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

＜ The Rise of Warlords, Opening (4) ＞

[Late at night, Wang Yun’s residence. Private room.]

“Brother. When you think of Yangju, what comes to mind?”

Chosun pointed to the northwest of a large map she was drawing with a brush stained with ink on a piece of white cloth.

“Dongtak’s stronghold.”

“That’s right. Usually, that’s the case. But there’s another Yangju.”

The people of Luoyang don’t pay much attention to the region called Yangju.

I was the same.

Yangju.

“Jiangdong and Xiliang.”

If we go so far as to examine the characters, there is one Yangju (揚州) below the Yangtze River, and another Yangju (涼州) to the northwest.

“Of course, one is Yang (揚) and the other is Yang (涼), but don’t some people get confused by that?”

“Is there anyone who gets confused?”

“Yes. I occasionally get confused.”

Whether it’s because of this distinction or not, there are indeed people who get confused; they often refer to the former as ‘Jiangdong’ and the latter as ‘Xiliang.’

“But don’t the people of Xiliang dislike the term Xiliang?”

“They do. But what can we do? The capital people have already gotten used to it.”

It is clearly a capital-centric expression that carries a sense of regional discrimination, but due to its convenience, people often use it that way.

“Still, thanks to Dongtak changing many aspects of Yangju, everyone tends to call it Yangju.”

From now on, Yangju refers to Xiliang.

“What about Jiangdong?”

“That’s Jiangdong.”

“…If there is someone from Gangdong, they must strive harder.”

“By that time, the name will change again, but fortunately, for now, we are distinguishing between Yangju and Gangdong.”

After all, there is no need to differentiate between Yangju in Gangdong and the Yangju in the west, as no allied lord has hidden there.

“But right now, Yangju is not just Yangju.”

Even those who are well-versed in administrative divisions, including people from Yangju, often refer to themselves simply as ‘Yangju people.’

“When Dong Zhuo came, he came from Yangju.”

Dong Zhuo also referred to himself as a Yangju person.

“When he left, he was about to become a person from another province, not Yangju.”

As Dong Zhuo entered the imperial palace and demanded a reorganization of Yangju’s administrative divisions, the administrative work to add another province between Yangju and Saye began.

“Ongju. They tried to expand Ongju by cutting off parts of Yangju. Not as a western region, but as a kind of new area.”

It wasn’t something that suddenly emerged.

It was merely that Ongju grew by reorganizing areas that were difficult to express as a single ‘province’ by taking some lands from Yangju.

“Anzheng and Chenshu, which belonged to Yangju. The name Ongju has become so insignificant that it is more familiar to call it the ‘Gyeongjo region.’ Dong Zhuo wanted to merge his territory into Ongju.”

Dong Zhuo intended to incorporate parts of Yangju’s land, such as Anzheng and Chenshu, into the newly reorganized ‘city of Ongju.’

“I don’t know how future historians will record this, but at least for now, it is as such. Even in the case of Bingzhou, it has devoured Han’nan and Han’dong, which now belong to Saye, right?”

He aimed to secure the personnel rights over the newly reorganized Ongju and send his people to ensure dominance over the local areas.

“Just as my brother’s efforts increased Bingzhou, the court also intended to expand Ongju in recognition of Dong Zhuo’s contributions.”

This time, as soon as Dong Zhuo arrived in Chang’an, he planned to announce the ‘reorganization of Ongju.’

“Although the administrative system has changed, the actual benefits were devoured by those who killed Dong Zhuo, not Dong Zhuo himself.”

However, after Dong Zhuo’s death, the ownership of Ongju fell to someone else.

“Iga and Guo Sha.”

“…I never expected they would stab Dong Zhuo. And understandably so….”

“According to the flow of destiny, the one who would stab Dong Zhuo was someone like a beloved son to him, right?”

“Yes.”

Chunhua looks at me meaningfully.

“Perhaps Iga and Guo Sha also thought of Dong Zhuo as a father figure.”

“Even after stabbing him and letting him bleed to death?”

“They could have directly beheaded him if they wanted to, but they didn’t, did they?”

While they killed others indiscriminately, if there is a reason why they only stabbed Dong Zhuo until just before his death, that would be the most plausible answer.

They did not hesitate to stab Dong Zhuo.

As I was about to kill, it seemed I wouldn’t be able to sleep properly.

“In the end, the wine that Dong Zhuo brewed has fallen into the hands of Li Jue and Guo Si, and the narrowed Yangzhou has given rise to those who rebel against the imperial army.”

“Yes. So… this is the enemy that the imperial army in Luoyang has to face now.”

Chouchun pointed to the two provinces spread out to the west of Luoyang.

“Yangzhou and Yongzhou. If we think about the future, it seems we need to deal with them first and foremost.”

“Not starting with Yuan Shao?”

“Yes. Because if we try to go after Yuan Shao… we could be attacked from behind.”

Chouchun moved the brush and pointed beyond the Hangu Pass in the west of Luoyang.

“This area is sometimes referred to as Guanzhong, and when we talk about this Guanzhong land, it refers to where… “

“…….”

“I understand. You are a warrior, and you tend to listen well to the strategist, so there’s no need for you to deeply understand trivial history or administrative organization.”

Chouchun placed the brush on Luoyang.

“You just need to do it like this, brother.”

She pushed the brush straight through to Chang’an.

Understanding, complete.

“By overwhelming force, we just need to push through to Chang’an.”

“Are we not advancing to the end of Yongzhou, to Yangzhou?”

“Jingzhou… ahem, Chang’an was once the capital of the Qin Dynasty’s First Emperor. The city is incredibly large and wide, but defending it is no less challenging than Luoyang.”

Chouchun marked a point at a place called Tianshu and Anzheng, creating several arrows pointing towards Chang’an.

“Of course, it’s hard to stop an attack from this side. The journey from Luoyang is a major chaos at Hangu Pass, Dongguan, and the walls of Chang’an, but attacking Chang’an from the west is quite easy.”

“Then why not go to Tianshu or up to Yangzhou?”

“Because it’s too far.”

Chouchun pressed her hand against the east of Luoyang.

“If you say you’ve reached Chang’an, the lords will be cautious, but if you say you’ve reached Yangzhou, they’ll think it’s right and will try to crawl over the fallen Holo Pass immediately.”

“Is it that far…?”

“Far. Extremely far. Moreover, it’s a matter of moving an army. So….”

Chouchun split Yangzhou and Yongzhou in half.

“Whether it’s Yangzhou or Yongzhou, we need to have someone who can communicate placed here.”

“Is Hua Weng the right person for the job?”

“Princess Consort Hwaung.”

Chosun tilted her head, poking the princess with her brush.

“At least it’s better than Ikak and Gwaksah. Or we could leave it to ‘that person’….”

Chosun’s eyes began to sparkle.

“When will they come?”

“…I think they will come soon.”

I felt puzzled by Chosun’s unusually keen interest.

“Is the teacher really that interesting to you?”

“I can’t say they’re just a good person, but their abilities are top-notch. They just try not to stand out and make enemies.”

“…I don’t know if they’ll come.”

For now, I had sent Zhang Liao, but among the names listed in the orders sent through him, there was no mention of that person.

“Teacher Gahu said they have something they must do in Bingzhou.”

Though they are not yet an official official—

“What is it?”

“They said they would tell me the details after they achieve results.”

“…….”

“I don’t know if they’ll come.”

And then, the next day.

“We have defeated the Heuksan bandits, but unfortunately, we missed Jangyeon.”

“?”

“In order to attack Yangju, there must be no threats from behind, so we eliminated the potential sources of unrest within Bingzhou.”

I felt a chill run down my spine from Gahu’s report, which was not really a report directed at me.

* * *

[At that moment, Yang—now a region that must be called Princess Consort. Cheonsuseong.]

“Strange.”

Ma Deung, the armed leader who had brought a large army, tilted his head as he looked at the flags hanging over Cheonsuseong.

“The flags on the city walls seem odd. This must surely be a trap.”

Under a helmet adorned with leather and wool, Ma Deung, with eyes that glimmered with a hint of blue, gazed at the city walls and reached out to the soldiers following him.

“First, let’s establish a position….”

“Is the great Ma Deung afraid to see the empty Cheonsuseong?”

Behind Ma Deung, a warrior who appeared to be of similar age smiled grimly and leaned in to speak.

“Hansoo. Do you think that castle looks empty?”

“Of course! There are soldiers guarding that castle, but they are just commoners. If we capture Cheonsu, it would greatly aid the anti-Dongtak coalition.”

“Hmm.”

Ma Deung furrowed his brow and lightly stroked his beard.

“I wonder how far the coalition has advanced by now. Have they breached the watchtower?”

“I don’t know. By the time we arrived, Dongtak might have already abandoned Luoyang and fled.”

“Or… the coalition might have been defeated.”

“Haha. Come now. Could Dongtak really have defeated the coalition? Although I was once outmatched by Dongtak, I know him well. Without Sun Jian, Dongtak is nothing.”

“…You should be careful with your words. You are still one who has ‘rebelled.'”

Ma Deung threatened Hansoo.

“Haha. My long-time friend, Ma Deung. I may have rebelled, but my troops still remain. You too are here with me because you need my army, aren’t you?”

“…….”

“If we attack Dongtak’s rear and gain recognition for our achievements, my charges will disappear. If the new emperor, whom Yuan Shao has supported, grants a pardon.”

“Hmm.”

At the mention of the coalition, Ma Deung nodded briefly.

“We can’t let our children stay out there in the wilderness forever. You may be of a certain age, but your sons and daughters should be living in better places, shouldn’t they?”

“And you?”

“As for me, I live comfortably among the Qiang tribes in Yangzhou. The capital doesn’t suit me. Hehe.”

Hansoo chuckled softly and pointed to Cheonsu Castle.

“Let’s attack. Dongtak… huh?”

Flap, flap.

The flags fluttered on the walls of Cheonsu Castle, and the gates opened.

“What’s that…?”

“I am the warrior known as Choi Yong, under the command of Lord Gwak Sa!”

The warrior who introduced himself as Choi Yong pointed to the white flag fluttering atop Cheonsu Castle and gasped for breath.

“What is it? You seem to have rushed here…”

“I have come to request an alliance with General Ma Deung on the orders of my lord, Gwak Sa!”

“Alliance? Wait a moment.”

Ma Deung raised his hand.

“Whatever scheme Dongtak is plotting—”

“Dongtak is dead!”

“…What?”

“The news from Luoyang, huff, it seems you know nothing at all!”

Choi Yong pointed towards the inside of Cheonsuseong.

“Dongtak is dead! Generals Lee Gak and Gwak Sa have rebelled against the court, planning to conquer Luoyang by force and seize the national seal!”

“No, what kind of madness—”

“Ahahaha!!”

While Ma Deung was flustered, Han Soo raised his voice and laughed heartily.

“Those b*stards, I knew they wouldn’t stay under Dongtak! They’ve really gone and done it! It’s treason! They’re traitors!”

“Han Soo!”

“It’s a choice, Ma Deung.”

Han Soo pointed ahead towards Ma Deung.

“What will you do? It seems Lee Gak and Gwak Sa are determined to even change the name of the country. No, wait, are they trying to re-establish the Qin state? In that Chang’an of Qin Shi Huang!”

“…….”

“Listen, General Choi. Then what does that white flag hanging at Cheonsuseong signify?”

“It’s a gift from General Gwak Sa!”

“A gift?”

“I will grant the position of Cheonsu Taesu to the generals, including Ma Deung and Han Soo, who have come from Muwi!”

“These crazy b*stards…!”

Ma Deung shouted angrily.

“How can a taesu’s official seal be given away at will to others!”

“Now, now. Ma Deung. Calm down.”

“Calm down? You think I look calm…!”

“Listen here, Ma Su Seong.”

Han Soo called Ma Deung by his name and placed a hand on his shoulder.

“Are you planning to have your children cut down trees and sell them in the capital like you did when you were young?”

“……!!”

“Am I the only one who has committed rebellion? You still haven’t received your pardon.”

“I…!”

“Yes. You know. It was a forced connection. But in the end, didn’t you also join the rebels? The court has ultimately neglected this place, Yangju.”

Creak.

Hansoo’s grip tightened.

“Are you planning to let your children and grandchildren breathe in the dust and wind? Didn’t your eldest son… marry the daughter of the Yang family this time?”

“…….”

“You’ll soon become a grandfather. By age, you are more than ready, yet you’ve endured all sorts of hardships to end up like this. At least… isn’t this place, and that place to the east, better for living than Muui?”

“…….”

Madeung was silent for a long time.

“Your eldest son, you don’t intend to let him rot in Muui, do you?”

“That’s….”

“Your son is extraordinary. He will surely become a renowned general in the world. Just looking at the fierce glare he gives me is enough to tell he’s quite ferocious. In ten or twenty years….”

Hansoo whispered very softly.

“He will be a general on par with the likes of Lü Bu of Bingzhou, or even greater. Are you going to let such talent waste away in some corner of the world fighting?”

“…No.”

Madeung glanced back and shook his head.

“Hansoo. For now… let’s head inside the castle. We will organize the information and make a cold, rational judgment.”

“Of course. Hey, Choi Yong! We will take charge of Cheonsu, so tell either Ikak or Gwaksa to come here with ‘stability’ as the priority! We will decide whether to form an alliance there or go to war!”

“Cough…! Understood! I know, but…!”

Choi Yong pointed to Cheonsu Castle.

“I just arrived as well…!”

“One day.”

Madeung urged his horse forward.

“Rest for one night in Cheonsu and tell me what happened in Luoyang. In detail. We… know almost nothing.”

“Ah, of course!”

Yangju Muui Castle, Madeung and Hansoo’s army.

Entry and occupation of Cheonsu Castle.

* * *

[Morning, Wang Yun’s residence. Reception room for distinguished guests.]

Before entering the palace for various preparations, I welcomed a guest who had come to see me since dawn.

“Teacher Gahu.”

“Congratulations on the victory, and I have something to report.”

“Come in. First, let’s assess the situation—”

“I heard it from Samarang.”

“…….”

Without needing to convey the situation in Luoyang, Gahu had already grasped all the information on the way.

“General Song Heon, General Wei Suk, and General Hu Seong, along with all their cavalry, are currently trying to cross the Yellow River. I came down first to report something separately to the general.”

“Could it be that you…?”

“Yes. For the Yangzhou suppression campaign, will you use me as a soldier?”

Gahu clasped his hands together.

“The verification of achievements can be conveyed through General Song Heon. I sent Generals Wei Suk and Seong Nyeong to Giju while we finished the tasks within Byeongju, capturing the enemy’s weapons.”

“Tasks?”

“Yes. As I mentioned, we eradicated the Heuksan bandits that had infiltrated Byeongju through General Song Heon.”

Though Gahu spoke calmly, the content was chilling for a moment.

“The Heuksan bandits?”

“Yes. While you were dealing with the rebel coalition, I and Commander Sun Yu diligently moved the Byeongju army to eliminate the Heuksan bandits.”

According to Gahu.

“We detected Yuan Shao’s movements to stir chaos in Byeongju by manipulating the Heuksan bandits, so we prioritized moving General Song Heon. Later, we mobilized Generals Wei Suk and Hu Seong to encircle and annihilate the Heuksan bandits. Our casualties were less than a hundred.”

It was an incredible achievement, yet Gahu’s expression seemed somewhat unsatisfied.

“Is there something bothering you?”

“Although the enemy leader, Zhang Yan, was severely injured in the abdomen by General Seohwang’s axe, he escaped by sacrificing his subordinates. True to his nickname, the Black Swallow, he was quicker than expected.”

“Um….”

They had defeated the bandits known as the Heuksan, but their leader, Zhang Yan, had escaped.

“Is there a possibility that Zhang Yan might secretly attempt an assassination?”

“Low. He will need at least a year to recuperate, and if he tries to assassinate while injured, General Seohwang or other soldiers would notice immediately.”

“In other words, we need not worry about the Heuksan bandits or Zhang Yan.”

“Yes. We are investigating the relationship between the Heuksan bandits and Yuan Shao, but it’s just a matter of time. Right now, we must resolve the immediate issues.”

“That is, Yangzhou.”

“Yes. I know well about the situation in Yangzhou.”

Gahu lifted his teacup and smiled faintly.

“Especially the sense of debt in the heart, like now… it stings.”

As she was about to drink tea, Gahu frowned and set the teacup down.

“If Dong Taewi is dead and the opponent is Lee Gak and Gwak Sa, then I can showcase my strategy in battle without any burden.”

“I understand. Let’s go together.”

“Thank you, General. By the way, I heard that you slept with King Sado’s woman.”

“…….”

I hadn’t even taken a sip of tea, yet I felt a strange discomfort.

“Congratulations. However, that woman may be a hindrance to your future—”

“Rest assured.”

“Excuse me?”

“At the very least, she will be of help in Byeongju, not a threat.”

“……Oh. Oh my. Hmm.”

I couldn’t bring myself to meet Gahu’s smirking gaze directed at me.

“You’ve worked so hard to gain the General’s trust, yet I feel a bit disappointed. Haha.”

“Gahu, sir.”

“I will trust you since the General trusts you, but may I ask one thing?”

Gahu asked with a serious expression.

“How many wives do you plan to take?”

“What?”

“If you hadn’t taken a wife even once, it would be one thing, but since you have, other women will surely try to vie for the position of concubine. There are already clear signs of that.”

Gahu habitually lifted his teacup and glanced at the women waiting outside, then irritably set the cup down again.

“I’m sure the General will be careful, but the women approaching you—”

“Excuse me, Your Excellency.”

Chosun suddenly entered, holding something.

“I’ve brought freshly prepared tea.”

On the table were three teacups and a new set.

These were distinctly different from what was used in Wang Yun’s reception room—items used in Chosun’s private quarters.

“This is the tea you usually drink in your private quarters.”

“My lady, shall I serve the first cup to Gahu, sir?”

“Yes.”

Chosun poured the first cup and handed it to me, then carefully poured the next cup and offered it to Gahu before stepping back.

“…….”

Ho-rok.

After glancing over Cho-seon once, Ga-hu took a long whiff of the tea’s aroma and swallowed a large gulp of the tea.

“…Indeed. I think I understand why the general has lit the wedding lanterns.”

Ga-hu carefully set down the cup and nodded his head.

“The general is here, isn’t he?”

“What?”

“The situation on the battlefield may become a bit difficult, but how can a newlywed man be in the heat of passion with his wife…?”

Ga-hu briefly glanced at me and Cho-seon a few times.

“To send a man to the battlefield is something he cannot do to his wife… Hmm, hmm…? ……Ah ha.”

This time, he smiled as if he had realized something different.

“No, no. Rather, it would be the opposite.”

“The opposite?”

“Yes. I will retract my earlier statement. I will go to the battlefield with the general. And to draw out the general’s full potential….”

Ga-hu pointed at Cho-seon.

“It would be best to send your wife as a military aide or to take her along to the battlefield altogether.”

“…….”

“You didn’t take her in for her qualities as a woman, but for another reason, didn’t you? To keep her close. Ah. That may have been the case at first, but deep down… hehehe.”

“Excuse me, sir.”

At my words, Ga-hu quietly raised both hands.

“Rest assured, General. I, Ga-hu, am not one to act recklessly.”

“…….”

“I will only ask this.”

Ga-hu glanced at Cho-seon and asked with a serious expression.

“King Sado Wang-yun.”

“…….”

“Are you intending to embrace that much?”

“Sir.”

I patted the side of Cho-seon, and she sat beside me, visibly tense.

“Cho-seon is not the biological daughter of King Sado.”

“……Aha.”

I quickly gestured around, and Gahu smiled brightly while holding the teacup that Chosun had handed down.

“I understand. We’ll gradually find out the reason why the general has embraced his wife.”

Gahu no longer cast his gaze towards Chosun.

“Move as leisurely as possible. That way, the spy won’t notice.”

“What about Hanggok Pass?”

“When the general receives the military order from the emperor to subdue Lee Gak and Gwak Sa…”

Gahu pretended to cut his neck with a gesture and laughed.

“Hanggok Pass has probably already been occupied by Song Hu-wei and the three generals.”