The Romance of the Three Kingdoms: Lu Bu is good at being filial

Chapter 23

＜ The Master of the Imperial Palace (3) ＞

After the meeting ended, led by Sado Wang Yun, they moved towards the imperial palace.

“Shunyu. What do you think?”

“…Not much.”

Huangmen Shilang, Shunyu, did not say much.

In the first place, even if he spoke, it wouldn’t create any public opinion.

The position of Huangmen Shilang is a high yet ambiguous official position.

And he too, is in a rather ambiguous position within the current faction of the court.

“You should also express your opinion. Aren’t you smart?”

“…Not really.”

“Is it difficult to answer? Or is it because you are the emperor’s man?”

“That’s not it.”

In a position that is neither here nor there, he handles the tasks given to him, but at least he can be certain that he is not someone who would lay down his life for the current emperor.

“So, what then?”

“Just because speaking is meaningless.”

From the beginning, he had no intention of doing anything in this position, as it was a place recommended by others to use him.

“The conclusion was already reached. It was decided the moment Dong Zhuo declared it.”

Even though he entered the court with dreams of high aspirations and for the greater good, all he sees in the court is just a scramble for power.

Even now, it’s no different.

“Even if I speak, will the result change? Two of the Three Excellencies are leading public opinion.”

Dong Zhuo and Wang Yun.

These men, who can be said to be the actual heads of the court, have united their wills.

“Aren’t you quick-witted in these matters? Have they already conspired?”

“…Do you think of me as some kind of political schemer?”

“You often talked about it whenever you drank.”

Should I cut down on drinking?

Sun Yu clicked his tongue as he walked with everyone.

“…It’s nothing special. Empress Dowager He is a public enemy. If we continue to leave Empress Dowager He alone, the peace we barely achieved by dealing with the eunuchs will be ruined again.”

“Indeed. Empress Dowager He, she practically became the empress dowager thanks to the Ten Attendants.”

“The emperor will be deposed.”

Sun Yu was certain.

The current emperor has already lost all his ties.

The only tie he could call his own is Empress Dowager He, but Empress Dowager He is already a worn-out, rotten rope.

“Even if the emperor abandons his mother and agrees to depose Empress Dowager He, he will be driven out of the throne within a few years.”

“Treason?”

“No. Deposition.”

Sun Yu mimicked drawing a sword from his bosom.

“From the perspective of the ministers, to eliminate future troubles.”

“Future troubles?”

“What will happen when the current emperor grows up? He will hold a grudge against those who deposed his mother.”

“He will seek revenge on those who deposed his mother.”

“Something like that.”

Sunyu scanned the room with a sweeping glance.

While Dong Zhuo walked with large strides behind Wang Yun, not all the ministers walked alongside them with equal confidence.

Some walked as if they were being dragged from behind.

“And there will be those who approach, using that resentment.”

“…….”

Sunyu shook his head.

“Whether it’s Dong Zhuo or Wang Yun, they only want to seize power under the pretext of serving the greater good. Dong Zhuo seeks military control, while Wang Yun seeks the opinion of the court ministers.”

Whether it is personal ambition or patriotic loyalty, the result will be the same.

“Sunyu, so what I’m saying is….”

Sunyu anticipated what the speaker would say.

Surely, they would seek advice.

“…Whose side would you take?”

“…….”

And his prediction was spot on.

“Well, is there really a side to take? In the end, everyone is a servant of the Emperor.”

“No, but surely you can distinguish who will stand at the center of power? Will it be the great tree that has taken root in the central court for a long time, or the one blown in from the desert….”

“There’s no need for metaphors. In the end, the one who wins over that person will control the court.”

“That person?”

“Don’t pretend you don’t know. Of course….”

Sunyu turned his head to the side.

“You mean Ye Bongseon….”

“Did you call for me?”

“…….”

Sunyu looked up to see a man staring at him intently from behind.

“Secretary of the Yellow Gate. Let’s talk for a moment while we walk.”

He was smiling brightly, with eyes full of amusement.

* * *

Bingzhou needs civil officials.

We already have enough military officers, and not to boast, but thanks to me, the number of martial artists has also increased considerably.

What we sorely lack are administrators.

“We need an administrator. Someone who can sit at a desk and handle paperwork all day long.”

Of course, it’s not that there are no administrators in Byeongju at all.

Among the noble families coming from outside, those who are quite good at writing are working for Byeongju, and we have no choice but to use them.

“The problem is that they keep committing crimes by my standards.”

Most of them were busy lining their own pockets with Byeongju’s administration.

To put it bluntly, they were all tax thieves.

Some even created strange official positions under themselves as soon as they entered as officials, trying to sell them.

With embezzlement, selling positions, and all sorts of crimes by force, I got busy catching them and finding evidence.

Above all, they didn’t even recognize that what they were doing was a crime.

So, we needed someone.

Someone who wouldn’t commit such crimes.

Ideally speaking, we needed an honest and upright administrator who would work for the people.

Bluntly speaking, a slave who would work for Byeongju-

“Calling them a slave is a bit much, so let’s go with the ideal.”

Right.

A public servant who works hard for the people.

An honest and upright administrator who doesn’t cause trouble and seems to pour their life into the development of Byeongju.

And yet, not someone aiming to rise to high positions in the central government for fame, but someone who sincerely works with all their heart for the local area.

Even if not for their entire life, someone who would work for Byeongju almost until their death.

“Found one.”

Here, there’s one.

“I’ve wanted to talk to someone like Hwang Mun-sirang for a long time.”

“…Yourself?”

“Yes.”

I look him up and down.

First of all, his appearance passes.

He has a face that looks like he would do his job well.

His shoulders are slightly hunched, and there are dark shadows under his eyes.

His skin is quite pale, typical of someone who often stays indoors and doesn’t see much sunlight.

“I’ve seen many people while staying in the central government for a long time, but I think Hwang Mun-sirang is the right person.”

This person.

A person who doesn’t really want to get involved with others and blatantly shows the attitude of ‘I don’t want to be here.’

“Hwang Mun-sirang. Have you ever thought about wanting to rest?”

Must be caught unconditionally.

“Rest?”

“Yes. Ah, of course, I’m not saying to resign from your official position and become a talent in the private sector. Just, don’t you want to stay away from this noisy court, something like that.”

“…….”

Sunyu stares at me intently.

Suspicion was deeply embedded in those eyes.

“Byeongju is a really good place to gain peace of mind, but there’s no way to explain it.”

“…Byeongju?”

Sunyu snorts and laughs.

“Byeongju?”

As expected.

“Have you ever been to Byeongju?”

“No, but I’ve heard about it.”

“How was it?”

“I heard that thanks to a certain general, Byeongju has become a rather good place to live.”

That’s me.

This is a story worth taking pride in.

“Then how about coming to Byeongju?”

“……’coming’?”

Sunyu stands tall and looks at me.

“Come to Byeongju?”

“That’s right.”

“……?”

“Only Hwang Mun-sirang knows.”

I lowered my voice so others couldn’t hear.

“Do you remember what I said a little while ago? That I would resign from my position and return to Byeongju.”

“Of course-“

“Seriously.”

“……!!”

Sunwoo’s eyes shook greatly.

“Although I am currently tied to the court and cannot leave for Byeongju, in my heart, I want to lead the Byeongju army and return to Byeongju.”

“Why?”

“Well….”

He lowered his voice even more so that others could not hear.

“It’s too dirty here.”

“……!!”

“Every time I breathe, I feel like I’m going crazy.”

This is sincere.

“This is my first time in the capital. I have lived in Byeongju all my life. I had some fantasies about the capital. But… the capital is full of filth.”

Byeongju is clean.

I made it clean.

“Every time I breathe, the stench is so bad that it feels like my body is rotting. Is this a place where people live? It’s no different from a pigsty.”

If there were people who relieved themselves on the street, I would catch them and throw them into the bathroom, and I made sure no one dared to do anything strange on the street.

“Do you know why I keep staying at Maengjin Port?”

“…Why?”

“Rather than staying in a place full of stench, I prefer to stay in a slightly cleaner place in front of the Yellow River.”

When the Byeongju army set up a camp in Maengjin, they built the facilities quite quickly.

They knew because they had lived in Byeongju.

If we were going to stay here longer anyway, it was better to build the facilities quickly and live more comfortably.

Why did we have to build the buildings ourselves?

Why didn’t we want to enter the capital?

“My soldiers are the same. As soon as they saw the capital, they saw the filth everywhere.”

The barracks provided for the Byeongju army in the capital were a complete mess.

“This is not just my thought. It’s the thought of the entire Byeongju army.”

Some of the soldiers who had previously entered Luoyang with the garden said, ‘I can’t stay here,’ and joined Maengjin.

To put it extremely, the newly built camp in Maengjin is much cleaner and more breathable than any place in Luoyang.

“……Filth.”

Sunyu now looks at me with a somewhat blank stare.

“What do you think about that filth?”

“What do I think? We should clean it all up.”

“……!!”

“I learned that it’s not moral to avoid trash on the street because it’s dirty, but to pick it up and dispose of it.”

I learned this from the Guide to Proper Living and Life.

“Sir Sunyu.”

I lightly took a bow.

“Although Byungju is known to be barren, I can assure you. It will be more comfortable to breathe there than anywhere else.”

I want to persuade you more, but unfortunately, our steps end here.

“If it really bothers you, think of it as a retreat and come to Byungju once. By the way… no, the position of Byungju magistrate is still vacant.”

“You.”

Sunyu asks in a firm voice.

“Are you not trying to become the magistrate of Byungju?”

“Heh.”

Not at all.

“The place where I am most needed is in front of the people threatened by bandits. Blocking the bandits’ swords and defeating them in front of the people.”

Why would I want to be the magistrate of Byungju?

“There are many people who can do a better job as the magistrate of Byungju than I can, so why should I?”

“…….”

Sunyu closed his eyes for a long time and took a deep breath.

“I didn’t feel it until now, but after talking, I feel it more clearly.”

Sunyu blinked several times.

“This capital city is such a suffocating place to breathe.”

In Sunyu’s eyes, looking at the front of the imperial palace where we arrived, there was a clear determination.

“Thank you. Something that was suffocating… feels like it’s been blown away.”

“You’re welcome. Then… let’s move forward. And vent all the frustration that’s filled inside.”

Step, step.

“From now on, we must cry out to His Majesty with all our might.”

“Your Majestyㅡㅡㅡㅡㅡㅡ!!”

There.

“Minister Wang Yun, I have come to this place risking disloyalty to offer my counsel to Your Majestyㅡㅡㅡ!!”

As Wang Yun knelt down, shouting at the top of his lungs in the middle of the palace as if roaring like a lion, Dong Zhuo awkwardly knelt behind him, clasping his hands together.

“Depose Empress Heㅡㅡㅡ!!”

“Depose Empress He-“

“Madness!!”

Just as I and the other court officials, including Xun Yu, were about to kneel, the subject of the issue burst forth.

“How dare you speak so recklessly in this place!!”

Empress He, the one marked for deposition, stormed out, veins bulging in her neck.

“How dare you, so-called ministers, come in droves to intimidate the Emperor!”

“Shut your mouth, He!”

“What, what?!”

Wang Yun abruptly stood up.

Everyone was about to follow suit and kneel after seeing him bow first-

“The so-called Empress acts as if she were the Emperor herself! We are not the Empress’s subjects!”

Wang Yun quickly stood up and pointed at the Empress, and though awkwardly, he rose to his feet.

“Your Majesty!! Please listen to our counsel and remove the last remaining shadow over this country!!”

“Y-Your Majesty!”

The Emperor appeared.

Wang Yun knelt again, and we also knelt towards the Emperor, ‘for now.’

“Huff, huff.”

Up front, I could see Dong Zhuo and the other hefty ministers struggling.

It was just a brief bow and rise, but the official robes were quite cumbersome.

Even so, struggling with just a few bows and rises was indeed a problem.

“What, what is this! Minister! Depose, depose the Empress!”

The Emperor clung to Empress He’s side.

Though he couldn’t quite be called an adult yet, he looked to be around the age of a middle to high school student, and seeing the so-called Emperor hiding behind his mother’s back was quite something.

I understood.

With General He Jin dead, Empress He was his only support.

However.

‘If parents are doing something wrong, is it filial piety to ignore it and pretend not to notice?’

It can be different depending on the situation.

But now, the story is different.

‘Knowing that Empress Dowager Ha is committing all kinds of evil deeds, is it right to cover it up just because she is my mother?’

The emperor already knows about the numerous things Empress Dowager Ha has done.

This is not the first time there has been a remonstrance about Empress Dowager Ha’s conduct.

Since the rebellion of the Ten Attendants, the court has been trying to warn and guide the emperor about Empress Dowager Ha’s conduct for several months.

‘She has done a lot.’

Killing palace maids recklessly.

Not properly paying the salaries of court officials and diverting those salaries to the Empress Dowager’s residence to buy luxury goods.

Handling matters that the emperor should deal with under the pretext of regency, without consulting Empress Dowager Dong.

Trying to bring some of the dead eunuchs under her control.

And above all-

“Does Your Majesty know!”

Dong Zhuo stood up and shouted.

“That Empress Dowager Ha invites the generals of the imperial army every night and has secret meetings with them!!”

“!!”

Everyone looked at Dong Zhuo in surprise.

“Dong Zhongying!!”

“What is there to hide!! Everyone knows that Empress Dowager Ha has been sending people to flirt with my generals!!”

Some looked at him with eyes that said, ‘No, you shouldn’t say that,’ while others closed their eyes tightly and bowed their heads.

“Do you know how many people have seen the subordinates of the late He Jin visit the Empress Dowager’s residence at night and leave at dawn!”

Sun Yu, who was kneeling next to me, looked extremely shocked and seemed to barely hold back his nausea.

“That, that can’t be! Dong Zhuo, watch your words!”

The emperor pointed at Dong Zhuo and shouted.

“My mother is now, now…!!”

His fingers trembled like aspen leaves, which was a bit pitiful.

“Mother…! There’s no way! Mother would never….”

The moment he turned his head to look at Empress Dowager Ha, the emperor’s face turned pale as he saw her expression.

“Oh my, you…?”

“…Ha, haha.”

Empress Dowager Ha laughs sardonically.

Tears are flowing from her eyes, but those tears seemed quite unnatural, as if they were fabricated.

“Your Majesty, the Emperor. There is no need to listen to what they are saying. Those words are….”

“All true.”

“!!”

Behind the ministers.

“Empress Dowager Dong…!”

Empress Dowager Dong appeared, leading the palace maids.

She wasn’t in a hurry; rather, she was fully prepared, exuding an air of dignity.

“Ha, Your Highness…!!”

“Your Majesty.”

The Emperor is confused.

Empress Dowager Dong, looking at the bewildered Emperor, trembled her wrinkled eyes, but soon closed them tightly and opened her mouth.

“As the father of all people, Your Majesty must set an example. Sometimes gently, sometimes sternly-“

“The old woman has finally gone senile!”

“……!!”

Everyone was shocked by the insulting words that could never be imagined to come out of the royal palace.

“…Ha.”

Empress Dowager Dong, as if she expected this, lightly composed herself and turned her gaze.

“General Yeo.”

“…Yes.”

I almost raised my voice in response, but I answered as calmly as possible and stood up.

“Has that woman ever sent someone to you?”

“!!!”

All eyes turn to me.

With eyes full of suspicion, astonishment, and fear.

“A few days ago, someone from the Empress Dowager came to see me.”

In front of everyone.

“He said, ‘I came from the Empress Dowager’s palace,’ and left after delivering the letter. And in that letter….”

Speaking truthfully.

“It was written that I should come to the Empress Dowager’s palace.”

He took out the letter he had prepared in advance and handed it forward.

“Tonight.”

“…….”

Silence fell.

“Did the Empress Dowager send this?”

Before the teacher left, he said this to me.

– Keep this letter well. It will be the most certain evidence at a crucial moment.

From the moment I was told to come dressed in official robes, I had this letter in my bosom.

“……Give that to me.”

I quietly handed the letter to the Empress Dowager, and she unfolded it and held it high with her own hands.

“Someone like Daji is trying to reach out to the loyal subjects of this country!!”

“No, no!! That is…!!”

The Empress Dowager Ha was flustered.

“That, that…!! Not anyone else, but even trying to bring General Ye into my bedroom!!”

Officials, including Sunyu, began to denounce the Empress Dowager Ha in unison.

“Mother.”

The Emperor came down the stairs, holding the Empress Dowager Ha who was trying to descend.

“……I will protect you, Mother.”

“Y-Your Majesty…!”

“Listen, guards!! Arrest all those who insult my mother and imprison them!! My ears are rotting from the insults to the royal family!!”

The Emperor’s cry echoed through the palace.

“What are you doing! It’s an imperial order! Hurry!!”

But no soldiers moved.

“This, this….”

The Emperor clenched his fists, unable to say anything.

“I am, I am the Emperor..!”

Thud.

“Oh, Mother!!”

Empress Dowager Ha fainted and collapsed.

But I saw it.

Empress Dowager Ha closing her eyes as she fell precisely towards the Emperor.

“Tsk.”

In the last moment, she glared at me with venomous eyes.

“The pus is rotting and stinking, I can’t even breathe.”

“……Ugh!”

“Mother!!”

“…….”

I witnessed the miracle of a fainted woman vomiting blood.

* * *

August, 189.

According to Empress Dowager Dong’s decree, the Emperor was dethroned, demoted to King of Hongnong, and exiled to Hongnong with his mother, Lady Ha.

His half-brother, Prince Liu Xie of Jinyu, ascended the throne.

The master of the imperial palace has changed.

＜ The Master of the Imperial Palace (3) ＞ End