Liu Bei POV

This was a conclusion that naturally followed, and Liu Qi agreed with it as well, “Yes, our heads will probably roll in a while more.”

That’s fast… I was still hoping that they wouldn’t act at all. In fact, I am still hoping for that but that doesn’t seem very likely.

No matter what, looks like the likelihood they will act tonight is high.

“Alright, what do we do, uncle?”

And now we go back to square one.

Un… I began to ponder on how we ought to overcome this quandary with our 1:5 disadvantage.

What could allow us and the 50 or so troops defeat our enemies who number about 250?

… Isn’t there a very easy solution? I just have to let Zhou Cang, Chen Dao and Wen Ping charge at them! And just turn on musou mode!

Hahaha, no no no, that’s impossible. I quickly refuted my own thoughts. Though they are strong, I don’t think that the 3 of them can defeat several hundred on their own.

… Even if they can, I feel like it will be very shameful of me to propose this.

“Well, how about having our troops stall them while we swiftly escape?”

“No good, Cai Mao will definitely malign us thereafter.”

“All we need to do is explain ourselves first.”

“That’s impossible.” Liu Qi emphasised her point as she frowned, “Lady Cai is always by father’s side so she will definitely be faster. And the one who says it first will always have more trustworthiness.”

Un… Looks like that won’t work then.

“Can I seek my companions’ views?” I felt like I was out of depth here and wanted to seek the advice of my companions.

“No, just as I said from the very beginning, it’s for the best if only the 2 of us know about this.” As she said so, her eyes widened as she looked at me with suspicion, “Could it be that uncle has said it to the, already?”

“Of course not.” I hurriedly shook my head.

“But I feel that we should share this with them now that it has become an extremely dire situation even if we hadn’t before. It’s better to have more manpower on our side after all.”

“…” Liu Qi didn’t say anything, probably because she disagreed with what I said.

“Then how about Yi Ji at least? Doesn’t Yi Ji know about this?”

“Un, she does indeed know about it. This was something she brought up after all.” Liu Qi said but she didn’t nod.

“Then what’s wrong about it?”

“But this doesn’t mean that she is trustworthy,” She looked at me and said resolutely, “She may have raised this to induce nervousness in me. And if we should seek her advice, that would mean that we have no way of dealing with the situation at hand and it could result in a disadvantageous situation for us.”

Ah… How can you say it like that?

I felt that Liu Qi’s words were very off. It seems like she lacks some very fundamental things in her relations.h.i.+ps with her subordinates.

“Liu Qi, it couldn’t be that you don’t even trust your own subordinates right?”

“That’s not it. It’s just that I have no reason to trust them on this.” She pointed at me as she continued, “Uncle is different. We both have a common enemy, and you are a thorn in Cai Mao’s side so you won’t bring harm to me.”

“Aren’t you afraid that I might have secretly formed an alliance with Cai Mao?” I began to get angry and asked provocatively.

“That’s impossible. Uncle isn’t that smart and Cai Mao isn’t that stupid either.”

Wu… I have no way of retorting her at all. And my anger from before was completely doused by those words.

“Does Liu Qi really think that way?” I paused for a moment before I continued, “Do you really think that Yi Ji and Wen Ping are not trustworthy?”

“… I’m just being objective.” Liu Qi seemed to feel that she had gone a little overboard and sank into silence for a moment before she continued, “Cai Mao sent troops so there is definitely a commander here as well. Someone she trusts and is capable. And we don’t know who that is.”

“That’s true, but I doubt that anyone amongst our subordinates would be said commander.”

“That’s difficult to say,” Liu Qi shook her head, “Or perhaps uncle hasn’t had too many experiences with treachery.”

As she said so, Liu Qi’s expression became darker. I can more or less guess what she might have gone through and it probably wasn’t nice at all for her to become like this.

It’s not understandable. She’s been brought up as a boy since she was born, and only when her little sister Liu Cong was born did her conservative-minded father give up the notion of having a male heir. And this is probably one of the main factors which have shaped her experiences and made her how she is now.

Compared to Meng De, Liu Qi’s mask is a lot more spiky and hard. For her to have worn it for this long, I wonder how much she has hurt herself with it?

… I understand.

I thought for a moment before I nodded.

“Un, it’s good– Oi! Uncle, where are you going?!”

I ignored her cry and swung my reins as I rode to the back of our contingent, with my target being where Yi Ji and Chen Gong were.

Sometimes, you just have to take a leap of faith.

Time seems to always pa.s.s by quickly while marching. Though it’s very boring, but there are many things to talk about whilst marching.

Spring is now at its end, and the insects have begun to grow in number. When the sky turns dark, some people will from time to time accidentally walk into a clump of mosquitoes and emerge with bites all over.

“Liu Qi, it’s not getting any earlier, let’s rest for the night.”

Liu Qi did not reply, and looked about before asking Yi Ji who had just came forward, “Yi Ji, will our enemies pursue us tonight?”

“Young mistress, I doubt our enemies will chase us.” Yi Ji said as she sat on the horse with her hands in her sleeves, “We’ve been marching all day anyway so even if they do come, we won’t be able to prevail against any pursuers.”

“Un un, alright then.” Liu Qi nodded and pulled out a small flag from the pouch behind and raised it above her head, “Halt! Set up camp and prepare dinner!”

And thereafter, after settling the troops in, they formed up in their respective platoons and began to do the ch.o.r.es of cutting wood, setting up camp and preparing dinner.

I went into the main tent with Liu Qi. After getting the troops to set things up, we sat down at the table and began to eat.

As for the rest, they were currently out patrolling. Because there was a shortage of personnel, everyone was out.

And now, in the main tent, there was only Liu Qi and I.

“I wonder when dinner will be served. I’m famished.” I said as I rubbed my stomach in a show of nonchalance.

“… Is this really alright?” But clearly, Liu Qi was still very discomforted. That’s understandable. You can’t change the way someone thinks at the drop of a hat after all.

“Just relax.”

On the other hand, I was full of confidence, “If you really think of me as your uncle– Ah, that sounds so weird.”

It’s so weird especially when I say it myself.

“Uncle can say as he wishes. If what you say is reasonable, I will certainly comply.”

Un… Her being like this only makes it harder for me.

“I was just wondering why you distrust your subordinates so much. Yi Ji and Wen Ping have followed you for a long while now and I highly doubt that they will betray you.”

“… Must I answer this question, uncle?”

“No no no, I was just curious.” I hurriedly waved my hands in denial when she looked at me with a sharp gaze, “If I stepped on a painful spot, then please accept my apologies.”

“Painful spot huh… I do have a lot of those.” She gave a wry smile once more when she said this. Every time I see one of those smiles from her, I involuntarily shudder.

“It’s actually fine for me to share this as it’s not something to hide anyway.” Liu Qi said as she got up slightly and rearranged to cus.h.i.+ons to make it more comfortable.

“You should know how my relations.h.i.+p with Liu Cong is right now right?”

“Ah, un. It’s not too pleasant, is it?”

“Very unpleasant,” She corrected my phrasing before she continued, “But to be honest, we still played together up until a few years ago.”

Eh? So their relations.h.i.+p wasn’t always bad?

“Are you very surprised?”

“A little. The both of you seemed like strangers before after all.” I said as I thought back to how the both of them stood opposite each other. I don’t know what Liu Cong’s thinking is but I know that Liu Qi never even looked at her.

Having some differences is understandable. For me, my relations.h.i.+p with my younger cousin isn’t too good. Every time she comes over to my place, she always uses the computer and the television. Even though I’m older, I really can’t stand her sometimes. And so we always end up fighting and after that we don’t speak with each other.

Of course, things don’t end up like they do in shows and we just end up being more distant and our relations.h.i.+p sours.

“Back when mother was still alive, I was very good friends with Liu Cong. Back then, I thought of her as my own little sister and Lady Cai as a second mother.”

“I can more or less guess what happened next.”

“Yes, as you might have guessed, mother was weak and sickly so she died not too long after.” Liu Qi’s expression did not waver in the least when she said this. Looks like this has been hanging around in her head even if she didn’t speak of this, “It was still alright for a while still and I thought back then that I would continue to have good relations with Liu Cong.”

Un un. I listened seriously.

“And one day, I shared the location of my secret garden outside the city with her and also bade her not to tell anyone else.”

Eh? What did Liu Qi just say?

“Secret garden?”