Vol 8 Chapter 27 (2/2)

“Though she is effective, I can’t use her.” She was very resolute on this, her tone left no room for negotiation.

“Because Gan Ning was a pirate?”

“Yes.”

As expected.

“But, I didn’t make this decision because I detest pirates.” Just when I felt that my guess was right, she continued, “But it’s because she’s a pirate.”

“…”

“You don’t understand?”

I nodded.

“Then listen closely.” She said as she cupped her ears. I too did the same and heard the sounds of the river coming from the north.

“What do you hear?”

“The flow of the river.”

“The flow of the river is very strong. When the currents are too strong, they will wash ash.o.r.e and flood the fields and villages. Every year, I have to make prepare countermeasures for floods.” As she said so, she exhaled and blew up her fringe, “River pirates spend most of their time in the river, and their nature is much like it. Nothing can contain them, and in the end, they will spill out of their restraints and cause disaster. My lord may have granted her amnesty but I don’t see her loyalty, and everything just seems to be done for form’s sake. I can see that she doesn’t have too much sentiment towards Jing state.”

I somewhat understood what she said. What she means is that Liu Biao will not be able to keep her.

“But it’s not certain that she will be a disaster. Isn’t it a little too early to be saying that?”

All you’ve done is just make Gan Ning hate Jing state even more.

“It’s better to be earlier than late. Having her leave early is better than when she joins the enemy during battle with troops in tow. It will severely dent troop morale then.”

Of course, I can’t say that my personal feelings did not come into play at all.

She added this line on at the end.

“But how does the Administrator know that Gan Ning isn’t loyal to Jing state?”

I still harboured some doubt even though I know that in history, Gan Ning wasn’t willing to stay with Liu Biao.

“Someone who is truly devoted to serving Jing state won’t have times to peer wistfully at the river.” Huang Zu very calmly said, “Even if it’s me, I would only look toward Xiangyang city to the west. She may not be disloyal, but it’s clear that her heart isn’t here.”

Huang Zu’s words seemed so clear and logical that I was almost convinced.

In that instant, I could feel the power of history in influencing Gan Ning and redirecting her heart elsewhere besides Jing state.

I wonder if Huang Zu knows that we are leaving.

I doubt it, since the official doc.u.ments are not delivered here yet. But if we are to leave, how will Huang Zu be able to escape a tragic fate?

“But Administrator, if you don’t use Gan Ning, then the upcoming battle…” I asked, still curious about it.

“You don’t need to worry about the things to come. I will do my very best.” Huang Zu said it very simply this time, and didn’t say that victory was a sure thing, only that she would do her best.

The long fringe on the side of her face hid her expression so I couldn’t see what she was feeling now, but I began to feel sad for her.

I’ve fought many battles big and small since I came to this era but this is the first time that I’ve to partic.i.p.ate in a battle where the only way is a head-on collision and my side is at a gross disadvantage. I’d thought that I would feel more despairing but I didn’t feel particularly down these few days.

Even though I know that the chances for victory are very slim, it feels like something will always work out, that things will be fine as long as I hang on for a while more. This sort of feeling seemed to be what Huang Zu was feeling, and it seemed like she believed in this even more than me.

She didn’t seem to be concerned if we were leaving, and was only concerned about what she could do.

“Hai~” Just then, she gave a long sigh.

“What’s the matter?”

“A year ago, I intercepted Sun Jian here and killed him. Now, his daughter is here to seek revenge with me. Perhaps getting repaid in kind with kind is the will of heaven.”

I felt like these words weren’t directed to me, but more to herself. I’d thought that she felt she could successfully defend Jiangxia. But it seems like she’s already prepared for defeat.

A few months ago, back when I just heard that uncle Sun Jian got killed, I have to say that I hated the one who killed him. But now that I’m on the same side as that very person, it feels like I’ve gotten to understand her.

I wasn’t able to untangle my feelings about this and decided to change the topic as I looked at the side of Huang Zu’s face, “… Administrator Huang Zu, I think you look better with your hair down.”

“What’s this all of a sudden?”

“No, nothing.”

“… If I get the chance in future, I’ll let my hair down outside of battles.”

“Then it’s also best if your fringe–”

“That cannot be done.”

“Alright.” I smiled stiffly.

The next day, Gan Ning left Jiangxia as expected. According to reports, she was headed east, where the Jiangdong encampment was. Before she left, she didn’t say anything, nor did she do anything.

Everyone was saying that Gan Ning left because Huang Zu wasn’t willing to trust her. At this, Huang Zu didn’t say anything and only continued to oversee the port defence works.

Huang Zu’s words continue to swirl in my mind after that.

And now that Gan Ning has left, all that’s left behind is a weaker Jiangxia city.

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