Vol 6 Chapter 1 (1/2)

VOLUME 6 CHAPTER 1: DON’T TELL ME THIS IS MY FAREWELL WITH YUAN SHAO (1)

Liu Bei POV

It’s been a week since the Battle of Guandu concluded. The flames of war have long since died down and seem only like a dream now. That’s not to say that the Battle of Guandu didn’t leave any aftereffects. It just seemed like it left less than I expected.

And right now, as the advance base for the war, Liyang city has lost its purpose and the troops have also shed away their bloodl.u.s.t and hostility. Rather than being concerned about the outcome of the war, the ordinary citizens who were conscripted were naturally elated at its conclusion.

Within the city, you could see people already beginning to pack. All they lacked was an order from Ben Chu to return to their hometowns.

Of course, there were casualties and those who were grievously wounded. And so, much crying and shouts could be heard throughout the encampment these past few days. Every time I heard anguished cries, I would always get gooseb.u.mps. Such sounds were clearly rare in my era.

If the family of deceased soldiers knew that their loved ones died on a battlefield and all they received were a muddled mess of flesh, blood and bone, what would they feel?

I didn’t dare to imagine such a scene.

But perhaps this was something normal for this era. The people are probably desensitised ro troubled times, hards.h.i.+p and the like. I’d thought that I had grown numb to fighting and killing but I still couldn’t get used to it after all. The smell of blood and the sight of gore covering the ground kept coming back to me and triggered sharp nauseous feelings.

Because of this, I rarely left my tent these few days. There was hardly anything urgent going on after all, and even if there were, I wouldn’t be the decision maker anyway.

Oh by the way, I’m currently alone now in my tent.

After getting permission from Ben Chu, Zi Long started recruiting troops in Hebei. Using her words: My naivety is on the level of a plant. As Imperial Uncle, if I do not wish to serve under others and create a domain of my own, then recruiting my own troops is of critical importance since nothing else can be done without troops.

Though she confidently promised to return with a large number of troops, I honestly doubt she can raise a significant army in a short time using the reputation of an unknown person like me.

On the other front, Gong You was helping me gather information on Yun Chang, Yi De and the rest.

Since our situation has stabilised now, it’s time we focused on finding them.

“My lord, 100-man general Chen is up to no good again!” Just then, a female soldier under my command came in and delivered a report about some issue that cropped up.

“Ah? Ah, I got it, I’ll come and see what’s up immediately.”

Because Zi Long wasn’t around, the responsibility of dealing with military affairs has fallen to me. Honestly, my ability to deal with such matters is even below my ability to deal with administrative work.

Zi Long, please come back quick. Before you can raise an army, we might lose the troops we have now.

“Yo, how’ve you been these few days?” The curtains parted and an elegant voice came from outside.

The owner of the voice had long, golden hair, wore an elegant and exquisite pink gown on her, and had golden silk shoes with thick soles; looking very quaint overall. Looking at her from top to toe, one could tell she wasn’t an ordinary person.

“Ah, Ben Chu. You’ve come.” I said as I stood up to receive her.

“You don’t need to get up.” Ben Chu waved her hand as she looked at me, “I don’t have any particular reason for coming here. I just wanted to see you. I’ve been busy all this while with other things after all.”

Though Ben Chu has been very busy these few days, it looks like she has finally gotten a chance to wind down a bit. She looks the same as before but I could tell that she was a lot more approachable.

This was probably thanks to the Battle of Guandu.

As I looked at Ben Chu, who was inspecting the tent as she came in, I couldn’t help but think about how her fate could have been.

By right, the Battle of Guandu should have ended in defeat for Ben Chu, and she should have died in despair after falling gravely ill while she retreated. I never imagined that Ben Chu would be so energetic now, after the battle, and she’s even changed. And as I said before, I never imagined that the fierce and ambitious nemeses, Yuan Shao and Cao Cao, would be going to Court together.

“So shabby~” Ben Chu concluded after she had fully inspected the tent.

I don’t deny that. “I’m a man after all, what else could I possible need?”

By this reply, I meant that everything I needed couldn’t be found in this era.

Leaving aside everything that requires electricity, just reading alone is a pain in this era. Firstly, I’m not used to holding a bamboo scroll. Secondly, I can’t really read what’s written. Gong You had read a scroll to me before and I did find the contents interesting but I can’t possibly keep troubling her to read to me.

The only things in this tent that I can call my belongings are the twin swords. They were too heavy for me half a year ago but I’ve gotten used to them by now, and can even fight effectively with them.

I’m not bragging but I feel like my physical capabilities have strengthened while I’m in this era. Though I still can’t quite match up to the named generals.

“But there should be some decorations after all&h.e.l.lip;” Ben Chu opined as she supported her b.r.e.a.s.t.s with her arms and pointed at my table, “You could make it a little more lively and colourful about the tent and the table.”