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

The boiling oil from the large pot was poured over the pot.

"what……"

A heart-wrenching scream echoed across the pass.

Soldiers scalded by hot oil suffered cuts and bruises, fell from the ladders, and writhed in agony on the ground.

But Han Suijun, like a madman, continued to climb.

Yan Xing personally supervised the battle, beheading three retreating soldiers in succession, and roared, "Charge! The first to reach the top will be promoted three ranks and rewarded with a thousand gold pieces!"

Under the reward, there must be a brave man.

Finally, several brave soldiers climbed over the gate wall.

But what awaited them was the heavily armed and ready-to-fight axemen of the Vanguard.

"kill!"

With a flash of light, Han Sui's soldier, who had just peeked out, was cut down and his body fell off the gate wall.

The battle lasted for more than an hour.

Han Sui's army launched five assaults, resulting in over a thousand casualties. Corpses piled up like mountains and blood flowed like rivers beneath the walls.

But the Great Earthquake Pass remained unmoved.

On the gate tower, Wei Xu personally killed two fierce enemy soldiers. His armor was stained with blood, but his expression remained calm.

"General, Han Sui's army has retreated," the deputy general reported.

Looking over, Wei Xu saw that Han Sui's army was indeed retreating, ending their attack.

"Send orders to let the brothers take turns resting, eating and drinking their fill, in preparation for the next wave of enemy attacks. Also, send a military report to Chang'an, requesting General Cao Xing to send troops to support us. Keep a close watch on the other side roads and passes, in case the enemy launches a surprise attack via these shortcuts."

"promise!"

Aside from internal rebellions and situations like Lü Bu's extraordinary abilities, in real ancient siege warfare, it was very difficult for the attacking side to successfully capture a fortified city or pass. They often suffered huge casualties and still might not be able to take it down.

Otherwise, there wouldn't be the saying "one man can hold the pass against ten thousand".

For the next period of time, Han Sui tried various methods, including sending men to launch surprise attacks via back roads, but none of them succeeded.

On one occasion, Han Sui dispatched 10,000 troops to launch a simultaneous attack from Dazhen Pass and the surrounding trails, putting immense pressure on Dazhen Pass.

But at this moment, Wei Xu's catapults and crossbows, hidden inside the pass, appeared and dealt a huge blow to the enemy from their high ground. Even the few makeshift catapults hastily built by Han Sui's side were smashed by Wei Xu's catapults and did not play much of a role.

As for those smaller paths, the main army couldn't get up there at all, and even the sneak attacks by a few elite troops failed to work when the defenders were prepared.

As for a war of attrition?

With Cao Xing's support in terms of troops, supplies, and provisions, Wei Xu, who was defending the pass, was not afraid at all. After more than ten days of attack, Dazhen Pass remained unmoved.

Han Sui, who wanted to go to Chang'an to rescue the emperor and achieve great deeds like Dong Zhuo, Li Jue, and Guo Si, was blocked at Dazhen Pass and could not move.

On the ninth day of the second month, north of Wuyuan County, on the southern slope of Yinshan Mountain, outside the city of Shoujiang.

As dawn broke, the north wind howled like a knife, whipping the banners and flags into a fluttering gust of wind.

Shoujiang City was built during the reign of Emperor Wu of the Former Han Dynasty to receive the surrendered Southern Xiongnu tribes. It covered a large area and had high walls and thick walls. However, many parts of the city walls are now damaged, indicating that it has been neglected for many years.

On the open ground north of the city, a three-zhang-high earthen platform has been erected. The platform has three levels: the top level is paved with bluestone slabs and has an incense table and sacrificial vessels; the middle level has flags and banners; and the bottom level has armored soldiers standing on it.

The earthen platform was surrounded by a dense crowd of people.

The innermost circle consisted of Lü Bu's generals and personal guards: Zhang Liao, Gao Shun, Cheng Lian, Ma Chao, Zhang Xiu, Xu Huang, Xue Heng, Wang Yi, Du Ji, and others were arranged in order of rank on the left side of the platform, all clad in armor and carrying swords, their expressions solemn. A thousand heavy cavalrymen, his personal guards, stood in formation around the altar, their iron armor reflecting the morning light, their presence silent and menacing.

On the right are the leaders of various groups who have been invited: Yufuluo, the Chanyu of the Southern Xiongnu, and more than ten of his generals; Ma Teng, leading Pang De and several of his generals; and more than twenty leaders of small Xiongnu and Xianbei tribes in the Hetao and Monan areas, some with dozens of guards, others alone.

These small tribes, ranging from a few hundred to a thousand people, had not participated in the southern invasion and plunder by Kebineng and Qubei, but dared not disobey Lü Bu's orders. Standing below the platform, they were all filled with trepidation, whispering among themselves.

"I heard that Lü Bu intends to place Qu Bei's head on top of the Jingguan (a mound of corpses)..."

"Not only is the lowly removed, but Kebineng's head is also here!"

"Those prisoners who killed Han people will all be executed today..."

Fear permeated the whispers.

Lü Bu has not yet appeared.

Cheng Lian glanced at the sky and whispered to Zhang Liao, "The time is almost here, why hasn't the General arrived yet?"

Zhang Liao looked towards the surrendered city: "They are preparing sacrificial offerings."

No sooner had he finished speaking than the city gates opened.

A group of soldiers led hundreds of prisoners out.

These prisoners were all disheveled, shackled, and walked with difficulty.

They were identified as the "chief culprits"—Qu Bei and more than 20 of his trusted generals, as well as more than 300 Xianbei and Xiongnu criminals who slaughtered two or more Han Chinese.

Qu Bei was placed alone at the very front.

He wore a tattered fur coat, his hair was disheveled, and he had whip marks on his face, but there was still a fierce glint in his eyes.

Seeing the many Hu chieftains below, he shouted hoarsely, "Fellow tribal chiefs, Lü Bu wants to kill all my Hu warriors. Today it's me, tomorrow it will be you. Why don't we join forces and rebel..."

But the tribal chiefs of the Xiongnu and Xianbei who were watching just watched him quietly, and no one responded.

"Shut up!" The escorting soldier slammed a stick into Qu Bei's back.

Qu Bei let out a muffled groan, staggered a few steps, and said nothing more.

The prisoner was led to the open space to the right of the earthen platform and forced to kneel. Soldiers stood behind him with swords at their sides, awaiting orders.

After a short while, Lü Bu finally appeared.

Today, he was not wearing the bright armor, but rather a dark robe with a black cloak over it, a scholar's cap on his head, and a long sword at his waist. Although he was not wearing armor, his nine-foot height and imposing gait made him even more imposing than before.

Behind him were two men: on the left was a court official sent by Jia Xu, holding a scroll of silk; on the right was a military commander, holding the general's seal and ceremonial axe.

Lu Bu ascended to the top of the altar and surveyed the area below.

Silence reigned.

"The auspicious hour has arrived!" the master of ceremonies announced. "The Jinglu Ritual now begins."

"First item: Sacrificing to Heaven to announce victory."

Lü Bu took the silk scroll from the official of the Imperial Secretariat, unfolded it, and read it aloud:

"On the ninth day of the second month of the fourth year of the Chuping era, General-in-Chief of the Han Dynasty, Grand Secretary, Marquis of Wen, Lü Bu, respectfully presents the head of the Xianbei King Kebineng, the body of the rebellious Southern Xiongnu King Qubei, and more than 4,300 heads of the Northern Di, to the Supreme God of Heaven: Your subject, by the Emperor's command, has been sent to attack the Northern Di. Thanks to the bravery of the soldiers and the cooperation of the people, within a month, we defeated the Xianbei at Jinyang, captured Qubei at Meiji, recovered the entire territory of Bingzhou, beheaded more than 4,000, and captured tens of thousands..."

The voice was deep and resonant, spreading across the open field.

With each line read, the face of the Hu chieftain below the stage paled a little more.

"...Now we build a mound of heads at the foot of Yinshan Mountain, and hang the severed heads atop the surrender city wall, to demonstrate the might of Heaven and to deter the disobedient. We humbly beseech Heaven to witness this, to bless our great Han Dynasty, and to forever guard the northern frontier!"

After reading it aloud, Lü Bu placed the silk scroll on the incense table and lit it.

Wisps of smoke rose into the air.

"The second item: Sacrificing to the land to secure the borders."

The military commander presented a jar of wine and a bag of grains.

Lü Bu poured three cups of wine and sprinkled them on the ground in front of the platform: "The land of Bingzhou is the territory of the Han Dynasty. Now we have swept away the dust of the barbarians and restored our mountains and rivers. May the earth gods bless us, so that the five grains may be plentiful and the people may live in peace and happiness."

He then scattered five grains on the ground, saying, "Spring plowing is imminent; may this soil nourish the crops and forever ward off the ravages of war."

Below the stage, many Han army generals had slightly red eyes. They were all from Bingzhou, and their hometown had been ravaged by the Hu people. Seeing the chief officiant here today stirred their emotions.