Meng De POV

*Da*… *Da*… *Da*…

My horse swept up dust and dirt as I rode through the encampment we set up after the battle. As the smell of dirt and blood filled my nose, the scene of the harsh battle from before played itself again in my eyes.

The sudden arrival of the enemy, the ferocious, endless waves of cavalry, charging in over and over again into my exhausted troops.

Up till now, death throes could be heard all around me. I looked at the troops on either side, and saw that their faces were devoid of the confidence and pride they had when they had set off and they were now ashen-faced and covered in dirt with their eyes half-closed.

When some troops saw me, they tried to stand to salute and bow but they didn’t have the strength to do so. When I saw this, I hurriedly gestured to them that they didn’t need to do so, and wanted to give some words of encouragement but I couldn’t find the words I ought to say.

Just then, the sound of horse hooves could be heard from behind me.

“Meng De.” In the next instant, Yuan Rang appeared beside me. Her face and body were similarly covered in dirt and blood. She heaved and gasped as she held a piece of silk in her hands that was covered in words.

On her face, I couldn’t see her usual fiery demeanor, nor did I hear her say anything about advancing the battle. All I could see was a forced show of strength.

“What is it?”

“The numbers are out.” She said as she waved the piece of silk with a difficult expression.

I brought these troops out here myself so I know what the outcome is roughly speaking. But now that the exact numbers are out, I still have to listen to it and I can also see the variance between reality and my calculations.

“How is it?”

“Un…” Yuan Rang gave an uncharacteristic pause as she slowly opened the piece of silk, and read out from it disheartenedly, “For the expedition to Yi state, 100,000 troops have been drafted. As of now, 16,000 or so have been killed in action. Of the casualties, about half of them are warrant officers or officers. 5,000 or so are missing in action. Most of these disappearances occurred in the marshes near the battlefield, so these could have also been desertions. 11,000 or so have died from various diseases, with water quality and poisonous insects being the primary causes. Additionally, 7,000 or so are injured or have contracted from disease and are unable to fight. About half of these are fatal and won’t last past the month. In total, we have about 40,000 or so casualties. Most of them belong to the Ji, Yan and Qing states, and I’m afraid that there will be production shortfalls in these 3 states for the next few years.”

After Yuan Rang finished, she tore up the piece of silk into tiny bits and threw them away.

It doesn’t look like it on the surface, but Yuan Rang should be incensed inside. If this was the usual, I would have comforted her and sought to get her to let off some steam but I don’t have the heart for it now.

After thinking for a moment, I decided to change the topic, “Yuan Rang, do we still have the chance to take Yi state city?”

“Un, the scouts have reported that Qiuliju has pulled back.” Yuan Rang nodded as she said so but she still had a difficult expression, “Their troops are far fewer than ours after all.”

(TL: Qiuliju is an Wuhuan general)

A victory attained by stacking human lives. This was probably what Yuan Rang wanted to say.

“… Yuan Rang, I’m sorry.”

“Meng De, you don’t need to apologise to me. I know this isn’t your fault.” She reached out and patted my shoulders. There was a fair bit of strength behind her patting and it made me feel like I was sinking, “I was just reflecting.”

“Reflecting on?”

“Reflecting on the fact that I have not fought on the losing side many times and that is why I am so despondent now.”

So that’s what she was thinking about huh? Un, it does make sense.

“Speaking of which, Meng De, are you heading to…” Yuan Rang clearly knew where I was heading to and didn’t continue.

I nodded, “Yes, they paid too high a price in this battle after all.”

Yuan Rang and I came to a rather splendid tent and dismounted before handing our horses over to 2 soldiers at the side. I then steeled myself as I approached the curtains.

After I parted the curtains, I saw that there were 3 people inside, 1 was lying down while 2 were standing. The 2 who were standing had their backs to me so I couldn’t tell what their status was immediately.

“May I ask if it’s Lord Cao Cao?”

Of the 2, the on wearing plain clothing guessed who the visitor was, At this, I hurriedly saluted her wordlessly.

Her name was Yan Xiang, and she is Yuan Shu’s number 1 strategist. She usually likes to comb her hair to the back in a weird style and doesn’t speak much so we don’t really have a lot of opportunities to interact. I can’t see what she looks like now but from the bloodstains and dirt on her clothing, I can tell that she’s been through a lot in this battle as well.

“Lord Cao Cao, the frontlines…”

Ji Ling on the other side turned, and when she confirmed it was me, she seemed nervous and hurriedly walked up to me and asked what the status was. Her plate armour was originally rather provocative to begin with but after this battle, a lot of it was gone and it was even more eye-catching, But at this time, no one would think of such things.

“Don’t worry, Lord Ji Ling. We can conquer Yi state very soon.” Yuan Rang took the initiative and replied her.

At this answer, Ji Ling seemed to be relieved as she sank to the ground onto her knees and closed her eyes and breathed out, “That’s great, my lord’s hard work wasn’t wasted.”

Yes, it wasn’t a waste. The people of the Great Han must remember her, I said in my heart as I s.h.i.+fted my gaze to Yuan Shu who was lying on the bed, and looked with respect at this child who wasn’t very old to begin with.

If Yuan Shu hadn’t broken through the enemy’s formation when they surrounded us, we would have been decimated.

“Ah…” Just then, Yuan Shu who had been lying on the bed quietly let out a soft cry. There was pain and difficulty in the cry, but she was indeed alive.

“My lord.”

“My lord, you’re awake!”

When they saw their lord awaken, Yan Xiang and Ji Ling rushed forward and knelt before Yuan Shu’s bed and waited for her to open her eyes while Yuan Rang and I went forward as well.

“… Un… Th, this is…”

“My lord, this is the main tent.”

“… The battle.”

“The battle is already over, my lord.” Yan Xiang said in a relieved voice, and after she finished, she repeated it again, “The battle is already over.”

Yuan Shu sank into silence and only understood after a while, “The result?”

“We won, Lord Yuan Shu.” Yuan Rang quickly said first, ahead of the other 2, as she was afraid they might say too much and agitate Yuan Shu.

“Huhuhu… That’s great…” Surprisingly, Yuan Shu still laughed like how she usually did. Her laughter was so sweet, and carefree, and didn’t seem any different from a normal child.

“Lord Yuan Shu, the merit for this battle is all yours.” I said as I sat on Yuan Shu’s bedside.

“Of course it is!” Yuan Shu exclaimed in a weak, but lively voice, and paused for moment before she continued, “But… Yan Xiang and Ji Ling did do a lot this time.”

She acts strong the outside but she cares for her subordinates very much, just like her elder sister.

“My lord, it’s been hard on you…” Yan Xiang lowered her head and said in a tearful voice.

“My lord!” Ji Ling on the other side couldn’t say anything and only called out to Yuan Shu.

“What are you crying about, I’m not dead. Ah, Yan Xiang, what’s with your eye…” Yuan Shu was still smiling and reached out to wipe Yan Xiang’s tears when she found that she couldn’t get up, or get off the bed, and retracted her hand, “I see, so that’s why.”

Her legs were gone. During the battle, a poison arrow hit her legs and to save her, they had to amputate both legs. For the same reason, Yan Xiang lost her eye to the stray poison from an arrow.

Yuan Shu was able to understand what happened immediately, and calmly accepted it which was very surprising to me.

At the same time, I was a.s.sailed by an undescribable guilt. It was as if Yuan Shu’s pain was mine.

If I had worked harder, if I had been more diligent with my preparations, this probably wouldn’t have happened.

At the same time, I felt like I owed Ben Chu now. How am I supposed to account for what happened to Yuan Shu after she left her to me? If she feels that there was a nefarious plot behind this, I can’t blame her.

We have all paid far too high a price for this battle.

“Big sis! Big sis!” Just as I was drowning in my hurt, Ren’s frantic cry from outside the tent could be heard.

Before I could turn and ask her why she came, she reported it directly, “Guo Feng Xiao isn’t going to make it!”