The Pride of Changshan
“…That’s enough. Stop it.”
Dong Zhuo kept spitting out one profane remark after another without pause. The old man who had been glaring at her finally turned his head away, as if he no longer wished to deal with her.
“I understand that you don’t want to face this person, sir, but please wait just a moment.”
“I have nothing more to say to someone like you!”
“Of course you don’t. However, what if I must lead the army in your place? For the sake of the men left behind, it seems you still have quite a few things to tell me.”
“…I see. So the Ten Eunuchs… no, His Majesty has sent you as my successor?”
When he thought about it, the appointment made perfect sense. After driving out an old man hostile to the Ten Eunuchs and the Taliu Faction, why would they hand the same heavy responsibility to someone of the same ilk? Of course not. Now that the momentum of the rebels had been broken, it was time to release the hunting dogs to devour the things that had become eyesores. And this old man was the first prey, while Dong Zhuo was the first hound.
…In a way, it might even be fortunate. At least this woman had risen through the ranks by fighting barbarians on the frontier, so she wouldn’t embarrass herself like those who only learned war from behind a desk. The people left here would not die in vain.
“The reason I came here is not simply to deliver the imperial decree. I am also here to take your place. Therefore, before you climb into the cart, you must tell me the current situation and then depart.”
“That’s true… The details are all on the desk over there, so you can read them. What exactly do you wish to know?”
“Obviously their location and numbers. Those Ten Eunuchs bitches seem quite anxious despite how they look, don’t they? If they don’t produce results soon, they’ll clearly end up in a cart just like you, sir. So wouldn’t they need to attack even a small unit and report some achievements?”
She spoke so arrogantly about stealing this position with the power of the Ten Eunuchs. She had become even more shameless in the time they hadn’t seen each other. Lu Zhi barely suppressed the urge to scold her and instead gave Dong Zhuo sincere advice.
“Tsk tsk, don’t even dream of it for the time being.”
“Oh? And why do you say that?”
“Just the forces currently in standoff at Gulu number no less than 150,000. Moreover, unlike other regions, their military discipline is quite strict. If you attack clumsily, you could instead be crushed by their sheer numbers and suffer a terrible disaster.”
Jizhou was the place where the Yellow Turbans had first launched their rebellion and had occupied the longest, making it the most friendly province among those that had fallen into their hands. Furthermore, since their leader Zhang Jue had not left Gulu and was personally watching to prevent his subordinates from committing injustices, the region had not degenerated into mere banditry. Instead, it remained a state of pure, fanatical believers in the Way of Great Peace.
With the enemy’s momentum piercing the heavens and their numbers greater than their own, one would still recklessly attack just to earn merit? To Lu Zhi, who cherished his soldiers, such a thing was utterly unacceptable.
“In this old man’s opinion, it would be best to wait for the arrival of Huangfu Song and Zhu Jun, the Central Commanders of Yanzhou, before slowly targeting the rebels’ weaknesses from then on.”
“Well, the detailed judgment is something I’ll make after looking around myself. In any case, you have worked hard all this time. Now please get on the cart.”
Although she had spoken with some courtesy, Dong Zhuo’s indifferent attitude made it clear she was displeased. Lu Zhi felt a surge of unease.
“Jung-yeong—no, Central Commander Dong. Before I leave, I have one request.”
“Hah, you’re asking a favor of me, sir? How amusing. Go ahead and speak.”
“Please, for this old man’s sake, treat the people remaining here with care… They are far too fine to die at the hands of mere rebels like these. No matter how lax the Yellow Turbans may appear, before ordering any attack you must think at least twice as carefully as usual. Zhang Jue, the leader of those rebels, is a wicked sorcerer. To face him, you must act with even greater caution than normal…”
The longer Lu Zhi’s words continued, the less Dong Zhuo bothered to hide her bored expression. The moment his advice ended, she shot back.
“It seems even Elder Jigan has grown old and become overly cautious. Didn’t I already say I would handle it myself? If you were that worried, you should have offered them money earlier. If you had, you wouldn’t have been dismissed. How nice it would have been if we didn’t have to bother each other with this whining.”
“Dong Zhuo!! Your arrogance grows worse with each passing day! Do you really think I am acting this pathetically out of concern for a wench like you!!!”
When Lu Zhi could no longer contain his anger and roared, the large men standing on either side of Dong Zhuo turned fierce.
“I was going to send the old fart off quietly because of his age, but… Fuck, just because you’re old you think you can call someone’s name however you want?!”
“This bastard Li Jue!! Who the hell are you to butt into a conversation between elders and start spouting shit?!”
“No, my lord! The way this old man is talking…”
“If you have that much energy to spare, go help Elder Jigan climb into the cart. Wouldn’t it be terrible if he fell because of his age?”
At Dong Zhuo’s shout, the man immediately shrank back and protested timidly. In the end, the burly Li Jue was reduced to helping an old man into a cart.
“…Understood, my lord. Hey, sir! Just stay still so you don’t fall while getting on. I’ll lift you up.”
“Get out of my way! Though I am old, Lu Zhi is not so decrepit that I need help from the likes of you!”
Watching the old man nimbly climb onto the high ox cart despite his age, Li Jue could only scratch his head vigorously.
“That old man… he looks so healthy he’ll probably outlive me…”
Ignoring the remark, Lu Zhi stepped into the caged section of the transport cart. As soon as he was inside, the transport soldier locked the door. Although he had expected to be dismissed someday, Lu Zhi had never imagined he would be arrested and escorted away in front of his own subordinates. Unable to endure the humiliation, he squeezed his eyes shut.
…Come to think of it, his former disciple Liu Bei had apparently wiped out the Yellow Turbans of Youzhou together with a man named Bang Yeol, along with Cao Cao and Yuan Shu. Perhaps she had not forgotten her teacher and was already on her way to Jizhou to help…
It would be better if she didn’t come. But if she insists on coming, at least wait another week. Dong Zhuo has not yet tasted bitterness, so she will undoubtedly bring great disaster upon this place. Yuan Shu, Cao Cao. The same goes for you two. This rebellion is solely the fault of us old men. It is far too cruel for young people like you to die here.
However, as if to mock Lu Zhi’s wishes, Liu Bei’s party had already arrived at Gulu and was nearly at the residence of the Central Commander of the suppression force. Meanwhile, the suppression army led by Cao Cao and Yuan Shu had passed through Zhongshan and was entering Changshan. Since Gulu was only two days down the southeast road from Changshan, if they didn’t waste time, Cao Cao’s group would reach the commander’s residence in about four days. But…
“…Um, Bang Yeol? What is all this?”
“…I have no idea either.”
“No, saying you don’t know doesn’t really work when all those banners have your name written on them, does it?”
“……Exactly. So I really don’t know why they’re doing this.”
A sight far too bizarre to ignore had halted the suppression army in its tracks. Banners hanging between the trees. Crowds wearing party hats and cheering for Cao Cao and Yuan Shu’s army. Flower petals flying in from all directions. Children scattering those petals. Piles of food that looked prepared in advance. What the hell was this? A hidden camera prank? If this had been Bang Yeol’s old hometown on the Korean peninsula, he would have been certain, but unfortunately this was ancient China—an uncivilized era where deception got you stabbed rather than filmed. So he could only stand there half in doubt.
Then again, who knows? This is a goddamn erotic game mod, not the real Later Han. Maybe there really are cameras here?
“Uh… Maengdeok? You don’t suppose this is a camera thing…”
“Hmm? A ‘camera’?”
Yeah, of course not. Fuck… If it’s not a hidden camera prank, then what the hell is all this?
“Look here, commoner. Enough nonsense. Why don’t you explain what’s going on?”
“That’s what I’m saying, I don’t know what this situation is either…”
“Hah! You can say that after seeing those banners?”
[Congratulations! Jizhou’s Qilin Child! Grandson of the Changshan Zhao Clan, Bang Yeol!]
[Wonderful! Grandmother’s pride, Bang Yeol! Well done! Grandfather’s joy, Bang Yeol!]
[Terror of the Yellow Turbans, Nightmare of the Unfilial, Widow-Maker of the Rebels—Bang Yeol! Welcome!]
I don’t know, damn it! Why am I the pride of Changshan?! And what the hell is “Nightmare of the Unfilial”? Who wrote “Widow-Maker of the Rebels”? Most of all, what is that tiny text written so small you can barely read it unless you look closely…? “Outer”? Grandson of the maternal line of the Changshan Zhao Clan?
…Changshan Zhao Clan? Maternal grandson would refer to the mother’s side. That’s right—Bang Yeol’s mother had been a member of the Zhao family, so people used to call her “Lady Zhao.” Digging through the original owner’s memories, he recalled that the noble lady from a powerful clan had fallen in love with a servant named Bang and fled to Youzhou to escape her family’s opposition.
Lady Zhao… she had been the only daughter of a powerful clan in Jizhou. If that clan was the Changshan Zhao family, then didn’t that mean he was the only blood relative left? Only one descendant remained. And in an era where families commonly adopted sons to continue the lineage…
Don’t tell me… my name isn’t Bang Yeol, but…
Seeing the kindly smiling elderly couple—presumably his maternal grandparents—approaching from afar, Zhao Yun’s mind went completely blank.