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

On the 26th day of the twelfth lunar month, the clouds over Chang'an finally parted a little, and the long-awaited winter sun shone on the roof tiles of Weiyang Palace, and the accumulated snow began to melt slowly.

After more than a month of heavy snow, the entire Guanzhong Plain welcomed a rare sunny day.

On the streets, people wearing thick winter clothes were clearing snow under the organization of government officials.

The sounds of shovels breaking snow, the creaking of snow-carrying poles, and the laughter of children playing around snowdrifts intertwine to create a lively scene.

In front of a house in the south of the city that had collapsed under the weight of heavy snow, a dozen young men were busy repairing the house.

The timber was obtained from government workshops, and only half the price was required, with the remaining balance payable on credit after the autumn harvest next year.

A man in his thirties, while nailing wooden boards, said to his companion, "Hurry up and get it fixed before New Year's Eve so that Old Wang's family can have a peaceful New Year."

"Brother Li, do you think we'll be able to get through this year's Lunar New Year peacefully?" a younger man next to him asked.

The man known as Brother Li wiped his sweat: "Why wouldn't I feel at ease? With the General here, no one dares to invade our territory. We can finally have a peaceful and stable New Year. Moreover, there are now government-organized New Year's markets in both the East and West markets, with all kinds of rice, flour, oil, and salt available."

"The General is so benevolent," someone exclaimed. "In previous years, at this time, let alone repairing houses, it was difficult to even have a full meal. When Dong Zhuo was in power, he would impose additional annual tax in the twelfth lunar month, forcing many families to sell their children."

"Indeed, this year is different. My neighbor fled from Jingzhou and said that Yuan Shu and Liu Biao are fighting each other there, and the price of grain has skyrocketed. A shi (a unit of dry measure) of millet costs three or four thousand coins, and it's still hard to buy. Unlike Chang'an, where the government's price bureau offers two thousand coins a shi, and you can have as much as you want."

"So, if you follow Marquis Wen, you'll have plenty to eat and drink."

Similar conversations can be heard throughout Guanzhong.

From the Prefect of Jingzhao to Zuofengyi, from Youfufeng to Hongnong County, the people were busy clearing snow, repairing houses, and preparing for the New Year, and their faces showed smiles that were rarely seen in previous years.

Inside the General's Mansion, Lü Bu was discussing the political arrangements for the period before and after the year-end with Jia Xu and Meng Cheng.

"How are the relief supplies being distributed to the disaster victims in various counties and prefectures?" Lü Bu asked.

Meng Cheng flipped through the bamboo slips in his hand: "The supplies have been distributed to all twenty-three counties under the jurisdiction of the Prefect of Jingzhao. The supplies to six counties in Zuo Fengyi and You Fufeng are still en route due to the lack of roads, and are expected to arrive before New Year's Eve. General Zhang Ji of Hongnong Prefecture has already distributed the supplies on his own without requesting allocation from the court."

Jia Xu added: "In addition, as instructed by the Grand General, the year-end bonuses for officials in various prefectures and counties have been allocated. Prefects will receive 50 shi of millet and 100 guan of cash; county magistrates will receive 30 shi of millet and 50 guan of cash; and those below the rank of assistant clerk will receive bonuses decreasing according to their position. All the money and grain needed will come from the Grand General's private treasury, without touching the grain stored in the imperial granary."

Lü Bu nodded: "What about the soldiers' annual bonuses?"

"The army's annual rewards are divided into three grades," Jia Xu said. "Generals of the rank of colonel and above will be rewarded with 100 shi of millet, 200 guan of cash, and 2 bolts of brocade; captains and marshals will be rewarded with 50 shi of millet, 100 guan of cash, and 2 bolts of cloth; squad leaders, platoon leaders, and meritorious soldiers will be rewarded with 10 shi of millet, 20 guan of cash, and 5 jin of meat. Ordinary soldiers will each receive 10 guan of cash, plus 3 jin of meat and a jar of wine."

"Good," Lü Bu said with satisfaction, "We must ensure that the soldiers have a good New Year."

Just then, a guard rushed in from outside: "Reporting to the General, the scout sent to Yingchuan has returned, and he brought with him a man who says he is Guo Jia, a scholar from Yingchuan, who has come to answer the General's call."

Lu Bu's eyes lit up, and he abruptly stood up: "Guo Fengxiao has arrived? Where is he?"

"We have arrived at the gate of the mansion."

"Quickly, open the middle gate, I'll go greet you myself!" Lu Bu said as he walked out.

Jia Xu and Meng Cheng exchanged a glance, both somewhat surprised.

They knew that Lü Bu valued talent, but for him to personally come out of his residence to welcome a poor scholar they had never heard of and who was completely unknown was an honor beyond measure.

"Wenhe, who is this Guo Jia?" Meng Cheng asked in a low voice.

Jia Xu shook his head: "I've never heard of it. But since the General attaches such importance to it, he must have something extraordinary about him. Let's go and take a look."

Standing at the foot of the stone steps outside the General's Mansion, Guo Jia looked up at the plaque that read "General's Mansion" hanging high above the gate, his heart filled with emotion.

He is twenty-two years old this year. He comes from the Guo family of Yangdi in Yingchuan, but is from a poor collateral branch.

He was intelligent from a young age, read extensively, and was especially skilled in strategy and military tactics, believing himself to have extraordinary talent.

Unfortunately, due to his humble origins, lack of self-discipline (as recorded in the Records of the Three Kingdoms), and dislike of constraints, he was not accepted by the scholars of Yingchuan and has yet to gain the appreciation of a wise ruler.

Months ago, he heard that after Lü Bu fled from Chang'an, he was able to regroup and launch a counterattack on Chang'an with several hundred Bingzhou wolf cavalry, killing Li Jue and Guo Si and regaining control of the court, which aroused his curiosity.

When the scouts arrived at Guo Jia with Lu Bu's sincerity in seeking talented individuals, Guo Jia pondered for a long time and decided to go to Chang'an to investigate.

If Lü Bu is truly a wise ruler worthy of his service, then he should put his skills to good use and make a name for himself in this chaotic world.

If he is still the same tyrannical, ruthless, and fickle brute from the rumors of a few years ago, he will travel around and look for another place.

As Guo Jia traveled from Yingchuan through Henan Yin to Hongnong, what he saw and heard gradually awed him.

In the territory of Henan Yin (Luoyang), Cao Cao, Zhang Yang, Yufuluo (Southern Xiongnu), Yuan Shu and other parties fought for control, and the war was frequent. People were displaced, and starving corpses could often be seen on both sides of the road.

However, once they entered Hongnong County, the scene was completely different—Zhang Ji had already surrendered to Lü Bu, and although the area had also suffered from snow disaster, the government organized relief efforts, the refugees were settled, and there were few people starving to death on the road.

What surprised Guo Jia even more was the rumor he heard along the way: Lü Bu had a divine granary bestowed by heaven, from which grain and military supplies were inexhaustible, thus enabling him to support the army, keep the people at ease, and stabilize Guanzhong.

Guo Jia did not believe in ghosts and gods, but the facts were right in front of him—Guanzhong had been plagued by war for years, and with the heavy snow, it should have been a famine-stricken place by now.

In reality, Lü Bu not only maintained an army of tens of thousands, but also paid salaries to officials, provided relief to the people, and even had the resources to win over Zhang Ji, Ma Teng, and Han Sui.

This is completely illogical.

Unless, as the rumors suggest, it's true?

Filled with doubts, Guo Jia entered Chang'an.

What he saw before him surprised him even more—although the streets were covered with snow, the main road had been cleared, and pedestrians were coming and going, their faces full of life.

Shops in the market opened for business, and long queues formed in front of grain stores, but not to rush to buy; rather, to purchase grain at reasonable prices.

The roadside soup kitchens were still distributing soup, and the refugees who received it, though dressed in rags, had smiles on their faces and even hope in their eyes.

This doesn't look like a chaotic world at all.

While Guo Jia was lost in thought, his group, led by scouts, arrived at the main gate of the General's Mansion. Suddenly, they saw the main gate of the General's Mansion wide open, and the group quickly walked out.

The leader was nine feet tall, robust and imposing. Although he was only dressed in ordinary clothes, he walked with the stride of a dragon and the gait of a tiger, exuding an imposing aura.

Guo Jia had seen a portrait of Lü Bu when he was in Yingchuan, and he recognized him at a glance as Lü Bu, the greatest warrior, general, and Marquis Wen, who was the greatest warrior in the land at the time.