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

In early June, Lü Bu received another memorial from Zheng Xuan.

In his memorial, Zheng Xuan stated that many students at the Imperial Academy were questioning the theory of a spherical Earth, and some had even jointly petitioned for the abolition of the new calendar. He suggested that the court provide more compelling evidence to persuade these young people.

After reading the memorial, Lü Bu picked up his pen and wrote: "The evidence will come. My fleet that sailed around the world has been at sea for more than five years and should be returning soon."

July, Chang'an.

After the capital was moved to Luoyang, Chang'an became a secondary capital. However, it remained an important city in the northwest, with half of the troops of the Beijing Military Region stationed there.

Although the Imperial Academy in the city could not compare to the one in Luoyang, it still had quite a few students.

On this day, in the lecture hall of the Imperial Academy, a young lecturer was lecturing on the theory of a spherical earth. His name was Zhao Yu, a Jinshi (a successful candidate in the highest imperial examinations) who had passed the new-style civil service examinations and was retained to teach at the Imperial Academy because of his excellent scholarship and progressive ideas.

Zhao Yu drew a large circle on the blackboard and said, "Fellow students, this is the earth we live on. It is a sphere, suspended in the universe. When we stand on the surface of the sphere, no matter where we stand, we feel as if we are standing on it."

A student raised his hand and said, "Sir, when we look at the distant sea, we always see the mast first, then the hull, when a ship comes from afar. Is this the reason?"

Zhao Yu laughed and said, "Good question. If the earth were flat, then the mast and the hull should be visible at the same time. But in fact, when a ship comes from a distance, you always see the mast first, then the hull. This proves that the earth is curved, that it is round, so the sea and the surface of water are also curved."

Another student asked, "Sir, then why don't we feel the Earth revolving around the sun?"

Zhao Yu said, "Because we move along with the earth, just like you are sitting on a large ship that is sailing smoothly. If you don't look out the window, you can't feel the ship moving at all. The earth is the same."

The students seemed to be deep in thought.

At this moment, an elderly scholar with white hair pushed open the door and angrily shouted, "Nonsense!"

Zhao Yu recognized him as Xie Tan, a former professor at the Imperial Academy. He had come specifically because he heard that the Imperial Academy was lecturing on the theory of a spherical earth.

Zhao Yu cupped his hands and said, "Thank you, sir. What advice do you have for me?"

Xie Tan pointed to the circle on the blackboard and sneered, "If the earth is round, wouldn't the people living on it be upside down? How would they build their houses? Won't they fall in?"

Zhao Yu said, "Master Xie, this is due to gravity. Gravity pulls everything towards the Earth's center, so no matter where you stand on the sphere, you feel like you're standing on top of it."

Xie Tan said, "Gravity? Who's ever seen that? Show me gravity!"

Zhao Yu was speechless for a moment. He really couldn't come up with any explanation of gravity; it was all because His Majesty had said so.

Xie Tan became even more smug: "Can't produce it, can't you? These are all lies made up by Liu Hong, a remnant of the Liu royal family, to fool His Majesty! You young people, instead of studying the classics properly, you believe in these crooked doctrines. How will you govern the country and bring peace to the world in the future?"

The students looked at each other, unsure of whose advice to take.

Zhao Yu took a deep breath and said, "Lord Xie, although I cannot produce the law of gravity, I believe in His Majesty. His Majesty is the chosen one of Heaven, and what he says must be divinely ordained and must be correct."

Xie Tan sneered, "Nonsense, His Majesty has been deceived by treacherous officials. Once His Majesty realizes the truth, he will naturally execute Liu Hong and abolish these seditious rumors."

After speaking, he walked away.

Early August, Luoyang.

Lü Bu received a man named Liu Hong in the imperial study.

Liu Hong, who is over sixty years old, was the Grand Astrologer of the previous dynasty and a member of the Liu imperial family. He was an expert in astronomy and calendrical science. The new calendar and new weights and measures were mainly developed under his leadership.

These days, Liu Hong is under immense pressure. Many people in the court are impeaching him, and some people in the countryside are also cursing him. Some have even thrown excrement at his doorstep, accusing him of "spreading heresies and causing chaos in the world."

Liu Hong knelt in the hall and kowtowed, saying, "Your Majesty, I am guilty."

Lü Bu helped him up and said, "What crime have you committed? You helped me establish a new calendar and new weights and measures, which is a great achievement. Those who criticize you are short-sighted; you don't need to pay them any mind."

Liu Hong said, "However, I cannot provide conclusive evidence for the theory of a spherical Earth. I have only calculated it based on the methods Your Majesty has taught me, and I have not seen it with my own eyes."

Lü Bu laughed and said, "Soon. My fleet that sailed around the world has been at sea for more than five years and should be back soon. Once they return, you will have proof."

Liu Hong asked in surprise, "Your Majesty, can the fleet really circle back?"

Lu Bu nodded: "It's definitely possible. When the time comes, I'll have you personally ask those who go to sea whether the land is round or flat."

Liu Hong kowtowed: "Good."

September 15th, Jiaozhou, Jiaozhi Commandery.

On the beach, several fishermen were hauling in their nets. Suddenly, one of them pointed to the sea and shouted, "Look! Boats! Lots of boats!"

Everyone looked up and saw several large ships appearing on the sea. The sails were tattered, and the hulls were covered with oysters and barnacles, indicating that they had been on a long voyage.

On the mast of the foremost ship hung a flag. Although it was tattered by the sea wind, the design on it was still faintly discernible: a golden dragon encircling the Chinese character "Han" (汉) in the center, representing the country's name.

"It's the Han's ship!" the fishermen cheered.

The fleet slowly entered the harbor. The sailors on board were emaciated and dressed in rags, but their eyes shone with light.

A young man jumped off the boat and asked the fishermen, "Is this Jiaozhi County?"

The fisherman replied, "Yes, we're from Jiaozhi County. Where are you from?"

The young man grinned: "We came from the west, went on a long detour, and finally came back."

He is Zhou Yu, thirty years old this year. Five years ago, he was ordered by His Majesty Lü Bu to lead a fleet from Qingzhou, sailing eastward. Five and a half years later, they finally circled the earth and returned to the Han Dynasty from the west.

When Shi Xie, the governor of Jiaozhou, heard the news, he rushed over and was shocked to see the state of the fleet.

According to Zhou Yu, of the more than twenty ships they set out, only six have returned. Of the more than two thousand men, less than a thousand remain.

Zhou Yu briefly reported the voyage to Shi Xie, then said, "Lord Shi, please immediately send an urgent message to Luoyang at an 800-li interval. Tell them that the Han Dynasty's circumnavigation fleet has returned. They will rest in Jiaozhi for two days before heading north along the coast back to Luoyang!"

Shi Xie quickly replied, "Alright, alright, I'll send someone right away."

That afternoon, a fast horse set off from Jiaozhi County, galloping day and night towards Luoyang.