chapter 63

No one in the court dares to oppose the treachery and schemes that go on.
A revolution can only be planned outside of it.

[Li Jue]: There’s no escape. You should just accept death!

[Guo Si]: Why wait?
[GS]: Do it!

[?]: Drop your weapons.

chapter 63 The Lion Roars

{clang~}

[?]: Is this what you meant by a little misunderstanding?

[Ma Yong]: But seems to me… they’re trying to silence you permanently!

[?]: Wh… what’s going on here?

[?]: Li Jue, aren’t these the troops you’re taking to Western Liang? Why…
[?]: would they be rebelling?

[Lü Bu]: You guys…

[?]: We saw you leave drunk…

[Xue Liang]: For fear that you’d be misunderstood again, I trailed you- not expecting to find such a big conspiracy!

[LJ]: You serve me, third battalion! How dare you interfere with your superior’s business?
[LJ]: If you’re smart you’ll go back and pack your things for tomorrow’s return trip.

[MY]: I have a question for you, General Li Jue.
[MY]: What kind of business are you conducting? And isn’t Lü Bu your superior as well?

[?]: According to military laws, usurpers can be executed without a trial.
(“…first decapitate then report”)
[?]: Now with the evidence in clear view, General Li, if you’re smart…

[?]: Lü Bu is conspiring to assassinate Grand Master Dong!
[?]: If you want to kill someone, kill Lü Bu!

{stab~}

[XL]: All I’ve seen is Lü Bu repeatedly risking his life to save Grand Master Dong.
[XL]: Plus a bunch of slanderous and rabid dogs.

[XL]: Settling personal scores in the name of the law so you can kill a good and loyal man. It makes my blood run cold.

[XL]: We’re not content to associate with such maggots.

[XL]: Brothers of the third battalion, attack!

[GS]: You ignorant fools! Acting all bold thinking you’ve got Lü Bu’s support?
[?]: Come at me! This old man’s fought hundreds of battles! As if I’m afraid of you!

[?]: Let them go.

Wh… what?

[Lü Bu]: I said let them go.
[MY]: Lü Bu, you…

[?]: General Lü… what’s the meaning of this?

[LJ]: Right. Scared to oppose us now that you’ve suffered our wrath.

[LB]: Returning to Western Liang is your only way out.
[LB]: Don’t miss this incredible opportunity to escape your crime.

[GS]: Lü Bu, are you mad? Letting us go this easy?
[LJ]: Aren’t you afraid we’ll come back for revenge?
(“return tiger to mountain…”)

[LB]: Revenge? What a joke.
[LB]: You’re the only ones returning to Western Liang. The third battalion stays.

We fell for it! It was his goal all along… to strip us of our command!

[LB]: How I wonder if you’d value your life more,
[LB]: or your command?

[?]: Have our answers now!

[LB]: I don’t fear you lot…

{grab~}

[LB]: I just didn’t want us…

[LB]: to fight amongst ourselves!

{crash~}

[LB]: Why would foster father devote himself to aid His Majesty in the governing of the kingdom?

[LB]: Instead of sharing his burden, you vie for power.
[LB]: Have you no shame? I’m swallowing my pride in the hope that you’ll change your ways.

[LB]: An officer must follow the Imperial command and serve the kingdom!
[LB]: Listen up, third battalion. Escort these four men to West Liang.
(“…escort away [from] Changan, not yet west liang don’t release”)

[LB]: Is that clear?

[MY]: Attention! Salute the loyalist!

[LB]: You all… what…

[XL]: General Lü’s fervent declamation was really moving!

[?]: General Lü, the third battalion is willing to serve under your command.
(top bubble)
[?]: General Lü… no, master, please accept us.

By inflicting injury on himself, Lü Bu was able to obtain the military command of one-seventh of the army in the city.

[Zhang Liao]: Li Jue’s faction are now soldier-less. They can’t carry out their revenge either.

[?]: Taking that stab was worth it.

[LB]: But this headache remains…
[ZL]: Right. There’s one more left.

However, the source of the pain will soon disappear.

[LB]: Four little doggy on the run.
(“…tug tail walk”)

[LB]: What awaits the top dog won’t be fun.
(“big dog misfortune inevitable”)

[Li Ru]: If so,
[LR]: I should be congratulating you!

{slam~}

[?]: This guy is powerless now that his watchdogs are gone.

[LB]: Send him a gift. Show him that there are no hard feelings.

[ZL]: Yessir.

[LR]: Are they on the carriage?

[?]: The timing was perfect for them get on. And Zhang Liao is following you as you predicted.
[?]: But… should we send a team to rescue Li Jue and the others?

[LR]: Don’t worry. Lü Bu would spare them to avoid a full debate with me. Besides, I’ve notified Niu Fu to gather them and prepare reinforcement.
{note: Niu Fu is another one of Dong Zhuo’s son-in-laws.}

Oh Lü Bu! Just when you think the crisis has passed…
You would never have expected that the top dog is a sleeping lion!

[?]: Zhang Liao!

We’ve been waiting for you!
(“long awaited”)

The watchdogs might be gone. However…
the lion has kept the strongest to hunt its prey.

{Huff~}

[LB]: Everything has been going smoothly. We’ll make our move soon.

Wait.

[LB]: In order to not raise suspicion, don’t run off on your own.

[?]: Don’t worry. Right now nobody cares about me.
[LB]: You’re right.

Is that a Handicapped Warrior?

[LB]: I kept you for so long because you’re needed for this.
[LB]: To avoid treachery, you can find safe refuge in my residence tonight.

[LB]: After this is over, the kingdom will be yours.

No, who in the world is he?

[?]: I don’t like being the emperor. Too much work for no reward. You can devote your whole life and still accomplish nothing.
[?]: Then the world calls you an incapable ruler. So where’s the upside?

[LB]: You can command the world as an emperor. Isn’t that an upside?

[?]: Compared to commanding the world, isn’t enjoying the world’s delicacies even better?

[?]: Besides, I’ve got nothing to fear if you’re going to help me with the administration. You should let me enjoy the world!
[LB]: Nonsense. Those are lies by the Ten Attendants.

[LB]: However… I prefer your personality over that fickle brother of yours.
(“…follow red shun white…”, Hong Kong slang for “bet on the one with a winning streak and bet against the one with a losing streak”)

[LB]: So what should I do about your younger brother once we’re done?
{Prince of Hongnong, Liu Bian}
[Liu Bian]: Whatever you wish.