Vol 4 Chapter 22 (1/2)

Volume 4 Chapter 22: Don’t tell me this is the garrison at Liyang

Zhang He brought us to where we could put down our gear and luggage and invited us to a restaurant for food and drinks. I was planning on settling our troops and luggage with Zi Long and Gong You but could not refuse the invitation and had to take leave with Gong You.

I didn’t think that someone would be so happy in such an empty town but when I reached where Zhang He was waiting, she was smiling widely and seemed to be in very high spirits.

“Ah~~ It really has been a while since I’ve seen Lord Liu Bei.” Zhang He shook her head as she said between taking swigs of wine, “I was planning on writing a letter to ask you how you were doing but then I heard you went to Xuchang so I thought better of it.”

“That’s right. I was in Xuchang for a while. … Hai, everything that happened thereafter was just one big mess. It’s a long story.” I sighed as I drank with her, not forgetting to take a good look at this girl who was slightly older than me.

Ever since Han Fu committed suicide in Xu state a few months ago, Zhang He has joined Yuan Shao. I’ve never seen her since then, and now that I have had a good look at her, she doesn’t seem to have changed much on the outside but her energy seems to be much less than before.

“And you. You came to join Yuan Shao after that?”

“Ah, yes, I came here directly after that.” Zhang He said, and came up close and whispered in my ear, “It’s just as I predicted. The higher ranked generals do not respect authority and the strategists are divided into factions. Yuan Ben Chu herself is as you’ve seen. Hai~~~”

“If that’s the case, then why are you still here?”

Zhang He pointed at the table and then at the door leading outside when she heard this.

“Lord Liu Bei doesn’t know but I came to Yuan Shao to investigate what happened with my comrades after my lord fell. But who knew that Ju Shou, Ju Yi, and everyone else joined Yuan Shao. I really don’t understand! Where have their loyalty and righteousness gone?!” Zhang He’s eyes began to fill with tears as she said so, and then she lowered her voice once more, “I’m still adhering to what I said to Lord Liu Bei before. Many things are difficult to solve from the outside so I’ll start from the inside. Lord Liu Bei should know why Yuan Shao is gathering troops here right?”

“To attack Yuan Shao?” I replied in a questioning tone on purpose.

Zhang He nodded and took a sip of wine before coming up to whisper in my ear with a look of fury, “When the time is ripe, I will mutiny.”

Eh? Mutiny?

“I, Zhang He, am a specialist at launching raids on the enemy. Yuan Shao, too, has recognised this, and always has me act first before the infantry charge forth,” Zhang He said, and revealed a confident look, “The upcoming battle is no different, and when the time comes, I will give her a good one when I mutiny.”

Zhang He’s words were very dangerous and I turned to look into her eyes which were steeped in hatred. I was planning on dissuading her, but I couldn’t help but to swallow back the words I meant to say.

I thought for a bit, but the only words I say in response were these. I took a drink of wine before I said, “Is that so. Then you better be careful.”

Zhang He lowered her head and nodded in acknowledgement.