Vol 4 Chapter 28 (1/2)

Volume 4 Chapter 28: Don’t tell me this is the standoff period

Liu Bei POV

“My lord, another supply caravan has been intercepted.” A girl by the name of Feng Ji who wore a black gown said unhappily during the meeting.

If I remember correctly, she’s the one in charge of logistics.

“It’s the 3rd time this month already.” Another girl with a similarly irritated look to the side of Feng Ji added, “My lord, we may have reduced Cao Cao’s stores by a fair bit but ours have also reduced. Cao Cao has few men and horses, it is a prime opportunity for us to launch a decisive strike!”

“That so-called prime opportunity will arrive in 2 weeks! Right now, the Cao army is lacking resources and is seeking an opportunity to end this. By attacking, we are doing exactly what Cao Cao wants.” Tian Feng said as she pouted.

Ju Shou who sat beside her added in as well, “What Yuan Hao says is correct. Now that our supply caravans are being attacked, we should increase vigilance. There is no need to…”

“Then what you’re trying to say is that our defences are the problem right?!”

“Well of course they are! Must I say it out loud?”

“Tian Feng! You!”

The 4 girls, split into 2 on either side, kept saying the opposite of what the other side said and naturally ignited conflict. As the argument got more and more heated up, I, who was sitting at the end, couldn’t help but feel scares. Looking at Ben Chu sitting at the head, she had a look of irritation as always. I’m guessing that within the next 3-4 sentences, Ben Chu’s anger will explode.

Hai… With these strategists, I can’t really blame her for not knowing what to do. Speaking of which, I should probably try to think of something.

— *Pa*

Along with a heavy slam on the table, Yuan Shao stood up and began to scold angrily, “Aiya! Stop arguing already you…”

“U, umm!” When I saw that Ben Chu was about to lose herself in anger, I hurriedly stood up and interrupted her.

When they saw me stand, everyone quietened down and looked at me. Ben Chu, too, looked calm now unlike her irritated self from before and sat down. “What does Xuan De have to share?”

“… Ah.” It’s over, I just wanted to stop Yuan Shao from saying something bad out of anger and never thought about what to say.

I stood where I was, not sure what to say.

“If we must do something,” Just then, Tian Feng spoke up as she flicked her braids, “We can send an expedition to Mount Jiluo to see what is the status of the Cao army and whether they have any plans to retreat.”

“Ah! Yes, that was what I was going to say.” I seized the opportunity when I saw it.

Ben Chu seemed really happy when she heard me say this.

“Oh~ Xuan De is truly courageous and proactive huh~~” Ben Chu smiled, as though the irritation and frustration from before was just an illusion, “Alright! You’ll go with Yan Liang. She’s been a little crazy lately from a lack of fighting.”

“… Ah, yes.”

Speaking of which, does that mean I’ll be leading the expedition?

Only after everything was decided did I realise this problem.

(TL: The way the lead-up to the Battle of Guandu has changed is significant. In the original, there were many more skirmishes between the Battle of Baima and the Battle of Mount Jiluo, all of which Yuan Shao lost. Not only did he lose troops, he also lost good generals, supplies and morale kept falling. Only after a lot of skirmishes did Yuan Shao resort to attrition.)

Meng De POV

Ever since the Battle of Baima, where my cousin and Guan Yu both achieved victory, I’d thought that Ben Chu would get anxious and launch big offensive operations. Never did I imagine that an impatient fellow like her would play a game of attrition with me. Though my army has managed to intercept quite a few supply caravans, my main supply lines are a problem. Xun Yu back in Xuchang should probably be having a headache on the issue of procurement of supplies.

“My lord, according to the latest reports from the 1,000-man generals, our army has suffered another 200 odd deaths from disease… Ah!” Just then, Hu Chi came rus.h.i.+ng in from the door, and nearly slipped fell. Her small face was filled with anxiety, and even though it has been a few days since she last fought, her face was still covered in dust, “If we don’t find a way to solve this, we could have an epidemic on our hands soon.”

“Un…” I felt uneasy as I sat on the chair, “Have any generals fallen ill?”