Liu Bei POV

After we rea.s.sembled our troops, we followed Huang Zu, Gan Ning, and the rest of the Jiangxia troops into Jiangxia city. At this time, it was approaching the evening and wasn’t night yet but the city was empty and dead silent.

I felt that this probably wasn’t because of a superst.i.tious fear about demons emerging in evening but because of martial law. And so, seeing that everything was currently under such tight control, the situation was probably quite dire.

Sometime earlier, Chen Dao had reported to me our strength. Of the 2,500 troops under my command, more than half were dead or gravely injured, and so the only ones that could still fight numbered about 1,200 or so. On my side at least, things were looking pretty bad.

Along the way, n.o.body asked Huang Zu what the situation was like at Jiangxia city, nor did anyone ask about Liu Qi’s status. This was because I felt a little disinclined toward speaking to Huang Zu who looked every inch like a thug, and also because I could largely guess what the situation was like.

Even in the best case scenario, Liu Qi shouldn’t have more than a thousand or so left. As for Huang Zu’s side, based on what Liu Qi said earlier, her garrison shouldn’t be too big.

Though I’m no expert at strategies and tactics yet, under these circ.u.mstances, the only way we can keep the city is to turtle in and weather the siege.

“Hai…” Chen Gong who was riding beside me sighed.

This was the third time since just now already. The first time was when she met Huang Zu, the second time was when she heard our remaining strength, and the third was now when we entered the city. She didn’t say what she was thinking but I know that what she’s thinking about is probably no too far off from what I’m thinking.

“Oh~ It’s so dark in the city~”

“Lord Zhou Cang, don’t move about too much or you will fall off.”

Of course, there is someone around who is still looking about every which with curiosity despite our present predicament. She really doesn’t feel any pressure at all. How could she still have the energy to take in the sights at this time?

“Oh right, are you injured my lord? Do you have any scratches? My techniques aren’t too good but I should bandage any injuries or cuts you might have when we get the time later.” Just then, Chen Dao turned and spoke to me as she took out some bandages from behind her chest guard.

“Ah… Un, alright.”

I have a general who cares for me like a nanny. Though I do have to admit I’m quite touched by her actions and devotion.

Hai, never mind. What’s most important is that we’re safe and alive.

“Alright, we’re here.” Just then, Huang Zu who was in front said so, and raised the hand she held the reins with to gesture us to stop.

“Umm…” I was about to ask her what she meant but Huang Zu silenced me with a finger to her lips.

“The north of the city is where you will be setting up camp. Look over there, Young Mistress Liu and her troops have already set up camp. Since you came together, you can set up camp on the same area.”

“Ah, thank you very…”

“No need for that. I will send someone to bring you over for a welcome banquet in an hour’s time.” Before I could finish my words and complete a salute, she cut me off.

“Jia!” And before I could even inquire as to what she meant, she swung her reins and left with her other troops.

Gan Ning who was at the side bowed to me before hurrying after them, her white scarf swaying in the wind behind her.

In that case, I’ll just have to follow her orders for now.

“Chen Dao, tell everyone to set up camp and rest for the night.”

“Yes.” Chen Dao went to make the necessary arrangements after acknowledging the order. I turned back and saw that the troops were all exhausted. Even though our fighting strength was over a thousand, they wouldn’t last very long on the battlefield with the scant amount of plate armour they had left.

Hai, this is really worrying.

“Imperial Uncle, I feel that we should start doing reconnaissance and find a path of retreat.” Chen Gong spat this line out unhappily without warning whatsoever.

“Chen Gong! Softer!” I hurriedly stopped her from elaborating further in an audible tone so that the troops wouldn’t hear her, “Things aren’t too clear yet. If the Jiangxia garrison is decently large, we may still have a chance.”

“Does Imperial Uncle think that the garrison will be very large? In the battle just now, the main force was only able to equal the Jiangdong forces which numbered about 5-6,000. From what I see, the garrison is just 3-4,000.”

“This…” Her words really struck home, and I was unable to refute them at all.

“With the circ.u.mstances as they are, I doubt Imperial Uncle is unaware of how dire a situation we are in. Even if we are the defending side in a siege battle, the enemy only needs to have 3 times our numbers to be able to mount a successful siege. And the required strength would just be 15,000. With such few troops on our side, I doubt we will last longer than 3-5 days.”

“Un… But even so, we need to stay and defend Jiangxia.”

Or are you asking me to desert?

“… Never mind. We’ll see how things are like before we discuss any further. Some words aren’t too appropriate at this time.” Chen Gong said as she raised her head and looked at the setting sun. She blinked twice before dragging her thick platform shoes and headed towards the troops at the back.

Compared to Chen Gong, I was a little more optimistic. Jiangxia city’s walls were rather thick after all so it wouldn’t be too easy to break them. If we can outlast the next attack, the next wave of reinforcements may be able to make it in time.

Hai, I really wish that I have a copy of the Romance of the Three Kingdoms (Original fiction) or the Records of the Three Kingdoms (Historical). Then I could have a good look at how this battle will proceed and end.

“Imperial Uncle, you’re here.”

“Ah?” I came back to reality and looked behind when I heard someone call out to from behind.

The one who called me had a high ponytail and was wearing Taoist robes while she looked at me with a serious gaze.

“Yi Ji?” I replied, and then hurriedly asked when I thought of Liu Qi, “How is it? Are any of you hurt? Is Liu Qi alright?”

“Everything’s good, thanks to you.”

“Ah, it’s good that everything’s good.”

Yi Ji stood up straight and very respectfully bowed and saluted to me. I felt embarra.s.sed about it and saluted back.

“Here, I would like to represent my lord and thank Imperial Uncle.” She bowed once more as she said so, “If it weren’t for Imperial Uncle’s a.s.sistance today, we would not have been able to join up with General Huang Zu and would be in grave danger.”

“Ah, that’s what I should have done. We’re both part of the same reinforcing army so we should help each other. If it weren’t for Liu Qi who charged in first, I would not have been able to learn about the enemy’s formation, and I wouldn’t have been able to draw them away.”

“I am actually quite curious about that point.”

“Eh?”

Yi Ji’s curiosity was piqued once more and her serious look made me tense up.

“Imperial Uncle was able to oversee the entire battlefield and read the flow of battle. If it were someone else, they would either charge into the enemy and decisively end the battle one way or another, or wait for this opportunity to present itself. You did neither. Instead, you sacrificed yourself for us, and drew away the enemy. This could have led to the enemy taking notice of you and concentrating their entire forces on you. Why did you do so?”

Haha… I was indeed noticed. And I nearly died too.

I was planning to laugh it off, but seeing how serious she was, I decided to be honest.

“Back then, Chen Gong did say we should wait. But the reason why I didn’t do so is only because of 1 reason, and 1 reason alone.” I said, and instinctively raised 1 finger as I said so, and Yi Ji, for some reason, stared fixedly at this finger, “That is because I don’t want you all to think that I’m treating you all as bait.”

“Eh? That’s it?” She asked while still staring at my finger.

“That’s it. Of course, I felt that this was an effective way to save you all.” I nodded and moved my finger to the side.

“… Imperial Uncle is really weird.”

Interesting, her gaze was following my finger still.

“Eh? Really?” I said as I moved my finger again.

“Really.”

She continued to follow my finger.

Hahaha… I laughed dryly and didn’t know how to continue the conversation so I just moved my finger about and toyed with Yi Ji who followed my finger with her eyes.

By the time she realised what I was doing, I’d had 5 minutes of fun.

We were still in the midst of setting up camp when Huang Zu’s officer came to get us.

And this officer was Gan Ning.

“We aren’t done yet though.”

“It’s fine. Just leave it be. I’ll send some people over to help you out later.” Gan Ning’s voice was slightly m.u.f.fled because of her scarf but I could still make out what she said.

“That will be great then.”

Since she said as much, then I’ll just go with it, and hurriedly followed Gan Ning with my 3 companions to the welcome banquet.

I was rather surprised though. Based on Gan Ning’s capabilities, she should at least be a middle-upper ranking officer. I wonder if this means that Huang Zu thinks highly of us if she sent someone that high up to receive us.

Though I was thinking about such things, the 3 people beside were clearly not thinking about such serious things at all.

“When we get to banquet, I’ll empty every plate on the table!”

“Lord Zhou Cang being lively and energetic is good. But please pay attention to your decorum when emptying the plates. Don’t throw our lord’s face.”

“Why are you lot so dumb? It’s obvious that you should be as parsimonious as possible at such banquets. That way, we have more to take away when the banquet is over.”

These 3 are practically mad from hunger. Even Chen Gong is saying such unbecoming words.

Un, I won’t lose to them.

“Ah, right. What about Lord Liu Qi?” I asked when I remembered that though we were camping in the same place, I only ran into Yi Ji but not her or Wen Ping.

“We invited everyone in batches. Based on etiquette, the guest of honour will be invited first followed by the other guests. And so the Young Mistress was invited first. I seek your understanding on this.”

“Ah, un, I understand.”

I was a little surprised. In my impression, Gan Ning should be a more lively person. I’m really sorry about my use of adjectives but that’s all I know. I don’t know what Gan Ning did, but I know that Gan Ning is a formidable person, like really formidable.

But looking at Gan Ning now, apart from her special get-up with her scarf and the bell, I don’t see anything special or different about her.

Ah, and the way she holds her blade. Perhaps she’s a peace-loving person like Feng Xian?

Along the way, all I did was basically observe this Gan Ning person. She should have noticed me doing so, but she didn’t say anything to me. As for me, I didn’t actually observe anything special.

“Imperial Uncle, everyone, we’re here.” Gan Ning said after she brought us to another encampment.