Vol 4 Chapter 26 (1/2)

Volume 4 Chapter 26: Don’t tell me this is the Battle of Baima (2)

Liu Bei POV

The next day, I handed over command of my personal army to Gong You, and was planning on reporting alone to the punitive force sent to conquer Baima when Zi Long stopped me as she was afraid I would be careless. I wasn’t able to refute her and had no choice but to bring her alone. Under a further request from her, we did not join the main body, and were placed in charge of the supplies in the rearguard.

In this expedition, Yan Liang brought a rather substantial number of troops. And so before we even reached the city, we heard that she had already broke into the city.

“Yan Liang is a great general as expected.” Zi Long nodded with a smile when she heard the news, “I’ve had several dozen bouts with Wen Chou before, and it was never decisive. I’ve also heard that Yan Liang’s bravery and martial skills are better than Wen Chou’s.”

Un… I would like to be impressed but I can’t feel it. No, it’s not that I’m not impressed, but that I have no spare capacity to think about other things at the moment.

“I heard Yuan Shao saying she needs Baima as a checkpoint for launching attacks further southward. Seems like this place has significant strategic importance.” The confident smile appeared in my head, “If it’s that important, Meng De will definitely not hand over Baima that easily, and will surely send reinforcements.”

That’s right, I’m more concerned about the reinforcements. As I looked at the city ahead which was much smaller than Liyang, my heart began to start thumping.

Yun Chang, would you appear before me?

“Ah, the supply team is here~” Just as we entered the city, Yan Liang’s loud yell resounded. I looked over and saw Yan Liang running toward us from afar.

“We really troubled you huh Lord Liu Bei. You even had to help us manage our supplies, hahaha~~” Yan Liang said so in a mocking tone and didn’t bother with me anymore as she began to count the wagons that wheeled in.

“Lord Yan Liang, have you deployed troops to each city gate?” Zi Long hurriedly asked when she saw no one at the city walls, “If they aren’t in position yet, immediately send some archers up to see if there are any Cao army reinforcements!”

“Reinforcements? Impossible impossible. General Liu Yan who was guarding this city looked like a fearless man but he only had 3,000 men after all so I was able to sweep them out easily. Liu Yan himself has disappeared to G.o.d knows where~” Yan Liang said, and got off her warhorse, “Besides, I have more than 10,000 troops here. Cao Cao has only several ten thousand troops, how would she dare to pull off enough troops to face me?”

Yan Liang smiled as she said so, and placed her broadsword on the horse before taking out a wine gourd which she began drinking from.

Zi Long shook her head as she looked at Yan Liang before turning to me as though she suddenly thought of something, “My lord, I haven’t asked but what is the reason why you want to join this expedition?”

“Ah… That.” I can’t really tell her I have a vague idea of how history will go, can I? But I can’t help but tell her how I really felt anyway, “I just have a feeling that Yun Chang will come.”

“My lord means that Guan Yu will a.s.sist Cao Cao in attacking Yuan Shao?”

I nodded.

“Then what does my lord plan to do if Guan Yu does come?” Zi Long understood what I meant but her eyebrows creased, “Could it be that you plan on having Guan Yu join our side?”

“That’s what Ben Chu and the rest told me to do,” I said, and sighed, “But from what I know of her, having Yun Chang change sides in a battle is not possible. Moreover, there are more people still in Xuchang, changing sides is easier said than done.”

But at least, I should be able to meet Yun Chang.

As we continued to talk, we walked toward the center of the city. There were many battalions in the city but most were preoccupied with s.n.a.t.c.hing the equipment and supplies left behind by the Cao army and were scattered all over the city.

“General Yan Liang, drinking will make it difficult to work~~” An officer saluted and tried to stop Yan Liang who was still drinking behind us.

“No problem!” Not only did Yan Liang not stop, she even started forcing that officer to drink as well.

Hai, if the Cao army just sends a battalion of light cavalry to attack us, this scattered defensive line will fall easily…

*Dadadadadadadadada*

Un?

What is this sound that is creating significant tremors in the ground caused by? Horse hooves?

I looked about and aaw that the other soldiers had stopped what they were doing and were looking for the source of the sound…