Vol 4 Chapter 5 (2/2)
Even though there’s no weather report on this era, I am more or less sure that the first snow of winter will come soon. And this will be the first snow for me since I’ve come to this era.
And with this snow came Meng De’s troops which are camped out not too far away from the city.
Meng De have you really come? Am I that unworthy of your trust? Or have I become a hindrance to your ambitions which must be removed now?
“Are Yuan Shao’s troops still staying put?” I asked as I looked with despair at the columns of smoke out in the wilderness as I held the city walls.
“Imperial Uncle, from Lord Sun Qian’s message, Yuan Shao has agreed to an alliance but her strategists have differing views and Yuan Shao herself intends on maintaining the status quo for the time being and observe the situation so it will be difficult to expect reinforcements.” Chen Deng Chen Yuan Long, who was standing behind me, replied respectfully.
I bore the words in mind as I turned and looked at the man who was old enough to be my elder brother and nodded.
I understand the situation but I’m still anxious. How can I hope to resist Meng De with the army I have in this city?
“… Imperial Uncle need not worry.” Chen Deng seemed to have seen that I was anxious and smiled as he looked at me with knowing eyes, “From what I can see, those flags are just an act.”
“Eh?”
An act?
“The Imperial Chancellor is a devious one, and would no doubt concentrate her forces on Yuan Shao. At the same time, she knows that Imperial Uncle is not easy to deal with and so she has done this to ensure that your actions are limited.”
“Is that really the case…”
“Of course, this is just a conjecture of mine. Perhaps Imperial Uncle is seen even more highly by the Imperial Chancellor.”
Eh? What does that mean? I asked Chen Deng, but he only smiled in response.
“I am w.a.n.g Zhong, the Imperial Chancellor’s General Who Manifests Firmness, and I demand the traitor Liu Bei to open the city and surrender immediately!!”
The shout from outside was so unbelievably loud that it could be heard from this meeting room on the other side of Xu state city.
And Yun Chang and Yi De, were currently in the meeting room discussing strategies for the upcoming battles.
“What is that b.a.s.t.a.r.d shouting for? I’ll show him…” Yi De began rolling up her sleeves when she heard the shout.
“Don’t be so agitated little sister. You’re only letting the enemy get to you.” Yun Chang said as she pressed down on Yi De’s tiny head before turning to me and wrapping up our discussions, “So that is to say that we are not yet clear whether Lord Cao Cao is in this vanguard troop?”
“Un, so I was thinking about letting one of you go and ascertain the truth.”
“Little sister is willing to go!”
“Overruled, Yun Chang, you go.”
“Then why did big brother even ask! Do you not trust me? Even if it’s Lord Cao Cao, I’ll capture her anyway!”
It’s because you’re like that that I can’t truat you~~~
“Un, I’ll go this time then.” Yun Chang saud as she swept up the Green Dragon Crescent Blade and stood up.
“Yun Chang, this is a request from me. Don’t injure too much.”
“Don’t worry big brother. I’ll take care of myself.” Yun Chang gave a refres.h.i.+ng smile and flicked her red glossy hair before walking out.
Yun Chang, you got it wrong… Don’t injure w.a.n.g Zhong too much.
Yun Chang POV
I exited the meeting room and sprinted to our barracks and randomly picked out 3,000 men to meet the enemy with.
“Open the gates!!!” Along with the yell of the general atop the city walls, the Xu state city gates slowly opened and the face of the enemy appeared before me.
I can’t let down big brother’s trust in me. However, I’m worried that my skills may have gotten rusty from a lack of challenging battles in a long while.
I led the troops out of the city and realised that snow had begun falling.
The snowfall was not heavy but it floated down uniformly and chaotically, creating a picturesque wintry landscape. It landed on my red hair, on the back of the horse and on my blade. It did not feel unpleasant, rather it helped soothe my mood and made me feel comfortable.
“I am w.a.n.g Zhong, General of the Household, who dares meet my challenge?”
When the warrior saw me exit the city, he raised his broadsword and reported his name. At such basic courtesy shown to me, I felt I should reply appropriately. “I am Guan Yu Guan Yun Chang, and I am here under orders to meet you in battle.”
“Oh? So you’re one of the 3 who slew Hua Xiong?” He smiled mockingly, and seemed to be taking me lightly, “Now that Sun Jian and Pan Feng are both dead, you are the only left and soon you shall join them.”
At these words, my rage surged endlessly but I was able to suppress it somehow as I replied calmly, “Sun Jian is the Tiger of Jiangdong and a hero of his generation; Pan Feng’s martial skills may have been lacking but he faced death fearlessly and is a good man of which the likes are rarely seen these days. As a mere surrendered general, what right do you have to criticise them?”
“Kuh!” He was now rendered speechless by my retort and yelled out as he charged at me, “You’re just a woman, die!”
Just a woman? … Looks like he’s a rather prejudiced fellow.
I only sat calmly on my horse and slowly moved toward him as he yelled and charged at me.
“Waa!!!” He charged up to where he was just 5 paces away from me before swinging his broadsword down on my head.
But no matter how lethal a move may be, a slow move is a slow move.
I focused my senses and raised the bloodl.u.s.t that had remained dormant in me for a long while now as I raised my glaive–
“Haa!!” I yelled out as I slashed down diagonally from the right.
I’m not bragging when I say I’m confident in my speed when wielding the Green Dragon Crescent Blade.
And the ferocity of the slash made him flinch in fear and the blade he swung out turned into a defending block instead.
Hmph! Looks like it’s over.
I moved my hand at the front to the back and put force into my blade as it pressed down onto w.a.n.g Zhong’s weapon–
“Yaa!!!”
“Kuh– Wa, waa!!!” Along with a cry from the horse, w.a.n.g Zhong fell to the ground along with the horse.
“D, d.a.m.n it– Wu!” He tried to stand, but my blade was at his neck.
“…” I stood like that for moment before pulling blade back and used it to carry him by his armor. He did not resist, which saved me a great deal of trouble and I turned back and yelled at his troops which were at a loss as to what to do, “Listen well, return and tell Lord Cao Cao that her w.a.n.g Zhong has been captured alive by Guan Yu!”
The enemy troops before me had already begun retreating and I wonder if they heard what I just said.
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