Li Dian POV
“If you haven’t fully recovered, then you shouldn’t push yourself…”
“No,” Lu Xiang abruptly interrupted me and shook her head several times as she lay on her horse, “When I heard that this was going to be the last battle, I felt that I had to participate.”
If I did not know what kind of person Lu Xiang was, I would have though that she was sent by Shen Pei to keep an eye on us. But after working together for a while now, this thought did not even spring to mind. Lu Xiang did indeed want to take the field.
Cao Ren and I looked at each other and then at Lu Xiang, “It’s fine for you to follow along but I’m afraid this battle will not be an easy one by any means. It is very likely that–”
“Lord Li Dian,” Before I could finish, even with the warning that I gave her, she still did not listen and had a strangely firm gaze in her eyes, “My big brother and I are warriors. I do not fear death on the battlefield.”
Un… If she ‘s going to go that far, what more can I say?
“Come along then.” I said and looked at Cao Ren, who smiled with her eyebrows raised.
“Un, looks like that’s the only way.” Cao Ren said as she reached out and touched Lu Xiang’s waist, who jolted again at the touch, “We are indeed lacking generals at this time so you are a great help to us. Even if you are still injured.”
“Ah… Many thanks, my lords.” Lu Xiang gratefully saluted us as she nodded.
Never mind. It’s good to have a general who can take a few hits in battle. No matter what, there is still Zhao Yun, her lieutenant as well as that man wearing a weird hat. None of them are weak opponents by far.
But now that I think about it, it seems like we completely forgot about asking that man’s origins. Now that they are in such a dire predicament, how was it that they managed to get someone like him to join them?
“Ah yes, how much do you know of the upcoming battle?” Cao Ren asked Lu Xiang as she turned to her.
“To the commanding officer, none at all.”
“Ah…” Cao Ren gasped softly as her smile hardened. I really could not take this awkward scene and pulled down my hat to avoid looking at it and to hide the smile I had as I looked at Cao Ren’s expression.
“Ah… That’s fine, that’s not too big an issue.” Cao Ren said as she smiled and explained, “To put it simply, there will be some defections later and we will be sieging Xinye city with their troops.”
“Some generals will be defecting?” Lu Xiang asked in surprise.
At this point, I wondered if we ought to ask her how her battle with Guan Yu went down but then decided against it as we probably would not receive much information that would be useful at this point.
As I thought so, i looked up ahead.
… Un?!
“Oi! Lord Cao Ren!”
“Un?” Cao Ren calmly looked over and stared at the city as I did when she heard me call out to her, “Ah.”
Not far ahead was Xinye city. The gates were already open and troops were streaming out of the city.
“Orders for all troops!”
“Prepare to sortie!” After Cao Ren’s initial yell, the officers began relaying the order to get ready for combat.
“Begin inspecting your weapons! Battle will begin imminently!” Cao Ren continued to yell and soon, the sound of steel clashing could be heard from behind as the troops began to unsheathe and inspect their weapons.
“They’re coming, they’re coming.” Cao Ren muttered with excitement as she squinted ahead and began counting the enemy troops that were streaming out. I too was counting, to see if things were going as Guan Yu and the rest said it would.
“2,000.”
“About 2,000 men.”
Cao Ren and I said at the same time and looked at each other as we nodded. Looks like their 8,000 strong troops were indeed divided in 4.
“What are the 2 lords talking about?”
“Ah, un…” I wanted to explain but did not know where to start from.
“Lord Lu Xiang just needs to attack alongside us.” Cao Ren just gave her simple orders in lieu of an explanation as there was no time to give her a full rundown, “Just attack wherever we tell you to later.”
“Alright, I got it!” Lu Xiang enthusiastically replied without thinking and bowed to Cao Ren before inspecting her weapons as well. Even though her abdomen was injured, her movements still seemed deft. Of course, I know that she is just enduring the pain. Even though the weather was cold and dry, she had already begun sweating.
“Don’t push yourself.” I said to her again, feeling worried.
“Un, I got it.” She replied while continuing to check her weapons. Since she is still going to push on even after asking her so many times, I will just leave her be.
“I’ll be counting on Lord Lu Xiang in a while then.” I said to her as I saluted her and lowered my head gratefully.
Compared to the second battle, Lu Xiang seemed to be more energetic now. But this energy she is exuding is probably only because of the battle that will come. Only battles can help Lu Xiang to let out her grief, anguish and anger from Lu Kuang’s death after all and it’s no wonder that she’s pushing herself this hard. This battle is also, perhaps, the battle to conclude this chapter of Xinye for Lu Xiang.
“Lord Li Dian, we can see the face of the enemy general already.”
“Un?” I looked ahead and saw a woman astride a snow-white horse as she held a silver spear while wearing a set of silver plate armour. Even from afar, I could feel her heroic and brave aura.
“Is that person Zhao Yun?”
“Un,” I nodded at Cao Ren, “There is no mistake. That person is indeed Zhao Yun Zhao Zi Long.”
“…” Lu Xiang wordlessly looked ahead with hatred in her eyes at the one who killed her elder brother.
“This means that Guan Yu and the rest were genuine.”
“It’s still too early to make this conclusion.” I said as I raised my hand to stop an elated Cao Ren, “This could just be because Guan Yu and the rest conspired with Zhao Yun.”
Even though I said as much, I am still feeling optimistic inside. Based on the plan, the city should be descending into chaos soon after Zhang Liao had gotten Lu Bu drunk and induced Zhao Yun to lead her troops out. I looked at the perimeter of the city and saw that there were troop movements as well. But they seemed to be heading into the city rather than around it to support Zhao Yun.
“Looks like Zhang Liao and Guan Yu have led their troops into the city.” Cao Ren said. Looks like she was looking at the same thing as I was.
“Ah, yes.” I nodded. This means that Guan Yu and Zhang Liao will be executing their part of the plan soon.
“Lord Li Dian.”
“I understand. But let’s see how things develop before we act later.”
We still cannot lower our guard. The closer we get to the decisive times, the more careful we must be.
… Just in case, maybe I should give her some explanation.
“Lu Xiang, I know you hate Zhao Yun but don’t do anything unnecessary later.”
“Anything unnecessary? Aren’t we here to siege the city?”
“Yes we are. But we will be charging into the city later.” I said as I pointed at the gate, “In a while, the city gates will open and we will charge in on my orders. When the time comes, do not bother to engage with the troops who are now outside the city.”
“I see.” Lu Xiang seemed to understand the situation and did not ask much and merely nodded, “I will listen to the orders from the 2 lords then.”
Her not asking any questions does not bother me as Lu Xiang is more of the pure warrior type after all so she does not really care much about things other than battle.
“Orders for all troops!”
*Tatata*
At Cao Ren’s yell, the troops behind began to slow down. They too knew what was about to happen.
“Halt!” Cao Ren yelled after the troops made several more steps and the entire army halted instantly. At this time, we were about 100 paces away from Zhao Yun and her troops and about 300 paces away from the gates. With a completely clear sky, we could probably make out Zhao Yun’s expression clearly if we took several more paces up.
“What do we do now? Do we charge or do we yell at them?” Cao Ren whispered to me. I looked up slightly at the tower and felt surprised.
Li Dian POV
“If you haven’t fully recovered, then you shouldn’t push yourself…”
“No,” Lu Xiang abruptly interrupted me and shook her head several times as she lay on her horse, “When I heard that this was going to be the last battle, I felt that I had to participate.”
If I did not know what kind of person Lu Xiang was, I would have though that she was sent by Shen Pei to keep an eye on us. But after working together for a while now, this thought did not even spring to mind. Lu Xiang did indeed want to take the field.
Cao Ren and I looked at each other and then at Lu Xiang, “It’s fine for you to follow along but I’m afraid this battle will not be an easy one by any means. It is very likely that–”
“Lord Li Dian,” Before I could finish, even with the warning that I gave her, she still did not listen and had a strangely firm gaze in her eyes, “My big brother and I are warriors. I do not fear death on the battlefield.”
Un… If she ‘s going to go that far, what more can I say?
“Come along then.” I said and looked at Cao Ren, who smiled with her eyebrows raised.
“Un, looks like that’s the only way.” Cao Ren said as she reached out and touched Lu Xiang’s waist, who jolted again at the touch, “We are indeed lacking generals at this time so you are a great help to us. Even if you are still injured.”
“Ah… Many thanks, my lords.” Lu Xiang gratefully saluted us as she nodded.
Never mind. It’s good to have a general who can take a few hits in battle. No matter what, there is still Zhao Yun, her lieutenant as well as that man wearing a weird hat. None of them are weak opponents by far.
But now that I think about it, it seems like we completely forgot about asking that man’s origins. Now that they are in such a dire predicament, how was it that they managed to get someone like him to join them?
“Ah yes, how much do you know of the upcoming battle?” Cao Ren asked Lu Xiang as she turned to her.
“To the commanding officer, none at all.”
“Ah…” Cao Ren gasped softly as her smile hardened. I really could not take this awkward scene and pulled down my hat to avoid looking at it and to hide the smile I had as I looked at Cao Ren’s expression.
“Ah… That’s fine, that’s not too big an issue.” Cao Ren said as she smiled and explained, “To put it simply, there will be some defections later and we will be sieging Xinye city with their troops.”
“Some generals will be defecting?” Lu Xiang asked in surprise.
At this point, I wondered if we ought to ask her how her battle with Guan Yu went down but then decided against it as we probably would not receive much information that would be useful at this point.
As I thought so, i looked up ahead.
… Un?!
“Oi! Lord Cao Ren!”
“Un?” Cao Ren calmly looked over and stared at the city as I did when she heard me call out to her, “Ah.”
Not far ahead was Xinye city. The gates were already open and troops were streaming out of the city.
“Orders for all troops!”
“Prepare to sortie!” After Cao Ren’s initial yell, the officers began relaying the order to get ready for combat.
“Begin inspecting your weapons! Battle will begin imminently!” Cao Ren continued to yell and soon, the sound of steel clashing could be heard from behind as the troops began to unsheathe and inspect their weapons.
“They’re coming, they’re coming.” Cao Ren muttered with excitement as she squinted ahead and began counting the enemy troops that were streaming out. I too was counting, to see if things were going as Guan Yu and the rest said it would.
“2,000.”
“About 2,000 men.”
Cao Ren and I said at the same time and looked at each other as we nodded. Looks like their 8,000 strong troops were indeed divided in 4.
“What are the 2 lords talking about?”
“Ah, un…” I wanted to explain but did not know where to start from.
“Lord Lu Xiang just needs to attack alongside us.” Cao Ren just gave her simple orders in lieu of an explanation as there was no time to give her a full rundown, “Just attack wherever we tell you to later.”
“Alright, I got it!” Lu Xiang enthusiastically replied without thinking and bowed to Cao Ren before inspecting her weapons as well. Even though her abdomen was injured, her movements still seemed deft. Of course, I know that she is just enduring the pain. Even though the weather was cold and dry, she had already begun sweating.
“Don’t push yourself.” I said to her again, feeling worried.
“Un, I got it.” She replied while continuing to check her weapons. Since she is still going to push on even after asking her so many times, I will just leave her be.
“I’ll be counting on Lord Lu Xiang in a while then.” I said to her as I saluted her and lowered my head gratefully.
Compared to the second battle, Lu Xiang seemed to be more energetic now. But this energy she is exuding is probably only because of the battle that will come. Only battles can help Lu Xiang to let out her grief, anguish and anger from Lu Kuang’s death after all and it’s no wonder that she’s pushing herself this hard. This battle is also, perhaps, the battle to conclude this chapter of Xinye for Lu Xiang.
“Lord Li Dian, we can see the face of the enemy general already.”
“Un?” I looked ahead and saw a woman astride a snow-white horse as she held a silver spear while wearing a set of silver plate armour. Even from afar, I could feel her heroic and brave aura.
“Is that person Zhao Yun?”
“Un,” I nodded at Cao Ren, “There is no mistake. That person is indeed Zhao Yun Zhao Zi Long.”
“…” Lu Xiang wordlessly looked ahead with hatred in her eyes at the one who killed her elder brother.
“This means that Guan Yu and the rest were genuine.”
“It’s still too early to make this conclusion.” I said as I raised my hand to stop an elated Cao Ren, “This could just be because Guan Yu and the rest conspired with Zhao Yun.”
Even though I said as much, I am still feeling optimistic inside. Based on the plan, the city should be descending into chaos soon after Zhang Liao had gotten Lu Bu drunk and induced Zhao Yun to lead her troops out. I looked at the perimeter of the city and saw that there were troop movements as well. But they seemed to be heading into the city rather than around it to support Zhao Yun.
“Looks like Zhang Liao and Guan Yu have led their troops into the city.” Cao Ren said. Looks like she was looking at the same thing as I was.
“Ah, yes.” I nodded. This means that Guan Yu and Zhang Liao will be executing their part of the plan soon.
“Lord Li Dian.”
“I understand. But let’s see how things develop before we act later.”
We still cannot lower our guard. The closer we get to the decisive times, the more careful we must be.
… Just in case, maybe I should give her some explanation.
“Lu Xiang, I know you hate Zhao Yun but don’t do anything unnecessary later.”
“Anything unnecessary? Aren’t we here to siege the city?”
“Yes we are. But we will be charging into the city later.” I said as I pointed at the gate, “In a while, the city gates will open and we will charge in on my orders. When the time comes, do not bother to engage with the troops who are now outside the city.”
“I see.” Lu Xiang seemed to understand the situation and did not ask much and merely nodded, “I will listen to the orders from the 2 lords then.”
Her not asking any questions does not bother me as Lu Xiang is more of the pure warrior type after all so she does not really care much about things other than battle.
“Orders for all troops!”
*Tatata*
At Cao Ren’s yell, the troops behind began to slow down. They too knew what was about to happen.
“Halt!” Cao Ren yelled after the troops made several more steps and the entire army halted instantly. At this time, we were about 100 paces away from Zhao Yun and her troops and about 300 paces away from the gates. With a completely clear sky, we could probably make out Zhao Yun’s expression clearly if we took several more paces up.
“What do we do now? Do we charge or do we yell at them?” Cao Ren whispered to me. I looked up slightly at the tower and felt surprised.
