41. Storm Clouds Over Luoyang (2)
41. Storm Clouds Over Luoyang (2)
Dong Zhuo decided to move the capital to Chang'an.
Upon hearing the news, the people of Luoyang breathed a sigh of relief, saying that the wicked monster was finally fleeing to the west.
It was a pity for the people of Chang'an, but having witnessed the brutality of Dong Zhuo's soldiers, we wanted to escape their rule as soon as possible.
"Here is some porridge, please eat."
"Thank you, Sojeo (Young Lady)."
"No, I am not a Sojeo..."
Diaochan gave food to the people who had taken refuge in the mansion.
All she could give was simple porridge.
However, for the people who had nothing, even porridge boiled well with rice was something to be deeply grateful for. Seeing them blowing on the porridge to cool it down before eating, Lee Seong-hwi twisted his face.
'Moving the capital to Chang'an? It's not like he turned Luoyang into ashes like in the original history, but... Dong Zhuo, that son of a bitch. Is he planning to wreak havoc right up until the moment he leaves for Chang'an?'
Dong Zhuo had decided to move the capital to Chang'an.
Upon hearing this, Lee Seong-hwi shivered with rage at the bottomless selfishness of the human named Dong Zhuo.
Is this something a human being would do?
From murder and rape to assault and arson. He was filled with fury at the selfishness of turning the capital of the Han Dynasty into a mess and then fleeing to another city.
"Ki-ha-ha-ha-ha-ha!!"
"Try and run away! Just try and run away!"
Strange shrieks came from over the wall.
It was the sound of Dong Zhuo's soldiers.
They were chasing the people from behind, committing slaughter with the feeling of hunters pursuing their prey.
"Argh!"
A man's scream rang out.
Hearing that piercing voice, the refugees clutched their heads and bowed down.
I don't know when I might die either.
Like the man who just let out that terrible death cry, they didn't know when they might be dragged out by the vicious soldiers and killed.
"Hey, are you alive!"
It was Lu Bu's voice.
Bang, crash! With a loud roar, the miserably fallen Dong Zhuo soldiers rolled on the floor.
"Are you alright, Adjutant!"
It was Zhang Liao.
The black-haired older sister figure in white armor burst into the mansion with her sword drawn.
"Are you alright!"
Following her, the generals of Lu Bu's army entered.
As if they had come to rescue allies surrounded by enemies, they all had solemn expressions.
"Eek!"
"I-it's Dong Zhuo's army!"
The refugees screamed.
They had been indifferent to the appearance of Lu Bu and Zhang Liao, but upon seeing the rough-looking Eight Jian Generals, they looked terrified.
Is it because of their faces?
Well, their faces did look strange.
"Did you see outside? Why are those Dong Zhuo bastards acting like that!"
Lu Bu shouted.
Perhaps she hadn't heard the news about the capital moving to Chang'an yet, as she reacted with confusion at the behavior of the violently rampaging Dong Zhuo soldiers.
"They're trying to flee to Chang'an after throwing a grand party in Luoyang."
"Chang'an?"
"They say they're moving the capital to Chang'an. I just found out too. Dong Zhuo intends to abandon Luoyang and go to Chang'an."
"They're running away after winning against the Coalition Army? Well, that's a decision worthy of that coward. Running away to Chang'an after winning a war... Son of a bitch."
Lu Bu gritted her teeth.
Perhaps unable to bear the sight of the people of Luoyang being slaughtered right in front of her, she looked like she would rush back out and kill Dong Zhuo's soldiers immediately.
"Lu Bu."
"Why?"
"Do you trust me?"
".....What are you going to do now."
Lee Seong-hwi asked with a serious expression.
At that look, Lu Bu felt uneasy.
She, who had feared nothing on the battlefield, was so afraid of Lee Seong-hwi's impulsive actions that she expressed deep concern.
He was a guy with real madness, you could say.
Because he always committed absurd acts that defied expectations.
"I have only tried to bow down to Dong Zhuo until now. I just bowed my head, deceiving myself that it was a way to protect Luoyang."
But perhaps I was afraid of Dong Zhuo.
Perhaps I was whispering to myself to give up, saying there was no way to stop Dong Zhuo's army, and no power to stop their atrocities and crimes.
Lee Seong-hwi spoke his true feelings.
At those words, Lu Bu listened silently without a word.
"But seeing you, I think I know what I should do, and how I should step up now."
"Is that a compliment?"
"Of course. Because I think I can do anything if I'm with you."
He made a statement similar to a confession in front of many people. At those words, not only did Lu Bu's face turn red as if it were about to burst, but Zhang Liao, who was listening from behind, also reacted with shyness.
The Eight Jian Generals burst into laughter, saying, "That's manly." "That's what a man is." "But isn't the partner a bit wrong?"
"S-so... what now?"
Lu Bu asked.
To that, Lee Seong-hwi replied.
"You know I'm the General of the Feathered Forest, right? And you are still the General of the Martial Guard protecting Luoyang. And we are all soldiers who received orders to protect Luoyang."
"That... was the case, right?"
At Lee Seong-hwi's explanation, which flowed like a clear stream, Lu Bu nodded while looking puzzled.
It was all true.
The Lu Bu army had the mission to protect Luoyang against the enemy. I don't know if she forgot, but Dong Zhuo had not retrieved the Tally given to Lu Bu.
General of the Middle Guard Fan Chou was busy looting Luoyang with his soldiers.
It was something already permitted by the Chancellor of State.
Since it was a legally permitted looting, Fan Chou, intending to fill his pockets with this opportunity, ransacked all the noble mansions, taking not only gold, silver, and treasures but also making all the daughters of the noble families his concubines.
"Hehehe, what a windfall? As expected, if you follow the Chancellor of State, there's plenty to eat. This is why they say a general should choose his lord well. If I had followed those beggar-like Guandong Warlords, would I have been able to enjoy such luxury?"
Fan Chou had already had his fun.
He had already raped several virgins who had not been touched by men, and as soon as he satisfied his lust, he threw the women who had been virgins to his soldiers.
They were quite beautiful.
But since he was satisfied just by taking the virgins, he gave his soldiers a chance to have fun next, as they had worked hard for him.
"Luoyang. A very fun place."
As befitting the capital of the Han Dynasty, no matter how much you squeeze it, gold, silver, and women come out in droves.
To squeeze out every last drop before leaving for Chang'an, Fan Chou unleashed his soldiers even more to join in the looting.
"Hehehehe."
Gulp, gulp.
He drank heavily to wet his throat.
His throat was parched from dealing with women constantly.
He kept drinking expensive-looking liquor while giggling and watching his soldiers gang-rape the women.
"General!"
A soldier ran up.
He was one of the soldiers set as a sentry just in case.
"What is it?"
"Lu Bu's army has started a rebellion!"
"W-what...? R-rebellion?! Did you say rebellion, just now? Lu Bu has started a rebellion?"
"They say they are punishing the bandits who attacked Luoyang... but they are currently slaughtering all of our soldiers and coming straight here!"
"Argh!"
Fan Chou collapsed backward.
At the news that Lu Bu was coming, he looked aghast, recalling the scene of Lu Bu, who looked like a fierce god of death, that he had seen on the walls of Sishui Pass.
She took the enemy general's head in an instant.
Every time she swung her spear, a general's head fell off and died. Having seen that, Fan Chou trembled, fearing that he would be next.
"Hey, you bastards...! You bastards! Put on your armor and grab your weapons immediately!!"
Fan Chou shouted.
But there was no way that would be heard by the soldiers who were only focused on raping women.
Weapons and armor were nowhere to be seen. The half-naked soldiers were just sweating and thrusting their hips. Since they were extremely drunk, there was no way they would react properly to Fan Chou's words.
'Damn it, then I'll do it alone...!'
Fan Chou hurriedly packed his belongings.
While ordering the soldiers who were still sane to take the carts full of gold, silver, and treasures, he prepared to flee himself.
"Hey!"
Bang, crash!!
The door was smashed open, and Lu Bu entered.
Splendidly shining blonde hair.
Red eyes reminiscent of a beast.
The female warrior wearing red armor covering her entire body was definitely Lu Bu, known as Unrivaled Under Heaven.
Fan Chou screamed.
And the soldiers who were engrossed in rape seemed to have come to their senses only then; upon seeing Lu Bu, they squeezed out screams and raised their voices.
"Kill everyone except that one!"
Lu Bu ordered.
Then, the Hanjin Camp soldiers rushed in and slaughtered Fan Chou's troops, who were in an defenseless state.
They drove in sharp blades.
Smashing heads with maces or striking with both fists, they punished every single soldier who had participated in the looting and rape without exception.
"R-rebellion... L-Lu Bu, how dare you...!"
"Rebellion? Stop with that ominous talk. I have slaughtered the bandits to protect Luoyang."
Lu Bu walked over and reached in front of Fan Chou.
At the sight of the beast with flashing red eyes, Fan Chou ended up peeing his pants.
Scary.
I am so scared of this woman.
Fan Chou had thought that women were just meant to be pinned under men and moan, but he couldn't bear how scary Lu Bu was.
This woman is not human.
Having seen Lu Bu fight, Fan Chou knew she was not human.
"Tell your colleagues right now. Tell them that Lady Lu Bu is protecting Luoyang, so stop what you're doing and get lost immediately. If you don't leave, I'll lump you all together as bandits and kill you all."
It was not a lie.
This woman, this scary woman, was capable of doing just that.
She was a woman who would cut off his head even knowing he was a close aide to Dong Zhuo.
"Y-yes, yes...! Understood! Understood!"
Fan Chou nodded his head several times.
With his pants wet from urine, he prostrated himself on all fours and begged and begged to Lu Bu.
All the soldiers who had gone out to loot were slaughtered.
They became cold corpses with their eyes rolled back, foaming at the mouth.
Lee Seong-hwi headed straight for the Imperial Palace.
And he moved his steps to the Prime Minister's Office, which could be called the heart of the Imperial Palace.
He was stopped by the guards.
After handing over the sword he was wearing at his waist, he requested a private audience with Chancellor of State Dong Zhuo to the guards.
How much time had passed?
He was able to enter the Prime Minister's Office, led by the guards, saying that Dong Zhuo had permitted the private audience.
"General of the Feathered Forest, I was just about to have a meal with you. What wind blew you here to see me at this late hour?"
Dong Zhuo was not alone.
His granddaughter, Dong Bai, and Hua Xiong, who was in charge of his protection, were with him.
Dong Bai was openly showing her affection for Lee Seong-hwi, and Hua Xiong stood behind Dong Zhuo, keeping a close watch on Lee Seong-hwi while maintaining a stoic appearance.
"I am here to report that I have slaughtered the bandits who violated Luoyang."
"What, bandits?"
Dong Zhuo looked quite surprised at Lee Seong-hwi's report.
He felt puzzled by the word 'bandits'.
Are they the Baibo Bandits, or the Black Mountain Bandits? If they had invaded, an emergency order would have been issued. Dong Zhuo expected that the identity of the bandits Lee Seong-hwi was talking about was the Baibo Bandits or the Black Mountain Bandits.
He had heard that they occasionally attacked Luoyang.
But that was a story from before Dong Zhuo's army occupied Luoyang. With them wide awake in Luoyang, there was no way those bandits would covet Luoyang.
"I am the General of the Feathered Forest, who received orders to protect the Imperial Court and Luoyang. The person who appointed me as the General of the Feathered Forest is none other than you, Chancellor of State. Therefore, to fulfill my duty, I report to you that I have slaughtered all the bandits who attacked the city streets, looted the people, raped women, and even plundered wealth."
At Lee Seong-hwi's report, Dong Zhuo's expression changed.
He now knew.
About the identity of the 'bandits' Lee Seong-hwi spoke of. Those bandits referred to his own soldiers who had set out to loot Luoyang.
"You bastard!!"
Dong Zhuo, whose face turned red and purple, shouted loudly and drew the sword hanging on the wall.
He pointed the sharp blade at Lee Seong-hwi.
Dong Zhuo was enraged to the top of his head at Lee Seong-hwi's words, reporting that he had slaughtered all his soldiers right in front of him.
Hua Xiong gripped the hilt of his sword.
He was radiating killing intent, ready to cut down the unarmed Lee Seong-hwi in a single stroke if the order was given.