TL: Lots of Meng De development from this chapter to the end of next volume. zmeng De’s character is very similar to Oda n.o.buna, but with Cao Cao’s quirks. Although, then again, Oda n.o.bunaga is similar in some sense with Cao Cao.

“Long time no see huh, Meng De~” I said as I entered Meng De’s tent alone. “How have you been doing recently?”

“Maa, not as free as you think.” Meng De gave a bitter laugh as she tidied up the mountain range of bamboo scrolls on the desk behind her. “What about you, why are you here today?”

I looked at her and felt that instead of giving an explanation first, it would be better to just give it to her and so I took it out and handed it over.

“Here.”

It was a small box which I had specially made for it, that befitted the item inside.

“Un, this is–” Meng De was very surprised as she took it and for some reason wore an embarra.s.sed look as she said, “Though I don’t particularly like jewelry and the like but si-since Xuan De has given it to me, I’ll gladly accept it with grat.i.tude. Thank you Xuan De.”

Jewelry? … What is Meng De talking about?

“Ah, umm, that’s not any jewelry.” I hurriedly cleared things up.

“Eh?” Meng De’s expression changed in a flash and she quickly opened the box– And saw the Xu state Governor official seal inside, “This is–”

(TL: Imagine if it was in the form of a ring.)

Seeing here wide open eyes looking at me, I could tell she was unable to understand my intention.

“To tell you the truth, Lord Tao Qian has just pa.s.sed away.” I said as I sat down with my elbows on my knees.

“… Oh, about time I guess. And then?” Meng De returned to her seat behind the desk. “If I’m not wrong, you should be the next Xu state Governor.”

I don’t know if Meng De really doesn’t get it or if she’s faking it but it seems like she was quite deflated after seeing the official seal.

“I feel that I can’t safeguard the lives of the Xu state people if I’m the Xu state Governor.” I looked at Meng De’s face and saw that she had regained her composure somewhat. “But if it’s Meng De, then I believe you are able to do so and I have decided to give it to you.”

That’s right, ‘give’.

This is the only solution-that-is-not-really-a-solution which I thought off shortly after Tao Qian pa.s.sed away. Presently, the only ones who have the power to protect the people of Xu state are only 2, Yuan Shao and Meng De.

And so, I decided to ‘give’ it to Meng De.

“So that’s what you mean huh~ Although, I did come here with the intention of retrieving this official seal.” She said as she looked at it. “But did the others all agree? This official position didn’t come by easily after all, no?”

“When I suggested it then, n.o.body has any objections. I had said then that this was the only way to save the Xu state people and so we have decided to trust you.”

Yun Chang and the rest are a non-issue as they had known Meng De for some time after all; but even the Xu state 3 did not have much resistance to the idea and thus it can be seen that everyone trusts Meng De to a fairly large degree.

“And I am, personally speaking, not too interested in being an official.” I laughed as I thought back to the harsh times of dealing with doc.u.ments. “Moreover the position of the Governor of Xu state was not attained by my efforts and so there is no reason for me to be so attached to it.”

“Keke, but you’re all not afraid of giving it to the wrong person by giving it to me?” Meng De said as she tilted the official seal. Though she said such villain like words, her smile was the kindest I’ve seen thus far.

“If you’re say as much then that means I’m not wrong.” I straightened my back and looked outside and found that I could see the far off Xu state city gate from here.

To show our side’s sincerity, I came alone this time while Yun Chang and the rest waited in the city.

“In any case, the official seal is with you now. I leave the rest to you.” I turned back to look at Meng De.

Meng De only laughed with one eye closed. “Don’t worry, I’ll make the necessary arrangements. Now then–” She waved her hand. “Xun Yu, Cheng Yu, release information to all other feudal lords that I have taken Xi state and ma.s.sacred the city in a fit of rage.”

“Yes.” “Understood.”

I heard the replies but did not see the ones answering directly and only saw 2 short figures standing straight outside the tent nod and leave. From the voices… Seems like they’re girls.

But more importantly.

“Ma.s.sacre! Ma.s.sacre the city!” I did not understand why Meng De said such dangerous words.

“Un, ma.s.sacre. Xu state Governor Tao Qian tried to kill my father and now I have occupied Xu state. After occupying the city, I ordered my armies to ma.s.sacre all inside. As for the death toll… Let’s put it as several tens of thousand.” Meng De seemed to be reading from a report as she said all this with a smile. Seeing my face full of doubt, she continued. “Don’t worry, this is just false information.”

(TL: In the original, Cao Cao uncharacteristically killed tens of thousands in Tao Qian’s lands in a fit of anger.)

False information?

“But why do you have to do that? By doing that, aren’t you–”

“Aren’t I giving other feudal lords a reason to come for my life on grounds of being a ruthless tyrant? Haha, actually that’s what I’m hoping for.” Meng De said confidently with a laugh.

“Eh?”

“As the Imperial Chancellor, I can’t launch an offensive on other feudal lords without a legitimate reason. But if they attack me first, then I can launch a counteroffensive.”

“Ah…”

So you thought that far ahead huh. As expected, Meng De’s considerations are different from ours. But Meng De, do you really no care? The people’s image of you will be one who uses military force to crush everything that stands in your way…

“Don’t think too much about it Xuan De. Doing things this way will also let everyone know that Xu state is Cao Cao’s territory and anyone who wants to take it will have weigh his choice carefully.”

Perhaps Meng De read what I thought from my expression. Her smile as she patted my shoulders was the loneliest smile I have ever seen.

“… Alright.” Since Meng De has said this much, then I have nothing more to say, and got up. “I’ll be heading back first. I have to notify Yun Chang and the rest after all.”

“Un, but what are your plans after this? Now that you don’t have Xu state, where are you all planning to go next?”

“Eh?” After hearing Meng De’s question, sweat started forming on my face, “You’re not going to let us stay at Xu state?”

Meng De laughed helplessly when she heard my reply. “You were planning on staying here? … Of course not. Now that I’ve told everyone that Xu state is under my jurisdiction, and you’re not my subordinate general, how can you all continue to stay here?”

“Eh?!”

Why did it become like this?

“But maybe–” Meng De suddenly said as she rubbed her chin.

“But maybe what?” I pressed.

“Maa, I’ll go make the necessary preparations first.” Meng De put on a coat as she said so. “Go back first, when I’m done, I’ll tell you.”

Meng De did not say more, and left after that. What do we do now… I really don’t know if I can leave it to Meng De.

“Ah, wait.” I remembered something and quickly stopped Meng De who was just about to leave. “Before Tao Qian died, he told me to tell you something which also happens to be something I want to say to you myself.”

“Oh? What is it?” Meng De asked with interest.

“– Your responsibilities will be heavy and the journey will be long.”

(TL: It’s actually an idiom, here I just put what Tao Qian wants to convey. Through these words, he is expressing concern for Meng De and giving advice as one who has done similar things before.)

“… Haha, is that so.” Meng De was silent for a moment before she laughed happily and rolled her shoulders. “Hai~ How could such a nice old man just die like that huh.”

“That’s right, I think so too.” I said as I nodded. “But no one can fight death.”

“But those words… Indeed.” Meng De stretched as she continued. “Even though I’ve only just really begun my journey, I feel a bit tired already.”

“You should remember to rest well too~~~”

“Un, I’ll be going now.” Meng De gave a helpless smile before leaving the tent.

Time for me to be off as well.

Just as I got up and made my way to the exit–

“Ah, isn’t this Lord Liu Bei?”

“Ah, General Xiahou Dun~~” I saluted her and then pointed at her right eye. “How is it, your eye.”

Xiahou Dun wore an eyepatch over where her right eye used to be. Though she was a girl, her eyepatch was a very tough black one.

(TL: Dude, what do you want her to use? Pink with h.e.l.lo Kitty?)

“Maa, though my field of vision has diminished a fair bit, I’m used to it by now.” Xiahou Dun smiled… Seems like it isn’t too big a deal now.

“… Speaking of which, is your appet.i.te okay these days?”

“Ah, it’s good.”

“Any part of you feels uncomfortable?”

“… Lord Liu Bei, why do you ask?”

“No, nothing.”

I frantically waved my hands in denial… Ah, I feel like Xiahou Dun is a pitiful. In my mind, I made the decision to never tell her about that matter.

“Un?” Xiahou Dun was still doubtful of me but she let it pa.s.s and left.

I shook my head as I looked at Xiahou Dun’s disappearing back, and then headed back to Xu state city.

“And so Xu state city is now safe, and we are to…”

“Meng De is really too much. Why can’t she just let us stay here?” Yi De said unhappily.

“Lord Cao Cao has her own considerations.” Feng Xian said as she caressed Red Hare. Seems like she isn’t too bothered about where we go.

“We did start off as enemies in this. Even if we only lost in name, this means that the city is no longer ours.” Zhang Liao said as she leaned against the stone pillar in the courtyard. “If we continue to stay here, the other feudal lords may get suspicious.”

Zhang Liao is right. Perhaps this is the very reason why Meng De isn’t letting us stay here.

“Speaking of which, is Lord Cao Cao not arranging something for us?”

“Ah, that… Meng De did say something then but she wasn’t clear on it.” I looked away as I said so. She did say she was going to make preparations but I can’t imagine where Meng De would send us to.

“We can’t rely solely on Lord Cao Cao then.”

What Yun Chang says is right. And so, next is–

“Then if nothing comes out of Lord Cao Cao, where do we go next?” Gan Qing asked the question that was in my mind.

That’s right, where do we go?

“…”

I had no idea at all, and looked at everyone, but it was the same for them.

“In any case, I’m sorry everyone. We finally got a base and I gave it away just like that.” I couldn’t help but apologise to everyone.

I don’t know why but I feel like a good-for-nothing all of a sudden… Although I probably am.

But without power, all we can do is be vagabonds.

“Ah, it’s okay. We’re all used to it already.” Yi De seemed like she was consoling me but I felt even worse after hearing her say so.

“Xuan De, be more confident in yourself.” Feng Xian said calmly as she looked straight at me. “Perhaps you don’t feel it yet but you are already our lord.”

“Lord… Huh.”

“That’s right, big brother.” Yun Chang walked over with a smile. “So no matter what big brother does, we will always be by your side.”

Yun Chang stepped to the side as she finished, and I saw that everyone was smiling at me.

“Yun Chang… Everyone…”

This was the second time I felt a mysterious warmth since the first battle with the Yellow Turban Army. This too was something I have never felt back in the 21st century.

Ah- But now that I take a closer look, I see that in such a short time, there are so many more people with us now.

— Gan Qing, Mi Zhen, Gong You Zi Zhong and xiao Yong.

Though I do not belong to this era, I have many companions with me.

… But speaking of which, are Gan Qing and Mi Zhen following us too?

“Gan Qing and Mi Zhen. You’re both not generals, stay here.” I told them as I thought so.

But it seems like they have objections to that.

“Eh? Why won’t you let us follow?”

“Un, that’s right that’s right.”

“Umm, that is, you see,” After just 2 lines from the both of them, I didn’t know what to say. “You’re not like Yi De and rhe rest so I’m afraid you both will be in danger.”

You both aren’t my concubines yet so no need to follow me all over China.

(TL: He really says not yet.)

“If you’re worried about us, then all I can say is Lord Liu Bei worries too much.” Gan Qing smiled as she said so. “I’m following you of my own will, Mi Zhen too right?”

“Un! I like Lord Liu Bei.” Mi Zhen said with a smile.

“Oh, thank you little Mi Zhen.” I said as I rubbed her head. “But I can’t ensure your safety, if something happens–”

“I’ll be in charge of protecting her and little sister Mi Zhen.” Just then, Yun Chang who was silent all this while cut in. “It has to be a fair fight after all so I won’t accept a win by default.”

Yun Chang smiled and looked at Gan Qing who returned the meaningful smile with one of her own.

“Ah… Un, alright since you say so.”

Though I don’t quite get what they mean in their eyes.

When I get the chance, I must ask them once and for all what the fair fight if about.

“My lord.” “We were thinking just now and came up with a plan.” “Perhaps you can seek refuge with your clan relatives.”

(TL: By clan, it means distant relatives, like possibly your aunt’s cousin’s son’s niece. Not everyone is as prolific as Genghis Khan in propagating genes but just doing a fraction of what he does and you can create a clan. Plus cost of living was low then so a n.o.ble could easily support many wives and even more children.)

“Clan relatives?”

“Un.” “Liu Biao of Jing state, Liu Zhang of Yi state.” “Though the journey may be a bit far, but I’m sure Lord Cao Cao will let us pa.s.s.”

I’d forgotten!! That’s right, I’m Liu Bei and I have 2 distant relatives…

(TL: He mentions this later on but I’ll put it here because it’s not really a spoiler. He doesn’t actually know Three Kingdoms stuff all that much, only the main plotlines. And what he knows is only bits and pieces from games and parodies. He is probably the only truly average high schooler main characters there are. No making gunpowder, no cheat abilities, some knowledge to make use of but not complete.)

Though I don’t know them at all, but it’s worth trying.

“Un, What does everyone else think? If there are no objections, then let’s–”

“Lord Liu Bei.” Before anyone could speak. a soldier from the Cao Army had run up to the door. “Imperial Chancellor Cao asks that you and your subordinate generals pack up and prepare to leave.”

Un? Has she done her preparations already?

But even if she wasn’t done, I still had to go over and speak with her about borrowing pa.s.sage through.

“Alright, we’ll get prepared.”

We all packed our things and made our way to Meng De’s encampment. When we told her of our intentions, Meng De burst into laughter.

“Aiya, seeking refuge with Liu Biao?” Meng De picked up a piece of silk on the table. “You all might as well follow me to Xuchang.”

“Eh? Why there?”

I was bewildered at the sudden suggestion of Xuchang.

“I just finished drafting the recommendation letter for the Governor of Yu state.”

“Eh? Yu state Governor? Me?”

“Un,” Meng De replied all 3 questions of mine with 1 affirmation. Meng De then laughed as she looked at me, “And so, you will need to see the Emperor Xian of Han.”

… Liu Biao, looks like I have to put off knocking on your door.