Chapter 2
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Translator: volt
Chapter Title: Rise of the Yellow Turbans
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Guanghe 7th year (184 AD), February.
A winter where thin ice had coldly settled over the parched wasteland.
"The blue sky is dead! From now on, it is the era of the yellow sky!"
Centered around the Great Peace Cult leader Zhang Jiao, they rose in rebellion against the state.
The court branded those wearing yellow headbands as "Yellow Turban Rebels"—mere bandits—and dispatched Zhu Jun, Huangfu Song, and Lu Zhi to suppress them.
And in Bing Province.
An edict from the court had arrived.
-Bing Province Governor Ding Yuan, exterminate the Yellow Turban Rebels.
[Bing Province, Jinyang Fortress Barracks.]
"That's what it says, but it's utterly ridiculous."
I couldn't help but let out a hollow laugh at the contents of the edict that had made its way to even our barracks.
"Yellow Turban Rebels."
Having served under Ding Yuan for nearly ten years, enemies this absurd could be counted on one hand.
"Bandits."
It was more bewildering than when I learned my name was Lü Bu, or even when I realized this world was the Romance of the Three Kingdoms.
"These damn bandits just won't stop coming."
Bandits had appeared again. The Yellow Turbans might be significant, but whether they were Red Turbans or Blue Turbans, they were a headache all the same.
"The Xiongnu raid from the north whenever they get the chance, and the Black Mountain Bandits are swarming in the south. Now we've got Yellow Turbans on top of that."
"General, are they really bandits?"
One of my subordinates approached and asked.
"According to folks who came from afar, they're just a religious group."
"Deputy Song. They're bandits."
The subordinate I called "Song" scratched his head.
"Well..."
"If the court deems them as such, then they're bandits."
No matter what the Great Peace Daoists truly were, they had become bandits.
"Even if they don't pillage, they're bandits. Even if they raid corrupt officials' granaries and distribute grain to the starving poor—a righteous act—they're still bandits."
"...Even if they're innocent commoners?"
"The moment they tie on those yellow headbands, they become bandits. Under the name Yellow Turbans."
Yellow Turban Rebels.
"You've already seen it yourself. A hungry commoner grabs a sickle and ambushes travelers on a mountain path—that makes him a bandit in the end."
"..."
"This time, their scale is massive enough that even the court's in a panic."
"So they've finally come begging us for reinforcements."
They were certainly important figures, but ordering us in Bing Province to drive them out first elicited a "well..."
"We're already swamped dealing with the Black Mountain Bandits."
Bing Province had been fighting the Black Mountain Bandits for years now.
To be precise, it wasn't exactly the Black Mountain Bandits by name at first—we'd been at war with bandit gangs entrenched in every mountain valley.
No matter how many we captured or killed, they sprouted up like weeds afterward.
When those gangs gathered in the mountains and blackened the slopes, we started calling them the Black Mountain Bandits.
"The court wants us to handle the Yellow Turbans, but we're barely holding our own against the Black Mountain Bandits. And it'll only get worse."
"Worse than now?"
"With the Yellow Turbans rampaging across the plains down there, do you think the bandits around here will sit idle?"
The moment they sense the central authority can't reach Bing Province, the bandits will rampage even more than they do now.
"But aren't you here, General?"
"One man won't make the bandits vanish."
"...Still, thanks to you, plenty of potential bandits are quietly tilling their fields instead."
"We did work hard to make sure they were swinging pickaxes at the dirt instead of at people's heads."
Bing Province wasn't safe by any means.
But we were suppressing and controlling the bandits, reforming them so they could live off their own labor without stealing from others.
I was doing that.
"If even one of us four stepped away, those guys in the valley would slink out and raid the villages in no time."
"Ugh..."
"So, that edict is just an edict. Even if such an order came down to the Bing Province Governor, our esteemed Governor won't be sending an army all the way to the plains."
"Governor Ding Yuan..."
Deputy Song shook his head.
"Enough of that. Let's not talk about it. More importantly, the meeting's about to start. We should head over."
"A meeting."
A summons had come from the government office.
"We're already swamped training the soldiers."
"If the general spent his time tilling rice paddies in the fields instead of helping with administration at the office, there wouldn't even be meetings."
"Even if we hold one, won't our great Governor just ramble on until it's over?"
"That's exactly why you need to be there, General. At least he watches his step around you."
"Not a pleasant situation."
In many ways.
"Deputy Song. I'm not trying to gild my own face, but I've heard the rumors floating around there."
"Rumors that General Lü is eyeing the Bing Province Governor position?"
"...I've never aimed for it, so who's spreading that?"
"Who knows. Probably the common folk."
Rumors were circulating.
Malicious ones, at that—the people hoping I'd become Bing Province Governor.
"Troublesome. My relationship with Governor Ding is already strained after I turned down his proposal."
"Proposal?"
"He wanted me to become his adopted son."
"What? You refused that?"
"Huh?"
Deputy Song tilted his head.
"Governor Ding was thrilled when you became his adopted son."
"What nonsense is that?"
Oh no.
A curse slipped out before I knew it.
"Ridiculous. I'm Lü Bu. Not Ding Bu."
"...It's rare to change surnames immediately upon adoption anyway."
"This won't do. Deputy Song. I was planning to ignore the meeting anyway, but..."
I grabbed my official hat and robe from where I'd set them aside.
"Song Xian."
"Yes, General."
"Let's head to Jinyang Fortress government office. I need to hear directly from Governor Ding what he meant by that."
There were two governors in Bing Province.
I'd known about those rumors for years now.
The governor recognized by the court.
The governor recognized by the people.
As absurd as that sounds, being at the center of it created all sorts of headaches.
The position of Governor was bestowed by the Emperor.
Sometimes, in other places, people bought the seal from eunuchs for bribes, but at least Bing Province wasn't like that.
With its rugged terrain and the Xiongnu to the northwest, the Bing Province Governor had to be strong.
Whether in leadership or personal martial prowess.
More like the Bing Province Army's supreme commander than an administrator, the position had been held by Ding Yuan for the past ten years.
But for several years now, one story had started circulating among the people.
-It'd be great if General Lü became governor.
At first, I thought it was a joke to tease me.
When I first heard it, I was shocked and bellowed, "How dare you speak of an imperial post so lightly!"
Positions from the Emperor aren't to be bandied about casually.
After retorting like that—
-Then, if the Emperor commanded it, would you take the Bing Province Governor post?
Someone tried to corner me.
-Governor Ding is hale and hearty; how could some illiterate nobody like Lü whatever become Bing Province Governor?
I brushed it off like that.
But the public sentiment only grew as I crushed more bandit gangs, and in time, it drove a wedge between me and Ding Yuan, who had recommended me.
The same held true now.
"Come in, Lü Bu."
The white-haired veteran with a snowy beard, Ding Yuan, greeted me warmly.
"It's been a while, Lord Ding Yuan."
"..."
At my polite and deferential attitude, Ding Yuan's face twisted in displeasure.
"This may be the government office, but I've said I regard you as my son—speak freely."
"My father has passed away."
"..."
I could feel the surrounding gazes.
*Why be so dense?*
*Can't you just play along?*
'Some people are made for social climbing, others aren't.'
Ding Yuan was highly capable as Bing Province Governor, but not someone to get close to personally.
I'd never seen him commit overt corruption or wrongdoing, but he wasn't particularly virtuous or righteous either.
Not a hypocrite, but hard to form any emotional bond with.
"As Governor, you serve in your role; as a general obeying your commands, I strive for the realm. That is the proper way."
"...I see."
Ding Yuan openly showed his displeasure, but I felt no regret.
This awkwardness might persist for years—
'Calling me son like some father figure.'
It would be too apologetic to my real fathers to serve him as one.
He was someone to respect as a superior in the office, but as a person? Not so much.
"I summoned you because I wish to discuss something with you."
Ding Yuan calmed the flush of blood in his face and spoke officially.
"The Yellow Turban Rebels."
"..."
"What should we do?"
Ding Yuan sought my opinion.
His advisors flanking him eyed me, testing what I'd say.
Beside them, the military officers averted their eyes, uncomfortable with the Governor and his staff's scrutiny.
Three factions existed in the Bing Province government office.
The established bureaucrats centered on Ding Yuan.
The rising military officers centered on me.
And those hanging back, watching to see who would seize military authority in Bing Province.
'Instead of that, they should be out there smashing a few more Xiongnu.'
I had no ambitions on my side, yet they formed factions and caused divisions.
Honestly, I knew I was the cause.
I knew Ding Yuan saw my ambiguous stance as making me a political rival.
Either become his adopted son and stand firmly on his side.
Or show the ambition of a young upstart eyeing the governorship.
Black or white.
Hyenas trying to ride the coattails of whichever side proved stronger in that dilemma.
Even so—
"General Lü. No opinion?"
"An opinion."
"Anything will do. I will hear whatever you have to say."
The Governor probing me through those fickle ears irked me more than them.
"If we proceed based on my opinion, whose responsibility will it be?"
"..."
"Will it be carried out as I say?"
"Look here, General Lü!"
"If I am to bear responsibility, I will certainly advise accordingly."
I clasped my fists and bowed my head.
"Subjugating the Yellow Turbans. If it's an imperial command, then simply exterminate them—no need to overthink."
"Indeed. That's why..."
"There may be Yellow Turbans in Bing Province lands too, so I request to lead a thousand soldiers on patrol throughout the province."
"..."
Ding Yuan fell silent.
What had he wanted from me?
"Unless the court requested aid from Bing Province specifically, the province has leeway in its actions. If you order me to march, Governor, I will ride to the plains."
"..."
"You are the Bing Province Governor. Give the order."
Ding Yuan stared at me for a long while.
"Bandits have appeared again in Mayi County of the Anwen Commandery."
He quietly spoke, gesturing outside.
"I'll give you a thousand soldiers. Go confirm whether they're Yellow Turbans or not."
"Yes, Governor."
Everyone grew uncomfortable, but I harbored no regrets.
A short while later.
I selected a thousand soldiers from the barracks and ascended the mountain path on horseback with my three deputies.
"General Lü."
"Yes, Deputy Hou."
"Is picking a fight with Governor Ding because he keeps pushing you to marry his niece?"
"Nothing like that."
As we rode alongside the infantry climbing the mountain, Deputy Hou Cheng asked me.
"Then why refuse marriage to Governor Ding's niece? You're no slouch in that department—best among us, even."
"You bastard."
"Don't stop—hey! Don't raise your fist."
Hou Cheng backed away slightly, putting distance between us.
"Seriously just because you don't like Governor Ding's niece?"
"What if it's not? Is it the family? They thought well of you until you refused."
"Not the family."
"She's no commoner either. You rose on your own merits, and they know it. Surely not because you think she's ugly?"
"She's not ugly."
By this era's standards.
"You wouldn't understand."
"Deputy Wei, do you know?"
"Isn't it the smell?"
Another deputy, Wei Xu, spouted nonsense.
"You wash your hair in calamus water every day except on the battlefield. You even scrub your body with lye daily."
"Are you mocking me?"
"Perish the thought. I'm just inferring from how you turned your head away after glimpsing her scalp when she tried to embrace you."
"..."
"If our hair was greasy too, you'd keep even more distance, right? Heh."
"Deputy Wei. Sometimes, not speaking the truth is the considerate choice. Like how I keep your thinning hair a secret."
"Wha—?!"
Wei Xu jumped in shock.
"That's what they call putting yourself in my shoes, General."
"I know, Deputy Hou."
"You know the meaning and can say it, but can't write it?"
"Think I can't? A couple of 'ga' characters..."
Wait.
"The middle one wasn't a 'ga' character."
"..."
"No, I leave writing to you anyway. Don't try to teach me—handle it yourself."
"Yes, of course. Governor Ding's niece even defended your illiteracy as 'human charm'."
"No, why are we back to..."
"It's not just her. The other girls too."
"Exactly, General."
Deputy Song grumbled.
"The eldest among us is nearly thirty and still unmarried, living alone. Tsk."
"Handsome, fit, skilled, stands tall... Wait, no need to be embarrassed—why pick on me?"
"Because you keep dodging the rod."
I untied the bow from my back and gripped it.
"You three, lead First, Second, and Third Companies respectively and follow."
"Surely not, General. Alone ag—"
"Going ahead."
I kicked my horse's flank.
"No, General!!"
"Doing it again."
"First Company, follow me! Second and Third, move on your deputies' orders!"
Leaving my three deputies who swiftly took command of the soldiers behind, I charged forward.
Whoosh.
A faint scent of blood in the wind whipping past my face.
The bloody tang I'd smelled countless times over the past decade grew thicker the faster I rode.
'Distance, direction... Close call.'
By the time I arrived, the horse would be exhausted from the gallop.
Ahead.
"Aaaah!!"
Toward the screams, I nocked an arrow.
A middle-aged woman fleeing with two children.
Behind her, a bearded man pursuing with a sharp sword.
No matter how fast the horse, the sword would reach her first.
'Bow to the center.'
Click.
The moment I drew the string and released like flicking the bow's wing—
Bang!
The arrow struck precisely between the eyes of the bearded bandit mid-swing.
"Wha—hu...?"
"Flee in the direction I came from. The Bing Province Army will follow."
"...! Hair flowing to the sides... Silky as fine silk... Could it be...!"
Bang!
"General Lü!!"
"If you understand, go without worry."
"Ge—General!!"
The woman cried out urgently.
"My son is buying time fighting the bandits! Please, save that child...!!"
"I'll do my best."
I couldn't promise to protect him lightly.
I'd made such promises too many times and failed.
'Too many bandits.'
No matter how dysfunctional the central court, there were simply too many bandits.
"Run faster. Lives hang on you."
I patted the horse's heaving neck and urged it on.
It raced through the forest path as fast as it could, and soon after emerging, a village appeared on the hillside.
It was burning.
Pillaging, clashing weapons.
Clop, clop.
As I drew nearer on horseback, the weapon clashes grew sparse.
And gradually, voices emerged.
"Hahaha! You monster bastard! Taking down fifty men!"
A tiger-striped bandit wielding a butcher's cleaver in both hands was visible.
A young man barely standing, holding a broken spear, stood where he pointed his blade.
Around the youth lay nearly thirty bandits pierced or slashed by spear.
Corpses.
He'd likely cut down others elsewhere too.
"But this is the end!! You damn—"
Bang!
"C-Chief!!"
"Who—guh!!"
The bandits gaped in horror upon seeing their leader's forehead pierced and spotting me.
"It's the Grasshopper—!!"
Grasshopper.
The mocking nickname bandits gave me because my forward-grown hair flowing sideways resembled antennae.
Unpleasant, but useful at times like this.
If the enemy knew me, they'd turn tail at the sight.
Neigh, snort, whinny.
"...Good work."
I dismounted.
The horse's legs trembled from the mountain run; I shot at the fleeing bandits' backs as I approached the youth.
"Saved a middle-aged woman with a mole on her lower face and two children. Your family?"
"!!"
The blood-soaked youth startled upon seeing me.
"Impressive. A little polish, and you'd make a fierce general."
"..."
"Rest. The Bing Province Army has arrived."
"Lü..."
With that word, the youth collapsed.
Like tension released, he dropped to one knee but never let go of his spear.
"..."
Whoosh.
The wind from the burning village carried the acrid stench of roasting flesh.
Nearly ten years.
The time from receiving the name Lü Bu, answering Ding Yuan's call, rising to "Adjutant," and becoming a Bing Province bandit suppression general.
In that span, the Xiongnu and bandits I'd personally slain could dye a mountain red and flow as a river into the Yellow River.
I'd killed far too many.
Yet they were all bandits and murderers who deserved death.
Even when I tried reforming one by giving him a pickaxe, he smashed the supervising soldier's back and fled.
"Song Xian. Hou Cheng. Wei Xu."
"Yes, General."
After ordering the soldiers to recover the village corpses, I gathered my deputies.
"My master once said chaos would come."
"..."
"I thought we'd been in chaos these past ten years, but perhaps it's only beginning now."
Chaos.
A world where more would die than all I'd killed so far.
"You asked why I treat Governor Ding as a superior but not with personal respect."
"..."
"He wants to use my martial prowess to gain fame and position from the court."
"..."
"He has no interest in the people dying here. He talks of bandit suppression only on the surface—his mind is filled with carving out a place in the capital amid the chaos."
At least, that's how I saw Ding Yuan.
"The next Bing Province Governor must at least... No, before that."
Whoosh.
"There are too many bandits in the world."
The sunset sky was shrouded in thick, inky clouds.
"I will eradicate the bandits. What I do best is fight, slash, and smash. I'll kill every bandit that appears before me."
I turned to my deputies.
"If you follow me, that path will be paved in blood and slaughter. Will you still come?"
"General."
All three clasped fists and bowed in unison.
"We've walked that path with you since ten years ago."
"If you continue down it, we'll gladly follow."
"Indeed. At least in your shadow..."
"My shadow?"
"When my son grows up and asks, 'What did you do, Father?' I can answer without shame."
"...True enough."
This path would not be wrong.
"Even if I die and face my parents later, I hope I can say I lived without shame before you."
I will not let it be wrong.