Chapter 116: Lu Fengxian, Servant of Three Masters (Part I)

“Fengxian.”

“Foster father.”

“I hereby entrust you with the position of registrar.”

“But, my ambition lies in leading the troops—”

“Lead what troops! I know your martial skills are exceptional, but warfare is never decided by one man’s valor alone. Charging blindly is the folly of a mere brute! I intend to cultivate you in both civil and military arts, the proper way. Will you not accept this position?”

“Yes, thank you, foster father!”

...

“Fengxian, have you practiced your calligraphy today?”

“Reporting to you, foster father, I have.”

Ding Yuan casually picked up a bamboo scroll. “Crooked and twisted, no proper form! Keep writing!”

“Foster father, today I wish to go out and practice with the halberd.”

“Not allowed. You are the registrar. If you cannot even wield a brush properly, how can you handle a halberd?”

...

“Have you reviewed today’s documents?”

“Reporting to you, foster father, I have.”

“Hand them over.”

Ding Yuan took the scroll, glanced at three lines, then threw it onto the ground. “Rotten wood cannot be carved!”

“But, foster father, I only wish to ride the battlefield, to clear the enemies for you. I no longer want to do these useless tasks!”

“Useless tasks? Foolish! Do you know the painstaking care I have taken? Do you understand how much I value you?”

After his stern reprimand, Ding Yuan continued, “As your registrar, your salary is six hundred koku, equivalent in rank to a regional inspector. Have I treated you unfairly?”

“I know well, foster father, how deeply grateful I am for your kindness. Yet no matter the salary or rank, what I do now goes against my own wishes.”

“Good, Fengxian, you show promise. If you wish to lead troops,” Ding Yuan said, unsheathing his sword and tossing it before Lü Bu, “Kill me and you may command my troops in Bingzhou, to campaign across the lands.”

“Foster father, why say such things!”

...

The campfire crackled, its light swallowed by the surrounding darkness, no moon in sight.

Inside a secluded tent, Lü Bu slipped out quietly under the cover of night, halberd in hand, seeking an open space to practice his martial skills—a habit he had cultivated since taking the registrar post.

Since becoming registrar, he felt Ding Yuan deliberately diminishing his military influence, even forbidding the usual sparring matches with generals like Zhang Liao and Gao Shun, under the pretense of focusing on literary studies.

So much so that the newly recruited soldiers in the Bingzhou army hardly knew that their registrar Lü Bu was indeed a warrior.

Frustrated, Lü Bu had barely reached the main tent when voices drifted to him.

“If this continues, soon everyone in the army will know Lü Bu but not Ding Yuan,” said one voice—Ding Yuan himself.

“But Lü Bu is impulsive and young. The lord presses him so tightly—aren’t you afraid he might develop rebellious thoughts?”

“Rebellious thoughts? Do you truly believe he calls me foster father sincerely now? He is not one of our kind, his heart must differ. I have heard he is a mixed-blood of Hu and Han…”

The halberd in Lü Bu’s hands seemed to roar silently. He lifted it, then slowly set it down.

“You have done me a great service, foster father. Today, I spare your life. From now on, we are even.”

With that, he turned and left.

“He’s been registrar for some time now. Who would still remember his exceptional martial prowess? Who would dare rebel against me? Though his skill is indeed remarkable, should war break out, I can still make great use of him.”

...

“Stop! Who are you to trespass in our camp?”

The warrior sneered disdainfully, then shouted, “I am an old friend of General Lü! Let me in at once!”

“General Lü?” A young soldier muttered, then ran into the camp. The loud voice drew whispers and sideways glances from the soldiers.

“Registrar Lü! There’s someone outside claiming to be your old friend, here to visit!”

“Oh? Bring him in!”

“Yes, sir!”

The soldier hurriedly returned with the man.

The newcomer entered the tent carrying a bulging pack. Lü Bu looked up and recognized him instantly—it was Li Su, a fellow countryman. Just as he was about to greet him, his gaze was caught by the magnificent steed tethered by Li Su’s side.

No, it was no ordinary steed, nor merely a horse—it was a divine beast!

The horse’s entire body was fiery red, like burning charcoal, without a single stray hair. It stretched a full ten feet from head to tail, standing eight feet tall from hoof to shoulder. It stood calmly but radiated a fierce aura as if roaring, poised as if ready to leap into the sea.

As a later poet would write:

“Galloping a thousand miles, stirring up dust, crossing waters and climbing mountains, purple mists part. Breaking silk reins, shaking jade bridles, the fire dragon descends from the Ninth Heaven.”

Li Su and Lü Bu had known each other since childhood and were very close. They both knew Lü Bu’s greatest passion was fine horses.

Since the age of five, Lü Bu often roamed the fields with horse herders, his spirit ignited at the sight of any horse.

At seven, he once chased deer alone on Wild Fox Mountain and never returned empty-handed, often lifting colts several times his size to play, much to the amazement of onlookers.

At nine, when visiting his grandfather’s home, adults struggled to catch sheep during a feast, but Lü Bu single-handedly captured two. His grandfather was so pleased he gifted him a fine horse. From then on, horses were Lü Bu’s constant companions, and he cared for them obsessively. These stories were well known and a source of pride throughout the Wuyuan region.

For a horse lover like him, seeing the Red Hare was perhaps as overwhelming as a starving ghost seeing Diao Chan. Lü Bu’s eyes deepened, lost in thought for a long moment before he snapped back to reality, catching Li Su’s amused gaze.

“Bu, it has been long since we last met. Where do you reside now?”

“Su currently serves as a Middle Commander of the Tiger Guards. I heard you aim to restore the state; I am overjoyed. I bring you a fine horse, capable of traveling a thousand miles a day, crossing rivers and mountains with ease, named Red Hare. I present it to you to bolster your might!”

“This…” Lü Bu intended to express thanks politely, but his eyes locked with the spirited steed’s, and he forgot all formalities. “Brother, you gift me such a dragon colt. How can Lü Bu ever repay you?”

“What need for repayment? I give it out of brotherly loyalty alone!”

Moved, Lü Bu immediately arranged a banquet and drank with Li Su.

As the wine flowed, Li Su said, “It has been so long since we met. Each time I see your esteemed father, I think of your heroic figure!”

“You jest, brother. My father passed many years ago; how could you have met him?”

“Ah, I meant the current Inspector Ding.”

“Heh, under his command… better not speak of it,” Lü Bu’s face darkened as he took another drink.

Seeing Lü Bu’s reaction, Li Su felt a surge of hope. “Brother, you have talents to uphold heaven and sea; who within the realm does not admire you? If I were a hero like you, fame and fortune would be as easy as reaching into a pouch. How could I be powerless?”

“Hero? Ha! Have you ever heard of a hero who spends his days fiddling with pen and ink as a mere registrar?”

“Registrar? Ding Yuan actually wants you to be a lowly registrar?” Li Su was shocked, then lowered his voice and said:

“Brother, let me speak frankly. It is said a fine bird chooses its tree, a loyal minister chooses his lord. If you are not valued here, why waste your prime years? Can my invincible brother, Fengxian, be content clutching that broken brush forever? A man in his prime should seize the moment to make his mark; don’t wait until old age and regret it.”

Lü Bu looked up at Li Su, his eyes gleaming like a tiger’s. “In your opinion, who among us now is a worthy lord?”

“I have surveyed all officials; none compare to Dong Zhuo. He respects the worthy, honors scholars, and judges with fairness. He will surely achieve great things.”