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

Chapter 43

＜ The One Who Flies in the Sky (4) ＞

I have defeated the strongest of Yangju.

Having conquered three of the thirteen provinces, only ten remain.

‘It’s just a personal goal.’

I’m not dedicating my life to becoming the best in the world.

As long as the rumor spreads that the strongest, Yeop, of Byeongju is the mightiest, that’s enough.

– They say the strongest Yeop will always seek to kill thieves.

If my reputation instills fear, it will be sufficient to prevent thieves from recklessly rampaging in distant regions.

Not for the sake of elevating my personal fame, but to use my reputation to save even one person from the threat of thieves.

I have defeated Yangju.

In just about three months, the rumor that “Yeop has defeated Hwa-ung” will spread throughout all of Yangju.

Of course, defeating one person doesn’t mean I’ve conquered the strongest of the entire region.

There may still be martial artists stronger than Hwa-ung in Yangju, and in ten years, new strong figures may emerge.

But not now.

Right now, in this place, there are no such strong figures.

Thud, thud.

Until I brought down Ho-jin, the soldiers of Yangju, who had been sending hostile glares my way, began to lower their spears one by one.

Some averted their eyes.

Some bowed their heads.

Some gazed at me with envy.

Some looked as if they were staring at a monster, terrified.

Those who walk the path of martial prowess all know.

Who the strongest is in this place, at this moment.

Now that Hwa-ung has been defeated, there is no one left to fight me.

‘It will be quiet for a while.’

Having subdued the armed forces of Yangju one after another with sheer force, and having brought down Hwa-ung, the last bastion.

‘They won’t act recklessly. At least not while this Lü Bu is here.’

They will not act carelessly.

At least, within the bounds of common sense.

“Ahahaha!!”

Laughter comes from beside me.

It sounds hearty, yet carries an awkwardness.

“Governor Dong.”

“Impressive, truly impressive!”

The one approaching is none other than Dong Zhuo, the lord of Yangju.

“Remarkable, General Bi!!”

He called me General Bi.

It seems he is deliberately raising his voice, likely trying to smooth over the situation.

“Indeed, such extraordinary skill! You are the one who has brought down the leader of the scholars! It is no empty fame!”

“That is a tale from the past, Governor.”

I lightly bow my head toward Dong Zhuo, but I meet his gaze.

“Hmm…!!”

Do not come any closer.

Dong Zhuo, who had approached with open arms as if to embrace me, froze in place, and I retrieved my weapon.

“I have been appointed as General Bi by His Majesty, and I have proven my capability to rise to that rank.”

It happened right in front of everyone.

The reason for being summoned here in the first place was to verify one’s abilities.

“However, there is no reason to issue commands to the Yangju army as a general.”

While a general has independent operational authority, they do not have the right to forcibly conscript soldiers from the local area.

“If necessary, I will request assistance, but at least for now, bandits are not rampaging near the capital.”

At least not yet.

“If I must issue a command, it would be merely to fight against injustice.”

He speaks firmly, emphasizing his words.

“If there comes a time to request help from the Yangju army, it will be the moment we confront the bandits who disturb the peace of the nation.”

A show of force against those who seek to usurp the country.

“I hope you will fight alongside the traitors.”

This does not merely refer to the rebels that Yuan Shao has recklessly occupied.

Dong Zhuo.

Yangju army.

‘It’s dangerous.’

Though I have not faced the entire army head-on, I understood the moment I competed against the generals who command that army.

They are rough.

Not just rough, but so wild that they cannot mix with the current Bing province.

Equipped with the arms of a regular army, yet they could turn into Xiongnu, Qiang, or even bandits at any moment if needed.

‘A wolf, no matter how much it is said to be domesticated, is a different story once it has tasted human blood.’

Right now, it wears the guise of a sheep and seems harmless, but it is a wild wolf that would not hesitate to bite a person the moment it is hungry.

No matter how well a wild wolf is raised, some wolf-dogs will still bite their owner’s child.

“General Dong. I sincerely hope we do not have to face each other with flushed faces anymore.”

The leader of that wild wolf is this man, Dong Zhuo.

“Remember this.”

Dong Zhuo nods heavily.

Fortunately, it seems he understands the meaning behind my warning well.

“…Heh, then how about joining me for dinner this evening?”

A warning is a warning, but respect for the strong is respect.

“I will treat you generously as a gesture of apology. Rest assured, there will be no repeat of the last incident.”

The expression on Dong Zhuo’s face changed.

There must still be some lingering resentment from the incident I caused in front of Empress Dowager Dong, yet he is suppressing that animosity in an attempt to win me over.

Unable to subdue me by force, he seems to be trying to coax me through some other means.

“Ah, yes! General Bi. Is the reason you fight without riding a horse… because of this?”

Dong Zhuo lightly taps his thigh with his hand.

“Though I may be heavyset now, in my youth, my body was as solid as my size. But even the strongest horses couldn’t handle the strength of my thighs.”

“Mm.”

It may sound strange to some.

“Indeed, did you experience the same, Elder Taiwei?”

“Ahahaha! Just so!!”

It is indeed true.

To fight from horseback, the horse must be able to withstand the strength of the rider’s thighs, but horses often struggle with that.

“Well, if you have a horse, there’s no reason not to ride! Unless you’re lacking in horses, that is!”

“There’s no shortage of horses in Bingzhou.”

“Hoh, this man.”

I can’t let this slide.

“Bingzhou has many excellent horses. Even now, we are training outstanding warhorses.”

I know that the horses from Yangzhou are exceptional, but the horses from Bingzhou are by no means inferior.

Just because I don’t ride well doesn’t mean the quality of Bingzhou’s horses is lacking.

“The reason I fight without riding is that there is no horse in this world that can carry me into battle.”

Whether from Bingzhou or Yangzhou, even if it’s the White Horse Brigade from Yuzhou, there is no horse in the world that can ‘fight alongside me.’

“If there were?”

“…….”

What?

“Though I may be too old to ride now, there is one horse that is considered the best in Yangzhou.”

“The best horse in Yangzhou.”

“A horse that can run a thousand li in a single day without tiring!”

“…Oh.”

That sounds quite enticing.

“It will arrive soon. Your acquaintance, Yi Suk, is personally bringing it! Would you like to come see it?”

“What’s your name?”

“That name is….”

Dong Zhuo deliberately drags out the moment.

“Red Hare!”

The Red Hare.

Perhaps it was named for its reddish color.

“I will gladly gift it to General Bi. What do you think?”

“Sounds good.”

“!!”

Dong Zhuo’s eyes widen.

The people behind him are also surprised.

I suppose they didn’t expect me to say ‘good’ so readily—

‘It’s not like I can refuse a car when it’s offered.’

In this era.

A horse is akin to a car.

Rejecting gold, jewels, or wealth is considered virtuous, but a high-performance vehicle is a different story.

“A horse that can run a thousand li in a day.”

Moreover, it doesn’t tire even after running a thousand li?

“If I ride that Red Hare from Bingzhou to the capital, I could reach the Emperor three times faster than now.”

“…….”

Dong Zhuo makes a face as if he’s chewing on something bitter.

‘Huh?’

Behind Dong Zhuo, a familiar-faced man is staring at me, swallowing hard.

‘Zhao Zilong?’

What is Cao Cao doing here?

From the looks of those around, it seems he wasn’t brought along willingly.

‘If I acknowledge him now, it might cause trouble.’

If I were to be invited to Dong Zhuo’s dinner like this, it wouldn’t matter to Cao Cao, but I have a place to go now.

And that place is politically dangerous for Cao Cao, who stands right there.

“Minister Dong, I appreciate the invitation, but I will only accept your goodwill and the Red Hare.”

“…What?”

“Because I have somewhere to go.”

“Where?”

“Tonight, and beyond.”

I bent at the waist.

“I have received the Emperor’s permission to stay at the house of Lord Wang Yun for a few days.”

“……Huh.”

Dong Zhuo let out a hollow laugh.

At the same time, Cao Cao’s expression shifted rapidly, like a pendulum swinging between hot and cold, but soon he changed his demeanor and quietly closed his eyes, as if erasing his presence.

“Please do not misunderstand. I do not intend to become someone’s blade.”

“Then why go to Wang Yun’s house and not mine? Is it to deny even the hospitality for the victor?”

Filthy, unclean, uncomfortable, and unable to wash.

“Because of a prior engagement.”

“Prior engagement…!”

“Then later, when the red earth comes, I will visit you then.”

If you refuse the invitation and ask why you accept the red earth.

‘Because it is a trophy.’

I said I would give it, but I believe he is not the kind of person who would withhold it just because I declined a dinner invitation.

From the start.

‘It’s obvious that someone is trying to use this politically.’

If I have to choose someone from the crowd that seeks to use me, it is better to choose the lesser evil than the worst.

What will Cao Cao do?

I chose the lesser evil, Wang Yun.

Because there is a chance for a connection there.

“Minister Dong.”

“…Speak, General Bi.”

“Remember that only His Majesty the Emperor can wield this Yobong sword.”

The worst. To fight Dong Zhuo, I would have to face the entire Yangzhou army.

The lesser evil. I only need to break Wang Yun’s single resolve.

A promise?

“Wait.”

My soap.

Whoosh.

The wind stopped, and my sweat-soaked clothes clung tightly to my body.

* * *

[A little later, at the house of Wang Yun.]

“Has Chosun still not awakened?”

On the way back, I had been thinking about how to talk to the soap, no, Chosun, but in reality, Chosun had not yet risen.

“That’s right. But more importantly, are you alright?”

“I should be worrying about Chosun, not myself.”

As soon as I returned to Wang Yun’s house, he greeted me frivolously.

“Are you really okay? I heard you fought the entire Yangju army, even that Huawong fellow.”

“I returned victorious without a scratch.”

There’s a limit to the fuss one can make—though it certainly seems warranted.

The General of the Vanguard. A new position.

If I had been defeated, it wouldn’t just be my loss; it would also tarnish the Emperor’s prestige.

The General of the Vanguard, appointed by the Emperor, loses to a single soldier from the Yangju army?

—Huawong as the General of the Vanguard!

—The position of General of the Vanguard is also in Dong Zhuo’s hands, so now the independent operational authority lies with Dong Zhuo!

Naturally, public opinion would have shifted, suggesting that the position of General of the Vanguard should go to someone else, and the extraordinary powers held by the General would also transfer to that person.

That is certainly something to worry about.

“Don’t worry about the Yangju army. I have a plan in mind.”

As an official.

“But is Chosun really in a good state right now?”

As a private citizen and a commoner, my concern is for Chosun’s health.

“It seems like she has been fainting for almost a day now.”

“Ah, she often collapses like that. There have been times when she fainted for three days, or even a week.”

“…Isn’t that a sign of illness? At that level?”

That seems a bit severe.

Even those lying in a hospital wouldn’t be in such a state.

“Well, there is something I haven’t mentioned, just in case you might think strangely of it….”

“What is it? Is it some serious illness?”

“…It’s a divine illness.”

“……?”

Divine illness?

Is that what shamans refer to when they say they’ve been possessed by a spirit?

“Are you talking about a sickness caused by divine energy?”

“That’s right. In fact, Choseon….”

Wang Yun whispered softly, just enough for me to hear, his face serious.

“He reads the heavenly flow, the will of the heavens.”

“…….”

“Heavenly flow?”

“It’s not something to speak of lightly. But since you have Choseon in your care, and you cherish her so dearly, shouldn’t you know about her to act calmly?”

Wang Yun is on edge, like he can’t sit still.

“R-Relax. Choseon is fine. Just think of it as a severe cold. It’s just something she goes through once a month… no, once a season.”

He looks clearly worried that I might burst into Choseon’s resting room and shout, ‘Choseon!! Oh no!!’ while flailing about.

“Let’s go to Choseon first.”

I signaled Wang Yun to lead the way, and he hurriedly stepped forward.

Feeling uneasy in my body is one thing.

Even if the Yellow River is muddy water, I can just jump in, wash off, and change my clothes.

But feeling uneasy in my heart is something I can’t just brush aside.

“This way.”

“…Hmm.”

In Choseon’s room, other servants were already on standby.

I walked straight ahead and touched Choseon’s pale wrist.

‘She has anemia. Low blood pressure too.’

Her pulse is a bit slow.

She seems to have a weak constitution, but with her frequently losing blood on top of that, it must be tormenting her.

“Um….”

In fact, it seems there is something even more distressing.

“Is that a rag?”

“Your Highness, that is….”

“Surely you’re not saying that’s a towel for cleaning Chosun’s body?”

“…….”

The maid kneeling beside me rolls her eyes from side to side.

In the bronze basin placed next to her, there was water that wasn’t exactly filthy… but certainly not clean, along with a damp cloth.

“Speak up.”

“Your Highness, that is.”

“Quickly.”

“Th-that’s just the water we normally use….”

I glance back and forth between the flustered maid and Wang Yun.

Though she seems flustered, it doesn’t appear to be out of malice.

“Is that so.”

It’s simply a matter of the state of ‘the water used for this kind of situation.’

“…Wang Sado.”

“D-don’t worry! I will immediately summon a renowned physician to examine Chosun! I will ensure everything is handled properly!”

“That can proceed as planned, but there’s something important we need to discuss.”

I directed my gaze toward the servants.

As soon as Wang Yun caught my eye, he gestured to the servants, and they stepped back accordingly.

“Make sure to leave entirely!”

“Y-yes, Your Grace.”

The servants all exited the room and closed the door behind them.

In the room, it was just me, Wang Yun, and the unconscious Chosun left.

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“…What is it you wish to discuss? If it’s about the illness….”

“It’s not that.”

Conversations with Wang Yun tend to veer off-topic.

This is because he is always preoccupied with his own desires.

“Chosun. I will take you to Byeongju.”

“W-what…?!”

It’s not a permission.

It’s a command.

“Whether it’s a new recruit or anyone else, if they recuperate at Byeongju, they’ll quickly regain their strength.”

The water is good, the air is good, and there’s the opportunity to wash twice a day with clean water.

Above all, lying here in this cold, cramped room, it’s no wonder my body is getting worse.

As I reach my hand under the blanket, the unique chill of the wooden building seeps in.

‘This is why it’s called Nangyang.’

I understand.

In this era, this is the best option.

But that’s only because they don’t know any better.

‘A warm earthen room, where I can warm my body—that’s what recuperation is.’

The best place is Byeongju.

Unless they bring the facilities of Byeongju to Nangyang, recuperation is best done at Byeongju.

“I will go to Byeongju immediately.”

“Pl-please calm down! Th-there are two problems.”

“Problems?”

“F-first, Choseon must remain here.”

“…….”

“It’s not that. How can you take someone so weak to Byeongju in this winter?”

“Hmm.”

That’s true, but I scan Wang Yun from top to bottom.

“Really?”

“W-what do you mean?”

“Answer honestly. Is it really for Choseon’s health?”

“…….”

Wang Yun briefly averts his gaze, but soon sighs and speaks.

“…Though Choseon is my daughter, her well-being is important.”

“Uh?”

“As I mentioned, Choseon is suffering from a new illness. She reads the heavens. If she carelessly leaves the altar, she will lose that ability, and the heavens will be angered.”

“…I don’t think the heavens are referring to Your Majesty.”

“Th-that’s not blasphemous! I-I mean, it’s just about the movements of the stars and their auspiciousness….”

He’s rambling and spilling out something, but it doesn’t seem like anything worth listening to.

“Mm.”

Heavenly secrets. Altar. Sky. Wrath. Divine beings.

And soap.

…

‘Look at this guy?’

I don’t know who heard it from inside, but it’s clear that he must have used his wits to survive with this frail body.

“So, you’re saying that Choseon is someone who reads the flow of the stars, and thus, even the Apostle cannot treat him carelessly?”

“Th-that’s not exactly…”

“To be precise, it means he cannot stray far from that altar, right? Because of some reason like offering sacrifices to the sky? Or because some deity would get angry if he leaves the altar?”

“Y-yes!!”

Wang-yun shows a hint of excitement.

It doesn’t seem like it, but for now, Wang-yun is trying to smooth over the situation by clapping his hands.

As expected.

‘Choseon, you’ve pulled a fast one as a shaman.’

I don’t know if he’s a real shaman or not, but if Wang-yun believes it, then that’s what it is.

“Did Choseon… not tell the general?”

“…….”

Wang-yun still has no idea about the conversation I had with Choseon in the bathroom.

“Hmm.”

That’s why I can’t just speak carelessly.

“Choseon will tell you that story when he wakes up later. I don’t think it’s something I should speak about recklessly.”

I can’t carelessly blabber and put Choseon in a difficult position.

It’s uncertain when Choseon will wake up, and I might not even be in Luoyang when he does.

“I understand. I’ll give up on taking him to Byeongju.”

“Haah.”

“But I must go to Byeongju.”

“……Huh?”

“To be precise, I need to go to Byeongju, and since I’m going anyway, I was thinking of taking Choseon with me.”

Wang-yun’s expression contorts.

“No, General!! Why would you…!!”

“Restraint.”

“……?”

“I realized it when I faced the troops of Yangju. It seems that having only one form of restraint is not enough.”

“What do you… mean…?”

“King Sado.”

I pressed my index finger to my lips and pointed in a direction.

“Let’s go to the palace. Right now. Without anyone knowing. Even if someone finds out, it will be too late by then.”

“…….”

The expression on Wang-yun’s face changes dramatically.

Seeing my seriousness, it seems Wang-yun has realized that this is no ordinary matter.

“Now is the opportunity, as the soldiers of Yangju are lamenting over their defeat while drinking.”

Swift and decisive.

“I will go to Byeongju and bring the troops from Byeongju.”

“……!!”

But before that.

“I will tidy myself up before meeting His Majesty.”

With due respect.

* * *

[Late Night. The Imperial Palace.]

“…Why must the general go to Byeongju in person?”

Late at night, the Emperor woke up in a daze, blinking as if someone had splashed cold water on him, and asked me.

“Sado. Answer me. Why is the female general going to Byeongju?”

“It would be best if you heard it directly from the female general.”

Though I had come to see the Emperor together with Wang-yun, he passed the explanation to me.

In the first place, even if Wang-yun spoke beside me, the Emperor would not have listened unless it was my words.

“Your Majesty. I will explain honestly, as it is.”

“I will listen.”

“There are two issues at hand.”

“Two issues?”

“First. The troops of Yangju we faced today possess the nature of wild men.”

Most of the eight generals were like that.

Even Hua Yong was the same.

“They are those who do not hesitate to commit arson, plunder, and extort from the common people for the sake of military affairs.”

“That is….”

“Right now, it is so in Luoyang, but if you go out to inspect the areas around Luoyang, the story might be different.”

“Are you saying that in the name of the imperial army, they extort the people?”

“I cannot be certain. A detailed investigation is necessary, but they are individuals who could become bandits if the need arises. Under Dong Zhuo’s orders.”

It is not just Lü Bu in Luoyang; even if Lü Bu goes on a campaign, he will need the power to control them.

“I also do not want to believe they are such people, so I am cautious in speaking.”

“But the moment they become bandits, we must prepare to avoid being stabbed by their blades.”

“Yes, that is correct.”

“……Sado.”

The Emperor raised his hand and called for Wang Yun.

“Who is currently in charge of monitoring the areas managed by Dong Taiwei? The administration concerning the western part of Luoyang.”

“…It is the role of the Sayeo, but the position is currently vacant.”

“Did you not assign that role to General Cao Cao?”

The Emperor inquired.

“Is Cao Cao a man of Wang Sado? I have never heard Sado speak of Cao Cao.”

“…He is certainly not one of Dong Zhuo’s men.”

“Then why on earth?”

“……I thought he would be the one to handle matters most fairly.”

Wang Yun lowered his head with a look of dismay.

Wang Yun and Cao Cao.

The Emperor expressed doubt, as there seemed to be no particular connection between them.

Until yesterday, I too had wondered ‘why?’, but now I have somewhat grasped the situation.

‘Did Chao Xian recommend him?’

He either values Cao Cao highly or sees him as a potential enemy of Dong Zhuo.

Could it be that he inadvertently revealed such secrets?

‘Cao Cao is not someone who would remain under Dong Zhuo.’

No matter how the tides of fate flow, Cao Cao would stab Dong Zhuo if he had to; he is not someone who would be swept away by the atmosphere of the Western Liang while working under him.

“But you acted solely on Chosun’s prophecy.”

Is it Chosun’s fault? No, it isn’t.

If there is a fault, it lies with Wang Yun, who recklessly pulled the trigger against Dong Zhuo without any close ties to Cao Cao, using it as a blade to restrain him.

“Sigh. Anyway.”

Even if Dong Zhuo manages to persuade Cao Cao and make him his own, that’s not my concern.

No matter how different people’s natures or dispositions may be, ultimately, people can make different choices based on the situations and environments they are given.

My master said so.

While one’s innate nature plays a role in determining human disposition, the influence of the experiences and environment one encounters throughout life is significant as well.

“Wang Sado. You mean to say you recommended the Minister of Rites for such a trivial reason?!”

“Th-that is…”

When I read the heavenly signs, it seemed he would do the best job.

That’s too weak a basis to present to the Emperor.

“Your Majesty, let’s postpone the discussion about Cao Cao for later.”

“Ah, ahem. I apologize, General. Now, about the second issue.”

“This is also a matter concerning the Bingzhou army. Unlike other armies, it is a unique problem that only the Bingzhou army possesses.”

“Bingzhou ‘only’? …Wait a moment.”

The Emperor closes his eyes for a moment.

“Your Majesty, that—”

I stopped Wang Yun from stepping forward with my hand.

“…….”

As the time for a cup of tea passed, the Emperor slowly opened his eyes.

“…If they are of the same disposition as General Bi, then it seems the Bingzhou army will not easily move unless a decree is issued by imperial command.”

The Emperor asked.

“General Ye, do the members of the Bingzhou army require your direct presence to take action?”

“Shamefully and disloyally, yes, they do.”

The Bingzhou army is like a tiger.

A tiger does not form packs.

However, if there is a mountain lord, even a tiger will form a group.

“Luoyang needs the Bingzhou army. I will bring them to Luoyang. The ‘elite’ of the Bingzhou army.”

“…If you are here, then why?”

“I am an individual, but I am also an army, Your Majesty. I have already experienced this.”

No matter how great an individual’s courage may be, even if they can topple the spirit of the enemy general and those around him.

One person has their limits.

“Even if one is a match for ten thousand, if they can withstand ten thousand, that next single soldier can still pierce their heart, and that person will die.”

“…….”

I nearly died that way.

“An individual may defeat many armed foes, but to conquer an army, one ultimately needs an army.”

The reason I appointed Song Huwi as the commander and treated Jeongwon as the governor of Byeongju was that he had come to rescue me, leading the soldiers from that death.

“I do not intend to station the Byeongju army in the capital. It will be in Hae-nae and at Maengjin Port.”

I placed my hand on the ground.

“Even if an incident occurs in the imperial palace, even if someone locks the gates in rebellion, if the Emperor calls, I must be able to climb the walls, leap over the rooftops, and be in a position to soar into the sky at any moment.”

“…General.”

“If the enemy locks the gates, I will return with brave souls willing to break them down. After instructing the soldiers to come, I only need to return swiftly myself.”

The Emperor’s eyes trembled slightly.

“…When do you plan to leave?”

Yet the Emperor did not hold me back.

“Now, at once.”

“…Let Sa-do Wang-yun hear this.”

The Emperor commanded Wang-yun.

“Ensure that the general can act according to his will, and lend him your full support.”

“Your, Your Majesty!”

“The general’s choice is also my choice, so follow the imperial decree.”

The Emperor issued a stern warning to Wang-yun.

“General.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”