Vol 3 Chapter 13 (2/2)

If it’s food for few thousand people, it’s not something I can’t afford. And besides, it was Meng De’s to begin with. I’m just distributing something that isn’t mine to begin with.

The 3 smiled meaningfully and acknowledged the order before leading the captives to the stores.

“Feng Xian, let’s head into the main tent.” I said as I patted Feng Xian’s shoulders.

Feng Xian was probably still sleepy as she only nodded slightly before following me into the main tent.

There is of course a very good reason for capturing Yuan Shu alive.

Even if our interception and ambush succeeded, it was unlikely that we would be able to wipe them out and half of the 20,000 strong would likely make it back to the city, which would still be more than enough to make for a difficult siege battle.

And so, we need Yuan Shu to hand over Shouchun city to us by any means necessary.

And so, my job is to handle the negotiations with her.

“You want me to give you Shouchun city? Never.”

“…” Though I’d known that it wouldn’t be easy, I didn’t think that it would be this difficult right off the bat.

From the very beginning up till now, I’ve been trying to convince her nicely. I had thought that the simple minded Yuan Shu was someone even I could handle but who knew that she would reject everything I said without even thinking.

— If I haven’t returned to camp before Yuan Shu is brought back, then I ask that Lord Liu Bei scare her with some threats. She will probably hand over the city obediently very quickly.

This was what Zhou Yu said to me before she left. I hadn’t intended on threatening anyone but since she’s not complying, I have no choice.

I looked at Feng Xian, hoping for some help from her on this.

Feng Xian looked at me in turn and grunted in acknowledgement before placing her halberd on a wooden chair beside her.

“You all ought to consider this carefully. We could very well kill all of you before attacking the city.” Feng Xian said these words in a tone so cold that even I shuddered.

“…” Yuan Shu seemed to have withdrawn a bit at hearing this, or perhaps it would be more accurate to say that she was at a loss as to what to do.

Un, seems like it’s as Zhou Yu said…

“Don’t be silly, why do we have to give you Shouchun city?” I’d thought victory was in sight but all of a sudden, someone interjected. I looked over and saw that it was Yuan Shu’s female subordinate general who had a s.h.i.+ny forehead.

“Even if you kill us all, our forces will not be wiped out in the forest. When you finally attack the city, there should be close to more or less 10,000 troops waiting for you. And as for what kind of losses you should be expecting in a siege battle with a defense of that size, I don’t think you need me to tell you.”

I was stopped short by her but I couldn’t back out at this juncture.

“B, but is that really fine? If Yuan Shu dies, the city will descend into chaos.” I stood up from my seat to calm myself down. “Though the army still remains, if they should succ.u.mb to in-fighting, then it will also be an easy victory for us.”

Looking at how malnourished the personal guard was, troop morale cannot be very high.

“You need not be worried about that,” The other subordinate general who was covered in soil said in a mocking tone. “Though they’re all selfish people, they aren’t the type who will prioritise their selfish desires in a situation like this where they have a common enemy.”

“Perhaps someone might just surrender outright?!”

“Hmph!” Yuan Shu straightened her back as she haughtily continued. “My subordinates are not so unambitious people. Every one of them is a despicable person who is planning on stealing the Jade Seal for themself and declare themselves Emperor.”

What is there to show off about this…

“And so, with your abilities, the best you can do is kill me. Even then, you will find that the city is beyond you.” Yuan Shu said with a scornful look.

With what seemed like a conclusion from Yuan Shu, I felt like our negotiations have fallen through.

“What? You think I don’t dare to?” Feng Xian could no longer hold herself back and reached out to wield her halberd.

I grabbed her hand and stopped her.

Now wasn’t the time to act rashly.

As that subordinate general said, we would only mount a siege if that was the only choice left to us.

At the end of the day, we had to take the city after all.

“Yuan Shu…”

“Don’t speak to me again, lackey of Cao Cao.”

“I’m only trying to help…” I felt even more at a loss, seeing Yuan Shu’s rage.

What do we do… If it’s like this, then we can only wait for Zhou Yu and the rest to return.

But I really didn’t think that Yuan Shu was so fearless.

…

Eh?

Wait a minute, what is this feeling of incongruity I’m getting?

If Yuan Shu doesn’t fear death, then why did she surrender without a fight?

“Yuan Shu’s subordinate generals are truly a hindrance.” Just as I was trying to figure out the reason for the disconnect, Feng Xian began muttering as she frowned. “I shouldn’t have listened to what Yuan Shu said at the very beginning and just killed those 2.”

At the very beginning?

“Feng Xian,” I whispered as I elbowed Feng Xian’s waist. “What did you say to them at the very beginning?”

“Ah?” She was baffled as to why I was asking her this but she didn’t think too much about it and explained. “Nothing much really, I just said ‘Yuan Shu is to be captured alive and everyone is to be killed’, and then Yuan Shu obediently surrendered. She had requested that we allow everyone to live and I felt that was doable so I agreed. But now I see that she kept those 2 subordinate generals alive so that they can help her in negotiations.”

“…” No, that can’t be it. If I think about it from a favourable view of Yuan Shu, then it must be that…

“Feng Xian, bring Yuan Shu’s subordinate generals out.” I immediately looked at Yuan Shu’s face after I said so, and was delighted to see that she had wavered, before continuing. “I wish to speak with her alone.”

<script>