Li Dian POV
“No…” I said, feeling a little ashamed. Though I could read and predict where the enemy would go and what they would do to a certain extent, I could only give basic strategies in response, strategies that were not novel in the least but simple to execute.
“Shen Pei and Lu Xiang should be engaging the enemy ny now.” Cao Ren said as she looked up at the skies, “The barren bit of forest that we got out troops to prepare should be good enough.”
“Thanks to them, we have only cavalry and heavy infantry this time as they have all the archers of our combined forces.”
Without archers, it will be difficult for us later when we charge.
“That can’t be helped. Our own archer unit was not very big to begin with and we don’t have many spare bows. Even if we did, we couldn’t possibly have taken some of our infantry out and retrained them into archers right?” Cao Ren replied with a stiff smile.
— If the other side has a strategist, then they will definitely think that we will move out with all our forces and assault Xinye. This means that they will send troops to raid Fan city while we are doing so. To counter this, all we need to do is set an ambush for the raid, and we will win on both fronts.
Back then, this was all Shen Pei said to us. After she finished, she reverted back to her usual, nervous and jittery self. Naturally, she was left in charge of all aspects of our deployment. Even though we set out to control them, we ended up being controlled by Yuan Shao’s strategist. However, with the predicament we are in, there is no choice if we want to win.
“Hu~” I spat out my breath as I thought of this and said, “Now, all we can do is hope that the troops they sent out to raid Fan city have fallen into our trap.”
Cao Ren merely nodded wordlessly when I finished and returned her attention to riding. Thereafter, we did not speak anymore and continued riding until we came to a stop several kilometers from the city where we saw the enemy troops and generals.
“They’re here.” Cao Ren replied as she unsheathed her spear.
“Un.” I nodded and wielded my new long sword as I stared into the distance.
Because of the horses, there was a lot of dust in the air so I was not able to see what the generals at the front looked like right away. All I could do was to squint and stare as I gripped onto my blade tightly.
I hope that the commanding officer is Guan Yu this time, so that I can have a rematch with her.
The atmosphere was very tense and neither side could see the other as the troops all stood still and stared ahead.
Until, a clear figure finally appeared from behind the dust clouds.
They are here.
*Tatata*
I looked up and saw an individual riding at the head. Their horse’s footsteps were noticeably louder and heavier than the other riders. Soon, what appeared before me was not the Green Dragon Crescent Blade that I had hoped for, but another weapon that I was also familiar with.
A double-sided halberd.
In an instant, my eyes bulged and the scene of several months back replayed before me. Back then, I was in Xu state and Dian Wei was still alive. The 6 of us fought together against a single woman wielding a double-sided halberd but could not defeat her.
Is that… Lu Bu?! The one who took on all 5 of us back then is actually taking the field?
Strategically speaking, we are not in too much of a pickle but personally speaking, we were in deep trouble.
“What do you know about the enemy’s leader?” Cao Ren asked as she stared at Lu Bu and her halberd.
Looks like she knows nothing about her but that cannot be helped. Back when we were fighting in Xu state, Cao Ren was busy eradicating mountain bandits. It seems like she had joined up with Liu Bei during the war against Dong Zhuo but even I do not have much of an impression of her back then, let alone Cao Ren.
“That woman is Lu Bu, one of Liu Bei’s generals. Her martial prowess is extraordinary. During the Battle of Xu state, the 6 of us were unable to overwhelm her.” I said and gave a rough summary of her.
“Is she that impressive?” As expected, Cao Ren reacted with disbelief. Her strength was something you had to experience personally to believe it after all.
“Very, very much so, I would say.”
The scariest thing is that none of us were able to wound her at all. In fact, I do not even think we managed to tire her. The more I think about it, the more I felt that we would not have prevailed even if we had 1, 2 or even 3 more generals to assist us.
“I think I remember who she is. During the war against Yuan Shao, Wen Chou was slain by her, I think…”
“Yes, back then Guan Yu served our side and alongside her was Lu Bu, who was sent out during that battle.”
“Wen Chou may be a renowned general of Hebei but it’s not like she is invincible.” Cao Ren said, still not getting a good feel of her strength but nodded anyway. After a moment of thought, she asked again, “But why do we know so little about her when she’s clearly so formidable?”
“Un…”
This was something that perturbed me as well. She was clearly a ferocious and heroic general yet why has Liu Bei not used her more? If Lu Bu had been heavily used after Xu state, she would have forged a fearsome reputation by now.
“You on the other side, name yourself.” While we were in the midst of our discussion, someone yelled over from the other side, giving us a fright. When we looked over, we saw that they had gotten into formation and it was not Lu Bu who had yelled but her lieutenant. That lieutenant looks rather familiar, probably because she was 1 of those who came to Xuchang along with Guan Yu.
I was planning to go up and reply but Cao Ren held out her hand and stopped me. She shot me a look before riding up.
Yes, Cao Ren is far better than I am at the pre-battle shouting after all so she should go.
Cao Ren rode up about 5 paces or so and saluted and bowed as she yelled back slowly with a smile, “I am a Cao general, Cao Ren, and I am here by the order of the Son of Heaven to lead the vanguard for the southern campaign to punish Liu Biao. Presently, we are here to go through Xinye yet you lot are hindering our progress. Why is that?”
The way she slowly said all of that strongly resembled my lord.
“…” Lu Bu merely continued to stare back with a beast-like gleam in her eyes that was truly terrifying.
Her lieutenant on the other hand nodded and replied, “Our lord is a blood relative of Liu Biao of Jing state. Now that a horde with unclear aims has appeared to invade his territory, we will carry on our lord’s will and fulfill his wishes of not letting any invaders pass through Xinye. If you lot insist on continuing your southern campaign, please do go by the river and enter through Jiangxia.”
What surprised me was that the lieutenant was no small fry too. As she raised her hand and replied, she was firm, polite and had a refreshing smile on her as the hem of her clothes swayed in the wind behind her. Overall she gave a hot-blooded, energetic aura that was different from Cao Ren.
A righteous hero, yes, that’s what she seems like.
“And yet, now that your lord is dead, why are you clinging on to his last words?” Cao Ren did not stop and continued to speak as she saluted, “Your deceased lord has neither land nor titles left to you, only his honour. Yes, you lot can claim to be fighting for your lord’s honour but is that really the case?”
Cao Ren showed a kind smile when she finished. The lieutenant looked puzzled, as though she did not understand what Cao Ren meant. I have to admit that I do not either.
After a moment’s pause, Cao Ren continued, “Even if you lot should prevail in this battle, it is Liu Biao’s victory, not yours. Even then, you’re all just prolonging the inevitable. Eventually, you will all fall before the might of our armies. When the time comes, Liu Biao still has not lost but Liu Bei’s name would have died along with you lot.”
Cao Ren dangerously rode forward several paces when she finished and continued, “Not only is Liu Biao a disloyal retainer of the Great Han, he is also a weak leader, a flaw that has allowed a subordinate of his to act out of turn and dishonourably, resulting in the death of Liu Bei. In the end, the disloyal and dishonourable Liu Biao is still safe and comfortable while Liu Bei’s name and reputation is dead and gone. Tell me, is that something you wish to see come to pass?”
*Tata*
The lieutenant did not speak but judging by how her horse took 2 steps back, it should mean that Cao Ren’s words were able to make her waver.
As expected of Cao Ren, if it were me, I would never have been able to say such convincing words. To convince someone, sometimes what is needed is not the truth, but something that can resonate with the person.
And in this regard, Cao Ren is extremely adept. She can always see through what someone needs to hear. Her empathetic self adapts to the situation and now, her empathy has become a tool to make the enemy waver, as seen from how the lieutenant was rendered speechless by her words.
Un? Just then, I looked up at the city tower in the distance and saw several people standing there and watching us. I could not make out who they were but I could see the eye-catching grass circlet from before.
Is that man the one who came up with these strategies for Liu Bei’s faction? Yet now, be it the raid or this battlefield, they are both disadvantageous to Xinye. I wonder how that person feels about this and if he even knows.