VOLUME 5 CHAPTER 13: INTERMISSION (1)

Let’s leave the Cao-Yuan war in Guandu and Liyang aside for now, as well as Guan Yu’s journey and proceed somewhere a little more south, where some famous people have begun to move and have unknowingly been swept up into the whirlpool of history.

*Sa* *Sa* Sa* *Sa*

A man wearing the Great Han official uniform was carefully walking towards the inner halls as rain fell outside.

His expression was both tense and kind; his pace was both hasty yet measured. The matter which he had to report was not as simple or light as his expression would seem.

After rounding a bend, he came before a pitch black gate that had pillars at either side that were also painted black. Besides the gate and the pillars, everything else was white.

The combination of these colours were fitting with the overcast weather.

And before the pitch black gate, there were 2 women standing there,

Their clothing was very similar, and they even had the same pose where they had tucked their hands in their sleeves. The one on the left had a bright smile on, while the one on the right looked stern. If you were to take a closer look, you would find that they looked the same.

“Where is our lord?” The man asked.

The 2 guards looked at each other before the one with a stern look replied, “Our lord is inside paying respects to his ancestors as usual. Please wait here for a moment.”

“Ah, un.” The man nodded and took a few steps back as he prepared to wait for a while.

“Has Han Song returned?”

Just then, the gates opened, and a middle-aged man with a beard, wearing green clothing, walked out.

This man’s clothing was tidy, his face was clean, and his features well-defined. He was tall as well, and stood above the 2 girls by at least a head.

Yet, one could not feel a sense of majesty from this person.

“My lord.” The 2 people at the side and the man standing some ways away saluted while the tall man waved.

And the tall man spoke to the man next, “Han Song, you’re back.”

The man did not dare tarry, and hurriedly bowed, “Your retainer is back indeed.”

“How was this trip?”

“Your retainer went to Xuchang this time, but I was unable to see Cao Cao. Seems like she has personally gone to the frontlines at Guandu.”

“How does it look at Guandu?”

At this question by the tall man, the guard with the smile answered, “Yuan Shao has many generals and troops compared to Cao Cao. But compared to Cao Cao, Yuan Shao does not have the trust of her retainers so it’s mostly even, therefore your retainer believes that the standoff will continue for a while more. This is especially so since Cao Cao has yet to have a breakthrough.”

“… Un.”

“Yuan Shao’s side has sent us a letter a while ago.” The serious one began to speak as well, and took out a letter and pa.s.sed it to the tall man, “The contents must be a proposal for an alliance and to have us attack Cao Cao’s unguarded rear.”

The tall man did not open the envelope, and only stared at it after he received the letter.

After a while, he inquired the one with the smile, “Kuai Liang, what do you think we should do?”

“My lord, your retainer thinks that we can use the chance when both are embroiled in war and occupy the capital, control the Son of Heaven and wipe out both Cao and Yuan.”

“… And Kuai Yue?”

“If my lord thinks that we lack the power to go it alone, we can form an alliance with either side. No matter who we choose, our side will be able to control the flow of the war and what happens from now on.” The serious one said, and got more riled up as she continued, “We can decide what to do next after achieving victory for the side we so choose.”

Un… The tall man sighed inside.

If I don’t a.s.sidt Cao Cao, and if I don’t ally myself with Yuan Shao, both sides will probably blame me.

… Hmph!

… How could they blame me?!

“I’ve decided!” The tall man swung his sleeves and stood still as he continued, “We will wait here, and will not send troops to interrupt their private argument.”

“Private argument? Does my lord think that the 2 sides have involved their personal feelings?” Kuai Liang asked as she covered her mouth with her sleeve.

“Kuai Liang, I spent a fair bit of time in Luoyang, so I know what those 2 are like.” The tall man said as he shook his head, and continued walking without saying anything.

Kuai Liang and Kuai Yue did not say any further, and followed up as they held an umbrella.

As the tall man continued walking, the pitter patter of raindrops on the paper umbrella made him think back to the problem of the Battle of Guandu.

Was it really alright for him not to partic.i.p.ate?

Why did he have to partic.i.p.ate?

I’m a legitimate descendent of the Great Han– The Governor of Jing state, Liu Biao Liu Jing Sheng. Why do I have to do things that are outside my jurisdiction as Governor?

That small skirmish at Guandu is probably just a laughable playground fight to my Great Han ancestors.

(TL: He’s not wrong… The beginnings of the Han dynasty were actually quite epic. Liu Bang vs Xiang Yu is a lot more interesting in my opinion since Liu Bang was actually benevolent unlike Liu Bei and Xiang Yu was like a true living G.o.d of war that would have easily thrashed Lu Bu.)

(TL: It is indeed puzzling why Liu Biao chose not to act at all – He was the only one, apart from Sun Ce, who had the power to stand up to Cao Cao or Yuan Shao at this point.)