Vol 9 Chapter 158 (2/2)

“Yes, that won’t be a problem.” I nodded but my frown stayed, “But that is also something that worries me.”

“About?” Yuan Rang asked and her eyebrows leapt up again, “Ah, I understand now. You’re worried that their defection is fake right?”

“Yes– Wu.” Just as I was agreeing with her, a heavy blow came from behind by Yuan Rang as she chuckled loudly.

“What’s there to be worried about? Now that there is internal strife within Xinye. It’s not surprising that Guan Yu and the rest would think about defecting. Besides…” Yuan Rang thought for a moment as she said so and continued in a softer voice, “Besides, their lord is dead now. It’s amazing enough that they were able to stay united for so long.”

“Un, you’re right. Their lord is still missing after all.” I said, agreeing with Yuan Rang’s a.s.sessment. Of course, there was this tiny detail where I disagreed with her but that’s not the point.

“Then what are you still worried about?”

“Un… I’m just thinking that even if what we all said was true, would they still defect?”

In my mind, the image of Guan Yu floated up. As Xuan De’s little sister, her pain is undoubtedly greater than all the rest and perhaps this might play into her desire to inherit his will. In that case, there might indeed be clashes that might ensue. But even so, would she be willing to serve under someone else and surrender Xuan De’s will to someone else, to me?

… That is impossible. Even if there was a clash, she could serve someone else, perhaps in Jiangdong or somewhere else, or perhaps strike out on her own.

“… No, Yuan Rang, dinner will have to wait.” I said as I stopped moving.

“Eh?” Yuan Rang seemed surprised and only stopped after a few steps and turned back to look at me in bewilderment, “What’s the matter?”

“Yuan Rang, we must head to the encampment at once.” I said as I turned back and prepared to make for the encampment outside the city, “We must stop them before they begin deploying their troops.”

“Eh?!” Yuan Rang exclaimed in surprise as she hurried up to me.

The troops in the vanguard are the best troops Ben Chu and I have. Even though only 10,000 of them are mine, losing this 10,000 is a significant loss. What’s more, I could nd up losing both Li Dian and Cao Ren as well.

“Meng De, Meng De.” Yuan Rang called out continuously as she chased after me and tried to grab my arm.

“Don’t try to stop me, Yuan Rang.” I said as I flung her arm off, “There are too many uncertainties in this battle. They cannot afford to risk it.”

“But… Meng De.” Yuan Rang protested as she ran in front of me and pointed at several words in the letter, “Based on what they said, the siege would happen in 3 days’ time. That would mean that the attack is to take place–”

— Today.

Liu Bei POV

After a few days of peace, today has finally come.

As I looked out into the empty skies, I raised my hand but could not feel any chilly winds. All I could feel was my own heartbeat.

At this time, I was currently sitting in the main tent of Feng Xian’s encampment. The place where we were situated was where the market where I persuaded Yuan Zhi used to be. In just a few days, it became Zi Long and Feng Xian’s encampment.

All the commoners had been evacuated out of the city and were currently in the south of the city where the old encampment was. The reason why this was done was because the entire city could become a battlefield very soon.

In this empty s.p.a.ce, there were only grim-faced soldiers and their blades. Of course, there is also a weirdo wearing a strange hat. I have been wearing since this morning and frankly, it’s really unbearable. However, I cannot expose my ident.i.ty, not today of all days, even to our own troops.

“Xuan De, why are you sitting out here?” A voice came from behind and when I turned back, I saw that it was Feng Xian.

“No, I just felt that it was a little stuffy inside the tent.” I said as I squinted at the skies with my hands on my knees, “The battle’s going to start soon and I’m getting rather nervous.”

“Don’t be.” Feng Xian said calmly, “Think about the battle when it comes. Now is the time for rest.”

“Un…”

That’s easy to say, and maybe Feng Xian can indeed do it, but it’s not something I can do at least.

“Do we have news if the enemy has left their city yet?” Feng Xian asked as she looked northward as I did to the city tower where Chen Gong would relay instructions to us.

“Doesn’t look like it.” I said as I shook my head and looked at the sun again. It’s almost noon yet the enemy has not made any move yet.

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