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

Xiangyang City, the governor's residence.

Liu Biao sat in the main seat, his face gloomy.

Below the hall, Deng Ji knelt on the ground, trembling with fear.

Yesterday, after escaping back to Xiangyang, he immediately went to see Liu Biao to report on the battle situation in Xinye.

After listening, Liu Biao remained silent for a long time before slowly saying, "So, Lü Bu's divinely bestowed granary is real?"

Deng Ji kowtowed and said, "My lord, it is absolutely true! This humble general saw it with his own eyes. He conjured up over a hundred catapults and giant crossbows out of thin air, along with a mountain of stone projectiles! If I hadn't seen it with my own eyes, I wouldn't have believed it!"

Liu Biao frowned: "He can even build a platform out of stones?"

Deng Ji said, "Yes, although he did not build a stone platform in Xinye, it is rumored that he built stone platforms in the northern frontier and the western regions, which were dozens of feet high. He set up catapults on the platforms to bombard the city, and the defending army had no power to fight back! I think that since he can store the catapults in the divine warehouse, it would be easy for him to store the huge stones in the divine warehouse and then take out the stone platform."

Liu Biao took a deep breath and looked at Kuai Liang, Kuai Yue, Wen Pin, Cai Mao, and the others beside him: "Did you all hear that? Lü Bu possesses such extraordinary abilities; how should we deal with him?"

Kuai Liang spoke first: "My lord, I believe that Lü Bu's power is too great to be defeated by force. It would be better to send an envoy to sue for peace and temporarily submit to the court, in order to plan for the future."

Liu Biao frowned: "Submit to the court? Where is the court now? Lü Bu is in charge. Once the world is unified, my Liu family's empire will change hands and belong to Lü Bu. How can I betray my ancestors?"

Kuai Liang made one last effort: "My lord, Liu Zhang of Yizhou and Liu Bei of Pengcheng are both members of the Han imperial family, and they have both surrendered to Lü Bu. What's wrong with that? The trend of the world is unstoppable!"

Although he and Cai Mao had already decided to secretly submit to Lü Bu, Kuai Liang, being a scholar, was still reluctant to betray his lord and feared damaging his reputation. If he could persuade Liu Biao to lead the surrender to Lü Bu, he wouldn't have to bear the stigma of betraying his master.

However, Liu Biao remained silent, lost in thought.

Wen Ping then clasped his hands and said, "My lord, you mustn't! Lü Bu is a wolf in sheep's clothing; he is determined to usurp the throne! I am willing to defend Xiangyang to the death and fight Lü Bu to the bitter end!"

Liu Biao looked at Wen Ping: "Zhongye, what makes you so confident?"

Wen Ping said, "My lord, Xiangyang is a well-fortified city with ample supplies and a garrison of 30,000. A naval force patrols the Han River. Although Lü Bu possesses extraordinary abilities, he may not fare well crossing the river! I am willing to sign a pledge to defend Xiangyang to the death!"

Liu Biao nodded slightly, then looked at Cai Mao: "De Gui, what do you think?"

Cai Mao sighed inwardly, but remained outwardly calm: "My lord, I believe General Wen's words are reasonable. Although Lü Bu possesses supernatural abilities, Xiangyang is a natural fortress and may not be indefensible. I am willing to lead the navy to patrol the Han River day and night to prevent him from crossing."

Liu Biao nodded: "Good, with the two of you here, I am at ease. De Gui, you immediately lead the navy to patrol the river and guard against Lü Bu crossing. Zhong Ye, you strengthen the city's defenses and prepare more defensive equipment. Deng Ji, although you lost Xinye, there were reasons for it, and I will not blame you. Go and defend Fancheng to atone for your crime."

Deng Ji kowtowed: "Thank you, my lord, for your mercy in not punishing me!"

Kuai Liang and Kuai Yue exchanged a glance and remained silent.

……

After the meeting, Kuai Liang and Kuai Yue returned to their residence and dismissed their attendants.

Kuai Liang whispered, "Brother Zhong, do you think Liu Biao can hold out today?"

Kuai Yue shook his head: "We can't hold it. Lü Bu possesses a divinely bestowed granary, capable of carrying provisions and supplies on long-distance raids, conjuring objects out of thin air, building stone platforms, and sniping from hundreds of paces away. Although Xiangyang is strategically important, how can it withstand such inhuman methods?"

Kuai Liang sighed, "Our secret allegiance to Lü Bu was a good move. However, we still need to carefully plan how to coordinate our response."

Kuai Yue said, "Brother, rest assured, I have a plan. If Lü Bu attacks Xiangyang, he will first cross the Han River. Cai Mao is leading the navy to patrol the river, but he is also our ally. At that time, we only need to use a little trick to let Lü Bu cross the river."

Kuai Liang asked, "Is Cai Mao reliable?"

Kuai Yue said, "It's reliable. His niece, Cai Yu, married Lü Bu as a concubine, so the two families are already related by marriage. If he doesn't help Lü Bu, who will he help? Besides, Cai Mao has always put his own family's interests first, so he would never live or die with Liu Biao and endanger his family's foundation."

Kuai Liang nodded: "Alright, then let's wait until Lü Bu's army is at the city gates before we talk about it."

……

July 22nd, afternoon.

The last county town on the north bank of the Han River, outside Deng County.

When Lü Bu arrived with his 20,000-strong army, the city gates were already wide open, and the county magistrate led the crowd in kneeling to welcome him.

Deng County was a county under the jurisdiction of Nanyang Commandery. The county town was small, and the garrison was even smaller. Lü Bu captured the city without a fight and entered to rest and regroup.

In the county government office, Lü Bu summoned his generals.

Guan Yu said, "My lord, now that Deng County has fallen, Fancheng is right before us. Fancheng faces Xiangyang across the Han River and is the northern barrier of Xiangyang's double-city defense system. Liu Biao has stationed a large force here, and the garrison commander is still Deng Ji."

Lü Bu looked at Xu Shu: "Yuanzhi, tell me about the situation in Fancheng."

Yuan Zhi bowed and said, "My lord, according to the scouts, the garrison at Fancheng numbers about five thousand, mostly infantry from Jingzhou. The city walls are three zhang high, made of brick and rammed earth, much stronger than those at Xinye. There is a moat outside the city, about three zhang wide. It borders the Han River to the south, with a water gate connecting to it, allowing the Xiangyang navy to provide support at any time."

Lü Bu nodded: "In your opinion, how many days can Fancheng hold out?"

Xu Shu laughed and said, "My lord, in a normal siege, Fancheng could be defended for months or even years with the support of Xiangyang and the navy. But my lord has a divine granary bestowed by heaven, which can be used to build stone platforms and bombard the city from a high position. Fancheng will definitely not be able to be defended."

Lü Bu nodded: "Indeed, Liu Biao's idea of ​​using Fancheng to resist the imperial army is a pipe dream. Issue the order: tomorrow morning, march on Fancheng!"

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

……

July 23rd, evening.

On the north bank of the Han River, atop the city wall of Fancheng, Deng Ji stood on the city tower, gazing northwards.

Smoke and dust could be faintly seen in the distance, indicating that Lü Bu's army was approaching.

The lieutenant whispered, "General, Lü Bu is here again. Can we hold him off?"

Deng Ji said in a deep voice, "We must defend it even if we can't! Our lord entrusted Fancheng to us, allowing us to redeem ourselves through meritorious service; this shows his trust in us. Send down the order to prepare plenty of rolling logs, stones, arrows, and molten metal to reinforce the city gates. Everyone on the city walls must be careful to avoid Lü Bu's catapults and giant crossbows. Once the enemy attacks the city, we will rise up and fight back. This time, I will definitely make Lü Bu taste his power!"

The lieutenant clasped his hands in a fist salute: "Yes, sir!"

……

On the south bank of the Han River, Liu Biao stood atop the city gate tower north of Xiangyang, gazing northwards. As the sun set, the Han River shimmered, and the outline of Fancheng could be faintly seen on the opposite bank.

Behind him, Wen Pin, Cai Mao, Kuai Liang, Kuai Yue and others stood solemnly.

Liu Biao slowly said, "Tomorrow, Lü Bu will arrive at Fancheng. Gentlemen, do you think Deng Ji can hold it?"

Wen Ping clasped his hands in a fist salute: "My lord, Fancheng has five thousand elite troops, and with the support of Xiangyang and the navy, holding firm and not venturing out should not be a problem."

Cai Mao said, "My lord, what I am worried about is that if Lü Bu builds a stone platform and attacks the city from a high position, even the most fortified Fancheng will not be able to hold."

Liu Biao nodded: "De Gui is right. Order Deng Ji to avoid the enemy's stone projectiles and crossbow bolts, and preserve our strength to block the enemy's attack on the city."

Wen Ping clasped his hands in a fist and said, "Yes, sir!"

Liu Biao then said, "De Gui, you lead the navy to patrol the river day and night, and be vigilant against Lü Bu crossing the river."

Cai Mao clasped his hands in a fist and said, "Yes, sir!"