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

Chapter 39

＜ Under Heaven, There Cannot Be Two Fathers (6) ＞

[At that moment, Luoyang City. Dong Zhuo’s estate.]

“Son-in-law.”

Dong Zhuo called for his son-in-law in a low voice.

“Yes, father-in-law.”

“Not this son-in-law, the other one.”

“Ah, yes.”

He immediately bowed his head and stepped back.

Then, beside him, a soldier with a somewhat anxious expression deeply bowed his head toward Dong Zhuo.

“Yes, father-in-law.”

“Ubo.”

“Yes.”

“It has been quite some time since I secretly entrusted Hongnong to you.”

As Dongtak gestured, Ubo stepped forward and knelt down.

“What is Ha doing now?”

“Uh, he’s trying to draw in a man to resolve the issue, completely unaware that everything is already over.”

“And you?”

“After you ascended to the position of Prime Minister, I’ve been tempting him with the promise of a more luxurious life in Chang’an than in Hongnong.”

“You’re doing well. Hehe.”

At Dongtak’s praise, Ubo scratched the back of his neck sheepishly.

“So, have you crossed over? Surely you haven’t actually gone over to him?”

“Of course not. Would I, Ubo, even hold hands with such a woman if it weren’t for my mission? Especially with your daughter in mind.”

“Ah, indeed.”

Dongtak nodded vigorously, as if he had expected this.

“…When do you think you will die?”

Dongtak pretended to rub his finger over his wine cup.

As if he were secretly burning some powder in the drink.

“Well, for now, my life is quite resilient… But if I were to use poison, the person sent from the palace is currently examining me…”

“Hmph. It can’t be helped. I will change the plan. For the time being, let it be.”

“Yes?”

Ubo was taken aback.

“Wh-why is that?”

“Why, you ask? It’s obviously because Lü Bu is currently in the palace.”

Dongtak smiled bitterly, then—

“Lü Bu, that…”

Bang!

“That b*stard who coldly rejected my granddaughter!!”

Suddenly, he slammed his fist down on the table in anger.

“That guy, could it be that he’s not man enough? How could he refuse a woman! Let alone my granddaughter, who is like my own daughter, our Dongbaek!”

“Th-That’s…”

“Ubo! Yiyu! Since you are my sons-in-law, speak up. Can you understand what it means to be married to my daughters?”

At Dongtak’s command, Yiyu and Ubo exchanged quick glances before Yiyu stepped forward and bowed his head.

“It’s because Yeopo has eyes like a dog, Father-in-law.”

“Y-Yes, that’s right. That fellow Yeopo, his tastes are certainly not normal.”

“Isn’t that so? If it weren’t, there would be no reason for him to refuse while making such excuses about my granddaughter.”

Gulp, gulp.

“Of course! There’s no way he would refuse our Dongbaek with such ridiculous reasons! How could a man with proper eyes treat Dongbaek so coldly?”

Dongtak suppressed his anger by downing a drink in one go.

“Haah, haah. Ubo. It’s true that I’m angry with that fellow, but he’s still a dangerous one. We must be cautious while he’s in the palace.”

“Y-Yes, um, yes.”

“As soon as that Qingliupai fellow arrived, some were already trying to postpone their regular meetings with me or were making excuses to meet with Yeopo. Even that Chaeong… Hah.”

Just thinking about it seemed to irritate Dongtak further, and he took another drink.

“I heard he even tried to invite Yeopo to his own home.”

“H-He… did? Not just tried?”

“Yeopo refused. But… of all things, he went to the house of the magistrate Wang Yun.”

“Now, Father-in-law. Isn’t Wang Yun our enemy?”

Ubo’s face turned pale.

“He keeps checking on the state of the former emperor in Hongnong and is constantly trying to assess the condition of our troops in the western part of Luoyang.”

“That’s right. He… has seen us as beasts trying to seize control since the moment we entered here.”

Dongtak slammed his cup down roughly.

“Sharp as a tack.”

“…….”

Only Wang Yun’s faction in the court is not trying to ally with Dongtak, but is continuously keeping him in check.

“But he also thinks he can handle us at the same time.”

Dongtak scoffed derisively.

“He thought he could tame us like horses. That madman. We are men of Yangzhou. Does he think a sandstorm can be controlled by a court dandy? Hahaha.”

“That’s right, hehe.”

“Ubo, that’s why I thought Yeopo was somewhat similar to us, but it seems he’s completely out of his mind.”

“…….”

The mention of Yeopo made Ubo’s already pale face turn completely white.

“He’s avoiding alcohol, indulging in no luxuries, and has no intention of getting close to women at all. What on earth is he living for?”

“Um, Father-in-law.”

“What?”

“Do you know why Yeopo went to Wang Yun’s house?”

“No. I haven’t heard that much.”

“…Could it be that Wang Yun has piqued Yeopo’s ‘interest’ or ‘amusement’?”

“…Go on.”

As Dongtak gestured, Lee Yu stepped forward.

“Even if Yeopo appears to have a clear mind, he is quick to notice those who wish to use him.”

“Mm.”

“The officials in the court are hiding a snake each here. Chaeong would be the same, but Wang Yun would be even more so.”

“Wang Yun has hundreds of snakes hidden.”

“And yet he received an invitation from Wang Yun? There must be something sweet hidden in Wang Yun’s house. Whether it’s treasure or a fine steed.”

“A fine steed!”

Dongtak slammed his hand on the table.

“Yes! That was it!”

“Uh, are you referring to…?”

“Ubo! Contact Chang’an and have ‘that guy’ brought here!”

“Y-yes…? You can’t mean that red-faced fellow, can you?”

“That’s right!”

At Dongtak’s affirmation, Ubo’s face turned as pale as a corpse.

“Oh, no! That fellow is the horse you cherish the most, isn’t he?”

“If no one else can ride him, it’s better to give him to that fellow and win his favor. Sons-in-law. Do you know why Yeopo dismounts every time he fights?”

Dongtak tapped the inside of his thigh.

“When fighting on horseback, the thighs tense up, but if the horse is too strong, it becomes difficult for the horse to endure.”

“Just like you did in your youth…?”

“Exactly! Although I may not be able to ride him well now, if he’s Yeopo, he would recognize it, right? He’s not the kind of fierce fellow who would carry someone unworthy on his back.”

Dongtak chuckled and refilled his cup.

“Do you understand, Ubo?”

“…….”

“Why? Why can’t you answer? …Could it be you?”

“Oh, no! Surely I haven’t caused any trouble again?! Absolutely not!”

Ubo shook his hands vigorously, denying it emphatically.

“I only did what my father-in-law instructed. Nothing more, nothing beyond that!”

“If you touch another woman or recklessly plunder again, then you are no longer my son-in-law. Do you understand?”

“Yes, yes! Of course!”

“…Huh. Really.”

Dongtak clicked his tongue, alternating his gaze between Iyu and Ubo.

“Enough. More importantly, Iyu.”

“Yes, father-in-law.”

“Why on earth did Leopo go to Wang Yun’s house instead of Chaeong’s?”

“…I’m sorry, but could it be because of a woman?”

“A woman?”

“Yes.”

“…Our Dongbaek rejected him, which woman are you talking about?”

Crack—crunch!!

“How dare our Dongbaek be humiliated right before my eyes, for any other woman!!”

* * *

“It is an honor to be in your presence.”

At the door.

“Are you comfortable?”

The woman asks me.

“Not at all.”

Though I am, there are aspects that cannot be addressed with the facilities here.

“This is sufficient as it is, so you may withdraw.”

“…Great one.”

For some reason, there’s no sign of retreat in her voice.

“In fact, the girl was secretly sent by King Sado.”

“…….”

“Among those who work in this estate, there are some who do not follow King Sado.”

“So you intend to be the bridge between Lord Wang Yun and me?”

“Yes.”

“…….”

I was hoping to take a leisurely bath, but even while soaking in the tub, I have to discuss politics.

‘I’m really fed up with this.’

Luoyang is truly exhausting, beyond measure.

Should I just find an estate somewhere in Luoyang and create a comfortable place for myself?

But then, it seems like guests would come to visit every single day.

Since I already have a house in Luoyang, they would probably tell me to stay there every day.

‘They say even rolling in a dung heap is better than this life, but why would I roll in a dung heap when I have a paradise in my own home in Bingzhou?’

Luoyang is a cesspool.

At least this building with the bathtub is genuinely for cleansing; despite its small size, it doesn’t smell of filth at all.

“Sir.”

“Yes.”

“May I come in?”

“You’re coming in?”

“Yes.”

“…….”

Do I really have to let her in?

If she opens the door, that smell will gradually spread this way.

“Though I have been commanded by King Sado to serve you, I am also the one who manages this place. If you grant me permission, I would like to enter and assist you.”

“You do know what it means for a woman to enter a man’s bathing area, don’t you?”

“……That is.”

In her voice, I sensed a moment of hesitation, as if she realized something.

Indeed, just from her voice, I could tell.

‘To go so far as to send a girl who isn’t even of age to extract information. Wang Yun is not quite right in the head.’

From my perspective, what is normal is…

In this era, this must be an entirely natural occurrence.

It’s not just specific to this time.

The concept of a beauty trap exists across all eras.

“Do you… not enjoy the company of women?”

“Me?”

“I heard that.”

“From whom?”

“From… the people at the author’s place.”

Me, with women?

“That’s slander. I am a healthier man than anyone else.”

When Jeong-won was alive, there was a time when the daughter of the Eom family, who tried to connect me with her in any way possible, shouted at me like that.

– Are you trying to embrace a man rather than a woman, General?

…Having not married by this age, there are indeed some who look at me with such suspicious eyes.

When those who left with Lee-sook spread rumors out of jealousy against me, they would say such things.

“I simply have not found a companion who catches my eye until now, so do not misunderstand.”

“…….”

“And if you need a dialogue, then let’s keep the door between us like this—”

Click, rattle, creak.

“Excuse me.”

The door opens.

It doesn’t matter to me since I’m in the bathtub, but I never expected someone to enter so boldly—

‘It’s not that strange.’

Sending someone to serve in a place like this is a common occurrence for some.

Considering Wang-yun’s intentions, if she were to wait outside, that woman would likely get scolded severely by Wang-yun later.

She was sent as a beauty trap, and now she’s stuck at the bathroom entrance.

‘Huh?’

Sniff, sniff.

“……Indeed, she must be the caretaker of this bathroom.”

I scan the woman with black hair from head to toe.

She wears a modest outfit, and while it’s rare to find such a beauty even in Byeongju or Nakyang—

“You.”

I almost instinctively rose from my seat.

“How do you wash your hair?”

“Excuse me?”

“What do you wash it with?”

That hair.

“Is it the fruit of the peony tree? Or is it ash…? No, if it were ash, it wouldn’t be so lustrous.”

Hair that rivals my own in fineness.

There’s a sheen that can’t be explained by just a hurried daily routine.

The many women here don’t refer to their hair, matted with oil for a week, as ‘luminous’; rather, it’s that elegant black hair one might see in advertisements or hair dye commercials before reincarnation.

“Sir.”

“Yes.”

“Are you curious about the secret of my hair?”

“Indeed.”

The woman glances at my hair subtly.

Though it’s wet, she seems to recognize the hair of someone who takes care of it regularly.

“Ha, ha ha, ha ha ha… as expected.”

“……?”

The woman’s demeanor relaxes significantly.

She wears an expression as if she’s encountered a fellow townsman in a foreign land, someone she hasn’t seen in ages.

“The stories from here will not reach the outside world.”

“……?”

With a face full of tension, yet also one that seems to be taking a gamble, she looks at me.

“If you are indeed the person I think you are, please answer this question as it comes to mind.”

“…Who are you?”

“Young lady.”

The woman places her hand on her chest and bows her head.

“I am called Chosun.”

“…….”

She answered that she is Chosun.

“……That.”

The answer that comes to mind is just one.

“So?”

“Excuse me?”

“Aren’t you going to ask a question?”

“……What do you mean?”

Suddenly, the atmosphere of the woman introduced as Chosun changed.

“You’re the great man, and I’m Chosun. Don’t you have any thoughts?”

“It feels like you’ve suddenly changed as a person.”

“…….”

Chosun takes a step back, looking at me with eyes that seem unable to comprehend something.

“Hmm… That shouldn’t be the case… No, did the Black Dragon really eat me…? Or maybe… that’s not it?”

“What strange things are you muttering to yourself? Are you saying this for me to hear?”

“Great man.”

Chosun steps forward, closing the distance between us.

“I have a question. What do you think about the act of encamping on a mountain?”

“Encamping on a mountain?”

Suddenly asking about military strategy?

“…Why?”

“So, my question is.”

“What reason would there be to encamp on a mountain? Unless it’s a lookout post to monitor the enemy.”

Chosun’s eyes narrow.

“Ah. It would depend on the mountain. Some mountains are easily surrounded from below, but others could serve as strategic strongholds.”

Her gaze seems to be assessing and confirming something about me; it’s audacious, yet not unpleasant.

Hmm—sigh.

For now, I pass.

The question is odd, but I can assert that her demeanor is the most upright compared to anyone in Luoyang.

“Next question. What do you think about encamping long in a forest?”

“There must have been a reason to encamp. Would one set up camp in a forest for no reason? The enemy could easily hide in the thicket and launch surprise attacks.”

I briefly scan Chosun from top to bottom.

She’s quite tall compared to the women of this era, which might feel a bit imposing to the men, but thanks to that, I can comfortably use this bathtub.

Perhaps this bathtub is used by this woman.

“Will this be the answer?”

“What do you think about deploying troops in the long stretch of Jin?”

“…If we set the forest on fire, who will put it out afterward?”

Chosun’s mouth falls open, as if she is taken aback by such an obvious question.

“Put out the fire…?”

“Are we just going to sit and wait for rain to fall from the sky? What if, in the meantime, the fire spreads and the entire forest burns down? What if that fire spreads and engulfs the villages?”

“……Next question.”

Chosun grits her teeth and asks.

It’s clear that my response displeased her, likely because it was an inappropriate answer to a question that seemed to be prompted by Wang Yun.

“If you were to guard a gate, which gate would you choose?”

As expected.

“While I stayed in Luoyang, I studied the geography of the area while guarding Mengjin Port.”

“……What?”

“I have a rough idea of what you are curious about.”

I sense it.

“Tell Wang Shido that this Lü Bu has no intention of shedding meaningless blood against Dong Zhuo.”

“Dong Zhuo… what?”

“To order troops to camp in the mountains and forests means that Dong Zhuo intends to station himself in the western part of Luoyang, where he currently resides.”

I understand.

“You plan to use me to drive Dong Zhuo and the Xiliang army out of Chang’an, and then have me block the western gate, ‘Hangu Pass,’ leading into Luoyang?”

“No.”

“After taking control of the Xiliang army’s positions in the western part of Luoyang, in the Pingyin forest and the mountains near Henan, you intend to completely push Dong Zhuo westward and block him at Hangu Pass.”

As expected.

“Wang Yun has made up his mind to oust Dong Zhuo, using our Bingzhou army.”

“No.”

“……No?”

From noble mtl dot com

Could it be that I struck a nerve, and she is trying to deny it?

“……Huh. Um, Lü Bu?”

“……You called me a great person, and now suddenly?”

“Do you really not know?”

“It’s our first meeting… how arrogant.”

What is this?

That intense gaze, as if saying ‘you must know me without question.’

“Palwang. Gopyeongneung. Ojangwon. Beonseong. Hanjung. Jeokbyeok. Guando. …Ugh.”

“……?”

Suddenly, Chosun places a hand on her head.

She wobbles, about to fall, and without thinking, I reach out and catch her as she sways.

“Thank you… but really, do you not know?”

“…….Is it a person, or a place?”

“…You really don’t know? …Could it be, no way….”

Chosun briefly covers her mouth with her sleeve, as if trying to say something.

“Wh…… cough.”

“Hey.”

Suddenly, she coughs up blood.

It’s more than I expected, not just a little, but enough to make it seem like she’s pouring it out.

“Hey!! Outside—”

“Wait… a moment….”

Chosun grabs me with her other hand as I try to get up.

Thud, thud, clap.

She stomps the ground twice and claps towards my wrist.

Thud, thud, clap.

“……?”

Huh.

What is this—

“……No, really.”

The moment our eyes meet, Chosun looks at me.

“Really, ha….”

She gives me a genuinely wronged look.

“You’re not Lu Bu….”

Splash.

“…….”

If I’m not Yeopo, then who is Yeopo?

Before I could even say that, I dashed out of the bathtub.

“Hey!!”

I lifted the fallen Chosun in my arms, gathering my breath from my abdomen to shout.

“Is there no one outside?─!!”

* * *

Wow!!

A roar that cuts through the darkness.

Hundreds of soldiers raise their crossbows to the sky, shouting.

“How weak you are, rabble of Seoryang!!”

“Ugh, is there no one there!!”

A soldier, with a crossbow embedded in his iron helmet, urgently calls out to his surroundings.

But the cavalry that had rushed in with the soldier were all turned into a mass of crossbow bolts, and the horses fled, abandoning their riders.

“What humiliation…!”

“Ha ha ha.”

With blood splattered on his head, the young general—Won-soo—steps forward among the soldiers, aiming his crossbow at the armed men.

“To think you would try to defeat me, Won-soo, and Won-ga with just a thousand cavalry.”

“Ugh…!”

“Did you say Seoyoung? When you return, tell Dong-tak that I will go to chew on the flesh of a pig that can do nothing but oppress the innocent by branding them as traitors.”

“I will not forget this humiliation today!”

Seoyoung turned his horse around, looking utterly wretched alongside the few remaining soldiers.

“Haah.”

“You’ve worked hard, Won-soo.”

A relatively older middle-aged man approached Won-soo.

Dressed in scholar’s robes, a sight rare on the battlefield, he showed no signs of sweat.

“You’re too kind. It’s all thanks to your swift support, isn’t it?”

“Ha ha, I merely acted according to your suggestion.”

The middle-aged man pulled a letter from his bosom.

“Two suns cannot rise in one nation. To oust the false emperor, Jin Liu Wang, and to establish the true Han emperor, I seek the opinions of each lord.”

“…….”

“Well. Is it Yu from Jizhou, or is it me?”

“…First, shouldn’t we stabilize Luoyang?”

“Hahaha. The fire is at your feet. Yes, I understand. We’ll discuss that later.”

The middle-aged man took a stance towards Yuan Shao.

“I, Yu Jing Sheng, will ensure that the governor of Xuzhou, Liu Biao, stands with you. Together, we shall drive out the traitor Dong Zhuo and rescue the Black Dragon.”

“Black Dragon….”

Yuan Shao murmured softly, “Lü Bu.”

“What is the Black Dragon? It is a symbol representing the Qin Dynasty and its First Emperor. After the fall of that Qin, the one who unified the world was Liu Bang, the founder of the Han.”

“……There are rumors that the First Emperor is the offspring of a man named Lü Bu Wei.”

“Indeed. The symbol of this nation’s emperor is the Yellow Dragon. In other words.”

Liu Biao said with a smile.

“The Black Dragon has fallen, and the Yellow Dragon has ascended. The one who gains the Black Dragon, Lü Bu, can become the Yellow Dragon.”

“……Huh.”

“Truly, one could say it is a living human seal.”

“Do you, Governor of Xuzhou, have a way to break the brainwashing that Lü Bu is under?”

“Haha. That is a secret. First, we must rescue Lü Bu before we can discuss it, don’t you think?”

“…Yes.”

The gazes of the two men met.

“First.”

“After securing Lü Bu.”