Liu Bei POV

It was now night time and the sun had just descended past the horizon so it was time to set up camp and prepare for dinner. Though Meng De had given tacit approval for our movements, we will did our best to avoid making a ruckus as we were now extremely large in number.

One good thing about the weather these days is that nights are no longer as chilly as say a month ago, and are much more comfortable. Humans are curious creatures. They wish for summer in winter, and wish for winter in summer. As for me, I like the less extreme seasons of spring and autumn.

Not too hot, not too cold, not warm and not chilly, that’s the perfect weather for me.

That said, it still doesn’t feel like spring is here yet.

“So in short, I’ve lost my memories, and you’re actually my second sister while Imperial Uncle Liu Bei is my big brother?” Yi De repeated what Yun Chang told her somewhat exasperatedly as she folded her arms.

It doesn’t look like she has remembered anything yet.

Though I’m sitting not too far away from them, I didn’t join the conversation. There are many reasons for this, chief of which is that I’m actually afraid of seeing Yi De’s look of obliviousness like now.

“Un un, that’s it. I can even recite all your favourite foods, like roasted pig trotters for example.”

Bu Yun Chang was still at it.

“I’m really sorry but I don’t actually like to eat meat.” She said as she raised a finger, “I actually like to eat cabbage and white rice.”

What a boring way to eat.

“Eh? That can’t be right! I remember that you’ve always liked to eat meat? Sometimes you even carry meat with your Serpent Spear.”

“… I have no idea what you’re talking about.” Yi De cruelly shook her head as a matter of factly, “Though I do have a serpent spear at hand, it’s nothing more than a decorative weapon. I’m actually someone who’s more suited to administrative work.”

Eh? Suited to administrative work?

Not only was I surprised, so was Yun Chang. And it seems like Yun Chang really couldn’t accept these words at all.

“B, but…”

“Lord Guan Yu, that’s about enough.” Just then, Hua Tuo came over to stop Yun Chang as she shook her head, because she felt that saying any more at this point wouldn’t help.

“… Hai!” Yun Chang sighed audibly and got up to leave. Her back seemed extremely despondent.

As for Yi De who was sitting on the stool, she didn’t seem unperturbed either. She was frowning as she seemed to be grappling with something in her mind.

All lf a sudden, she turned and looked at me. I didn’t expect this and hurriedly sat up right and reached down to fiddle with the fireplace.

“Imperial Uncle Liu, was what Lord Guan Yu said just now really the truth?”

“Eh?” I was stunned at her sudden question but I soon understood why she asked me that.

I really wanted to tell her that it was all true but I’m afraid that even if I do, it will difficult for her to accept it anyway. And if I do tell her, more seeds of doubt might sprout in her heart.

After struggling for a long while, I managed to eke out a smile as I said, “We’ll talk about this another time.”

We’ve already gotten Yi De to come with us. There’s no rush.

—

Hai… I was currently walking around in our encampment before dinner as I slowly gave a long exhalation.

Even though I’d said as much about Yi De earlier, and I did indeed feel that way, I was still deeply troubled by the present situation.

Before I started my walk, I made sure to change into extremely plain clothing. It wasn’t being overly self-conscious, I really was rather recognisable with my usual clothing. It’s been 1 whole day of marching already and I don’t want to trouble the troops by having them nervously bow whenever they see me.

And so, with this in mind, I was currently observing the troops.

Practically none of the 300 I started with were still with me. Even if there were any, I wouldn’t be able to recognise, or them me. Most of the troops now know me only by name but not by face.

In a strange setting where both men and women can join the army, military life isn’t al that different from a small society.

There were young couples, families of 3, 5, and other sizes. They would separate and go to their respective positions and duties in the day and reunite at night.

This arrangement is honestly a little cruel, but also a little fortunate. All in all, I was still in approval of it as families could be together after all.

Speaking of which, there seem to be many new generals after the reunion at Gucheng. Because none of them were talented in only 1 area, they were easier to accept into our fold.

The way Guan Ping addressed Feng Xian and Yun Chang as mothers even though she was more of a little sister was really comical. As for Chen Gong and Zhou Cang, apart from how Zhou Cang did not look at all like how I expected, I can more or less accept the both of them. I hadn’t been able to speak with them at length yet but a chance should arise eventually.

“M, my lord!!!!”

Un? A suppressed cry of surprise came from behind me all of a sudden.

When I turned, I saw a girl with a braided ponytail looking at me with bulging eyes and a wide open mouth, the fruits she had held were now on the ground. She had a small, oval face and smooth eyebrows on top of big, round eyes. She looked so cute that I simply couldn’t imagine her ever looking angry.

As for her clothing, she was wearing the standard military robes. Apart from that, she had on a somewhat old chest guard and 2 bronze wrist guards.

“What has my lord come here for?!,

Looks like I’ve been found out.

“Could you be here to spy on the bad habits of us soldiers? My lord, I have none at all. I don’t even drink liquor. My only snack are fruits. Ah, they fell onto the ground. If my lord doesn’t mind, you can have one.”

“No, no need for that. I was just taking a walk.”

“While you look like you’re just casually strolling about, you’re actually looking to catch some spied?! My lord, I’m not a spy!”

“…” Looks like she’s an easily exciteable type. I squeezed out a smile, and made to quickly leave before more trouble could latch on.

“My lord!” But just then, she grabbed onto my arm all of a sudden and pulled be back just when I had taken a step away.

“My lord, I’m Chen Dao, and I came from Runan! I’ve always heard of my lord, and now I’ve finally joined my lord just as I’ve always wanted! Don’t worry, my lord! No matter what hards.h.i.+ps I have to endure, I will help my lord accomplish his ambitions!”

As she said so, she continued to apply strength into her arms as she swung my arms up and down. Her strength wasn’t small either, and it wouldn’t be an exaggeration to say that she was capable of sending me flying easily.

“I… I see. I didn’t think I would have such a devoted fan.”

“… Fan?”

“Ah no,” Oops, I forgot the era I was in, “I didn’t think I would have such a devoted follower.”

“Ah! I’m nowhere near as good as my lord has described! As long as I can a.s.sist my lord, I’m perfectly satisfied!” She knelt when she finished.

“Eh! Please get up, pleade get up!” I hurriedly went forward to help her up.

Chen Dao, was it? That name doesn’t seem very familiar. Although apart from Guan Zhang Ma Huang, and Guan Ping, Liao Hua, Zhou Cang, w.a.n.g Fu, I don’t really know any other Shu warrior generals.

“Who was your general again?”

“General Zhao Yun, my lord!”

I see, so that’s why she’s standing so rigidly.

*Gu*~ Ah, my stomach is starting to make noises already.

“A, anyway, I’m really grateful for your support. Please do protect me under the premise of taking care of your own life as well in future.”

I hurriedly ended our conversation as I wanted to go for dinner.

“M, my lord…”

“Umm, what are you crying about…”

I didn’t think that words said for courtesy’s sake would move her to tears.

“I just feel that, my lord is really too good to us… I heard that most of the troops were refugees who my lord took in. And you’re so kind to someone like me…”

That was actually Yun Chang.

But I’ve gotten an acute sense of the gap between the poor and the rich in this era. From how things look, Chen Dao’s household probably wasn’t doing too well. And it is this sense of inferiority which has led to her behaving like this to me.

“Don’t look down on yourself like that…” I said with a rougher, more forceful tone as I clapped her arms kindly, “I’ll be counting on you in future!”

“Ah…” She hurriedly wiped away her tears and stood up straight when she heard me, and yelled out, “Yes!!”

Seeing how Chen Dao was like, I was beginning to feel that I hadn’t thought enough about a lot of things. Indeed, this isn’t the time to be solely concentrating on Yi De.

5,000 troops are watching me after all.