Punishment
The battle ended in a single night. And we were broken.
Of course, it wasn't as if we had failed to achieve our goals entirely. Xu Rong's army had taken an unexpectedly massive beating, and thanks to that, Wang Guang had managed to preserve a considerable portion of his forces and escape.
"Thank you... Lord Yu..."
But as the utterly devastated look on Wang Guang's face made clear, his life as a warlord was as good as finished.
Yu Bi comforted him while I stepped forward to manage the enemy stragglers that Guan Yu, Zhang Fei, and Zhao Yun kept bringing in.
"..."
Han Hao sat slumped with soot smeared across her face. She glanced up, spotted me—
Whip!
—and immediately turned her head away. Apparently it was humiliating enough that I had been right all along, and worse still that she had needed rescuing.
Clatter-clatter!
That was when it happened. From the east came the sound of hoofbeats, and a handful of cavalry rode into view. Leading them, to my surprise, was none other than Yuan Shao.
"..."
So he had noticed Yu Bi's disappearance and come looking in a hurry. The real problem started here. He was bound to take issue with her disobeying orders—how was I supposed to handle that?
"Wang of Henei!"
"W-Lord Yuan..."
Yuan Shao sought out the defeated Wang Guang first. He took the man's blood-soaked hands and spoke with a look of genuine pity.
"What on earth happened here?"
"I have no face left to show. They completely outmaneuvered me."
"Victory and defeat are the constant of war—how could that possibly be your fault? Come, let us return to the main camp. Dong Zhuo is still very much alive and breathing, is he not?"
Yuan Shao's comfort bordered on mercy. Yet that very mercy only made the man who had once styled himself a fighter feel more ashamed than ever before.
And that bastard Yuan Shao was almost certainly seething inside. But he could not afford to show anger in front of everyone, so he simply used the moment to play the part of the magnanimous alliance leader.
"If not for Lord Yu, I doubt I would have made it out alive. To need a woman's help... it seems this Wang Guang's time has come."
Wang Guang once again expressed his gratitude toward Yu Bi. At the same time a chill ran through the faces of everyone around us—myself, Yu Bi, and her retainers.
Sss...
Yuan Shao immediately turned his head, searching for Yu Bi. She could only look up at him with eyes full of dread, not daring to utter a word.
"I sent Lady Yu just in case. I simply could not speak of it beforehand for fear of slighting you, Wang of Henei."
And. Yet. Yuan Shao was, as expected, a monster. Far from reprimanding Yu Bi for disobeying orders, he elevated her instead, claiming even this had been part of his own arrangements.
"So it was Lord Yuan's strategy all along. You have my deepest thanks..."
Wang Guang shed tears of gratitude, believing Yuan Shao had saved his life. Yuan Shao took his hands and comforted him further.
He ordered Wang Guang to return to the main camp first. Once the defeated general had led his remaining troops away, Yuan Shao turned back to Yu Bi.
"Lady Yu..."
"Ah... I am truly, deeply sorry. Lord Yuan Benchu—no, Lord Yuan—I have no words to offer you."
"That is not so."
"...?"
Sss. Yuan Shao gently folded her hand in his and smiled with perfect warmth. Yu Bi's eyes went wide, wondering what on earth this was about.
"I was greatly distressed when you vanished. I had truly believed we had become friends, and I will not deny that I was disappointed when you broke your promise in this fashion."
"Aigo... I truly do not know what to say..."
"But that, too, is a variable a leader of the alliance must be prepared to bear. I trusted you to the end, Lady Yu, and so I trust that you will never again act this way."
"O-Of course not."
"Then will you not call me Yuan Benchu again, as you always have?"
"W-Yuan Benchu..."
"Let us return. The war has only just begun."
"..."
Had Yuan Shao truly forgiven Yu Bi? Or was he, as alliance leader, simply setting his feelings aside for the sake of unity?
It might have been neither. By forgiving the woman who had wronged him, he was securing a hold over her—ensuring she could never defy him again.
From now on, even if Yuan Shao declared black to be white, Yu Bi would have no choice but to follow. She was completely subordinate to him, bound to accept any demand he made.
Any demand at all...
Before returning to Henei, I stopped by the Sima clan of Wen County to return the troops. Sima Lang had already heard the news through She Rong and asked carefully,
"Young Master Do? I heard things did not go well where you went. But that is no reason to lose confidence. She Rong said you fought the enemy more splendidly than anyone. Not only that—of the thousand private soldiers, almost none were killed or wounded. She praised your command until her mouth ran dry..."
"Even so, I failed to achieve what I set out to do. I could have won. There is no need to shift the blame onto Lady Yu Bi's sudden appearance on the battlefield. If I had truly intended to win, I should have predicted even that."
Any resentment toward Yu Bi had long since faded. This was my own blunder—for still underestimating the Dae-ia title even while claiming to be careful.
"I hate seeing you look so defeated, Young Master Do. Of course, if I say that, you will only force yourself to put on a brave face, and that hurts me too..."
"No! I have truly forgotten all of it. More importantly—shall we talk about the promise we made last time? Exactly when do you plan to invite me?"
"Y-You remembered that promise? I was going to put it off until your spirits recovered..."
"Would it be all right if I visited after returning from the allied main camp? As a participant in the battle, I have reports to make to Yuan Shao."
"Of course! Then... I will send someone separately to let you know the date."
Sima Lang's mood brightened at once and she beamed. As a well-mannered woman who always considered others' feelings first, she must have found it difficult to bring up the dinner invitation herself.
But I had no choice either. Because only by keeping my promise to her could I keep my promise to her younger sibling as well.
Stare...
While Sima Lang was lost in her sweet daydream, Sima Yi appeared from behind and shot me a look. I gave a low nod, careful that no one else would notice.
Could Sima Lang even imagine it? That this would be our last supper?
"Why did you act on your own authority? I am quite certain I forbade your master from marching out."
The moment I arrived at the main camp, Yuan Shao convened a hearing. I stood surrounded by his grim-faced retainers, cold sweat running down my back.
"My recklessness was excessive. I deeply regret causing Lord Yuan such concern."
"You placed not only yourself but Lady Yu in danger as well. What would you have done if things had gone poorly and she had been injured?"
"That too is the fault of this disloyal servant. Whatever punishment Lord Yuan decrees, I will accept it gladly."
"Stop spouting nonsense. You say that knowing full well I cannot tell Lady Yu to cut you loose, do you not?"
"..."
He was right, of course. Yuan Shao was angry at both Yu Bi and me, but because he liked her so much he had dumped most of the responsibility on my shoulders.
Yet Yu Bi was not the sort of woman to casually punish her retainers, so he had no way to attack me. And if he punished me himself, it would be overstepping his authority.
"I will return to Yawang. In my place I will send someone else to protect Lady Yu Bi—please, let that be enough for your forgiveness."
In the end, leaving the main camp was the only option. Yuan Shao seemed satisfied for the moment and nodded repeatedly.
But you have it wrong. The reason I am leaving the main camp is not to beg your forgiveness—it is because I have business to attend to in Yawang.
"Th-That is what, exactly? Lord Do Yeop, why do you say you will leave my side again?"
When I went to Yu Bi and told her I was returning to Yawang, her resistance was fierce, as expected. But are you not being a little shameless here?
"Lady Yu Bi? I truly do not want to bring up that incident again, but I believe all of this is because you moved troops on your own, do you not? Someone has to show Yuan Shao they are taking responsibility."
"Ah... but that was only because I was so worried about you, Lord Do Yeop..."
"I know. That is why I hold no grudge, so let us drop the subject. And I am not simply going to Yawang to serve in plain clothes. I have actual work that has come up."
"What work might that be?"
Whisper-whisper... Afraid someone might overhear, I leaned in and murmured into her ear. Even with her misfortune, she would not go blabbing this, right?
"Heheh... that tickles."
"..."
Was she even listening properly? How was I supposed to take her just giggling innocently that her ear itched?
"Anyway, I will be heading back. Lady Yu Bi, stay here and get close to Yuan Shao again."
"H-How close am I supposed to get? Lately Lord Yuan has been feeling rather... burdensome..."
Yeah, I saw him grabbing your hand and rubbing against it every chance he got. Honestly, I half wanted to cut ties right then and go over to Yuan Shu instead.
"Draw a reasonable line. I trust you will handle it well, Lady Yu Bi."
"You trust me that much? Even after I ruined your plans?"
"Ruin what? I will fix it again, so do not worry too much. I will be going now."
Tears welling...
Yu Bi saw me off weeping as if she were the Weaver Girl parting at the Magpie Bridge. Seeing her like that, my heart softened and I could not bring myself to say anything harsh.
Finally I paid my respects to Lu Zhi. He said that for someone like me it was a pity, and left me with words that were generous by his standards. Just as I was about to mount my horse and leave for Yawang—
"Wait... may I speak with you a moment?"
"...?"
It was Han Hao. Judging by how she had been lingering at a distance before I even got on the horse, she must have been waiting quite a while.
"Commandant Han? Why the sudden formal speech?"
"That is... I heard it from General Lu. That you, sir, are none other than the loyalist of the Han who once attempted to assassinate Dong Zhuo—Young Master Do."
So that was why she had suddenly become so respectful. To a Confucian fundamentalist who had been ready to cut down even her own fiancé for the sake of honor, I must have looked like some great hero.
"It is nothing so impressive. Dong Zhuo is still perfectly alive, after all."
"Had you revealed it from the start, I would never have behaved so rudely. To have failed to recognize such a person—I might as well have been blind with my eyes open. And more than anything... if Young Master Do had not rescued me that day, I too would never have returned alive."
I doubt that. One way or another, you and Wang Guang were fated to come back alive. You would simply have suffered a far more crushing defeat than this.
"If you mean to thank me, that is enough. I must leave for Yawang..."
"No. There are a few more things I must tell you. The Grand Administrator—Wang of Henei—has given me an order. Since Yuan Benchu has forgiven him, he says he must show sincerity... by plundering all of Henei to supply the army."
"..."
Just as I thought—the man had completely fallen apart. Before, he had been only half-mad, lusting after noble young ladies. Now he was a full-blown lunatic, ready to abandon even the barest principles of chivalry just to stay in Yuan Shao's good graces.
"Commandant Han, can you follow that order?"
"I am in turmoil. To strike down the traitor, supplies are necessary. But if for that sake we destroy the lives of the common people, how are we any different from the traitor himself?"
"Whether you accept it or not, Wang Guang will carry it out. In the end you will find yourself faithfully executing his orders."
"..."
Han Hao lowered her head and fell silent. I did not miss that anguish and spoke lightly.
"Commandant Han? Would you like to come with me to Yawang?"
"What do you mean?"
"As you know, Lady Yu Bi enjoys Yuan Shao's favor. So even if all of Henei is plundered, her jurisdiction will not be touched. Of course it may wound your pride to lose your current post as Commandant and serve under a mere county magistrate—but it is the only way to fight the traitor without tormenting the common people."
I made the offer of appointment as politely as I could. For a woman who put righteousness above all else, she would understand the logic of my words regardless of intellect or charm.
"I am sorry. I cannot abandon my lord. Without me, he will only fall further."
Yet Han Hao refused flatly. Judging by the worry on her face, she had at least considered it.
"Is Wang Guang so great a lord that you would devote your entire life to him?"
"That is not what I mean. At the very least, to change one's lord requires a reason that justifies it. Tormenting the people is certainly not the way of a ruler—but in the present reality, what matters more is punishing the traitor."
"..."
As expected, a hopelessly rigid woman. As long as Wang Guang flew the anti-Dong Zhuo banner, simply plundering was not enough reason for a scholar to abandon him.
Then again, was Wang Guang the only one squeezing the common people? Both the allied forces and Dong Zhuo's army fought the same way.
Even Yu Bi, for all that she refrained from outright plunder, was still levying a murderous fifty-percent tax rate, was she not?
"Then there is nothing to be done. I need you, Lady Han Hao, but it seems the time is not yet right."
I said it smoothly, but in the end it was the same as with Sima Yi. If Yu Bi had been the Grand Administrator and Wang Guang a mere county magistrate, she would have come over without question under the principle of rising in the world and making a name.
"Then I will take my leave."
"Wait! I still have something left to say."
"What is it?"
"..."
Han Hao could not easily open her mouth. Perhaps what she truly wanted to say began only now.
"It is... about Du Chi."
"Pardon? Is there any need to discuss your fiancé with an outsider like me?"
"But Young Master Do has always been deeply involved in my relationship with Du Chi, have you not? So I am certain you can give me an answer."
"What is it?"
Before speaking, Han Hao drew a deep breath. The story began the moment she returned to Henei.
"I went to see the imprisoned Du Chi. As a mere defeated soldier I could say nothing, so I was prepared to accept whatever mockery he threw at me with humility. Do you know what Du Chi said?"
"That he was relieved, I imagine. Because the woman he loved had returned alive."
"As expected... you knew? I was so flustered. I had stood by while his father was in danger—I had even tried to kill him myself. And yet he forgave me. Not only that... he still loves me."
"Then is that not enough? Of course things will grow awkward once news of Du Yang's death spreads. But if he overcomes it with the power of love..."
"I cannot allow that."
"Why not?"
"Because then Du Chi would be committing unfilial conduct. If he marries the woman who killed his own father, the entire world will point fingers at him."
"..."
Even for a Confucian Nazi, she ought to say something that at least made sense. So this was it.
Despite everything that had happened, Han Hao and Du Chi still loved each other. But she could not stand by and watch him become an unfilial son, so she intended to call off the marriage?
"Commandant Han? I understand how you feel, but Du Chi will not give up. In the end your heart will soften and you will accept his feelings. So why drag it out—why not just come together now?"
"You are right. In the end I will not be able to refuse his courtship. But that would only ruin Du Chi all over again. So please, Young Master Do—help me."
"Pardon? What exactly am I supposed to do in this situation?"
You cannot cut Du Chi off cleanly yourself, so what do you want me to do about it? And yet there was a method.
A truly unimaginable, shocking answer that only a high-level Confucian fundamentalist could produce.
"Please... defile me."