Weird Three Kingdoms

Chapter 3950: Lü Bu's Story
On the banks of the Red River.

Thorn Ridge.

This is certainly not the location from "Journey to the West," but rather in the Western Regions, where delicate trees are not suited to the barren land.

The Wusun Da Kunmi intentionally set up the battlefield here, naturally to take advantage of the terrain.

Thorns act like natural barricades, easily piercing and tearing the skin of people and horses!
However, thorns are one of the camels' food sources...

Camels, with their thick skin and tough flesh, are not afraid of thorns at all, making this an ideal place for camel cavalry to exert their great advantage.

The army of the hunters stood ready, their banners waving.

Down the slope, Lü Bu's army had already formed its battle formation.

Cao Xing was fully armored and carrying a halberd.

He is now Lu Bu...

The wind blew from the Thorn Ridge, bringing with it the distinctive pungent smell of camels.

Not only were the Han soldiers uncomfortable, but even the warhorses were snorting restlessly, requiring riders to exert force to control the reins.

Cao Xing licked his slightly chapped lips, a ruthless glint flashing in his eyes.

Wearing Lu Bu's armor and wielding his halberd, he certainly looked imposing, but he also became an easy target for the enemy's concentrated fire.

What if I can't hold on...

In a place like this, being decapitated is considered good; otherwise, you might be completely wiped out!

No trace of the body remains!
The Hu people had a tradition of cannibalism, or rather, in the early, chaotic period, humans also used themselves as a food source. Only after establishing a long-term direction for civilization did they define cannibalism as a sin.

This difference in perception is worlds apart between the Chinese and the nomadic tribes.

In ancient Chinese mythology, man-eating creatures were demons, ghosts, or ferocious beasts. Examples include Qiongqi, Taotie, and Yayu, who were either subdued or killed. Even the originally divine Yayu fell into depravity and became a cannibal.

However, it's different in ancient Western mythology.

Cronus swallowed his son, Agamemnon was known as the Devourer of the People, Atreus, the Hunnic king, tricked his wife into eating the flesh of their own son as revenge, and even the Pharaoh was a being who fed on humans and gods...

Humans cannot describe things beyond their own perception.

Just like Cao Xing, who doesn't know what his future holds.

The war drums sounded.

Cao Xing raised his halberd high, imitated Lü Bu's tone and shouted loudly, leading about eight hundred cavalrymen in a fierce charge towards the Wusun army formation.

The Wusun Great Kunmi, Liejiaofu, had a clear view from the hilltop. Seeing that the Han general was indeed brave, personally leading the vanguard to attack, he couldn't help but burst into laughter, 'This fool is quite brave! Let's give them a good kick in the ass!'

Lie Jiaofu ordered the troops in front to meet the attack, while simultaneously commanding the camel cavalry on the flanks to begin moving and prepare to encircle the enemy.

Cao Xing led his troops forward, but was "blocked" by Wusun's arrows. They circled around for a moment before realizing that Wusun camel cavalry were about to flank them...

The Han cavalry began to retreat with their flags askew, prompting the Wusun soldiers to shout in unison, their morale soaring.

The arrogant hunter was overjoyed at the sight.

This is the opportunity he's been waiting for!

Defeating the Han general will surely make him famous throughout Wusun!
Then it won't be the three Kunmi anymore, but just him, Liejiaofu!
"Chase them! Crush the Han people! Whoever cuts off the head of a Han general will be rewarded with ten thousand sheep and a thousand slaves!"

The mournful sound of horns immediately rang out, and the entire Wusun army stirred into action.

The most excited were none other than the Wusun camel cavalrymen who charged ahead.

The Wusun camel riders shouted and urged their tall camels forward with whips and stirrups, as if they had witnessed the climax of the stock market and gold rush, excitedly calling out and wishing they could have the whole family in one go immediately.

The camel's heavy hooves pounded the ground with a muffled thunderous sound, causing the ground to tremble slightly.

The riders on camels brandished scimitars or spears, emitting strange cries, as they chased after the fleeing Han cavalry.

However...

Just like the Chinese stock market, these camel riders also fell into the predicament of a one-day trip.

These desert ships have decent short-range bursts of speed, but if they were to run at full speed for an extended period, their speed would be far inferior to that of a superior warhorse…

If Cao Xing hadn't deliberately controlled the speed of his troops, these camel cavalrymen would have been eating dust kicked up by their warhorses after only three or five miles.

Moreover, while camels walk relatively steadily on ordinary days, their strides are very large and their movements are extremely bumpy when they run due to differences in skeletal structure and leg tissue. It is difficult for riders on camelback to maintain their balance and shoot during such movements.

Even if they forced their way into firing, they could only scatter a few arrows haphazardly, resulting in a low hit rate; whether they hit or not depended entirely on luck.

They couldn't catch up, and they couldn't hit their targets. There was a clear problem, but the Wusun people didn't realize it and were still hoping to reach new heights.

Following the predetermined route, Cao Xing led the massive camel torrent away from the main battlefield and towards the ambush site set up by Lü Bu...

The Han cavalry charged ahead, followed by the Wusun camel cavalry, while Liejiaofu led the rest of his troops, eating sand and dust in the clouds kicked up by the Han. With most of their vision obscured, Liejiaofu couldn't determine what was ahead; he only received reports from scouts that the Han were still fleeing, and his men were still in pursuit.

As for Cao Xing's failure to retreat along the original route, Lie Jiaofu believed that the Han generals panicked and took the wrong path.

Getting lost is a common occurrence in the Western Regions, a region dominated by deserts.

Liejiao Fu even loudly mocked the Han people for having no sense of direction, saying they were doomed to die, then spat out a few times after taking a mouthful of sand...

Just then, a number of Han Chinese cavalrymen suddenly emerged silently from the earthen mounds on the flank of the Wusun camel pursuers!

At the front of the queue was Lu Bu, now wearing ordinary armor.

There were no dazzling battle robes, nor soaring pheasant feathers...

From a certain perspective, Lü Bu and Sun Wukong seem to have some similarities.

Two people, okay, even if it's just two people, in traditional Chinese descriptions, they are inseparable from a purple-gold crown and two long pheasant feathers...

Brave, rebellious, wild, headstrong, and unrestrained.

Three heroes fought Lü Bu at Hulao Pass, and were invincible in single combat.

When Erlang Shen wreaked havoc in the Heavenly Palace, none of the 100,000 heavenly soldiers and generals could stop him. Only when Erlang Shen confronted him head-on, and with Laozi's sneak attack, could he be captured.

And then the outcome wasn't good...

Individuals once possessed ultimate freedom and power, shining brightly, but were then co-opted and suppressed by certain rules.

But now, Lü Bu has changed out of his purple-gold crown and put on the black iron armor of an ordinary captain. He is holding a standard iron-spined spear and his face is covered with a mask. If he weren't standing at the front of the formation, probably no one would recognize him as the once majestic Marquis Wen...

Is this evolution or regression?
Lü Bu didn't think much of it. He simply stared at the Wusun camel cavalry, then calmly gave the order, "Fire!"

The long-waiting crossbowmen pulled the triggers on the Wusun camel soldiers.

Ordinary arrows were indeed difficult to harm camels with their thick hides, but armor-piercing crossbow bolts could even penetrate armor. Not to mention that Han soldiers had an innate understanding of the principle of shooting horses before men, and they aimed at the camels' relatively vulnerable areas such as the face, neck, and abdomen...

*Puff puff puff!*

With the sound of crossbow bolts piercing flesh, the camels immediately began to wail in pain.

Unlike warhorses, which have the innate ability to automatically follow and dodge, camels require more space and are more susceptible to mutual influence once they are clustered together!
After a rapid volley of crossbow bolts, the Wusun camel cavalry were either hit, tripped, or collided with each other, and their formation instantly fell into chaos!
The camel's poor obedience is also clearly evident at this moment.

The injured and frightened camels completely lost control; some spun around in place, while others turned and charged towards their companions behind them!
The camel cavalry formation was thrown into chaos, and the Wusun riders desperately tried to control their mounts, but to little avail.

"Drive them away! Charge back!"

Lu Bu pointed his spear forward and charged down the hill on horseback!

The elite cavalry of the Han army, who had been resting and recuperating for a long time, roared and swarmed out from behind the mound. Instead of engaging the chaotic camel cavalry in a head-on battle, they acted like sheepdogs, using arrows and spears to intimidate and drive the frightened camels away, causing them to turn around and flanking them from both sides, forcing the camels to flee back the way they came!
The Wusun camel cavalry, who had been pursuing their prey with great momentum, had now turned into a panicked and uncontrollable herd of beasts, surging backwards and charging towards their own army!

The Wusun cavalrymen on the camels shouted and even pulled hard on the reins, but the camels were stubborn and ignored the cavalrymen's efforts. Even when their necks were pulled crooked, it did not stop the camels from running wildly...

Moreover, Han cavalrymen clung to the flanks like shadows, constantly applying pressure and shooting down Wusun soldiers who were trying to control the situation, thus exacerbating the chaos.

Amidst the dust and smoke, Lie Jiaofu was happily chasing after his troops when he suddenly saw his vanguard in complete disarray!
Then they saw that the camel cavalry had actually been routed and had even clashed with their own troops, causing complete chaos!
We also saw Han cavalry sweeping in from both flanks!

Lie Jiaofu was greatly alarmed and roared, "What's going on? Stop them! Stop them! Archers! Spearmen! Prepare to meet the enemy! Meet the enemy!"

War is often contrary to human nature.

When faced with danger, avoidance is the instinct.

Suppressing this instinct and teaching soldiers to face challenges head-on is not an easy task.

The Wusun main camp was immediately thrown into chaos.

Faced with their own behemoth charging in a frenzy, the infantry's formation began to waver.

Some tried to stop them with arrows, but most of the arrows landed on the thick-skinned camels, with little effect. Others tried to form a spear formation, but the terrified camels ignored them and charged straight at them, the sounds of bones breaking and tendons snapping were heart-wrenching.

The Wusun army's formation was instantly breached by their own routed troops, causing their morale to plummet.

Liejiaofu was both shocked and furious. Surrounded by his guards, he tried his best to suppress the situation and reorganize the defense.

At this most chaotic moment, a group of about two hundred Han cavalrymen, like assassins lurking in the dust, suddenly wedged in from the side with sharp daggers. By the time Lie Jiao Fu noticed, there was no room left to dodge or move!
A Han general, clad in black armor and wielding a long spear, rode at incredible speed, charging straight towards the central army banner where Lie Jiao Fu was located!

Protect the Great Kunmi!

The Wusun guards exclaimed in alarm and rushed forward to stop them.

The spear in the black-armored Han general's hand was like a capricious soul-snatching lock, or a judge holding a book of life and death. With a flick of his wrist, he easily thrust, swept, and jabbed, making no effort to achieve his goal. There was no fancy move, yet every strike was deadly!

The Wusun guards who tried to stop him were as fragile as paper, easily pierced through, and fought their way through, about to reach Liejiao!
Lie Jiao Fu was startled at first, then an inexplicable anger surged to his head!

He thought that Lü Bu was still fighting his camel cavalry in front, and that the camel cavalry's defeat was because Lü Bu had used some trick. Now he saw an "unnamed" black-armored cavalryman daring to charge straight at his banner. If he retreated now, it would not only cause unrest in the whole army, but also lead to a collapse in morale!

How could he possibly dominate Wusun and force the other two Great Kunmi to submit?!
Liejiao Fu, confident in his strength and ability, had risen to the position of Great Kunmi and was once a renowned warrior of Wusun. Now, seeing that his opponent was merely wearing ordinary Han army-style black armor and wielding an ordinary spear, he was instantly enraged and filled with malice!
If it were a famous Han Chinese general, that would be one thing, but how dare such an unknown person come here to provoke a tiger?
"You lowly ant, who gave you permission to defy my authority?!"

Lie Jiaofu roared angrily to embolden himself and to stabilize the morale of his troops. He then spurred his warhorse, wielded a heavy long-handled battle axe, and charged towards the black-armored Han general!
Lie Jiaofu's arm muscles bulged, and as the two riders clashed, he suddenly raised his battle axe, bringing a fierce gust of wind, and cleaved it down hard towards the Han general's head!

He was going to cleave this 'nameless' Han general and his horse in two with a single axe blow!
In the blink of an eye, the armored Han general, facing Lie Jiaofu's powerful and heavy axe swing, seemed to be stunned, dumbfounded and charged straight at him without even trying to dodge!
Lie Jiao Fu was overjoyed and immediately increased the force of his hand, chopping straight down!
Just as Lie Jiaofu's battle axe was about to strike the Han general's head, Lie Jiaofu suddenly felt a blur before his eyes, and then a chill ran down his throat!
Then, inexplicably, the strength in my arm began to drain away rapidly, and I lost control of my limbs...

The battle axe, now powerless, fell from the sky, kicking up a cloud of dust.

Liejiao opened his mouth, trying to see the eyes beneath the armor, wanting to ask who the other person was...

However, darkness had already rapidly consumed his consciousness...

At that moment, time seemed to stand still on the battlefield!
All the Wusun soldiers who witnessed this scene, whether they were the guards nearby or the soldiers who were resisting or fleeing in the distance, were stunned!
The mighty and skilled Kunmi Liejiaofu in their hearts was actually defeated by a...

A seemingly ordinary Han general, felled from his horse with a single spear thrust?!

They couldn't even last one round?!
After a brief period of deathly silence came an uncontrollable collapse!
"The Great Kunmi is dead!!!"

"The Proud Hunter has been killed!"

"We're doomed! Run!"

Uncontrollable screams of terror instantly swept through the Wusun army formation.

A military system built on rudimentary individual bravery will inevitably have a significant negative impact once the commander is killed in battle!
With a pack of broken camels charging ahead and Han cavalry menacingly positioned on the flanks, coupled with the death of Liejiaofu, the already crumbling battle line completely collapsed. The Wusun soldiers lost all will to fight, abandoning their armor and weapons, and scattered in all directions.

Seeing this, the Han general in black armor did not rush into the fleeing Wusun soldiers to slaughter them. Instead, he shook the blood off his spear, then raised his hand and lifted his mask, revealing Lü Bu's angular face.

Lu Bu glanced sideways at the corpse of Lie Jiao, then gave the order, "Pass down the order: those who kneel and beg for mercy will be spared! Those who resist will be slaughtered!" The setting sun dyed everything on the battlefield a poignant red.

Lu Bu stopped his horse atop the hill, gazing at the spreading victory beneath his feet.

He did not put his magnificent armor back on, but simply picked up his halberd again.

At this moment, armor and weapons were no longer what Lü Bu pursued, but truly became his tools...

……

……

The fighting in Thorn Ridge has temporarily come to an end.

The camels trembled in the stench of blood, each one shrinking its neck.

The Han soldiers, seeing the camel's enormous size yet its timid nature, couldn't help but laugh, their previous fear of such creatures vanishing.

A gust of wind blew by, stirring up dust and carrying with it the faint sound of sobbing from among the prisoners.

They were several Wusun children, huddled together, staring in fear at the unfamiliar Han soldiers around them.

Among the prisoners were some who were still very young, their faces clearly showing a naivety that came from inexperience, their tears mixed with dust.

Lu Bu's gaze inadvertently swept over the prisoners, and their young, terrified, and helpless eyes suddenly acted like a rusty hook, tugging at a long-forgotten corner of his memory...

It wasn't that he was thinking about the Wusun or the Western Regions, but rather about something much more distant.

I recalled the days when I shone brightly in Bingzhou, and then gradually became shrouded in dust.

He was happy then.

When he first joined Ding Yuan's forces, Lü Bu's reputation was earned little by little through real bloodshed.

In the northern part of Bingzhou, war raged incessantly.

The Xianbei, Wuhuan, and even the Southern Xiongnu cavalry, like wolf packs on the grasslands, would gather and disperse at will, plundering the border regions.

He started as a lowly squad leader, leading troops to patrol the border and defend against bandits.

He initially led only a dozen or so soldiers, but gradually began to lead hundreds of Bingzhou cavalry, galloping across the vast border like a wolf.

Chase, intercept, ambush, raid...

He hadn't formally studied military strategy, but his combat methods were all built up little by little through blood and sweat.

Practical and incisive.

His bravery found a larger stage, and his power was given the most exhilarating expression.

Each attack was accompanied by the Xianbei people's defeat and spoils...

Each time he returned victorious, Ding Yuan's approving smile graced the city gates, along with the envious or awe-inspiring glances from his colleagues...

And the spontaneous welcome from the people of the city, with cheers that came from the bottom of their hearts!
He enjoyed the feeling of being needed, respected, and worshipped!

He felt that his choice was absolutely right!

This is the life that Lü Bu should have!

Clashing swords and galloping horses, a swift and exhilarating tale of love and revenge!
They paved their own path to success with the heads and blood of their enemies.

His genuine military achievements enabled Lü Bu to rise through the ranks very quickly in the early stages.

This is an extremely strong positive cycle phase.

Squad leader, squad leader, military commander, military officer, captain...

In just a few years, he almost completed the path that an ordinary soldier would take a lifetime to complete!

Ding Yuan also appreciated him and treated him very well.

Ding Yuan often said to others, "Having Fengxian is like Emperor Gaozu having Fan Kuai!"

Fan Kuai was a famous warrior, and Lü Bu thought Ding Yuan was praising him, so he was very happy.

These military achievements and praises made the young Lü Bu stand taller and his eyes burn even brighter. He felt that Ding Jianyang was a wise ruler who recognized heroes, and that his skills had finally found a place to be used.

Later, Ding Yuan found Lü Bu, patted him on the shoulder, and said with a smile, "Fengxian, you are now a pillar of my army, it's time for you to settle down. The Yan family of Jinyang is a prominent local family with strict family traditions. They have a daughter who is virtuous and beautiful, a perfect match for you. What do you think?"

Lu Bu was taken aback.

Getting married?

A pair of eyes, as clear as black gemstones, flashed through his mind, but quickly blurred.

This period of life in the city made him realize that marriage is not just a matter between two people. He understood that Ding Yuan was paving the way for him, binding him more tightly to Bingzhou, and also binding him into Ding Yuan's own network of power.

The Yan family were local strongmen. His marriage alliance with the Yan family meant that he would no longer be a brave outsider, but a true member of the family who had taken root in the city...

He didn't hesitate much, nor was he particularly saddened.

Little grass?

That was a dream by the Jiuyuan River.

It's faded, it's drifted away.

Now that we've come to the city, we should eat the city's cabbages and live like city people.

Marrying a wealthy young lady from the city would be the proper way for Lü Bu to live a respectable life.

Lu Bu clasped his hands in a fist salute, bowed his head, and said in a loud voice, "I leave it all to you, my lord!"

The woman surnamed Yan later became Madam Yan.

She is not ugly.

Perhaps it was the nourishing millet of Bingzhou that made Lady Yan so well-proportioned, with healthy, delicate skin, regular eyebrows and eyes, and manners befitting a lady of a prominent family.

On their wedding night, with red candles burning brightly, she lowered her head, twisting the hem of her dress with her fingers, and spoke softly.

Lu Bu looked at her, but felt little emotion; he simply thought that this was probably how city people were...

This marriage was an unspoken transaction from the very beginning.

Ding Yuan strengthened his ties with local powerful clans, the Yan family invested in a promising stock, and Lü Bu gained a home and resources befitting his new identity.

As for feelings?

That seemed to be something insignificant.

Not long after the marriage, Ding Yuan received another appointment...

In addition to his position as Cavalry Commandant, he also served as the Registrar of Bingzhou.

The chief clerk, in charge of documents and participating in confidential matters, was a truly trusted confidant.

Ding Yuan privately and earnestly advised, "Fengxian, a great man cannot rely solely on strength... He must also be literate and knowledgeable in government affairs to shoulder great responsibilities... I see you as a promising talent, and this position of registrar will be perfect for honing your skills..."

Lü Bu once again felt Ding Yuan's deep affection.

He was grateful and tried his best.

However, he encountered great difficulties.

Those mountains of bamboo slips and wooden tablets, those complicated household registers and grain rations, and all sorts of official documents were nothing short of torture for him.

Sitting behind his desk, he felt dizzy and disoriented, which was far more mentally taxing than fighting in the army.

He tried to handle things patiently, but after a while he couldn't sit still any longer, so he simply pushed most of the work to his subordinate clerks who were good at writing documents, and only listened to the important reports and signed his name to get it over with.

After Ding Yuan found out, he summoned him for a talk several times.

Lü Bu always agreed to things to their face, but then turned away and did nothing else.

After this happened several times, Ding Yuan could only shake his head helplessly and eventually stopped bothering to say it.

Perhaps in Ding Yuan's view, Lü Bu was ultimately a sharp sword, good enough to kill and defeat enemies. As for whether he could become a sword wielder, knowing how to clean the scabbard and maintain the blade...

If it can be transformed, that would be best; if not, as long as it remains sharp and usable, that's fine too.

After that, Lü Bu's life suddenly became uneventful.

He lay flat, but not completely flat.

The military camp and drill grounds remained his paradise.

There, he could ride his horse, draw his bow and shoot arrows, wrestle with his soldiers, and feel the surge of power and pure cheers.

But when he returned to the spacious but desolate mansion that he had purchased with the support of the Yan family, the atmosphere was completely different.

Madam Yan was a dutiful wife who managed the household affairs meticulously and treated him with utmost respect, but she always seemed somewhat aloof and lacked warmth.

The topics of conversation between him and Madam Yan were unremarkable.

He became increasingly reluctant to go home.

He often stayed overnight in the military camp, using the excuse of being busy with military affairs, and ate and lived with ordinary soldiers, which made him feel comfortable.

He would only go back on his designated days off, as if completing a task.

Mrs. Yan never complained. She simply prepared hot water and meals silently, and stood at the door to watch him leave. Her eyes were calm and undisturbed, as if she had long accepted this mundane mode of marriage.

Later, in the quiet of the night in the military camp, Lü Bu would feel a strange sense of unease.

This seemed quite different from the life he had imagined for city dwellers...

Bravery brought official positions and respect, marriage brought mansions and status, but why...?

There seemed to be a void somewhere in his heart.
That kind of joy, born purely from power, seems to have become mixed with too many other things after moving to the city.

He was like a tamed tiger, able to enjoy the delicious food at his fingertips without much effort...

But he still couldn't stop thinking about that scalding blood...

And the ability to run freely.

Until that day...

Ding Yuan urgently summoned Lü Bu, dismissing all attendants, and solemnly informed him, "Fengxian, the Grand General has sent a secret order! There is unrest in the capital; the eunuchs are causing chaos in the country. The Grand General intends to exterminate all the eunuchs and restore order to the realm! He orders my Bingzhou troops to prepare immediately and march south to the He-Luo region!"

Ding Yuan's expression was solemn, but Lu Bu saw a hint of barely suppressed excitement in Ding Yuan's eyes!
Perhaps it was Lu Bu's own excitement!
A long-lost, blazing flame suddenly ignited in Lü Bu's chest!
Heluo!

The real world!
To participate in such a momentous event and establish unparalleled achievements—this was the battlefield that Lü Bu was destined to go to!
"Your subordinate obeys!"

Lu Bu clasped his hands in a fist salute, his voice trembling slightly with excitement.

He could almost see the gates of Luoyang wide open before him!

An even more magnificent stage awaits his debut, this sharp blade of Bingzhou!
But he didn't realize that no matter how sharp he was, he was still just a sword...