Yun Chang POV

The perilousness of crossing the Yellow River cannot be understated. I’ve long since heard of this, but as a northerner, this is the first time I’m experiencing this concept personally.

I gripped onto the side of the wooden boat, and tried to stabilise the boat; but alas, my efforts were in vain as my strength alone was insufficient as the boat continued to rock about in every direction haphazardly. Such a tumultuous ride would be torturous even for the ones in the cabin.

After we went to sleep after drinks, Lu Bu has not woken up yet, which made our journey that more arduous as her help was sorely needed here.

And now, I was currently outside the cabin with Wen Yuan and Liao Hua, where we tried futilely to row against the elements.

Since the winds started blowing just now, apart from the howl of the north wind and the cras.h.i.+ng of waves, nothing else could be heard.

“Yun Chang, our rowing doesn’t seem to be working at all!” Wen Yuan yelled out from the other side of the boat as she fervently moved the oars. Her efforts only produced some waves and seemed like it didn’t help to move the boat at all.

“Just hang on for a while more! We’re almost at the sh.o.r.e!” The fog had dissipated for a while previously and we had caught a good glimpse of the sh.o.r.e. The fog was now back but we should be close to the sh.o.r.e by now. Of course, this is if what I saw before was not an illusion.

I really don’t understand though. If we follow the course of all other boats from the Yellow River Crossing, the journey should be relatively smooth yet why have we met with such horrid weather and waves?!

Or was my luck just poor and I happened to choose a poor time to set off? And from just now, Meng Huo and the Nanman have gone missing. Their boat has likely capsized but I don’t have the leisure to be concerned about them as I have my hands full with trying to make sure we don’t capsize as well.

I just hope they turn out alright, I prayed in my heart as I picked up my oars and rowed vigorously to prevent the boat from heading off in some weird direction. If we kept following the flow of the currents, we would probably end up at Xu state.

Big brother, this journey to return to your side is really hard. Is this some sort of trial?

Who knows.

Sweat streamed down my head and merged with the water from the river waves which buffeted my body, making my clothes completely soaked and weighing me down.

I wonder how the girls in the cabin are holding up with such strong waves.

“Liao Hua! Liao Hua! Go and check on the girls for me!” Liao Hua either has poor hearing or she’s a little ditzy as she only set down her oars after a dozen or so seconds after I called out to her twice.

In any case, I hope we reach the sh.o.r.e as soon as possible. It’s a little embarra.s.sing to admit this, but I don’t know how to swim at all.

“Yun Chang! Look!”

Un?!

Wen Yuan yelled out excitedly as she pointed straight ahead. I looked at where she was pointing at, and saw a dark line in the distance.

That was the sh.o.r.e!

Thereafter I and Wen Yuan rowed as if our lives depended on it. Liao Hua was completely drained by then and collapsed on the floor of the boat as she held on to the ropes in the boat.

After we struggled for about an hour, we finally made it to the sh.o.r.e.

Hu… Hu… Hu… I dragged my leaden body onto sh.o.r.e as I staggered out of the boat.

Hai… When I finally made it to land, my legs became jelly and I collapsed onto the sand. Though the peak of winter has pa.s.sed, the season was not over, and it was still very chilly. Even though my drenched body made the cold even more piercing, I couldn’t take it anymore and just lay there.

“Ah~~~ I’m so tired~~” Wen Yuan was also sitting on the ground, “There weren’t much waves when we were nearing the sh.o.r.e but I was out of strength by then already.”

“Lord Zhang Liao shouldn’t be too careless. This sort of place usually has pirates and robbers about so you shouldn’t be too relaxed.”

“Liao Hua, it’s not very convincing if you tell me that while you’re lying on the ground.”

These 2 were also thoroughly exhausted. But it seems like they know how to swim so they weren’t in as desperate circ.u.mstances as I was.

This place is… I slowly got up and squinted as I looked into the distance.

We left the Crossing at first light so about 10-12 hours should have pa.s.sed and it should be the late afternoon now. The fog has not dissipated, and it feels like our surroundings are grey and bleak. There were no roads nor were there any columns of smoke. Just tall gra.s.s to our left, and a forest to our right. Further up, they seem to have blended together.

Pirates and thieves wouldn’t be out and about in such weather, I hope.

“Girls, you can come out now. It doesn’t seem like we are in danger.” I yelled to the boat at the back. For the me now, even yelling was extremely difficult. Looks like I need to train up my physical endurance again.

“Ughhh…”

“Mi Zhen, be careful.”

When I looked back, I saw Mi Zhen stagger out of the boat. As the boat itself was quite tall, Gan Qing hurriedly went to help Mi Zhen down. They both looked terrible. Looks like the ride before has left a lasting impact on them.

Un?

“Where is Lord Lu Bu and Lord Hua Tuo?” I asked when I saw only the 2 of them coming out from the boat.

“They’re still asleep and haven’t woken up yet.”

What can I say? Being able to stay asleep despite such strong waves has to be some sort of talent.

“Tell the troops to wake them up.”

I didn’t bring very many troops along with us, only about a dozen or so, and dismissed the rest. Most of them came from regions south of the Yellow River after all, and had left behind their wives and husbands. Bringing them along across the Yellow River would have been too cruel so I dismissed anyone who had a family waiting for them back south.

“I can’t believe my lord has been sleeping all this while while we’ve been suffering!” Wen Yuan began to throw a tantrum as she waved her hands up and down while she lay on the sand, making 2 semi-circles in the sand.

I do bear some grudge as well but this wasn’t the time for that.

I looked up but I couldn’t find the sun. Where was this?

Perhaps we should have realised that we would have gotten lost after coming onto the sh.o.r.e. We don’t have a map of Jiangbei so we have no idea where we were, nor could we find our bearings since the sun can’t be found.

By right, we should be close to Dong commandery and Runan should be a little north of there.

“Liao Hua, do you still have any strength left?”

“I’m supposed to be a Registrar, how can I possibly have any strength left?” She said this as calmly as ever, but compared to her usual voice, it was weaker now.

Looks like Liao Hua is the worst off amongst us. I was planning to have her survey the surroundings but I probably can’t do that now.

“It’s getting late, so let’s set up camp first. Everyone’s clothes are also wet so we should let them dry before we set off again.”

We can’t be too hasty now. We’ve already crossed the Yellow River so our journey is mostly over so we can take our time a little and start scouting at first light tomorrow when the fog has dissipated.

I also want to search for Meng Huo and the rest. I just hope they haven’t actually sunk to the bottom of the Yellow River.

By the time our bonfires were burning and our 2 big tents were set up, night had descended and the fog had dissipated. Looking into the distance, there wasn’t much more information to be gleaned as it was still gra.s.s and forest as far as the eye could see.

After searching about for the rest of the day, we still couldn’t find any sign of Meng Huo and the Nanman. Even they have all drowned, there should still be some sign of them wash up ash.o.r.e. And so I daringly imagined that they had abandoned s.h.i.+p and had swam down the Yellow River.

You can’t use the logic of the Central Plains when thinking about the Nanman people after all. I reasoned to myself as I scooped out a bowl of porridge from the pot, eager to eat as soon as possible.

The porridge we made was really tasty, and it tasted even better when we were this tired. At times like these, it’s best not to think about wine and meat as that would be a little too overboard to wish for after all.

I scooped out another bowl and brought it to Liao Hua.

“Ah, thanks General Guan.” Liao Hua was completely drained but she was still sitting by the fireside and when she saw me bring her porridge, she received it with both hands.

“No need to be so formal with me.” I sat beside her as I said so and stretched my hands out to the fire.

Because our clothes were drenched, we had taken them off and they were now hanging by the fire.

“Do you need me to get porridge for the rest?”

“Ah, no need for that. Just let them sleep a little more.”

Leaving aside Lu Bu and Hua Tuo, Zhang Liao and the girls have already fallen asleep. Today was very tiring for them so they should just sleep and they can eat when they wake up from hunger.

“General Guan, are we heading to Dong commandery?”

“Un, my big brother should be either at Dong commandery or Runan so I’m thinking we should head there to find him.” Just then, I realised that Liao Hua knew nothing about big brother and asked, “Have you heard about my big brother before?”

“Un, I have heard of some rumours but I haven’t seen him before. I’ve heard that he is quite renowned in the north so he should be a hero.”

Hahaha, a hero huh. If big brother were here, he would definitely shake his head and deny it.

“When you see my big brother, you will understand. Big brother always gives off a strange and magical aura~”

“Un?”

Liao Hua didn’t understand, but I think that she will begin to respect and eventually pledge her loyalty to big brother before long.

I don’t actually understand it myself, exactly what about big brother is so attractive and mesmerising. But sometimes, some words of his are enough to lead people to a realisation. This is naturally something that most people can’t achieve.

Die~~~~ Charge~~~~

Un? Where did that noise come from?

“It came from the forests!” Liao Hua reacted first and stood up immediately.

Could it be there are robbers?!