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

Lü Bu was also looking at Liu Xie.

The sixteen-year-old boy still had a somewhat childish face, but his eyes were full of fear and unease.

Lu Bu sighed inwardly.

This child, born into an imperial family, is still destined for misfortune.

He has never had a single comfortable day since the day he ascended the throne.

First Dong Zhuo, then Wang Yun, then Li Jue and Guo Si, and finally myself—we've always been puppets.

However, this is the choice of the times, the choice of history.

The fate of the Han dynasty had run its course, and no one could reverse it.

Lü Bu said, "Your Majesty, thanks to Your Majesty's great fortune and the valiant efforts of my soldiers, I have successfully pacified Jingzhou and Yuzhou, and subjugated Yangzhou and Jiaozhou during this southern campaign. Now, all thirteen provinces of the Han Dynasty have come under the control of the court."

Liu Xie nodded, forcing a smile: "Your Highness, you've worked hard. I... I know."

Jia Xu stepped forward, cupped his hands, and said, "Your Majesty, Prince of Jin, the triumphant ceremony is ready. Please ascend the high platform with Your Majesty to receive the congratulations of the people."

Lü Bu nodded, dismounted, and climbed the high platform of Ba Shang Pavilion side by side with Liu Xie, as if they were equals.

Below the stage, thousands of people cheered when they saw the two ascend the platform together.

"Long live the Prince of Jin! Long live the Prince of Jin!"

"Long live! Long live!"

Cheers rose and fell, one wave higher than the next.

Standing on the stage, listening to the thunderous cheers, Liu Xie felt even more desolate.

They shouted "Long live the Prince of Jin," but not "Long live Your Majesty." Listening to the whole thing, it sounded as if they were shouting "Long live the Prince of Jin."

In the hearts of the people, it is self-evident who the true ruler of the world is.

Lu Bu raised his hand and pressed it down, and the cheers gradually subsided.

He proclaimed loudly, "Today's victory is not solely due to Lü Bu's efforts, but to the valiant efforts of the three armies and the united will of the people. Since the Yellow Turban Rebellion, the world has been divided for over a decade, with people displaced and bones left exposed in the wilderness. Today, the thirteen provinces of the Han Dynasty are reunited, the world is at peace, and the people can finally live in tranquility!"

Another round of cheers erupted from the audience.

Lü Bu continued, "Send the order: a grand banquet will be held in Chang'an for three days! Banquets will be set up in every street and alley, open to all, officials and commoners alike, until everyone is thoroughly drunk!"

The cheers were deafening.

"Long live the Prince of Jin!"

"Long live the Prince of Jin!"

Liu Xie stood aside, watching all this, listening to the people's increasingly blatant shouts of "Long live the Prince of Jin!" His expression grew paler and stiffer.

After Lü Bu's triumphant return, tables and chairs were set up everywhere in Chang'an, from the East Market to the West Market, and from the South Gate to the North Gate.

The government mobilized grain, meat, and vegetables from the treasury, and also conscripted cooks from all the taverns in the city to set up stoves in the streets and alleys to cook dishes.

In an instant, wisps of smoke rose from the chimneys above Chang'an, and the aroma of meat filled the air.

On Dongshi Street, rows of square tables stretched for over a hundred meters. The tables were laden with large platters of meat, large bowls of wine, and stacks of flatbread.

People, young and old, came to their seats.

An old man picked up a bowl of wine, gulped down more than half of it, wiped his mouth, and sighed, "Good wine! In my sixty-odd years of life, this is the first time I've ever drunk wine so heartily!"

A young man nearby laughed and said, "Old man, what's this? Prince Jin said there will be a three-day banquet, so you can drink as much as you want!"

The old man laughed heartily, "Very well! Then this old man will drink for three days and three nights!"

At another table, several women were eating and chatting.

"This meat is so fragrant, fatty but not greasy, lean but not dry, much better than the stew we make at home."

"That's right, this is a chef hired by the government. I heard he used to cook in the imperial palace in Luoyang."

"Really?"

"Of course it's true! The Prince of Jin has incorporated all the imperial chefs into his own ranks, and now they're specifically tasked with cooking for the soldiers. He also invited them to this grand banquet for the common people."

"Tsk tsk, we can finally eat dishes prepared by the imperial chef."

A middle-aged man, eating heartily, mumbled, "The Prince of Jin is so benevolent! After winning the battle, he didn't eat all the food himself, but instead treated us common people to a meal. Where can you find a master like that?"

Those around him echoed his sentiments.

"That's right! I heard that the Prince of Jin receives more food from the Heavenly Granary every day than he can eat, so he brought it out to treat us."

"A divinely bestowed granary—that's truly divine intervention! Prince Jin must be a man chosen by Heaven; otherwise, how could he possibly possess such abilities?"

Shh, don't talk nonsense, the walls may be overheard.

"What's there to be afraid of? I'm telling the truth. If the Prince of Jin weren't a man chosen by Heaven, could he have unified the world in just a few years?"

In the West Market, outside a tavern, several men who looked like scholars sat around a small table.

Several side dishes and a pot of wine were laid out on the table.

One of them whispered, "What do you think is the meaning behind Prince Jin's three-day grand banquet?"

Another person said, "What do you mean? Celebrating a triumphant return, I guess."

The first person said, "It's that simple?"

The third person said, "How complicated could it be? Prince Jin has always acted openly and honestly, doing whatever he wants without ever hiding anything."

The fourth person nodded: "That's right. If the Prince of Jin wants to... then why bother with formalities? He can just take action directly, and who can stop him?"

Everyone fell silent.

Yes, with Lü Bu's current power, what can't he do? Why would he need to win people's hearts?

Prince Jin's Mansion.

In the backyard, Yan Yuan was directing the maids to prepare a family banquet. Her eldest son, Lü Zhao, was already three years old and was happily playing around!

Diao Chan walked over and said with a smile, "Sister, the banquet in the front courtyard is all set up. When will the Prince return?"

Yan Yuan said, "Someone just came to report that they'll be back soon after attending the welcome banquet at the palace. They'll be back soon."

Diao Chan nodded, looked at Lü Zhao, her eyes full of affection: "Zhao'er has gotten fatter again."

Yan Yuan laughed and said, "That's right, all you do all day is eat."

Just then, a commotion broke out outside.

"The Prince has returned to his residence!"

Yan Yuan and Diao Chan hurriedly went out to greet them.

Lü Bu strode in, still in his military uniform. Seeing them come out, he smiled and said, "Ladies, I'm back."

Yan Yuan stepped forward, took off his cloak, and said softly, "Your Highness has had a hard time."

Lu Bu waved his hand: "What's so hard about it? Fighting is like child's play for me."

Diao Chan smiled and said, "Your Highness, the banquet is all prepared. Would you like to change your clothes first, or would you like to dine first?"

Lu Bu said, "Let's change our clothes first; this armor is quite tiring to wear."

A moment later, Lü Bu changed into casual clothes and came to the front hall.

Inside the hall, all the cabinet ministers of the Prince of Jin's residence had arrived. Jia Xu, Guo Jia, Chen Gong, Zhang Liao, Shi Sunrui, Ju Shou, Cheng Lian, Zhang Song, Xun You, Meng Cheng, and others sat on either side.

Upon seeing Lü Bu enter, everyone rose and bowed, saying, "Greetings, our lord!"

Lu Bu raised his hand: "Please sit down. There's no need for formalities here in your own residence."

Everyone took their seats.

Lu Bu sat down in the main seat, looked around at everyone, and said with a smile, "Thank you all for your hard work in overseeing this southern campaign from the capital."

Jia Xu cupped his hands and said, "Your Majesty is too kind. We in the capital are merely handling routine government affairs. The real hardship is your personal campaigns in the field."

Guo Jia also said, "Yes, my lord, you have conquered Jingzhou, Yuzhou, Yangzhou and Jiaozhou along the way. This is the key to unifying the world."

Lü Bu waved his hand: "Alright, enough of this formality. Come, everyone, raise your glasses and celebrate the unification of the world!"

Everyone raised their glasses: "Congratulations, our lord!"