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

Wang Zhuo returned to Ma Teng's camp, relayed Lü Bu's orders, and reported to Ma Teng what he had seen at Lü Bu's camp.

According to Wang Zhuo's close observation, Lü Bu's personal heavy cavalry were all strong and well-equipped. Although they were not in combat mode and were not wearing armor when he saw them, just by looking at their physique and mental state, he could tell how well-fed and well-paid they were and how high their morale was. This proved that the scouts' reports were correct. Lü Bu's 10,000-strong army that went to conquer the Northern Di was indeed equivalent to 100,000 elite soldiers.

Most importantly, when Lü Bu learned that Ma Teng had obtained the emperor's secret edict, his expression remained calm, clearly indicating that he already knew about it.

If Ma Teng dared to attack Lü Bu as ordered, he would certainly be met with a crushing defeat by Lü Bu. Not only would he fail to gain promotions and titles, but he might even lose his existing position. In a more serious case, he might even be killed by Lü Bu on the battlefield.

Kebineng was known as the number one warrior of the Xianbei, and his martial prowess was no less than that of Ma Teng. Yet, both of them were killed by Lü Bu. Ma Teng's fate might not be any better than Kebineng's.

Thinking about all this, Ma Teng felt incredibly fortunate that he had made the right choice.

However, following Lü Bu's orders, he was only to lead a thousand personal guards to escort the prisoners to the surrender city, which made him quite afraid.

It's possible this was a trap set by Lü Bu, and that they would be killed upon arrival in Shoujiang City.

Given Lü Bu's unparalleled martial prowess, if he truly desired to kill him, even a thousand personal guards might not be able to stop him. Moreover, Lü Bu also had his own personal guards, and his heavy cavalry unit was even more formidable.

After discussing the matter at length with Pang De, Ma Teng concluded that with the world still unsettled, Lü Bu would certainly not do anything to ruin his future. If Lü Bu killed Ma Teng, which of the other warlords would dare to easily submit to him? Lü Bu would have to fight many more battles for no reason, which would not be worthwhile.

Therefore, the two concluded that as long as they sincerely surrendered and did not cause trouble, there should be no danger on their way to the surrender city.

Therefore, Ma Teng ultimately decided to obey the order, taking only a thousand personal guards to the meeting, and then escorting the Northern Di prisoners who had slaughtered more than two Han people to the surrender city outside Wuyuan County, in preparation for participating in the Jinglu sacrificial ceremony that Lü Bu would hold there.

When Lü Bu, along with Yufuluo, Ma Teng, Zhang Liao, Gao Shun, and others, carried the heads of Qu Bei and Kebineng in a prison cart to Shoujiang City in the north, Han Sui's 50,000-strong army had already arrived at Dazhen Pass.

This fortified pass, also known as Longguan, stands in the Longshan Mountains and serves as the western gateway to the Guanzhong Plain.

The city wall is four zhang high and built of bluestone. The road in front of the pass is narrow and the mountains on both sides are steep, making it easy to defend and difficult to attack.

On the gate tower, Wei Xu stood with his hand on his sword, gazing at the official road to the west.

In the distance, smoke and dust rose, like a yellow dragon rolling.

"They're here," Wei Xu sneered.

Soon, a dark mass of troops appeared on the horizon. Cavalry led the way, followed by infantry, banners fluttering like a forest, a vast and imposing sight. At a rough glance, there were no fewer than forty or fifty thousand men.

Han Sui's army set up camp three miles in front of Dazhen Pass.

Inside the central command tent, Han Sui summoned his generals for a meeting.

"Gentlemen, ahead lies Dazhen Pass. Once we breach this pass, the Guanzhong Plain stretches out before us!" Han Sui declared confidently. "Whoever is the first to breach the pass will be promoted three ranks and rewarded with a thousand pieces of gold!"

The generals were eager to fight.

Cheng Gongying frowned and said, "My lord, the pass is fortified, and the garrison must be well-prepared. A direct assault would likely result in heavy casualties. It would be better to send someone to persuade them to surrender first. If that fails, then we can attack."

Han Sui thought for a moment and said, "Very well. Yan Xing, go down to the pass and shout to the garrison commander that I am acting on a secret imperial edict to defend the emperor, and that they should open the gates and let us pass. If they dare to obstruct us, after the pass is breached, not a single chicken or dog will be spared!"

"promise!"

Yan Xing led several dozen riders to the pass, raised his head and shouted: "Listen up, generals of the pass! My lord Han Sui, by secret edict of the Emperor, has led his army into the capital to defend the Emperor! You must open the gates immediately and welcome my army into the pass to avoid death! If you dare to resist, our army will break through the pass and you will be torn to pieces!"

Upstairs, Wei Xu leaned out and sneered, "Who do we have here? It's just Han Sui's dog. Go back and tell your master that Dazhen Pass is Han territory. It only recognizes the orders of the Grand General, the Recorder of the Imperial Secretariat, and Marquis Wen, Lü Bu. It doesn't recognize any of this fabricated secret edict! Want to enter Guanzhong? Sure, you'll have to step over my dead body first!"

Yan Xing roared in fury: "You're asking for death!"

Wei Xu, too lazy to waste words, raised his hand and ordered, "Release the arrows!"

"Swish swish------"

Arrows rained down from the wall.

Yan Xing hurriedly raised his shield to block, and escaped back to his own lines under the cover of his personal guards.

Upon seeing this, Han Sui's face turned ashen.

"Ungrateful wretch!" he gritted his teeth. "Order the entire army to attack the pass at dawn tomorrow!"

That night, Han Suijun set up cooking stations and built siege ladders and battering rams.

Inside the pass, Wei Xu was also making arrangements.

"Are the ballistae and catapults in position?"

"Reporting to the general, everyone is in position, hidden behind the gate tower, out of sight of the enemy."

"What about the pounding log, rolling stones, and hot oil?"

"Fully prepared!"

Wei Xu nodded and then said to his deputy, "From today onwards, everyone must be mentally prepared to prevent the enemy from attacking the pass at any time, including at night. Our mission is not to annihilate the enemy, but simply to hold the pass. The General will make arrangements on how to annihilate the enemy."

"promise!"

With everything arranged, Wei Xu looked at the endless enemy camps beyond the pass and sneered repeatedly.

Han Wenyue, oh Han Wenyue, this time you're truly doomed. Once the General cuts off your retreat, you'll regret it.

At dawn the next day, Han Sui's army sounded the bugle and began to assemble.

Fifty thousand troops lined up in front of the pass, a dark mass stretching as far as the eye could see.

The front row consisted of swordsmen and shieldmen, holding up simple wooden shields; the middle row consisted of spearmen, carrying ladders; and the rear row consisted of archers, with arrows already nocked.

Han Sui rode on horseback in the center of the army, with generals such as Cheng Gongying and Yan Xing beside him.

"Beat the drums!" Han Sui ordered.

"Thump! Thump! Thump!"

The war drums thundered, their sound echoing through the valley.

"attack--!"

"kill--!"

The first batch of a thousand infantrymen began their charge.

They carried ladders and held shields, surging towards the fortified wall like a tide.

Upstairs, Wei Xu watched quietly.

Three hundred steps.

Two hundred steps.

One hundred steps.

Enter the range of the crossbow.

"Release the arrows!"

At Wei Xu's command, a thousand arrows were fired simultaneously from the wall.

"Swish swish------"

Arrows swarmed towards Han Sui's charging army like locusts.

"Raise your shields!" shouted an officer of Han Sui's army.

But the wooden shields could not withstand the powerful bows and crossbows; many arrows pierced through the shields and embedded themselves in the soldiers' bodies.

"what!"

"My legs!"

Screams erupted as people fell to the ground, wounded by arrows.

But there were supervisory teams behind them, and anyone who dared to retreat would not only be executed on the spot, but their family and relatives would also be implicated and punished. Therefore, the vanguard soldiers could only step over the corpses of their comrades and continue charging.

Finally, a ladder was erected over the wall, and brave pioneers began their ascent.

"Roll the stones and beat the logs!" Wei Xu ordered again.

On the wall, the defending soldiers raised the stones and logs they had prepared beforehand and hurled them down.

"Boom! Boom!"

The boulder rolled down and crashed into the crowd, instantly causing blood and flesh to fly everywhere.

A giant log rolled down the ladder, knocking several Liangzhou soldiers flying and breaking their bones.

But there were too many soldiers in Hansui.

One batch died, and another batch rushed in.

"Pour in the hot oil!" Wei Xu said expressionlessly.