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

Wang Yi turned his back to everyone, gazing at the swirling snow outside the window, his hands clenched tightly, his knuckles white.

He recalled his early days as the governor of Hedong, when he inspected the northern frontier. An old man from Beiqu County took his hand and said, "My lord, my family of seven depends entirely on these few dozen acres of meager land. We only hope that in peaceful times, after paying our taxes, we can still have enough to eat."

Now that the barbarians are marching south, what will happen to the elderly, women and children?

He then thought of the emperor in Chang'an.

The young Liu Xie was a puppet under the successive control of Dong Zhuo, Wang Yun, Li Jue, Guo Si, and Lü Bu. He was loyal to the Han Dynasty, but could the Han Dynasty truly be restored?

After a long while, Wang Yi slowly turned around, his eyes already showing determination.

"Du Ji".

"Your subordinate is here!"

"Immediately issue the order: all troops stationed in counties along the Yellow River, except for two hundred men left in each county to maintain order, shall assemble and proceed to Anyi to await further orders!"

"promise!"

"Fan Xian".

"Your humble servant is here."

"Inventory the grain, fodder, and weapons in the prefectural granaries and make preparations for their distribution. Furthermore, in my name, issue a decree to all the powerful clans and wealthy families in Hedong, explaining the danger of the southern invasion by the Hu people and requesting them to contribute grain and manpower to protect their homes. Tell them—if the Hu people conquer Hedong, no one will be able to remain unscathed!"

"Your humble servant understands!"

Wang Yi finally looked at Wei Kai: "Prefect Wei, I trouble you to personally write two documents."

"Please give your orders, my lord."

"The first order is to be sent to the three counties of Beiqu, Puzi, and Yong'an: Reinforcements will arrive soon. Order each county to close its city gates tightly, organize able-bodied men to defend the city, burn the grain and fodder outside the city, and implement a scorched-earth policy, leaving not a single grain of food or a single blade of grass for the Hu people!"

"The second document," Wang Yi paused, his voice low, "is a letter from Wang Yi, the Prefect of Hedong, to the court in Chang'an and to General Lü Bu: Hedong Commandery is willing to submit to the court and obey orders. Now, the Xianbei, in collusion with the Southern Xiongnu Chanyu, have launched a large-scale invasion southward, causing immense suffering to the people of Bingzhou. I beseech the General to consider that Bingzhou is the land of our ancestors, and to quickly send the royal army northward to drive out the barbarians, recover the lost territory, and save the people from their misery."

He took a deep breath and continued, "Add the following to the end of the document: 'Though I am foolish, I know the difference between Chinese and barbarians. Personal grudges can be set aside, but the country cannot be abandoned. If the General is willing to personally lead the expedition to Bingzhou, I will certainly lead the men of Hedong as the vanguard, and do my utmost to supply provisions and military supplies. I only ask that the Northern Barbarians be pacified as soon as possible, and peace be restored to the northern frontier!'"

Wei Kai respectfully cupped his hands in greeting: "I will carefully consider every word and draft it immediately!"

Wang Yi walked to the hall entrance, looked at the gray sky to the north, and murmured, "Lü Bu, you'd better really have the abilities that are rumored. The lives of a million people in Bingzhou may be in your hands."

That afternoon, the Prefectural Governor's Office of Hedong Commandery dispatched more than ten fast horsemen to various places to deliver orders.

Troops from various counties along the Yellow River began to assemble in Anyi County, the county seat of the prefecture. Grain carts and military equipment carts arrived in an endless stream, and laborers loaded supplies under the command of officials.

The powerful landowners had varying reactions to the official document from the prefect of Wangyi.

Some immediately opened their granaries and sent their clansmen and private soldiers to answer the call; some hesitated and watched, only willing to contribute money but not manpower; and some contributed nothing and secretly packed their valuables, preparing to flee south.

At the same time, two messengers on horseback, each carrying a red flag, rushed out of the south gate of Anyi and sped southwest along the Sushui River. In their arms lay the document from Wang Yi, pleading with the court for aid from General Lü Bu to resist the Hu barbarians.

The horse's hooves pounded through the snow, splashing up mud, as it galloped towards Chang'an.

On the second day of the Lunar New Year, in the evening, near the end of the Xu hour (approaching 21:00 PM).

The city of Chang'an was shrouded in the cold winter night. Most households had already turned off their lights and gone to sleep, and the streets were deserted.

In the back courtyard of the General's Mansion, the charcoal brazier was burning brightly, making the room warm and cozy.

"My lord, it's time to rest," Diao Chan said softly.

Lu Bu nodded and was about to undress and go to bed when he suddenly heard hurried footsteps outside the door.

"General, urgent report from the northern border!"

The voice of Cheng Lian, the commander of the personal guards and the Tiger General, rang out from outside the door, carrying an unusual sense of anxiety.

Lu Bu frowned.

Urgent report from the northern border?

Diao Chan quickly fetched an outer robe and draped it over Lü Bu. Lü Bu fastened the robe and strode out of the room.

Cheng Lian stood in the courtyard, followed by two personal guards, one of whom was supporting a weary postman who could barely stand.

The courier was tightly clutching a bamboo tube wrapped in oilcloth.

"What's going on?" Lu Bu asked in a deep voice.

"An urgent report from Hedong Commandery." Cheng Lian took the bamboo tube and presented it with both hands. "The courier said that the Xianbei, in collusion with the Southern Xiongnu, have launched a large-scale invasion southward, and several northern commanderies of Bingzhou have been lost."

Lu Bu felt a chill run down his spine, took the bamboo tube, and unwrapped the oilcloth.

The bamboo tube was sealed with sealing wax and stamped with the official seal of the Prefect of Hedong.

He broke the sealing wax and pulled out a scroll of silk inside.

By the light of the lanterns under the eaves, Lü Bu quickly scanned the area.

The more he looked, the sullen his face became.

The silk scroll details: "For two months, heavy snow fell in the northern desert, and most of the Hu people's cattle and sheep froze to death. The Xianbei Kebineng tribe, together with Qubei, the Right Wise King of the Southern Xiongnu Chanyu's court, gathered a coalition of 20,000 troops to plunder southward."

Not only have the northern commanderies of Shuofang, Wuyuan, Yunzhong, and Dingxiang fallen, but the capital of Shangjun, Fushi, has also been lost. The northern part of Xihe Commandery has fallen, and all the county towns outside Yanmen Pass have been destroyed. The army is approaching Taiyuan Commandery. The three counties of Beiqu, Puzi, and Yong'an in the northern border of Hedong Commandery are in dire need of help. Prefect Wang Yi has decided to surrender to the court and asks General Lü Bu to send troops north to resist the Hu.

"Damn it!" Lu Bu gripped the silk scroll tightly, his eyes flashing with cold light.

After Ding Yuan's death, the imperial court did not appoint a new governor or prefect of Bingzhou.

The local garrison troops and powerful private armies were all acting independently, like a disorganized mess. Unexpectedly, the Hu people took advantage of this and caused such a disaster!

"The Southern Xiongnu Chanyu's court, where the Imperial Court appointed the General of the Vanguard to the Xiongnu, dared to surrender and then rebel again!" Lü Bu gritted his teeth. "He even dared to collude with the Xianbei to slaughter Han people! He deserves to die!"

Cheng Lian and the others lowered their heads and dared not speak.

Lu Bu took a deep breath, suppressing his anger, and ordered in a deep voice, "Cheng Lian, immediately send someone to invite Jia Xu, Guo Jia, Zhang Liao, Meng Cheng, Cao Xing, and others to the main hall of the General's Mansion for a meeting. Be quick!"

"Yes, sir!" Cheng Lian clasped his hands in a fist salute, turned around, and ran off.

Lü Bu then looked at the postman: "Take him away, give him hot soup and food, change his clothes, and let the physician examine him."

"Thank you... thank you, General..." The courier's voice was hoarse, and he was almost exhausted.

Two guards helped him back down.

Lü Bu turned and went back into the house.

Diao Chan had prepared a full set of official robes for him to change into.

"Something happened in the northern border region?" Diao Chan asked softly.

"Yes, the Hu people are invading from the south, and Bingzhou is in grave danger." Lü Bu let Diaochan fasten his belt and fasten his sword for him. "We may be discussing this very late tonight, so you should go to sleep first."

Diao Chan nodded and draped a sable cloak over Lü Bu's shoulders: "My lord, please take care of yourself."

Lu Bu strode out of the room and stepped into the swirling snow.

The front hall was soon brightly lit.

A charcoal brazier was lit, and the guards brought over more than ten mats, arranging them in a circle.

A maid brought hot tea, but no one was interested in drinking it.

In less than half an hour, Jia Xu, Guo Jia, Meng Cheng, Zhang Liao, Cao Xing, Hao Meng, Wei Xu, Song Xian, Hou Cheng and others arrived one after another.

Everyone was disheveled, clearly having just been forcibly woken from their beds.

Gao Shun, Ma Chao, Zhang Xiu, Xu Huang (formerly a subordinate of Yang Feng, who was recruited and given important positions by Lü Bu) and others were also summoned and stood at the end of the military officers' ranks.

"Gentlemen, this is a late-night gathering due to an urgent military situation in the north." Lü Bu sat in the main seat and handed the silk scroll to Jia Xu. "Wenhe, read it to everyone."