Vol 2 Chapter 12 (2/2)
“Can you please answer one question of mine? While you’re still awake and well.”
“Un? Go ahead.” He said as he waved his hand.
“I want to ask you, what were you thinking, when you let that Yellow Turban escort Cao Song?”
“…” Tao Qian went silent for a bit, his satisfied smile still remaining on his face, before he looked towards me and gave me an ambiguous reply, “Who knows~~~”
“Oi! Lord Tao Qian~”
“Hahaha~” He laughed as he rubbed his bony hands, and continued, “Let me be honest then. At that time, it was the Yellow Turban who volunteered himself to be the escort.”
“… And you let him?”
“Of course I knew he had wicked designs. But I have to admit I don’t really like that Cao Cao fellow.” Tao Qian said as he rubbed his head.
“Why is that?”
“Because I can’t read her.”
“Can’t read her?”
Tao Qian’s words made me recall what Cao Song had said about his daughter.
“Un,” He nodded, “I don’t understand what Cao Cao is thinking, and cannot be sure if she is really supporting the Han or if she is plotting to overthrow the Han.”
“But what does this have to do with her father?”
“Perhaps, I was thinking to test the waters with this act, and see how much Cao Cao can tolerate. I didn’t think that I would reel in something I couldn’t handle.” Tao Qian burst into laughter, though his laughter sounded very dry and bitter.
“And… Now?”
“Un?”
“What kind of person do you think Cao Cao is now?”
From where I stand, I don’t think Meng De is a good person but she definitely isn’t evil. She is just a very intelligent person who doesn’t know how to express herself or depend on others.
(TL: This depiction of Cao Cao is surprisingly accurate. For all of what Cao Cao did, he never took the throne for himself. His evil or ‘evil’ acts, as you will see later in his volume and others, are more often than not, him losing control out of grief.)
So, I believe Meng De is truly supporting the Han, albeit in a different way than what we would do.
“…” Tao Qian looked at me for a while before saying, “Probably, the same as what you’re thinking.”
Eh!!
Did he read my thoughts?
“Alright~ I have to be going soon.” Tao Qian gave another long exhalation and seemed weaker than before, “Before I go, I have some words to say, for you and for Cao Cao.”
“Un, I’ll make sure to listen and deliver them.”
Knowing that his time was up, I drew closer to him to listen to his last words.
“To you,” He said slowly as he pointed a trembling finger at me, “You have a long way ahead of you. My tiny Xu state will definitely not be enough to contain you. This Xu state will become a stepping stone for your grand ambitions. Use it boldly.”
(TL: Just a note here that Xu state isn’t actually tiny. Tao Qian’s lands were one of the bigger areas at the start of the Three Kingdoms.)
“… Un.” I sank into my thoughts for a moment before quickly nodding in reply.
“To Cao Cao,” He raised his hand with great difficulty and pointed outside the city, “What I want to say is–”
He said it in a very soft voice, but I did indeed hear it.
“Such simple words, you should say them to her yourself.” I said as I looked kindly at the cute old man.
“Let an elder save some face, will you?” Tao Qian laughed and then lay back down. “Hai~ So tired~”
Looking at Tao Qian, I knew he had just moments left. But I felt that I had to seek his permission for something that just came to mind.
“Now that you have entrusted me with Xu state, can I do what I want with Xu state to protect its people?”
No matter how much I thought, I felt that the me now cannot protect Xu state.
“If the people can be protected–” Tao Qian lay on the bed and replied, but could not continue and only nodded to finish what he said.
“Thank you.” I got up and saluted him.
“..” He shook his head wordlessly.
“…”
“…”
“Are you leaving now?”
“… Un.” He nodded his head slightly and grunted in reply.
Is that so.
Then please have a good trip.
I silently prayed in my heart, and before a minute pa.s.sed, the only sounds that were left in the room was my own breathing.
Asleep again?
… Perhaps this time, Tao Qian will sleep a little longer.
I thought for a while in the room and knocked out the kinks in my plan before walking out of Tao Qian’s room and saw that everyone had gathered outside.
“Big brother, Lord Tao Qian…” Yi De said sadly.
I nodded.
“My lord.” “This is the official seal.” “From the moment you receive it, you are formally be the Governor of Xu state and our new lord.”
Mi Zhu brought the official seal before me. I looked at the 3 of them and saw streaks of tears on their faces.
If they said they had no feelings for Lord Tao Qian, that would be a lie. Tao Qian was probably a father figure to them.
Before I received the official seal, I looked at everyone, and seeing them nod, I finally put my hand on the official seal.
At that very moment, Gong You, Zi Zhong and xiao Yong got down on one knee.
“We recognise you as our lord.” The 3 said in one clear voice.
“Please get up, you all should know by now we don’t do that sort of thing here.” I hurried forward and pulled them up.
“Well then.” “Our positions now are–” “As newly hired officials, we should be promoted no matter what.
The moment they got up, they started looking to get something out of me… But really, what are the official ranks available in the first place?
“In, in any case, just stay by my side and think of schemes, policy and plans, that sort of thing.”
“Stay by your side…” “Aiya, why do you have to be so mushy about it.” “Th, that means we are your advisers then.”
“Ah, ah, that’s it.”
But what’s so mushy about it?
… But according to my plans, my time as Governor of Xu state will end shortly.
Lord Tao Qian, perhaps this isn’t what you want to see but right now, this is the best I can do.
“Ah, now then—-” I said.
“Hai~~~ Now we’re getting 3 more.”
“Little sister, quality is more important than numbers.”
“But really, there are a lot to begin with even without these 3.”
“My lord you really have a lot of fighting spirit huh. But I, Zhang Liao, won’t lose either.”
“Big sister Gan, what do we…”
“Maa, just follow me. Don’t worry.”
“Lord Sun Qian, Lord Mi Zhu, Lord Jian Yong, can you 3 walk closer so I can have a better look?”
“Un.” “Okay.” “But you really should stop squinting…”
Ahem–
I cleared my throat audibly, and only then did they stop chatting.
“Ah, as the Governor of Xu state, what I need to do now is to safeguard the lives of the people of Xu state.” I declared after everyone quieted down. “But we do not have that ability now, what do we do then?”
“Pre-emptive strike!”
“Yi De, you were quick to answer first but unfortunately, that’s the wrong answer.”
“Eh?”
“Strengthen the city defences.”
“That’s the usual thing people will do but we don’t have that time now. If Yuan Shao wants to invade us, she can be outside our gate by tomorrow.”
I looked at everyone and saw that they could only think in terms of attack and defence, but neither were the most effective—-
“Give?”
This one word I threw out seemed to went past everyone except the Xu state 3 who nodded.
“Un, all we have to do is give Xu state away, and the people can be safe.”
“But to whom?” Yun Chang said with a frown. “We cannot be sure the one who takes it is a righteous ruler. If we give it to a tyrant or an inept feudal lord, things will get worse.”
“There’s a candidate already.” “Since my lord has said as much, he probably has someone in mind already.” “Stop the suspense and say it.”
That should be my line to you 3…
“Ahem, that candidate–” I pointed outside the city, “Isn’t she camping outside already?”
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