Beast Slaying (3): Rise to Fame!
Everyone who holds office dreams of it—entering the ranks and shining bright! Eating the rice of the state while elevating one's own fame, and having people in distant provinces know your name and style name alike. How thrilling that must be.
"Teacher Zhen, everyone in the world must know of me, Lü Bu," Lü Bu muttered to himself, pacing circles inside the government office.
"The world's greatest. The loyal hero who slew Dong Zhuo. The savior of Xuzhou. Grand Commander of a whole state. That's me, Lü Bu!"
"Yes. I've heard that line over a hundred times already."
"Then why!!" Lü Bu started huffing and puffing in anger. "Why won't they recognize my governorship of Xuzhou and make it official?"
"......."
In the past, while marching to attack Yuan Shu, Cao Cao had promised Lü Bu the post of Governor of Xuzhou on the condition that he wouldn't side with Yuan Shu. But even after crushing Yuan Shu, Cao Cao never sent the imperial edict to Xuzhou.
To flaunt his might to the people of Xuzhou and the haughty noble families of the cities through the emperor's decree, Lü Bu absolutely needed that official seal of appointment. Simply being a great fighter wouldn't earn the Xuzhou people's recognition.
All the people of Xuzhou knew exactly how Lü Bu had seized the province. Even if the noble families despised Liu Bei, the common folk still longed for him and awaited his return.
To drill it into their heads that Lü Bu was now the true master of Xuzhou, the emperor himself needed to proclaim far and wide that it was no longer Liu Bei, but Lü Bu.
"Teacher Zhen, should I just spread the word myself? Say the emperor promised to recognize me as lord of Xuzhou."
"That would only lead to needless blunders. We've sent the envoy—wait and see."
"Grand Commander!!"
They say even a tiger comes when mentioned. Right on cue, the envoy dispatched to Heodo returned.
"Oh, Zhen Gui! Zhen Dun! How did it go?!"
"Congratulations. The emperor has promoted our offices and increased our stipends."
"And my son, Zhen Dun, has been appointed Governor of Guangling. Haha."
"Oh...! Wonderful news! I wish I could share in the joy."
At Lü Bu's words, the father and son's faces gradually hardened.
"Where's my seal of appointment as Governor of Xuzhou?"
"......."
"Tell me. Huh? You went as envoys to secure my post, and came back with promotions only for yourselves?"
Lü Bu's face began to crumple.
"You bastards! The emperor didn't bestow favors—he's colluding with Cao Cao?!"
"Aigoo, what are you saying?! We did our utmost!"
"P-Please calm down! We'll explain!!"
The Zhen father and son jumped back, shaking their heads frantically. They were so terrified that the furious Lü Bu almost felt embarrassed.
"I met with Cao Cao," Zhen Gui said. "So I asked her. 'The general is like a tiger—unless his belly is full, he has no choice but to swing his claws to fill it.'"
"Of course! That's obvious."
"Huh...."
Beside them, Chen Gong dropped her brush in shock.
"Did you just understand that?"
"Naturally! What Zhen Dun said is that since I want the Governor of Xuzhou post, to quench my thirst, I absolutely need that appointment, right?"
"...Yes. Very well put."
Chen Gong stuck out her tongue, while Zhen Gui and Zhen Dun gravely nodded. It wasn't a complete fabrication, after all. They had indeed met Cao Cao and demanded Lü Bu's Xuzhou post.
"And then Cao Cao replied thus."
"General Lü is no tiger, but a hawk. The beasts of the fields may scamper nimbly on the ground, yet they cannot survey the world as broadly as a hawk. A hawk hunts all the harder when hungry, but when sated, it does not take to the wing."
"What does that mean?" Lü Bu tilted his head and turned to Chen Gong.
Chen Gong scowled and clicked her tongue.
"It means if you want the Xuzhou post, hunt harder like a hawk. Changing tiger to hawk is Cao Cao dismissing your achievements."
"Is that so? I prefer hawk to tiger anyway. There's already Sun Jian as the tiger. Better to have a unique moniker!"
"General, this is no time to be pleased...."
Chen Gong covered her face in headache.
"It's a threat over the Xuzhou post."
"A threat? Nonsense. Does Teacher Chen Gong think I should be Governor of Xuzhou?"
"What? You—"
"What's a mere Governor? At least a General of the Gentlemen of the Household Troops!!"
A General of the Gentlemen outranked a provincial governor. If Governor of Xuzhou oversaw cities like Xiapi, Xiaopei, and Guangling, a General of the Gentlemen was closer to a central court position under the emperor.
"The court is currently debating what general title to bestow upon General Lü."
"Isn't it a shame to grant only the Xuzhou governorship? We can't give a mere provincial post to the hero who slew Dong Zhuo. Think ahead to when you enter Heodo. Would you rather enter as Governor of Xuzhou, or as Grand Commander?"
"Grand Commander...."
Lü Bu licked his lips and grinned.
"Right? Even you think a mere Xuzhou post is too little for me?"
"Of course. The emperor also asked us to convey his renewed gratitude for your loyalty."
"Heh, I know him well. Indeed."
Lü Bu stroked his chin beard wistfully.
"What a pity. If only I had a son...."
"Pardon?"
"...I could serve the emperor for generations. Such a shame."
Lü Bu gulped down water with a bitter face. The other three tilted their heads at his words, but once he'd drained the cup, Lü Bu nodded and beamed.
"Anyway, continue from before. What did Cao Cao compare me to?"
"She likened you to a hawk."
"Hahaha! Cao Cao has a keen eye for people, for a woman. Yes! While all the beasts of the earth scamper about, this body of mine is a sky-soaring hunter! Time to prepare for the march."
"March? Where to?"
"You'll find out soon enough. Zhen Gui! Zhen Dun! Devote yourselves fully to the offices the emperor granted."
Lü Bu shrugged and strode toward the Fangtian Halberd hanging on the wall.
"I shall become a hungry hawk and set out to hunt."
"...At least tie your hair like a hawk's crest while you're at it. Sigh."
"Oh, excellent idea."
Lü Bu grabbed two strands from his bound hair and pulled them forward.
"Tie these and let them flutter like a hawk—very dashing."
"......."
Chen Gong could only glare at the Zhen father and son.
* * *
"Will the Zhen father and son truly betray Lü Bu?"
In the Cao Cao army, Cao Cao and her advisors gathered to plan the Xuzhou front.
"If they respond from inside Xuzhou—no, from within Xiapi itself—nothing could be better."
While Heodo plotted not to elevate Lü Bu as Governor of Xuzhou, but to lop off his head and mount it on the city walls, they aimed to stir unrest and agitation from within Xuzhou.
"Will it work?"
"It will. Even the Xuzhou nobles who once suppressed Liu Bei must have regretted welcoming Lü Bu."
"True. Someone I know said, 'Only after the flowers fall do we know it was spring.' That's why the Zhens nodded so quickly, right?"
"Yes. They said Liu Bei was better than Lü Bu, even."
"Not entirely to my liking."
Cao Cao pursed her lips and shook her head.
"In the end, Xuzhou goes back to Liu Bei?"
"For now, admiration for Liu Bei pierces the heavens. The people miss him terribly since he was all but driven out."
"Zhen Gui and Zhen Dun are men of great prestige in Xuzhou. That they didn't immediately refuse our proposal to betray Lü Bu is a very positive sign."
"This is the perfect chance to eliminate Lü Bu, my lord."
Lü Bu subjugation. They'd trampled Yuan Shu once, allied with Zhang Su. Liu Biao was somewhat unstable, but Zhang Su could mediate, and Yuan Shao in the north was fully engaged in war with Gongsun Zan.
"With Yuan Shao's eyes fixed on Beiping, we must seize the entire Central Plains."
"Yes. We'll clash with Yuan Shao someday."
Cao Cao clenched her fist and rose.
"Down with Lü Bu! Finally, we can send that beast to greet his forefathers. But everyone, there's one problem."
Cao Cao tapped a spot on the map with her raised fist.
"Xiaopei!"
"...Liu Bei is there."
Liu Hyun-deok. He had aided Cao Cao against Yuan Shu. Deeply impressed, the emperor wished to favor Liu Bei, but he remained in Xiaopei, gazing eastward.
"It's clear now. Liu Bei wants Xuzhou."
"Whether because he received it from Tao Qian, or from relief at finally settling down...."
"Maybe both. A man who wandered for over a decade without ever properly rooting down—where else but Xuzhou could he maintain face while hearing 'Governor! Governor!' from the masses?"
"Yes. For Liu Bei, Xuzhou is a land of opportunity. So let me ask you all."
Cao Cao's face hardened as she posed the question.
"If we face both Liu Bei and Lü Bu at once, do we have a chance of victory?"
"First, we'd lose thirty thousand Qingzhou troops."
"Why?"
"Because there'd be three Lü Bus."
"Hm...."
The crimson Lü Bu. The bandit Lü Bu. Just plain Lü Bu. Three Lü Bus. Assuming one man equaled ten thousand, the sight of Lü Bu charging with Guan Yu and Zhang Fei at his side was a nightmare no enemy wanted.
"Liu Bei doesn't scare me. But those two brothers under him... a bit frightening."
"We must be prepared to lose ten thousand to capture them."
"Sigh. Allies seemed so reliable; as foes, how terrifying they look."
Cao Cao scratched her head.
"If only we had men like Guan Yu and Zhang Fei...."
"My lord! The Lü Bu army is on the move."
"Ahem, Cao Ren. What is it?"
At Cao Ren's entrance, the advisors shot to their feet. Cao Cao inhaled deeply, knowing this was coming.
"Yes. What's Lü Bu doing now? Straight to Xiaopei? Or toward Chenliu?"
"He's headed for the old Shouchun lands."
"What? Joining Yuan Shu...?"
"Ah, well."
Cao Ren continued with a sour face.
"He's plundering the Shouchun lands, and Yuan Shu has sent troops in response."
"What?"
Cao Cao let out a hollow laugh in disbelief.
"Lü Bu is plundering Yuan Shu's territory right now?"