Vol 3 Chapter 13 (1/2)

Volume 3 Chapter 13: Don’t tell me this is the strike on Yuan Shu (4)

“Hai~~~~” I sat on a shrub as I stared at the most distant leaf in the forest in my field of vision. Rustling, discordant sounds could be heard from time to time.

Eventually, the anxiety inside finally became too much to bear and I spat it out. “Even if it’s for ensuring my safety, isn’t this a little overboard?”

After a round of democratic voting, my exclusion from the entire battle was pa.s.sed unanimously.

And so ever since they’ve left, I’ve been sitting in a bored daze for over an hour already.

Having to stay here while the others go into battle is honestly more tortuous than joining them. The constant fear of what might happen that filled my heart made it difficult for me to calm down.

“This is for the sake of our lord.” “Though it may not be nice to hear it, but my lord’s presence on the battlefield will only make things difficult.” “… You don’t need to be so down all of a sudden, Zi Zhong may have said it a little bluntly but what she said makes sense. Moreover, protecting the main base is a far important mission than Xuan De thinks. There are no cushy jobs in war.”

The you who is currently sipping tea on a rocking chair has no right to say such things.

Holding fort with me at the main base was the Xu state 3 and 1,000 reserve troops. Apart from us 4 who were staring at the forest doing nothing, the other troops were currently anxiously packing up.

We don’t know if our plan worked but since we’ve exposed ourselves, we will have to break camp regardless.

“You 3 say that guarding the main base is important, but how is that important? Explain it to me.” I was bored so I decided to be a bit feisty.

“In theory, no matter how much the battle is in your favour, you will have to retreat if your main camp is taken.” “The main camp is something like a means of retreat, and it will be difficult to advance without a way to retreat.” “Maa, it’s something that only applies in theory. And our main camp hasn’t been seen by them yet so nothing should happen.”

“If xiao Yong didn’t say that, I would have been convinced.”

To put it simply, we’re very free right? How does this help address my concerns?

I felt strangely frustrated and didn’t continue arguing. As I bent my head and stared at the fine grains of sand on the ground and the gra.s.s stalks, I shook my head lightly.

I wonder if I am befitting of the position of a feudal lord. It feels like I’ve become a mascot character.

In Xuchang, everyone had expressed their intent in following me. Though I’m grateful for that, I’m very uneasy and perplexed.

I don’t know how much charisma I have, to be able to be acknowledged by so many heroes and great people. But since I’ve been acknowledged, I keep getting the feeling that everyone will one day see through how useless I really am and leave me.

That is what I fear the most.

Perhaps I should really seek a way I can be useful.

“My lord~~ We’re back~~” A voice without much vitality came from the forest.

I put aside my internal turmoil and raised my head to look at the forest I had been staring at before. Not far off, I could see Feng Xian with her halberd at the head. She didn’t seem very perturbed from her mission.

Feng Xian is back, that means…

I waved at her and she waved her halberd back when she saw that it was me sitting by the forest.

As they walked closer, I could see 3 figures who had their hands tied in front of them.

Was it Yuan Shu and her subordinates?

When they got much closer, I was able to clearly see what the 3 looked like. Though the 2 behind were new faces, the one in front was a child wearing an eye-catching royal robe whom I’ve seen before.

Even though she was a captive, Yuan Shu still put on airs around her.

“Oi, can’t you loosen the ropes a little? What if I get a bruise from this huh?!”

“Stop spouting such useless words. Everyone is tied up similarly.” Feng Xian shot down Yuan Shu without even looking back at her.

“Please don’t talk my lord!”

“Hai, I’m understanding you less and less my lord.”

“You both are really noisy! I’m the Emperor and you both must listen to me!!”

Unlike Yuan Shu, the 3 subordinate generals beside her seemed very calm and their tones seemed to suggest they were already resigned to their fates.

“Lord Lu Bu has returned much earlier than expected.” “Un, looks like it was a great success.” “We’ll probably get a good night’s sleep tonight.”

Didn’t you have a good night’s sleep yesterday as well?

“My lord, I have accomplished my task.” Lu Bu said as she exited the forest and stopped in front of me while pointing behind her. “Apart from Yuan Shu and her 2 subordinate generals, there are 1,000 ordinary troops.”

“Oh, it’s been hard on you… Doesn’t look like it was very hard?” Looking at Feng Xian who was yawning with drooping eyes, it didn’t seem like she had exerted a lot of effort.

Something that was more noticeable was Yuan Shu, who was presently grinding her teeth and looked like she would charge out anytime. Though she probably thought she looked fearsome, in reality, she seemed more like an angry little chihuahua.

“Bring Yuan Shu and her subordinate generals to the main tent while the rest will bring the other captives to the side while you await further orders!!” Feng Xian shouted to everyone tiredly before sighing as she turned to me. “That’s right, I barely did anything. I’d thought it would be an intense battle but who knew that Yuan Shu would surrender immediately without resisting.”

“Haa?” Surrendered?

“In other words, we won without a fight.” “Looking at Yuan Shu’s personality, she probably felt that it would be better to obediently surrender since the other side already said they were here to capture her alive.” “Though them surrendering is a rather spineless

act, it’s something that is unambiguously good for us.”

Even if the Xu state 3 didn’t explain, I would have understood as well. As a second young miss of a n.o.ble family, Yuan Shu couldn’t possibly understand the pride of a warrior. This result is quite reasonable if you think about it that way.

I didn’t plan on making too many comments and got up with the intention of entering the main tent. But when I saw the captives, my feet stopped.

They were far too thin.

Each seemed thinner than the other and the spears they held seem like thick pillars in their hands. Their faces were pale, and their breaths were ragged even when they sat down.

“… Gong You, bring these people to our stores to get some food.”

“… Even though that is something that should be done.” “No matter if they are feudal lords or generals or ordinary soldiers, all captives should be interrogated first.” “And these 1,000 odd men have pretty good equipment so they’re probably Yuan Shu’s personal guard. If they were to try anything funny…”

They had their reservations and what they said does indeed make sense from a strategic perspective.

“What could people who can barely even hold their spears possibly do.” I replied immediately after xiao Yong finished, and then continued in a sombre tone. “In any case, just give them food first. Lives are more important than strategies.”