Lu Meng POV

Hu… I heaved a long sigh of relief as I sat on the s.h.i.+p.

“Lord Lu Meng, the river has been cleaned up. All s.h.i.+ps that are destroyed have been sunk and those that are salvageable have been sent for repairs at the dock.”

Good. I didn’t say anything and only nodded and clapped. This action is so refres.h.i.+ng. You got to act like this to really feel like a commanding officer.

“Is Lord Major going to reward me with money?” Pan Zhang said, putting a dampener on my high spirits once more.

“No. If you want monetary rewards, then go find our lord.”

Un?

“Pan Zhang, has the matter of Huang Zu been settled?” I said as I s.h.i.+fted my gaze to Pan Zhang. My body was still wet but I didn’t have any intention to dry myself yet.

Pan Zhang’s purple braids were raised slightly more than usual. Looks like she used that weird technique of hers just now.

“It’s settled. Administrator Huang Zu and Vanguard Chen Jiu were slain on the spot while Su Fei was taken prisoner.”

“Su Fei?”

“Yes,” She nodded and leaned on the railing of the s.h.i.+p, “I was planning on ending her quickly but Gan Ning stopped me.”

“That Gan Ning huh? Is it because that Su Fei took care of her before?”

“Seems to be the case. When she asked me to spare her, she did mention that Su Fei stood up for her and recommended her before.”

“I see.”

“In any case, we have kept that general alive for now. What do we do next?”

“That isn’t up to us,” I said softly and began to use a woolen towel to dry my hair, “Our lord Sun Quan will be here shortly, and how things will go will depend on her.”

I’d thought that Gan Ning would be more cold-blooded but looks like she’s quite the sentimental person after all.

But now that I think about it, it’s only human for her to be like that.

“Ma Zhong, Pan Zhang, let’s go.” I said as I picked up ky hookswords and got ready to disembark.

As I looked toward the stern, behind my flags.h.i.+p was an even larger s.h.i.+p which was 4 storeys tall. Be it capacity or size, it’s greater than my flags.h.i.+p by several times at least.

And on that s.h.i.+p was my lord, as well as Lord Zhou Yu and Lord Lu Su, I thought as I descended the wooden staircases.

Waiting for me at the end were several people. I don’t know if sister Dong is being sensitive or if it’s her kindness but she very naturally stood in the middle, between Ling Tong and Gan Ning. She was also rather large so there was no way their eyes would meet and conflict wouldn’t arise.

“Lord Lu Meng.” Sister Dong greeted me and saluted and bowed when she saw me disembark while the other 2 quickly followed suit.

“Sister Dong need not be so formal. You both should arise as well.” I hurriedly went forward and helped Dong Xi up before I continued, “How is it? Have we taken Jiangxia city?”

“There was no resistance in the city. They surrendered immediately.”

After sister Dong finished, Gan Ning continued, “Seems like Huang Zu gave an order that if she died, they need not continue defending.”

Oh?

“Of course, there isn’t much left to defend the city anyway.” Ling Tong was still in a dour mood, though it seems like she’s ever so slightly better after this victory. This might be related to why she isn’t clas.h.i.+ng with Gan Ning anymore.

“Let’s go then. Our lord is waiting for us in the big s.h.i.+p to the back. Gan Ning, don’t forget the necessary proprieties later.”

Gan Ning wordlessly nodded.

“Ma Zhong, Pan Zhang, go ahead with Ling Tong and Gan Ning.” I said and went to the back, to speak with sister Dong.

“Are the people in the city alright?” I asked sister Dong in a very soft voice when I came up beside her.

Ling Tong might not have realised that the reason why I sent sister Dong with her was so that she could stop Ling Tong if she went wild.

As I said to Imperial Uncle Liu from before, I don’t wish to make the people suffer.

However, sister Dong only shook her head relaxedly when met with my doubts and worries, “Lu Meng worried too much. Ling Tong didn’t do anything when she entered the city.”

Sister Dong’s eyes were filled with kindness as she said so, looking every inch like a kind older sister. If it weren’t for my current position as the commanding officer, I would probably have leapt into her arms.

“Oh? So I worried too much then?” But I can’t do that now. Got to control myself.

“You did…” When she said so, her gaze s.h.i.+fted to Gan Ning before she continued, “If I have to say why, then it’s thanks to the newcomer Gan Ning.”

“What’s up with Gan Ning? Did Ling Tong stop after they had another fight?”

“Hahaha, how could that be? I already said that Ling Tong didn’t do anything.” She elegantly laughed before closing her eyes as she continued relaxedly, “Gan Ning was able to retrieve Lord Ling Cao’s intact corpse.”

“Eh?!” I’d heard that the siege from before was disastrous and Zhu Zhi and Zhu Ran lost close to half of their troops. To think that Gan Ning was able to retrieve Ling Cao’s corpse from the corpses strewn all over.

“And what happened?” I continued.

“Lord Ling Cao’s corpse had no slash nor stab wounds.”

“Oh? So that means that it wasn’t Gan Ning who killed her then.”

“Un… You can say that, but that isn’t entirely correct either.”

“What do you mean?”

Sister Dong raised her left hand and extended her index finger, “If we were to say that Gan Ning didn’t kill her, then that would mean that Ling Cao lost balance and fell off the walls.”

She then extended her middle finger and continued, “It’s not entirely correct to say that Gan Ning didn’t kill her either, as Ling Cao wouldn’t have fallen to her death of Gan Ning didn’t force her back.”

“What a troublesome matter.”

“Be a little softer. If Ling Tong hears you, there will be another ruckus again.”

As I said before, I can understand how Ling Tong feels. But war is war, and leaving aside whether Gan Ning did actually kill Ling Cao, Ling Cao’s death on the battlefield is something normal. And now that Gan Ning has joined us, Ling Tong’s hatred is understandable as well.

But the problem now is, the matter has gotten overly complicated. Ling Tong couldn’t possibly accept that her mother fell down naturally because her balance was poor.

Then she should be–

“Then what did Ling Tong do when she learnt of this?”

“‘Gan Ning! Even if it’s like this! I will still be your blood enemy! Don’t think you can get out of this!’ She said that and after that, she became a lot calmer.”

As expected huh.

Even though it makes logical sense, it’s difficult to accept it on an emotional level. And so, I can’t blame Ling Tong for being like this. She’s probably feeling very distressed, sorrowful and complicated inside.

But 1 thing is clear. Those 2 cannot be sent out to battle with just the 2 of them. Their relations aren’t too bad now, but neither will it improve.

I better let my lord Sun Quan know later on. Of course, there is also 1 other more important matter to speak with her about…

“Lu Zi Ming– Oi– Lu Zi Ming–” Just then, a yell came from the distance. When I looked over, I saw that it was Zi Jing.

“Look, sister Dong, Zi Jing has come to receive us.” I excited pointed.

“Ah… If only Lord Sun Jing were here at this time. This takes me back to the battle of Kuaiji. Back then, I just came here…”

Here we go again.

But never mind, today is a day of celebration and it’s fine to let her go on for a bit.

Ah… I wonder how my lord Sun Quan is going to praise me.

—

I chatted and joked with Zi Jing as we embarked the s.h.i.+p and made our way to the deck. On the deck were troops in neat uniforms and glistening weapons that made for a majestic sight.

As expected, the appearance of lord’s s.h.i.+p is above that of the general’s s.h.i.+p. Though I feel a little unsatisfied with this, I feel proud as well of how far we’ve come.

“Is our lord doing well lately?” I asked Zi Jing as we walked ahead, followed by Gan Ning and Ma Zhong, with Pan Zhang, sister Dong and Ling Tong bringing up the rear.

Though I’ve heard most of the situation from sister Dong, I can’t lower my guard and let something irreparable happen.

“Good, good. She even mentions you all from time to time in this period.”

Oh? She did?

“How is our lord doing with her studies of late?”

“I heard from Zhang Zhao and the rest that she’s doing well.” Zi Jing paused for a moment before continuing, “Seems like after Lord Liu Bei left, our lord thinks of him from time to time and mutters something about not wanting to lose to him.”

Hahaha.

He too smiled when he said this, as he reminisced about the scene.

“It’s good to have that thought. Ever since our lord Sun Ce has retired, our lord Sun Quan has to improve.”

“I suppose– Haa~~~” Zi Jing yawned as he replied me. Unlike other generals, strategists and administrative officials, he always faces others when he yawns.

I don’t hate this, but I hate that he always pa.s.ses his yawns to others.

Haa~ I really can’t resist at all.

“You’re so irritating. It’s still so early in the day, why are you yawning huh~”

“Excuse me, excuse me,” Zi Jing flicked his ponytail behind and clasped his hands in front in an apologetic gesture, “I’ve been pulling late nights in the north recently so I’m lacking sleep.”

“The north… Ah, Cao Cao’s troops arrived at Xu state right?” I nodded in realisation when I recalled it, “How is it at Xu state? Has anything big happened?”

“Nothing at all,” He waved his hand irritatedly in front of his tired face, “During these few days while you were fighting, we’ve been doing reconnaissance work and all we learnt in the end were that the ones stationed at Xu state were 2 generals. One is called Man Chong while the other is Tian Yu.”

“Who are they?”

Zi Jing shrugged, “Gong Jin said that these 2 were personally sent by Cao Cao so no matter what, we have to be on guard against them.”

Un… If Gong Jin said that, then she must have a reason for that.

“Ah, right. Speaking of Gong Jin, is she coming today as well?”

Zi Jing shook his head as a wry smile spread across his gace, ,Someone has to keep watch in the north so we drew straws. I won so I’m here~~”

He looks so gleeful. I wonder what Gong Jin is feeling now.

“I’ll send some men over to bolster defences in the north after this then. The matter over here has been settled and Liu Biao is unable to retake this area in a short time.”

“Un… About that…” Zi Jing suddenly became hesitant when it came to this.

What is the matter?

“Lu Meng Meng~~~~~”

“Ah~”

Just then, a girl sprang out from the curtains in front of me and pinned me to the ground as she rubbed her face with mine vigorously.