Vol 1 Chapter 8 (1/2)

Don’t tell me this is the eve of going to the feudal lord coalition

“They’ve been pranking me since this morning. I was enjoying my beauty sleep when all of a sudden someone yelled that we were ambushed and I rushed out of my tent wearing my breastplate as pants only to be laughed at.”

“Is that so.”

I answered blandly.

“And then and then, this afternoon, we were going to continue marching. But my brigadier general said it was too much trouble! I angrily rebuked her and she said a lot of things I didn’t understand and somehow I ended up having to run one round in the wilderness. But after running for half a day I realised I never found out how far one round was. Just as I was about to return to my brigadier general to protest this I met Xuan De.”

“… It’s lucky you met me. And why did you obediently go and run just like that.”

From what I can see, you probably won’t meet with a favourable outcome even if you go back and protest with that personality of yours.

“That’s right, it’s good I met Xuan De. You have to help me.” Gongsun Zan tugged ln my hand, “You have to help me teach that brigadier general a lesson.”

(TL: Gongsun Zan speaks in a manner that’s a little childish and cute, kind of like how your girlfriend/wife would when she wants you to do something you don’t.)

Why do I have to help…

Hai… But though I don’t know her, Liu Bei does, so I have to take it that I know her?

Un, if it’s some small fry then it should be okay.

“Who is your brigadier general?”

“Some no name officer, Zhao Yun Zhao Zi Long.”

“… I’m afraid I can’t help you.”

“Why!!”

That freaking scared me.

Maybe Gongsun Zan doesn’t know but Zhao Yun is an all rounded talent. He even saved Ah Dou, making fun of Gongsun Zan is nothing.

(TL: Ah Dou is Liu Bei’s son’s courtesy name. In the battle of Changban (Liu Bei vs Cao Cao) Liu Bei was retreating when his wife and son were lost behind enemy lines. Zhao Yun disappeared and returned later with the 2 of them. Yeah, he just went solo behind enemy lines in the face of tens of thousands of hostiles, found a woman and infant in the chaos of battle, AND brought them both back alive.)

Of course, toying me would sure be easy for him. So it’s better not to go, lest I embara.s.s myself.

“Come on, come with me, you can just cheer me on from the side.”

Gongsun Zan said, and grabbed my clothes like a kid who wouldn’t let go of a toy she really wanted.

“Un…” I feel like if I don’t agree she will keep dragging this out. “Alright alright, I’ll go. But I’ll say this first, I can’t help you.”

“Un un, that’s okay. I have the confidence that I can make her speechless.” Gongsun Zan said with gusto as she nodded vigorously.

I really wonder where that confidence came from.

“Ah, that’s right.” I suddenly thought, and pointed to my little sisters. “Before we go, let me introduce you. These are my little sisters, Yun Chang and Yi De.”

Yun Chang and Yi De waved in reply.

“Oh~~~ I didn’t know that Xuan De’s mother was still so energetic and gave you 2 little sisters.”

“… They’re sworn sisters.”

Is she a little soft in the head? Leaving aside Yi De, Yun Chang is and looks about my age so how could we be blood siblings?

“Maa, about the same anyway.” What an easygoing fellow. “Let’s go, we’ll reminisce about good times and reconnect after I teach my brigadier general a lesson.”

“…” I followed Gongsun Zan with my heart full of doubt.

… Actually I really want to ask a question.

Is it really going to be okay?

“Go and stand outside!”

“Ye, yes!!”

Gongsun Zan told us to wait outside the tent for a bit, and it was really for a bitbefore she was chased out by a female voice, and she promptly stood stock still outside the tent.

“U, umm… How was it?” I knew how it went but I still had to ask anyway.

“*s.h.i.+ku*… *s.h.i.+ku*… It’s nothing, go in first, I need some fresh air… *s.h.i.+ku*”

“… Oh.” I was planning to enter the tent, but I couldn’t bear it and patted Gongsun Zan’s shoulders. “Though calling you a brother isn’t quite right, but my brother I feel for you.”

She didn’t say a word, and only nodded.

Who wouldn’t think she looked pitiful on seeing her?

“Big brother, General Gongsun is far too pitiful.”

“I feel there’s a need to speak with the officer in the tent. That’s no way for a brigadier general to treat her lord.”

Yun Chang and Yi De couldn’t watch on and do nothing either.

“What happened? I can’t see too clearly, and I can only hear you 3 talking plus some stranger’s crying.”

“Aiya, Hua Tuo, you can just stay here and chat with the crying person.”

“Oh, I got it… But where is she?” Hua Tuo looked about.

“Right beside you, you’re stepping on her foot.”

“Ah! So, sorry.”

… Let’s leave this aside first. I’m actually very interested in knowing about comrade Zhao Yun as he is likely a future subordinate of mine so the Gongsun Zan now could very well be me in future.

I got a little scared when I thought of this.

Zhao Yun, why can’t you settle things nicely.

I entered the tent with my little sisters as such thoughts filled my mind.

“Oh? So we have guests, and my lord never even said a word about this.” There was a single female general inside, and she got up from her stool and walked over to shake our hands once she saw us. “I am Zhao Zi Long of Changshan. Please forgive me for my poor reception.”

She got yelled out of the tent the moment she came in, how could she tell you…

“… Ah, it’s fine it’s fine.” We returned greetings as well.

But as expected, this woman is Zhao Yun.

She looked slightly older than me, and had good features, with long eyelashes, upturned eyes and a head of rare golden yellow long hair. On one look, you could tell that she was a majestic and upright person.

And thought she wore silver plate like Gongsun Zan, there was an obvious bulge at the right place on the plate that stood out in stark contrast from Gongsun Zan’s plate armour.

“Un? What’s the matter? Ah, you’re looking at this plate armour of mine.” She seemed to have detected my gaze and I quickly shook my head. “This plate armour was forced on me by my lord who likes it for some reason. Is it that bad-looking?”

“Ah, how can that be. It looks much better on you than your lord.”

“Is that so. This is the first time someone is praising me besides my lord, who doesn’t count.” Zhao Yun gave a refres.h.i.+ng smile. “In any case, please have a seat and you can all call me Zi Long.”

As she said so, several soldiers brought stools and we sat down.

Thereafter, we introduced ourselves to Zhao Yun.

“Oh~~~ So you are Liu Bei. Actually I’ve heard of you for a while now, and didn’t think I’d see you in the flesh today.”

“Haa… Are we that famous?”

“Not exactly. It’s because my lord keeps talking about you whenever she can. She always talks about the times when you studied together with her.”

“Ah~~ So that’s why.”

I didn’t think that Gongsun Zan was such a good friend, though I don’t remember such things.

“But speaking of Gongsun Zan, I have something I have to ask.” Seeing the chance to raise the issue, I decided to speak with Zi Long. “Your lord may be a bit silly, but you don’t have to treat her like that right? Even I think she is a bit too pitiful.” I said in a soft voice.

“About this matter…” Zi Long’s smile stiffened and she replied in a soft voice as well. “Actually I’m very worried~~”

“Un? Worried? … What do you mean?”

“You and my lord go back a long way so you understand how she is. Though she is a good person, her ambitions are too lofty and she is too impatient.”

“Haa.”

I didn’t really think of that, and only thought she was a little silly.