Vol 3 Chapter 9 (1/2)
Volume 3 Chapter 9: Don’t tell me this is the strike on Yuan Shu (1)
“Will my lord not be sleeping a little more?” Uncle Cheng’s aged voice resounded from outside the tent and reverberated in my ears.
I couldn’t help but cover my eyes irritatedly on hearing the old man’s powerful voice.
“Shut up! I can’t sleep anymore even if I wanted to with such a ruckus.” My tightly shut eyes scrunched in tiredness and I yawned. I only slept for about 4 hours and had no intention of getting up.
Mornings in this season were slightly on the cold side and the autumn breeze that blew in from the gaps in the tent sent slight chills that made me readjust the blankets and my sleeping position to a more comfortable one.
Autumn days are a truly nice time to sleep in–
“Will my lord not be sleeping a little more?!~~~~” A voice that was slightly deeper than uncle Cheng’s, but without any sort of seriousness, penetrated the tent and resounded in my heart.
This voice is definitely uncle Han’s.
“Uncle Han, stop bothering me! Aren’t I going to sleep a little more?” Because of uncle Cheng and uncle Han, my sleep had been mostly driven away and my mood was terrible now.
These 2 fellows… Are clearly here to wake me up but they had to do it by yelling out such roundabout words.
The more I thought about it, the more irritated I got. After a while, I was able to let it go and I pulled the blanket over and covered my face.
But I can’t just go back to sleep peacefully.
When my opponents are Cheng Pu and Han Dang, I can’t lower my guard and must maintain constant vigilance against any weird shouts that might come my way. And when they do, I will open my eyes and deliver them a good scolding.
“…”
After a long while, I did not hear any new shouts from the 2.
… Maa, I was probably thinking too much about it, time for more sleep–
“Will my lord not be sleeping a little more!!~~~~~~~~~~”
Just when I had relaxed my guard completely, a thunderous roar swept through the tent, and nearly blew it as well as I away.
“Waa!” Having such a booming sound reverberating in my ear made my heart thump and I reflexively jumped out of bed and knelt on the ground. It took a long while for me to recover as cold sweat drenched my clothes and I gasped for breath.
“My lord, are you still going to sleep?” Uncle Han shouted alone this time, as though he was confirming that I was still alive.
“Uncle Cheng, you…”
Enough is enough!
“My lord, Lu Meng has brought her second platoon and is awaiting orders for a second wave of shouting.”
“I’m getting up right now!” I hurriedly got up and got changed on hearing these words.
Being bullied by these d.a.m.ned old men first thing in the morning is really vexing. My father’s subordinates are really one of a kind.
It’s been a few months since I’ve led father’s subordinates and troops. I’ve been through a good number of battles, small and big, and I’d thought I had reached a point where I could call myself a mature adult, but up till now, I still can’t kick the habit of sleeping late and sleeping in.
Maa, I knew that I wouldn’t have any more peaceful days the moment I heard news of father’s death.
After I had properly worn my clothes, I walked up to the entrance and spat out my tired breath and slapped my cheeks a few times before I stepped out.
“Greetings my lord!”
— Greetings my lord!~~~~~~
Cheng Pu and Han Dang led the other troops in yelling out greetings to me. Because I was now outside of the tent, it was as if I could feel their voices. .h.i.t my body like waves, which made my hair stand on end. But this was a good feeling.
For this expedition, I’d brought 12,000 troops which were divided into 4 brigades of 3,000 each, to be led by Cheng Pu, Han Dang, Lu Meng, and Tais.h.i.+ Ci.
“What time is it now?”
“My lord, it is now 07:45.”
(TL: I’m normalising the time. They use ancient Chinese time units here.)
Only 07:45? The time we agreed on yesterday was 08:30… There’s still almost an hour before that but you had to wake me up now.
“Un,” I held back the resentment in my heart and turned back to see the energetic looks on the soldiers… Looks good, seems like the long journey hasn’t impacted them too much. “Disperse for now. We regroup in 15 minutes.”
“Will my lord not be sleeping a little more?”
“Uncle Cheng, you 2 are getting more irritating the older you 2 get.” I stared at uncle Cheng with my sharp eyes, and though uncle Cheng was a hardened veteran, he still took a step back when met with my gaze. I shut my eyes and frowned as I sat on an empty stool nearby.
Cheng Pu and Han Dang both wore full plate armour, and kept long white beards, with battleworn and darkened faces that were proof of their experience in battle and life. By the way, Cheng Pu uses a steel serpent spear while Han Dang uses a bow and a sword. Both are brave men and are highly skilled in martial arts.
When father was still around, I didn’t have too much of an impression of the 2 of them. So the time I have actually spent with them is only these past few months.
For me, these old generals who served my father are really reliable to a fault.
They would always try and stop me from drinking, banquets, late nights; and cite health and financial reasons for doing so, though in the end I would always get my way anyway.
“My lord, I don’t want to say this.” Uncle Cheng said as he sighed. “But you really have to cut this habit of staying late of yours. It can get in the way of accomplis.h.i.+ng things.”
As expected, the nagging continues even when we are just a few minutes before stepping on the battlefield.
“Maa, Liu Yu Zhou was here last night so how could I have gotten a good night’s sleep?” I yawned as I said so.
“When Lord Liu Bei came, it was already late in the night, weren’t you still awake then?”
“Wu…” I don’t even need to ask, Tais.h.i.+ Ci must have been the one who told these 2. That Tais.h.i.+ Co is really a worrywart.
“I, it’s all under control.”
“…” Uncle Cheng and uncle Han stared at me silently, which I returned with my eyes that were partially hidden under my fringe. After a long while like this, uncle Han finally sighed helplessly. “Maa, as a lord, you have a lot of things you need to do, so you can take your time in kicking that habit.”
I guess this is uncle Cheng giving me some leeway?
“I got it.” I replied as I got up. “I’ll be looking about.”
“My lord, if you want to go to the toilet, you can just say so. n.o.body will say anything about it.”
“Uncle Hn!” I pulled out my sword and slashed at uncle Han’s neck as I turned around but uncle Han took a step to the left instantly and my sword landed on thin air. “Don’t vilify me, I really am going on an inspection.”
“But my lord, it really is best if you have a go first. It’s important for your metabolism after all.”
These old men are really getting on my nerves. They really are getting more improper the older they get.
I gave a ‘hmph’ in reply and walked off toward the main camp without paying them any more heed.
As I walked over, I saw that everyone was busy with packing and getting ready and some were so busy that they didn’t even notice me. Personally, I’m not the kind who cares about formalities so I didn’t bother them and walked about alone.
As I walked, I stretched my stiff body and hoped I could relax my nerves as soon as possible.
“Hu~~” I tried to expel my nervousness outside of my system with my exhalation. Though I’d said I was going on an inspection, my true intent was to calm my nerves.
Ever since I’ve become a feudal lord, I’ve never had the time to adjust my feelings or adapt to the surroundings, nor has anyone given me a chance to back out. All that was left, was to accept everything.
Honestly, I’ve been really exhausted these few months, and now I know how hard it is for father all this while. A month ago, I toyed with the idea of giving up my position but then what would happen to my little sister? I can’t possibly throw this to her. As the older sister, I should and must bear this burden.
Of course, ever since I’ve become a feudal lord, I’ve learnt many things I’ve never known before and have grown a fair bit as a person.
There has been good and bad to being a feudal lord, but I don’t regret my decision– This is, how I feel about the past few months.
“Un?”
I was now in a certain section of the encampment, and saw 2 suspicious figures lurking about in a hidden area.