“Hahaha, I didn’t think Meng De would fall so easily.” Ben Chu cackled as they came back from battle. When I looked at the people behind her, apart from Zhang He, everyone else seemed overjoyed.

“Eh?” I gave a surprised gasp, and didn’t believe what Ben Chu said, “What did you say, Ben Chu? Meng De lost?”

At my question, Ben Chu seemed to be even happier as she sat down on the main seat, “That’s right. After a few battles, her resources were mostly drained, and in the most recent battle, we were able to deal a decisive blow to her main forces.”

As Ben Chu said so, she raised her wine cup which the other officials followed suit as well, “Feng Ji, you were instrumental in this. It’s thanks to your supply routes and ambushes.”

“Ah, ah… Your retainer was just doing what she is supposed to.” Feng Ji was caught off-guard by Ben Chu’s praise and hurriedly raised her cup as well, which the surrounding soldiers filled for her.

“That was all thanks to advice from Lord Tian Feng.” Ju Shou muttered the truth under her breath with a look of dissatisfaction.

“Ju Shou! n.o.body will you think you are dumb if you don’t speak!”

“Alright alright, let’s stop fighting now that victory is within our grasp.” Ben Chu smiled stiffly as she drank from her cup, “Tian Feng is unreasonable and unruly at times but she is a loyal retainer and a talent. I’ll let her out when I get back. Come, everyone. Drink!”

As she said so, Ben Chu raised her cup and everyone else followed suit and toasted to Ben Chu. I was included of course, but I wasn’t too happy with this outcome.

Meng De… Is going to lose huh? That ingenious Meng De is going to lose just like that?

When I realised this, I felt like my heart was in turmoil for some inexplicable reason. As I raised my neck and delivered wine down my mouth, I felt that this wine was difficult to swallow.

“Ju Shou, does Meng De have a chance of overturning this situation?” Ben Chu asked when she finished her wine.When Ju Shou heard this, she put down her cup and thought for a moment.

“If Cao Cao attacks Wu Chao, she might have a chance to win. But with the forces Cao Cao has left, I doubt she can defeat the garrison at Wu Chao.”

“I see…” Ben Chu’s smile seemed to diminish somewhat as she nodded.

“My lord, why don’t we bolster the garrison at Wu Chao just in case?”

“No need for that,” Ben Chu shook her head, “We’ll leave it as it is. I doubt she will dare to launch an offensive anyway.”

When she finished, Ben Chu raised her cup once more and downed its contents.

“Hai, Meng De ah Meng De. I’ve finally defeated you.”

I was sitting closer to Ben Chu so even though she muttered this under her breath, I could hear it clearly. I looked at her when I heard this, and saw that she was smiling but she seemed lonely for some reason.

“Xuan De.”

“Ah… Yes.”

Without any warning at all, Ben Chu called out to me.

“After you’re fed and watered, go over to Meng De and ask her to surrender immediately. I’ll let her live if she does so.”

“En?” I was surprised at what I heard, “You want me to go?”

“Yes, it will be easier to do this if it’s you.” Ben Chu said as she raised her eyebrows, and continued in a serious tone, “If she does not surrender, then we will fight to the death tomorrow at noon.”

And so, I came with Zi Long to the Cao army encampment and delivered an introductory letter to the guards at the gate and waited for a moment. When I raised my head to look at the guard posts, I found that there were few guards around.

“Ah, it’s Imperial Uncle.” A voice came from a side gate that opened nearby.

I looked over and saw a girl with flowing hair, wearing plate armour walking over. What made her stand out was a black eyepatch she wore.

“Ah, Yuan Rang. It’s been a while.” I said as I returned Yuan Rang’s salute and bow.

“Yes, it has been a long while since we’ve met.” Yuan Rang said as she got up. She didn’t seem to be in good shape. Her only eye had dark circles below. Looks like things are really looking bad.

“Have you both come to see Meng De?”

“Ah, yes.” I nodded.

“We came here with a message and we also wanted to see Meng De.”

“I see. Hu~” Yuan Rang put her hands on her hips as she sighed with a tired smile.

“Whatever it is, I’m sure Meng De will be happy to see Xuan De. Come in.” Yuan Rang turned around and led us in when she finished.

“Do we need to leave our weapons outside?” I asked.

“It’s fine,” Yuan Rang raised a hand and waved it without turning back, “There’s no need for that now.”

As we entered, we found that there didn’t seem to be many soldiers left. Not only have the tents decreased by a fair amount, even the soldiers who were training were few. Everyone’s faces looked dispirited and exhausted.

“Looks like Lord Cao Cao can’t make it this time.” Zi Long whispered to me, “But this can’t be helped. Lord Cao Cao’s troops are few compared to Lord Yuan Shao after all.”

“Yeah…” I agreed but I felt troubled.

I have to admit that history has changed but I don’t know if it’s my fault. If it really was indeed my fault, then my guilt would probably multiply.

“We’re here,” Yuan Rang stopped outside a tent and turned to me, “Meng De is inside. If you have anything to discuss, just go in and speak with her.”

“Ah, alright. Thanks for bringing us here.” I said and turned to look at Zi Long, “Zi Long, go and rest with Yuan Rang. I’ll go in and speak with Meng De.”

“Xuan De, that is…” Zi Long was still on guard as she looked at Yuan Rang with a hand on her sabre.

Yuan Rang’s expression is indeed ferocious. When you add an eyepatch to her, it makes it even worse. But at this time, Yuan Rang raised her hand from her sword.

“Relax, we don’t have too many troops to set up an ambush.”

“Zi Long, go and rest with Yuan Rang please.” I said as I patted Zi Long’s shoulders, “Don’t worry, it will be fine here.”

Zi Long frowned as she looked at me, and then she raised her brows and her hands in a sign that she gave up and instructed me to look for her later before leaving with Yuan Rang.

And so, the only one left outside Meng De’s tent is just me. As I looked at the white curtains, my emotions began to run wild and I took some deep breaths to calm myself down.

“Meng De, I’m coming in.” I cleared my throat before I said so and parted the curtains.

*Gudugudugudu*

Just as I entered the tent, I could hear the sound of boiling water. I could also smell the faint aroma of meat. I looked up and saw a bronze cauldron set up on top of a short table.

This is…

“Oh? Xuan De, you came?”

Before I could understand what was going on, I heard Meng De’s relaxed voice. I looked over and saw Meng De sitting at the table. Because of the size of the bronze cauldron and the angle, I didn’t see her at first.

“Ah, I’ve come.” I smiled and wanted to bow and salute her when Meng De waved me over.

“Xuan De, you came at the right time. Come, come, have something to eat with me.” As she said so, Meng De picked out some food onto a plate and placed it beside her.

“Ah… Oh.” I was very puzzled as to why Meng De was having a bronze cauldron at this time but I’m a guest so I didn’t say much and went to sit at the table.

“I’ve been very busy these few days with the frontlines and matters back at Xuchang to the point where I haven’t eaten in days.” Meng De smiled, not forgetting to cook some meat while she continued, “So I got some people to bring me a bronze cauldron from Xuchang to have a good meal for once. Don’t just sit there in a daze, Xuan De. Have some too. It’s from the stall we ate at the last time.”

“Ah, alright.” I hurriedly received some meat she took out for me.

“Ah, that’s enough. I can’t eat too much.”

“Eat first before we speak.” Meng De said as she picked up her chopsticks and began eating from the food in her bowl.

I too picked up my chopsticks. I looked at the food in my bowl but I really had no appet.i.te. I looked at Meng De and saw that she had dark circles below her eyes and her face and arms were visibly thinner.

My appet.i.te shrank a lot more when I saw this and I really couldn’t eat. I merely pretended to send food to my mouth as I waited for Meng De to finish her meal.

*Deng*

“Haa, I really love this.” Meng De said as she put down her bowl and took more meat which she put into the bronze cauldron. At this, I felt that it was time I broached the topic.

“Meng De, I have something to speak with you about.”

“Ben Chu wants me to surrender right.”

Wu. So she already knew huh. Even though it didn’t look like it at all, Meng De already knew why I was here.

“Yes. She said that if you do not surrender, then there will be a battle to end it once and for all tomorrow at noon.” I said as I placed Ben Chu’s letter beside Meng De and raised my head to look at her, “Will Meng De surrender?”

*Gudugudugudu*

The bronze cauldron continued to boil, but at this moment, it seemed like everything stood still.

In the next moment, Meng De looked at me and flashed her signature confident smile, “In that case, I’ll meet her on the battlefield.”