The Romance of the Three Kingdoms: Lu Bu is good at being filial - Chapter 54



＜ Wolf, Tiger, and (4) ＞

Dongtak was in a dire situation.

Because he felt like he was really going to die?

That wasn’t it.

This level of threat was not even among the top five in Dongtak’s over 50 years of life.

He wondered if he might be out of breath because his breathing was a bit heavy, but it wasn’t that either.

So, was it because his troops, not himself, seemed like they were going to be annihilated?

That wasn’t it either.

Although Dongtak had somewhat excessively pursued, it wasn’t to the extent that the Yangzhou army would be annihilated.

These were the elite of the Yangzhou army.

They didn’t enjoy slaughter and plunder, but they were soldiers who had killed at least five people on average in battle.

They had fought countless times against foreign tribes like the Qiang and Xianbei.

Compared to the scholars of the lower Yellow River, their combat experience was unparalleled.

They were not at a disadvantage.

That’s why they pursued.

Even knowing that the allied forces were deliberately drawing him in, he charged in with the intention of breaking the trap with force.

Even if some generals or soldiers were injured in the process, as long as the wounds weren’t fatal, it didn’t matter.

Dong Zhuo had lived like that on the battlefield.

In the vast wasteland, one had to live like that to win.

And now.

Dong Zhuo was on the verge of madness in the battle on the plains, in the dead of night.

“You worm-like b*stards!”

Bugs that didn’t exist in the wasteland were running rampant.

He could cut them all down, but if he got hit, the blind arrows flying like bee stings were still dangerous.

“Die, Dong, urgh!”

“How insolent!”

A cavalryman with a sky-blue epaulet, who couldn’t even ride properly, chased after him, swinging a spear, only to have his head fly off along with the hand holding the spear.

“There’s Dong Zhuo!”

“Shoot the pig! Kill him!!”

Thud, thud, thud.

Archers with yellow headbands were noisily beating drums behind him, shooting arrows like thorns.

“These flies dare…!”

The coalition army.

Each one was less than a bug, yet they called themselves a coalition, holding hands and cowardly fighting against the imperial army in numbers.

“Focus! Retreat while dealing with the ones charging from the front!”

Of course, he could crush them all.

The Yangzhou army had that kind of power.

If only they had the leisure.

“Ha ha ha, where do you think you’re running!!”

“You damn…!!”

Ka-ang!

“Sun Jian, you scoundrel!!”

Dong Zhuo swung his weapon while riding, as the man with the red headband, Sun Jian, chased after him.

Cowardly, he followed from the direction of the arm Dong Zhuo didn’t use well, forcing him to put strength into his left arm and swing his sword.

“I’ll help you, my lord!”

“Old man, I’ll take care of you, this is Dong Min!”

Not only Sun Jian, but also his lieutenants came running to threaten Dong Zhuo.

Fortunately, Dongmin and other warriors were able to confront them, but the weapons of the middle-aged warriors following Sun Jian were also quite sharp.

“The big guy swings his sword swiftly like a pig!”

“Shut up, weakling!”

Sun Jian kept dodging the attacks.

“Running away again…!”

“It’s a strategic retreat!”

Dong Zhuo had to keep sweating with every attack he swung, while Sun Jian kept widening and narrowing the distance, taunting him.

“When a tiger hunts, it chases its prey until it tires-“

“Graaah─!!”

Dong Zhuo roared, reaching into his bosom.

“How dare you try to teach Dong Zhongying!”

“What are you talking about while fighting-“

Crunch!

Dong Zhuo pulled out an expensive white paper and bit into the pill inside, then chased after Sun Jian on his horse.

“Run, Jueying! I’ll break that guy’s arm!”

“……!!”

Sun Jian hurriedly adjusted his stance, gripping his sword with both hands.

Thud!!

“Ugh?!”

Sun Jian gritted his teeth.

His hand gripping the sword momentarily dropped, and his body almost slipped off the horse, staggering.

“What is this, my strength suddenly…!”

“If I were ten years younger, you would have died with one strike!”

Dong Zhuo roughly caught his breath and kicked the horse’s side.

“Next time, I’ll take your head!”

Before Dong Zhuo could grind his teeth, the horse dashed forward.

A famous horse named Jueying.

Not quite comparable to Red Hare, but a horse worthy of being second to it.

“Damn it, phew.”

Was it because he rode such a famous horse that the soldiers had come too deep into the enemy lines?

“`

That is not the case.

The soldiers ran along.

“Too, haah, for too long… we haven’t fought.”

Both Dong Zhuo and the soldiers were overly excited after a long time.

Since the rebellion of the Ten Attendants, they had only smelled the ink of Luoyang, but as soon as they smelled blood, they went mad.

“General!”

“Are you not a commander!”

A young warrior with a spear, Zhang Xiu, drove the soldiers and followed.

“What is the situation?!”

“We are retreating to Sasu Pass as ordered! However…!”

“Why!”

“Cowardly, some of the enemy have bypassed and are attacking Sasu Pass…!”

“Is it those b*stards?”

Dong Zhuo glanced at a group of soldiers.

“Those b*stards….”

Kraaa!

Even in the darkness, it was clear, the soldiers were flying.

To be precise, a soldier pierced by a sharp sword was swung around and thrown at other soldiers.

“That power…!”

“It is General Hua Xiong’s banner!”

Dong Zhuo instinctively turned his reins towards Hua Xiong.

There were still soldiers with green epaulets around, but Dong Zhuo quickly ran towards Hua Xiong, cutting down those soldiers left and right.

“Hua Xiong! I told you not to leave Sasu Pass!!”

“I noticed the enemy’s trap and rushed here!”

Even while speaking, Hua Xiong beheaded several soldiers in an instant and shouted.

“Go to Sasu Pass! I will guard the rear for you!”

“Hua Xiong…!!”

“Where do you think you’re running!!”

Once again, Sun Jian attacked.

“You pig, you’re getting tired!!”

“`

Behind him, his hands and sword wrapped in a red hood, other armed men followed, but there were no generals of the suppression army, including Dongmin, nearby.

“Here-“

“Master!”

Hua Xiong took out a short sword from his bosom, bit it, and then drew a large line on the ground with his sword.

Vroom!

“I am not destined to die!!”

The soldiers who were about to charge were startled and fell back, and even Sun Jian’s horse was surprised by the wind pressure and raised its front legs.

“Go!”

“You…!”

“Hurry!!”

“…Return alive!”

With those words, Dong Zhuo ran forward.

The soldiers with sky-blue epaulets on the flanks chased Dong Zhuo, but most of them faced off against the soldiers led by Hua Xiong, pointing their spears.

Whizz.

An arrow flew towards Hua Xiong.

“Hmph!”

But Hua Xiong lightly swung his sword and deflected the arrow, pointing the tip of his sword at Sun Jian.

“The strongest in Yang Province, Hua Xiong is here.”

“…Ha!”

Sun Jian snorted and pointed his sword at him.

“Did you come to play some warrior game on the battlefield! Do you intend to duel in this situation?”

“Duel? No.”

Hua Xiong’s blade pointed at Sun Jian and then to his side.

“Come all at once. I’ll kill you all together.”

* * *

Pook.

“aaargh!!”

When a warrior steps onto the battlefield, what will his killing power be?

Especially when strong warriors aiming to be the best in the world wield their swords and spears with the intent to kill.

This is how it is.

“Next.”

“Here it is.”

Receiving the spear from the soldier, I forcibly turn the end into a short spear and run forward, throwing it with a running start.

My body is leaning against the parapet of the castle wall, preventing me from falling forward, but the thrown spear flies like an arrow and accurately pierces the enemy soldier’s face.

Neigh!

The horse rears up in surprise.

At the same time, the soldier who fell backward hits the ground with a thud.

“All the officers are dead.”

Starting with the armed man called Jopyo, I beheaded those who seemed to be wearing quite expensive armor with the throwing spear.

“Zhang Liao.”

“Yes, General.”

“Arrows incoming.”

Even before I called Zhang Liao, he was already beside me, placing his double halberd forward.

Clang!

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The arrows that hit the blade of the double halberd fall below the castle wall.

It’s convenient to hold a shield, but if you can block it with the weapon in your hand, you can easily block blind arrows.

At the same time—

“aaargh!! aaah, aaah!!”

“Hey, stop making a fuss.”

As the arrows fall, a man named Yuseop, who was tied to the castle wall, screams.

Even if the arrows had fallen and pierced his head and shoulders, it wouldn’t have mattered, but it was a moment to understand the nature of those Danang soldiers.

“Even after their commander and officers are dead, they shoot arrows and run away. Look at their temper.”

“They look just like bandits, General.”

“Don’t you think so too?”

The bandits who always shot arrows and ran away over the castle walls or fortifications moved exactly like that.

“Have the bandits joined the allied forces?”

“Could they be the Black Mountain Bandits?”

“Judging by their colors, we should call them the Green Mountain Bandits, but they seem a bit different. They wouldn’t pick a fight with us like that.”

“Indeed. If it were them, they would have run away immediately.”

They are not the Black Mountain Bandits.

But it seems he was originally a bandit.

“I’ve heard rumors that some of those who were active as Yellow Turbans were absorbed into the government army, and he must be one of them.”

“If such a person is called a lord, then in the future, he will pretend to be an official with a hat while secretly operating bandits. Just like….”

“Like Jeong Won.”

To give him some excuse, Jeong Won joined hands with the Black Mountain Bandits in his later years.

They must have taken the bandits directly into the government army.

“Hey, Yoseop. Do you know which lord’s soldiers those guys are?”

“F-First, pull me up!”

“If I pull you up, will you tell me?”

“I will! So please!!”

“Alright.”

I pulled Yoseop’s rope, and he came up without much resistance.

“So, the answer?”

“It’s the army of Governor Do Gyeom of Seoju! The Danyang soldiers are Do Gyeom’s elite troops!”

“I see. And?”

“And…?”

“Didn’t you understand why I asked?”

I wasn’t just asking about the backers of the Danyang soldiers.

“Why did Yuan Shao send you?”

“Th-That’s…”

“What were you planning to do in Luoyang? Were you going to sneak through Sasu Pass and set fires to create chaos in the rear, like you did at Maengjin Port?”

“W-Wait! I mean, I…!!”

Yoseop urgently knelt down and bowed.

“I came for my lord!”

“Yes, you came for Yuan Shao.”

“N-No! That was unavoidable! My real lord is… Lord Yuan Shu!”

“……?”

What nonsense.

“Why would you come for someone imprisoned in a mansion in Luoyang?”

“……Huh?”

Yuseop’s mouth gaped open in surprise at my question.

“What, what is this?”

“?”

“?”

“General.”

Jangryo aimed his double-edged sword at Yuseop’s neck.

“It seems this man is one of two things.”

Either he was deceived because he is foolish.

Or he is pretending to survive.

“But why are you pointing a weapon at his neck?”

“One possibility is that he was deceived, which is not a problem, but the other is that he is a piece of trash trying to survive by selling out his lord.”

“W-wait, wait a moment!”

Yuseop panicked.

“Are you saying Lord Wonsul is alive right now?”

Ignoring the fact that Jangryo had a sword pointed at his neck, Yuseop’s eyes darted around in confusion.

“Is the lord… alive?”

“If you are talking about that honey-loving man from the Wonga family, then yes.”

“Ah, ah…!!”

Usually.

“Lord…!!”

Even if they are foolishly used by others, those who are loyal will be happier about this situation, even if their lives are threatened.

“Are you saying… my lord is alive?!”

“Yes. Who said he was dead?”

“Lord Wonso… no, Wonso said so…!”

Yuseop straightened his posture and bowed respectfully.

“He ordered me to disguise myself, break through the gate, infiltrate Luoyang, and set fire to Hulao Pass!”

“…….”

“But now that I know the truth, I will not be deceived any longer! General Ye, please believe me.”

“Swear on your father?”

“What?”

“Can you swear on your parents?”

Regardless of the era, as long as one is human, there are basic ethics.

“Swear to your father and mother who gave birth to you and raised you, not to your lord. Did you really not know? Were you really deceived?”

“Yes…!!”

I look into his eyes.

There is no lie.

“Then that’s enough. Zhang Liao, take it away.”

At my command, Zhang Liao immediately retrieved the double halberd.

Others might wonder if it’s okay to trust him like this, but-

“You will be escorted to Luoyang as a ‘prisoner’ after dawn.”

During my time in Bingzhou, I had learned the most effective way to handle such situations.

“It will hurt a bit, but you won’t die, so don’t worry.”

“Hurt-“

Thud!

“Why…?”

“What do you mean why? It’s a necessary measure.”

I kicked Yuseop in the solar plexus.

“Ugh.”

Thanks to pulling back my strength just before hitting the solar plexus, Yuseop rolled his eyes and collapsed sideways.

“Perfect suppression, General.”

Zhang Liao clapped with the hand holding the double halberd.

“Call the men and tie him up. Even though he’s a warrior, make sure he can’t escape by untying the ropes with his strength.”

“Should we dig a hole?”

“Yes. Dig it inside the Sasu Pass.”

Burying him with only his face exposed solves most problems when capturing a prisoner.

“The rest-“

“General. They’re coming again.”

Zhang Liao retrieved the double halberd and aimed it forward, and I handed Yuseop over to the approaching soldiers and immediately turned my eyes beyond the fortress wall.

“No password needed.”

Just by looking at the size of the one running at the front, I could tell.

“Open the gates. Welcome Dong Taiwei, who is on the verge of collapse.”

“Open the gates──!!”

As soon as the order is given, the gates open.

Dong Zhuo enters immediately without stopping his horse as soon as the gates open.

Following him, Dong Zhuo’s soldiers, who had been rushing forward, also pour in all at once.

‘Fortunately, there are no pursuing troops for now.’

Thanks to the returning Dan Yang soldiers who coincided with the retreat, there is no burden in opening the gates.

Even if the enemies look at the open gates from afar with regret, they can only feel regret.

“Hmm…?”

The problem is that the appearance of the incoming soldiers seems like they have fought hard and returned, but somehow they also look like ‘fleeing soldiers.’

The expressions on the soldiers’ faces.

The wounds covering their entire bodies.

And Dong Zhuo’s condition.

“Did they run away?”

It’s not a defeat.

It’s not a complete defeat, but a strategic retreat, just a hard return to the main camp.

Above all-

“Hua Xiong is not here.”

Hua Xiong, who went to protect Dong Zhuo, is not here, and only Dong Zhuo has returned with other soldiers.

“Zhang Liao. Guard the gates. If the enemy comes, immediately shower them with arrows.”

“Yes.”

After entrusting the wall to Zhang Liao, I immediately ran down the stairs and headed towards Dong Zhuo.

“What happened, Dong Taiwei?”

“Lü Bu? Why are you…?”

“Where did Hua Xiong go? He left me in charge of the defense to protect you.”

“That is….”

Dong Zhuo hesitates.

It’s not because of the sweat pouring down his entire body like broth.

“What are you hesitating about? On the battlefield.”

“……He died.”

“Huh?”

“Help me…!”

Dong Zhuo urgently pointed outside the castle gate.

“Hua Xiong shouldn’t be here…!”

“What’s this all of a sudden?”

“There are many reasons why I sent Hua Xiong to the rear, but, well…!”

“Just the conclusion.”

I gathered a spear and arrows from the fallen soldier.

“Is Hua Xiong in danger now?”

“…From Sun Jian, our rear-“

*Whistle.*

As I whistled with my hand, my horse soon came running at my signal.

“Hey, Lü Bu!”

I mounted the running horse, straightened my posture, and ran alongside the soldiers entering the gate in one breath.

“Ah, ahhh?!”

Passing by the fallen Zhao Biao on the ground, I held a bow in one hand and scanned the darkness.

“General!”

“Guard the gate!”

After signaling to Zhang Liao, who was calling me, I ran straight ahead.

I’m not going to fight the enemy.

I will fight, but not with the intention of risking my life.

Hua Xiong is the best warrior of the Yang Province army.

If Hua Xiong dies, the morale of all the soldiers will drop, which will lead to a decline in the morale of the entire imperial army.

The Bing Province army might be fine, but the atmosphere in Luoyang will darken.

‘The enemy is not only in front of us.’

A commander who cannot trust his soldiers in an unstable war situation.

Hua Xiong’s death could shake the imperial palace.

Therefore.

‘I can’t let him die.’

Hua Xiong must face those who come at me instead of me.

‘In such an absurd battlefield as this.’

If it were a fight against bandits, it would be one thing, but they would not let him die absurdly in a fight against traitors.

“You! Whoever you are-“

“Move aside.”

A general charges forward. His epaulets are red.

He pulls the spear stuck in the ground and swings it to the side.

“I, Jomu, am facing-“

Whoosh.

No need to confirm.

The sensation at his fingertips clearly indicates he has cut a throat.

“Th-that…!”

“S-stop him!!”

Ahead.

Soldiers raise their shields to block him.

But even in the darkness, a red trail heading forward is visible.

“Run, Jeokto.”

Neigh-!!

Jeokto tramples over the shields of the soldiers blocking the way and leaps forward over the enemy soldiers.

Thud!

He throws the spear at the soldier who was looking up at him, and as soon as Jeokto lands, he pulls an arrow from the quiver while running.

Draws, and shoots.

The whole process is shorter than a breath.

‘You must not die so miserably, Hwaung.’

Leaving behind the enemy general who falls off his horse with an arrow through his neck, I keep shooting arrows at those who try to block my path.

‘There are still so many bandits to be eradicated.’

Jangryo in Byungju.

Seohwang in Saye.

Hwaung in Yangju.

Lü Bu in the world.

How could I die carelessly?

A general is needed in each state as a deterrent to ensure that bandits never appear.

“Please don’t die, Hua Xiong.”

Yangzhou has not yet found a warrior to replace Hua Xiong.

“I must make my name known until the day I die.”

Hua Xiong’s death would be a peaceful one, only after a lifetime of eradicating bandits, raising a son to become a general, and retiring.

＜ Wolf, Tiger, and (4) ＞ End

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