Vol 8 Chapter 17 (2/2)

“Good water capacity!”

I didn’t know what to say so I just gave a random praise.

*Dang*

“Umm, Administrator Huang Zu.”

A light clunk resounded as Liu Qi downed the wine in her cup and placed it back down on the table. She then turned and looked seriously at Huang Zu.

“Let’s speak frankly as guarding generals of Jiangxia.”

“… Please go ahead Young Mistress.” Huang Zu sank into silence for a moment when she heard this, and put down the gourd in her hands as she indicated to Liu Qi to continue.

“Un, that’s good.” Liu Qi nodded and continued, “To put it simply–”

“You’re asking me what my numbers are and what my plans are for the upcoming battles right?”

Huang Zu cut her off as she did to me. Seems like she knows what we want to ask.

And when Huang Zu finished, almost everyone’s chopsticks stopped as they waited for Huang Zu’s next words with bated breath. In the entire tent, only Zhou Cang’s incessant eating filled the air.

“That is so.” Liu Qi said as she nodded.

“There are presently 4,000 men that can be deployed in the city. I have enough supplies to last a year. My opinion is that the siege will not last beyond a month and the enemies will pull back to Jiangdong.” When she finished, she smoothly picked up her chopsticks and took a piece of food which she sent into her mouth. When she finished eating, she breathed out again, blowing her fringe up, allowing me to see that her eyebrows were at ease.

“I know that you both have suffered grievous losses in this battle. But don’t worry. Even without your reinforcements, my deep sentiments with Jiangxia city over the years is enough for me to hold the bridgehead of Jing state.”

*Pu* She blew up her fringe again.

Sentiments… How do I say this…

I looked at Liu Qi, and saw that her dissatisfaction was approaching boiling point so I decided to change the topic and help her alleviate her temper.

“But Administrator, may I ask why you chose to leave the city before we came today? And you only brought 2,000–”

“Before you defend a city, you must leave and meet them in battle. This is a tradition I have followed all this while. And I only brought 1,000 men out of the city.”

“Ridiculous! Isn’t that too ras.h.!.+ How many troops have you lost for nothing?” But this question drew out even more ridiculous words from Huang Zu which drove Liu Qi over the brink as she exclaimed and slammed the table.

*Pu* Huang Zu was unperturbed and blew up her fringe again.

“Don’t be so agitated, Young Mistress.” Just then, Huang Zu’s gaze sharpened as she continued, “I brought only 1,000 out and lost only 200.”

Wu.

Even though Huang Zu didn’t continue her words, it was clear that this was directed at Liu Qi and I. Of the reinforcements we brought, only half were left after all.

Both Liu Qi and I were silenced, and didn’t reply to this.

“So that’s what it’s all about…”

Un? Just then, Chen Gong who was beside me muttered under her breath. But I didn’t know what she meant by this, nor do I have the leisure to ask her now.

“But I heard from the enemy’s generals that reinforcements from Jiangdong will be here in a few days and they will launch another offensive with possibly tens of thousands of troops. Can we really withstand it?”

“We can. You can all rest easy.” Huang Zu lightly patted her plate skirt as she said so, “Our naval fleet will be here im a few days as well.”

Huang Zu didn’t have much of an expression on but the edge of her lips were curled up. I didn’t feel very confident when I looked at her though.

“Ah, let me interject for a moment.” She suddenly spoke up as thought remembered something. But doesn’t she always interrupt people anyway? Why this all of a sudden? “Now that we are all fighting together, I have the duty and the right to command your troops. Of course, I leave the details to you all but the responsibility for overall command will be mine.”

As Liu Qi guessed, Huang Zu wants our command rights. But to us, having and not having that 1,000 or so for each of us doesn’t make a big difference.

Liu Qi and I looked at each other, and I took out my half of the command tally and also checked to see if the personal troop tally that Liu Qi gave me was still around. When she saw this, Liu Qi also took out her half of the command tally.

“Good, good. Relax, we will win this battle.”

*Pu* and her fringe flies up again.

It feels weird to hear her say flippant words with a serious face.

“Well then, let’s continue eating then. The topics from before were a little heavy and by right, we ought to avoid them during a banquet.” She said after the fact. This felt more like an ordinary meal than a banquet though.

I didn’t know what to feel, and when I saw that they weren’t going to discuss serious any matters anymore, I decided to start eating. And so I picked up my first dish and placed it in my mouth.

It’s a good thing that the food in Jiangxia is delicious.

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