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

A teahouse in the East Market of Chang'an was filled with customers drinking tea and listening to storytelling.

Even in chaotic times, many nobles, aristocratic families, and scions of wealthy and powerful clans still had the leisure to listen to storytelling.

The storyteller was an elderly man in his fifties, holding a gavel, and was telling a newly composed story.

"It is said that when Lü Bu, the Marquis of Wen, broke out of Chang'an and spent the night in Lantian, he had a dream. In the dream, he saw a golden-armored god standing on the clouds, whose voice was like a great bell: 'The world is in chaos and the people are suffering. Since you are a tiger general of this era, you should follow the will of Heaven to quell the chaos and bring peace to the people.'"

"After the deity finished speaking, with a wave of his hand, a golden light merged into Marquis Wen's body. Marquis Wen awoke with a start, only to find that he had a storehouse bestowed upon him by a celestial being."

The storyteller struck the gavel, and the teahouse fell silent.

"Since that day, Marquis Wen has possessed supernatural abilities. With a thought, grain and military supplies are conjured from the divine granary. Look, now in the north, heavy snow falls, and elsewhere, famine litters the fields, but only in Guanzhong, the government opens the granaries to distribute grain, and the people have porridge to drink and houses to live in. Why is this? It is precisely because Marquis Wen possesses a divinely bestowed granary, from which grain and provisions are inexhaustible!"

One of the tea drinkers asked, "Sir, is what you're saying true?"

The storyteller chuckled, "Whether it's true or not, you can see for yourselves. When Li Jue and Guo Si were in power, a shi (a unit of dry measure) of grain cost four or five thousand coins, and it was often impossible to buy any. Now? There's the government's price stabilization office; a shi of millet costs two thousand coins, and you can have as much as you want. Unscrupulous merchants can't even hoard grain to raise prices. The soldiers under Lord Wen's command are well-fed and well-clothed, and their monthly rations and salaries are paid on time. Court officials receive their full salaries. Can all of this be false?"

The tea drinkers nodded in agreement.

"Indeed, my brother is serving in the army, and he says that he has enough to eat every day now, and can even eat meat every few days."

"My uncle works as a clerk in the county government office. His salary is paid on time every month without fail."

"A newly hired servant in my household received government relief porridge, and the porridge was very thick, not thin and watery."

The storyteller pressed his advantage: "So, this isn't sorcery, it's the will of Heaven! Marquis Wen is a man chosen by Heaven, bestowed with divine granaries, to give us common people a way to survive in this chaotic world!"

In a corner of the teahouse, two men dressed as merchants were talking in hushed tones.

"Do you believe it?" one person asked.

The other man smiled wryly: "Whether you believe it or not is not important. What's important is that Lü Bu can indeed provide the grain and provisions. If we don't sell the grain we've stockpiled, it'll just rot in our hands."

"But this idea of ​​a divinely bestowed granary is too mystical."

"Mysterious? Then how do you explain the source of Lü Bu's funds and provisions? The imperial court's tax revenue is barely enough to fill a gap in their coffers. Besides the divinely bestowed granary, what other explanation is there?"

The two remained silent.

Yes, what other explanation is there besides divine intervention?

At the same time, similar rumors were circulating in the military camp.

When Zhang Liao inspected the cavalry camp, he overheard several soldiers talking.

"Have you heard? The General has a divinely bestowed granary; his food and military supplies will never run out."

"I've heard about it before. Otherwise, where would our rations and pay come from? Look at other armies, they all struggle to make ends meet. Only we have enough to eat every day, and we even get bonuses."

"My hometown is in Ji Province, where Yuan Shao and Gongsun Zan are fighting fiercely, and the people have all fled to avoid famine. It's much better here in Guanzhong, where we have the Great General, so there's hope for the future."

Zhang Liao listened but did not stop him.

This was Jia Xu's instruction—to let these sayings circulate naturally within the army, thus solidifying the soldiers' loyalty to Lü Bu.

The effect is very obvious.

The soldiers didn't care where Lü Bu's money and provisions came from; what they cared about was whether they could eat their fill and receive their pay.

Since Lü Bu could do that, then he was a good lord.

If you add the halo of "divine mandate," then it becomes even more worthwhile to follow.

Within the imperial court, rumors were also subtly shifting.

When Yang Biao returned to his residence after court, he overheard his servants discussing the matter.

"Master, it's being said outside that Marquis Wen has been granted a divine granary by heaven and has been sent by heaven to quell the chaos."

Yang Biao frowned: "Absurd."

But the servant continued, "Everyone believes it. Now in Chang'an, the common people all say that following Lord Wen will ensure they have food to eat. Even some scholars have begun to believe it."

Yang Biao was startled.

He realized that Lü Bu was using tangible benefits, coupled with carefully crafted legends, to win people's hearts.

This tactic is very effective.

On the 20th day of the twelfth lunar month, at the General's Mansion.

Jia Xu reported the progress to Lü Bu.

"General, the rumors have been largely circulated. Now, the prevailing opinion in Chang'an is that 'the divine granary was sent by Heaven to save the people, and it is intended for Marquis Wen.' The people are more willing to believe that you were sent by Heaven to save the common people, rather than some kind of monster."

Lü Bu nodded in satisfaction: "Well done. How are things in the various prefectures and counties?"

"It's also spreading. We've sent people to various counties and prefectures to unify the story through storytellers, constables, and soldiers. Now, throughout Guanzhong, from Chang'an to Hongnong, from Zuo Fengyi to You Fufeng, the saying 'When Marquis Wen arrives, provisions and supplies will be plentiful' is circulating."

Jia Xu paused, then added, "The news has even reached Xiliang. Ma Teng and Han Sui should have heard about it as well."

"What was their reaction?"

"There are no unusual developments for the time being. However, according to reports from spies, some people in Ma Teng's army are beginning to waver, feeling that following Wen Hou, who has been granted divine protection, is more promising than enduring hardship in Xiliang."

Lü Bu laughed: "This is a good thing, Wenhe, you have done a great service this time."

"I wouldn't dare," Jia Xu said modestly. "However, although the rumors have been spread, we still need to consolidate them. I suggest that we create some auspicious omens to strengthen the claim of divine mandate."

"An auspicious omen?"

"For example, an ancient stele might be unearthed somewhere, inscribed with a prophecy; or a strange phenomenon might occur in the sky, which is related to you," Jia Xu said. "I can arrange these things."

Lu Bu thought for a moment and shook his head: "Not for now. This is enough. Being too deliberate will only make it easier for people to see through us. What we need is for the people to believe spontaneously, not to be forcibly indoctrinated."

Jia Xu nodded: "The General's considerations are thorough."

"However," Lü Bu changed the subject, "we can have people compose some folk songs to be sung among the people. The content should be simple and straightforward, like saying that Marquis Wen is benevolent, that Heaven bestows a divine granary upon him, and that following Marquis Wen guarantees a good meal."

"Yes, Xu will take care of it right away."

A few days later, a children's rhyme began to circulate in Chang'an:

"When Marquis Wen arrives, the granaries are full, and Heaven bestows upon them boundless treasures."

"Follow Marquis Wen, and you'll have plenty to eat and drink."

"With the pacification of the chaotic world and the pacification of the people, the reign of Marquis Wen brought peace to the land."

The displaced people spread the word, and the nursery rhyme spread wider and wider.

At this time, the refugees and common people were not very knowledgeable. They only knew that Lü Bu was in power in the Guanzhong Plain, and that Lü Bu's policies were better than those of Dong Zhuo, Wang Yun, Li Jue and Guo Si. That was enough for them.

In their simple view, this nursery rhyme truly expresses everyone's feelings and situation, and is very popular.

However, in the hearts of court officials and gentry who still cherished the Han dynasty, this nursery rhyme was clearly a song of rebellion, implying that only when Lü Bu came to power could the chaos be quelled, peace be restored, and the world be at peace.

This is outright treason and has ulterior motives.

However, they dared not ask any of them to take the lead in impeaching Lü Bu.

Those who were stubborn had already been killed by the Ten Attendants, He Jin, Dong Zhuo, Li Jue and Guo Si. Although some of the remaining people still cared about the Han Dynasty, they were all cunning and did not want to lose their heads.

Thus, with no one stopping it, and even with the deliberate encouragement of Lü Bu's subordinates, the nursery rhyme and the legend that Lü Bu was a man of destiny, possessed a divinely bestowed granary, and had an abundant supply of military provisions spread throughout Guanzhong and even the whole world.