Liu Bei POV

“Ah… Xiangyang city is already within sight.”

I’ve always felt that time pa.s.ses excruciatingly slowly during marches. This is because of the hards.h.i.+p one has to endure during marching and the eagerness to return home.

The march out from the city at the start of any expedition is the worst. If anyone were to tell me that I could return back home, I would be overjoyed and do so immediately. n.o.body likes war after all.

But be it victory or less, returning back to the city always feels good.

It’s not like there’s anything special about the city but returning back to the city feels a lot like returning home and invokes a sense of security and belonging. I don’t know how it’s like for everyone but I’m the kind of guy who returns home straight after school.

No matter what my home is like, it’s always more comfortable being home.

Though Xiangyang is not my permanent home, my companions are there.

“Ah, I wonder how the military exercise went for them, did it go well?”

“Imperial Uncle, you’ve been saying that many times now.”

Just as I finished, Chen Gong gave me an irritated retort from behind. when I turned around, I was greeted by a very exasperated expression.

Did I say it that many times? It feels like I’ve only said this before once or twice.

“Uncle, I know you’re very worried about the rest in Xiangyang city but shouldn’t you be thinking about how you ought to deliver the battle report to father in a while?” Liu Qi too showed her displeasure at me. Looks like I really did say those words a few too many times.

“That will be alright. I will do my best to match what actually happened. If I face any difficulties, I can always throw some blame at Cai Mao.”

“Uncle must be careful. Cai Mao is a very scheming and cunning person. If uncle makes matters worse so quickly, new problems will crop up very soon.” Liu Qi said as she looked at me from the side with a stern expression.

I only smiled and nodded in reply. To be honest, even though I was very eager and happy to be able to reunite with my companions, I was even more worried about how things went on their end.

I don’t know what happened during their military exercise nor what their status is presently after all. All I can do is hope for the best, that nothing bad happened to anyone, nor was there any big conflict.

And whenever I think about what might have happened to them, that expressionless face comes to mind, that pallid expressionless face. A face that seemed like it would remain unfazed at anything at all.

Cai Mao… I would never have remembered that name if it weren’t for this incident.

“By the way, did uncle remember to buy any souvenirs for the generals back in Xiangyang?”

“Eh?” Liu Qi words pulled me back into reality. Souvenirs?

“What is it? You didn’t buy anything?” Liu Qi saw through my surprise instantly, and showed a surprised look herself.

Eh, let me think back– It seems like I only bought the 3 who came along with me hairbands and I did not buy anything for anyone else.

“No I didn’t.” I said resolutely.

“Uncle, is that really alright?”

“Eh?”

“Jiangxia may have been ravaged by war but its morning and afternoon markets were open. In particular, Jiangxia is famous for its dried fish and wooden carvings.”

Is that so? Though I’d taken walks about Jiangxia city during my free time, I’d never seen those items she mentioned. No, it would be more correct to say that all my attention was focused on finding hairbands.

Ah… The more I think about it, the worse it seems. Looks like I’ll be facing trial when I return.

After marching for another 2-4 hours, it was now noon, and Xiangyang city was now visible in the distance.

And just now, the observation post outside the city spotted us, exchanged some words with us briefly and galloped away on his horse towards the city.

Based on what Yi Ji told us, there are 2 possibilities. One, they are going to prepare a welcome for us; two, they are going to apprehend us. Of course, the second possibility is a little less probable than the first since there is no way Cai Mao could have prepared all of that in this short period.

“Uncle, do you hear that?”

“This is– The sound of drums?”

Just as we stepped out of the forest, we could hear the thunderous beat of drums splitting the air which confirmed that it was indeed the first possibility that Yi Ji had raised.

When I looked into the distance, I saw rows and rows of troops awaiting. They were fully decked out in clean and neat military uniforms standing straight and still.

And amongst those troops was a man riding a horse at the head of the contingent with a bunch of administrative officials and generals behind him. Amongst them were some familiar faces, who were really just Kuai Yue, Kuai Liang, and the one I’d just been thinking about: Cai Mao.

“What an impressive battle array.” Zhou Cang exclaimed as she looked out with her hand s.h.i.+elding her eyes from the sun, looking like a monkey.

But isn’t such a large battle array a little overboard?

“Liu Qi, you’re sure you didn’t notify them of our return beforehand?” I asked Liu Qi.

“It’s fine to do so if we won but now that we’ve lost, how could I have the face to do so?” Liu Qi said with a bitter smile. That does make sense.

“They probably only just prepared all this right?” Chen Gong said as she looked into the distance. Looks like she spotted something which supports this conclusion.

“What’s the matter?”

“Go look at the shoes those people are wearing, Imperial Uncle.”

“How could I possibly get a good glimpse when they are so far away?”

There’s no way my vision is as good as Chen Gong, Zhou Cang or Chen Dao.

“You’re so useless!” Chen Gong scolded me before beginning to explain irritatedly, “To put it simple, those officials are still wearing indoor wooden clogs. This means that they immediately got on a carriage to come out here to receive us after hearing news of our arrival after morning Court was over. As for those troops, if I’m not mistaken, they should all be Lord Liu Biao’s personal guard.”

Liu Qi too seemed to have seen something and her smile grew even more bitter as she continued softly, “Ah, this doesn’t look like the welcome for a losing troop at all.”

Yes, I think so as well.

“In any case, let us proceed forward.”

“Un.” Liu Qi nodded, and we continued our march once more.

Looks like she’s still worried that something might happen. But it’s not just her, I too am similarly worried.

Could it be that Cai Mao has seized control of Liu Biao? And the welcome formation is just a ruse? To be honest, I’m starting to seriously consider this possibility.

“Chen Gong, what do you think about all this?” I asked softly as I intentionally made my horse slower and adjusted to Chen Gong’s pace.

I don’t think there’s any need to seek Chen Dao or Zhou Cang’s views.

Chen Gong looked at me, and at Liu Biao ahead of us and shook her head, “I don’t think there is any problem at all. This welcome should be sincere.”

“Eh?” I was surprised to hear such a.s.sured words from Chen Gong who has always been very prudent and vigilant.

“Is this so surprising?” She seemed puzzled at my reaction, “In the first place, this loss was because of his poor strategical choice at the very beginning which led to our defeat so why should we be responsible? Didn’t Imperial Uncle yourself say that before?”

“I just felt that it would be a legitimate excuse for our defeat.”

“It’s not an excuse, it’s the truth.” Chen Gong said immediately after I finished with a serious expression, “Imperial Uncle, you must know that it is not always possible to win battles with a numerical disadvantage. I’m sure that Liu Biao himself knows this.”

“… Un.” I nodded and was more or less convinced by her. But–

“But why such an elaborate welcome?”

Even if he could accept our defeat, there’s no need to go this far. It’s almost as if he’s mocking us.

“Who knows,” Chen Gong shrugged, “Compared to me, I think Imperial Uncle knows him better.”

“Un… Liu Qi, what do you think?” I raised my head and looked at Liu Qi who still had the same expression on as she shook her head.”

“Regrettably, I don’t really understand father very much at the moment. This is my first expedition after all, and I never expected that father would welcome us in this manner.”

“Blood brother!!! Blood brother!!!!” Just then, a rather familiar roar could be heard in the distance. This voice naturally came from Liu Biao who was at the head of the contingent. I know, he is calling out to me.

I looked into the distance and saw him waving his arms with his mouth wide open, as though he’d seen a big time movie star. Of course, there’s no movie star in this era.

“Blood brother!!!” He continued calling out.

Even though I feel embarra.s.sed, replying is something I have to do in circ.u.mstances such as this.

“Elder brother!” And so I yelled out loud and waved my arms. The feeling in my voice was definitely not as rich as his.

“Have you had a safe journey!!” He continued to yell when he heard my reply. Even though he could ask these things when we got closer.

But… Safe journey huh…

“How could it have been safe?” Liu Qi whispered, her bitter smile resurfacing on her face just when it was almost gone.

Honestly, it hasn’t been safe at all.

“Can I say the truth?”

“Uncle is joking again.”

Unfortunately, some things can’t be said directly like that.

“Safe! It’s been smooth and safe!” I yelled back in reply. At the same time, I spied at Cai Mao who was behind Liu Biao but her expression was the same as always.

“Qi’er! What about Qi’er?!!”

“Wu…” Liu Qi was called out to as well.

Obviously she too was unwilling to yell back, and sat there hesitatingly as her face grew paler by the second.

“Liu Qi, this is something you have to overcome.” I quipped, somewhat gloatingly.

Liu Qi stared at me for a moment and breathed deeply before slowly cupping her hands about her mouth, “Your daughter is here! Everything is well!”

This is the first time I’m hearing Liu Qi speak so loudly. Surprisingly, it seems like her voice which is usually rather deep for a girl became somewhat shriller and more girly when she raised her volume.

“What are you laughing about uncle!!”

“I’m not laughing!”

I really am not laughing!! What? Did she see me laughing in my heart?

When he heard the both of us yell back, Liu Biao stopped yelling and only bade the drums to continue once more to welcome us back.

Even though I’ve never seen such an extravagant welcome for a losing expedition, it’s not too bad at all to be honest. And gradually, all my prior worries were washed away.

I don’t have a basis for this, but I don’t think this implies that Liu Biao is wise but that he wishes to be seen as wise.