Vol 3 Chapter 15 (1/2)

Volume 3 Chapter 15: Don’t tell me this is the slaying of Che Zhou

TL: This is the chapter from which everything starts breaking down and the roller coaster starts to fall.

Meng De POV

I obeyed Hua Tuo’s instructions and quietly rested in my quarters for several days but as I looked out of the window at the yellowing leaves, I began to get anxious again.

Because it was full-on rest, every matter was to be left to the administrative officials I chose. They tend to engage in a fair bit of politicking but their skill at governance is above and beyond the average official.

It was the frontlines… That made me worry.

On one side, Dian Wei, Liu Bei. On the other, Zhang Xiu, Yuan Shu.

I wonder how it’s like for the both of them. In theory, there should not be any hiccups and everything should proceed smoothly.

But why is it, why am I feeling so…

“…” I placed my hand over my heart as my eyes s.h.i.+fted from looking at the outside to the rafters, “Cheng Yu, you’re around right.”

Just as I finished, a black figure descended from the rafters in one smooth movement. As I turned to look, the small yet mature body of Cheng Yu in a respectful pose could be seen. “What are your orders, my lord.”

“About the frontlines–”

“Please forgive me about this but–”

“My body has recovered. And please don’t interrupt me. No matter what, I’m still your lord.”

“…” Her face tightened as she sank into silence for several minutes before continuing. “Dian Wei’s side has concluded with a great victory and Zhang Xiu’s surrender. Because Sun Ce has gone to attack Yuan Shu as well, that side should be able to report success some time over the next couple of days.”

What Cheng Yu said was brief, but I still committed the important points to my memory. Un, looks like everything went just as I had predicted.

“Is that so,” I said as I slowly got up. Cheng Yu came forward to help me up, but my pride made me stop her from doing so. “On Dian Wei’s end, just keep up what you’ve been doing. As for Xuan De, don’t forget to send Che Zhou to a.s.sist him. Shouchun is a critical area and if we hand it over to Sun Ce, Xu state will be vulnerable.”

“Don’t worry my lord. I have already made the necessary arrangements. By my calculations, General Che Zhou should have reached Shouchun by now.”

“Un, that’s good.” I waved to my servants who brought the tea over. These few autumn days, I’ve been lying in bed all day and it’s thanks to this new tea from the south that’s helped give me some comfort. “Don’t forget to tell Che Zhou to get along with Xuan De. Che Zhou is one of my earliest subordinates but she’s arrogant and callous. Don’t make her slight him.”

As I said so, I gently blew the tea leaves and slowly took a sip. Fragrant, as expected.

“About that…” After a long while, Cheng Yu began to speak hesitatingly. “I gave an extra mission to Che Zhou.”

“Un? An extra mission?” My hand stopped in mid-air as my lips curled unconsciously, “Hou hou, what are you scheming behind my back huh?”

Cheng Yu has always been a straightforward person and says what she means. Now that she’s being hesitant about saying it, it’s definitely something big.

“…” Cheng Yu suddenly bowed deeply before continuing, “I instructed General Che Zhou to deal with Lord Liu Bei–” Cheng Yu’s words stopped there.

The autumn breeze blew outside the window, and apart from sounds of the wind outside, the room was virtually silent. Perhaps even Cheng Yu was holding her breath.

I placed my teacup on a table at the side and used my hands to hook my hair behind my ears and sat up on the bed.

“… a.s.sa.s.sinate him you mean?” I helped Cheng Yu state what she meant and then smiled as I looked at her, “Even though I’ve said it clearly before… Can you tell me why you need to go so far.”

After hearing me say so, Cheng Yu’s look did not relax from being given a chance to explain. Instead, her expression became even more serious.

“My lord, think about it. Liu Bei has the administrative officials who were skilled at various aspects of governance who were previously under the employment of Tao Qian. His warrior generals include Guan Yu, Zhang Fei, Lu Bu, Zhang Liao among many others and he not has over 10,000 troops. Shouchun city is within his grasp, and if Liu Bei so wishes, he can form an alliance with Liu Biao in Jing state and Yuan Shao in Heibei and launch a 3-p.r.o.nged attack here. When the time comes, we will find ourselves in deep peril.”

Cheng Yu took a step closer to me with each line, and with each step, her expression seemed to be ever more anxious. She was currently wearing the dark blue clothing not much different from what an a.s.sa.s.sin would wear and would definitely alarm any guards who saw this.”

(TL: For an accurate depiction of what she’s wearing, see (2) of Xun Yu’s character design.

After saying so much, I do of course get what she means. What Cheng Yu says makes sense but–

“But didn’t you say it yourself? ‘If Liu Bei so wishes.'” I relaxed my body and placed my arms on the pillow. “If Xuan De has the intent, he need not go through so much trouble. He could have just a.s.sa.s.sinated me and seize control of the Son of Heaven by using his status as the Royal Uncle, no?”

Of course, if Xuan De were to a.s.sa.s.sinate someone, he would definitely not use something as pathetic as having a physician poison me.

“Cheng Yu, you must understand that my decisions were made not based on my trust of Xuan De, but rather of my judgement of his person as someone who does things openly and honestly. If he truly thought of me as an enemy, he would never have followed me into Xuchang. The moment he enters Xuchang, his every move will be under my control. For what reason should he take such a risk?”

(TL: This is where it’s very different from the original. Indeed, Liu Bei here could easily take over from Cao Cao with all that talent under him. In the original, Liu Bei was at his lowest when he entered Xuchang.)

“…” Cheng Yu was silent, but looking at her expression, she should have more to say. After a while, she finally gave in, “I’ll write to Che Zhou and ask her not to act for now.”

“Un,” I picked up my teacup once more, only to find that the tea had cooled, “Though I don’t know if it will be in time.”

I turned the teacup and looked at the leaves that floated at the top.

“General Che Zhou could have already–”

“The one I’m worried about is not Xuan De.” I interrupted Cheng Yu and lowered my head as I stared at the floral patterns of my bed sheets, “I’m worried about Che Zhou.”

“Eh?” Cheng Yu made a rare, weird sound.

I was always uneasy about sending Che Zhou to govern Xu state alone. I keep getting the feeling that something will go wrong from this trip of hers.

“Report!!!~~~~~~~” Just as I was thinking about all this, a military courier came running in from outside.

Un? Did something happen?

Liu Bei POV

By the time we entered the city, the rest were already inside.

Though we had been here for a couple of days now, we’d been fighting all this while and this was my first view of Shouchun city. I must say, this is a place that’s easy to defend and difficult to attack. The city walls are high and the trenches in front of the city walls were deep. The only way past the city walls were 4 drawbridges.

If we had to lay siege on this city, I wonder what our chances would be. I sighed in relief as I looked at the lowering drawbridge in front of me.

“Ah! Big brother is here!” A voice came from the other side of the drawbridge and O looked over and saw Yi De and the rest waving at me.

“Oh!” I waved back at them as well.

“Listen closely. In a while, you will be placed in the prison for some time. Try not to speak at all during this period.” Just then, Feng Xian who was beside me was giving instructions to Yuan Shu and her subordinates, “After some time, Xuan De will let you all go, so don’t think about doing anything funny.”

“Ye… Yes!”

Feng Xian was probably only being honest with them, with no intention of scaring them at all. But her naturally dangerous look did not properly communicate her intent, and the 3 tensed up.

“Alright alright,” I said to Yuan Shu as I patted Feng Xian’s shoulders, “Don’t need to be so nervous. I just need you to settle some doc.u.ments. Even if it’s a time of chaos, as troops belonging to the Imperial Court, we have to do things properly.”

“Oh, oh.” Yuan Shu replied as she nodded a few times fervently, which made me smile helplessly.

Though I said as much, I knew that it was fine to leave it to Lei Bo who was the one who surrendered. If it came down to it, I could do it as well, and it wasn’t as though the formalities were necessary in times like these.

The real reason why I’m detaining Yuan Shu is because she probably has a limited number of places she can go even if I release her now. Given her temper, it is unlikely that she had cordial relations with her neighbouring peers and so realistically, the only places she can go will be Jing state and Jiangdong. And so, I planned to send her to the north to find her older sister.

(TL: In the original, Liu Bei defeated Yuan Shu who was already thoroughly defeated by Sun Ce and was on his way to meet Yuan Shao. Yuan Shu died after retreating and turning back.)

But why is it that I have to go so far for her?

Hai, I sighed, feeling troubled.

Speaking of which, I felt that I had finally made myself useful for once but who knew that Lei Bo would be one step ahead of me and hand over the city. In that case, aren’t I the most useless of all?

Hai, I sighed despondently.

Never mind. This is better than any surprise accidents happening.

And anyway, from what I know, wasn’t Liu Bei the same as how I am now? Always doing unneeded things and ending up having to pay for it.

Just like at Baidi city.

… Eh?

If I’ve become Liu Bei, then won’t I end up dying in Baidi city as I’m being carried by the currents of history?

Come on, isn’t that a little too unreasonable?

“Big brother?”