Vol 6 Chapter 36 (2/2)

If I lose Feng Xiao, won’t I have walk down this arduous and thankless path alone?

I sank into thought while Feng Xiao waited for my final answer with her eyes closed.

“… I won’t stop what I’ve started.” I don’t know if it’s out of sorrow or excitement, but my nose began to burn and I felt hot all over. I raised my head and looked to the heavens and yelled out the words which reflected what I truly felt from the bottom of my heart, “I’d rather let the world betray me– Than betray the world!”

“Is that so.” Feng Xiao replied, and took a few gasps before she continued, “Since my lord has not forgotten how she felt in the very beginning, I won’t repeat my words. But before I leave, I still have some words to leave to my lord.”

“I am listening.” I said as I bent forward to hear Feng Xiao’s last words.

“In the north, apart from the Wuhuan, there is Gongsun Kang and their allies. Speed is of the essence in the art of war so I strongly recommend my lord to push forward with everything and take down Yi city and Liu city before going after Gongsun Kang which will allow my lord to finally unify the north.” Feng Xiao said and paused for a long while after that. I didn’t dare to interrupt and waited until she continued, “The north’s reunification is only a matter of time. After that is done, I suggest my lord to take Jing state and the other lands before attacking Hanzhong, and then driving off Liu Zhang and conquering Yi state. This will allow you to surround both Xiliang and Jiangdong, and eventually take down both, thereby unifying the Central Plains. Lastly, Liu Bei Liu Xuan De will be your nemesis in future. Be it for personal or official reasons, you must not show him mercy or any quarter or he will eventually get in the way of my lord’s ambitions to unify the world.”

(TL: The Yi state they are at currently is 易. The one Feng Xiao mentioned later on is 益.)

“… Un.” To be honest, this reply wasn’t very resolute. And the reason was because of Liu Bei. Even though I understand where she’s coming from, I am unwilling to promise to ruthlessly pursue Xuan De. I still harbour hope that there are other ways out for Xuan De besides what Feng Xiao described.

“My lord!” Feng Xiao seemed to read what I was thinking and raised her volume, “My lord! Please promise me! You must not show mercy– *Ke* *Ke* *Ke*!”

“Feng Xiao.”

Feng Xiao coughed up so much blood her clothing was dyed red before she could finish.

“… Un, I promise.” With such a scene before me, I couldn’t do anything else and hurriedly promised her.

When she heard this, Feng Xiao, who was by now pale as a sheet, nodded slightly. She then began to speak again but I couldn’t hear what she was saying and hurriedly moved my ear to her mouth.

“My position… Xun Yu or Cheng Yu can take it. Jia Xu is an extraordinary talent and you should use her. Man Chong, Chen Qun and the rest are accomplished administrative officials and warrior generals in their own right and should be used as well. As for the future, I hope that my lord looks out for herself…”

She repeated this several times while I nodded as I held back my tears. Only when Feng Xiao stopped speaking did I stop nodding and allowed myself to cry.

This is the 2nd time after Dian Wei.

After I gathered my feelings together and left Feng Xiao’s body, the 2 attendants at my side took a piece of white cloth and covered Feng Xiao’s peaceful resting face with it.

I didn’t feel good about this but I had neither reason nor the will to stop what I was seeing before me.

I am Cao Cao, and I have promised Feng Xiao to continue down this path.

“Cheng Yu, Xun Yu, are you 2 around?”

“… My lord.”

“… Imperial Chancellor.”

As I predicted, these 2 were beside me. At times like these, I feel that having these 2 around me is not something horrifying but something heartwarming instead,

“I’ve always troubled you both with scouting and spying missions.” I sighed to strengthen my resolve and continued, “From today onwards, you can shed these black clothes.”

“… What does my lord have in mind?”

“… What are my lord’s plans now that Feng Xiao has left us?”

You both already know, I laughed inside.

“You’re both about the same age as me while Feng Xiao is the youngest amongst all of us. I was still hoping that I could hand things over to her after I unified the world but who knew that she would meet her end while I’m not even halfway done. Perhaps this is fate.” I said, and spread open my arms. I felt a gust of wind on both sides, which meant that these 2 have shown themselves, and continued, “I’ll be counting on you both in future for my ambitions.”

As I finished, I turned and bowed.

While my head was lowered, the words from before filled my head again.

Liu Bei Liu Xuan De, no matter what, it looks like we’ll meet on the battlefield one day.

At this, I still feel the same: I await that day. But before that, is it too ludicrous of me to hope that I can chat with you again?

Take care of yourself, I said inside to Xuan De who was in some distant cornerof the world.

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