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

After the exercise, on the way back to the Liaocheng naval base aboard the aircraft carrier, Lü Bu stood at the bow of the ship, accompanied by Huang Zhong, Zhou Yu, Jiang Qin, and others.

A sea breeze blew, and Lü Bu raised his hand to straighten the tassel on his hat, saying, "Hansheng, with the Yanhuang now in service, the Han Navy will truly possess the capability for long-range operations. Starting from Qingzhou, heading east and crossing the ocean, we can reach the Americas, which Zhou Yu passed through on his last circumnavigation. Although Zhou Yu was there, he only sailed along the coast and did not explore the inland areas in depth. That continent is vast and sparsely populated, rich in resources, including gold, silver, fine horses, and grain. If we can conquer it, the territory of the Han Dynasty can expand several times over."

Zhou Yu cupped his hands and said, "Your Majesty, when I sailed around the world years ago, I did indeed pass by that continent. The coastline stretched for thousands of miles, seemingly without end. My fleet suffered heavy losses at the time and dared not venture too far. We only replenished our fresh water on the shore before continuing our circumnavigation. I do not know exactly how large that continent is."

Lu Bu said, "It's huge, even bigger than the Han Dynasty. But now is not the time. We'll consider an expedition to the Americas once the ironclad warships are bigger and stronger, and the steam engines are more powerful."

He paused, then pointed to the southern sea: "Right now, I have a short-term plan in mind—the South Seas. Although the islands of the South Seas are not as large as the Americas combined, they are close to the Han Dynasty and rich in resources, including spices, gold, and tin ore. As for the barbarian inhabitants of the South Seas, we can use the method of using barbarians to control barbarians and let them govern us."

Huang Zhong asked, "Your Majesty, what is meant by using barbarians to control barbarians?"

Lü Bu said, "Support a coastal indigenous force and let him govern the other inland indigenous peoples for us. Give him weapons and training, and let him fight. The conquered lands will belong to the Han Dynasty, and he will manage them for us. He will pay taxes and tributes every year, and the Han Dynasty can control the entire South Seas without sending a single soldier."

Zhou Yu said, "Your Majesty, what if the forces we've supported turn around and bite us back?"

Lü Bu laughed, "That's why we must support the small and weak, not let them become too strong. We must make them rely on our Great Han to establish themselves, become powerful, and become local tyrants. If they dare to rebel, the Great Han's aircraft carriers will sail to their doorstep, bombard them with cannons, drop hot air balloons and bombs, and everything will be over. Besides, I only give them cold weapons; I won't give them firearms, cannons, or hot air balloons. How can they fight my ironclad warships with spears and broadswords?"

Jiang Qin suddenly realized: "Your Majesty is wise."

Lü Bu continued, "Besides Southeast Asia, there's also India. India has fertile land and a large population, but it's divided into dozens of small kingdoms that are constantly at war with each other. I plan to send troops by sea to occupy a few ports first, and then slowly advance inland. The Indians are Buddhists and have a gentle nature; they'll submit after a few battles. At that time, I'll set up a governor-general in India, and below him, several layers of high-caste Indian management to govern that region on my behalf."

Huang Zhong said, "Your Majesty, India is too far from the Han Dynasty. If we send too many troops, we cannot afford to support them; if we send too few, we cannot control them."

Lü Bu said, "That's why I want to build railways, factories, and steam engines. Once the railway reaches the Western Regions, and then from there to India, we can transport troops and supplies from the Central Plains to India in just a few days. However, railways are difficult to build; our first railway, the Luoyan Railway, isn't even open yet. Let's make plans first, take it slow, there's no rush."

He turned to face the sea, paused for a moment, and then said, "External conquests are for the future. Right now, I must first take care of things at home. Railways, factories, schools, food—none of them can be neglected. Once the country is stable and our own people are well-fed and clothed, then we can start conquering other countries. We must eat one bite at a time, and walk one step at a time."

Huang Zhong, Zhou Yu, and Jiang Qin clasped their hands in unison and said, "Your Majesty is wise."

After returning to Liaocheng, Lü Bu had a meal with his generals at the naval base before returning to Luoyang.

Throughout the journey, he sat in the carriage, closing his eyes to rest, but his mind was already planning for the future.

Southeast Asia, India, Persia, Rome, Europe, Africa, the Americas, Australia... these places will all belong to the Han Dynasty sooner or later.

He possesses ironclad warships, hot air balloons, aircraft carriers, cannons, bombs, divinely bestowed warehouses, and knowledge that transcends this era by over a thousand years.

These things are enough for him to conquer the world.

……

In May of the 409th year of the Han calendar (208 AD), Lü Bu returned to Luoyang.

When entering the city, he deliberately did not ride in a sedan chair, but instead rode on another top-quality Akhal-Teke horse, "Juechen," which had been sent by the Wusun Kingdom, slowly making his way along Luoyang Street. Red Hare was already old and frail, no longer able to carry Lü Bu on his inspection tours, and had been sent to the Imperial Stables to retire.

The main street of Luoyang City was four zhang wide, paved with cement, and very smooth. Locust trees lined both sides of the street, with stone benches beneath them for pedestrians to rest. Every so often, there was a public toilet, its walls plastered clean and tidy. Every one or two hundred meters, there was a metal trash can, which was regularly emptied by designated personnel.

The streets were bustling with people and vehicles.

There were farmers pushing wheelbarrows, piled high with lush green vegetables, bright red peppers, and golden corn. There were vendors carrying food on shoulder poles, one end with a coal stove, the other with pots and pans, steaming and fragrant. There were scholars riding donkeys, books in hand, reading leisurely as they went. There were noblewomen traveling in horse-drawn carriages, the curtain slightly lifted, peering curiously out.

The shops lined the street one after another, selling everything from cloth and grain to wine, medicine, jewelry, and general merchandise. The shop signs were colorful and varied, some reading "XX Cloth Shop," others "XX Grain Shop," some "XX Restaurant," and others "XX General Store."

As the Imperial Guard escorted Lü Bu on horseback, the people knelt and kowtowed, sincerely cheering, "Long live the Emperor! Long live the Emperor! Long live the Emperor!"

Lu Bu raised his hand to signal them to get up and continued walking forward.

When they reached the East Market, he reined in his horse and stood there for a while.

The East Market was the largest market in Luoyang, covering a thousand acres and housing over three thousand shops. The market was bustling with activity, people shoulder to shoulder. There were merchants from the Western Regions, with high noses and deep-set eyes, dressed in long robes, selling jade, spices, and furs. There were merchants from Southeast Asia, with dark skin and headscarves, selling pearls, ivory, and tortoiseshell. There were monks from India, barefoot and draped in robes, selling Buddhist scriptures and medicinal herbs.

There were also Han merchants who came from all over the country, some selling silk, some selling porcelain, some selling tea, and some selling ironware.

Grand Secretary Jia Xu, who had specially traveled several miles outside the city to welcome Lü Bu back to the capital, accompanied Lü Bu back to the city. At this moment, he sighed beside Lü Bu, "Your Majesty, I remember eighteen years ago, Luoyang City was still a ruin burned down by Dong Zhuo, with people displaced and nine out of ten houses empty. Now it is so prosperous, I never dreamed of it."

Lü Bu laughed and said, "Wenhe, we've both witnessed the changes over the past ten years. But this is just the beginning. In another twenty years, Luoyang, and all the cities of the Han Empire, will be many times more prosperous than they are now."

Jia Xu cupped his hands in greeting: "Your subject believes you."