We did a quick and simple funeral for Hua Xiong before proceeding to occupy Sishui Pa.s.s.

Upon entering the city, we found the commoners and soldiers all crying and mourning, and the words on the wall ‘Revenge for Grand Master Dong’ were removed and replaced with ‘In remembrance of the brave General Hua Xiong’.

It is really too tragic for such a loved and well-respected man like Hua Xiong to die like that.

The only consolation, and surprise, was that Hua Xiong had instructed the soldiers in the city to surrender Sishui Pa.s.s to the coalition upon his death. And because of that, we, the killers of Hua Xiong, were able to enter the city without fear of conflict.

But of course, hateful looks were directed towards us from everywhere… Which made me feel like I was standing on the wrong side, and should have supported Dong Zhuo instead.

But in a way, this implies that good subordinates do not mean a good lord. And it could be said that Hua Xiong was the one who served on the wrong side.

“I’m not planning to stay here for long. Tomorrow morning we march forth to the next checkpoint– Hulao Pa.s.s!” Yuan Shao sat on a chair, wearing a tired look as she fanned herself with the folding fan.

Perhaps she can’t stand the hostility showered upon us and wants to plunge into the next battlefield?

But then~~~

“Who is willing to stay and occupy Sishui Pa.s.s?!”

Silence all around.

“Why is n.o.body talking huh!” Yuan Shao flicked her hair and roared at us as she stood up.

Everyone knew that staying to occupy Sishui Pa.s.s was a meritless yet laborious task. Firstly, staying meant not being able to achieve honour, and secondly the commoners here were extremely hostile, so if anything happened, those who stayed had to be responsible for cleaning up.

And so, it was silent all around once more.

Actually, I was willing to stay but for the fact that the commoners here might be hard to placate. Even if I am Liu Bei, I can’t expect everyone to like me just because I’m thought of as virtuous.

“… Then let’s do it this way, we will draw straws to decide. Tian Feng, prepare them for me.” Yuan Shao called out to a girl who was read who was surprised and let out an “Ah?” before frantically running out of the tent. Yuan Shao sighed at this sight and began complaining. “Really, I can’t stand this servant. Slow on the uptake, and unlikable.”

Unlikable… Huh?

Leaving aside her judgement of people, this method is not bad and is fair to all.

“Please not me, please not me.” Gongsun Zan to my right seemed to be afraid of having to deal with the commoners as well and was silently praying.

“Though I am unwilling to remain here, I am fearful of going onto the battlefield as well…” Han Fu to my left was muttering to herself as well. Though I felt that with that sort of mindset, she might as well go on home.

“I, I’m done.” Tian Feng came cras.h.i.+ng and falling into the tent with a small box, her book still in hand… What is she reading? I’m pretty curious about that. “Now then, everyone please take one and only look at your own. If you see a red circle on yours, that means you have to stay.”

Hou hou~~~ I never thought it would be that simple.

We took out a card from a stack that was neatly arranged in the box.

Speaking of which, she never did say how many cards had red circles did she…

“Alright, everyone has their card.” Yuan Shao was the last to take her card, in an ostensible show of authority. “Everyone open their cards, take care not to let others see yours~~~”

I carefully opened it– Red circle.

Maa, that’s fate I guess,

After that I glanced around and saw that everyone had uncomfortable looks… What was going on?

“Has everyone seen theirs?” Yuan Shao declared, “All those with red circles on their card, step forward.”

I stepped forward, and so did Gongsun Zan and Han Fu on my left and right. I glanced at them, and saw that Gongsun Zan had an expression that seemed to be lamenting her bad luck, and her wasted efforts in praying just now. Han Fu, on the other hand, was looking calm, and speaking to herself in a small voice, “Though this isn’t good in its own way, it does have some merits in its own way.”

“Un, the numbers match. There are exactly 3 cards with red circles. You 3 will stay then.”

I looked at the rest, and found that they all seemed to be relieved.

Though we each had our own opinions on this, we still bowed and accepted the order.

But what a coincidence for all 3 ‘big prizes’ to be given to us 3 seated here.

“That’s it for now, keep your own cards. Go and rest after any preparations you need to make. Tomorrow, those who are marching will be marching, and those who are staying shall stay… Dismissed!!”

As she finished, Yuan Shao left with a tired look.

“I didn’t think that Xuan De would get it too. Hai, how unfortunate are we~~~” Gongsun Zan complained to me upon the end of the meeting with a helpless smile. “But at least Xuan De is around, if it were only me, then I wouldn’t know what to do.”

“Aren’t I staying as well?” Han Fu joined in from my side.

“Whether you are around or not makes no difference. Why don’t you go and play with your Pan Feng.” Gongsun Zan said with dismissively.

“What?! You idiot!! Let me tell you, I’m the Governor of Ji state, and have a good eye for people. My Pan Feng is the greatest general in the world, you all better not look down on him.”

And as the conversation went on, it became a fight… These 2 actually have pretty similar personalities huh.

I didn’t bother with them any longer and as I exited the tent alone, Meng De walked up to me.

“I say, you really are too honest are you. Leaving aside those 2 idiots, why did you step out as well?” Meng De spouted some inexplicable words the moment she came up to me.

“Ah? I got a card with a red circle so of course I had to step out.”

“Hahaha…” Meng De laughed on hearing my words. “Let me show you my card.”

She let me come up close to her, and though I felt a little uneasy about doing so but I still went as close as appropriately possible, and Meng De opened the card– To reveal a red circle.

“Un?! You also… Bu, but didn’t she just say there were only 3 cards with red circles?”

“Aiya~~~ You saw everyone’s expressions when they opened their cards and you still don’t understand?”

“… Oh!!” Only then did I get it. “Then it must be that all cards have red circles!!”

Meng De gave a ‘shh’ and nodded.

“This is what they call fis.h.i.+ng for fools. That Tian Feng servant of Yuan Shao’s is interesting.” Meng De said meaningfully.

Hai… I was completely fooled… To think that all those feudal lords seem so silly usually but who knew they were actually pretty sharp. It’s over, I’ve been relegated to the same level as Gongsun Zan and Han Fu.

“But was it Yuan Shao who thought of this?”

“Ben Chu is not smart. This, I think you should know by now. So she could not have come up with this plan.” As her former cla.s.smate, Meng De’s judgement of Yuan Shao has a lot of weight. “In any case, it’s not too big of an issue seeing as you are not the kind of person who desires honours and merits. Staying here and enjoying some peace and quiet is good too.”

“But what about the commoners here? I don’t think they will be easy to deal with.”

“Don’t worry, their beloved General Hua Xiong still lives on in their hearts. As long as you don’t insult the Hua Xiong in their hearts, there will be no problem.” Meng De said, and exited the tent upon finis.h.i.+ng.

Meng De…. Even as a woman, is the same intellectual kind of hero huh.

As I thought so, I exited the tent as well.

“Oh, big brother. The meeting has ended huh.” On seeing me, Yun Chang, Yi De, Hua Tuo, Feng Xian and Zhang Liao who had been waiting outside came up to me.

“Un, it’s ended.” I breathed in the night wind. “We’ll be staying here and won’t be part of the ones marching to Hulao Pa.s.s.”

“Eh? I still want to fight more battles.”

“Don’t be too bloodthirsty, Yi De. Peace is the best.” Speaking of which… “Feng Xian, what are you planning to do now? Will you stay with us here or will you follow them to Hulao Pa.s.s?”

“I’m still a subordinate of Xuan De for now, so naturally I’ll be staying. But why does Xuan De think that I would go with them?”

Well that is the battlefield where you make your main entrance after all… Although even if I say this, she won’t get it.

“Nothing much, I just feel like having you here with me is a waste of your talents.”

“Is that so… But I think what I really wish is to see a day where my martial arts will be of no use.” Feng Xian said a shocking line, and revealed a smile tinged with sadness. “Though I do have the l.u.s.t for battle in me, my desire for peace is stronger.”

“I see… I must say I have learnt something new about Feng Xian again.”

“Maa, maa, it’s not much…” Feng Xian seemed a bit shy. Those who always appear strong seem so much cuter when they become shy.

But if it’s going to be like this, who is the general guarding Hulao Pa.s.s? Besides Lu Bu, I don’t know who else is supposed to be at Hulao Pa.s.s.

Forget it, a Hulao Pa.s.s without Lu Bu is better. That way, it should be an easier fight.

The next day, the coalition army marched out early in the morning while I, Gongsun Zan and Han Fu stayed behind in Sishui Pa.s.s.

As Meng De said, as long as we do not provoke the commoners, they don’t seem to want to cause trouble.

“Big brother, let’s take a walk down the streets.” Yi De suggested, and practially everyone who stayed behind was doing nothing, and so everyone agreed,

The city wasn’t big, but it was relatively populous, and there were several marketplaces here and there.

So that people couldn’t recognise us as individuals belonging to the official army, we specially wore casual clothing.

“I didn’t think that this city would be so prosperous. It must be the fruit of General Hua Xiong’s efforts.” Yun Chang said as she looked about.

A Yun Chang not in her usual green armour coat was a breath of fresh air and I saw her in a new light.

“Big brother, there are sweets there!”

“Yi De, you are getting too excited… I’ll buy it for you so relax.” Though the modern paper money I originally had on me was not usable, I do have some coins from this era in my pocket.

“But but, this is the first time I’ve been to a city larger than Zhuo county and Anxi county you know!”

This is just a Pa.s.s… It’s not as big as a state city. Maa, whatever floats her boat.

But speaking of which, sweets are pretty expensive. As expected, sweets are a luxury good in this era huh.

“Pan Feng, are your injuries better?”

“My lord, this much is nothing.”

Walking behind us was Han Fu’s group.

“That’s good… But Pan Feng, did you even get injured?”

“Wh, what! Zhang He! You, you’re just jealous of my achievements!”

“Like I said, what achievements huh~~~”

Zhang He? Zhang He is also Han Fu’s subordinate? From her voice alone I can tell she feels helpless at her comrades, and seems like she is responsible for tsukkomis in her group huh~~~~

I looked over and there was indeed another girl besides Han Fu.

She was a helmet so I couldn’t see her hair but I could see that she had an uncommon beauty and was pleasing to the eyes, Though she did not wear a smile, rather than having a cold expression, it was more like an expression that said that she hated trouble and did not want to bother with anything.

“General Lu Bu! Please don’t s.n.a.t.c.h this puppy from me!”

“No! I saw it first!”

Un? Seems like there’s a fight going on.

I can see Gingsun Zan and Feng Xuan arguing at a roadside stall which seems to be selling a puppy… Could it be that they are fighting over it?

“Aiya, my lord, don’t be so childish. I did see that General Lu Bu saw it first so just…”

“Zi Long!! How can you speak up for someone else and not your own lord?!”

“It’s just a puppy, why don’t you give it to her my lord… Umm, I don’t like animals very much as well.” Zhang Liao said at a distance from the puppy… Is she afraid of dogs?

“Zhang Liao, on this and this alone I will not give in! I’ve always wanted a dog since ages ago!!” Upon saying so, Feng Xian s.n.a.t.c.hed the dog and hugged it as she rubbed her face against the dog, letting an expression of sheer bliss. “Un~~~ I’ve decided! This dog shall be named ‘Red Hare'”

(TL: No this is not a mistranslation. And if you think it’s ludicrous, it’s actually the name of the legendary stallion which Lu Bu had. A supposedly legendary horse with a red mane. Yeah, he called a warhorse ‘Red Hare’.)

Red! Red Hare! For a dog?!

“No way!! His name should be ‘White Horse’!” Gongsun Zan continued to argue.

(TL: Gongsun Zan is known as the ‘White Horse General’ for an elite unit of cavalry that used white horses exclusively.)

Uwa~~~ Gongsun Zan is the same as always but who knew that Feng Xian would have such a girly side to her.

This era seems to appreciate dogs quite a bit… But in the end it’s just a puppy right…

“Big brother, there’s a dog there!!,

“… Yi De, even if you say it like when you asked for sweets I can’t help you. Look at how intense the compet.i.tion already is.”

“Big brother did you know, there are many benefits to keeping a dog.”

“… Yun Chang wipe your nose, your nose is bleeding.”

I retract my earlier words… I really did not expect that young women love puppies that much.

“Then why not we do it this way.” Gongsun Zan said angrily. “All those who want the puppy will compete and whoever wins gets the puppy, deal?”

And so, following Gongsun Zan’s suggestion, a strange contest began.