Chapter 1, Possessing Lü Bu

Unfortunately, it seems that fate played a joke on him; a car accident, just as he was about to reach the pinnacle of his life, transported him to this barbaric feudal era, replacing a person who shared the same name but whose destiny was entirely different.

Lü Bu, a warlord during the late Han Dynasty, is undoubtedly the strongest force of this era. Although sharing the same name, the two individuals exist in different times and spaces, yet they tread upon two entirely distinct paths.

"Change of guard!" A voice, slightly hoarse, awakened the soldiers who had been drowsy after a night of watch. Troops, having rested through the night and in relatively good spirits, ascended the city walls to relieve their comrades who had been on night duty.

The divine physician has stated that he is already out of danger, but he will need a month of rest to fully recover. During this period, it is best not to let him worry.

The same name, yet a different path of growth. Born into a poor family, he lost both parents at a young age. Lacking exceptional talent, he possessed an indomitable spirit deep within. With this tenacity, he persevered to complete his university education. In the fast-paced modern city, he started as a small employee and, over the course of ten years, gradually climbed to an executive position in a large international company. Had it not been for the sudden car accident, it is likely that, with the connections and experience he accumulated over the past decade, he could have easily started his own business and achieved an inspiring story of rising from humble beginnings.

After three days of tireless effort, leading by example, the host has successfully changed the impression of the soldiers under their command. The morale of the troops has begun to rise, and some soldiers have renewed their recognition of the host. Congratulations to the host for achieving the accomplishment of winning hearts and minds, earning 100 achievement points and 10 prestige points. As this is the host's first achievement, an additional reward of the lord's talent—Eye of Insight—has been granted.

However, the unpredictability of the world may have been the betrayal of the Four Generals of Song Xian that made Lü Bu realize what truly constituted his foundation. There were no grandiose words, nor were there any impassioned speeches. Lü Bu simply stood quietly on the White Gate Tower, standing there for three days. During these three days, the Cao army outside the city launched attacks on Xiapi City no less than ten times, but because Lü Bu stood here, the soldiers seemed to suddenly gain confidence. The name of the War God, even after more than a decade, still instilled fear. The attacking Cao army was already intimidated before the battle had begun, and the morale of Xiapi City gradually began to recover under Lü Bu's silent influence. Although it could not change the situation, for now, Xiapi City still remained in Lü Bu's hands, and the situation had improved somewhat.

However, after this, the habit of solving all problems with power, combined with a proud yet insecure personality, began to reveal its shortcomings. After a brief peak, I started to go with the flow. Having traversed the Central Plains for several years, I encountered obstacles everywhere. After finally obtaining Xuzhou, I found myself abandoned by all. Had it not been for my fortuitous arrival, perhaps this body would have already become a cold corpse, hanging on this White Gate Tower.

"Change shifts?" Zhang Liao raised an eyebrow, looking at Lü Bu in astonishment

It is simply a matter of changing posts. For the next few days, you and I will take turns guarding the city. Cao Cao has a large number of troops, but it is impossible for him to bring all of them at once. Currently, there are still 9,000 defenders in Xiapi. We will divide them into three groups, changing every four hours, allowing the soldiers to rest adequately. Cao Cao's supplies are running low, and he will inevitably be unable to sustain himself for long. Even if it comes to a war of attrition, we can outlast him.

Later, Lü Bu gradually rose to prominence, especially after saving Ding Yuan's life several times. Lü Bu's status within the Bingzhou army began to grow increasingly important, yet the friendship between the two never waned as a result. Even after Lü Bu killed Ding Yuan, although Zhang Liao had some reservations, he remained by Lü Bu's side without fail. To this day, they have not parted ways. Although they are publicly known as lord and subject, they still refer to each other by their courtesy names in private.

Although Lü Bu was impoverished, he was exceptionally gifted from a young age. At the age of 9, he wielded a knife to kill, and by 12, he was already traversing the battlefield. Despite the hardships he faced along the way, they appeared weak and insignificant in the face of his formidable talent. At the age of 38, beneath the Tiger Prison Pass, no hero in the world dared to oppose him. He held power in his hands and reached the pinnacle of his life

"What are you talking about?" A deep voice echoed as a tall figure appeared in the sight of the crowd

"How is the public platform?" Lü Bu nodded slightly, directing his gaze towards Zhang Liao

A few days ago, no one would have thought this, as they had already lost track of how long it had been since they last saw Lü Bu. At that time, Lü Bu, feeling self-important due to his status, had gradually distanced himself from the former generals under his command. What expectations could there be for such a lord

"Did Your Excellency not sleep again last night?" Several generals looked at the figure standing tall like a pine tree in front of the White Gate Tower, their eyes reflecting a mix of admiration and helplessness

In the past, among the Eight Generals, apart from Zhang Liao, those who have left have departed, and those who have died are no more. Only Zhang Liao remains by Lü Bu's side, assisting him in the defense of Xiapi. As for Gao Shun, at this moment, he has been assigned by Lü Bu as the security officer within the city, responsible for maintaining order. Both of these individuals originally held considerable prestige within the army, and now, with Lü Bu granting them authority, their standing is second only to Lü Bu himself.

This method is quite good. Zhang Liao nodded, noting that currently, the troops under Lu Bu's command number less than 10,000, and it is essential to maximize the effectiveness of every single soldier.

On that day, had it not been for Chen Gong's timely arrival, I might not have been able to escape unscathed. However, Chen Gong was severely injured by Wei Xu in a fit of anger, and had it not been for Hua Tuo being present in Xuzhou at that moment to provide timely assistance, Chen Gong would likely have already met his demise. Regardless of the past grievances between Lü Bu and Chen Gong, since he has come and taken Lü Bu's place, this favor must be firmly remembered. Moreover, Chen Gong is now the only heavyweight strategist under Lü Bu's command. For both public and private reasons, this strategist should not be taken lightly.

"One month? Then what if we hold out for another month?" Lü Bu suddenly revealed a faint smile on his face, patting Zhang Liao's shoulder as he said, "Wen Yuan, we have fought fierce battles before. The Xianbei and the Xiongnu could not keep us, and Cao Mengde is no more capable than they are. I will take a rest for a while and come back for the night shift."

How should Fengxian prepare? Zhang Liao looked at Lü Bu's bitter smile and said softly, as the commander of this city, no one understood better than him how dire the situation they were facing was. Even at this moment, if someone were to tell him that Cao Cao had breached the city, he would not be the least bit surprised

It is often said that the plan for the year lies in spring, and the plan for the day lies in the morning. However, standing at the top of the White Gate Tower at this moment, looking down at the city below, it is difficult to feel even a hint of the vitality that should be present. This city, which has endured countless years of vicissitudes, can only evoke a profound sense of dusk at this moment, much like a stubborn old man walking along the road of twilight.

The right timing, favorable conditions, and the support of the people—none of these three does Lü Bu possess. As for his unparalleled bravery and martial prowess, I regret to inform you that although Lü Bu has taken over the body of his predecessor, his combat skills may only rely on some instinctive reactions of the body. He might manage to bully ordinary generals, but when truly facing top-tier warriors of the time such as Guan Yu, Zhang Fei, and Zhao Yun, given Lü Bu's current state, he would only be subjected to a beating.

Zhang Liao glanced at the tall figure standing like an ancient pine tree beneath the distant city tower, sighed, nodded, and waved to the crowd, saying: "You all go and rest, I will speak to the lord."

I will go and take a look at the public platform. Lu Bu, wielding his Fangtianhua halberd and accompanied by two guards, descended the city and headed straight into the city.

Having spoken, he disregarded the crowd and walked straight towards Lü Bu.

The morning air, imbued with a hint of damp chill from the rain, is stirred by the icy north wind, which disperses the morning mist to some extent. A ray of morning sunlight falls upon the white gate tower, bringing a touch of vitality to this land

Zhang Liao silently watched as Lü Bu departed, his eyes shimmering with a hint of excitement. Just now, he had suddenly sensed a long-lost fighting spirit emanating from Lü Bu. It seemed that the betrayal by Song Xian and the others had not plunged Lü Bu into complete despair; rather, it had rekindled the flame within him that was nearly extinguished. This was the Lü Bu he knew.

General Wen Yuan, please persuade the Lord Jun. It has already been three days, and if this continues, the Lord Jun is likely to be unable to endure it.

The sudden sound that echoed in his mind did not elicit much surprise on Lü Bu's face, for this sound represented another segment of his memory

"Fengxian, it has been three days; you should take a break now." Zhang Liao approached Lü Bu, observing the evident signs of fatigue on Lü Bu's face, and spoke softly.

General Wen Yuan! Upon seeing this person, several generals quickly bowed and said, "Zhang Liao, Zhang Wen Yuan, and the valiant Gao Shun, Gao Zi Ming, are now the two most trusted generals under Lu Bu. After the rebellion of the four generals, Song Xian, Hou Cheng, Cheng Lian, and Wei Xu, the number of available men around Lu Bu has decreased even further.

In January, Lü Bu looked at the soldiers of Cao's camp who had already begun to assemble in the distance, shook his head, and thought that Cao Cao was determined to completely take over Xuzhou this time, eliminating future troubles, and then engaging in a decisive battle with Yuan Shao in the north. With an army of 50,000 launching successive attacks, Lü Bu truly had no confidence in being able to hold out for a month under such circumstances

Indeed, it has already been the third day since that day when the four generals, Song Xian, Hou Cheng, Cheng Lian, and Wei Xu, failed in their rebellion and were executed on the spot. Since then, the lord has seemed like a different person. A few generals whispered to each other, their gazes towards Lü Bu now tinged with increased concern.

Although Lü Bu is smiling, he feels uncertain inside, as this is his first experience of an ancient battle. Over the past three days, had he not forcefully suppressed the urge to vomit, he would likely have become the laughingstock of the entire army. A battle god fainting from the sight of blood is not a very amusing joke.

It is not that he does not want to sleep these past three days, but rather that he simply cannot fall asleep; as soon as he closes his eyes, the scene of the blood-splattered battlefield appears before him

From the time Zhang Liao was under the command of Ding Yuan, he had already known Lü Bu. Lü Bu came from a humble background; both his grandfather and father were generals stationed at the borders. However, Lü Bu's father died in battle when he was very young, and he was raised solely by his mother. Despite achieving numerous military accomplishments, Ding Yuan did not place much importance on Lü Bu. In contrast, Zhang Liao, due to his relatively good background, had already held the position of a cavalry officer when the two first met, which placed him several ranks above Lü Bu, yet he never looked down on Lü Bu.