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

Lu Bu asked, "How long did it take you to travel from Rome?"

After Lucius translated, Maximus replied, "Your Majesty, we set out from Rome, traveled by sea to Antioch, then by land to Ctesiphon, then through Parthia and Persia, entered the Protectorate of Anxi, then through the Protectorate of the Western Regions and Liangzhou, and finally arrived at Luoyang. The entire journey took nearly a year."

Lü Bu asked, "Was the journey smooth?"

Maximus said, "Thanks to His Majesty, things went relatively smoothly. We brought more than three hundred guards, and the bandits along the way dared not approach us when they saw that we were a large group. The Parthians and Persians were also very polite to us when they heard that we were a merchant caravan sent by the Roman Emperor to the Han Empire, and they did not make things difficult for us."

Lü Bu laughed and said, "That's good. I've heard that your Roman Empire is a great power in the West, with a vast territory and a large population. I intend to establish trade relations with your country and jointly build a Silk Road from Luoyang to Rome. What do you think?"

Maximus was overjoyed: "Your Majesty is wise, and our Emperor also has this intention. Silk, porcelain, and tea are all rare treasures in our country, enjoyed only by nobles. If trade routes are open, merchants from both countries can exchange goods and resources, and everyone can prosper."

Lu Bu nodded: "Alright, then this matter is settled. I will have the Anxi Protectorate take charge of security along the way. You Romans must also manage your own territory and prevent bandits from robbing caravans."

Maximus said, "Your Majesty, rest assured, I will certainly convey Your Majesty's message to His Majesty the Emperor."

Lü Bu then said, "Besides the land-based Silk Road, I also plan to open a maritime Silk Road. My fleet can depart from Qingzhou, pass through the East China Sea, Southeast Asia, and India, and reach Rome directly. Do you have a port in Rome?"

Maximus said, "Yes, our country has a large port in the Mediterranean called Alexandria, which can accommodate large ships. If Your Majesty's fleet can reach Alexandria, we can send people to meet them."

Lu Bu nodded: "Alright, it's settled then."

At the banquet, Lü Bu had dishes made of sweet potatoes, potatoes, corn, and chili peppers served to the Romans for them to taste.

Maximus took a bite of the sweet potato, his eyes lighting up: "What's this? It's sweet and sticky, so delicious!"

Lü Bu laughed and said, "These are sweet potatoes, brought back from overseas by my fleet. They yield about two thousand catties per mu and can grow on hillsides."

Maximus exclaimed in shock, "Two thousand catties? In Rome, a single acre of wheat only yields two or three hundred catties! Your Majesty, could you sell us some of your sweet potatoes?"

Lu Bu said, "There aren't many seeds yet. We'll talk about it after I start spreading them more widely."

Maximus nodded repeatedly.

After the banquet, Lü Bu summoned Guo Jia to the imperial study and instructed him: "Fengxiao, when the Roman caravan departs, send them some silk and porcelain to take back to the Roman Emperor. Also, I plan to send a large Han merchant group of five hundred men to accompany them to Rome, including several scouts, to gather military intelligence on Parthia and Rome along the way. In particular, find out where their elite legions are stationed, their strength, and their equipment."

Guo Jia cupped his hands in greeting: "Your subject obeys the decree. Your subject will immediately arrange for men to blend into the merchant corps, ensuring that no trace is left."

Lü Bu added, "Tell the scouts not to reveal their identities, but to gather intelligence. I will need them in the future."

Guo Jia replied, "Yes."

On August 20, the Roman caravan left Luoyang and embarked on its journey home.

They took away several cartloads of silk, porcelain, tea, as well as the letter of state and gifts that Lü Bu had sent to the Roman emperor.

Accompanying them was a large Han merchant caravan of five hundred people, carrying goods in a grand procession. Several capable young men were in the caravan, ostensibly shop assistants, but actually scouts arranged by Guo Jia.

Maximus, unaware of the men's true identities, assumed they were merchants on their way to Rome and even kindly led them the way.

After seeing off the Roman caravan, Lü Bu summoned Huang Zhong, the naval commander-in-chief.

Lü Bu said, "Hansheng, I want you to prepare a fleet of ships to travel by sea to Rome to do business."

Huang Zhong said, "Your Majesty, the fleet is ready. The ironclad warship Jiaozhou has successfully completed its sea trials and its performance is stable. I plan to send two more ironclad warships, plus five transport ships, to form a fleet, led by He Qi, who is familiar with the seas, to Rome by sea."

Lu Bu nodded: "Alright, besides cargo, bring plenty of cannons, gunpowder, and cannonballs on board. If we encounter any foolish pirates or natives, we can just blast them."

Huang Zhong said, "Your subject understands."

Lü Bu continued, "Besides doing business, we must continue to explore sea routes and draw more accurate nautical charts. Zhou Yu didn't have time to explore many places thoroughly during his last circumnavigation. This time, let He Qi travel by sea to Rome, passing through Southeast Asia, India, the Persian Gulf, the Red Sea, Africa, and the Atlantic Ocean (since there is no Suez Canal, we must go around the Cape of Good Hope in Africa). At each place, we must record the hydrology, wind direction, ports, and products. I will use these nautical charts in the future."

Huang Zhong cupped his hands and said, "Your subject obeys the decree."

In September, He Qi had prepared the fleet.

Three ironclad warships and five transport ships, a total of eight ships, with 1,200 officers and soldiers. The ships were loaded with goods such as silk, porcelain, tea, and lacquerware, as well as dozens of cannons, tens of thousands of cannonballs, and other catapults, crossbows, and bows and arrows, fully armed.

The fleet departed from Liaocheng in Qingzhou, sailed south along the coastline, passed through the East China Sea and the South China Sea, and entered the South China Sea.

Along the way, passing through places like Taiwan, Luzon, and Java, He Qi sent people ashore to investigate and record the local customs, culture, and resources.

If any ignorant natives tried to rob them, the cannons on the ironclad warship would fire, scaring the natives so much that they would run away in terror and never dare to approach again.

At the end of the year, the fleet arrived in India.

When the local king of India heard that the Han fleet had arrived, he immediately sent people to welcome them, presenting gifts such as ivory and spices to express his willingness to trade with the Han.

Heqi traded silk and porcelain for a shipload of spices and continued his westward journey.

……

September, Luoyang, Imperial Study.

Lu Bu was reading a memorial, intelligence sent by Guo Jia.

The intelligence report stated that after Yuan Tan and Yuan Xi fled to the Japanese islands, they each occupied two separate plots of land on the islands.

Yuan Tan occupied a large area of ​​land in the central and eastern part of the Japanese islands, built a city named Qingcheng, and proclaimed himself King Huan.

Yuan Xi occupied the southwestern part of the Japanese island, built a city, named Ji City, and also called himself King Huan.

The two brothers fought each other fiercely over territory.

After reading the memorial, Lü Bu sneered, "Two defeated generals dare to claim the title of king? Issue an edict ordering Huang Zhong, the commander-in-chief of the navy, to lead a fleet to the Japanese islands to conquer Yuan Tan and Yuan Xi. First, attack Yuan Xi, then Yuan Tan, and deal with them one by one."

Guo Jia cupped his hands in greeting: "Your subject obeys the decree."