Don't Tell Me This Is the True History of the Three Kingdoms! Vol 9 Chapter 192

TL;DR: Translator has started work and will be able to translate a maximum of 1 chapter per week. Daily releases will end by the end of October 2017 or so.

TL: And here we are at the end of V9! Apologies guys but I only have bad news here. I’m afraid I won’t be able to translate very much anymore as I have started work in a job where the hours are 12-18 per day. It takes me about an hour and half on average for 1 chapter but when your free time is so little, it makes a big difference and I don’t see myself translating more than 1 chapter a week. Additionally, V10 is a real drag as it’s practically a volume to set up the action for the next few volumes. Thanks to all those who have been following this series thus far. As of now the raws are up to V13 and even then Red Cliff isn’t up yet. At this rate, the series is likely to end only by V25-35 which means another 3-7 years. With this, my expected major slowdown and the lack of popularity for this series, it is highly unlikely that the English translation will ever finish. This is something I am truly sorry to the readers for. Even if someone else does pick this up (and I’m fine with that),  it is also unlikely the quality will be the same or better. I am saying this not to toot my own horn but I have now grown accustomed to how the writer pads his chapters and am able to cut out needless words. I’m not quitting but it is practically the same thing anyway. Thanks again to everyone who has read and enjoyed this work thus far.

Li Dian POV

This idea flashed in my mind as I looked into the city but I quickly threw it out. This was not because I thought that this was a trap but rather, I decided against it because of my honour. I had pleaded on behalf of Lu Xiang after all on the grounds of honour and benevolence so there was no way I could go and do something dishonourable. As a warrior, I should not have thought of such things to begin with as well.

Hai, I really lack training huh? I thought as I shook my head and dismounted as I made my way over to the 2 soldiers. I turned to look at Cao Ren and saw that she was calm and seemed to have no intention of charging in. If she did, she would definitely be looking at me.

*Tatata*

As the 2 soldiers and I met, we both came to a stop.

“Soldiers, we may be enemies but I hope you can treat my friend well.” I said as I handed them the reins.

“Lord Li Dian need not leave her horse. We can carry her in.” One of them said and made to come over to bring her down but I stopped him.

“No need for that. Just bring her in on the horse. After coming all the way here, I only wish that she can be buried with her brother. Let this horse be the final carriage for her on her way to the netherworld.”

They looked at each other before nodding and taking the reins as they returned into the city. I looked up at Guan Yu and saw that she looked much bigger than she actually was. I never thought that this matter would be so easily settled.

Hmph, just like with Zhang Liao, I really did hope to be comrades with Guan Yu. Liu Bei, you really are blessed to have such dedicated retainers.

“I’ve received Lu Xiang. Don’t worry, I will make sure that everything is carried out properly.”

“Many thanks to Lord Guan Yu.” I said softly as I bowed, as did Cao Ren.

Just then, there was some commotion behind us and I saw that Yuan Shao’s troops were bowing and saluting Guan Yu as well. Lu Xiang is really popular huh?

“All troops!” Cao Ren yelled, “Advance!”

When she finished, the troops yelled as they began to march off, back to Xuchang. I wond

er just how much Lu Xiang’s troops have contributed to this battle.

“… Lord Guan Yu!” I yelled with all of my strength at Fan city after marching for several steps, “Don’t be too happy too soon! The southern campaign will not cease because of of your resistance! My lord’s aim is not Xinye but Jing state! Enjoy your victories while you can!”

…

“We will deal with you when you come again! Lord Li Dian need not worry about that!” Guan Yu yelled back after a while.

Hmph. I snorted and looked at Guan Yu up at the tower silently before finally turning around and leaving for good. To be honest, I am not even sure why I yelled all of that. Was I trying to challenge her? Or maybe express my feelings after suffering defeat? I do not know, I just felt like I had to say something to her at the end before I left.

“Don’t walk, Lord Li Dian, come on up.” Just then, a soldier came over to me and handed me the reins to his horse.

At this, I merely shook me head and waved at him dismissively. Now that we have lost, I have to punish myself somehow. It’s not like it’s terribly difficult, nor is this the first time I am marching to Xuchang on foot from this far anyway.

“Lord Li Dian, come ride behind me.” Just then, Cao Ren called out to me as she shuffled to the front of her saddle and made space for me.

“Ah, Lord Cao Ren, I don’t need…”

“There’s no need to say any further,” Cao Ren immediately cut me off and smiled, “If you’re thinking of punishing yourself, then I should be getting off and walking with you as well.”

“Ah, no…” I did not know what to say in response to this and stammered while Cao Ren’s smile widened.

“Alright, get on.” She said as she patted the space behind her, “We’ll get our punishment when we arrive at Xuchang.”

…

Hmph, I suppose she’s right. I looked at Cao Ren’s smile and her outstretched hand and felt that she must know exactly what I was thinking and decided to accede to her request as I reached out and mounted behind her.

“Many thanks, Lord Cao Ren.”

“There’s no need to thank me. Now that the battle has ended like this, you should be cursing me.”

“How could I? Lord Cao Ren shouldn’t be saying such things.” I frowned, “Winning and losing is part of life and this loss is not Lord Cao Ren’s sole fault to begin with. I too am…”

“Alright, alright~” Cao Ren smiled as she cut me off again, “Who is responsible is not important anymore. We have too much blood on our hands after this battle after all.”

As I looked at Cao Ren’s back, I found that Cao Ren was a lot more reliable than I thought she was. She had indeed filled the shoes of a commanding officer. At the very least, she never gave up no matter what and it was not a total loss. No matter what happened, she did not crumble. That is something I would not have been able to do. This is perhaps Cao Ren’s strength and why she is the commanding officer.

“Hai, we’ll have to start thinking about how we are going to report this.” Cao Ren spoke up as she took out a blank bamboo scroll from her bag and began writing, “It’ll take a few days before we get to Xuchang and it’ll be best if we’re done before that. It’s going to be a real torture to write down every detail though.”

Cao Ren smiled bitterly as she said so, her beautiful silver hair fluttering behind her in the breeze. There really was a lot to think about, with that Xu Shu and the man with the Nanman hat as well as Zhang Fei. The newcomers in their faction were very surprising and the people we knew have changed.

And just as we came as 2, we left as 2. This was something that made me feel sad. It really hurts to lose and I could feel tears streaming down my face as I rode on. I was grateful that I was sitting behind Cao Ren so she could not see this. There is little doubt however, that she feels the same way while thinking about the same things as I am.

But really, what would it be like if I had met Liu Bei first before my lord now?

…

Who knows? And why is a warrior like me thinking about such things anyway?

“Hu~” I gave a long sigh and gave up all these useless thoughts as I closed my eyes and leaned back even though I knew I could not sleep.

The Battle of Xinye and Fan city has ended with a severe defeat on our side.

It really has ended.

Unknown POV

I like to look at the night sky. Not because the sky is beautiful. In fact, I do not really care about what the sky is like. The reason why I like to look at the sky is because it tells me a great many things.

“How’s today’s weather~ Haa~” I yawned while lying on the bed and yelled to my little sister.

“The weather? Ah… It’s alright.”

“Are the stars out?”

“They are… Why? Is big sister going to look at the stars tonight?”

“Yes.” I said as I got up from bed and picked up my fan as I left the room.

Wu, the moon is so bright. Sometimes I like to blow out the lights and open the doors and let in the bright moonlight on full moon nights. If it were not for the cold, it would have felt like daytime.

I covered the moon with my fan as my eyes slowly adjusted to the darkness and looked at the skies, or more specifically, at the stars.

Un… The twinkling of the stars might seem like a very ordinary thing but they held information about both the past and the future.

Un… I see, Li Dian and Cao Ren lost badly huh? Though there was a hiccup in the middle that was rather worrying, the ending was good and I am relieved.

Relieved, my ass. This outcome is only barely passable but given the current circumstances, I should be content with this. At the very least, it’s better than what has happened before.

But really… Liu Bei, why are you so ignorant even now? I stared at the skies and felt melancholic.

Soon, it will be my turn huh?

Chapter end