The Romance of the Three Kingdoms: Lu Bu is good at being filial - Chapter 67



＜ The Setting Star Over Luoyang (3) ＞

“Why must Liu Bei die? There are countless reasons, but let me put it simply for you, older brother.”

Chosun speaks.

“You must kill Yu Bi for your brother’s prestige to stand. As a general, as the Grand General of the World.”

“Not only am I not the Grand General of the World, but that prestige—”

“Brother, you are not just some nameless warrior or soldier of a minor command. You may think otherwise, but you are already a representative of a significant political force.”

“Am I a political force?”

“Yes.”

Without realizing it, my voice rises.

“I have no intention of getting close to politics.”

“You may have wished to distance yourself from politics, but it is already too late to turn back from the moment you entered Luoyang from the commandery.”

That’s right.

If I had intended to avoid involvement in Luoyang, I should have returned to the commandery immediately after cutting down the traitorous garden.

“The nail that sticks out gets hammered down. A sharp object in your pocket will eventually be revealed. You have been, as the officials of the court’s clean faction say… an exceedingly ideal ‘loyal minister’ to them.”

And perhaps I should have never descended from the commandery.

“Even going so far as to become a general and participate in the defense against the anti-Dong Zhuo coalition.”

Chosun steps back and crosses her arms.

“You need to take a moment to reflect on the status of the general. Not as an individual, but as the ‘loyal minister’ Lü Bu in the eyes of the people.”

“How do people see me?”

“Invincible God.”

“Isn’t that just something people say as a matter of course?”

“No.”

Chosun asserts.

“You may not care much about the stories of the people of Luoyang, but you are, in this land of Luoyang, akin to a divine being.”

“What an exaggerated statement.”

“Do you think the title ‘Invincible God’ is just something that attaches to a person’s name like a nickname?”

A nickname.

“I was just struggling not to lose.”

“In the end, you have won everything. Most people hope that the myth of your consecutive victories continues.”

“That’s an illusion. It’s just a mirage.”

“But it exists, doesn’t it?”

Chosun clears her throat and places her hand on her chest.

“Do not let the enemy know of my death.”

“Suddenly, those words—”

“If that general were to be defeated, how would those behind him feel?”

“That’s an exaggeration.”

My face burns.

I can assert this from my side.

“I’m not such a great figure. It’s a leap. What are you trying to do to me right now?”

“I’m speaking seriously. The first person that came to mind when I thought of a metaphor was that person. It’s easy to talk about someone who loses all the time, but when it comes to someone who wins all the time, there are only a few examples, so what else can I say?”

I feel guilty.

It’s my shoulder that’s pricked, but my face burns so much that I can’t stand it.

“I—”

“Even if you don’t think so, people see you that way. The people living in this Luoyang land.”

“…Me? Like that?”

“Yes. But think about it for a moment.”

Chosun lightly scuffs the floor with her foot.

“A general who seemed like he would never be defeated on any battlefield has returned with such wounds. Not even staying behind the Holo Pass, but all the way to Luoyang. I’m glad I can talk because of that, but because the general has come to Luoyang, the atmosphere here is the worst right now.”

“That.”

I interrupted Chosun.

“Can you say it a bit shorter? The way you’re talking is just like those teachers over there.”

“Teachers? …Are you talking about Sun Yu and Jia Hu?”

“……How?”

“Just a guess.”

Chosun puffs out her chest proudly.

I quietly turn my head to the side.

“Alright. I’ll get to the point as much as possible.”

Chosun walks with her hands behind her back and then approaches me again.

“You are the hope of the people of Luoyang.”

“…….”

“Just like you protected the people while fighting against the bandits in Bingzhou, the people of Luoyang have taken you as their hope and believe in you.”

Hope.

It’s just a word, yet in an instant, my shoulders feel heavy.

“Have I betrayed that faith?”

“Yes. The belief that we would never lose. The belief that the invincible god would save us. The belief that we would kill any traitors that came our way.”

Chosun looks at me.

“Killing Yu Bi is due to people’s expectations. Because Yu Bi has stabbed the invincible myth of your brother with a knife. It’s like piercing the hopes of the people. Therefore, the ‘fact’ that Yu Bi is dead is necessary. For those who believe in the general’s invincible myth while looking at the general’s back.”

“……I never said I would carry such hope.”

“It may be unpleasant, but I told you. Your brother has already accomplished such tremendous feats that people cannot help but see him that way. He can truly be called a ‘hero’ alive.”

“That’s cringeworthy.”

It feels like my hands and feet are entangled like an octopus.

“Many people have casually spoken of heroes and great men, but I have never once thought of myself as a hero or anything like that.”

“Then what did your brother think of himself?”

“A human weapon that kills thieves without exception.”

I tried to live that way.

This time, it went a bit awry.

“A weapon…”

Chosun looks at me with a stiff expression.

“Why did you choose to live such a life?”

“Because my parents, who gave birth to me in this land, were murdered by thieves.”

“Ah.”

“I took my revenge on them when I grew up, but the thieves never ceased. So, since my strength is greater than others, I fought and fought with the thought of killing all the thieves to eliminate them.”

“…I’m sorry. I didn’t know that.”

Chosun puts her hands together and apologizes politely.

From noble mtl dot com

“…But still, I will continue to speak my mind.”

I roughly understood.

The personality of this woman named Chosun.

‘She’s quite straightforward.’

Even if she apologizes, she’s a woman who speaks her mind.

“Your brother may not have intended it, but he is living the life of a hero. Living the life of a hero doesn’t necessarily mean being righteous from infancy. A wealthy man who enjoyed pleasures and lived a debauched life may be kidnapped one day, shocked, and then grow into a hero, sacrificing himself to save the world.”

…Is it my delusion that she seems to want to pour out everything she’s been wanting to say to me?

“Shorter, please.”

I raised my right hand and pretended to cut with scissors, and Chosun puffed her cheeks for a moment before shaking her head briefly from side to side.

“Yes. I’m sorry. Ahem. Then… if it seems too long, just let it slip by.”

“Are you warning me that you’ll say everything you want to say?”

“Do you know how frustrating it is among people who don’t understand each other?”

“Am I your personal complaint box?”

“…Isn’t it usually called a bamboo grove?”

“Bamboo grove?”

Ah.

“I see. Did you also need a place to say someone has donkey ears?”

“Hey.”

“I understand. But if you keep talking like that, your throat will hurt, so at least be conscious of it and try to keep it short.”

“……Tsk.”

Chosun clicked her teeth up and down—

“Look at this?”

“Ah! Th-that’s not it!”

I grabbed Chosun’s head again.

“You’re not saying that because you know what I was trying to say, right?”

“I-I was just loosening my mouth! I absolutely didn’t mean to click my teeth together!”

“Really? Your heart is starting to race, and your eyes are rolling quickly?”

“Th-that’s…!!”

Chosun scanned my body and raised both hands.

“I’m sorry, brother. Could you please let go of this hand?”

“If you promise to keep it short, I’ll let go.”

“…Yes.”

At Chosun’s response, I released my hand.

“Haah. Alright. First, I want to know what kind of person you are, so I’ll ask a few questions.”

“Questions?”

“Yes. Just answer the questions as they come to mind. There’s no need to think too hard about it.”

“Um….”

Exchanging words with idioms or quoting the sayings of ancient sages and asking ‘What do you think?’ feels a bit burdensome.

‘Still, I don’t think they’ll ask something like that.’

Whether it’s true or not, they’re much younger than me.

“First question.”

Chosun takes a deep breath.

“Let’s assume that the Anti-Dongtak Alliance has invaded, and we have to abandon Luoyang and flee. However, the people are gathering their belongings and clinging to you, brother.”

“……?”

Not a classical idiom, but about the future?

“So, what will you do, brother? Will you abandon the people and leave?”

“Of course, I have to protect them and take them with me.”

It’s a question that seems obvious.

“Next question. The pursuers are coming, and the people’s pace is slow. Will you leave the people behind and use them as a shield to prevent the enemy from chasing you?”

“That’s insane. I will do everything I can to stop them.”

Chosun seemed a bit surprised by my words but soon nodded vigorously.

“Yes. Good. Now, a slightly different scenario.”

Chosun rests their chin on their hand and rolls their eyes.

“Let’s assume you have children, brother. Oh, did you ever have children?”

“……No.”

“Oh, then the analogy doesn’t work….”

Chosun scratches their head.

“Ah. That would be better. In a situation where everyone is fleeing, you alone must hold back hundreds of thousands of troops. There is a bridge in front of you. Will you hold that bridge alone?”

“That’s an extension of the previous question, and if I can save everyone by holding that bridge.”

“Even if it means you might die?”

“No matter what, I wouldn’t think of dying, so I would fight until the last moment and then retreat.”

Hmm.

“If there is something I must protect at the cost of my life, then I would fight and die for it.”

So far, I haven’t found anything like that.

“…….”

“Why do you look at me like that?”

“Oh, it’s just. Hmm. I definitely feel like you’re not the kind of being I know.”

“…I think you’re talking about ‘Yeobongseon’.”

I was slightly curious.

“What kind of person do you think Yeopo is?”

“…It would come as a huge shock if you knew.”

“Tell me… Ah, no. Don’t do that.”

I immediately waved my hand.

“It might just give me a headache for no reason.”

“Uh… Do you know about that?”

“I heard a bit from Wang Yun, and I also went through similar pain.”

“…Wow!!”

Chosun clapped her hands and jumped up and down in place.

“You know that damn headache! It’s so bad that every time I feel like throwing up, I want to kill someone…!”

“…….”

“…I’m sorry. Ahem.”

If the expression ‘loudmouth’ were to take form, it would be exactly her.

“Still, to put it as gently as possible… Hmm.”

Chosun tapped her forehead with her finger for a moment.

“Are you going to covet your subordinate’s wife, brother?”

“That’s crazy talk.”

“Are you going to plunder for wealth and kill people, brother?”

“I would never do that.”

“Are you going to ignore what others say and just brush it off, brother?”

“If it’s the words of a fool, then yes, but if it’s advice that is vital, I should listen carefully.”

“Brother…”

Chosun cautiously opened her mouth, glancing at me.

“Are you going to betray those you have served like your father for your own gain and serve someone else as your father?”

“Absolutely not.”

I placed my hand on my chest as I answered.

“Even if the heavens were to split apart, that would never happen.”

“Who is your father now, brother? Is it the Emperor?”

“No.”

“…You said that in front of the emperor, didn’t you?”

“That’s because if I don’t say it that way, I’ll be branded a traitor and killed. Hmm. Chosun.”

I pressed my finger to my lips.

“It’s a secret in other places. Huh. I feel like I’ve finally vomited out something that’s been stuck inside me for ten years.”

There are times when I talk only to Song Huwi, Zhang Liao, and the like.

“It doesn’t matter who becomes the Son of Heaven or the emperor. Even if I don’t hope for a golden age, it would be nice if anyone could sit on the throne without chaos or bandits running rampant, living in a peaceful world where we can eat and survive.”

“That.”

Chosun became aware of her surroundings.

“There’s no one outside. If you scream, no one will hear you.”

“Well, you know.”

Chosun approached me and whispered in my ear.

“Are you going to unify the world?”

“…….”

“Oh. Correction. Are you going to become the emperor?”

“Emperor? What kind of ridiculous talk is that?”

Chosun is saying something that should be coming from Sunyu or Gahu.

“Becoming an emperor means sitting on the throne all day, not being able to eat or sleep properly, and living your whole life watching others’ faces.”

“…….”

“In that case, it’s better to live in a place with good water and air, where I can wash my hair and body every day.”

“……What?”

Chosun opened her mouth in surprise.

“What did you just say…?”

“Hehehe.”

It made me laugh to see Chosun looking dazed for the first time.

“After all, you found bathing uncomfortable too, didn’t you?”

Regardless of gender, modern people would find the bathing practices of this era unpleasant.

“In my house, we have clean water that overflows, enough to wash our bodies once a day.”

You might think it’s a childish boast, but clean water is a decades-long achievement of mine that I can never brag enough about.

“Even if you drink water that has been boiled and cooled, there’s no dirt left. You don’t need to suppress any strange smells with tea water. From the start, washing is—”

“Brother.”

Chosun approached me from behind and began to gently knead one of my shoulders.

“Um, I could be of help to you, brother.”

“Mm.”

“Since my path to marriage is blocked anyway, could you possibly take me to Byeongju?”

“You were just talking about whether or not to kill Yu Bi, and now your attitude has changed in the blink of an eye?”

“It’s all just to live comfortably, you know.”

“Mm.”

As expected.

“You want to wash up more comfortably, right?”

“Yes.”

“That’s right.”

If there were signs of having completely given up like a beggar, it would be one thing, but seeing that Chosun developed soap by selling knowledge to Wang Yun shows her determination is quite strong.

“Alright. Returning to Byeongju will be after the work in Luoyang is done. After that, I will invite you to my home.”

“Thank you, brother.”

For a moment, it felt like I was inhaling the nostalgia of the past.

And now it was time to set that past aside and return to reality.

“So, back to the main topic.”

I grabbed Chosun’s hand that was massaging my shoulder.

“Yu Bi.”

“Mm, to be honest, we do need to kill others besides Yu Bi.”

“?”

I was going to ask something else, but a more extreme opinion came out than I expected.

“Who else?”

“Guan Yu, Zhang Fei.”

“…….”

It’s not easy to kill even one, let alone all three.

“Wang Su, Sun Jian, Gong Sun Chan….”

“Uh?”

“Po Xin, Gong Yong, Han Bok, and….”

“Wait. Are you saying we have to kill all eighteen lords?”

“Yes.”

Chosun nodded her head vigorously.

“…Are you the type who would kill everyone if things go wrong?”

“No. I believe it’s better to save them if possible.”

“But?”

“Right now, at this moment, they are traitors who have rebelled against the government.”

Chosun’s words hit me like a blow to the back of the head.

“Why?”

“What do you mean, why?”

“Among them… um, that is to say.”

What should I say?

“Aren’t there some who are too precious to kill?”

“There are. Many. Just think of Yu Gwan-jang and others like him.”

“But why?”

“Both my brother and I hope that this country can maintain its peace, while they are trying to destroy it and throw the world into chaos.”

Chosun replied in a serious tone.

“If the war continues, even eating, washing, and sleeping will become uncomfortable. Before I was taken in by Wang Yun, I had to survive by boiling grass porridge, you know?”

“You’ve had a hard time.”

“Thank you. That’s why I don’t want to experience that kind of pain again. Even if I can’t eat my fill, at least I don’t want to feel like I want to die from hunger and thirst.”

A hint of venom flowed from Chosun’s eyes.

“That’s why I don’t want to be swept away by the chaos of people dying in the capital because of the war.”

“I’m the same.”

Both Chosun and I share a clear connection as those who have fallen into this era.

“Therefore, General Liou should have killed them. It would be the fastest way to stabilize the world.”

“Um….”

“Why do you say that?”

“Have you ever killed a person?”

“…….”

Chosun closed her mouth.

“You can kill a million troops with words. But killing a person directly is not an easy thing.”

“However.”

“I have killed quite a few people. But they were all bandits. To be honest, I don’t really like fighting and all that.”

“…….”

Chosun suddenly furrows her brows.

“Why?”

“No, it’s just that I feel like Leopo is Leopo.”

“…….”

“Alright. I can’t just force someone to kill indiscriminately. The current situation is treasonous, but depending on the person, they could be summoned by the court and given an official position.”

“Is that among the lords?”

“Yes. For example, someone like Gong Yong from the North Sea.”

“That descendant of Confucius?”

“Yes. You know him?”

I know a little.

Because he is said to be a living descendant of Confucius.

“I know what I know. It just seems like you think I don’t know much.”

“I get the feeling. Hmm….”

Chosun scans me up and down with a serious expression.

“So, what you’re saying is that even dog poop can be used as medicine, right?”

“What does dog poop have to do with a girl?”

“It’s a metaphor, a metaphor. So, are we saying we should recycle trash too?”

“We should distinguish between burnable and non-burnable trash and recycle as much as we can. Until it reaches a level where it has to be discarded completely, we should fix it and reuse it over and over.”

“I understand. Well… to be honest, if it comes to killing someone, I only need to kill one person in the end.”

“One person? Who?”

“There’s someone.”

Chosun said with a teasing tone.

“A notorious unfilial child.”

“Um….”

“There’s a person who even tried to kill his own brother out of jealousy. …Well, depending on how one grows up, whether to kill or not is something to think about, so let’s put this off for now.”

Chosun waved her hand and stepped back.

“Brother. While I’ve been stuck here unable to go out every day, I’ve thought of about two ways to dismantle the current coalition forces.”

“Are you saying you could become a strategist?”

“Even if I’m not a strategist, I’ve had my share of fights with many people using the concept of ‘if’. It’s a scheme born from experience.”

Chosun mimicked moving her ten fingers.

“What is it?”

“One is that you, brother, will gather your weapons again and head back to the battlefield.”

Chosun moved as if wielding a sword in a dramatic play.

“A step back for an advance of eighteen steps. Only three generals dared to compare themselves to me; there is no one who can challenge the invincible god. I am the true unrivaled of the Three Kingdoms… no, the world.”

“So, you just go back to the battlefield and kill them all?”

“Yes. This is how you become a hero again, brother.”

“Hmm…”

He closed his eyes for a moment.

And as if to infuse consciousness into the blood flowing through him, he checked the condition of his entire body.

“If it’s because of the wounds—”

“A week.”

“What?”

“If you want to fight in your best condition again, you need to apply herbs and rest for about a week.”

“……Is a week enough?”

“Yes.”

He clenched his injured left hand tightly once.

“That should be sufficient.”

“…I have another plan. However, this method will draw attention to someone other than you, brother.”

“Will that be enough to immediately disrupt the coalition forces?”

“Yes. Perhaps, at least those learned men like Gong Yong… those who understand righteousness might withdraw from the coalition.”

For some reason, his ears perked up.

“What is it?”

“But if you do that—”

“I don’t care. As long as we can dismantle the rebels. …But it wouldn’t be something extremely malicious and inhumane, would it?”

“Nothing like that. Yuan Shao… might hurl insults, though.”

“Yuan Shao?”

“Yes. Well, thinking about it, your prestige might not be damaged that much?”

“?”

“Just send one person. To Horoguan. If Horoguan has been occupied… just bring someone to the gates of Luoyang and have them shout.”

“Who?”

“You know. The one person in Luoyang who would be the most terrified of Yuan Shao.”

“Is there really only one such person—”

The most.

“…I’ll just go to Yuan’s place for a moment.”

“Please take some honey water with you.”