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

Chapter 1

＜ I Thought It Was a Martial Arts novel, But It Was Lü Bu (1) ＞

“Son, you don’t have to be a filial son.”

My father, who was lying in the hospital room, said.

“You don’t have to take time out to visit me every time.”

“Please don’t say that.”

Even though he couldn’t move his body properly, my father always raised himself to greet me whenever I visited.

“Is Mrs. Choi doing her job properly?”

“It’s not right to doubt people carelessly.”

“No, it’s not that I’m trying not to doubt…”

“Mrs. Choi is doing all her work. It’s just that I don’t want it.”

I hired someone.

Even though a considerable amount of money went out of my salary, I had no choice but to do so.

Someone said this about it.

-You should have been filial before your father was bedridden.

I didn’t know.

Living busily in Seoul, I didn’t notice that his health had deteriorated so much.

If I had visited earlier, could I have noticed that it was cancer?

Whenever he loaded a box of farm produce he had grown himself into my trunk with his dirt-stained hands, did I ever really look at those hands turning black?

No.

Rather, I think I got annoyed.

Why do you keep trying to give me something that leaves dirt in the trunk?

You can just go to the mart and buy it with money.

If I had known that just receiving it and visiting often was filial piety, wouldn’t it have come to this?

If I show a little more interest from now on, might he miraculously get up?

“More than that, what are you looking at so intently?”

“The Analects.”

“Excuse me?”

“I’m bored.”

Father gently stroked the book with his wrinkled hands.

“Before I go, I want to see a little more of what I used to see.”

“Please don’t say that.”

“Hehehe. Why, do you remember? When you were young, I told you to read this. Did you hate it that much?”

If you ask if I hated it, back then, I did.

Honestly, even now, I just think ‘Oh, there’s something like that,’ and move on. I don’t even remember the last time I opened a book, let alone the Analects.

“The book you showed me had too many Chinese characters.”

“Yes. It had quite a lot of Chinese characters. So, did you read other books?”

“Well….”

“Did you read martial arts novels?”

“…….”

When I was in high school, I often borrowed books from the bookstore.

I didn’t study as I was supposed to, and I didn’t read proper books, so I got scolded a lot.

“It’s okay. These days, I think, what should I say, it’s also a book, so why did I nitpick so much?”

“Father.”

I even thought it would be better if he yelled at me like he used to.

“My son.”

“Yes, Father.”

“What do you think filial piety is?”

“……”

I couldn’t answer that question.

“I think it’s about being sincere.”

“…….”

“No matter what you did before, you are doing well enough now. The past cannot be undone. Such things are like miracles given by God.”

“Father.”

“So even if others say, ‘It’s too late now,’ just ignore them. You are doing enough for me.”

Father tried to hold my hand, but he pulled back his sick hand and smiled bitterly.

“I’m glad you came even though you’re busy. You can go in now.”

“But still….”

“I want to rest a bit. There are still things I haven’t finished reading.”

Father pointed to the books placed next to the sickbed.

They were books borrowed by the caregiver, a series from volume 1 to 10.

It was the “Romance of the Three Kingdoms.”

Books I had never seen before, just heard about in passing.

Books I had never bothered to look at, thinking I would rather read another martial arts novel.

Occasionally, when stories about the “Romance of the Three Kingdoms” came up in martial arts novels, I would think, ‘Why not just talk about the Legend of the Condor Heroes instead?’

A classic that my friends would chide me for not knowing, saying, ‘How can you not know the Romance of the Three Kingdoms?’

Honestly, I wondered if there was any need to know the ancient stories of another country.

“Father.”

“Why?”

“Is it interesting?”

“…Is it intriguing?”

Father smiled and handed me the first volume.

“Once you finish reading it, let’s talk about it. I’ll ask Mrs. Choi to extend the borrowing period.”

That’s how I received a book from my father.

Wondering if he would be happy if I shared my thoughts after reading the first volume, I went home and immediately collapsed onto my bed.

That day.

Father passed away.

* * *

The funeral ended sooner than I expected.

No, it felt like it passed by too quickly.

Surely, many things happened over the five days, but once I returned to the empty house, it felt as if time had been erased.

“…….”

There weren’t many belongings left behind.

The farmer who raised an athlete in the countryside didn’t have any special farming equipment, and my mother had passed away when I was young.

What should I do now?

Since I made a living with physical labor, I didn’t have to commute to a company, so my time was relatively free.

My colleagues comforted me, saying, ‘Take a few days off,’ and some even subtly asked if they should help me sort things out.

I declined.

It wasn’t that I felt burdened, but I wasn’t mentally exhausted enough to need that much attention.

If you still want to find some solace in your heart.

“China, huh.”

While tidying up the place where my father had left, I found a photo album.

Photos filled with images of your younger days.

Quite old, but photos of a young man and woman with a sulky child.

The photos taken together in some mountain seemed common, but I could at least recognize that the Chinese characters behind my young father were Chinese.

[Attention please. Heading from Incheon to Beijing….]

When I came to my senses, I was already finishing the flight procedures.

I packed lightly with just a few clothes, not even knowing how to properly greet in Chinese, and boarded the plane with the family photos in my arms.

That day.

That day, it was particularly strange.

There were too few people on the plane.

In movies, planes usually have a lot of passengers, but on the day I boarded, there seemed to be unusually few.

‘Is the plane really taking off with so few people?’

It was to the point where I had such thoughts.

There were so few people that a viral video of a single passenger chatting with the flight attendants due to the airline’s schedule came to mind.

“Mister!”

“I’m not a mister, student.”

“Oh, then, brother?”

A high school girl sat next to me and started talking.

I was flustered, but the girl seemed to want to make me her conversation partner with trivial stories.

“Is this your first time watching this? Or a rewatch? It’s fun, right? Three Kingdoms.”

“What?”

“Three Kingdoms. This is the Three Kingdoms drama. It’s still the first episode, but for now….”

Was it fate?

Or some incomprehensible curse?

Clunk.

The plane entering Chinese airspace was particularly bumpy.

“Excuse me, this-“

Beep───!!

Sudden turbulence?

Or a gust of wind?

I don’t know.

An inexplicable phenomenon suddenly occurred, and the moment I felt the shock as if the world was turning upside down with the plane.

“Ahhh!”

“……Danger!!”

With a shock that felt like something deeply piercing my lungs, I lost consciousness.

….

….

….

When I opened my eyes again, it was a completely new ceiling, and I had become a baby.

* * *

It must have been what they call reincarnation.

I’ve often seen it in martial arts novels.

Going back to the past, possessing someone, or being reborn with memories.

I was born as the child of a hunter in a remote mountain village in ancient China, in a world that seemed like a martial arts novel.

I realized it was China because the people who seemed to be my parents and family were speaking Chinese.

I realized it was ancient because their clothes and actions were much older than even when I was young, like the attire of the poor in historical dramas.

I realized I was the child of a hunter because my parents fed me by farming or catching wild animals and selling their skins.

At first, I was bewildered.

Being born as a baby was troubling enough, but I couldn’t grasp what kind of world I was born into.

‘How can I not have a sense of the world view even after growing up to ten years old?’

I wished I could get some information, but the environment I was given was too severe to calmly gather information.

Even though the place I was born was a remote village surrounded by steep mountains-

“Ilho! Run away! Hurry!”

There were bandits.

I didn’t know what the authorities were doing, but they didn’t appear even when the bandits attacked a fairly decent mountain village.

“Ah, Father…! Mother!”

“Run away, quickly, argh!”

The second time.

I lost my parents.

Even to the young child who found it difficult to call them father and mother, they were people who, despite their poverty, gave him infinite affection. They passed away.

“Brother! This kid isn’t running away!”

“Indeed. The blood on his head hasn’t even dried yet.”

“Should we catch him or kill him?”

“Killing young ones is bad luck, but I really don’t like the way that kid is looking at us.”

The bandit, who could be called the enemy of my parents, approached me.

Holding a blood-stained sword, he approached as if it were natural to kill a child and swung his sword.

Am I going to die?

At that moment, I thought.

Whoosh!

An arrow flew from afar.

“Ugh, an enemy!”

The arrow that grazed the bandit’s arm left a long snake-like wound, and the bandit fled with his subordinates.

Looking back now, they probably mistook it for the appearance of government troops.

Otherwise, there would have been no reason to flee from a middle-aged man who appeared urgently from the bushes with a bow.

“Are you alright…?”

The middle-aged man was wearing a scholar’s robe and holding a bow.

“Child, child! Get a hold of yourself!”

“…….”

“You must not die! Ugh, someone! A doctor! No, no! Live. I will definitely make you live…!”

That was my first meeting with my master.

* * *

Ten years.

Ten years have passed since my parents died, and I came to regard my master as my parent until I turned twenty.

“You have the strength of a general, but you lack the qualities to become one.”

My master, who took me in and taught me martial arts, archery, and horseback riding, evaluated me.

“You’re not joking on purpose, are you?”

“Well, this is the result of my efforts.”

Chinese characters were difficult.

Moreover, there were many characters different from the Chinese characters I knew.

And I had another reason.

“Master. Wouldn’t it be better to shoot and kill one of those damned barbarians than to memorize another character?”

Kill the bandits.

Kill the barbarians.

Fortunately, this body had more talent in martial arts than I thought.

“The Xiongnu would be dumbfounded if they heard this. A young man who can shoot an arrow into their forehead from a hundred paces can’t even write a poem of more than thirty characters.”

“As long as we can communicate, isn’t that enough?”

“Is it enough just to communicate?”

“If there were a martial arts manual, I would learn it, but there isn’t one, is there?”

There was martial arts, but no martial arts manual.

Just in case, I asked about ‘Hwasan’ or ‘Namgung’-

“Instead of asking about that, memorize another character from the Analects.”

The master lightly tapped my head with the rolled-up Analects.

“I’ve given up on making you memorize the Four Books and Five Classics and the Art of War. Just memorizing the Analects will be beneficial to your life.”

“Aren’t you underestimating your disciple too much?”

“Don’t go around bragging that I’m your master. Not that you could, but if my acquaintances heard that you came from under me, they would laugh.”

“What did you say?”

“A flying general was born under a wise man, but he is not smart, just wise!”

“Doesn’t that mean I’m stupid?”

“Yes, our disciple is strong. That’s enough.”

I wanted to refute the master’s words, but I couldn’t.

Chinese characters were painful for me in many ways.

It didn’t seem this bad, but in high school, I memorized first-class Chinese characters during Chinese character class.

“Sometimes it seems like your mind can’t keep up with your head. Like a genius born with the head of a commoner, or even worse.”

I decided to believe the master’s evaluation.

I’m sorry to my parents who gave birth to me in this martial arts world, but it seems your child won’t be widely known for intelligence.

“By the way, what did you decide about ‘Jeong Geon-yang’s’ proposal?”

Jeong Geon-yang.

The way people are called in this era is quite peculiar.

“Who is Jeong Geon-yang?”

“…The magistrate of Byeongju, Jeong Won. His courtesy name is Geon-yang.”

“Ah, that esteemed person.”

To commoners or lowly people, they would call him ‘the third son of the Jang family’ or just ‘Ilho’, ‘Inam’, ‘Samnyeo’, but for those who have achieved fame and reputation, they would create a more impressive name.

“Master. I don’t know the details, but weren’t you in a higher position than the magistrate of Byeongju?”

“Oh, why do you think so?”

“I think you were in the central government, which would make you higher than the head of a local government.”

My master never told me his true identity, but I had some guesses about his background.

‘A high-ranking official who was ousted in a political struggle and went into seclusion.’

I may not know much about this world’s background, but I am exceptionally good at reading people.

“Why do you think so?”

“Because I saw how Jeong Won showed respect to you.”

“Just because of that?”

“Jeong Won doesn’t seem like the kind of person who would show respect just because someone is older.”

“…..Hahaha!!”

My master burst into laughter.

“Yes, yes! Your wisdom, combined with your beast-like strength and intuition, will someday lead you to meet and befriend a wise person like Zhang Liang! Not those like ‘Song Hu-wei’.”

“Are you belittling my subordinates all at once?”

“Ahem. I’m sorry. But those three, you and they don’t seem to have a good ending.”

“What makes you say that?”

“Would you believe me if I said I read the stars and learned it through astrology?”

“I don’t believe in such things.”

“You should believe.”

My master said.

“Soon, there will be great turmoil in the world.”

“Turmoil…?”

“Yes. A historical event that will plunge the entire Central Plains into chaos and cause all people to suffer is approaching.”

My master prophesied.

“This is not just nonsense from reading the stars. The eunuchs, filled with negative energy, are taking over the court with their power, and the emperor is deeply infatuated with the women sent by these eunuchs, neglecting state affairs. In the provinces, bandits are starting to roam in groups, and local warlords like Jeong Won are gathering powerful individuals and soldiers.”

Ah.

I know what this is.

“So, from the perspective of the central government, are you saying that the local warlords might eventually form a state and rebel against the central authority?”

I learned this in history class.

The Later Three Kingdoms period.

When the central government of Unified Silla became corrupt, Gung Ye and Gyeon Hwon rose to power and established Goryeo and Later Baekje, didn’t they!

In my past life, I remember dozing off while watching the story of Wang Geon with my father on weekends.

As a liberal arts student, some of the background knowledge I learned from history textbooks is coming back to me.

“Really, sometimes you make teaching so rewarding…!”

My teacher was deeply regretful.

“It’s lamentable. There’s nothing more unfortunate than having no words to fully display the skills of the most outstanding warrior!”

“You can get words if you seek them, and even without words, you can still fight, can’t you?”

I directly refuted my teacher’s regret.

“People might be a bit lacking. But I’m not stupid or foolish, just lacking in certain areas.”

“…….”

“If there’s something I’m lacking, I can have someone under my command to fill that gap. I can find an expert, pay them appropriately, and ask them to help me fill in my deficiencies.”

Just like a boss hires employees to get work done.

Just like a company hires an accountant to handle financial issues or contracts an external tax accountant.

“If there’s something I can’t do, I’ll leave it to others. I’ll focus on what I can do and do my best.”

I will do my best in what I can do.

“…Good. What is it that you can do?”

“Using strength.”

I know how to handle martial arts.

“Right. Jeong Kyung-won doesn’t intend to hire you simply as a soldier. Although your leadership hasn’t been proven yet to use you as a general, at least in terms of martial prowess, you might be the best in this region… no, perhaps the best in the world.”

“Is it that much?”

“You are stronger than any warrior I’ve ever seen. But don’t be arrogant.”

“That’s only natural, sir….”

“Despite your abilities, you don’t become arrogant and maintain humility, which shows your character. But why do you get a headache whenever you look at books?”

“…….”

“Enough. In the end, the words written in books only have meaning when put into action.”

My teacher said.

“Learning and occasionally practicing it is said to be enjoyable. But I think we need to take it a step further.”

“Please speak.”

“What is that?”

“Action.”

Just like in the wise times of elementary school.

“Knowing what chivalry is and understanding justice, but not putting it into practice, is dead knowledge.”

From noble mtl dot com

“Indeed.”

Even if you know and learn, if you don’t put it into action, it’s meaningless.

“I know you are an outstanding child. No, I shouldn’t call you a child anymore.”

“…….”

“Disciple.”

“Yes.”

“Whether in the court or anywhere else, when you go out into the world, you must have a name and a courtesy name.”

“A name and a courtesy name….”

“It’s not just calling yourself ‘Chunsik’ or something like that, but a name that will be remembered by the world and history.”

“…….”

A great general who will be remembered in history.

Chunsik.

“What did your parents call you?”

“They called me Ilho.”

“Yes. Usually, Ilho is a casual way to call the firstborn. It’s not an official name.”

The teacher asserted.

“If your parents were alive and it was time for you to make a name for yourself, they would have suggested you choose a new surname and a new name.”

“…….”

“And coincidentally, there is someone here who is the best at naming.”

“Are you going to give me a name and a courtesy name, Master?”

“That is the duty of a teacher, and the duty of the one who has raised you until now.”

The teacher.

“I have decided on the courtesy name to give you. I have also decided on the name. But I have not yet decided on the surname.”

“…….”

Surname.

You cannot use anything from your past life.

“Has your father ever told you anything about the surname?”

“……If possible.”

However.

“I would like to use the title of the general my father admired.”

“Title?”

“Yes.”

If I am to make a name for myself, that would be best.

“What is the title of that general? Or are you talking about a posthumous name? Taigong…? Like the Hegemon-King of Western Chu…?”

“The title of the general my father admired the most was Ye…h.”

Almost made a mistake.

“Ye? Hmm… Ye. It can’t be Ye (餘), and using Ye (汝) as a surname is a bit odd.”

The master pondered over the word ‘Ye’ for a long time.

“Ye (呂).”

He began to write a name with his brush in front of me.

“Born in the barren land of Bingzhou, his nature and destiny are close to greed, but wrapped in the chivalry (俠) and filial piety (孝心) that are second to none in the world, thanks to the love of his parents and the teachings of his master. I name you Po (布).”

The master gave me a name.

“Ye Po. Courtesy name Fengxian (奉先).”

“……Yes?”

“Why? Do you dislike the name given by your master?”

“No, it’s not that.”

That name.

“The name Ye Po Fengxian is….”

“Hey! Who said you should use both the name and the courtesy name together? Just call yourself Ye Fengxian, or simply Ye Po.”

“…I am Ye Po?”

“Why? Do you want me to change it?”

“…….”

Ah.

“Is there anyone else in this Bingzhou land with the name Ye Po besides me?”

“It could be possible. Even if the characters are different, there are cases where the sounds of the names are the same, or the characters are similar.”

The master said.

“The strongest warrior in this land of Bingzhou is you. Lü Bu.”

“…….”

I was.

Lü Bu.

* * *

10 years later.

After receiving the name Lü Bu, at the age of 29.

After the master’s death, a large group of bandits began to rampage.

The bandits with yellow headbands rose up like a religious group, spreading their infamy to Bingzhou under some banner.

The Yellow Turbans.

The Blue Sky is dead, the Yellow Sky will rise (蒼天已死 黃天當立).

It was the Three Kingdoms.

＜ I thought it was a martial arts novel, but it was Lü Bu (1) ＞ End