Hua Mulan asked shyly, "Can I say anything?"
Old He said, "Yes, even if you still want to be marshal, I will do my best to inform the Emperor."
Hua Mulan whispered, "I want to take a bath..."
Old He coughed awkwardly twice, then said firmly, "I'll send someone to guard you!"
...
Inside the Northern Wei army camp, Hua Mulan's tent was filled with steam, occasionally punctuated by the giggles of a girl. Thanks to her, Yu Ji and Xiao Huan were finally able to enjoy a comfortable hot bath during these arduous years of war. Old He had dispatched a large contingent of soldiers to stand guard for them, but these men, who were usually so brave on the battlefield, now stood as if facing a formidable enemy, leaning on their spears, their backs to the tent, keeping a distance as if they wanted to plug their ears, as if even the sound of water would be a desecration of Hua Mulan.
A short while later, Yu Ji and Xiao Huan emerged from the tent, one on each side, both dressed in newly changed clothes. Yu Ji, with her hand on the tent flap, said playfully, "Sister Hua, come out quickly! What's wrong, are you shy?"
A pair of jade-like hands gripped the doorframe. Mulan peeked out first, her face flushed with shyness, and exclaimed in surprise, "Wow, so many people!" Then she tried to squeeze back inside.
Yu Ji and Xiao Huan pulled her out together. Hua Mulan was dressed in a Qin Dynasty women's garment, loose yet form-fitting, highlighting her feminine grace. Her freshly washed hair dripped with water. Standing in the moonlight, her curves were exquisite, her large eyes sparkling, pure and untouched by worldly concerns, like a fairy descended from heaven. Yu Ji and Xiao Huan both cheered.
As soon as Mulan came out, she regained her composure. After all, she was an officer who had led troops for 10 years, and her straightforward and decisive temperament remained unchanged. She went up behind a soldier in front of the tent and called out, "Li Ergou!"
Li Ergou was already trembling with fear, and when he heard movement behind him, his neck seemed to rust, and he dared not move an inch. Now, hearing Hua Mulan call his name, sweat trickled down his nose, but he still stood at attention and shouted, "Yes, sir!"
Hua Mulan said, "Marshal He is about to return home. I heard you are in the first batch. When you get back, tell my parents and my brother that I will be home soon—can you please turn your back on me?"
Li Ergou said in a panic, "This...this...this humble servant dares not." As he spoke, he tilted his neck back slightly, and then smelled a sweet fragrance, which startled him so much that he quickly stood up straight.
Hua Mulan impatiently grabbed his shoulder, turned him around to face her, and scolded, "Are you crazy? We're from the same hometown and joined the army in the same year. What's there to be afraid of?"
Li Ergou stared blankly at the beautiful girl in front of him and stammered, "Mu... Hua Xianfeng."
Hua Mulan said, "Don't you always call me by my name in private? What, do you not recognize me as your brother now that I've changed my clothes?" As she spoke, Hua Mulan affectionately punched Li Ergou on the chest.
Li Ergou was Mulan's fellow soldier from the same hometown, and now he had been promoted to captain. The two were used to joking around in private, and seeing that Mulan was still so easygoing, he relaxed and said, "How could that be?" As he spoke, he habitually raised his fist, but after glancing at Mulan in women's clothing, he was so embarrassed that he punched his own chest...
Xiang Yu looked at Mulan dressed as a woman, shook his head and smiled, "It seems Mulan hasn't realized the difference between men and women yet, which is a troublesome matter."
I said, "It's normal. This is war trauma and requires time to heal. Even American veterans who fought in the Vietnam War are still afraid of banana trees, aren't they?"
Nothing more was said that night, and the next day the Northern Wei army began a planned withdrawal. Hua Mulan went to help Marshal He with his arrangements early in the morning. I came out of the tent and saw Xiang Yu staring blankly at the Chu army's linked camp. I asked in surprise, "Brother Yu, so early?"
Xiang Yu absentmindedly gave a reply. I stepped forward and asked, "What are you thinking about?"
Xiang Yu pointed ahead and said, "I'm thinking about their fate."
I said, "Didn't Lao He say that after submitting his petition to the emperor, everyone would be allowed to move into the Central Plains?"
Xiang Yu sighed and said, "Old He's men can finally go back and reunite with their families, but what good will it do for our brothers to go with them? Their homes are in Chu, and they have their own parents and wives. They may not say it, but I can tell they miss home."
"I'll call Bangzi!" I realized that Xiang Yu was indirectly asking me for help, but he was too embarrassed to say it directly.
"Wait until I leave before you fight," Xiang Yu said, leaving me somewhat flustered.
"You're so obsessed with saving face, you'll suffer for it!" I looked at his retreating figure with disdain and dialed the phone, saying, "Hey, Bangzi."
From Liu Bang's end came the sound of clothes being put on, and then it seemed like he moved to another place with the phone before saying, "Where did you all go? If you hadn't called me, I would have really thought you jumped into the river."
I laughed and said, "You're here with Mulan—why are you acting so suspiciously?"
"My wife is asleep next to me."
"Is everything settled over there?"
"Alright, when are you coming? Pulling that car of yours was a real struggle, it was like pulling teeth and shoveling mud. Locking the door is one thing, but why did you pull the handbrake?"
I chuckled and said, "I have something to tell you. Our Chu army brothers are all homesick. What do you suggest we do?"
"Tell them they're welcome to come back anytime. They were all my subjects, what are they doing running off to that pretty girl? Northern Wei is a paradise on earth, with more women than men!"
"Hehe, I'm just telling you in advance, what if you get treated as an anti-government force when we get back?"
Liu Bang said sternly, "It's settled then. You're back, but you're not allowed to cause trouble. Especially don't try that 'return of the king' thing. Big Guy still has some influence among the people. We're brothers, but we need to clear things up in the accounts."
"Is Brother Yu that kind of person?"
“Let him talk to me.” Before I could say anything, Liu Bang immediately added, “Forget it, he’s definitely not with you right now—I already guessed. Tch, that self-pitying little thing!”
I was shocked; Liu Bang's understanding of Xiang Yu was probably unparalleled in the world.
Liu Bang asked, "When are you coming to visit?"
I said, "You've just settled down, is it convenient for us to go there now?"
Liu Bang said unhappily, "What's inconvenient about it? Fatty's six kingdoms haven't even been unified yet, and you all rushed over there one by one. Why is it inconvenient for me? Come if you want, don't come if you don't!"
I chuckled, hung up the phone, and found Xiang Yu, saying, "Alright, let our brothers retreat too. Once the road is cleared, we can go home."
Black Tiger asked excitedly, "Your Majesty, should we go back and continue fighting the Han army?"
Xiang Yu said somewhat sadly, "Remember this: go back and live a good life. Xiang Yu is dead."
Although Black Tiger was reckless, he understood Xiang Yu's meaning and said loudly, "My lord, no matter where you go, let me continue to follow you."
Xiang Yu waved his hand and said to me, "Xiao Qiang, you can worry about the return journey. I owe Liu Xiaosan a favor, and I will never set foot on Han territory again."
I asked, "So what are your plans?"
Xiang Yu said, "I'll take A Yu, Xiao Huan, and Mu Lan home first. You can come see us after you get the carriage."
I nodded, pulled Black Tiger out, and discussed the military strategy with Liu Laoliu. Then I had the Chu army pack their belongings and prepare to return to Gaixia. However, they came from the Chu-Han border, but they would return to the Han Dynasty.