“Big brother, a report just came in that little sister is back.”

“Ah, I heard it just now too.” I said as I dealt with the pile of doc.u.ments I had to deal with.

Really, ever since the Xu state 3 left, the backlog of administrative work is giving me a greater headache than the threat of Meng De.

“Won’t big brother go and welcome her?” Yun Chang asked as she looked outside.

The city seems to be noisier today than it usually is.

“I don’t think there’s a need to. Since it’s Yi De, she’ll probably come running over excitedly the moment she returns.” I said as I threw down a scroll in frustration, “If we go and welcome her, we might miss each other and that might disappoint Yi De who will probably want to see us as soon as possible.”

“Big brother~~~” Just then, Yi De’s voice could be heard from afar.

See. I said to Yun Chang with me eyes, who only smiled in response.

Alright, I just hope that Yi De hasn’t hurt Liu Dai too badly.

I got up first and Yun Chang followed. Just as I was about to step through the door, a tiny shadow leapt in through the door.

“Big brother, I’m back!~~~~” Before I could even confirm who the shadow belonged to, I was knocked to the ground by its force.

Of course, I don’t even need to look to know who it is.

“Welcome back, Yi De.” I said as I rubbed her head.

“Un!!” She squealed as she hugged me even tighter.

Yun Chang walked over with a smile and sighed as she put her hands on her hips, “Little sister, how did it go with Liu Dai?”

“Keke,” She got up and twirled before showing Yun Chang a ‘V’ sign, “It was a great success of course.”

Thereafter she gestured to soldiers outside who brought in a man. I’ve never seen him before but I’m sure this is Liu Dai.

Oh~~~

“What do you think? I’m great aren’t I~~” Yi De smiled widely as she put her hands on her hips.

Liu Dai did not seem to be injured at all apart from looking a little exhausted… This was something truly unexpected.

“Oi oi,” Just like with w.a.n.g Zhong, I shook him by the shoulders, “Wake up.”

“Ah… Ah. You must be Liu Bei. I lost magnificently.” He said as he nodded before lowering his head lifelessly as he continued, “I really am unlucky to have met with an opponent with both brain and brawn.”

…

Eh?

I and Yun Chang gasped at the same time and looked at each other in disbelief.

I can understand brawn, but brain?

“Big brother heard it right.” Yi De said as she pointed at her head, “I really used my head this time~~”

… I absolutely must ask her in detail how she defeated Liu Dai. But before that.

“Troops, bring w.a.n.g Zhong here.”

“Alright w.a.n.g Zhong, all the conditions have been fulfilled.” I said as I pointed at Liu Dai to the left and w.a.n.g Zhong to the right. “You 2 have been captured by my little sisters. You should tell me what the Imperial Chancellor has for me.”

w.a.n.g Zhong looked at Liu Dai angrily who only gave a helpless look in response. Seeing this, w.a.n.g Zhong sighed and took out a piece of silk from his armour and Liu Dai did so as well.

“This is a personal letter from Imperial Chancellor Cao,” w.a.n.g Zhong said as he took Liu Dai’s silk and joined them together, “She instructed us to only defend and not attack the city. Within 3 days, the Imperial Chancellor will send reinforcements after stationing troops against Yuan Shao. She also told us to deliver this letter to Liu Bei should we be captured within these 3 days.”

To me?

“What’s written on it?” I asked as I received the silk.

“We are only couriers, and have no right to see what’s on it.” w.a.n.g Zhong said and turned his face away.

Un… A letter from Meng De for me huh?

I began to read it slowly. Seems like Meng De knows that I’m not too good at reading as she cut to chase immediately.

[If Xuan De is reading this, then that means you have captured w.a.n.g and Liu. At the same time, it also means the troops I’m personally leading are headed for you and should arrive by tomorrow or the next day. Regarding Che Zhou, it could be that Xuan De has a reason for killing her, or perhaps you truly do not wish to oppose me. From my understanding of you, it could be as you said in your last report. But with my subordinates and the big picture in mind, I have no choice but to face you as an enemy.

For some reason, being on opposing sides with you gives me great displeasure. Perhaps it’s because our destination is the same even if the paths we take are different. One point that really interests me is who will reach the destination first between you and me.

And so, on a personal level, I may oppose you but I won’t let you die. By my calculations I should reach by the 4th of the month at about 03:00 to 04:00. Before then, Xuan De should leave Xu state and head to either Jiangdong or Hebei.

It may be a bit terse to do so, but I shall end the letter here. I don’t have much else to say except that I wish the best for us both.]

That was the end of the letter. It had no postscript either. I read it over once more, feeling melancholic as I did so.

Meng De… Is this what it means to be toyed by fate?

Liu Bei and Cao Cao are perhaps existences that were born to be enemies. Even if I was friendly with Meng De, could I not change our fate as enemies?

What a farce.

I shook my head as I thought so.

At the very least, I cannot afford to stop here. As long as I live, there is hope for changing the future.

Even if this is history.

“What’s the date and time now?”

“It’s the 3rd day of the month and about 1-2pm.” That’s really close, “Big brother, what’s written on it?”

I handed the silk to Yun Chang and sighed as I said–

“Time to pack up, we’re leaving soon.”