Vol 8 Chapter 44 (1/2)
VOLUME 8 CHAPTER 44: DON’T TELL ME THIS IS THE RETURN TO XIANGYANG
The Battle of Jiangxia has already concluded and Lu Bu’s skirmish with the band of robbers from Jiangxia is now over.
As for Xiangyang city, it is still the very picture of peace and harmony as always. To be honest, this is thanks in large to the Jing state central government. No matter how many battles occur, unless peril falls upon Xiangyang city, it will flourish no matter what.
Hai–
However, Liu Biao, who was currently sitting in the large courtyard of the official residence, was not at ease at all as he gave a big sigh once more.
The 2 strategists, Kuai Yue and Kuai Liang, were helpless in alleviating their lord’s troubles. Jiangxia’s loss was something that was set in stone after all.
Just this morning, Han Song left Xiangyang and made his way to Jiangxia bearing a peace proposition. And Liu Biao, who had gone to see him off personally, had an even more stormy expression than now.
“My lord, you needn’t be so down.” Just then, Kuai Liang smiled as she took a step forward and said slowly as she bent down, “Though the city has been lost, the Jiangdong fiends will find it difficult to hold the lone city, let alone advance.”
“That’s right, my lord.” Kuai Yue too walked out from the side and said in a righteous tone, “I’m willing to bet that we will regain Jiangxia city within days of Han Song’s departure.”
“… Ah, we will regain it.” Liu Biao continued immediately after Kuai Yue finished in a slow and melancholic voice, “But can you both tell me; about Huang Zu the Administrator of Jiangxia, Huang Zu who is like my own blood daughter, can I regain my daughter as well?”
“That…” Kuai Liang’s face blanched immediately when she heard this. Though Kuai Yue seemed unmoved on the surface, she involuntarily took 2 steps back, afraid that she had misspoken.
“I should never have listened to Cai Mao from the very beginning and sent such meagre reinforcements.” Liu Biao said as he got up and softly placed his hand on the table, making a soft *pa* which jolted the 2, “I should never have sent so few, nor should I have sent blood brother and Qi’er to command the reinforcements.”
(TL: Qi’er refers to Liu Qi.)
“The young mistress is strong and she is well-versed in both the art of war and martial arts. Though she may have lost, the young mistress will definitely return safe and sound.” Kuai Liang softly said.
Compared to her little sister, she finds it hard to deal with such circ.u.mstances. And even at this time, Kuai Liang has avoided even speaking the name of Liu Bei.
“I hope so. I hope they can return safely.” Liu Biao nodded, “Should they meet their end in battle, then the world would have 2 fewer royal relatives. How can I possibly atone for that to my ancestors?”
“They failed?!” A shrill female voice pierced the air behind the official residence, Liu Biao’s inner residence.
“Are those 5,000 all useless pieces of tras.h.!.+? How could they have been defeated by the personal guard of a mere few hundred!?”
“Elder sister should be grateful that my officer had the heart to send out a letter or we’d still be in the dark about this.” Opposite the shrill woman was another woman with short hair, Cai Mao, who softly answered with no expression at all on her face.
“Ah! It must be Liu Bei! It must be that Liu Bei who ruined my plans!” The woman was ballistic as she began to bite her sleeves in frustration.
“Please don’t be like this, elder sister. It’s too unsightly.”
“I don’t care,” Cai Mao tried to stop her but the other woman swung her aside, “Little sister, if we want to get rid of Liu Qi, we must first deal with that Liu Bei. Additionally, we must move quickly with Liu Biao.”
“… I am of the same opinion.” Cai Mao nodded after a brief moment of thought.
“Mother… Auntie…” Just as the 2 of them were scheming, a girl was listening inside the room. She was just 14 years of age and did not know what the 2 of them were talking about but she knew that it was nothing good.
In her young heart, anxiety began to surge.
Liu Bei POV
Ah, it’s so hot.
I sighed in my heart as I looked up at the big sun hanging in the sky.
In the blink of an eye, March and April seems to have pa.s.sed. And in Jing state, the May weather was really hot.
Though I’m in the humanities track, my knowledge of geography isn’t very good. In fact, it’s even below that of my knowledge of history. And even if it were good, what use would it be? How could I possibly know where our coordinates were?
Let’s stop playing around.
All I know is that we are somewhere in the central-bottom area of China (within 21st century territory). Ah, saying that we are in the southern part of central China would be better. Yes, that sounds more academic.
Let’s think about the positives. At least there are fewer mosquitoes in the day than at night.
“Ah, marching feels so carefree now that all the traitorous troops have been taken care of.” Liu Qi, who was marching at the head with me, said in a tone that allowed me to detect an emotion I rarely felt from her.
“Un, yes.” I only gave a simple nod in affirmation though I very much agreed with her.
To be honest, I bore some unhappiness towards Liu Qi as I haven’t had a good night’s sleep ever since she first told me about it. I really am not exaggerating when I say that last night was my first good night’s sleep in a while.
Ah, I really am dealing with stress and responsibility that is beyond my age.
“Zhou Cang! Did you steal my dried meat again this morning!”
“And so what if I did? So many people died already so we have an abundance of resources!”
“Go and take from your own stas.h.!.+ Din’t touch mine!”