The Romance of the Three Kingdoms: Lu Bu is good at being filial - Chapter 69



＜ The Setting Star Over Luoyang (5) ＞

It has been four days since the battle with the legendary warrior, Lu Bu.

Four days have passed since Lu Bu retreated, but Yuan Shao was not feeling particularly good.

Because the Holo Pass had not opened.

Dong Zhuo was alternating with Xie Yang, commanding the soldiers from the gate and fighting.

They seemed to be waiting for something, and I could catch glimpses of their irritation at the delay.

Could it be reinforcements?

If so, we must capture the Holo Pass quickly before the reinforcements arrive.

They wouldn’t charge through the gates, but seeing Dong Zhuo desperately guarding the Holo Pass raised suspicions.

He is not that kind of person.

Dong Zhuo is strange.

However, this strangeness has taken a turn for the worse for the allied forces, and today the allied forces are also strange.

“Today, I will take the lead!”

“No, you must step back. This is…!”

The lords of the alliance are fervently arguing among themselves about who will open the Holo Pass.

It is certainly a strange situation, an ideal phenomenon.

Hwa-ung has not reappeared, whether dead or alive, and Yeopo has also retreated.

With Hwa-ung and Yeopo gone, surely the Holo Pass can be breached easily.

Everyone assumes I will break through the Holo Pass, but Yuan Shao merely lets out a hollow laugh.

Despite having been given several opportunities, not a single one has managed to breach the Holo Pass for days.

Dong Zhuo and Seoyoung are not opponents to be taken lightly.

Just because Yuan Shao defeated Seoyoung and Sun Jian defeated Hwa-ung, it does not mean that lords like Do-gyeom or Yu Biao can easily surpass the Holo Pass.

If the gates of the Holo Pass were to open, Yuan Shao would be greatly disappointed in Dong Zhuo and Seoyoung.

If it were to be breached by him, that would be one thing, but to think it could be so easily opened by such people.

“Your Grace.”

“What is it, Heo Yu?”

While I was gazing towards the Holo Pass, Heo Yu approached.

“Governor Zhang of Jinliu requests an audience with you.”

And if there is another complaint to be made.

“Welcome, Lord Zhang.”

“I have heard that some of the lords’ troops have plundered the farmers of Jinliu!!”

Public grievance.

The responsibility of the battlefield in Jinliu, the dispute with Lord Zhang.

“I may have stepped forward for the greater good, but I have never allowed my people to be plundered!”

Yuan Shao is responsible for the supplies of the allied forces.

However, as the leader of the army, the supply is always based on a fixed distribution.

It is common for those who want ‘more’ to act out of line as if they were on their own land.

“Ha, haha. Please calm down.”

It was expected, but the timing was not good.

“I will manage the soldiers who have plundered well. Which lord’s soldiers are they?”

“They are the soldiers of Gong Sun Chan!”

Of all people.

The soldiers who committed the act are also a presence that Yuan Shao must be careful with when wielding the authority of the leader.

“…I will speak well. Please do not be angry.”

“I will watch! Hmph!”

The curtain leaves with a snort.

Clearly, dissatisfaction flows from his steps.

In war, corpses are bound to appear.

If they are left to be ravaged by wild beasts in the wasteland or to prevent plague from emanating from the corpses, someone must naturally collect those bodies.

If left unattended, the land will become contaminated, and this land is ruled by the curtain.

It is said that quelling the discontent of the lords is the role of the leader, but Yuan Shao is also beginning to feel irritated.

“Really….”

“Leader!!”

“Isn’t it the visit of the Governor of Jizhou?”

Second. The visit of the Governor of Jizhou.

“Can I, can I slowly return?”

“Return? Where to?”

“Why, I feel uneasy for some reason.”

As winter passes and spring approaches, one of the lords hopes for a return to the main camp.

“The troops have suffered greatly, and I wonder if it is alright to keep the fortress empty like this.”

The Governor of Jizhou continues to show signs of anxiety, turning his eyes northward.

If only the leader’s ‘orders’ were given, he seems eager to cross the Yellow River and return to the fortress with soldiers immediately.

“The fortress is safe. Do not worry.”

“But.”

“There is a renowned general, Zhang He, there, isn’t there?”

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“Y-yes! There is Zhang He. There is indeed Zhang He, but….”

“No problem. Who would dare to target Jizhou? Especially in a situation where the Holo Pass is about to be breached.”

“Umm….”

Yuan Shao clenched his fist.

He tried hard to swallow the thought that, no matter what, Han Fu must not be allowed to go—

“General. I will send some of my soldiers to Jizhou.”

“Eh? Ah, is that really okay…?”

“It is a small number, not even a hundred. I will have them assess the situation in the fortress, and if it becomes dangerous, I will have them return immediately.”

“Uh, um… Leader. Can I really trust you? Is it truly okay to trust you? Right?”

“Of course, my lord.”

Wonso gently smoothed his hanbok, watching Hanbok leave while gazing north until the very end.

“Heyu.”

“Yes, my lord.”

“Send Goram to go as a messenger.”

“Yes.”

Wonso looked at the departing Hanbok with sunken eyes.

He walked forward without ever looking back, and Wonso barely suppressed a smile that was about to escape.

“There are truly many foolish people.”

The lords are only eighteen.

It is true that they are all capable enough to rise to the leadership of a region, but among them, some will inevitably fall behind.

Even if they were reckless lords before coming here, there are those who have sustained serious injuries during the battle.

“My lord. Another one is coming.”

“A wounded tiger.”

Minwon, the three of them.

While it is somewhat similar to the case of the Kijumok Hanbok, the justification here is not something that can be easily turned by the leader Wonso—

“Huh? Together with Yu Pyo…?”

“Leader.”

Yu Pyo appeared, bringing Sun Jian with him.

“Sun Gong’s injuries are severe, and I wish to send him and the generals to Jingzhou for a while.”

“Right now….”

“Though it is regrettable that I cannot go directly to Luoyang, it is a time to prioritize mental and physical stability. I wish to scatter the bones of my subordinates in the Yangtze River, so please understand.”

“Um….”

Yu Pyo scanned Sun Jian from top to bottom.

Though he was still in armor, the white cord tied around his shoulder seemed to serve as a substitute for mourning attire.

“I understand. Then I will….”

“No. I will personally guide Sun Gong.”

“You will do it yourself…?”

“Yes. Do not worry. My brother-in-law and General Chae Mo will remain here.”

“…Understood.”

Wonsu forced a smile and lowered his head.

“Lord Yu. Regarding our transaction….”

“Let’s discuss it separately in a letter later. Lord Son, let’s go.”

“…Hmm.”

Soon, Son Gyeon and Yu Pyo retreated together towards the Sasu Pass.

“Sigh….”

“My lord. Son Gyeon….”

“It seems Yu Pyo has managed to persuade him well.”

Son Gyeon took Yu Pyo’s hand.

This was the first time they had openly displayed such behavior, but even within the alliance, factions had begun to form.

Not merely the ceremonial factions of anti-Dongtak or rescuing Yeopo, but factions that genuinely spoke of ‘alliance.’

Wonsu was also forming his own faction, but it was regrettable that the tiger named Son Gyeon had crossed the wall.

“That’s enough. It seems your mind is already made up, so even if you wish to embrace it, it is too late. …There are more things to worry about than I thought.”

While it was something he had to do as the leader, Wonsu was taking on tasks that could be entrusted to others.

The biggest issue for the allied forces was the military supplies.

It would be better to leave it to someone else, but the leader himself was worrying about the distribution of supplies.

In the beginning, there were no major problems.

However, as they broke through the Sasu Pass and advanced to the Horo Pass, slight issues with the distribution of supplies began to arise.

Or perhaps it was just that those who had been living on the ground were starting to complain about their discomfort.

“The supplies are still sufficient, but slowly—”

“Lord, Lord!!”

Someone else was running towards them.

“What has happened!”

“No, is that not Lord Dogyeom?”

With a kind expression and a white beard, but with wounds and scratches between the strands of his beard, the lord—Governor of Seojoo, Dogyeom, rode in directly.

“If it is a matter of order—”

“Wonsul has appeared!!”

“…….”

Wonsu’s expression changed in an instant.

“Won-sul climbed up the walls of Horogwan and said…!”

“I don’t know what it is, but it’s definitely not true.”

Won-soo stepped forward with half-sunken eyes.

“I will go myself.”

* * *

[Some time ago.]

Whooosh.

The wind blows.

The walls of Horogwan’s gate are high, but today the wind seems to be blowing even stronger.

“Ugh, ugh….”

The man in splendid attire, Won-sul, trembled as he peeked down from the wall.

From the waist up, he looked impeccably dressed, but at his feet, there was a single shackled chain.

“What are you so worried about?”

“General Bi, it’s that.”

Won-sul turned his eyes towards me, hiding below the stairs.

“Is it really okay, right…?”

“Who brought you here? It was General Bi, Yeop.”

“Well, that’s true.”

“Look around.”

I pointed to the soldiers who had come up for Won-sul.

“They’re not from Yangju Army, but from Byeongju Army. Just like me, they are the ones who can deflect arrows flying towards you immediately.”

“That’s appreciated, but… in case of an emergency….”

“Trust the Byeongju Army. If you get hurt, it will only be from being startled and falling over or from the embarrassment of Won-soo making you so angry that you spit blood.”

“That can’t be…!!”

Won-sul immediately frowned and began to get angry.

“But will it really work if I say so?”

“I have received the Emperor’s approval, and the ministers have also agreed to this plan. The rest is for you to reveal their true faces with your lion’s roar.”

“…….”

Won-sul pressed down on his disheveled crown.

“Ah, I understand. Hoo. My… our future in the Luoyang family, and the Won family depends on this.”

Won-sul glanced at the shackles fastened to his feet.

It is a kind of judicial deal.

The stigma against the Won family will be partially erased, and the sentence for Won-sul’s personal crimes—violence against officials—will also be somewhat reduced.

“Do not forget. If this goes well, you will be recognized for your contributions and may return to your official position.”

“Yes, that’s right. This Won-gong-ro is not a person who lives by merely mixing honey into water in the countryside…!”

Won-sul chuckled.

“The lords send distrust towards Yuan Shao, the leader of the coalition, causing the lords to scatter, and then the one who stops the coalition is… hehehe…!”

“One thing to keep in mind, Won-sul. Just because you are involved in this matter does not mean your crimes will disappear.”

It seems that Won-sul is overly excited, so a warning is given in a lowered voice to suppress his elation.

“The crime of drinking and beating a person to death.”

“Th-that was because of that traitorous reason…!”

“While the reason ultimately led to the death, it is possible that it was your violence that caused it.”

“Ugh…!”

The deceased cannot speak, but the traces of violence left on their body, the memories of those who witnessed it, and the investigation records left by Cao Cao before he departed remain.

“And there is also the crime of ‘colluding with Yuan Shao’ from the Won family.”

“…….”

Won-sul falls silent.

Apart from personal violence, there is a fatal original sin remaining in the Won family.

“The Won family in Luoyang is not pure white.”

They attacked the imperial palace under the pretext of eliminating the Ten Regular Attendants.

The head of the Won family could not have been unaware of Yuan Shao gathering troops around Luoyang.

Perhaps if the head of the Won family had not coughed up blood and collapsed in the court that day, he might have been implicated as a traitor alongside Yuan Shao by now.

Just because the squad leader instigated a rebellion does not mean the entire organization is blameless.

“Not only the family, but you cannot claim to be innocent either.”

Won-sul is not a good person.

One can tell just by seeing him drunk and beating people.

“The reason I am giving you this opportunity is to minimize the damage to our side, and because I have seen your subordinates sincerely devoted to you.”

“…….”

“I hope you do not betray my expectations. Won-gong-ro.”

“Ah, I understand.”

Wonsul.

He is not simply a ‘good person’, but he is not a depraved child who would abandon his family for his own lust for power and commit treason like that Yuan Shao over there.

“Um, but General Bi.”

“What is it?”

“Is it really okay for me to say exactly what I want to say? You heard it earlier under the city wall, but….”

Wonsul unfolds a piece of silk from his bosom.

It is a kind of ‘script’.

“There’s no reason it can’t be done. The world’s traitor is right there. Shout loudly so that he may burst forth in anger.”

I pointed beyond the city wall towards Wonsul.

“Let the depraved child know clearly what depravity is, through your own words.”

“……Hoo.”

Wonsul patted his chest a couple of times.

“Do you perhaps need some alcohol?”

“I don’t need alcohol… The only drink I consume is the honey wine from over there.”

“I see.”

It is the will to reclaim what has been taken.

As I gestured, the soldiers of the Bianzhou army stood with large shields to the left and right of Wonsul.

Along with the city wall, there were human shields as well.

After continuing to pat his chest, Wonsul stepped out between the shields.

“Yuan Shao─!!”

The moment he shouted Yuan Shao’s name, veins bulged on Wonsul’s head as he stood upright.

“You traitorous scoundrel who sold out your family to save your own skin! It is a disgrace that you and I were born from the same father!”

Slowly.

“You, who tried to turn your entire family into traitors and kill them, are not Yuan Shao, but just ‘Shao’! I have already erased you from the household register of the Yuan family in Luoyang!”

Wonsul’s mouth began to open wide.

“You wretch who is not even worthy of being called a human! Ungrateful wretch! Our father cherished you, a lowly b*stard, so much!”

Wonsul threw the silk he was holding onto the ground.

“You are nothing but a wretched creature, worse than a beast!!”

* * *

“Hmm.”

Zhao Zhao, who had brought his horse from the rear, could not suppress a chuckle at the scene unfolding in front of him.

“Well, well, it seems the dead have come back to life.”

“Your Grace.”

Next to Zhao Zhao, a warrior named Zhou Yin, whose face was covered in scars, pointed towards the city wall.

“They are not Dong Zhuo’s subordinates. They are from Bingzhou.”

“Is that so? Brother, who do you think is behind them?”

“Yue Fei.”

“I think so too.”

At Zhou Yin’s response, Zhao Zhao nodded while tapping his thigh.

“Do you think Yue Fei will show up?”

“If he does, he won’t come out unscathed, will he?”

Zhou Yin glanced back discreetly.

“Can we defeat Yuan Shao’s generals?”

“Brother, the opposite.”

“Excuse me?”

“Even if he is injured, General Yue is still General Yue. It must have been his idea to dress Yuan Shu in formal attire and bring him out of confinement. He is surely waiting in the back, and as soon as An Liang and Wen Chou step forward, he will shoot his arrows.”

Zhao Zhao smacked his lips.

“Truly, it is tempting.”

“……Your Grace.”

“What happened to the orders given to Yuan Yang and Miao Zai?”

“Well…”

Zhou Yin cleared his throat and spoke cautiously.

“First, it seems they have gathered all the young women from the Zhao and Hahou families.”

“I see. Good. Zhou Yin. They say to catch a general, you must catch a horse, right?”

“Yes.”

“Good. Then the rest is….”

Zhao Zhao smiled as he looked beyond the Holo Pass.

“Only to make a queen from the Zhao family.”

“…….”

“Ha ha ha. It’s alright. You are the only one here now. From now on, let’s listen leisurely and with open ears.”

Zhao Zhao pointed to the Holo Pavilion.

“What I mean is the process by which Yuan Shao, who has been removed from the household register, is becoming the human debris due to that Yuan Shu.”