The Romance of the Three Kingdoms: Lu Bu is good at being filial - Chapter 78



＜ The Rise of Warlords, Opening (3) ＞

In the dead of night.

Below the slope, a narrow path resembling a pit.

A deep canyon that is hard to find unless one deliberately seeks it out.

“Haah, haah.”

A group of people, in the dark forest, below the valley, were breathing heavily as they looked at each other.

“Damn it, you b*stard! I told you I would handle this!”

“Shut up. You, Gwak.”

Those who carelessly called each other by their surnames, Lee Gak and Gwak, approached the man lying against a tree.

“Stop running away and show your neck now.”

“Hah, haha…! You think you can kill the Chancellor of a nation and still survive?”

The Chancellor, Dongtak.

His clothes were soaked with blood flowing from his belly and back.

“Who cares? A Chancellor whose string has been cut.”

“What did you say…?”

“If this goes on, we’ll lose everything and end up living our lives as soldiers. Do you think we can just sit still?”

Lee Gak swung his blood-stained sword around, mocking Dongtak.

“Getting old and deciding to live kindly? Nonsense. Can a tiger survive by eating grass?”

“You… you b*stards…!”

“General. I actually don’t understand you, General.”

Lee Gak approached Dongtak, pressing his swollen jaw with his hand.

“Do you think the world will recognize you as a righteous man if you do this? Just because the scholars of the Qingliu call you ‘a righteous man,’ do you think you’ve truly become one? And now you want to go to Yangzhou and live paying for your sins? Hahaha!”

Lee Gak clutched his belly and laughed mockingly.

“That’s ridiculous! Where has that Dongtak gone, who until now ordered to kill this one and plunder that one?”

“That man… is dead.”

Dongtak gritted his teeth, clutching his belly.

“I have come to understand what I did not know while living as a wild man, wandering everywhere, so what is wrong with trying to live according to that understanding…?”

“Wrong. For us. You’re saying we should live a life where we can’t indulge in luxury, can’t enjoy pleasures, and share our possessions with the families of the dead soldiers, serving them?”

“I’m not following the general to live such a saintly life, you know. Right?”

Gwak Sa pointed his blood-stained sword at Dong Tak and shouted.

“Living so grandly that the world fears you! A life where every day is filled with feasting and revelry! Before going to Luoyang, where did that promised life of yours go?”

“…….”

“Why? Seeing Le Bao gaining popularity by shouting about righteousness and cooperation, did the desire to become like him start to creep up on you? Well, considering you’ve indulged in luxury and pleasure until that age, you must want to build some honor now.”

“Not just any honor, but the honor of being a loyal subject of the state.”

“…Thank you, you fools.”

Dong Tak chuckled and pointed beside him.

“Because you killed my brother and everyone else without leaving a single one alive, I can die as a loyal subject.”

“Stop talking nonsense. Just ask to spare your life. Then I’ll only cut your tendons and let you lie in bed until you die, so you can feast on meat to your heart’s content.”

“We’re the ones who know the affection of being raised and nurtured. Thanks to General Dong, we were able to rise to this point, so at least we should do that much. Right?”

“…Kill me.”

Dong Tak said quietly, gritting his teeth.

“Rather than living a miserable life as a pig, I’d rather die as a human Dong Jung-yeong.”

“It seems you’ve turned a bit green-headed while in the court. What shall we do, Gwak Ga?”

“What can we do? Even if we leave you as you are, you won’t have the strength to live….”

Gwak Sa drew his sword and thrust it deeply into Dong Tak’s abdomen.

“Ugh…?!”

“Really, it’s not like I’m slaughtering a pig. The sword isn’t going in this deep, ugh.”

“Ugh…!”

“Stay still. I’m going to stick you right into the tree.”

Gwak Sa pushed the sword all the way in, successfully embedding it into the tree where Dong Tak fell.

“Bleed until you die and reflect on your actions. The reason the general died is the price for betraying us.”

“Heh, heh… Wasn’t I just coveting the tribute I received as a gift in Luoyang?”

“That too.”

“Well, if I didn’t covet it, would I be human?”

Yi Gak squatted down and met Dong Tak’s gaze.

“What would you do without taking that enormous wealth? Share it with the families of the dead soldiers and use it only as funds to fight against Ma Teng and Han Su?”

“That can’t be. I’ll use it well. Ugh. Heh heh heh.”

“Do you think you can survive?”

Dong Zhuo twisted the corners of his mouth as he looked at the two warriors.

“An Zheng and Chen Shu… Even if you occupy Chang’an, Ma Teng and Han Sui are behind you. From the start… heh, what kind of guts do you have to do this…!”

“We thought we might as well try being that so-called ‘duke’ ourselves.”

“What…?”

“Thinking about it, it makes sense. Eighteen dukes? There’s no reason we can’t have nineteen or even twenty dukes, right?”

“Since the world is in chaos anyway, there’s no reason we can’t act like that guy Yuan Shao or others.”

“You guys… no way…!”

“We will rule Chang’an together. We.”

Li Jue and Guo Si lightly bumped their fists together.

“There’s no need to send the taxes we’ve painstakingly collected to Luoyang as tribute every time; we can just keep all that tax for ourselves, can’t we?”

“Traitors…!”

“And if we become traitors, so what? If you don’t like it, come and suppress us. Do you think it’s easy to come all the way to Yangzhou to suppress us while leaving Yuan Shao behind? Heh heh…!”

“The soldiers of Luoyang… they won’t be able to move because of the enemies behind them…? Ha!”

Dong Zhuo laughed loudly, spitting blood.

“Ma Teng and Han Sui, they will be lurking behind you!”

“Oh, if that’s the case, don’t worry.”

Li Jue placed a hand on Dong Zhuo’s shoulder and twisted the corners of his mouth.

“They have also decided to join us.”

“What…?”

“In the end, they wouldn’t want to live in the middle of the desolate wilderness of Wuwei either.”

“They will also come to Chang’an. Is Chang’an really that spacious? It was the place chosen as the capital by the First Emperor of the Qin Dynasty in the past.”

“Ugh…!”

“General Dong, do you really think we did this without any preparation, out of anger?”

Li Jue drew the sword at his waist and plunged it straight down.

“Ugh…!”

“Oh, are you almost dying now that your thigh is pierced and it doesn’t even hurt anymore?”

“That’s enough. Why are you stabbing me again? My body is already a rag.”

“Because you hit me on the head, I lost another tooth.”

Li Jue pointed to his empty mouth and stood up.

“Go ahead and curse as much as you want in the afterlife. But, General’s name will never remain in history as a loyal subject.”

“After we unify the world, regardless of who becomes the emperor, there will be no record in history stating ‘Dong Zhuo is a loyal minister.’ Hehehe…!”

“I will make good use of the wealth the general left in Chang’an.”

“Rest assured. The clans of the general remaining in Anzheng and Tianshu will also meet the general soon.”

“…….”

Dong Zhuo quietly closed his eyes.

“Uh? Is he dead? That can’t be. I should be begging and all that.”

“No, it’s not that. I have no intention of begging. Ptooey.”

Guo Sha spat out blood-tinged saliva and rose to his feet.

“Let’s hurry, Guo. Before that esteemed female general comes charging this way.”

“Yeah. I can’t just get caught for murder right after making a mess.”

“Not just one, but hundreds, isn’t it a serial murder?”

“Half of those murders were ordered by General Dong, so what of it?”

Yi Gak and Guo Sha left, sneering.

Soon, something began to roll down towards Dong Zhuo and the corpses around him.

“No, let go… Huh! Your Highness!”

A soldier, with a sword embedded in his shoulder and his whole body bound with ropes, shouted at Dong Zhuo.

“Your Highness! Just a little, just a little longer…! I will save you!”

The generals and soldiers, including Seoyoung, fell into the pit.

Most of them were disarmed or bleeding from their ankles, tightly bound with ropes.

“…Those people.”

Dong Zhuo spoke in a dying voice.

“We left them here to bleed and freeze to death.”

“Your Highness! No more, no more…!”

“Seoyoung.”

Dong Zhuo pointed to his body and the tree.

“This is the last… command.”

“Your Highness!”

“Somehow ignite a fire, and bring it to me.”

“Yes, yes…?!”

“And….”

Dongtak looked up at the darkened sky, his body slowly sagging.

“The will of heaven is such, but I—”

He seemed to want to leave something unsaid, but could no longer continue.

“Ugh, uaa…! Kraaah!!”

Seoyoung cried out, but no one approached from below the valley.

Gugugugu.

Rather, there was only the sound of something rolling, as if the path upward was blocked by boulders, echoing down the slope.

“Your Excellency, kugh…!”

Seoyoung twisted her body, grasping a stone that had fallen to the ground with both hands, looking at the remaining officials who were watching her.

“I must survive. By any means, by any means…!!”

Blood flowed down from her torn forehead, dripping onto Seoyoung’s eyes.

“Even to kill those traitors who are worse than beasts…!!”

Half a breath later.

Hwaruk.

A small spark flared up in the gorge, sending black smoke soaring into the sky.

Morning broke, and the patrolling soldiers discovered it.

Luoyang was turned upside down.

* * *

[Three days later, Luoyang Imperial Palace Office. Former Office of the Minister of the Imperial Guard – Current Office of Han Nanyun.]

I was in charge of managing the area around Luoyang, but that was merely a nominal position.

I was busy with other matters.

Supporting the budget for the engineering corps stationed in the province of Shengao to secure water sources.

Recovering corpses with the soldiers and creating a communal grave.

Building tents to provide a stable space for the prisoners.

Patrolling the streets myself to reassure the anxious residents of Luoyang.

I had to do it.

Because Dongtak had fallen.

Because Dongtak had taken the soldiers of Yangzhou toward Chang’an.

Had he abandoned Luoyang?

No, that was not the case.

Rather, I left Yangzhou to protect Luoyang.

One was to subdue Ma Teng, who was said to have joined the anti-Dong Zhuo coalition.

Ma Teng was not over there beyond the Sishuguan.

His name was simply on the list of feudal lords.

Was it Yuan Shao’s manipulation?

There is a high possibility, but it could also be that his name was just listed while he was actually waiting for an opportunity.

To confirm Ma Teng’s true intentions, Dong Zhuo said he would go to Yangzhou to inquire about Ma Teng’s sincerity.

If he is a traitor, then he should be subdued.

If he is a loyal subject, then an alliance.

It could be said that Dong Zhuo had already fulfilled his role just by eliminating the threat from the rear.

Moreover, since he claimed to protect the western part of Luoyang, even setting aside his capabilities, his determination should not be underestimated.

Such a Dong Zhuo has died.

Betrayal.

Li Jue and Guo Si killed Dong Zhuo and absorbed the Yangzhou army.

They drove Dong Zhuo and the armed men who did not follow them into the land below the gorge, rendering them immobile and attempting to kill them through excessive bleeding.

Malicious.

If they had just killed him outright, it would have been one thing, but instead, they stabbed him with a knife and bound him, as if trying to relieve themselves of the burden by saying, ‘Anyway, I didn’t kill him,’ while making him bleed to death.

Dong Zhuo is dead.

The number of those who survived was not even ten, and they could be said to have miraculously survived.

‘Burn yourself. That was the last will.’

Dong Zhuo set himself ablaze to send a signal.

Smoke rose like a beacon, and we were able to quickly grasp the rebellion instigated by Li Jue and Guo Si.

By the time we chased them westward—it was already too late.

Hangu Pass was occupied.

Li Jue and Guo Si closed the gate, even abandoning some of the carts in the rear.

Li Jue and Guo Si’s escape to Chang’an.

They must have occupied Chang’an by now.

Separate from the anti-Dong Zhuo or the rescue of Lü Bu, they are outright bandits and traitors who have risen up against the state—a faction of rebellion.

Political justification?

There is none.

Just a clear rebellion in itself, as they do not like the ruler and declare that they will seize the land and become lords.

Currently, Luoyang is in a state where even the fire is hardly lit in memory of Dong Zhuo.

Luoyang has fallen into shock and terror.

The fact that Dong Zhuo, who fought with his life to protect Luoyang, met such a shocking death.

“General Bi.”

Gao Sun, who entered the Luoyang government office as my aide, called me from outside.

“A guest has arrived.”

“A guest?”

“Yes. General Hua Yong.”

“Let him in—no, I will go out.”

I stepped outside.

“General Bi.”

Outside the door, Hua Yong was waiting for me.

He was missing an arm and wore a blindfold over one eye, and although his subordinates were supporting him, Hua Yong bowed his head and made a gesture of respect with one hand.

“I have heard the rumors circulating in the court.”

“Rumors, what about?”

“While warlords in various regions are calling themselves lords in their own lands, Li Jue and Guo Si have led that group, killed Grand Tutor Dong, and fled to Chang’an—”

“Get to the point.”

“…I would like you to take me with you.”

Hua Yong extended his remaining hand and made a gesture as if grasping something.

“Although I have become a one-armed man, the name Hua Yong still holds weight in the Yangzhou area.”

“And so? You will step forward and fight?”

“Fighting would be meaningless. Right now, my strength is… even less than that of my subordinates beside me.”

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Against regular soldiers, I might barely be able to fight five, no, seven at most.

“However, the moment the tide turns to the imperial army, those who recognize the face of Hua Yong will easily surrender.”

“Will you shout for the enemy to surrender?”

“This Hua Yong may have lost his strength, but he has not lost his voice. If there is any power I possess, it is only the influence over those remaining in Yangzhou.”

“…….”

“Furthermore, I can immediately provide information about other potential enemies that may be behind. Those from Yangzhou know the affairs of Yangzhou better.”

“So….”

I pointed to the west.

“Igak and Gwaksa… and perhaps even Madung and Hansu behind them.”

“The campaign against Yangju. Please take me along.”

Presently.

Although it is not officially revealed in the court, ‘rumors’ are circulating abundantly.

“General Bi, Yeop will lead the soldiers and go directly to Yangju to subdue Igak and Gwaksa.”

“…….”

“A guide would be fine. An interrogator would be fine. This Hwaung, though unable to ride a horse, can walk on two legs.”

“Is that so.”

I approached Hwaung.

“Rumors are just rumors.”

“General Bi.”

“Although the losses are said to be relatively small, we do not know how the allied forces will move at this moment.”

I reached out my hand towards Hwaung’s intact arm and lightly tapped his shoulder.

“But if such a situation arises someday, I will surely call upon you to advance to the battlefield together.”

“……It is a promise.”

Hwaung bowed to me until his waist was bent.

“You all take General Hwaung back. Ensure that General Hwaung can rest sufficiently.”

“Understood.”

His subordinates, who brought Hwaung, again supported him as they left the place.

“Gosun.”

“Yes, General.”

“Is Hwaung desperately trying to gather information, or is it that information control in Luoyang is so lax that rumors spread this easily?”

“…….”

The cavalry commander, Gosun, struggles to answer easily.

He must feel that various unexpected situations are unfolding right now.

“We need to move more swiftly. Gosun.”

“Yes, General.”

“What news from the troops sent to Byungju?”

“They will arrive within three to four days.”

“Okay.”

Hwa-ung might be a little upset.

“As soon as you arrive, let’s mobilize.”

No, can smoke rise from a fire that has been put out?

Currently.

Byeongju County.

Secretly moving towards Hamgokgwan.