Liu Bei POV

“… What a weirdo.” Huang Zu said, and didn’t pursue the matter further as she hoisted the silver spear onto her shoulder and went back to where she was and got into a stance.

Her stance seemed really stable all around. Zi Long had told me before that the most stable stance was the most difficult to maintain. At Huang Zu’s stance, I began to feel respect for her level for skill.

“So, what’s this all about?”

“Eh?”

She asked me again probably because she saw me looking at her.

“Ah, no. I just felt that the Administrator’s martial prowess was really good and I wonder where–”

“None of your business.”

Wu… I’d thought that she would be less fiery at night but she turned out to be every bit as fiery as in the day.

I’ll be leaving then.

I was just about to say this when Huang Zu spoke up, “… My lord taught me my spearsmans.h.i.+p back in the day. My lord’s spearmans.h.i.+p isn’t too good but his stances were indeed very beautiful.”

I didn’t think that Huang Zu wiuld reply me, much less that Liu Biao actually practiced martial arts.

Well, I can imagine him getting the stances down well.

But it seems like I can engage her in a conversation now…

“Speaking of which, the Administrator was saved by Liu Biao back then right?”

I tried to begin a conversation with her by starting with a more common and normal topic but she was still on guard against me and gave me a side glance as though she was wondering what ulterior motive I might have.

At this, I could only smile stiffly and not explain any further. The more I might try to explain myself, the more suspicious I would seem.

After about a dozen seconds or so, she got out of her stance and held her spear just like when we first met and placed it on the back of her neck while she hooked her arms about it. On her face was an expression that looked like she was invincible.

And just like that, she sat down on the ground, “Back then, my village was burnt to the ground by river crooks. My parents died, and he saved the me who was still a child then. — You probably heard all these from other generals already.”

“No, not really.”

Well I did but I can’t say that at this time. It would ruin the mood, and I don’t want her to feel like I like hearing these sort of stories.

I don’t know if she bought my lie, but she continued anyway, “Back then, my lord saved me and granted me the name Huang Zu, with the saying ‘Huang Zu Hao Dang’ in mind. After that, my lord treated me as his own and I too thought of my lord as my own father.”

(TL: Huang Zu Hao Dang or 皇族浩蕩 means something like ‘May the royal graciousness be abundant and ever-present’. By the way, this backstory is completely made up. The Huang clan has always ruled over Jiangxia.)

Looks like she respects and loves Liu Biao very much, though I don’t see what’s to love about Liu Biao.

“But if that’s the case, then why did Liu Biao send you here?”

“It wasn’t my lord, I was the one who asked to be given the order to be sent here.”

She asked for the order?

“Why?”

“Liu Biao has 2 daughters, and treats me as his own family. When the time comes when he has to name a heir, things might get messy when I’m involved. Instead of waiting for that time to come, I thought it would be better if I exited early.”

“So you came to defend this city?”

Huang Zu patted the bricks on the floor with a gratified look, “Jiangxia is an important city. To the east are Sun clan and to the north is Cao Cao. It is a bridgehead that connects Jing state to Jiangdong. For the sake of lightening my lord’s burden, I am willing to defend this place to the death. I don’t have much else that I’m good at, but I do have the ability to fight to the death.”

“… Let me ask something that isn’t very proper, what exactly about Liu Biao makes it worth it to serve him? Is it because he saved you?”

I’ve wanted to pose this question to many generals before. Back in Beihai, I wanted to ask Tais.h.i.+ Ci. Back in Shouchun, I wanted to ask Yan Xiang and Ji Ling. Back in Guandu, I wanted to ask Tian Feng, Yan Liang and all the rest.

Based on what I know, all those feudal lords these generals served weren’t people who had influential power and could change the world. Same goes for Liu Biao. Yet, they all have generals who are absolutely loyal to them and willing to die for them. I don’t know what exactly attracts and keeps them loyal.

Met with this question, Huang Zu thought for a moment, and answered, “This has nothing to do with charisma but feeling. When someone extends a hand to you, and if you can feel some sort of feeling that ‘It’s him’ and a sense of belonging, then he is the one you should serve. To me, Liu Biao Liu Jing Sheng is that person.”

Her answer was very vague, and it might not even qualify as answer.

But I recognise and acknowledge it as an answer. At the very least, I believe that she thinks that way.

“Imperial Uncle, what do you think about Gan Ning?”

Eh? Without any warning at all, she asked me a question on her own accord. And the topic was something that had been swirling about in my mind for a while now.

“Ah…”

“It’s fine, just say what you think.” She gestured to me to continue.

Looks like she’s more stable at night.

“I feel that Gan Ning is a very good warrior general.” I plucked up my courage and said it all out, “Though she’s a little weird at times, on a whole, she is very strong and her judgement is on point. Un… All in all, I feel that she should have been allowed to lead the naval operations.”

I said all of this in almost 1 breath. What really surprised me though, was that she just quietly listened from start to finish, and never interrupted me.

When I finished, she nodded, “Un un, about the same as what I think then.”

“Eh?” Her reply greatly surprised me.

“Then if the Administrator feels the same, why–”

“Though she is effective, I can’t use her.” She was very resolute on this, her tone left no room for negotiation.

“Because Gan Ning was a pirate?”

“Yes.”

As expected.

“But, I didn’t make this decision because I detest pirates.” Just when I felt that my guess was right, she continued, “But it’s because she’s a pirate.”

“…”

“You don’t understand?”

I nodded.

“Then listen closely.” She said as she cupped her ears. I too did the same and heard the sounds of the river coming from the north.

“What do you hear?”

“The flow of the river.”

“The flow of the river is very strong. When the currents are too strong, they will wash ash.o.r.e and flood the fields and villages. Every year, I have to make prepare countermeasures for floods.” As she said so, she exhaled and blew up her fringe, “River pirates spend most of their time in the river, and their nature is much like it. Nothing can contain them, and in the end, they will spill out of their restraints and cause disaster. My lord may have granted her amnesty but I don’t see her loyalty, and everything just seems to be done for form’s sake. I can see that she doesn’t have too much sentiment towards Jing state.”

I somewhat understood what she said. What she means is that Liu Biao will not be able to keep her.

“But it’s not certain that she will be a disaster. Isn’t it a little too early to be saying that?”

All you’ve done is just make Gan Ning hate Jing state even more.

“It’s better to be earlier than late. Having her leave early is better than when she joins the enemy during battle with troops in tow. It will severely dent troop morale then.”

Of course, I can’t say that my personal feelings did not come into play at all.

She added this line on at the end.

“But how does the Administrator know that Gan Ning isn’t loyal to Jing state?”

I still harboured some doubt even though I know that in history, Gan Ning wasn’t willing to stay with Liu Biao.

“Someone who is truly devoted to serving Jing state won’t have times to peer wistfully at the river.” Huang Zu very calmly said, “Even if it’s me, I would only look toward Xiangyang city to the west. She may not be disloyal, but it’s clear that her heart isn’t here.”

Huang Zu’s words seemed so clear and logical that I was almost convinced.

In that instant, I could feel the power of history in influencing Gan Ning and redirecting her heart elsewhere besides Jing state.

I wonder if Huang Zu knows that we are leaving.

I doubt it, since the official doc.u.ments are not delivered here yet. But if we are to leave, how will Huang Zu be able to escape a tragic fate?

“But Administrator, if you don’t use Gan Ning, then the upcoming battle…” I asked, still curious about it.

“You don’t need to worry about the things to come. I will do my very best.” Huang Zu said it very simply this time, and didn’t say that victory was a sure thing, only that she would do her best.

The long fringe on the side of her face hid her expression so I couldn’t see what she was feeling now, but I began to feel sad for her.

I’ve fought many battles big and small since I came to this era but this is the first time that I’ve to partic.i.p.ate in a battle where the only way is a head-on collision and my side is at a gross disadvantage. I’d thought that I would feel more despairing but I didn’t feel particularly down these few days.

Even though I know that the chances for victory are very slim, it feels like something will always work out, that things will be fine as long as I hang on for a while more. This sort of feeling seemed to be what Huang Zu was feeling, and it seemed like she believed in this even more than me.

She didn’t seem to be concerned if we were leaving, and was only concerned about what she could do.

“Hai~” Just then, she gave a long sigh.

“What’s the matter?”

“A year ago, I intercepted Sun Jian here and killed him. Now, his daughter is here to seek revenge with me. Perhaps getting repaid in kind with kind is the will of heaven.”

I felt like these words weren’t directed to me, but more to herself. I’d thought that she felt she could successfully defend Jiangxia. But it seems like she’s already prepared for defeat.

A few months ago, back when I just heard that uncle Sun Jian got killed, I have to say that I hated the one who killed him. But now that I’m on the same side as that very person, it feels like I’ve gotten to understand her.

I wasn’t able to untangle my feelings about this and decided to change the topic as I looked at the side of Huang Zu’s face, “… Administrator Huang Zu, I think you look better with your hair down.”

“What’s this all of a sudden?”

“No, nothing.”

“… If I get the chance in future, I’ll let my hair down outside of battles.”

“Then it’s also best if your fringe–”

“That cannot be done.”

“Alright.” I smiled stiffly.

The next day, Gan Ning left Jiangxia as expected. According to reports, she was headed east, where the Jiangdong encampment was. Before she left, she didn’t say anything, nor did she do anything.

Everyone was saying that Gan Ning left because Huang Zu wasn’t willing to trust her. At this, Huang Zu didn’t say anything and only continued to oversee the port defence works.

Huang Zu’s words continue to swirl in my mind after that.

And now that Gan Ning has left, all that’s left behind is a weaker Jiangxia city.