Li Dian POV

“Un…” Shen Pei thought for a moment as she placed her hands in front of her, “Un… Alright, I can accept what you said.”

“Well then, that’s it for our strategy. We’ll be invading Xinye first.” Cao Ren smiled and nodded, “Let us begin with our formation then.”

“Ah, about that,” Shen Pei spoke up, “The handover doc.u.ments and procedures for Fan city are not yet complete so I have some work to do here…”

Shen Pei’s voice got softer the more she spoke on and she just eventually trailed off as she stared at Cao Ren. I do not know Shen Pei very well but her weakness she has displayed seems to be an excuse not to partic.i.p.ate in combat. I am quite sure that she is unwilling to go to battle at some level.

But I do not plan on faulting her and docking points because of that. She is not a warrior after all and it would not be fair to judge her as one.

“Alright, I understand. I need to take care of some handover work in the city as well.” Cao Ren nodded and gave her approval.

Of course, I do not think that Cao Ren does not wish to take the battlefield. I am not completely familiar with her ways but she’s the sort of person who likes to sit back and wait to see what the other side does before reacting accordingly, as a warrior and as a commander.

“Well then, the upcoming battle will be up to you 3 then.” Cao Ren continued. By the remaining 3, she meant the Lu siblings and I naturally.

“Yes, your subordinate understands.”

As a warrior, I must not be asking any questions or expressing any grievances at this time and just accede to my superior’s orders. The time to think comes when it’s time to decide how to execute the order.

“I understand.”

“Good, good~ Time for us to show our true power after letting Yan Liang get all the glory from before.”

Lu Kuang merely shrugged and nodded while his little sister bounced up and down as she enthusiastically replied. Though they are very close, they seem to have very different personalities which is most peculiar.

No… Wait, is that really strange? When I think about it, Cao Ren and Cao Hong, Xiahou Dun and Xiahou Yuan, they are all like this too. How could siblings be so different?

“Well then, we’ll be taking our leave first as we need to do a final count.”

“Ah, alright.” Cao Ren nodded and emphasised her point from before once more, “I’ll say it again, when the time comes, do your best to capture the enemy generals and all who are sincere in joining us are to be welcomed.”

She looked at me when she finished and I nodded.

“Un, I got it.” Lu Kuang calmly said. Though his face was thin, there was a kind smile attached to it. Lu Xiang, on the other hand, did not reply and jumped out of the room.

“Ah, I’ll be going as well… Please relax for the moment, you both. I will send someone to bring you to your rooms later.” Shen Pei clearly was not going to stay here for too long after the other 2 left and got up and bowed before leaving by the back instead. That behaviour is really befitting of a strategist.

Finally, only Cao Ren and I were left in the room.

“Hu…” Cao Ren gave a long sigh after all 3 of them left.

“Lord Li Dian, did you know?” Cao Ren gave a relieved smile and wiped her forehead with her sleeve, “My inner clothing is getting drenched after all that has happened since we got attacked.”

“Lord Cao Ren, you’ve done very well.&rdq

uo; I said as I looked at Cao Ren, who opened a good number of b.u.t.tons and was holding up her clothing while fanning inside.

Though I might not say it, I agree with what Cao Ren just said. I am not the sort who will honestly admit it like Cao Ren just did, but I did sweat a fair bit. Part of it was from the heat and the physical activity but there was a fair bit from fear and nervousness.

This is also completely unrelated but it seems like Cao Ren’s physical development is a lot better than that of my lord. So much better in fact that I am even jealous of her.

As for the discussions that just took place, I really did not expect that we would ever sit at a table for this long in discussions with Yuan Shao’s subordinates, much less that we would come to an agreement out of it.

“I really didn’t know what to do when Shen Pei proposed changing our entry point.”

Looks like my guess was on the mark.

“Many thanks, Lord Li Dian, for helping me deal with that.”

Naturally, Cao Ren knew that what I said that time was for the sake of defusing Shen Pei’s argument.

“I felt the same way as well, that’s all. Moreover, you are the commanding general for this expedition so the direction I feel the battle should take is the same as yours.”

“Very good.” Cao Ren seemed a little excited and patted my shoulders, “Elder sister’s grand schemes will begin here and Xinye then.”

“… Yes.”

Those words are a little big and I should not be supporting those sentiments but this time is different. We are indeed the vanguard of the southern expedition after all.

“But,” But there are some things which I have to tell Cao Ren first, “With regards to recruiting Xinye’s generals, my opinion is that it will be very difficult, at least in the near term.”

“Un? Do you know them very well?”

“Ah… No.” I shook my head and thought about how to reply, looking bout the room as I did so to calm myself as much as I could, “All I can say is I have had some interactions with Liu Bei and his retainers. The bonds that they have forged are not something that can be broken so easily in a few days.”

“Even if we can’t break them, we have to.” Cao Ren said, though she herself seemed to understand how difficult it would be, “Back at Mount Jiluo, I could feel it when I sortied with Lu Bu. But orders are orders and missions are missions. In the end, even if we have to capture them, we will do so. If this is what elder sister wishes for.”

When Cao Ren finished, she flashed a confident smile that was exactly the same as my lord’s.

“Alright, your subordinate understands.” I sensed that it was futile to persuade her and decided to go with the flow for now and tidied my hat as I got up and made to leave, “I’ll go get ready as well. There’s no point in tarrying so let’s move out at dawn tomorrow.”

“Un, that’s for the best then.” Cao Ren nodded, “Of course, our attack is merely the first incursion. It’s fine even if we don’t win as the main body will be here eventually.”

“Un, understood.”

“Please wait for a moment.” Just as I was about to leave, Cao Ren stopped me. When I turned and looked back, I saw that Cao Ren had a troubled expression on. She paused and sank into thought for a long while before she spoke up.

“Umm, if the situation allows for it, elder sister instructed us to let Yuan Shao’s generals and troops take the front.” Cao Ren said, her grip getting tighter as she did so, “Elder sister said that it’s fine if we don’t win but we must try and expend Yuan Shao’s troops. The goals of the southern expedition are to expand our territory and also consolidate our power…”

“I understand.” I immediately nodded as I looked at Cao Ren’s troubled face and stopped her from continuing further. This was not something she wished to do but she had to.

“… Un.” Cao Ren nodded and breathed out lightly.

“Lord Li Dian, you should know that my being able to take the lead in the vanguard for this southern expedition shows how much elder sister expects from me.” Cao Ren said and smiled happily though I could also detect some stress in her smile, “So if we can, I hope to get some victories and make her happy.”

“My lord will be happy regardless.”

“Is that so…” Cao Ren lightly shook her head, her smile seeming a little downcast and shrugged, “Elder sister has not been happy of late. I’m sure you can tell from her smile.”

“… I do not dare make blind guesses.” I said, though I understood fully what Cao Ren meant. If I could, I would want to make my lord smile from the bottom of her heart once more.

But the only one who could ever open up my lord’s heart is no longer in this world. And I do not know if my lord can ever return to how she was like before, or if she would be willing to.

Though it’s just a wish, I hope that everything can return to how it was, I thought as I replaced my hat and turned the torn corner to the back and saluted Cao Ren, “Well then, I’ll be off to finish my preparations then.”

“I’ll be counting on you, Lord Li Dian.”

“Yes!” I replied but as I made to leave, I felt that I had to say something to her, “When the time comes, I hope that Lord Cao Ren will not show unnecessary compa.s.sion.”

“I know what you mean. Go on now.” Cao Ren said with resolve in her tone.

That is enough for now.

Next up is–

Deploying into Xinye.