Chapter Forty-Five: System 2.0—Enhanced Power Version (Part One)

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These two chapters serve as a transition, laying the groundwork for even more thrilling developments to come.

Over a thousand cavalry!

Who in Hebei could command such a force? Han Fu was one possibility, but this was his own territory—would he really make such a grand display here? The answer was becoming obvious.

The White Horse General, Gongsun Zan!

Zhang Yu frowned deeply. He could not guess what purpose these thousand cavalrymen had in coming here. Their intentions were hard to discern, so he gathered Han Long and his companions, as well as the men and women of the Zhen family, together for safety.

The commoners, caught up in the looting, sensed something was wrong. The timid ones turned and fled in panic, while the bolder, believing the law could not punish so many, continued their pillaging or hid among the surging soldiers.

“Could what Wang Shi said be true?” Zhen Yan murmured.

“What do you mean?” Zhang Yu asked.

“Earlier, at a family banquet, the head of the Wang family, Wang Shi, tried to provoke us and mentioned he intended to surrender the city to General Gongsun in exchange for wealth and status. At the time, I thought it was just an excuse to justify his own ambitions. But now, considering the only forces in Hebei capable of such a display of cavalry are Governor Han and General Gongsun…”

“But…” Zhang Yu’s worry deepened. “Judging by Zhongshan’s location, Lunu is even closer to General Gongsun’s territory. Has my home already been occupied by him? What about my parents? Are Ying’er and Yan’er all right?

They should be fine… After all, Gongsun Zan and my uncle have a good relationship. Perhaps my sworn brother has already gone to him.”

He had barely finished the thought when he saw the ranks of iron riders surging forward like a flood of steel—so overwhelming, it was hard for anyone to breathe.

The commoners had never witnessed such an imposing force. They scattered in terror, some even darting into the Wang residence in their desperation.

The once-crowded street was now deserted. The guards brought by Wang Yong had either fled with the looters or hidden in the houses nearby. Zhang Yu and his small group, a dozen or so in all, now stood out as the most conspicuous people on the street.

“There’s only a single white horse at the front, not the White Horse Volunteers…” Zhang Yu squinted into the distance, then suddenly froze. “Little White?!”

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Before his surprise faded, Zhang Yu saw a great banner fluttering in the wind, emblazoned with a golden character: “Zhang.”

Did Gongsun Zan have any generals named Zhang? As Zhang Yu pondered his knowledge of the Three Kingdoms, the cavalry swept forward like a thunderclap, their hoofbeats shaking the earth as if they might overturn the very street.

Little White led the way, appearing to guide the cavalry. Behind it, at the head of the troops, rode a man clad in bright silver armor with a beast motif, a gold-trimmed black iron helmet on his head, clean-shaven, with thick brows and large eyes. He sat astride a tall black-maned stallion—a figure of true martial bearing.

With a shrill whinny, Little White pushed its massive head into Zhang Yu’s arms with such force it was hard to tell if it was throwing a tantrum or showing affection. The martial general followed, reining in his horse and sword before the Wang residence, surveying the group before saying:

“By order of Lord Yuan, I am here to suppress Wuji. Where is the county magistrate?”

“The magistrate was seized by the traitor Wang Yong, who has already been executed by us. May I ask your name, General?”

Faced with Zhang Yu’s bold and striking appearance and his direct question, the general and his men did not take offense. The general replied evenly, “I am Zhang He of Hejian.”

...

“You clever creature—I thought you’d slip away on your own.” Zhang Yu stroked Little White’s long mane with affection. “My woman and my horse—only I may ride them in this life. Do you understand?”

It sounded far-fetched, but the truth was that Little White had not been captured by Wang Yong and his men. Sensing danger, it had escaped alone, somehow managing to lead Zhang He’s force, sent by Yuan Shao to take over Wuji, right here.

“All things have spirits; never underestimate the intelligence or loyalty of animals. Haven’t you seen even a little poodle dream of conquering the world?”

“Young master, General Zhang He has arrived and is waiting outside the Zhen residence!” Zhang Junbao came to report as Zhang Yu lingered with Little White in the Zhen family’s secluded courtyard. He got up at once. “I’ll greet him myself.”

As he walked through the courtyard, Zhang Yu recalled the terror he’d felt that day when bombarded by endless system notifications.

“Ding! Congratulations, host. System 2.0 has finished upgrading. You will now enjoy a more powerful and comfortable transmigration experience. (Note: First upgrade is free.)”

“Ding! Congratulations, host. Because your poems ‘Farewell to My Sworn Brother’ and ‘Ancient Grass at Parting’ were both dedicated to others, you have raised the renown of Zhao Yun, Liu Bei, Guan Yu, and Zhang Fei. You now have your own influence in this era and have gained 500 experience points and 750 reputation points.”

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“Ding! Congratulations, host. Your poems have spread widely among the literati and cultural circles. You have earned a new badge: [Rising Star of Letters]! (Though it is said that scholars often belittle one another, you possess a unique charm that draws their admiration.)”

“Ding! Congratulations, host. Because your poems have become popular throughout Hebei, you have gained 500 experience points and 1000 reputation points.”

“Ding! Hidden quest activated—‘Famous Across Hebei’ (host’s total renown in Hebei has reached 75%). Task mode unlocked. You have gained 500 experience points and 1500 reputation points. Current experience: 2550 points. Current reputation: 5050 (7200) points.”

“Ding! Congratulations, host. With a current reputation of 7200 points, you have earned the title [Renowned Far and Wide] (A reputation so great you are counted among the most esteemed men of your time. In troubled times, fame is the best shield!). To reach the next rank, [Famed in All Directions], you need 2800 more points.”

A string of good news, like reward after reward from a generous patron, left Zhang Yu feeling as though he were drowning in a sea of gold—so happy, he could hardly catch his breath.

Truly, disaster and fortune walk hand in hand!

Yet, though blessing may follow disaster, disaster may also strike without end. Such dizzying twists and turns were best kept to a minimum, lest his heart give out.

“Hey, System, didn’t you say you were cut off from that Tech Station of yours? How can you still upgrade?”

That was Zhang Yu’s question. If the connection had been restored, did it mean he could—

“As the most advanced product of Earth’s high-tech research institute, this system already stored all upgrade versions from the start. However, the host must continuously increase reputation to power each upgrade. The first upgrade is free, but you must earn the [Renowned Far and Wide] title before it can proceed.”

“So there are even more advanced versions? Will I eventually be able to summon generals and conquer the world?” Zhang Yu felt as if the times themselves were calling to him, a grand ambition stirring in his chest.

“Sorry, information about future upgrades is unavailable until the next upgrade is completed.”

“All right, infinite possibilities ahead—how exciting.” Zhang Yu shrugged and eagerly opened the new system interface to start exploring.