The Romance of the Three Kingdoms: Lu Bu is good at being filial - Chapter 57



＜ The Dead Hua Xiong and the Living Sun Jian (2) ＞

Morning.

The base camp of the anti-Dong Zhuo coalition army, on the hill.

“A festival and a funeral are being held at the same time.”

Cao Cao climbed to the top of the hill, raising his voice for others to hear as he scanned the surroundings.

“Isn’t that right?”

“…….”

One of the armed men standing behind Cao Cao, Wen Chou, did not respond.

He just stared ahead with a grim face, not uttering a single word in reply to Cao Cao.

“Tsk. Fine. Let’s see how long you won’t answer.”

Cao Cao, ignoring Wen Chou’s attitude, pointed to the various military camps.

“Funerals. They are being held all over the allied army camps. Even in Tao Qian’s camp, which lost its commander, Zhou Biao of the Danyang soldiers.”

Under the flag bearing Tao Qian’s name, where only a green cloth for the original emblem should be fluttering, a white mourning flag announcing someone’s death was waving.

“So many ordinary soldiers have died, but they hold a grander funeral for a renowned general.”

“…….”

“Well, it’s only natural. The death of a general is more significant than the death of the third son of the Zhang family, who farmed in Xuzhou. The general’s funeral essentially represents the dead.”

Cao Cao clicked his tongue and smiled bitterly.

“Hey. Even though I’m currently detained by you, I can at least send a condolence message, right?”

“…….”

“Man. No matter how much you try to block everything, are you going to prevent me from showing respect to the dead? Are you going to stop me from mourning?”

“…Ugh.”

Wen Chou scratched the back of his neck as if it was a headache.

“Go tell Yuan Shao. This Cao Mengde will write a condolence message.”

“……Soldier.”

Wen Chou called a soldier and gave instructions, while Cao Cao covered his mouth with one hand.

In front of the Shoushu Pass, the Battle of Hulao.

Is it a victory for the anti-Dong Zhuo coalition?

At least in terms of defeating Hua Xiong, it can be considered a victory for the coalition.

Then, could any ‘warlord’ in the coalition hold a festival based on that victory?

“Raaah!!”

At least not for one warlord.

“Calm down, calm down!!”

“Ugh!! Yuan Shao! Leader!!”

Cao Cao saw someone coming up the hill, ready to go berserk.

“Yuan Shao! Listen, Lord! I will immediately lead the soldiers back to Shoushu Pass and honor the spirits of my dead subordinates!!”

Sun Jian had lost two of his subordinates.

“I will avenge my subordinates with my own hands!!”

As far as Cao Cao remembered, Zhou Mu and Han Dang were dead, and he heard that a man named Cheng Pu had his shoulder damaged.

“Two of his limbs are cut off and one is injured.”

If they were Sun Jian’s limbs, half of them were gone.

“Sun Jian’s loss is immense. All he gained was the head of Wu Si and one arm of Hua Xiong.”

“…….”

“How about you go and stop him too? Yan Liang is down there dealing with Sun Jian right now.”

One of the two generals watching Cao Cao, Yan Liang, was dealing with the rampaging Sun Jian.

“Ahhh! Han Dang!! Zhou Mu!! How could you leave so vainly!!”

“Please, calm down…!”

“Get out of my way! I must get the Lord’s promise immediately! I am the one to advance to Shoushu Pass!”

Sun Jian was rampaging.

As if to honor the spirits of his dead subordinates, he pointed and shouted towards the Lord’s camp where Yuan Shao was.

“I will find Hua Xiong and Dong Zhuo, behead them, and honor the spirits of my subordinates─!”

Dong Zhuo had fled.

Even Hua Xiong had fled.

“The one on the red horse too!”

To be precise, someone had snatched Hua Xiong in the dark.

“……Heh.”

Cao Cao barely held back a laugh.

“Khuh, heup.”

Holding back the laugh like holding back tears, Cao Cao closed his eyes and thought about who the red horse general Sun Jian was talking about.

“No, I can’t. Khuh.”

He didn’t know what the red horse story was about, but he had a guess.

“Khuh…. Hoo. Haa.”

To be precise, about the existence of a general who grabbed Hua Xiong by the back of his neck in the dark and retreated to Shoushu Pass like a storm.

Cao Cao wiped his eyes with his sleeve.

“Isn’t it truly confusing? It’s not like Hua Xiong used any magic, but there’s a rumor that Hua Xiong saved Hua Xiong and fled.”

“…Hmph.”

Wen Chou snorted but did not deny Cao Cao’s words.

“In the darkness, the only thing that countless soldiers saw was a single trajectory like a red comet.”

Hua Xiong, riding a red horse, saved Hua Xiong.

The reason for such an absurd rumor is that there was Hua Xiong fighting at the rearguard against Sun Jian, and another Hua Xiong guarding the gate of Sishui Pass.

There isn’t just one Hua Xiong on the battlefield.

Cao Cao knew there was only one Hua Xiong, but in yesterday’s battle, there were clearly two Hua Xiongs in different places.

“Wen Chou, what do you think?”

“What do you mean, what do I think? The Hua Xiong who lost an arm is the real one, and the Hua Xiong guarding the wall is the fake.”

Wen Chou finally couldn’t hold back and answered.

“Even just listening to the soldiers, you can tell that much. Hmph.”

“Then, if you compare the fake Hua Xiong to the real Hua Xiong, who do you think is stronger?”

“…….”

Cao Cao knew the answer.

More precisely, he had a guess.

But he did not voice that guess.

“For now, it seems we can definitely defeat Sun Jian.”

“Graaah!!”

Sun Jian’s anguished roar echoed throughout the allied camp.

“Send me, send me to the battlefield! Now!!”

“Please calm down, Lord Sun Jian!”

“Move aside! I must go to Yuan Shao, graaah!!”

The only reason Yan Liang could somewhat restrain Sun Jian with his body was that Sun Jian was very exhausted.

“Yuan Shao must be truly troubled. There are so many lords who want to capture Sishui Pass.”

Cao Cao turned his gaze from Sun Jian to Yuan Shao’s tent.

“While Sun Jian’s camp is mourning the loss of two generals, those over there are having a festival over who will capture Sishui Pass!”

Several lords were gathered together.

“This is Liu Dai, the Governor of Yanzhou! I will capture Sishui Pass and achieve merit.”

“Haha, calm down. Capturing the gate is not an easy task. This is Bao Xin….”

“The southern lord has stepped forward, so wouldn’t it be better for the northern lord to step forward this time? Now, I, Hanbok of Giju…”

Now is the chance.

“Ah, well, it’s unfortunate, but… war isn’t something you do alone. Ahem.”

“Tsk tsk. Everyone is excited because they defeated Hwaung.”

The only variable.

The mysterious warrior who disappeared with Hwaung like the wind.

“Hey, Wenchu. If you or Anryang fight Hwaung, who would win? Is it still a matter of seconds?”

“Of course!”

Wenchu snorted and answered loudly.

“The only one who can face me, Wenchu, and Anryang is that Yeobongseon!”

“Ah, is that so. Such great strength. Impressive.”

Cao Cao clapped briefly towards Wenchu, who raised his head, and then smiled at a man coming out of the military tent.

“Isn’t this the lord who is struggling to read the lords’ minds?”

“…….”

Yuan Shao, looking exhausted, glared at Cao Cao, but Cao Cao glanced at Sun Jian and the other lords.

“What are you going to do? Surely you don’t want my opinion?”

“Where is your brother?”

“My brother? Haha, if you mean Cao Hong, he’s probably busy making money right now, and Yuan Yang and Miao Zai are-.”

“Not that brother. Your cousin, Cao Zixiao.”

“…….”

Cao Cao’s face hardened for a moment.

“Where have you hidden your most cherished shield, ‘Cao Ren’?”

“…Hidden? I’m here, and the lord has influence over our Cao family. What am I supposed to do?”

“……Fine. You’ll find out eventually.”

Yuan Shao gritted his teeth and sighed.

“Today, we will capture Sasu Pass.”

“Oh. Are you planning to send Sun Jian?”

“There are many who want to make a contribution, so I will send someone else first. But since it’s a pass, it won’t be easily captured even if another lord steps forward. The turn will come to many.”

“Haha, and then you’ll send Sun Jian to take over the weakened Sasu Pass? The tiger will just leap over the pass to see blood.”

“If he’s hungry for revenge, he should do that. But… you know, don’t you?”

Yuan Shao approached Cao Cao.

“The one who impersonated Hua Xiong on the wall and killed generals with a spear, or the warrior who saved Hua Xiong riding that red horse.”

“How would I know that? More importantly, there’s a messenger running over there.”

The place Cao Cao pointed to had Yuan Shao’s messenger running frantically.

“Messenger─! Sishui Pass has opened!”

“…What?”

“Sishui Pass has opened?”

“An enemy general has come out on horseback!”

“One person, who!”

“That, that is.”

Under Yuan Shao’s urging, the messenger whispered softly.

“…It’s Hua Xiong.”

“?”

“?”

* * *

Dong, dong, dong.

At noon, when the sun was high in the sky.

Under the command of the coalition leader Yuan Shao, all soldiers and lords, except for the reserve troops left in the main camp, gathered in front of Sishui Pass.

“Is it Hua Xiong?”

“It seems like Hua Xiong.”

In front of Sishui Pass, a single warrior was mounted on a horse, holding a Mi Tian Dao in his right hand.

Even behind him, on the wall, Hua Xiong’s military flag was fluttering.

“Is it Hua Xiong?”

“They said his arm was cut off?”

“It looks like he’s holding a weapon with one arm now?”

The lords recalled information about Hua Xiong and discussed whether the enemy in front of them was Hua Xiong or not.

“Hey. Call your commander. Didn’t you see Hua Xiong guarding Dong Zhuo last night?”

“What do you think?”

“The armor is different. It looks similar, but there are no scars.”

“Ah, he must have changed into spare armor!”

The appearance is almost indistinguishable.

“His left arm? Wasn’t it cut off?”

“Cut off? I heard it was almost cut off, wasn’t it?”

“…Seeing that his left arm is loose, it seems he really came out with one arm.”

The peculiar thing is that he doesn’t have a left arm.

“Indeed, has Hua Xiong lost his left arm!”

“Even with such a body, to come out and fight with one arm, how could Dong Zhuo command such loyalty from a fierce general…!!”

“No, no, it can’t be Hua Xiong, right?”

The warlords swallowed their saliva.

It was not easy to look beyond the pass because of the weight of Hua Xiong, who was entirely clad in black.

“First, let’s set up a temporary camp….”

“Here? With the pass right in front of us? Just beyond that gate is Hulao Pass!”

“Ugh…!”

The warlords, unable to dismount, looked at the pass.

The number of soldiers on the wall was fewer than expected, and only Hua Xiong had come out of the fortress, wielding a large sword and riding a horse.

“Can’t see his face. Is he wearing… a mask?”

“It’s not a mask. It looks like bandages. It looks like his face is wrapped in cloth.”

“Only his eyes are barely visible…. Before feeling suffocated, does he intend to fight like that?”

The warlords couldn’t understand.

“Is he an immortal monster?”

“No, it’s not Hua Xiong!”

Especially those warlords who had seen or heard of Hua Xiong fighting couldn’t believe that the figure standing so proudly before them was him.

“Sun Jian fought so hard, and yet Hua Xiong comes out looking perfectly fine?”

“Ah, well, the dead Hua Xiong was a fake Hua Xiong….”

“Don’t complicate things with such nonsense! That’s not Hua Xiong!”

“What makes you think so?”

“Just a feeling!”

“…….”

If there was one fortunate thing.

“Where is Sun Jian?”

“I heard he collapsed from exhaustion. If he hears the news, he’ll rush out again.”

When he hears that Hua Xiong has appeared, the person who would flip his eyes and rush out is not here now.

“Sigh. That’s why you should think about sharing the military achievements.”

“Excess is as bad as deficiency. Sun Jian has already cut off Hua Xiong’s arm and established military achievements, so he should know satisfaction and retreat!”

“Of course. We can’t let Sun Jian fight alone. Hehe.”

The lords’ gazes turn to one person.

“Leader! This time, I will defeat Hua Xiong!”

“Please send me! I will defeat Hua Xiong and elevate your honor!”

Not only the lords but also the warriors around them look at the leader, Yuan Shao, with burning eyes.

“Now, now. Calm down.”

Yuan Shao pointed forward.

“It seems that Dong Zhuo has entrusted Sishuiguan to the dead Hua Xiong. Looking at the soldiers on the wall, they seem much fewer than the number reported in the midnight battle.”

As Yuan Shao said, the number of soldiers on the wall was very small.

“Surely, they abandoned Sishuiguan and retreated to Hulaoguan. It seems they sent Hua Xiong alone to die as a warrior, so we must not miss this opportunity.”

“So who are you going to send?”

“Is there any need to match the enemy’s tactics? Let’s just advance all at once-“

“Hahaha!!”

Interrupting Yuan Shao’s words, someone started laughing madly.

“Who is that…?”

“Cao Mengde?”

“Unbelievable!”

Cao Cao, who had appeared on horseback, stood next to Yuan Shao and laughed heartily.

“Trying to oppress a warrior with one arm by everyone rushing in! There’s a limit to cowardice!”

“Talking about cowardice on the battlefield….”

“He came out to the battlefield alone. Whether many attack him or he dies in a duel, Hua Xiong will die there.”

As Cao Cao pointed forward, Hua Xiong was slowly moving his horse in a circle without even holding the reins.

“A perfect opportunity to defeat Hua Xiong with one warrior and crush his desperate struggle. As the leader, you should show the decisiveness to choose exactly who to give that opportunity to, right?”

“Haha. General-in-chief. Are you here to help or to interfere?”

“Well, you know.”

Cao Cao shrugged his shoulders.

“The one who moves to overthrow Dong Zhuo and revive the Han dynasty!”

Yuan Shao laughed menacingly at Cao Cao, but soon changed his expression and looked up at the lords.

“Alright, everyone. Who will step forward to deal with the ghostly general of the false emperor?”

The lords glanced at each other.

When Yuan Shao proposed it, they all seemed to be trying to pass the first opportunity to someone else.

Just fighting Hua Xiong was daunting, as his momentum was formidable.

“Alright. Then I shall make a request.”

A request in name, but a command in essence.

“Governor Han Fu, how about you step forward?”

“W-what? Ah, well, I suppose I could….”

Han Fu, who was pointed out by Yuan Shao, was startled and looked around.

“Can you do it?”

“Of course, my lord!”

A warrior standing next to Han Fu grabbed the large axe strapped to his back with one hand and raised it high.

“This ‘Splitting Mountain Axe’ is thirsty for blood! I will behead Hua Xiong and Dong Zhuo with this axe!”

“What is your name, General?”

“I am Ban Feng, my lord!”

The warrior with the axe, Ban Feng, nodded deeply towards Yuan Shao.

“Good. Go ahead.”

“Thank you, my lord! With this axe, I will sever Hua Xiong’s remaining arm and neck, and elevate my lord’s name! Hyah!!”

Ban Feng ran with the axe in one hand.

Thud, thud, thud.

Ban Feng charged forward, while Hua Xiong stood still, slowly lifting his sword with one hand.

“Come, Hua Xiong!! This Splitting Mountain Axe thirsts for your blood!!”

Swinging the axe with both hands, Ban Feng rode his horse and swung the axe at Hua Xiong in one swift motion.

Whoosh!

The axe sliced through the air.

“You, you dodged-“

At the moment he thought he had to turn his horse around, Ban Feng saw it.

“What…?”

His body, which had swung the axe through the air, was returning to the main camp along with his horse.

Roll.

Banbong’s world turned upside down.

* * *

Enemy general Banbong, defeated.

‘As expected, swinging the Mijeomdo with one hand feels awkward.’

The one-armed warrior, Hwaung, appeared with his face wrapped in bandages.

Of course, it’s not Hwaung, it’s me.

I wore Hwaung’s armor, rode Hwaung’s horse, and carried Hwaung’s spare Mijeomdo, but the core is me.

‘I should have wrapped more bandages around my left arm.’

It’s not easy to swing a long-bladed Wol-do (Moon Blade) with one hand, let alone a sword.

‘I have to finish this in one move.’

After gripping the middle of the Wol-do again, I kicked the horse’s side to adjust the direction.

‘It’s definitely easier to fight while revealing my identity.’

They thought it was Hwaung.

But it turned out to be Lu Bu.

If I want to reveal myself like this-

‘At least someone as strong as Hwaung should come out.’

At this rate, the one-armed warrior Hwaung will end up cutting down all the warriors of the lords.

“Uwaaa─!”

Another warrior charges.

“I, Moksun, will face you!!”

A warrior with a spear.

I know him.

“…….”

He doesn’t speak.

Instead, he swings the Mijeomdo over his shoulder, and as Moksun approaches-

Puhwa─ak!!

From noble mtl dot com

Along with the spear, he slashes the enemy’s chest.

“What, this…!”

“The Black Mountain bandit who fled when Jeongwon died is already here.”

“!!”

In a small voice that the lords couldn’t hear, I aimed my Miteomdo at Moksun, whose chest was cut through his armor.

“You, you b-“

Thunk.

“Not enough.”

Before Moksun could utter any more useless words, I swiftly beheaded him.

“You cannot bring out the me that is suppressed in this left arm.”

Thump, thump, thump.

The drum sounded.

In time with that sound, I raised my Miteomdo and aimed its tip precisely at the center of the allied forces.

‘Come out. Anyone.’

Is there truly no one?

‘At this rate, Hwaung will kill them all.’

Releasing the seal on my left arm, which I had hidden as if there was no one, so that not Hwaung but Lu Bu could appear.

‘Someone, please come out-‘

“Raaargh──!!”

With a roar, a warrior suddenly burst out, hair disheveled and without a helmet.

“Hwaung!!!”

A madman charging while shouting Hwaung’s name.

If it weren’t for the red battle robe fluttering behind him, no one would have thought that murderous man was ‘Sun Jian.’

“Hmm.”

Sun Jian.

A figure who had made great contributions during the Yellow Turban Rebellion.

‘He almost killed Hwaung.’

If I hadn’t shot an arrow to deflect the sword tip, that sword would have pierced Hwaung’s neck.

‘In that case.’

“Die─!!”

As Sun Jian swung his sword at me, I gripped my Miteomdo short and thrust forward.

Clang!

“?!?!”

At the moment when the tip of the sword precisely met the tip of the Mijeomdo, blocking the first strike, Son Gyeon and I locked eyes.

“Hwa… Woong…?”

“Did you think it was Hwa Woong?”

“It’s not… Hwa Woong?”

“Son Gyeon.”

Crack, crack.

“Though my condition is not great.”

Tearing off the cloth that was fixing my left arm with force, I gripped the Mijeomdo with both hands.

“There is no lack in using my left arm.”

＜ The Dead Hwa Woong and the Living Son Gyeon (2) ＞ End

ⓒ Byeolgok Latte