The Romance of the Three Kingdoms: Lu Bu is good at being filial - Chapter 76



＜ The Rise of Warlords, Opening (1) ＞

Winter has passed, and spring has come.

The allied forces broke through Holo Pass and fled.

The lords who are certainly dead are Zhang Yang, Zhang Ma, and Zhang Chao—three in total.

It wasn’t just to kill the Zhang family.

It just so happened that the Zhang family was the most numerous in this land, and it appears that many of the Zhang lords have died.

As for the remaining lords, we will have to investigate, but their fates cannot be confirmed yet.

The traitor Yuan Shao has fled.

With Holo Pass collapsed, confirmation cannot be made immediately, but he surely escaped to Ye Province.

Luoyang, a successful defense.

The enemies could not conquer Luoyang, and the alliance essentially dispersed while maintaining only a relationship of alliance.

It is not a perfect victory.

Had Holo Pass not fallen, we would have gathered the captives and marched eastward as planned.

But Holo Pass has fallen.

We can no longer advance eastward by ‘land routes.’

There are two paths available for marching.

To the west.

We must first go out through Hangu Pass and then circle around the massive mountains that stretch south of Luoyang.

The rest is to the east.

When thinking about the future ahead, it is only right to clear the rocks of the collapsed Horogwan and open the path.

However, there is an easier way down.

The Yellow River.

Riding the rapids down to land in the east is one method.

Building a stronghold and continuously transporting food would be a problem, but it is not impossible.

But.

In my mind, I want to lead the soldiers across the rocky path and pursue Yuan Shao immediately, but there are more aspects to consider after the battle than I had anticipated.

One.

Those who surrendered by the emperor’s command.

– Thank you for sparing our lives!

– …But, what are we supposed to do now?

– Well, you will feed us and provide us shelter, right? You’re not suggesting we live on the battlefield floor…?

Just as we could not advance, they too could not return home.

Half of them are from Jinliu, and half are from the Guangling region of Zhou.

– Minister Wang Yun, according to the emperor’s decree, prepare a space where the prisoners can temporarily stay.

According to the emperor’s decree, we had to prepare a space for the people who had become refugees to stay temporarily.

To exaggerate a bit, we had to provide living space for about 10,000 prisoners and even sustain them until they were sent back, so there was much to be done.

And this is the real problem.

The losses of the Yangzhou army.

In this battle, the Yangzhou army under Dong Zhuo suffered significant damage.

The Yangzhou army, which was already not numerous, lost nearly half of its forces.

Outstanding warriors, including Hua Yong, were killed or became unable to take the field again.

The Bingzhou army also suffered some losses.

For them, I decided to conduct a grand funeral in my name and send the remains back to Bingzhou.

However, in terms of ratio, the losses of the Yangzhou army were so severe that it was almost embarrassing to mention the deaths of the Bingzhou army.

Thus, currently.

Dong Zhuo does not have the capacity to use the ‘soldiers in Luoyang’ to suppress the coalition forces.

He still holds the title of Grand Commandant, but his military power is wavering.

For various political reasons—

“General Bi Jang-gun, I will appoint you to Hanam-yun, to take responsibility for the area around Nakyang. You will be in charge of the eastern Nakyang and the Horo-guan region.”

I became Hanam-yun.

A position somewhat similar to that of the mayor of Seoul.

……?

* * *

[Evening. Nakyang, the estate of Minister Wang Yun. Annex.]

Four days had passed since the battle.

As soon as I entered the palace at the emperor’s summons and paid my respects, a position was created for me. After reviewing my assigned duties and the official seals, I returned to my residence.

“You’re back?”

Chosun greets me.

With a familiar touch, she takes my attire and arranges it, casting a discreet glance around.

“I’ve returned. That.”

“…….”

As I fail to continue my sentence, Chosun glares at me with narrowed eyes, frowning.

As if urging me to continue what I was about to say, she presses me, pouting her lips to the side.

“Madam.”

“Yes, Sang-gong.”

Chosun addresses me as ‘Sang-gong’ in a polite voice.

In this era.

This expression is used to refer to one’s husband.

My use of the term ‘madam’ does not refer to another’s wife, but to my own.

“……Are you alright?”

I whispered into Chosun’s ear, and she flinched in surprise but calmly whispered back to me.

“I’m fine. As for the details….”

Tap, tap.

“I’ve warmed the water. Would you like to wash up first?”

“Let’s do that.”

After receiving a simple outer garment from Chosun, I follow her to the bathroom.

“Welcome, General Bi Jang-gun.”

In front of the bathroom, several female servants were positioned on either side.

They were not just any servants, but the daughters of those in positions of power in the court.

“The lord will be attended by his daughter, so you may leave now.”

Chosun warns the servants.

“We will assist, madam.”

“There’s no need. The general does not wish for any commotion and prefers to immerse himself for a while. Prepare for the meal to be served after half a shichen.”

“Yes, madam.”

The servants try to engage Chosun in conversation, but she firmly instructs them to attend to other tasks and sends them away from the bathroom.

“Come in, my lord.”

“Mm.”

He enters the bathroom, looking straight ahead alongside Chosun.

Creeeak.

He locks the door, changes into the thinnest, freshly dried robe, and sinks into the bathtub.

Splash.

“…Has she left?”

Chosun’s tone shifts immediately.

I lightly nod at Chosun, and she lets out a sigh, plopping down onto the chair beside the bathtub.

“Haah, really. In just a few days, so much has happened…”

“There has been a lot.”

It has been four days since the collapse of the Horogwan.

Though only four days have passed, there have been far too many changes in that time.

Just the increase in servants at this Wangyun’s residence is one example.

“Do you know? That woman who disregarded the order I gave earlier.”

“She didn’t seem like a maid.”

“Her name is Chae Yeom, the daughter of the attendant Chaeong. …Do you know her?”

“This is the first I’ve heard of her.”

“……Hah.”

Chosun lets out a deep sigh and taps her temple lightly.

Hmm.

“She must be a famous woman, then?”

“She’s beautiful and skilled in poetry, literature, and painting. She also has a deep understanding of music.”

“Why would such a woman be here?”

Why is Chae-ong’s daughter working as a maid in Wang-yun’s house?

That’s because I am in Wang-yun’s house—

“Chosun.”

“Yes.”

“…Even if it’s a bit difficult among the women, you must do your best to protect yourself.”

“Don’t worry, my lord.”

“Hey.”

“…Hehe.”

At my request, Chosun chuckled softly and pointed to her left ring finger.

“There’s nothing strange about it, right? Thanks to you, I’m glad I didn’t marry some weird man.”

There is no ring.

But she playfully laughed while pretending to put a ring on her finger.

“Anyway, the marriage was blocked because I fainted in front of you, so it’s a great relief that you took me in.”

“If you think that way, I’m grateful.”

Presently.

I have effectively entered into a marital relationship with Chosun.

You might wonder what kind of marriage this is after the battle—

“It’s a political marriage.”

“It’s also the most certain way to celebrate the victory after the funeral of Dowager Dong.”

Outside the residence of the noble Wang-yun, a festival is taking place.

The streets that once mourned someone’s death are filled with cries of “Long live His Majesty the Emperor!”

While it’s true that not many soldiers from Luoyang died, they are joyfully toasting to the thought that they no longer have to pack up and flee to Chang’an or Bingzhou.

In fact, among those participating in the festival celebrating “The Female General Finally Lights the Wedding Lantern!” are many soldiers from Bingzhou.

Those who have come down from the capital join the feast, comforting the souls of the deceased while simultaneously celebrating my first marriage and washing away the sorrow after the battle.

With the victory, it is also a celebration that the noble Wang-yun has taken in the wife of Lu Bu, becoming her husband.

It might be a stretch to say it’s a relationship bound by love—

“Chosun.”

“Yes, my lord.”

“Is there any woman who might suggest ‘a concubine’ to you or has already given you a gift?”

“Well, it’s there, but it’s not the kind of backing that would concern you, brother. It’s just a peach I can’t eat, just a little poke at it.”

“Mm.”

Chosun’s status had risen in her own way.

“And thanks to you, brother, I’ve suddenly become not just the most beautiful woman in Luoyang, but the most beautiful in the world, right? Hehe.”

Chosun lowered her voice and smiled softly, resting her hands under her chin.

“The woman chosen by the great general who turned down countless suitors. Isn’t that nice?”

“What do you mean?”

“Thanks to me, at least the standards for the daughters coming into this annex have been set to the highest level.”

Chosun pointed outside.

“Only the most beautiful women are gathered here for your visual pleasure.”

“So, if I were to compare you now, does that mean you have to be as pretty as you are?”

“That’s not wrong… is it?”

Chosun giggled and lightly tapped herself.

Since it wasn’t wrong, I decided not to deny it.

To be more honest—

‘She is the prettiest.’

It’s true from a modern perspective, but even from the perspective of this era, it holds.

“I should thank Wang Yun.”

“Oh my, why?”

“If it weren’t for Wang Yun’s protection, you would have had quite a hard time—”

“I would have become the concubine of someone like Yuan Shao or Yuan Shu, those strange guys.”

Chosun lowered her head seriously towards me.

“So I’m truly grateful to you, brother. You don’t just carelessly touch me.”

“Mm.”

“Well… hehehe.”

Chosun squinted her eyes playfully and laughed, and I lightly splashed water towards her.

“Ouch!”

“You’re just young, but your mouth is sharp.”

One thing I must mention.

Chosun is not 20 years old.

I don’t know what my age was before my reincarnation, but the current Chosun is at an age that makes it somewhat embarrassing for me to mention.

“Why? From this era’s perspective, I’m already at a marriageable age.”

“Oh dear.”

“I got it. Just kidding, just kidding. Then….”

Chosun changes her expression to a serious one.

“Since we were just talking about Yuan Shao and Yuan Shu, let me start with what I wanted to say. Um, is there anyone outside?”

“No.”

“I see. Then.”

Chosun mimics cutting her throat.

“The celestial energy has been greatly twisted.”

“The energy from the west is strong, so they will move their base to a new land, and the declining Luoyang will burn greatly?”

“Yes. So, if you hadn’t been here, brother.”

Chosun refines her words as much as possible.

“Dong Zhuo would have said to abandon Luoyang and move the capital to his stronghold, Chang’an.”

Moving the capital.

“What about the people of Luoyang?”

“They would abandon it and flee to prevent the anti-Dong Zhuo coalition from catching up, but they are also ‘people of the capital,’ so they can’t just abandon it carelessly. They would have been threatened, perhaps by setting fire to Luoyang to force them to follow.”

“That….”

“The tyranny spoken of by the anti-Dong Zhuo coalition, that itself.”

I understand what that feels like.

“Was the talk of abandoning the people back then part of that flow?”

“…….”

From noble mtl dot com

“Oh. Is that not it?”

“Well, let’s skip that.”

Chosun waves her hand broadly.

It seems like it’s not an important story for now.

“I can say for certain that the change in the flow of celestial energy is thanks to you and the efforts of the Bingzhou army.”

“Um.”

“Especially Dong Zhuo’s change of heart had the greatest impact.”

“Is it Dong Tawei?”

“Yes. It’s really an incomprehensible part.”

Chosun stares at me intently.

“How did you persuade him to the point where Dong Zhuo would risk his life to protect Luoyang like that?”

“…….”

Persuasion.

“I didn’t really persuade him.”

“What?”

“I saved Hua Weng so that he wouldn’t die, and I helped him just before his defeat.”

“Hua Weng….”

Chosun chuckles softly with a bitter expression.

“Really, it’s not an easy thing to understand. Dong Zhuo didn’t suddenly decide to become a good person.”

“That might be true.”

“Yes?”

“When a person goes through various experiences, they tend to become more thoughtful.”

I understand.

“Just like how I had the principles of a gentleman drilled into my head for ten years by the person I regarded as my master, Dong Zhuo might have become clearer-minded by associating with the Qingliu faction.”

There are parts of me that have changed as well.

“Or….”

“Or?”

“In his youth, he might have been someone who pursued righteousness and harmony like I do now.”

“……Doesn’t that feel like something right before someone dies?”

“Don’t you think so?”

“…….”

Chosun seems to have something on her mind.

“Don’t worry about it.”

“What?”

“Even if Dong Zhuo decides to live kindly from now on, the actions he has committed up until now won’t just disappear.”

Dong Zhuo protected Luoyang.

But before entering Luoyang, people don’t really know what he did.

“Should Dongtak die, it would be the consequence of past deeds.”

“…….”

“Why? Does that sound a bit heartless?”

“No. It’s realistic… and not incorrect.”

“If we happen to meet, I’ll leave a warning.”

He’s not someone who can be tied up just because he’s promised to spare my life.

And to take care of him to that extent, I’ve already taken in unnecessary information.

During the defense of Horoguan.

The surviving soldiers of Yangzhou.

Amid their grumbling, I could clearly hear.

– Why do we have to risk our lives in a place like this?

Dongtak fought to protect his power as the Grand Commandant, but the soldiers of Yangzhou who followed him did not understand his actions.

“If he had acted like this normally, the soldiers would have just accepted it and followed. But Dongtak did not.”

It’s like a rogue martial artist suddenly realizing, “From today, we will walk the path of the righteous.”

If that rogue martial artist were just an individual, it wouldn’t matter, but Dongtak is a figure who can be called the leader of the ‘Yangzhou Evil Path Alliance.’

“Just because the leader of the Evil Path has been redeemed by meeting a master of the Righteous Path, it doesn’t mean that all the rogue martial artists beneath him will be redeemed together.”

It’s certainly dangerous.

The idea that I would follow him to Yangzhou to take responsibility for Dongtak, or that Dongtak would quietly stay in the capital—

“Hey, brother.”

“Yeah?”

“Have you sorted out your thoughts?”

“Ah, I’m sorry.”

Chosun seemed to have something more to say, but perhaps she waited when I fell silent.

“Why?”

“It’s about time. It’s sad that the time we can talk comfortably like this is so short.”

Chosun pressed her face with both hands.

“I’ll be waiting outside, so please call for me when you’re done. Your Excellency.”

Chosun deliberately raised her voice as she adjusted her clothes.

“…Hmm. Let’s do that.”

I also raised my voice.

Kkiik.

Choseon opened the door and stepped outside.

“…What is it?”

“I brought a simple snack so you can eat while you wash.”

An uninvited guest had arrived.

“……The lord does not like to eat anything while bathing.”

The daughter sent as a servant was intentionally being sharp, and Choseon was simply fulfilling her role.

“Why are you looking me up and down like that?”

“That is….”

“Why are your eyes so wide open?”

“…….”

I quietly picked up the soap and began to lather.

* * *

After washing my body.

I set out for my room for dinner, but was soon guided elsewhere by the servants.

“Have you arrived, General Bi?”

Dongtak was waiting for me.

“Congratulations on your marriage.”

“…….”

As soon as we met, he threw out an uncomfortable topic, leaving me no chance to respond.

“Although I could not prepare a congratulatory gift, I came instead to say farewell.”

“……?”

At Dongtak’s following words, not only I but even Wang Yun, who was guiding Dongtak, could not hide their shock.

“Farewell? Dong Taewi. What do you mean…?”

“I, Dongtak, plan to return to Yangju.”

“……?”

“After returning to Yangju….”

Dongtak’s eyes began to shine brightly.

“I, Dongtak, will personally eliminate the threats behind the scenes and contribute to the peace of the world as a man.”

* * *

Taewi Dongtak.

Among the allied warlords, one of the seats, ‘Yangju Governor Ma Deung,’ volunteered to suppress.