“What are your plans from now on?” I said to Zhang He who had packed up and was ready to leave.

“My lord is no more, there is no meaning to staying here.” She said with swollen red eyes as she tidied her hair and put on her helmet.

“I’ll be heading to where Yuan Shao is.”

“Eh? Yuan Shao?!” I blurted out.

Shouldn’t that your sworn enemy.

“Don’t misunderstand, I’m going there to cause some trouble.” Zhang He smiled as she got what I meant, “Many things are difficult to solve from the outside so I’ll start from the inside.”

… That really is devious huh~~~

Zhang He hopped onto the warhorse as she finished. “Lord Liu Bei, I leave the funeral matters of my lord to you all.” Zhang He saluted after she finished and galloped out of the city before I could reply.

I just hope that Zhang He doesn’t do anything too extreme. But then again, she’s not Pan Feng or Han Fu so she should know what to do.

But you’re going to leave Han Fu with us just like that? Don’t you want to see her one last time? No, perhaps it is because she has to see Han Fu being lowered into the ground that she isn’t staying.

Though Han Fu’s death is but a minor event in history, as a companion who has been with us for some time, we did have a friendly relations.h.i.+p; and if I said I wasn’t sad, that would be a lie. Moreover to see the death of a young girl right before you, who could accept it easily?

Regarding her death, I feel a fair amount of guilt for if I had detected that there was something wrong with her then, maybe…

But now, there is no maybe.

“Forget it, no point thinking about it too much.”

I shook my head as I knew deep down that death is something commonplace in this era. Because of that, I often prepare myself mentally for it. And now, that preparation has come in handy.

“Yun Chang, get someone to buy a coffin. Then we’ll bury Han Fu.” I turned to Yun Chang.

It was going to be noon soon, the sun was s.h.i.+ning brightly… No good.

“Un, I got it.” Yun Chang was depressed as well but she acknowledged what I said. “I never expected that the usually unreliable little lady would kill herself over the loss of her subordinate general. To be able to go that far, I, Guan Yu, respect her for that.”

To greet death resolutely for the sake of Pan Feng… Huh.

I’d felt it keenly before that their relations.h.i.+p had long since exceeded that of lord and va.s.sal so this sort of action was well within expectations. Perhaps, their relations.h.i.+p can be said to exceed life and death at this point.

“Xuan De,” Hua Tuo seemed to have just woken up and ran over to me. “Why don’t I take a look at her, maybe I can still do something.”

If it’s Hua Tuo, maybe even the dead can be revived but–

“Don’t do it. Lord Han Fu sought death wholeheartedly. Saving her would be equivalent to disrespecting her choice.” I said as I walked off.

“How can we accept things as they are?! Lord Han Fu disrespected life itself, no.” Hua Tuo unhappily replied.

Disrespecting life… Huh. I never thought I’d hear these words in a time of war.

“Forget it, she’s dead for sure. By the time I arrived, Lord Han Fu was no longer breathing nor did she have a pulse .” I said as I waved my hand, “Even if it’s you, I’m afraid there’s nothing that can be done.”

Thinking about it, what I saw really was tragic and sad, to think a cute little girl would stab herself like that… What sort of pain could have driver her to do that? As I thought so, a chill enveloped my heart and I shook my head to dispel this thought.

“Let’s put that aside, on your end, I’ve heard that you’ve been going over and treating General Xiahou Dun right… Did you tell her about the eyeball?” I asked Hua Tuo.

“Of course not! If I did, General Xiahou would probably not eat for a week at least.” Hua Tuo shook her head with a helpless smile.

I think so too… She’ll probably get nauseous when she sees things like tangyuan for her whole life if she knows.

(TL: Tangyuan is also called dumpling but dumpling can mean many things if you know east Asian cuisine. Here it refers to a dessert comprising a ball of flour with a cube of sugar inside that is boiled in sugar water. A lot of variations exist so don’t crucify me if this sounds different from what you know.)

“That’s good. In any case, let’s keep this matter between the both of us. It’s not the sort of information that will help anyone anyway.” I said to Hua Tuo.

“Un, this is a sort of consideration for the patient too.”

I looked at Hua Tuo who was now putting her all in being a doctor, and in my mind, I couldn’t connect her to the infamous Yellow Turban traitor leader Zhang Jue from half a year ago. But that is a good thing, letting Zhang Jue live on as Hua Tuo is good, no?

*Pada* *Pada* *Pada*

Just then, 3 hurried footsteps could be heard.

Ah, it’s the Xu state 3 as expected. Though they do act alone at times, they are almost always inseparable most other times,

“Oh~ Have you 3 come for a walk?” I asked, feeling much better now after talking with Hua Tuo, though I could tell that they weren’t here for a walk. Perhaps there are some doc.u.ments to handle–

“… My lord, please hurry.” “Lord Tao Qian wishes to see you.” “It feels like he can’t last much longer.” The 3 didn’t even stop to catch their breath and delivered this bad news when they came to me.

Even Lord Tao Qian is going to–

My heart sank once more.

“Hua Tuo! Quick follow me, there’s work for you!!!” I urged Hua Tuo as she followed me back to Tao Qian’s room.

“Lord Tao Qian!” I called out as we neared his room. After I entered, the sight of Tao Qian who was weaker than I’d ever seen him greeted me.

“He won’t make it this time…” Hua Tuo said after she took his pulse and shook her head, “His life is spent, he will be gone soon.”

“Is there no way at all?” I tried asking again, but she only shook her head.

“Xuan De should quickly make a decision about being the Governor now. This is, after all, the biggest worry that Lord Tao Qian still has.”

The Xu state 3 standing behind nodded.

That’s a little too rushed, even if you say it like that, I can’t–

“Lord Liu Bei… Liu Bei… *Ke* *Ke*~~”

“Ah, I’m here.” Hearing Tao Qian call me, I flew to his side. From up close, I realised that Tao Qian was so pale, it seemed like his blood was drained out.

“Lord Liu Bei…” Tao Qian suddenly grabbed my arm and opened his eyes wide as he put all the strength he had left into the words that symbolised what mattered the most to him. “Xu state… Xu state…”

Really, why do you want me to take over so badly…

Just as I was hesitating, the Xu state 3 walked up to me and bowed deeply.

“Please make a decision.” “If you don’t take over Xu state now, Lord Tao Qian will not rest in peace.” “So troublesome, just quickly agree to it, will you.”

These 3 really had to come and pressure me huh. But at the end of the day, I have no experience at all. Don’t think I learnt anything at all on Anxi county.

But by now, the commoners in the city know who I am so that’s one box checked. But this wasn’t the reason why I wouldn’t accept Xu state.

If I accept it just like that, I will undoubtedly become a target for all the surrounding feudal lords. With our meager troops, I highly doubt we will be able to fend them off.

Putting it simply, I can’t accept Xu state as I have no means to protect it.

“Xu state…” Tao Qian was still uttering the same words as before. Looking at Tao Qian, I could tell that he was barely conscious but even so, he still clung onto life so he could hear my reply.

“My lord!!” The Xu state 3 beside me urged me once more.

What do I do, Yun Chang and the rest aren’t here so now I can only count on myself.

Hua Tuo? Right, Hua Tuo is here.

“Personally, I place greater emphasis on my subordinates’ views than my own.” I said as I turned to Hua Tuo. “Hua Tuo, what do you– Eh?”

Hu…

Hua Tuo, how can you doze off at a time like this!

“Eh? Eh?!” Hua Tuo slowly opened her eyes, completely oblivious to what had happened, “Eh!! A, are you talking to me?”

“Un…” I nodded wordlessly.

— Reject, or at least buy more time for me.

Is what I tried to tell her with my eyes.

“Th, that… Isn’t that good? The food is delicious here and the beds are comfortable.” Hua Tuo said as she gave a satisfied smile, seems like she really likes it here.

However, she did not get what I wanted to tell her with my eyes.

Ah… I forgot. With her vision, she probably can’t even see my eyes.

“Ah, that…”

My eyes glazed over as I regretted my decision to seek someone else’s counsel. But, Tao Qian’s excited eyes made me unable to refuse it and I could only delay things as I looked at everyone in turn.

In the end, I realised that there was no way for me to reject him in such an atmosphere.

“… Alright. I got it.” I sighed as I said so, and got closer to Tao Qian as I said in a soft tone, “I accept Xu state.”

“Un un.” “That’s a good lord of ours.” “We’ll go get the official seal for you right now.”

The 3 of them were elated when they heard my words and went off to do the necessary preparations for my appointment.

Personally I was hoping they wouldn’t be so hasty about as I wasn’t in a rush about it to begin with. Hai, it’s all because of that extra ‘boost’ Hua Tuo gave me.

“Ah, I have to go prepare medicine for General Xiahou.” Hua Tuo felt a strange pressure on the air and slipped off as well.

At this time, there was only me and Tao Qian in the room. It was completely silent, until a long exhalation sounded out.

It wasn’t me, it was Tao Qian.

“Hai–” Tao Qian put some strength in his limbs and actually sat up in front of me!!

— This was the first time seeing him do any physical exertion.

He looked at me and broke into a wide smile. “Now that you’ve agreed to take on Xu state, I can relax.”

The Tao Qian before my eyes was an old man with a healthy glow in his cheeks who still had a head of black hair. From an outsider’s point of view, one would think that Tao Qian still had decades left in him. n.o.body would have guessed that he was a sickly, dying man just a moment ago.

This made me doubt that Tao Qian was ill to begin with for a moment. However, the truth was something much less hopeful.

“You’re… Alright now?”

“Kekeke.” He only laughed in response. His smile was radiant, but this smile also told me that this was a man who is about to pa.s.s through death’s door.

“I don’t know what has happened. I only know that my body felt alive and energetic all of a sudden after you promised me.”

“Ah…” I nodded.

Could it be that… This is the so-called last burst of life before death?

I know that this short time is very precious and decided to ask Tao Qian the one question that had been troubling me all this while before it would be too late.

“Can you please answer one question of mine? While you’re still awake and well.”

“Un? Go ahead.” He said as he waved his hand.

“I want to ask you, what were you thinking, when you let that Yellow Turban escort Cao Song?”

“…” Tao Qian went silent for a bit, his satisfied smile still remaining on his face, before he looked towards me and gave me an ambiguous reply, “Who knows~~~”

“Oi! Lord Tao Qian~”

“Hahaha~” He laughed as he rubbed his bony hands, and continued, “Let me be honest then. At that time, it was the Yellow Turban who volunteered himself to be the escort.”

“… And you let him?”

“Of course I knew he had wicked designs. But I have to admit I don’t really like that Cao Cao fellow.” Tao Qian said as he rubbed his head.

“Why is that?”

“Because I can’t read her.”

“Can’t read her?”

Tao Qian’s words made me recall what Cao Song had said about his daughter.

“Un,” He nodded, “I don’t understand what Cao Cao is thinking, and cannot be sure if she is really supporting the Han or if she is plotting to overthrow the Han.”

“But what does this have to do with her father?”

“Perhaps, I was thinking to test the waters with this act, and see how much Cao Cao can tolerate. I didn’t think that I would reel in something I couldn’t handle.” Tao Qian burst into laughter, though his laughter sounded very dry and bitter.

“And… Now?”

“Un?”

“What kind of person do you think Cao Cao is now?”

From where I stand, I don’t think Meng De is a good person but she definitely isn’t evil. She is just a very intelligent person who doesn’t know how to express herself or depend on others.

(TL: This depiction of Cao Cao is surprisingly accurate. For all of what Cao Cao did, he never took the throne for himself. His evil or ‘evil’ acts, as you will see later in his volume and others, are more often than not, him losing control out of grief.)

So, I believe Meng De is truly supporting the Han, albeit in a different way than what we would do.

“…” Tao Qian looked at me for a while before saying, “Probably, the same as what you’re thinking.”

Eh!!

Did he read my thoughts?

“Alright~ I have to be going soon.” Tao Qian gave another long exhalation and seemed weaker than before, “Before I go, I have some words to say, for you and for Cao Cao.”

“Un, I’ll make sure to listen and deliver them.”

Knowing that his time was up, I drew closer to him to listen to his last words.

“To you,” He said slowly as he pointed a trembling finger at me, “You have a long way ahead of you. My tiny Xu state will definitely not be enough to contain you. This Xu state will become a stepping stone for your grand ambitions. Use it boldly.”

(TL: Just a note here that Xu state isn’t actually tiny. Tao Qian’s lands were one of the bigger areas at the start of the Three Kingdoms.)

“… Un.” I sank into my thoughts for a moment before quickly nodding in reply.

“To Cao Cao,” He raised his hand with great difficulty and pointed outside the city, “What I want to say is–”

He said it in a very soft voice, but I did indeed hear it.

“Such simple words, you should say them to her yourself.” I said as I looked kindly at the cute old man.

“Let an elder save some face, will you?” Tao Qian laughed and then lay back down. “Hai~ So tired~”

Looking at Tao Qian, I knew he had just moments left. But I felt that I had to seek his permission for something that just came to mind.

“Now that you have entrusted me with Xu state, can I do what I want with Xu state to protect its people?”

No matter how much I thought, I felt that the me now cannot protect Xu state.

“If the people can be protected–” Tao Qian lay on the bed and replied, but could not continue and only nodded to finish what he said.

“Thank you.” I got up and saluted him.

“..” He shook his head wordlessly.

“…”

“…”

“Are you leaving now?”

“… Un.” He nodded his head slightly and grunted in reply.

Is that so.

Then please have a good trip.

I silently prayed in my heart, and before a minute pa.s.sed, the only sounds that were left in the room was my own breathing.

Asleep again?

… Perhaps this time, Tao Qian will sleep a little longer.

I thought for a while in the room and knocked out the kinks in my plan before walking out of Tao Qian’s room and saw that everyone had gathered outside.

“Big brother, Lord Tao Qian…” Yi De said sadly.

I nodded.

“My lord.” “This is the official seal.” “From the moment you receive it, you are formally be the Governor of Xu state and our new lord.”

Mi Zhu brought the official seal before me. I looked at the 3 of them and saw streaks of tears on their faces.

If they said they had no feelings for Lord Tao Qian, that would be a lie. Tao Qian was probably a father figure to them.

Before I received the official seal, I looked at everyone, and seeing them nod, I finally put my hand on the official seal.

At that very moment, Gong You, Zi Zhong and xiao Yong got down on one knee.

“We recognise you as our lord.” The 3 said in one clear voice.

“Please get up, you all should know by now we don’t do that sort of thing here.” I hurried forward and pulled them up.

“Well then.” “Our positions now are–” “As newly hired officials, we should be promoted no matter what.

The moment they got up, they started looking to get something out of me… But really, what are the official ranks available in the first place?

“In, in any case, just stay by my side and think of schemes, policy and plans, that sort of thing.”

“Stay by your side…” “Aiya, why do you have to be so mushy about it.” “Th, that means we are your advisers then.”

“Ah, ah, that’s it.”

But what’s so mushy about it?

… But according to my plans, my time as Governor of Xu state will end shortly.

Lord Tao Qian, perhaps this isn’t what you want to see but right now, this is the best I can do.

“Ah, now then—-” I said.

“Hai~~~ Now we’re getting 3 more.”

“Little sister, quality is more important than numbers.”

“But really, there are a lot to begin with even without these 3.”

“My lord you really have a lot of fighting spirit huh. But I, Zhang Liao, won’t lose either.”

“Big sister Gan, what do we…”

“Maa, just follow me. Don’t worry.”

“Lord Sun Qian, Lord Mi Zhu, Lord Jian Yong, can you 3 walk closer so I can have a better look?”

“Un.” “Okay.” “But you really should stop squinting…”

Ahem–

I cleared my throat audibly, and only then did they stop chatting.

“Ah, as the Governor of Xu state, what I need to do now is to safeguard the lives of the people of Xu state.” I declared after everyone quieted down. “But we do not have that ability now, what do we do then?”

“Pre-emptive strike!”

“Yi De, you were quick to answer first but unfortunately, that’s the wrong answer.”

“Eh?”

“Strengthen the city defences.”

“That’s the usual thing people will do but we don’t have that time now. If Yuan Shao wants to invade us, she can be outside our gate by tomorrow.”

I looked at everyone and saw that they could only think in terms of attack and defence, but neither were the most effective—-

“Give?”

This one word I threw out seemed to went past everyone except the Xu state 3 who nodded.

“Un, all we have to do is give Xu state away, and the people can be safe.”

“But to whom?” Yun Chang said with a frown. “We cannot be sure the one who takes it is a righteous ruler. If we give it to a tyrant or an inept feudal lord, things will get worse.”

“There’s a candidate already.” “Since my lord has said as much, he probably has someone in mind already.” “Stop the suspense and say it.”

That should be my line to you 3…

“Ahem, that candidate–” I pointed outside the city, “Isn’t she camping outside already?”