The sky was starting to brighten up, and the subordinate generals who were on alert were debriefed and returned to their tents thereafter. As for the rest of us, n.o.body had the mood to sleep with a battle upon us and were afraid of oversleeping. And so we gathered about a bonfire as we awaited the coming of dawn.

And so, we sat there for about 4 hours.

“My lord, won’t you all catch some sleep?” Zhang Liao, who had returned ahead of us back to camp, had woken up early and was worried when she saw how tired we looked.

“It’s a little late to be thinking about that.” I said and then looked at the small, nodding body that was leaning against me and said, “Yi De, if you’re tired, go and sleep for a bit in the tent.”

Yi De was truly exhausted but she still shook her head with an ‘Un~~’. Her small hands that were clinging on to my sleeve tightened their grip our of fear that she would be forcefully put to bed.

Eh ah~~~ You’re digging into my fles.h.!.+

It really hurt, but when I saw Yi De’s peaceful sleeping face, I couldn’t bear to pry her away and could only smile helplessly.

But thanks to Yi De’s pinches, my tiredness has been mostly driven away.

“What’s the time now?” I asked as I looked at the eastern sky where the sun had begun rising from.

I don’t know if it’s from antic.i.p.ation or nervousness, but I’ve been asking this question quite a lot since we came back to camp. I keep getting the feeling that it doesn’t feel real if I don’t ask.

“It’s going to be 08:00 soon.” Feng Xian said as she looked at her water clock by her feet.

So we have another half hour before we launch our strike?

“Zhang Liao, wake everyone up. We’ll get moving once we have packed up.”

“Un.” Zhang Liao grunted in reply and got up before quickly pa.s.sing through the entire encampment… You could have just spread the word using the lower ranked officers.

My easiness surged forth once more as I saw the soldiers slowly coming out of their tents.

The cool autumn breeze in the morning suddenly felt cold to the bone. My hands felt ice-cold, and my heart seemed to feel like it was engulfed by fire and ice. I tried breathing in and out to calm myself down but I ended up coughing instead.

… I wonder how it’s like on Sun Ce’s side? Are they ready?

Maa, they’re definitely better than the me who is utterly clueless and lost.

“My lord, you must take care of yourself.” “We just heard of what happened from Lord Zhang Liao, you came back just a few hours ago right.” “Staying up all night just before battle and getting this tired isn’t good.”

“Ah, morning. You 3 have woken up huh.” The Xu state 3 were wearing their usual clothing and seemed a bit withdrawn from the chilly morning. From their faces, they didn’t seem like they have fully woken up yet and only nodded at my greeting after a moment.

“But it is indeed difficult without sleep.” Yun Chang leaned her head back and covered her mouth as she gave a big yawn which brought tears to her eyes. “I’ll go and wash my face to freshen up.”

“Ah, I’ll go too.” Feng Xian, who also had her eyes half-closed, said so as she got up and carefully placed the furball on her legs onto the stool. “Ah~~~ I really envy you Red Hare~~~”

“””We’ll go as well.””” The Xu state 3 raised their hands and followed after Feng Xian.

Red Hare had not woken up yet, and was curled up in a ball such that you couldn’t even tell where its head was.

On various levels, the most fortunate of us all is probably Red Hare. A carefree life without worries, and it doesn’t even have to think about returning to its original time.

“Yi De, you should wake up now.” I shook my shoulders gently to wake up Yi De. “We’re leaving soon, so you should go and wash your face.”

“Un~~~ … Yes~~~” It took a while before Yi De understood what I said as she sat up and loosened her grip on my sleeve but didn’t look like she was going to stand up just yet.

Hu~~~ Blood is finally flowing in my arm. If I pulled back my sleeve now, I would probably see a big bruise. But I’m not going to do that, I’m not brave enough.

“Big brother!!”

Un?

Yun Chang who had just left to wash her face was now walking over quickly. She probably isn’t done was.h.i.+ng her face yet seeing as there are still beads of water on her face and hair. Her smooth white face seemed even more luscious after being soaked with water and the water droplets made her dark red hair dazzling in the morning light, making her look even more stunningly beautiful than she usually was.

“What’s the matter? Why are you so anxious?”

Yun Chang walked up to where I was and folded her arms at her chest with a solemn expression on her. She stared at me with a sharp glance and then looked at the forest. “I’m not sure if it’s my nerves or something else, but I sense a commotion coming from the other side of the forest.”

“Commotion?” I asked as I turned to look at the forest. “… I don’t feel anything?”

Could something have happened with Sun Ce? But they’re over a mile off from here, how could sounds from there travel here?

“No, there is indeed something.” Feng Xian said as she wiped her face with a cloth and walked over. “I smell the familiar scent of blood and the air currents feel chaotic.”

“Un? … Why don’t I feel anything?”

Maa, because you’re Yi De.

But is this what they call a sixth sense? As expected of extraordinary individuals. An ordinary person like myself cannot hope to perceive what they have sensed.

“Since both of you say so, then it can’t be wrong.” I said as I walked over to the outskirts of the forest and looked inside. I still saw nothing, and turned around as I gave up and said. “There’s still some time before our joint strike, let’s send some scouts to have a look–”

—- Move away!!!!

Ah? I think I heard something. Was it a horse?

“Big brother, danger!” Yi De’s tender voice rang out from my right, and before I could react, she had dived at me and we landed to the side.

Ouch!!

— *Neigh*~~~~

Before I could complain about the pain, a horse’s neigh could be heard as a horse with a yellow mane jumped out of the forest and landed right where I was standing before.

— Xu!

After a girl gave a command, the horse stopped neighing.

“…”

I was rendered speechless by this sudden scene and I soon realised that if it weren’t for Yi De’s quick thinking, I would have been trampled into minced meat by now.

“Big brother, big brother, are you injured anywhere?” Yi De, who was lying on top of me asked concernedly.

At this time, her face was just a minute distance away from mine, and her small lips and b.r.e.a.s.t.s seemed exceptionally charming from up close and I didn’t know where to look.

What surprised me more was how light she felt despite her whole body being on top of me. It was even more surprising given the sheer amount of food she usually eats.

“Un, I’m alright.” I smiled as I stroked Yi De’s head. “Thank you, Yi De.”

Yi De gave a silly ‘hehehe’ as I stroked her head.

Ah… My back got some damage, it will probably hurt for several days.

“Who are you!” Hearing Yun Chang’s roar, I got up and saw that Yun Chang and Feng Xian were armed and ready, and there were some soldiers which had formed a surround.

Because I was outside of the surround, I could not see the rider.

“Ah, may I ask if this is the encampment of the Cao army?” An unfamiliar voice that belonged to a girl came from the surround, and seemed like it belonged to the rider.

“… So what if we are?” Yun Chang replied, not lowering her guard in the least.

“Then that’s good.” The voice went silent for a moment. “From how quickly you gathered troops… You all brought about 10,000 or so right?”

“H, how did you know?”

… Looks like it’s someone extraordinary again. As I thought so, I dusted the soil off me, straightened my clothing and made my way through the surround.

“Big brother?”

“Ah, big brother, don’t come over. We don’t know who that person is yet.” Yun Chang warned me as she saw me coming over.

“Put down your weapons, everyone. If we don’t know who she is, all we have to do is ask.” I said as I finally made my way in.

A disposition that is both flexible and resolute– That was my first impression of her.

She wasn’t tall, but had an aura that made people unable to ignore her. Beneath her curvy eyebrows were a pair of deep set eyes that seemed to be br.i.m.m.i.n.g with intelligence. A short braid hung at the back of her head and if she let her hair down, her hair should probably extend to just her shoulders. Overall, she looked like an energetic and lively young girl. With her regrettable b.r.e.a.s.t.s, if she doesn’t speak, one might mistake her for a boy.

After sizing her up, I quickly bowed before introducing myself. “I am Liu Bei Liu Xuan De, and I am here with troops to launch a strike on Yuan Shu, may I ask who you are…”

“Ah, apologies for my rudeness.” She didn’t seem apologetic at all, nor did she bother with any niceties. “I’m Bo Fu’s strategist– Zhou Yu Zhou Gong Jin.”

“Zhou, Zhou Yu!”

“That’s me… Is there anything amiss?”

“No, it’s nothing.” I smiled to feign calm and cover up for my exclamation.

She wouldn’t understand why I was so surprised, no matter how smart she is.

“Yun Chang, you can lower your guard. She is indeed a strategist of Sun Ce’s.”

“… Since big brother says so, then–” Yun Chang waved her hand, and the soldiers went back to what they were doing before.

“But there must be something going on for Sun Ce’s subordinate to come here at this time.” Feng Xian said as she walked over.

For some reason, Zhou Yu looked very vexed at Feng Xian’s words and rubbed her head. “Maa, something did indeed happen.” Zhou Yu said calmly, as though nothing much had happened. “I’ll explain it as simply as I can.”

“Alright, we understand what happened.” After hearing Zhou Yu’s summary, I took a deep breath and exhaled weakly.

All of us, including Zhou Yu, were now having breakfast in the main tent as we listened to Zhou Yu.

“So that is to say, your side is embroiled in great danger?” Yi De said as she ate porridge.

“Un, to put it even more simply, that’s the case.” Zhou Yu had a bowl of porridge in her hands as well. “Yuan Shu’s army has now left the city and is now currently making a beeline for our encampment.”

A mutiny… Huh. It’s gotten very troublesome all of a sudden. I’m not sure how to deal with this. But in such a situation, the first thing we should do is to send help right?

(My lord…) Gong You, who was standing behind me with the other 2 as always, whispered to me.

I looked at Zhou Yu who was engrossed with eating and leaned my head back to listen to what Gong You had to say.

When they saw this, the Xu state 3 also bent forward and whispered into my ear.

Ah… Having these 3 whisper into my ear is… I feel soft all over.

“Now that Lord Sun Ce’s camp is about to be under attack, Shouchun city should be relatively empty.” “Since they did not leave any defenses, they should not have noticed us yet, and it is an opportune time to attack the city.” “Even if Yuan Shu learns of our attack on Shouchun city, her forces will be entangled with Lord Sun Ce’s and she should not be able to come back so easily.”

Zi Zhong’s eyes were lit up, and xiao Yong’s eyebrows were raised while Gong You’s expression was the same as usual. Though their expressions were different, they probably thought the same thing, that I shouldn’t give up this hard-to-come-by chance.

“But…” Is this really okay? I feel like an opportunistic looter, and it feels like Sun Ce is a sacrificial p.a.w.n of mine.

Sun Ce’s forces number about 10,000 or so and will probably dip below that significantly after the mutiny. It will be difficult for her to face off against Yuan Shu’s main army.

I couldn’t decide, and cold sweat streamed down my face as I felt everyone’s stares on me.

“Oh right, I haven’t said my intention for coming here yet.” Just as I was struggling internally, Zhou Yu set down her bowl and wiped her mouth roughly as she said. “I’m here to tell you all to attack the city immediately.”

“Eh?” Zhou Yu’s sudden words made me even more confused. “Bu, but your side is…”

“When you consider the big picture, attacking the city first is the right choice. With a 10,000 strong force, you can easily take an almost empty city.” Zhou Yu no longer looked irritated as before and was now serious. “From how Yuan Shu is, even if you attack the city, she won’t turn her troops back as she always overestimates herself.”

… Looks like she really is here to persuade us to attack the city.

“But what about you all? Your troops are still locked in internal conflict, and you have to deal with Yuan Shu’s main force.”

“Un, we’ll probably lose more than half of our troops.” Zhou Yu said as she looked at my pained expression. “But it is precisely because of this that Lord Liu Bei should quickly siege the city.”

“…”

Indeed, under such circ.u.mstances, taking the city is the best possible choice.

But.

Sun Ce was presently still fighting alone.

A girl slightly younger than me is facing a much stronger enemy alone.

Even if you ask me to consider the big picture, there’s no way I can throw Sun Ce aside and attack the city right?

I looked at the others. Yun Chang and Zhang Liao seemed to be saying ‘up to you’ with their eyes, Feng Xian seemed like she didn’t mind either way while Yi De wasn’t even looking at me and was busy eating.

“… I,” I made my decision and turned to look at the 3 before I looked at Zhou Yu resolutely. “I think we’re still going to save Sun Ce.”

“Haa?!” Zhou Yu did not expect my answer at all as she exclaimed with raised eyebrows and slammed the table. “But why? I’m here to tell you to attack the city. It’s the better choice.”

“Perhaps so, but I’m worried about Sun Ce more than I’m eager to take the city.’ I smiled as I said childish words,

“Un, this is our lord.” Zhang Liao said something that I couldn’t tell was praise or criticism.

“Un.” “Though it’s not the best plan, I have no objections.” “What a waste~~”

Zhou Yu, on the other hand, was unsatisfied. “Lord Liu Bei, I go way back with Bo Fu. She’s not some weakling you need to be worried about.”

“Perhaps so, but when met with a far stronger enemy, anyone would want someone to depend on. Much less Lord Sun Ce, who has only become a feudal lord for all of 3 months.” I stood up and bowed. “In any case, I apologise but I cannot agree to your suggestion. Gong You, you 3 get everyone to pack up. We’re not sieging the city, and we’ll head for Lord Sun Ce’s camp in a while.”

The 3 nodded and the others got up as well.

“I didn’t think that someone would be able to see through my lord’s weaker side from just one meeting.”

“No matter how brave and capable she is, she’s just a 16 year old girl.”

“Un, you can ignore my suggestion earlier then.” Zhou Yu got up, and wore a smile on her face.

“Big brother, we’ll be making our preparations then.” Yun Chang said, and made to leave.

“Wait.” Just then, Zhou Yu stopped them and turned towards them. “Don’t be so hasty, listen to my plan on capturing Yuan Shu alive first.”