Vol 3 Chapter 16 (1/2)

Volume 3 Chapter 16: Don’t tell me this is the fall of Dian Wei

Meng De POV

In an instant, I lost all control of my body and my vision began to sway as the silk left my limp hands.

Seems like Cheng Yu and Feng Xiao are shouting but I can’t seem to even stand.

My vision went dark.

“You’re Dian Wei right?” I said as I put down the dispatch report in my hands and raised my head to look at the pet.i.te, mean-looking girl in front of me.

No, I can only say that she is short…

Looking at her b.r.e.a.s.t.s, I sighed internally.

“…” She didn’t speak, and stayed in a perfect bow without looking at me.

“Dian Wei, you should introduce yourself at least right.”

Come to think of it, such rigid fellows are really dying out huh. Every time a new officer comes before me, he/she will always brag about his/her achievements. In return, I would always question them as to why they are coming to such a provincial general like myself if they are so capable.

“May I ask where will I be reporting to?” She completely ignored what I said. Feels like she is more interested in being a foot soldier than an officer.

“Aiya, you don’t need to be in such a hurry. Standing around is tiring so have a seat first.”

“Yes.” She said as she sat down on a chair at the side as though she were executing a mission.

She really is rigid to a fault. And as I was thinking this, I began carefully sizing her up.

This person’s nature is very rigid and to the book. She neither makes a request nor does she flatter me, so much so that she is almost like a block of wood. It’s almost as if she thinks of nothing but war.

But though she was like this, I could sense some aspirations in her. Perhaps her ambitions were grounded by reality.

Keke, looks like she’s an interesting one.

“Meng De, what do you think?” Yuan Rang, who was standing beside me, tiptoed and whispered softly to me.

“Un, yes.” I covered my mouth with my sleeve, “Though I know nothing about her yet, I feel that she has a lot of potential in her.”

“… As expected of Meng De.” Yuan Rang nodded and gave an impressed smile, “I heard that when she served under Zhang Miao, she was able to carry a war banner that weighed as much as a person alone.”

Alone? That really is impressive.

I began to see Dian Wei in a new light, and her radiance made me even more fascinated with her.

“Zhang Miao is bad at recognising talent, and I seized the opportunity to transfer her here while the other feudal lords were executing personnel changes.” Yuan Rang smiled gleefully, as though she had found a great bargain while shopping.

“But I don’t recall Zhang Miao being such a mediocre leader? If it’s him, he should be able to see that she’s a talented warrior.”

“This is just a rumour.” Yuan Rang did not whisper but said the next words directly into my ears, “She seems to have a record.”

In our lingo, a record means that the person has committed murder.

I see…

I nodded twice as I finally understood. Looking at Dian Wei, who was still sitting up straight, she did not seem like she was burdened by her crime in the least.

If she can be that unperturbed, she is either a cold-blooded murderer or the one she killed deserved it.

“If you know she has a record, then why did you recruit her?” I said playfully to Yuan Rang as I put down my brush.

“Eh, don’t kid with me Meng De,” Yuan Rang said with an irritated look. Looks like she understands how I think after being with me for a while now, “Others may not know, but I do know that Meng De would not have come this far if you were someone who cares about such trifles.”

Haa. I nearly laughed out loud but I was able to stop myself in time.

I didn’t think my thoughts were so easy to read. As expected of Yuan Rang, if only Miao Cai has even a thousandth of that intuition of yours.

“Then, you’re planning to…”

I and Yuan Rang looked at her, who detected our gazes and looked up to meet our eyes.

“Seeing how she’s like, I think she was born to be an expendable warrior.” Yuan Rang commented as she rubbed her chin with gleaming eyes. It was rare for the very discerning Yuan Rang to be so taken with someone.

(TL: Raw mentions 死士 which is a type of warrior used for especially dangerous missions. One example would the famous Jing Ke who failed in the a.s.sa.s.sination of the Qin s.h.i.+ Huang. Think Schwarzesmarken or Suicide Squad or Kamikaze.)

But.

“No it would be too wasteful to have her be an expendable warrior.” I said to Yuan Rang as I shook my head. “She is perfect material for a general.”

Of course, she will have to be trained. At the very least, she will have to change that wooden look of hers.

I stepped out from behind my table and made my way towards Dian Wei. When she saw me walking over, she swiftly got up and awaited my words.

From up close, I can see that there still remains a glimmer of radiance in Dian Wei’s eyes. And soon after, this radiance should fill her eyes.

As I thought so, I stretched out my hand towards Dian Wei.

“Join me.”

“Ah,” I moaned softly and struggled to open my eyes.

Was I dreaming?

I have the feeling that I was dreaming of something that happened in the past but I can’t remember what it was.

I looked out of the window and saw that the last remnants of sunlight from before had long since disappeared.

My head felt swollen and my vision was still blurry. This feeling was like the time when I did administrative work for 15 days consecutively. When I think about that time, it really is horrible.

I rubbed my forehead lightly before frowning.

What happened to me?

Aiya! I really can’t remember at all, could it be that I pa.s.sed out from doing administrative work again? Or did I go overboard with wine?

“You’ve awoken my lord.” Cheng Yu’s voice came from below the bed.

Can’t she start a conversation from somewhere more normal?

“… Ah, yes I have.” I lightly tapped the boards with my other hand, “Can you tell me why I’m lying here?”

“…” Cheng Yu paused again. That does not bode well, “Lord Hua Tuo said that you got too agitated and have too much on your mind so you fainted–”

“I asked for the reason.” I interjected her non-answer as I tapped the boards once more, “Exactly what is it that led to me lying here…”

“General Dian Wei has pa.s.sed away.” Before I could finish, Cheng Yu interrupted me and my hands which were about to tap the boards again stopped in mid-air.

It felt like time itself stood still.

Dian Wei was dead.

That sound reverberated between my ears over and over. Even though my mind was usually quick, it was now motionless and I was unable to understand what those words meant.

Gradually, the words on the silk letter delivered this morning came to my mind.

[Yesterday, General Zhang Xiu who had previously surrendered launched an attack at night. Colonel Dian Wei died from an arrow in the chaos. Zhang Xiu surrendered again the next day and our army is currently returning to Xuchang.]

Dian Wei is dead, from an arrow.

As the scene of my reading the silk floated up in my mind, I finally understood the meaning of those words.

“… Is that so,” I muttered under my breath. My vision was now clear, but I still could not see, “Dian Wei is gone huh.”

“Un, Dian Wei has pa.s.sed away. She died on the battlefield.” Cheng Yu’s voice was unbelievably calm but I can’t see her face so I don’t know if her expression matches her voice, “And Zhang Xiu has been detained and will be brought to Xuchang soon. She will be here by tomorrow so when the time comes, please don’t be too…”

“I know, I will act accordingly.” I raised my volume, though I know that these words were more for myself than her, “If there’s nothing else, you can rest for the night.”

Cheng Yu did not reply, but she should have left already.

But that’s just what I’m hoping for as I have not checked below the bed. If she’s still here, then it will reflect poorly on me if she sees how terrible I’m looking now.

The next day when I heard that Zhang Xiu was now in Xuchang, I got prepared as soon as I awoke and hurriedly got into a carriage as I headed to the prison to see her.

Feng Xiao came along with me as well.

“How does my lord poan to deal with Zhang Xiu?” Feng Xiao looked ahead with glazed over eyes as she sat on my left, “Are you going to kill her?”

“What do you think?”