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

Chapter 6

＜ I Thought It Was Martial Arts, But It Was Lu Bu (6) ＞

A long time ago.

To be precise, when my master was still alive, and I was not Lu Bu, but just Chunshik.

“Disciple, what is justice?”

Michael Sandel…?

That thought immediately came to mind, but I couldn’t bring myself to say it.

“Justice means what is right and proper.”

“After thinking of something else, you just recite it as it is.”

“…….”

My master really knew me too well.

“Then let me continue to ask. What can be considered right and proper?”

“It is to do good.”

“To do good. Yes. If one pursues good and stays away from evil, anyone can live virtuously.”

My master asked.

“Then, in this era, what does it mean to pursue good?”

“…….”

“Protecting your family? Exposing corruption? Achieving fame and spreading your name?”

“What did you think was good, Master?”

“At one time, I thought the clear stream (Cheongryu) was good.”

My master belonged to the Cheongryu faction in the central region.

“Based on the many principles learned at the Taehak in Luoyang, I thought that driving out the treacherous officials from the court and expelling those who blind the emperor, pursuing justice was order. Unlike the eunuch faction, we… you’re dozing off again.”

“I’m sorry. Could you summarize it in three words?”

“Alright. So, you want me to get straight to the point?”

“As expected, Master, unlike other old-fashioned people, you understand me well.”

The master sighed deeply but tapped the table with an empty bamboo pipe that didn’t even emit smoke.

“Justice can only be asserted with power.”

“…….”

“No matter how much you pursue justice, without power, it’s just an empty echo. So, what is power?”

“Military force, authority, capital…”

“You’re bringing in strange words again. It’s not wrong, but express it as ‘financial power (金力)’.”

“Well, as long as the meaning is conveyed, isn’t that enough?”

“Can you write that ‘capital power’ in a document?”

Uh.

I know that the character ‘本’ means root or origin.

Was it ‘資’ for wealth? Hmm? I think wealth was ‘財’.

“Enough. If we continue discussing the usage of words, my head will hurt. Let’s get back to the main point.”

“Thank you, Master.”

“When a person with power pursues justice, only then will the law be properly established, and the people will not starve. And the current court is a world where those with power are busy taking care of their own interests.”

The master was a person who had been driven out of the political struggles of the court.

“I had no power. I realized the emptiness of the powerless. The pain of being expelled with my acquaintances, held by two soldiers in the palace, still throbs.”

I heard he submitted a memorial.

He reported the corruption of a eunuch, but that eunuch instead accused the master and his fellow scholars of treason and tried to kill them.

“To change the world, you must have power in the court. To have power in the court, you must occupy high authority in the center. And to do that, not only must one’s individual power be outstanding, but a ‘force’ must be established.”

“Are you telling me to establish a country?”

“You really have no limits to what you say. If this conversation between you and me were known, you would be accused of treason and executed. Not that I would let you die easily.”

The master warned me several times.

Not to carelessly say things that would make me disappear like dew on the execution ground.

The words I casually uttered with the sensibilities of a modern person must have sounded very strange to the master.

“My disciple, do you want to change the world?”

“Yes.”

The master often asked me difficult questions, but among them, there were a few I could answer easily.

“How?”

“I want to create a world without thieves.”

“A world without thieves. Is that really possible?”

“It will be a difficult path, but even if it is ideologically impossible, if we pursue that path and aim for a ‘world with almost no thieves,’ won’t we eventually reach that point?”

“…….”

“For that, I will do my best. Although for now, the only method that comes to mind is eradicating thieves.”

“In the country.”

The master spoke heavily.

“Soon, a large group of thieves will appear.”

“More than now?”

“Those thieves are not simply those you forcibly capture and make work as soldiers or farmers in Jinyang.”

“Like the Green Forest (녹림) bandits who make a living by plundering others’ belongings….”

“The Green Forest. I don’t know which mountain bandits you’re referring to, but if I had to say, they would be similar to the Xiongnu.”

Those who live by taking others’ belongings.

“Well, as long as the result is the same, isn’t it fine?”

“Listening to you makes my insides burst.”

“Master. Among the people in this village who can talk with you, am I not the smartest?”

“You may be wise, but your intelligence is… within the realm of ordinary people, so keep someone by your side to fill that intelligence.”

“…….”

The master sometimes openly rebuked me, but this innate dullness was something I couldn’t do anything about.

“I’m not stupid.”

“Have you memorized the Analects?”

“What meaning is there in memorizing and reciting passages? It’s important to understand the meaning of those passages and put them into practice.”

“So, you may be wise now, but I can’t say your intelligence is high.”

“Even if I haven’t fully understood the Four Books and Five Classics…!”

“Again.”

Smack.

“In this era, there is no such thing as the Four Books and Five Classics, you fool.”

“…….”

“Someday, there will be a time when such things are established. Scholars may have different views on what constitutes the Four Books and Five Classics. But at least now, when I was at the Grand Academy, no one dared to arbitrarily define the teachings of the Hundred Schools of Thought as the Four Books and Five Classics. Even if they classified them, it wasn’t the Four Books and Five Classics.”

Sometimes, the master would say something profound that seemed to enlighten me.

“If there is something among the teachings of the Hundred Schools of Thought that can be linked with the Analects… Eh.”

*Smack.*

“Why did you hit me?”

“You skimmed through it, didn’t you?”

“…….”

“Fine. I understand. Instead of dragging on with this story, I might as well decide on the Four Books and Five Classics before I die. Enough. You should read the Analects every day, understand and master it.”

He just kept tapping my forehead with a bamboo tube that didn’t even smell of tobacco, telling me to keep studying.

“Disciple. Above all else, remember these three things I tell you.”

As always, the teacher concluded the lesson in a way that would be imprinted in my mind.

“First. Gain strength. The strength to assert your thoughts to others.”

Whether it be military power, political power, or financial power.

“Second. Do not be used. You will naturally do well in this without me having to say it.”

“Don’t be a pushover… Understood. Ahem.”

“I worry that you will still be like this after I die.”

“I will be as cautious as possible when I enter public service.”

“…I can’t simply summarize the third as ‘watch your words.'”

The teacher said.

“Third.”

He pointed at my chest with a thin finger, not the thick bamboo tube.

“Do not betray the heart you hold within.”

“…….”

“I believe that even those with an evil nature can be taught and guided to the right path. You already hold the method in your heart, so I trust that you will not be swayed by greed.”

“Teacher.”

“Disciple.”

The teacher asked.

“What is the justice you hold in your heart?”

“Righteousness and chivalry.”

“That will do.”

The teacher asked no more.

“I lacked the ability to change the world, but I left a guidepost in the night sky for those who will establish justice in the world. Now I can leave in peace.”

That was the last lesson my master left me.

* * *

After the battle to save the Great Farm of Sangsan.

About a month had passed.

“How is your body, Huseong?”

“I’m fine now.”

“And Jangryo?”

“He’s working hard with the brush instead of me.”

Huseong, who had recovered from his injury, showed off his strength by spinning his now-healed arm.

“I’ve spoken well of him. He’s smarter than me, so he must have learned faster through this experience.”

“That’s fortunate. Huseong, do you remember what I told you before?”

“A soldier is at his best when he doesn’t have to wield a weapon.”

“That’s right.”

I thought so when I served in the modern army for nearly two years, and I still think so now, having been a general in this Han dynasty army for nearly ten years.

“The best time for a soldier to wield a weapon is during training.”

“Not having to fight with weapons means the world is at peace. Jangryo must have realized that too.”

“Indeed.”

Although we’ve been at war with bandits for nearly ten years, the best time is when the bandits are not rampaging and peace prevails.

“That young man is very sincere. He has the makings of a great general.”

“Are you planning to serve under Jangryo when he becomes a great general?”

“I’m his military mentor, so I should become a great general first.”

“You know there’s a hierarchy, right?”

“You become the great general first. Then the three of us can serve under you as the three great generals.”

“That sounds good, but to do that, you’d have to clean up after the eunuchs. Are you okay with that?”

“Ugh.”

Huseong made a disgusted face.

“Are you telling me to guard those who can’t even function as men?”

“I’m saying you’d literally have to clean up after them. I’ve heard some eunuchs are so obese they can’t even control their own bodies.”

“Aren’t most eunuchs thin and frail?”

“Those kinds of eunuchs have become pigs rolling around in the court. How much luxury and indulgence do you think they enjoy? And also….”

I looked around once.

“How much does the Emperor rely on those ten eunuchs?”

“General, it’s dangerous.”

“We’re talking among ourselves. There’s no one around, so don’t worry.”

“……Brother.”

Huseong sighed deeply.

“They say General-in-Chief He Jin is gathering warlords under his command. He’s forming a force to confront those eunuchs.”

“He has no choice. In other regions, the governors and such can’t even properly handle the rebellions.”

Even if Bingzhou is a frontier, rumors spread around.

They say warlords are gathering in the court with He Jin at the forefront.

The eunuchs are trying to use He Jin as their subordinate, and He Jin is pretending to obey while building his power.

They say people like Yuan Shao, Dong Zhuo, and Cao-something are leading soldiers to suppress the Yellow Turbans and gaining fame.

“Brother.”

“What.”

“You still don’t intend to go to the capital, do you?”

“No.”

What about Lü Bu?

“Refugees keep flocking to Bingzhou upon hearing the name Lü Fengxian. How can I leave Bingzhou and abandon those people?”

“…The central government is keeping a close watch. Although Bingzhou is structured in a way that bandits, mountain bandits, and Xiongnu inevitably run rampant, unlike other places, we are thoroughly repelling them.”

While other provinces are struggling with the Yellow Turbans, we are working hard to accommodate those driven out by the Yellow Turbans and provide them with a place to live.

“That’s why Zheng Yuan is keeping an eye on you, Brother. Although Zheng Yuan is the governor of Bingzhou, people coming here think this is Lü Bu’s land.”

“You should be careful with your words. This land belongs to the Emperor.”

“It’s practically meaningless. It’s already widely known that the land belongs to the local warlords.”

“……My teacher once said something like that.”

The teacher said,

“If the central power cannot extend to the provinces, a time will come when local warlords will call themselves kings, just like in the Warring States period.”

“The undefeated king of Bingzhou, Lü Fengxian.”

“You’re really trying to get me killed for treason.”

“What about that third spear, Hu-something? He’ll die with you, won’t he?”

Huseong joked.

“People already regard you as the governor of Bingzhou, no, the king of Bingzhou.”

“…….”

“We’re not suggesting rebellion against the country. It would benefit Bingzhou more if you became the governor of Bingzhou rather than those who go to the central government with their military achievements to increase their salary and swallow the rewards.”

“…Justification.”

A sigh naturally escapes.

“I have no justification to attack Jingyuan.”

“That is….”

Justification is extremely important.

“He knows. When I recommended Zhang Liao, he didn’t try to use him but rather restrained him. What about now?”

“He plans to make him an assistant. When the time comes. It took you time to become an assistant too.”

“He is using Zhang Liao to restrain me.”

Jingyuan is clearly restraining me.

And he’s using Zhang Liao, whom I discovered, to do it.

“Will Zhang Liao turn against you?”

“That’s Zhang Liao’s choice.”

“He’s not someone who would easily change his allegiance.”

“Even if he has the qualities of a great general, who knows about his ambitions.”

My intuition says, ‘Zhang Liao is not that kind of man.’

“It’s hard to trust a black-haired beast easily. He hasn’t interacted with me for a long time like you guys.”

It’s still not enough to fully trust him.

“The only ones I can entrust my back to are you three. Maybe one day I can entrust my halberd to him, but not yet.”

“That’s a touching statement, but don’t forget that every time the general swings his halberd, the surroundings are devastated. Including us standing behind you.”

Housheng rubbed his nose and avoided eye contact.

“Are you embarrassed? Huh?”

“Enough. Let’s talk about the petition.”

“You strike a painful topic.”

Housheng brought up a new subject.

“Zhang Liao said that the refugees who recently arrived in Bingzhou have submitted a petition to you.”

“That’s a troublesome matter.”

Unintentionally, I received the petition from the refugees.

“I am confident in my fighting skills. Please use me as a soldier. I will surely be of help!”

After training a martial artist who seemed to have some strength for ten days in the barracks, the morale of the soldiers definitely improved.

“Please… I beg you, give us something to eat…”

When starving farmers appeared, I released the surplus military provisions.

Of course, it wasn’t free. We fed the farmers and imposed labor equivalent to the military provisions.

“The road is bad, making it difficult to travel. Can’t you do something about it?”

As many refugees came, the roads were damaged, so I sent soldiers to quickly repair the main roads.

So far, so good.

“Would you like to invest? If you entrust the military provisions to me, I will return them double, ugh!!”

There were also those who recklessly wanted to gamble with the military provisions.

“General, we need to expand the market. Only then will the market be activated and tax revenue increase.”

A wealthy man among the local gentry of Jinyang suddenly requested the activation of the market area and support for patrol soldiers.

“General! I have an amazing invention in my mind! If you support me with funds, I will realize it!”

…Blacksmiths suddenly barged in, clamoring for financial support.

“Why are you telling me things that should be said to the Prefect of Jeongwon?”

“It’s a story that goes back to the beginning, but not only those from outside but also those inside think of you as the actual leader, don’t they?”

Huseong pointed to the sky with his finger.

“Everyone says that. The Prefect of Jeongwon doesn’t communicate, so it’s better to talk to General Ye who does.”

“…….”

“And you are solving most of the problems. You maintain public order by assigning patrol duties to the soldiers, and you appointed talented people as captains. Even that guy who wanted to invest the military provisions was a fraud, wasn’t he? If it were Jeongwon, he would have squandered the provisions.”

“If Jeongwon squanders the taxes, won’t he squeeze the people again?”

It’s overstepping my authority.

I handle things within the scope of my responsibility as the head of the military camp, but it’s clearly illegal for me to intervene in everything.

“Huseong.”

“Yes.”

“Is Jeongwon an evil person who must be killed?”

“…….”

Huseong couldn’t answer.

“Not yet. Maybe not in the future either, or maybe he already is, but we haven’t realized it.”

“…….”

“Still, one thing, I promise.”

I said clearly to Huseong.

“The moment Jeongwon betrays righteousness, I will cut his throat.”

“…….”

“I don’t know if that old serpent will easily give up his neck.”

10 years.

Jeongwon never gave a pretext.

If, a justification arises.

“I cannot serve someone who acts wrongly for personal gain.”

Without mercy, I will stab.

“Will you kill him?”

“Well.”

That’s something to see then.

“Even if he is a wicked person, if he is human, I will make him repent his sins.”

At least until now.

“If he is a beast in human skin, a mad dog must be beaten to death.”

Because he smells like a human, not a rotten wild animal.

* * *

Time passed quickly, after the Yellow Turbans were eradicated.

Time passed, the 6th year of Zhongping.

The emperor of the time.

Emperor Ling, died.

The new emperor, the eldest son of Emperor Ling, became the emperor.

Grand General He Jin began to seize control of the court with his nephew, the emperor, and planned to completely expel the eunuchs from the court.

Winter passed, spring.

Guangxi, the first year.

A subordinate of Grand General He Jin visited Jinyang Fortress in Bingzhou.

＜ I thought it was martial arts, but it was Lü Bu (6) ＞ End