The Romance of the Three Kingdoms: Lu Bu is good at being filial - Chapter 75



＜ The Path of Beasts and Suras (5) ＞

The emperor personally came to the battlefield.

This is an extremely dangerous act.

At any moment, a blind arrow could fly in from anywhere, seeking to kill the emperor in a dizzying situation.

However, conversely speaking, the very fact that the emperor has come to such a dangerous place holds significance.

The presence of the emperor.

Just that alone already holds “persuasiveness” over countless captives.

“Long live…!”

A soldier of the allied forces, having dropped his weapon, knelt and bowed, raising both hands to shout long live to the emperor.

“Long live, long live, long long live!”

Is it due to the majesty of the young emperor personally coming to the battlefield?

Or is it because of the elite troops guarding the emperor’s side?

While some may be swayed by such things, most are the same.

Surrender.

They bow their heads to save their own lives, as they are told that surrendering will spare their lives.

‘To stake one’s life is a noble act, but doing so in a place like this is akin to throwing it away.’

It is not a shame to surrender now in order not to die.

They have a hometown to return to, and families to feed.

If one were to risk their life for a futile cause and die, would that not be the true ‘disloyalty’?

Dying for the warlord of the allied forces, for Yuan Shao, is nothing but a mere dog’s death to them.

“The Emperor commands General Bi to come closer!”

Wang Yun shouts loudly.

A good choice.

Since the Emperor’s voice is still too young to command directly, it is better to have Wang Yun shout instead.

“General Lü Bu, I obey the command.”

He drives the red horse forward towards the Emperor.

According to etiquette, he should dismount, but this is still a battlefield.

As he passes through the ranks of the allied soldiers, he scans the troops.

Could there be an assassin lurking?

Might a hidden armed man among the soldiers seize the opportunity to charge at the Emperor?

With a bow hanging from the saddle of the red horse, he could draw it and shoot immediately to prevent any attack.

‘That’s just a level worse than carrying it.’

The Emperor is truly in danger now.

Unless there is some safety device inside the palanquin, he cannot carelessly dismount.

He may have to rush to save the Emperor if the situation arises.

‘It’s an empty shell, yet he sits there without fear.’

This palanquin was not originally here.

It resembles a grand chariot or warship made for the Emperor, but—

‘It’s nothing more than a wooden scaffold structure.’

It was hastily constructed by the engineering corps in the camp, merely painted to look splendid on the outside.

However, just the fact that the Emperor stands in such a high position can have a significant effect on those gathered here.

Everyone can look up to the Emperor.

As I too stop in front of the Emperor after passing the soldiers.

Step.

“Your Majesty.”

I bow my head, passing by the soldiers who lower their heads, and, with my hands clasped, I present my report before the Emperor.

“Command me.”

“What shall we do with them?”

The Emperor asks.

The conclusion must already be decided, but if there is a reason to ask me—

“The will of Your Majesty is the will of the Minister.”

It seems he is trying to uphold my face, but right now, the Emperor is the main character.

“If you command to kill them all, I will personally see to their deaths.”

Such matters, the Minister has often faced problems with.

“If you command to imprison them all, I will create a new prison and ensure that not a single one escapes capture.”

The Minister insisted on killing those who had surrendered, while I suggested we first distinguish whether they were beasts or thieves.

“If you command to imprison them and then closely examine their crimes to behead them all, I will slay every prisoner with this sword.”

This time, it is the opposite.

“They are a group of traitors who aimed their swords at Your Majesty and came to attack Luoyang.”

If someone wishes to hold a carrot, someone else must wield a whip.

“I, your humble servant, will slay them all as if dealing with traitors, should you only give the command.”

The soldiers begin to exchange glances with one another.

In their eyes, betrayal and distrust slowly begin to take shape, along with hostility.

A tense atmosphere.

An intentionally stirred unease.

“Your Majesty. The command.”

I also cast my gaze toward the Emperor.

If the Emperor suddenly changes his mind and orders me to kill them, I would annihilate them all—

“No.”

The Emperor raises his hand.

“They are also the subjects of this nation.”

In the future, historians will say this.

The Emperor showed mercy, they will say.

“If the Emperor is the father of all the people of this nation, then I am standing in for their father who is not present here.”

But that is the historians’ words, and this is the ‘present’ sincerity flowing from the Emperor’s lips.

“As one who stands in for the father of all, how can I command the end of their lives and govern their sins?”

The soldiers begin to lift their heads towards the Emperor.

It may be an impolite act, but a sense of urgency begins to dwell in their eyes as they look at him.

“Those who surrender, cast down your weapons and come into Luoyang. It may not be your hometown, but safely spend the end of winter and return home in good health to the embrace of your family.”

The Emperor’s voice still carries a youthful tone, though he has not yet shed all signs of boyhood.

Though not loud, only one voice resonates softly across the battlefield.

“If you are someone’s father, it is your duty as a parent to return to the arms of your waiting child in good health.”

His voice, at times, sounds almost childlike.

Yet, because of this, the appeal may resonate differently for some.

“Are not your children searching for their father?”

The Emperor lost his mother in his childhood.

“How can you fall into the treachery of rebels, causing your child to lose their parent in a distant land, and fail to fulfill your filial duty?”

The Emperor is the father of all, yet for some soldiers, it may sound like a child’s plea.

“Long live His Majesty, the Emperor!!”

In the voice of the surrendering soldier shouting for the Emperor, there is no longer any distrust or enmity left.

“Long live, long live, long long live!!”

At first, they shouted to live, merely to escape immediate death.

Now, that praise is directed sincerely towards the Emperor.

Gratitude for his mercy.

They have now begun to harbor hope that they can return to their families.

“General Bi.”

The Emperor looks at me with a wry smile.

“You—”

I nod.

No lengthy words are necessary.

‘Men’ understand each other without needing to speak, so I simply conveyed my will by lightly nodding in respect.

‘Having lost their fighting spirit, there is no need to make them fight with a death wish.’

Both the feudal lords and the rebels are dead, and the only one who can control them is the Emperor’s command.

“Your Majesty.”

I pointed towards Holo Pass.

“There are still remnants of the rebels remaining. General Bi, I will march with the soldiers to Holo Pass to eradicate the rebels.”

Though it moved grandly, it had only managed to break the enemy’s vanguard and its rear.

Beyond the Horoguan.

And beyond the Sasuguan.

The main force of the allied troops still remains.

“By the Emperor’s command….”

The moment the Emperor was about to issue an order.

Ku-woong!!

An earthquake occurred.

The ground shook, and the bearers of the palanquin staggered as if their legs were about to give way.

“……!”

I wondered if the Emperor might fall, but fortunately, he managed to maintain his balance and came to a stop.

‘Has he been consistently training his lower body?’

While teaching archery in the training camp, I had advised him to also train his lower body whenever he could, and it seemed to be paying off now.

That aside.

‘What on earth is this tremor?’

It felt like something large was falling, causing a collapsing vibration.

“General!”

Some cavalry who had gone to retake the Horoguan rushed towards me.

“The enemy is…!!”

* * *

Thud, thud, thud.

Boulders are flying.

The massive stones loaded onto the catapult soar through the air with a ‘pang’ sound.

The catapult is classified as a ‘siege weapon.’

Its main role is to break down something solidly erected, like a city wall.

The anti-Dongtak allied forces’ catapult is currently hurling stones fiercely at something.

Even though they are still far from Luoyang, and the catapult is positioned at the Horoguan.

“Fire, I said fire!”

One of Yuan Shao’s strategists, He Yu, shouted with veins bulging in his neck.

“Prevent the enemy from crossing the Horoguan! Throw stones to block the entrance of the Horoguan!”

The cry of Heo Yu, stained with blood on his clothes.

That scream was as if a ghost had been heard.

“Heo Yu, is this truly right?!”

The general of Yuan Shao, An Liang, shouted as he placed a massive boulder onto the catapult with other soldiers.

“Until the lord awakens…!”

“By then, it will be too late!”

Heo Yu glanced over the watchtower and swung the military banner himself.

“The moment the allied forces cease to be the allied forces, the lords are no longer ‘our allies’!”

“That is…!”

“Though General An Liang is said to be invincible, the lords could suddenly betray us and side with Luoyang!”

Heo Yu was filled with fear.

“The lords who entered through Holo Pass may surrender, and they might drive our lord to Luoyang to save their own lives!”

“Ugh…!”

An Liang lowered his head deeply.

It seemed that Heo Yu had made a hasty decision, but in reality, he had seen the lords confused by the defeat of the vanguard of the allied forces.

The bloodshed of the leader Yuan Shao and the rear evacuation.

The emperor’s personal appearance riding in a massive palanquin.

And the reappearance of Lü Bu.

The lords searching for Guan Yu and Zhang Fei, upon hearing that they were absent, immediately fled.

“Now is the opportunity while the troops of the curtain are still resisting! We must either block the entrance of Holo Pass or bring it down!”

“But those beyond…!”

“They are already dead souls! The imperial court would never save them!”

“Ugh…!”

An Liang gritted his teeth.

“General Wen Chu is dead! If our lord awakens and hears that General An Liang is also dead, he might make a grave mistake!”

“However….”

An Liang pointed towards Holo Pass.

“Is this truly a choice for our lord…?”

“Blame this Heo Yu!”

Heo Yu shouted at An Liang’s hesitation.

“Trust in my judgment, Heo Yu! I will bear the consequences for the destruction of the Horo Fortress!”

Heo Yu shouted, veins bulging in his neck, but Anlyang had no choice but to swallow something boiling up inside him along with the dust that entered his mouth.

What could he argue about?

He couldn’t refute that.

The moment the enemies surged through that gate, Anlyang’s master would be beheaded within three days, becoming the dew of the execution ground.

“Uwaaa!!”

Anlyang gritted his teeth and placed a boulder onto the catapult.

With a ‘thud’ sound, the soldiers around him fell over, and Anlyang approached the soldiers who were holding the ropes to launch the stone.

“For the lord’s dominion!!”

Pa-ang!

The massive boulder flew straight toward the front of the Horo Fortress.

And at the moment it struck the signboard of the Horo Fortress.

Kwa──ang!!

With the sound of thunder, the Horo Fortress began to shake violently.

The gate had already been attacked countless times since Dongtak and Seoyeong had been holding it.

Gugugugu.

As the signboard fell, the boulder dropped, and the walls began to crumble.

Kuuung!

Bricks collapsed and sand scattered, as the Horo Fortress started to fall apart as if struck by lightning.

“Ugh, uaaack!!”

Under the collapsing walls, a soldier had just rushed into the Horo Fortress.

Ku–ung!

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The sound of the dust falling swallowed the soldier’s dying scream.

“…I was not wrong.”

Heo Yu trembled as he raised the fallen military flag high.

“All troops, retreat behind the defensive line!! Fall back!! Retreat!!”

* * *

“Heh.”

A hollow laugh escaped at the sight of the crumbling Horo Fortress.

“What are they doing now?”

Breaking down the gate with a siege weapon?

“Even if I do that, I won’t be able to cross—”

“General. Please calm down.”

Jang Ryo blocks my path.

“Even if the general can cross, the others will not be able to get beyond that point.”

“…….”

I feel like I could.

The walls have collapsed, but it would be just a matter of climbing up and down like a hill made of stones from the fallen walls.

“The fact that they have broken the gate leading to Luoyang means they are that desperate.”

“If we don’t pursue them now, they will eventually escape to the far east.”

“We are already very exhausted.”

Jang Ryo points to the cavalry.

“Both the horses and the men.”

We could still fight more, but the black armor of the cavalry was literally drenched in blood, as if they had been splattered with it.

At least one, no, more than two must have been soaked in blood from killing.

If they were to get even more drenched in blood than now…

“Lady General!”

Wang Yun approaches on horseback from behind.

“Let us promise to meet again. His Majesty the Emperor has ordered a retreat.”

“A retreat?”

“Yes. We have already shed too much blood.”

“…….”

Jang Ryo and the soldiers look at me.

The surrendered soldiers also glance up at me, gauging my reaction.

Well.

“I’m not going to cross the walls alone and fight until I die.”

I could do that.

I could become a monster filled with nothing but slaughter and massacre, killing only the enemy.

Then, when I get hungry, I would chew on the flesh of the enemy, and when I get thirsty, I would quench my thirst with their blood.

Or I could secretly hide in some village and steal food to eat.

As I immerse myself in the murky water to wash away the blood, I must continue wearing the same clothes, unable to change properly.

“I will follow the decree.”

Even if Yuan Shao and the other lords flee.

No matter how vast this land may be, we are ultimately under one sky.

‘If I die before I can catch them, I will go to the ends of this land and retrieve the corpse from the coffin to send it to the execution ground.’

If all the traitors are killed, peace will eventually come.

* * *

As the Holo Pass collapsed, one of the roads between Luoyang and the lords was severed.

Several lords died, and many retreated to their lands, firmly locking their gates.

“Has the coalition army disbanded?”

On the hill overlooking the scene.

“It’s unfortunate that the road is cut off, but as expected.”

With the blue banner fluttering, Cao Cao smirked as he looked down at the retreating coalition army led by his subordinates.

“Since it has gone as you predicted, it is now time to execute the plan.”

“Yes, my lord.”

Behind Cao Cao.

“You are both a lord of the coalition and a loyal minister of the court.”

A man wearing a blue cap stepped forward.

“Thanks to you drawing Yuan Shao’s attention, those in my hometown were able to relocate.”

“Indeed. My hometown of Pei and your hometown… Yeongcheon County are both places vulnerable to attacks from Yuan Shao.”

Cao Cao turned his body and asked the civil minister.

“Shun Wook.”

“Yes, my lord.”

“That fellow Ha Ong referred to you as ‘the talent of the throne.’ Why do you use that talent for me?”

“The talent of the throne. In the past, it was a title given to Lord Wang Yun by Lord Guo Tai.”

Shun Wook smiled softly.

“That’s just a way of expressing it; how can one recklessly elevate someone to the throne?”

“…….”

“Do you wish to be a treacherous minister in chaotic times, or a capable minister in peaceful times?”

“Perhaps due to someone’s influence, it would be better to speak honestly.”

Zhao Zilong scanned the other generals with a grin.

“I wish to accumulate wealth that will not crumble for generations, to have a reputation so high that all the people of the world know it, and to leave my name as a loyal minister in history.”

“……That is quite a blatant expression. Do you not intend to join forces with Yuan Shao?”

“Are you testing me now? Ha ha. Yuan Shao has become a beast, struggling to survive, but I, Cao Mengde, have no intention of living in such a pitiful manner while defying the Han dynasty.”

Cao Cao glanced over the generals, including Zhang Fei, and smiled bitterly.

“Even if I have to make enemies of the whole world, I have no desire to make an enemy of Lü Bu.”

“…….”

“To ally with Lü Bu is the easiest and most advantageous path to victory. Why would I forsake that easy path to join hands with Yuan Shao? It may be a bit difficult for now, but in ten years, the situation of the world will change drastically.”

Cao Cao approached Xun Yu and grasped his hand.

“Help me.”

“Of course, my lord. You saved me from being entangled with Yuan Shao.”

“Indeed. So what should we do now?”

“First, let us go to Jinliu. There, we will gather information and find out the regions where the lords have fallen.”

“Shall we occupy that place?”

“That is the path of the beast that Yuan Shao walks. If you, my lord, are with General Lü.”

Xun Yu firmly waved his hand to the side.

“The answer is to wait for the fallen Holo Pass to open while eliminating the bandits trying to seize that vacant area.”

“Hahaha!!”

Cao Cao clapped Xun Yu’s hand and laughed heartily.

“Yes! Exactly! How can someone who has not received the teachings of the court speak of being a governor or a prefect!”

“My lord.”

“What is it?”

“If, this is merely a hypothetical scenario.”

Xun Yu turned his gaze towards the direction of Luoyang.

“What will you do if Lü Bu becomes an enemy?”

“Lü Bu as an enemy. I understand your concerns, but having received a life-saving grace, how could I make Lü Bu my enemy?”

Cao Cao pointed to the deep scar on his left arm.

“Rest assured. There will be no falling out with Lü Bu.”

“But….”

“General Lü is still unmarried. He has no wife. Therefore, there is no chance of becoming enemies.”

“……What?”

At Cao Cao’s words, the generals either squeezed their eyes shut or chuckled softly.

“What, what are you all thinking? What I mean is that a woman from our family is to establish a relationship with the imperial family or a female general.”

“……Is that true?”

“Ha ha. Have you been deceived all this time?”

“Looking at the expressions of the generals, it seems there is something else going on.”

Sun Wu clenched his expression and clasped his hands together.

“I will serve you, my lord.”

“Mm. Thank you. Really, don’t worry about it.”

Cao Cao patted Sun Wu’s shoulder and joked.

“Could it be that this Cao Cao would have any reason to fight against the renowned filial general, Lady Feng?”