Chapter 14
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Translator: volt
Chapter Title: The End of the Ten Attendants' Rebellion
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Every man has those thoughts from time to time.
A dramatic scene where he swoops in like a hero.
Saving a child from a blazing fire like a firefighter, or beating down the thugs threatening the girl he likes.
Too clichéd, right?
But those clichéd stories get used in movies and dramas all the time for a reason.
Because they're cool.
Because they're romantic.
So I imagined it once.
A rebellion breaking out in the palace.
A situation so urgent she disguises herself in a servant girl's clothes, not even thinking to change the carriage's exterior.
Pursuers hot on her heels, hurling sharp blades at the carriage.
"Your Majesty! This humble Ding Jianyang has raced from Bing Province in a single bound to rescue you!!"
Picture shouting that.
How thrilling would that be?
Ding Yuan would be over the moon himself, and the one he saved in that desperate moment would be deeply moved.
"Oh! Governor of Bing Province, Lord Ding Yuan! You are the true loyal vassal of this realm!!"
If the Emperor leaped barefoot from the carriage and embraced him, Ding Yuan might just drop dead from a heart attack right there.
But that didn't happen.
"Please, kill me—!!"
Ding Yuan was currently throwing himself flat on the ground, kowtowing furiously.
"This fool mistook it for His Majesty's carriage! Forgive this disloyal wretch!!"
And the one receiving his abject apologies wasn't even the Emperor.
"G-Grand... Dowager..."
A small child of about ten clung tightly to the old woman's skirts, while the woman who called herself Empress Dowager Dong patted his back and stared piercingly at Ding Yuan.
Empress Dowager Dong. Prince of Chenliu. Let me think.
I dredged up the memory.
The mother of the previous Emperor.
She was one of the people Hou Cheng had drilled into me before we came here, begging me to remember. That's why I recalled her.
And Prince of Chenliu—
Who's that?
A king I'd never heard of.
But since he's called an imperial prince, I had a guess.
"There's a Prince of Bohai. The current Emperor's half-brother."
If the title had changed, this boy must be the Prince of Chenliu.
"Such a tragic figure. Lost his mother to poison, they say. And rumors point to Grand General He Jin's sister behind it."
It hadn't been long since the Emperor's death, so the titles of Empress and Dowager were still muddled in my mind.
Let's sort it by most recent...
Current Emperor. Son of Empress Dowager He.
His half-brother is the Prince of Chenliu.
Empress Dowager Dong is grandmother to both the current Emperor and the Prince of Chenliu.
So where was the Emperor that Ding Yuan was so desperate to find?
"Governor of Bing Province Ding Yuan, rise."
"Yes, Dowager Empress!!"
At Empress Dowager Dong's command, Ding Yuan sprang up and bowed his head.
That crisp, disciplined movement was the swiftest and most precise I'd seen in over a decade of service.
"As we fled the palace, His Majesty headed west, while we had no choice but to go north."
"His Majesty to the west...!"
"Take this tally."
Empress Dowager Dong drew a long jade object from her bosom.
"Oh, this is...!"
"It's mine. Show it if you encounter the Imperial Guard. From now on, you serve the imperial family's orders faithfully... right?"
"Of course, Dowager Empress!"
She had Ding Yuan wrapped around her finger in an instant.
It really drove home what a high courtier and imperial elder represented.
"Governor of Bing Province Ding Yuan, go now and rescue His Majesty. Race west and snatch him from the rebels' clutches."
"As commanded! Bing Province troops—!!"
Ding Yuan raised the tally he'd received directly from Empress Dowager Dong and bellowed.
"We're off to save His Majesty! Follow me—!!"
Ding Yuan mounted his horse with a vigorous face.
He looked like one of those last bursts of energy from a wuxia novel, but with that much fiery vigor, he seemed out of his mind.
"Cavalry Commander."
"Yes, General."
"Escort the Governor yourself. Hurry."
"...Yes. The vanguard stays with this general, the rest follow behind. I'm riding with Governor Ding."
At my words, the cavalry commander split the unit in seconds and attached himself to Ding Yuan.
In a flash, Ding Yuan galloped off, leaving me with part of the cavalry commander's detachment near the carriage.
About seventy men, but each one was an elite—exaggerate a bit, and they'd pass for company commanders anywhere else.
And he'd left those crack troops under my command.
"......"
I had to hold this position.
Protect Empress Dowager Dong and the Prince of Chenliu.
Because that rude bastard was still gripping his weapon.
"Dowager Empress."
With only me and seventy cavalry from Bing Province left, did she feel some leeway?
"This lowly Right Army Colonel wishes to... to..."
"Aren't you the insolent fool who swung a spear at the carriage?"
At Empress Dowager Dong's icy words, the man calling himself Right Army Colonel dropped to one knee.
"Forgive me! I've committed a capital crime!"
"Why? Planning to kill this little brat who's been a thorn in your side while you're at it?"
"No, that's not it! I merely...!"
"No need to hear it. You were about to blather, 'I thought eunuchs had stolen the imperial carriage.'"
"Th-that's...!"
The guy flinched hard every time she hit the mark.
Looked like that really was his excuse.
"Why? If I'd revealed my identity sooner, this wouldn't have happened, right? That's what you meant to say? How absurd. I already know you're one of Empress Dowager He's men."
I spun my brain fast.
Empress Dowager He was a consort who became Empress.
Empress Dowager Dong was the previous Emperor's mother.
She's trying to kill her mother-in-law!
Imperial family mother-daughter-in-law drama.
A scene straight out of a movie, unfolding before me.
This Right Army Colonel was connected to the daughter-in-law's side.
Probably planning to kill the fleeing mother-in-law first, then spin the narrative to control opinion.
First impressions make the mother-in-law seem decent, though.
Her face was passable.
Not some overly kindly mother aged up, but tough without selfishness creasing her wrinkles.
Above all, she was clutching the imperial prince's hand tight.
"You."
Empress Dowager Dong turned to me and spoke.
"This lowly—"
"Don't dismount. Answer from up there."
"Yes, Dowager Empress."
I straightened my speech to match Ding Yuan's as best I could.
But part of me thought:
Don't get off the horse.
In other words, keep facing off against this Right Army Colonel.
Damn it.
I'd figured I might get tangled in central politics, but I never dreamed it'd kick off like this.
"Who are you?"
"Lü Bu, Adjutant of the Bing Province Army and concurrently Chief of the Retainers."
"......"
Empress Dowager Dong frowned.
At the same time, the Right Army Colonel smirked briefly.
Breached etiquette, huh.
This was definite.
Not imperial or court protocol.
Just roll with it.
I could learn etiquette later.
People expect perfection from the perfect and applaud step-by-step progress from those starting from scratch.
"Do you have a courtesy name?"
"It's Fengxian."
"......Right. Lü Fengxian."
Ah.
That was it.
Having a courtesy name or not was a subtle—or blatant—way to judge people.
Hou Cheng's gonna chew me out.
Probably grumbling even now as he rushes with the infantry.
Something like calling him by name without his courtesy name despite having one.
"Good. Right Army Colonel Sun Ukyeong, hear this."
"!!"
At Empress Dowager Dong's words, Right Army Colonel Sun Ukyeong scowled deeply.
"You."
It was a split second, but did I miss it?
"......"
No.
She knew and let it slide.
To avoid provoking him.
"Return to your allies and relay this: Don't seek innocent blood. Protect the Emperor from the traitorous Ten Attendants."
"Traitors... the Ten Attendants?"
"Yes."
"......Understood."
Some massive political undercurrent passed in that brief exchange.
Off the cuff, it felt like: This mess is the Ten Attendants' fault, so we'll overlook the current situation.
"I'll entrust the message to my deputy, Dowager Empress. Your Highness. We..."
"We'll entrust our guard to him."
"!!"
Sun Ukyeong scowled again but soon mounted and bowed.
"The Right Army Colonel obeys."
After proper obeisance to Empress Dowager Dong, Sun Ukyeong stared at me.
"In attending Dowager Empress and His Highness, there must be no shortcomings."
"Take care, Colonel Sun."
"?!?!"
Sun Ukyeong's eyes bulged.
So round they evoked an owl in shock.
"......Co... Colonel?"
"I addressed you properly. Colonel Sun."
"You... you...!!"
"What's wrong, General Sun?"
"Kuh...!"
A low chuckle came from behind.
Glancing at Fangtian Halberd's blade, the Prince of Chenliu trembled, and Empress Dowager Dong bit her lower lip.
"......?"
I checked the other cavalrymen.
Wondering if I'd messed up, I scanned around, but the vanguard left by the cavalry commander stared straight ahead, expressions unchanged.
"You... Lü Fengxian, was it."
"That's right."
"I, Right Army Colonel Sun Ukyeong, will remember you well!"
"......Ah."
Sun Ukyeong.
Sun Uk... middle... virgin?
"My apologies."
"What?"
"Unintentionally insulted your surname. Convey my deepest regrets to your father."
"......You incomprehensible fool!"
Sun Ukyeong wheeled his horse in irritation.
"Hyah!"
Sun Ukyeong galloped toward the palace.
His men glared daggers as they turned, but I could only let out a hollow laugh.
"If you'd just said your name from the start, I wouldn't have misunderstood."
"......"
"Why beat around the bush and make people flustered. Tsk."
"Well. If it wasn't a eunuch, you should've said so sooner."
Thud.
"Yeah, why not speak plainly to the end."
The young man collapsed.
Clutching his waist as if to pull down his pants, but with his heart pierced by a blade, blood gushing, he couldn't rise.
"Haa."
How much time had passed?
Yuan Shao gauged the hour by the palace where embers were dying down and the cooling corpses.
Well past midnight, and considering the time to storm in and cut down the eunuchs—
"The cock will crow soon."
Dawn was nearly breaking.
"Damn...!"
Yuan Shao felt impatient.
He'd killed the eunuchs as planned.
Excluding Zhang Rang, already reduced to dust among the Ten Attendants, he'd hunted down and slain most of the others.
But they weren't pushovers.
He'd wiped out the lesser eunuchs and attendants, but the leader of the Ten Attendants, Zhang Yang, had vanished.
"If that Eunuch Duan Gu hadn't meddled...!"
"Don't get so worked up, Bencho."
Bleeding profusely, Cao Cao approached with a low chuckle.
"We sent troops; they'll catch them soon. With the young ones, Dowager Empress, and palace ladies, they can't have gone far."
"Even in a carriage?"
"Cavalry from the Western Garden Eight Colonels are faster than any carriage. Oh, wait—not Western Garden anymore? Heh."
Cao Cao sidled up and nudged Yuan Shao's arm with his elbow.
Yuan Shao recoiled at the blood on his armor, annoyed, but Cao Cao ignored it.
"Or will you chase them yourself?"
"......Can I stop General Nusik if he insists on going?"
"As expected. General Nusik was with us. Heh."
"Didn't you know?"
"Known or not, it changes nothing. I'm just along for the ride you started, trusting you."
Cao Cao spread his arms wide, grinning broadly.
"Chopping down the trash devouring this country with my own hands—feels damn good. Haha. Refreshing as hell."
His face was caked with eunuch blood splatter.
"Mengde. No regrets?"
"Regrets? About what?"
"You..."
"Surely not."
Cao Cao's expression vanished in an instant.
"You're not saying I'll regret killing eunuchs because my grandfather was one, are you?"
That blank face sent a chill down Yuan Shao's spine.
"......How could I say such a thing to you?"
Yuan Shao forced a smile.
"Just worried you've drunk too deep of blood tonight and might tire before dawn."
"......Hahaha!"
Cao Cao burst into laughter.
"Never thought I'd live to hear Yuan Bencho fret over me! I'm fine, better than fine. Damn frustrating, actually—couldn't kill Zhang Yang myself."
"......"
"To business."
Cao Cao switched expressions again.
"Like Lord Jinrim, I said Grand General He Jin would fall. Calling in warlords from outside would breed chaos. But it's happened, and warlords will swarm from everywhere."
The shifts were sometimes hard for even Yuan Shao to track, but he had to listen.
"We need to secure His Majesty ASAP."
"His Majesty, eh."
Yuan Shao chuckled lowly.
"Not the Son of Heaven?"
"......He's His Majesty."
Cao Cao furrowed his brow at Yuan Shao, who just shook his head lightly with a smile.
"Young indeed, Aman."
"This guy again."
"The Son of Heaven."
"Again."
"The Son of Heaven—General Nusik or whoever—we have to secure him."
At Yuan Shao's emphasis, Cao Cao threw up his hands in mock exasperation but dropped it.
"Fine. After securing the palace, how to receive His Majesty—let's think."
"Rescuing the Son of Heaven comes first, no?"
"Didn't General Nusik ride out? Even old and exiled once, he'll catch Zhang Yang's bunch easily. I'm more worried... wait."
Cao Cao turned to Yuan Shao as if struck by a thought.
"Heard something odd on the way: several carriages fled via Beigong. You sent Sun Ukyeong?"
"Think I'd send that guy if I wanted it done?"
"Not giving him face and a merit by assigning the riskiest job? Perfect for pinning blame later."
"Mengde. I like your sharp eyes. Keep it that way so I can keep liking you."
"......Your meaningful stares creep me out."
Cao Cao raised his hands.
"Fine. Whatever Sun Ukyeong does, it won't end up your fault."
"Spare me the 'speak no ill of the dead' vibes."
"If I don't say it, feels like thorns in my mouth. Haha. Nice to have this leeway, right?"
"Ah."
Yuan Shao looked east.
"Sunlight finally graces this land."
"Still dark."
"You and your lack of—"
"Report—!!"
A cavalryman galloped up to Yuan Shao and Cao Cao.
"What is it?"
"General Nusik says... His Majesty, His Majesty...!"
"What of His Majesty!! Don't tell me...!"
"In the pig's hands...!!"
"......???"
Glorious Year 1. Spring.
The Ten Attendants' Rebellion. Over.
Yuan Shao storms the palace and massacres the eunuchs.
Ding Yuan rescues Empress Dowager Dong and the Prince of Chenliu north of Luoyang.
The Emperor protected by 3,000 troops at Baimang.
Dong Zhuo.
Enters Luoyang.
Luoyang's spring ended, and Xiliang's sandstorms began to blow.
Author's Note
#Note1) How to refer to names and courtesy names is always a headache when writing Three Kingdoms stuff.
Using courtesy names is polite and cool, but I'm more familiar with given names myself.
Those in the know will go 'oh, that guy' right away, but using just surname + courtesy name can be confusing or hard to remember.
So I'll stick mostly to given names for clarity,
and mix in courtesy names only when they've appeared enough that it's obvious who it is without the given name.
(Like Lü Fengxian, Zhang Wen Yuan. Or Yuan Shao and Cao Cao using courtesy names with each other, etc.)