms tens of feet high to bombard cities. My lord wants to know if these are true or false."

The lieutenant gasped, "If it's true..."

Deng Ji smiled wryly: "If it's true, then Xiangyang can't be defended either. So we have to see it for ourselves and then bring the news back."

He paused for a moment, then said, "Send down the order to prepare plenty of rolling logs, stones, and molten arrows. If Lü Bu attacks the city tomorrow, we'll hold out for a while and see what tricks he has up his sleeve. If we really can't hold it, we'll retreat to Fancheng by water from the south gate."

"promise!"

……

July 16th, evening.

In the central command tent of the Han army camp.

Lü Bu sat in the main seat, with Guan Yu, Zhang Fei, Dian Wei, Xu Chu, and Xu Shu sitting on either side.

Xu Shu spoke first: "My lord, I took a walk around Xinye City this afternoon. The city wall is less than two zhang high, made of rammed earth, and the garrison is about two thousand men. Liu Biao sent Deng Ji to guard this city, but I'm afraid he doesn't really intend to defend it."

Lü Bu asked, "What does Yuanzhi mean?"

Xu Shu said, "Liu Biao has been stationed in Jingzhou for a long time and is no mediocre person. He knows that the small city of Xinye cannot withstand our lord, but he still sent troops to garrison it, most likely to test our lord's strength. I am worried that Deng Ji will not hold out to the death and will withdraw when he sees that things are not going well. If he brings our lord's siege tactics back to Xiangyang, Liu Biao will definitely strengthen his defenses, and it will be even more difficult to cross the river to fight then."

Lü Bu laughed and said, "Yuanzhi is right, but I'm not afraid of him seeing it. The ability to bestow divine granaries by heaven has long been public knowledge, and Liu Biao must have known about it for a long time, he just hasn't seen it with his own eyes. Letting them see it is good, it will frighten him out and maybe force him to surrender sooner."

Xu Shu nodded: "My lord is magnanimous, but I have a plan that will ensure Deng Ji cannot escape."

Lü Bu said, "Yuanzhi, please speak."

Xu Shu said, "There is the Yu River south of Xinye City, which connects to the Han River. If Deng Ji retreats, he will definitely take the waterway. My lord can send an elite cavalry force to circle around to the south of the city at night and ambush him at the Yu River ferry. When we attack the city tomorrow, if we can force him to abandon the city and flee, we can intercept him halfway and capture him in one fell swoop."

Lu Bu pondered for a moment and said, "This plan is feasible. Yun Chang, you lead three thousand elite cavalry tonight and quietly leave the camp to ambush at the Yushui ferry south of Xinye City. If you see Deng Ji fleeing south by boat tomorrow, intercept him. If you can capture him, do so; if you cannot, shoot him dead. Do not let him escape back to Xiangyang."

Guan Yu clasped his hands in a fist salute: "This humble general obeys the order!"

……

That night, the moon was dark and the wind was high.

Guan Yu led three thousand elite cavalry, men gagged and horses hoofed, and quietly left the camp, taking a detour to the southeast, heading towards the Yu River ferry.

In Xinye City, Deng Ji was completely unaware.

He stood atop the city wall, gazing at the scattered lights of the Han army camp in the distance, his brow furrowed.

The lieutenant asked, "General, will the Han army launch a night attack?"

Deng Ji shook his head: "No, they have come from afar and are exhausted. They will rest tonight. The attack will begin early tomorrow morning."

He paused, then said, "Pass down the order: take turns on guard duty tonight, with two additional sentries. If we can get through tonight, we'll see what Lü Bu can do tomorrow."

"promise!"