I Have a Date with a Thousand-year-old Female Corpse-Chapter 1894 - 1896: Zheng Zhi (Second Update)

Chapter 1894: Chapter 1896: Zheng Zhi (Second Update)
Zhao Yun, feeling overwhelmed by your intense gaze, hastily said, "We had a battle with the Tiger Leopard Cavalry, lost about a dozen brothers, and then retreated with General Xiao. However, the Tiger Leopard Cavalry lost at least over five hundred men!"
At this point, Zhao Yun’s face showed strong fighting spirit and self-confidence. After all, Cao Cao’s Tiger Leopard Cavalry was renowned throughout the land, and for them to defeat five hundred with just two hundred was already a miracle.
You nodded approvingly and asked, "Where are Xiao San and the others now? How many are left?"
Zhao Yun sighed and said, "General Xiao only took a brief rest to bandage his wounds, then led the remaining ten trusted aides to continue searching for the Lord in the mountains. After reuniting with Zheng Zhi, I also led the brothers to search around Pengcheng, and finally, because we felt the situation in Pengcheng was too strange, we infiltrated to investigate here."
You nodded, then instructed Zhao Yun, "Quickly notify Xiao San to come and see me at once!"
"Yes!"
Zhao Yun quickly stood up, saluted you, and swiftly disappeared into the night.
Then, you turned to Zheng Zhi and said, "Pass on my order for Lü Dai to expedite the training of the Special Forces, as we need more soldiers."
"Yes."
Although reluctant to leave the intoxicating aura around you, Zheng Zhi quickly stood up and slipped away.
After Zhao Yun and Zheng Zhi had left, Wei Yan and Yue Jin both looked at you with shining eyes, a modern expression could be—"What the heck! You two elders trying to act cute in front of me! After resolving the Xuzhou situation, I will educate all generals on ambush tactics. Now, put away those 24K titanium eyes of yours!"
Though they didn’t understand much of your modern slang, Yue Jin and Wei Yan grinned at each other. They were already used to your humorous language, finding it natural and comfortable. They knew that, although technically there were ranks, privately everyone was more like friends. Your greatest strength was your easy demeanor, which made you approachable.
The next morning, even before the rooster crowed, you had already gotten out of bed. Habitually up early, he opened the door, intending to stretch, only to find eleven people kneeling in the courtyard. From their rain-soaked clothes, it was clear they had been kneeling there all night.
You took a deep breath and said, "Stand up."
No response; the eleven remained kneeling, heads bowed.
"I said, stand up!"
With your shout, Xiao San and the others finally reacted, but instead of standing, they all shouted in unison, "We are guilty for not protecting the Lord!"
"Nonsense! I’m perfectly fine now, and if you don’t get up, I’ll send you all to work the fields, being farmers for life!"
To die on the battlefield is every soldier’s greatest honor, Xiao San and the others were naturally unafraid, but working the fields would be a worse fate than death. Immediately, Xiao San and the others rose swiftly, just as the once gray sky began to drizzle lightly, with rain gradually increasing.
You didn’t let them take shelter from the rain, and you stood resolutely in the wind and rain as well. You knew that this mistake was chiefly your fault; no ordinary person would risk their life to fetch some absurd mother-in-law from Wuji. In this era, women were considered mere appendages at best, their primary role being procreation.
"Lord, your body is just recovering, please don’t..." Xiao San and the others urged you.
"I do as I please, and it’s none of your business!" However, at this moment you were shouting at Xiao San and the others, shouting at the sky. Whether it was the rain blurring your vision or something else, hot tears ran down your cheeks. Luckily, the rain obscured this fact from others, but your reddened eyes gave you away.
At this moment, standing not just Xiao San and the others, but Wei Yan and Yue Jin were also at the courtyard entrance, standing in the heavy rain with their eyes slightly red.
Elsewhere, in the room next to yours, a small window opened, and the first tear rolled down Gan Mei’s pale jade cheek.
The rain stopped by noon, and in the Governor’s Mansion hall, after changing clothes, Xiao San and the ten others kneeled before you once more, "Lord, Xiao San and ten brothers have returned!"
However, in front of everyone, you shook your head and said a single word that struck Xiao San like a bolt from the blue, "No."
Xiao San and the others were stunned, then all eleven shouted in unison, "Lord, we request to return!"
You looked coldly at those before you, without saying a word. To your left stood Wei Yan and Yue Jin, while to your right were Zhao Yun and Zheng Zhi. As for Pengcheng’s other officials, they had no right to be in this hall, standing before you.
"Lord..." Yue Jin wanted to intercede for Xiao San and the others, but you silenced him with a glare.
You slowly stood up and said to Xiao San and his contingent, "From now on, I no longer need you by my side, nor do I require trusted aides."
Upon hearing this, Xiao San and his group felt their hearts wrenched, and some even turned pale and stammered.
Yet, your next words made them lift their heads again, eyes fierce, "Starting today, except for Xiao San, the remaining ten shall take my token and split into three groups to go to the cities of Xiapi, Pengcheng, and Kaiyang. I want you to pour all your longing for your comrades and hatred for your enemies into becoming the sharpest steel blades on the front lines!"
"Yes!"
In Xiao San’s expectant gaze, you told him, "Go to Kaiyang City immediately and tell Yu Jin to assign you to a combat position at the front lines."
Leaving you signified his impending growth, yet Xiao San also worried for your safety, prompting him to ask, "Lord, even if we leave, you still need guards by your side."
You smiled and said, "You don’t need to worry about that. Without burdens, no one can stop my progress. After this incident, do you think I’d make the same mistake again?"
Just as Xiao San and the others left, you too set out in a carriage towards Xuzhou City. The scene was now different from ten days before. Behind the carriage trailed a thousand disheveled cavalry, and inside the carriage, another occupant was with you, Zheng Zhi. Zheng Zhi led a thousand to accompany you, while Zhao Yun took your secret letter to meet Cao Bao in Guangling City.
Sitting inside the carriage, Zheng Zhi wore a blank expression as she faced Gan Mei and the Zhao Family member. Each time the Zhao Family member inquired gently, Zheng Zhi feigned deafness, ignoring them entirely. Even when Gan Mei kindly approached her for conversation, she responded with half-lowered head, seemingly lost in thought, avoiding any reply.