Yun Chang POV

“My real parents are no longer around and so I feel that this is something I should do since I am still alive.” Guan Ping as she continued and gave a stiff smile when she finished, “Aiya, I don’t even know what I’m trying to say. I just feel that, in these troubled times, since I was able to survive, I ought to do something…”

Guan Ping’s aura seemed to weaken as she continued on, probably because she felt that she was not able to adequately express her thoughts.

“I see.” I nodded and decided not to finish what I was about to say, “But no matter what, don’t push yourself too far.”

Looks like Guan Ping had a reason to fight after all. Since she wishes to do something of her own volition in these troubled times, then I have no reason to stop her.

“Ah, yes!”

“Softer, will you?”

“Yes~” Guan Ping said softly after my reminder and smiled stiffly as she continued walking.

Guan Ping’s mental age is not quite the same as her actual age and she’s been through a lot but she still wears her heart on her sleeve. Honestly, for her to go through what she has at her age is truly sad. It’s also a miracle that she could hold on to her innocence despite everything that’s happened to her.

If there were more people like her, perhaps we would not be living in troubled times right now. But now that we are in troubled times, an honest goody-two-shoes like Guan Ping has to have the resolve to change.

… Un? Just then, I sensed an abnormality, that there was a faint, unceasing sound coming from somewhere.

“Guan Ping, tell the troops to stop.” I raised my hand and gave the order to Guan Ping.

“Ah!! Yes!, Guan Ping replied and relayed the order as the light footsteps behind came to a halt. A few seconds later, the rather loud marching sounds completely stopped. Apart from the rustling of leaves, the forest was silent.

“Mother?”

“Shh…” I gestured to Guan Ping to keep quiet and listened in.

…

… *Tata*..,

Horse hooves! And at a rather intense pace too.

“Guan Ping, bring the troops further into the forest.” I said to Guan Ping and looked to the side, “How are things on Lord Zhou Cang’s side?”

“Because we stopped, she has stopped as well and is awaiting further orders.”

Very good.

“Well then, wait here for the moment.” I said as I made a pressing motion with my hand, “And tell everyone to stay low. I am going to try to listen.”

I then made my way towards the small dirt road. When I was almost at the road, I looked about to make sure there was no one on it. If there is no one on this side, then they must be on the other side, I thought as I made my way to the side of the road and closed my eyes and listened.

*Tatatata*…

The sound of horse hooves. .h.i.tting the ground could be heard, which meant that there were quite a lot of cavalry around. Looks like they did bring out all their troops. If there are that many cavalry, then the accompanying infantry, siege weaponry, combat engineers and logistics staff will not be few.

“Mother?” Guan Ping called out softly but I ignored her as my attention was focused on the thunderous sounds from the other side.

After a long while, the sound seemed to diminish until it eventually disappeared. Looks like the cavalry have pa.s.sed and it’s not the infantry regiments. The sound is very soft now but it’s still there.

“Guan Ping, tell the troops to form ra

nks and come out of the forest.”

“Eh?”

“Ah, yes. Tell Zhou Cang as well, that her troops will form the main body and rearguard.” I said as I looked up at the skies. It’s still early and we can make it before evening.

“But, mother.” Guan Ping asked. Looks like she does not understand why I am giving such orders.

“The enemy has just pa.s.sed us by, which means we have no threats ahead of us. Right now, we need to fast march and make our way to Fan city before the enemy sets up camp. This will leave the enemy with no time to return and defend the city.”

“Oh, oh! I understand now!” Guan Ping said with a look of realisation. I know though that she still does not fully understand what I just said but at least she’s gone to relay the order now.

Un, just like that.

Now is the perfect time to attack. Even if the enemy detects us and splits their forces, the cavalry will be unable to retreat after they have charged in. And the heavy infantry at the back will be unable to reach the city in time or catch up to us as we are primarily light infantry. So no matter what, the battle will only go in our favour.

Alright, time to start thinking about how to carry out a siege.

Liu Bei POV

It’s been a while since Yun Chang’s unit has left the city. Right now, we are still standing on the city tower and looking into the distance at the hills which seem to be tall enough to be called mountains.

I do not know from when it started but troops are currently pouring out of the hills and getting ready to attack.

Today’s weather seems to be better than the past few days, with spa.r.s.e fluffy, white clouds dotting the sky. When the wind blew, the sun would sometimes get obscured by the clouds. Other times, we could be subject to several dozen minutes of direct suns.h.i.+ne.

I do not know how much effect the weather has on the battle but clear days like these are usually the sort that can turn for the worse in no time at all. Be that as it may, weather like this is far better than the weather during summer. I really do not wish to experience the sort of weather I experienced in Jiangxia ever again.

“You, over there, come here!” Liao Hua’s voice came from behind Yuan Zhi and I. When I turned around, I saw that she was gathering a group of soldiers who had nothing to do and were giving them various tools of which I am unable to name.

“Liao Hua, are these the troops who will be repairing the city walls?” I went over and asked as I put on the gra.s.s hat.

Liao Hua had a calm look on as the veil on her hat waved about in the air from the gentle breeze. In her hands was a bamboo scroll that likely contains the required tasks for bolstering the city defences. Liao Hua was gone for a while before and I was wondering where she went but now it looks like she had gone to gather these troops.

“Yes, Lord Shamoke.” Liao Hua very naturally called me by my code name and continued, “But rather than repairs, I think it would be more appropriate to call it enhancement works.”

That does make sense as the city walls are indeed in rather good shape and there do not seem to be any need for repair works. But enhancement huh… I thought as I looked at the walls and checked their height.

“But how are you going to enhance them? Are you going to add more brick layers?”

“More or less. But not entirely with bricks.” Liao Hua came to where I stood and gestured toward the outside of the walls, “We’ll put more bricks here and put a wooden board above it. We’ll then make a ladder, and now we have another floor to attack from.”

I could more or less understand what she meant. Basically, we will be adding another floor like a rooftop of sorts. That’s a good idea.

“I never thought that Liao Hua was knowledgeable about city defences too.”

I always thought of her as an administrative official who happened to know martial arts. Looks like even though Luoyang fell, it was still a big city after all. And as its Registrar, she must have learnt a lot.

“I can only say that I know a little from some experience in defending cities.” She said and saluted me before pointing at where she was writing in the bamboo scrolls, “The idea for this construction was not mine, it was from Lord Huang Zu.”

“Huang Zu?”

“Yes. And it’s not just my gate. She has given very specific instructions and suggestions for every gate.”

“Oh~” I gasped in amazement. I already knew Huang Zu was very impressive but I was surprised that she went to so much effort for a tiny city standing in the way of Cao Cao’s mighty armies.

Perhaps this is partially due to what Huang Zu said to me before, about atoning for her loss. In that case, if I still have any say in Xiangyang, I should write a letter of commendation for Huang Zu later on.

I wonder if there is such a thing as an open suggestion box in this era? Probably not.

“Alright! Begin!” Liao Hua did not bother to say much else when she finished as she proceeded to turn and waved her hands before giving the order to the troops. She then nodded and bowed to Yuan Zhi and I before getting to work herself.

“Yuan Zhi, looked it was the right choice to leave Huang Zu in charge of the city defences.”

“Is that so?” Yuan Zhi replied blandly as usual as though there was nothing to be surprised about, “I was just heeding your suggestions. that’s all.”

“I just told you to give her role of some kind after all.” I smiled stiffly as I said so while continuing to look at the soldiers who were working hard, “To be honest, I thought that you would have made her the gatekeeper for 1 of the city gates.”

Huang Zu is not one of us after all and she lost a critical battle as Administrator of Jiangxia. Not many would give her an important appointment with these in mind,

“Huang Zu was the Administrator of Jiangxia after all so she has a fair bit of experience.” Yuan Zhi said and looked outside, “But on the other hand, it’s doubtful that the enemy will be able to siege the city.”

“Eh? Won’t they send troops to attack the city directly?”

“Un, they won’t.” Yuan Zhi said softly but definitively.

I did not understand at first but then remembered that Feng Xian was in charge of dealing with the frontal battle. Under a 1-to-1 scenario, Feng Xian would definitely not lose.