The Romance of the Three Kingdoms: Lu Bu is good at being filial - Chapter 51



＜ The Wolf, the Tiger, and (1) ＞

[Late night, the residence of Wang Yun, the Grand Minister of Luoyang. A separate room.]

In a separate room where only the candlelight illuminates the darkness.

On the ceiling, something like constellations is drawn, and in the center of the room, colorful silk is placed here and there.

Swish, swish swish.

A woman is throwing punches towards the black silk.

She is not hitting the silk or the bamboo slips, but wildly swinging her fists into the air.

“Haa, haa.”

The woman, Diaochan, gasped for breath and picked up a bamboo slip with the character “Lü” written on it.

“…Sorry? Sorry?”

In Diaochan’s hand was a square-shaped object.

“This person is really…!”

There, the word “Jiuren” (久人), as if carved out by fingernails, was still written.

“This…!!”

Diaochan raised it as if to throw it towards the black silk, but soon put it down and gently placed it in a box.

“Hoo, hoo. Calm down. I have to endure.”

Diaochan patted her own cheek with her hand to calm her anger.

“Hoo-“

She patted her chest a couple of times.

“You thief!!”

She screamed out curses as if she were shouting.

“Ah, I feel so much better.”

It was quite a loud scream, but no one cared.

“…Are you here?”

Fortunately, this room is like a ‘fairy’s altar,’ so no one except Wang Yun can enter or eavesdrop.

“Are you here?”

Even if someone did eavesdrop, she could always brush it off as usual.

-Oh dear, the crazy spirit has come again.

It’s not unusual for a shaman who reads the heavenly secrets to occasionally be possessed by a crazy spirit and spout strange things.

“……Not coming, good.”

Chosun perked up her ears.

Fortunately, there was no sign of anyone trying to come in or eavesdrop from outside, so Chosun could talk freely and catch her breath.

“No wonder she hasn’t married and has been living alone until now.”

Chosun still held the bamboo slip in her hand and tapped it against the silk.

“Of course, right? It must be. Otherwise, she wouldn’t be so obsessed with washing. Tsk.”

Swish.

As she threw the bamboo slip onto the silk, it spread out widely.

Inside, there was all sorts of information about someone, and only Chosun knew-

Correction.

Now even the thief who carved letters into the soap and ran away could read it.

But that thief knows nothing about the existence of this place, the numerous silks and bamboo slips stored here, and the contents written on them.

“If they knew, they would have moved long ago. With that kind of power.”

Chosun turned her eyes towards the inside of the building.

Three types of silk, overwhelmingly more than the others.

Each painted green, blue, and red, the silk divided the room into three, boasting an overwhelming quantity compared to the other silks.

Especially the green and blue silks.

“…Future.”

Chosun pressed her temples with her palms and opened her mouth.

“The flow of heavenly secrets. To some, destiny. To others…a curse. If taken too seriously, it could end in disaster like Wang Sado, but if used, it could embrace those who are helpful.”

Chosun picked up a blue silk.

“Sunyu.”

There was fragmentary information about a person’s life written there, but soon Chosun threw it to the place where the black silk was written.

“…If they took him knowing, I would understand, but if they took him without knowing, it’s really creepy.”

Chosun scratched her neck.

“Sunyu, also known as Gongdal. A person from Yeongcheon County, Yeongam Prefecture, later…. Huh?”

She unconsciously pressed her hand against her mouth, fearing that blood might flow out again, but the pain was not too severe.

“Changed, so it means nothing…really?”

Chosun frowned deeply.

“Ugh, annoying. Do I have to check everything one by one? The changed ones have no effect, and the unchanged ones cough up blood again? Ah…really.”

Chosun scanned through the hundreds of silk and bamboo scrolls, looking distressed.

“This is all because of Lu Bu. That b*stard….”

With eyes full of resentment and injustice, she glared at the pile of black silk, but then she slapped her cheeks with both hands and shook her head vigorously.

“Before that, I need to make sure. I’ve confirmed that he’s from the same region….”

Chosun looked at the mirror hanging on the wall and nodded her head vigorously.

“Even if not in body, people with the same red broth flowing in their souls should help each other. Yes, that’s right.”

She tried to come to a conclusion by asking and answering herself.

“…But what if, what if he really touched me while I was sleeping?”

The words Wang Yun had casually thrown out, and the memories of the situation before she fainted, did not give Chosun any certainty.

“…If he really touched me while I was sleeping?”

Chosun’s eyes momentarily turned to the candle flame.

“…….If he’s that kind of person, there’s no need to sincerely help each other. Yes. That’s right.”

Chosun picked up a piece of black silk and aimed it at the candle flame.

“But what if, really, what if he didn’t do anything and just stole the soap…?”

Fwoosh.

“In the unlikely event, although it’s impossible, if he’s really, really a good person…?”

The tip of the silk almost touched the candle flame, but Chosun quickly pulled it back and held it to her chest.

“If he’s really just being chivalrous as he says.”

Crack.

“That would mean he’s more trustworthy than Wang Yun…?”

Chosun nodded her head vigorously and put down the silk.

“If he’s really a good person, the only way is to ask for help…and willingly tell him.”

Chosun swallowed as she scanned the silk divided into three colors: green, blue, and red.

“Even if it all becomes useless before the world is divided into three, it might help, but at least it’s better than not knowing.”

Chosun glared at a piece of silk with a fierce expression.

“In any other case…this person must be dealt with.”

Unlike the other silks, this one had the character for ‘kill’ embroidered in red thread, personally by Chosun.

“Just one person. If I can just deal with one person.”

Chosun sighed deeply and looked up at the ceiling.

“No. Before that.”

And at the same time, he bit his lower lip hard.

“How can someone not know about the Three Kingdoms…?”

* * *

[At that moment, east of Luoyang City – beyond Sishuiguan. Yanzhou, Jinyang County, Sanzhuxian.]

Boom, boom, boom.

Even in the dark, the sound of drums echoed.

The signal from the waving flags was clearly ‘Halt the advance’.

Waaah─!!

The soldiers shouted as they raised their spears and swords.

Most of those on horseback cursed and roared fiercely.

The cry of victory.

The field was strewn with countless corpses, but there were relatively more bodies of soldiers wearing red headbands.

“This is Xu Rong, who has defeated the enemy vanguard!!”

General Xu Rong raised his spear and shouted.

Perhaps because of the joy of washing away previous humiliations, his roar was louder than the sound of the drums.

“Yes, this is it.”

Dong Zhuo clapped his hands and laughed from atop his horse at the soldiers’ victory.

“This is the Yangzhou army. Ha, it’s been a long time since I felt such relief from the congestion in Luoyang.”

“General Dong. …Oh, I mean, Grand Commandant.”

“Hahaha! It’s fine, it’s fine.”

Dong Zhuo laughed generously at Xu Rong’s slip of the tongue.

“As long as we act dignified in Luoyang. This is the battlefield. When did the men of Yangzhou ever care about such formalities?”

“Thank you, General.”

“Yes. That’s enough. So, what are the results of the first battle?”

“About four hundred were killed or injured, but over two thousand of the enemy were killed.”

“Not enough.”

“Excuse me?”

“Not enough.”

Dong Zhuo placed his hand on the broad sword hanging from his waist with a grim smile.

“We need to kill more. Yes, indeed. Next time, let’s kill more and die less.”

“Understood, General!”

“Now! Continue advancing. Pursue the fleeing enemies and completely destroy those wearing red headbands. Heh, the enemy’s vanguard. It was Sun Jian, wasn’t it…?”

Dong Zhuo drew his sword himself, rode his horse forward, and walked through the gaps between the corpses.

“This is how it should be done.”

Swoosh!

With a broad sword swung through the gaps between the corpses, a soldier with a red headband had his head cleanly cut off.

“No prisoners. Kill all the rebels, so they dare not challenge Dong Zhuo.”

Dong Zhuo wiped the blood off his face with his sleeve and grabbed the reins with one hand.

“Whether it’s Sun Jian or anyone else, kill all who dare to challenge us!”

“General Dong, but it’s late at night, and if the enemy ambushes us…!”

“Are we afraid of such ambushes and night raids!”

Dong Zhuo’s eyes were bloodshot.

“Let’s go! Kill them all!!”

* * *

While Dong Zhuo was leading his soldiers and fighting against the allied forces and rebels.

“Is this where we will now establish our new camp?”

“Yes, General.”

I visited the camp set up behind the last gate leading into Luoyang, in the northeast of Luoyang.

“This area is called ‘Chengguo’.”

“Hmm….”

“It’s a location that allows quick access to Mengjin, Luoyang, and the eastern gate.”

“I see.”

Zhang Liao, who came out to greet me, guided me through the camp that was just being established.

“The camp is being built faster than I expected.”

“Everyone seems to be worried. The enemy’s numbers are greater than we thought.”

Even the veteran soldiers among the engineers were picking up hammers and setting up fences themselves.

“Above all, it’s really difficult to get water in Luoyang.”

“What about the water purification facilities?”

“They are completed.”

“Good. Perfect.”

As long as the water purification facilities are in place, our Bingzhou army can fight as much as needed.

“If there are any who need to change water, send them to the rear. In the meantime, I’ll go to Luoyang to get supplies.”

“Understood. But General, building the facilities is one thing…”

Zhang Liao pointed to the east.

“If it comes to it, are we also going to fight the enemy in the plains after crossing the city walls?”

“Yes.”

Currently, Dong Zhuo’s army is advancing beyond the city gates towards the coalition’s base.

“Still, we are outnumbered. Isn’t it best to rely on the city walls and hold out?”

“That’s the standard tactic.”

Normally, we would have locked the gates of Hulao Pass and held out.

“There are both military and political reasons.”

Dong Zhuo declared that he would personally lead the swift defeat of the coalition.

“Zhang Liao, do you think the Liangzhou army is good at siege warfare?”

“No, unlike our Bingzhou army, they seem specialized in field battles.”

“Right. Cavalry can’t exactly run around on top of city walls.”

The core strength of the Liangzhou army is their cavalry.

They might not like it, but they are strong enough to be organized separately as the ‘Xiliang Cavalry.’

“Basically, for cavalry to fight, it’s best to do so in the plains.”

Some units even mobilize chariots in battle.

“Indeed, as those who have fought in the plains for a long time, their soldiers’ mobility is outstanding.”

Unlike our Bingzhou army, which often fought in mountainous areas, Dong Zhuo’s Liangzhou army has higher cavalry proficiency in plain battles.

“As expected, Zhang Liao, you noticed that.”

“I do lead the cavalry, after all. What’s the political reason?”

“Dong Zhuo needs to swiftly defeat the enemy to seize power in the court.”

Seeing the situation in the central court, I understood.

“If it drags on, the perception of Dong Zhuo will change in many ways.”

Can we entrust military power to Dong Zhuo?

He boasted that he could win, so we entrusted it to him.

“Even though he already suffered because of the dead traitor’s son-in-law, if he fails to quickly deal with the traitors?”

“Dong Zhuo’s prestige will greatly diminish.”

“Will only Dong Zhuo’s prestige fall? It was the imperial army that was defeated.”

“Hmm….”

If the imperial army is defeated by the rebels, it directly affects the dignity of the royal family.

“I heard rumors that during the Yellow Turban Rebellion, he was chased by the Yellow Turbans.”

It’s a bit inappropriate to reveal someone’s disgrace, but Dong Zhuo was once repeatedly defeated in the Yellow Turban Rebellion and was dismissed.

“But he won again, didn’t he?”

Of course, considering he gathered troops again in Liangzhou and entered Luoyang, it shows he is indeed capable.

“Even if they are not as good as the Bingzhou army, they are still elite. Hua Xiong also led the soldiers, so unless a formidable enemy appears, they should win.”

“You are not certain.”

“Even if we win the first battle, the enemy is a coalition. Unless we defeat the warlords individually, it will be very difficult to face them as a true ‘coalition’.”

To win against human wave tactics, we need to gather equally strong forces.

“If we defeat the entire coalition, it wouldn’t be an exaggeration to say it would be Dong Zhuo’s world.”

“General, what should we do in Bingzhou?”

“Nothing changes. We are the last bastion. We do what we must.”

Whether Dong Zhuo returns after annihilating the coalition.

Or if Dong Zhuo is killed by the coalition and only the remnants return.

“So, first, let’s get some water to stay clean… huh?”

Someone approaches on horseback.

“Has the cavalry commander arrived?”

“Report. I have brought a letter from Bingzhou Governor Sun Yu.”

The cavalry commander dismounts and takes out a bamboo slip.

“Will you read it yourself?”

“As always.”

“Yes.”

At my command, the cavalry commander immediately untied the string binding the bamboo slip, spread it out, and held it straight.

“I have heard the war situation.”

Sun Yu speaks through the cavalry commander’s voice.

“Even if Dong Zhuo is defeated, there is a plan to disrupt the coalition.”

“……!”

“If Sishuiguan falls, I will act according to the plan immediately. General Ye, please defend Hulaoguan and prevent the enemy from reaching Luoyang. Over and out.”

“Huh?”

Is that all?

“What about the strategy?”

“There is none.”

“…Didn’t the messenger bring it? Bring the messenger here.”

“Yes.”

I wondered if the messenger might have lost the bamboo slip with the strategy written on it.

“Is this all?”

“Y-Yes…!”

“Let me see. Hmm….”

I carefully examined the bamboo slip that the cavalry commander had read, but there was no significant difference from what the commander had said.

“Did they hide the strategy? For confidentiality.”

Even if they sent the troops of the military governor through a messenger, they must have been worried.

“Did Suyu say anything?”

“Well, if General Ye asks what the strategy is.”

The messenger reached out to the bamboo slip and made a gesture of tapping the back of the slip with the back of his hand.

“He said to answer like this….”

“A riddle? General, this is a bit.”

“I understand.”

He tapped the back of the bamboo slip.

‘If the entrance or the front yard is blocked, it’s basic to move the troops to the rear.’

Even though I didn’t know the military books, I had learned about real-time strategies and tactics since I was young.

‘The enemy is not just one, but an allied force.’

Would they leave their troops in the center while their main camp is being attacked?

That can’t be.

“Sasugwan and Horogwan. If we just block Horogwan, we can win against the allied forces.”

“Since Hua Xiong went to Sasugwan… General, you just need to guard Horogwan.”

“Right-“

Wait.

“……Huh?”

Hua Xiong of Sasu Pass.

Lu Bu of Hulao Pass.

…Hulao Pass?

“…….”

Sigh.

“Commander of the cavalry. Leave only the minimum number of soldiers to defend the camp here, and select two hundred elite cavalrymen.”

“Yes, sir.”

“Each of you and Zhang Liao will command one hundred men. The left wing will carry Zhang’s banner, and the right wing will…”

I pointed to the commander of the cavalry.

“Carry Gao’s banner.”

“Yes, sir. We will follow your orders, General.”

The commander of the cavalry immediately followed my orders, and Zhang Liao, though puzzled, grabbed his helmet.

“General. Are we marching out?”

“Yes. I realized there’s no reason to just sit here.”

Lu Bu of Hulao Pass.

Hulao.

“Send a messenger to Luoyang to deliver the news. General Lu Bu is now heading to Sasu Pass.”

From now on, it’s Lu Bu of Sasu Pass.

＜ Wolf, Tiger, and (1) ＞ End

ⓒ Starflower Latte