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

In the winter of 404 AD, Lü Bu returned to Luoyang.

On the third day after returning to the palace, Liu Hong, Zheng Xuan, Xu Yue, Ma Jun, Zhang Shao and others requested an audience.

Several people carried a wooden box into the imperial study and knelt down to kowtow.

Liu Hongdao said, "Your Majesty, we have been ordered to formulate new weights and measures and a new calendar. After nearly four years, it has finally been completed today."

Lu Bu raised his hand and said, "Stand up and speak. Show it to me."

Liu Hong opened the wooden box and took out several items.

The first item is a ruler, made of platinum, with exquisite workmanship and fine markings, from centimeters to decimeters, making it easy to read at a glance.

Liu Hong presented the measuring tape with both hands: "Your Majesty, this is the standard meter stick. Following the method Your Majesty instructed, we have conducted repeated calculations over four years and finally determined the length of the meter. This meter stick is made of platinum and will remain unchanged forever. The measuring tapes of all prefectures and counties in the empire can be calibrated by referring to this meter stick."

Lu Bu took the measuring tape and examined it carefully. It was about the same length as the 1 meter he remembered, so he nodded.

Liu Hong then took out a weight and presented it to Lü Bu: "Your Majesty, this is a standard kilogram weight. One cubic decimeter of pure water weighs one kilogram at 4 degrees Celsius. We crafted this weight from platinum as a benchmark for weight."

Lu Bu weighed the contents in his hand and nodded in satisfaction.

Zheng Xuan took out a thick book and presented it with both hands: "Your Majesty, this is the new calendar. We have determined that a year is 365 days, with a leap day every four years. The number of days in each month varies: January has 31 days, February has 28 days in a common year and 29 days in a leap year, March has 31 days, April has 30 days, May has 31 days, June has 30 days, July has 31 days, August has 31 days, September has 30 days, October has 31 days, November has 30 days, and December has 31 days. The total number of days in a year perfectly matches the number of days it takes for the Earth to orbit the sun once."

Lü Bu glanced through it and said, "Good. Issue the decree: on the first day of the first month of the 405th year of the Han calendar, the new system of weights and measures and the new calendar shall be officially implemented to fix the number of days in each year. However, the lunar calendar and the twenty-four solar terms are related to agricultural seasons and activities, and shall not be abolished; they shall be used in parallel."

Liu Hong, Zheng Xuan, and others knelt and kowtowed, saying, "Your Majesty is wise!"

Lü Bu waved his hand: "You have all worked hard these past few years. Issue an imperial decree to reward Liu Hong and Zheng Xuan with 100 catties of gold each and grant them the title of Marquis within the Pass. The other officials and craftsmen who participated in the formulation of weights and measures and the new calendar will also receive rewards."

The group thanked the emperor and withdrew.

On the first day of the first month of the year 405 in the Han calendar, the Han Empire officially implemented a new system of weights and measures and a new calendar.

The Ministry of Works cast standard meter sticks and standard kilogram weights, which were then distributed to various prefectures and counties. These prefectures and counties then produced rulers and scales for everyday use according to these standards, replacing the old instruments.

The Da Han Xun Bao published a special issue that detailed the use of the new weights and measures and the new calendar.

Newspaper boys went from street to street, distributing free copies: "Special issue! Special issue! His Majesty has promulgated new weights and measures and a new calendar! How long is a meter? How heavy is a kilogram? How many days are in a month of the new calendar? It's all written clearly in the special issue, and it's free!"

The people of the city flocked around, eager to take a copy.

A literate middle-aged man took the newspaper, unfolded it, and read aloud: "The new calendar has 365 days in a year, with a leap day every four years. January has 31 days, February has 28 days in a common year and 29 days in a leap year, March has 31 days..."

After he finished reading, a murmur arose around him.

An old man asked, "What are the advantages of this new calendar over the old one?"

The middle-aged man said, "The old calendar adds a leap month every few years, which is very confusing. The new calendar doesn't need a leap month; it just adds a leap day every four years."

The old man nodded: "Then how do we follow the solar terms when doing farm work?"

The middle-aged man said, "When the old and new calendars are combined and the lunisolar calendar is integrated, the government will issue calendars that include the lunar calendar, the new calendar, and the solar terms."

The old man said, "That's great."

……

After the release of the new Yin-Yang calendar and new weights and measures, Guo Jia, the cabinet minister in charge of public opinion and intelligence, requested an audience.

Lü Bu received Guo Jia in the imperial study: "Fengxiao, is there something you need?"

Guo Jia cupped his hands and said, "Your Majesty, I have some news to report. During the period when the new Yin-Yang calendar and the new weights and measures were being promoted, some rumors circulated among the people, saying that the new calendar and the new weights and measures were created by Liu Hong, and that the remnants of the Liu imperial family had ill intentions, wanting to bewitch Your Majesty and bring chaos to the world."

Lü Bu sneered, "I expected this long ago. What else?"

Guo Jia said, "Some people say that the idea that the earth is round is treasonous, and that the heavens are round and the earth is square is the right way. Liu Hong has misled His Majesty and promoted heretical doctrines; he deserves to die a thousand deaths."

Lu Bu stood up, walked to the window, looked at the distant sky, and slowly said, "The fleet I sent out sailed from the east and sailed eastward. One day it will return from the west. At that time, the concept of a flat earth and a round heaven will crumble without a fight."

Guo Jia asked in surprise, "Your Majesty, is this really true?"

Lü Bu nodded: "In May of the 400th year of the Han calendar, I dispatched a fleet from Qingzhou, sailing eastward. Judging by the days, they should be back by now, if all goes well. When the fleet returns, the facts they see with their own eyes will be more effective than any reasoning."

Guo Jia cupped his hands in respect: "Your Majesty's wisdom and foresight are truly admirable."

Lü Bu waved his hand: "Issue an imperial edict to have the *Great Han Xunbao* vigorously promote the theory of a spherical earth, new astronomical theories, and new technological innovations and inventions. I want everyone in the world to know that the earth is round and the sky is infinite. Let those old fogies object. I have plenty of time; the younger generation will naturally understand when they grow up."

Guo Jia replied, "Yes."

When the news spread, the whole world was in an uproar.

First were the students of the Imperial Academy in Luoyang City.

These young people are quick to grasp new knowledge, and many of them gathered together to discuss the articles in the newspaper.

At the entrance of the Imperial Academy, a dozen or so students stood in a circle, holding newspapers and arguing endlessly.

A student named Li Mu said, "The newspaper says the earth is round, like a big ball. Wouldn't people living under that ball fall down?"

A student named Zhang Yun standing nearby said, "You won't fall. The newspaper said there's something called gravity that pulls people to the ground. No matter where you stand on the ball, you'll feel like you're standing on it."

Li Mu shook his head: "Absurd. Since ancient times, the heavens have been round and the earth square; this is the word of the sages. How dare Liu Hong, a remnant of the previous dynasty, presume to speak of the way of heaven?"

Zhang Yun said, "Is what a sage says necessarily true? His Majesty said we should seek truth from facts. Just because you haven't seen something doesn't mean it doesn't exist."

The two argued endlessly, neither able to convince the other.

When the news reached the ears of the old-fashioned scholars, the reaction was even more intense.