WRITTEN BY XAPHHJULY 3, 2016

TL: Not really sure why but views completely cratered since a couple of chapters ago. Is this part really that boring?

Yun Chang POV

Dongling Pa.s.s was more or less under our control now, and by the time we had all entered the Pa.s.s, it was already nightfall and after some discussion, we all felt that it would be better to rest for the night.

And the girls who had been sitting inside the carriage could finally come out, stretch and have some fresh air.

“Girls, you can come out now.” We brought the carriage to the residence of the guarding general and though it was not very luxurious, it was still well stocked and furnished, and was thus more than comfortable enough for a night’s stay.

“Un,” Gan Qing replied as she parted the curtains and carefully stepped down the carriage before turning and helping Mi Zhen down, “Come, little sister.”

“Un~” Mi Zhen said as she poked her tiny head out. She seemed to have just awoken as she was rubbing her eyes. Gan Qing then carried Mi Zhen down.

“Lord Guan Yu, we really have troubled you all quite a bit.” Hua Tuo said as she came down and tidied her clothes with a difficult expression, “Ever since the time I left the Yellow Turbans till now, I’ve always been quite the burden.”

“No such thing,” I said as I rubbed Hua Tuo’s head, “We’re all big brother’s companions. No one is a burden.”

I’ve always felt that big brother had good judgement of things and people. So since big brother felt that we should keep Hua Tuo with us, then it must be the right decision.

In any case, Hua Tuo’s medical techniques are indeed top notch.

“Un, that is indeed good.” Hua Tuo nodded, and looked relieved, “If you should get injured, I’ll definitely treat you immediately.”

“We’re all still fine. You should go and treat the Nanman troops. They’re all still so lively and energetic, as if they aren’t injured at all.”

I looked at the Nanman troops who were chatting in their own tongue. Every one of them had rather large wounds but they were still chatting as though it didn’t bother them at all.

“Yun Chang, we’ve gathered all the surrendered troops, how should we deal with them?” Just then, Wen Yuan walked over from behind. She had taken off her armour by now, and seemed relaxed.

That’s right, there were many troops left, along with 2 major-generals and several other mid-ranking officers. Right now, the number of surrendered troops numbered almost 1,000 or so.

“We should use them and have them cross the Yellow River with us.” Lu Bu said as she came over, looking the same as before, except that Red Hare was now poking out between her b.r.e.a.s.t.s.

“It was an injustice to have broken into the city and killed so many. How could we still appropriate these troops for our own?” I said as I shook my head and looked at the Cao army troops, “Moreover, most of their hometowns are deep within Cao Cao’s territories and they will thus be fiercely loyal and grateful to her. Even if we do appropriate them, they won’t serve us loyally.”

“Then what do we do? We can’t just kill them all right?”

(TL: This actually does happen. In the movie The Warlords (in Qing dynasty though), for example, they tricked a city into surrendering with the promise of feeding the surrendered troops but they ended up slaughtering them instead.)

“Of course not…” I smiled bitterly and thought for a bit before zi came up with a decent suggestion, “No matter what, we need to leave this city as soon as possible so we can just leave this city to the major-generals.”

“Eh? We’re just returning the city after taking it?”

“We shouldn’t have taken this city in the first place…” I sighed, but there was no point to raise this issue any further.

Come to think of it, where is Meng Huo and the rest? After we entered the city, they had quickly disappeared. It would be good if they hadn’t caused more trouble.

“Oi~ Blade girl~”

Un? I turned back and saw that it was the barbarians I’d been looking for.

Looks like… Good, looks like they haven’t done anything untoward.

“Where have you all been? You all disappeared once we entered the city.”

“Ah, we were just touring the place. It’s surprisingly big for a small Pa.s.s.”

I only realised it when they mentioned it. This small mountain Pa.s.s had quite a lot of residents and there were rows and rows of houses, making it seem like a county.

Apart from some farmers, most of the residents in a Pa.s.s would be the families of the garrison troops but it was obvious that the majority of the residents in Dongling Pa.s.s were neither of these.

Looks like Cao Cao has been governing well, for a small Pa.s.s to be this populated,

“The Central Plains really are the best.”

“Un?”

Just then, Meng Huo who had been looking about with a carefree expression began to speak seriously.

“Perhaps you don’t think this is much, but for people like us who stay in the wetlands and the forests, seeing this level of civilisation is very inspiring.”

“What do you all stay in where you live?”

“Un? What we stay in huh, we mostly stay in straw houses or caves. If we were to stay in houses like you do in the Central Plains, they would definitely flood.” Lady Zhurong said in exasperation as she folded her hands across her chest, “You all have more than enough water and food for everyone yet why is it that you must still fight with each other?”

“Eh?”

Lady Zhurong did not continue any further and the others had heavy expressions. I was going to ask further but Lady Zhurong excused herself and brought the other 2 girls along with her up the city tower.

My heart was in turmoil after Lady Zhurong left. From what I knew, wetlands and swamps covered most of Nanman, making it difficult to procure fresh water and farm. To them, us Central Plain people must appear to be very fortunate.

But what about us? Do we treasure the lives we have now? We could clearly live in peace and prosperity in the Central Plains, yet why do we raise armies and fight amongst ourselves?

Lady Zhurong and the rest of the Nanman people couldn’t understand this and I, who was a resident of the Central Plains, could not give an answer either.

“…”

“Ah, blade girl, don’t need to mind it that much.” Meng Huo, who remained behind, smiled as he looked at the distant Lady Zhurong and roughly patted my back, “My lady is a straightforward person so she says what she thinks. But I know that whether it’s the Central Plains or the Nanman, every place has their issues.”

“Un…”

“Alright, stop brooding about it. Why not think about the potential problems that lie ahead of us?” Meng Huo said as he made to follow Lady Zhurong, “I’ll go enjoy the scenery with my lady and set up camp in the city. Just let us know when you’re leaving.”

“Ah… Un, got it.” I hurriedly replied and bowed.

What he said was right. I have enough to deal with as is.

“Yun Chang, why are you still here?”

“Ah, Wen Yuan. Is your side all done!”

“Un, the general’s residence is pretty good and we’re all set up.” Wen Yuan said as she sighed, “When do we leave?”

“As soon as possible, at first light tomorrow.”

“Un, alright.”

We did no speak any further and returned to the general’s residence.

“Come to think of it, does Wen Yuan know what’s the next checkpoint?”

“Ah, the next checkpoint is… Ah, if I remember correctly, it’s–”

— Luoyang