After Hua Mulan greeted me, she slowly turned her gaze to Xiang Yu. Although she tried to maintain a serious expression, she couldn't help but smile: "Brother Xiang..."
Xiang Yu, however, didn't care about the consequences and said casually, "Sister, your brother Yu is here to help you fight!"... I think he did it on purpose; this guy is really unkind.
Seeing that no one was around, Hua Mulan glared at him and said, "Use you?"
Xiang Yu laughed and said, "Stop being stubborn. If it weren't for us, you might already be dead."
Hua Mulan wasn't annoyed. She smiled slightly and said, "If I die, I can just go to Xiao Qiang's place."
We chatted and laughed, teasing each other like brothers. Yu Ji stood to the side, smiling. Xiang Yu suddenly pulled her into his arms and said, "By the way, come and meet your sister-in-law."
Hua Mulan glanced at Yu Ji and forced a smile, saying, "Sister-in-law..."
She pulled Xiang Yu aside and said, "I was wondering why you were with Zhang Bing again..." Before she could finish her sentence, Hua Mulan suddenly realized what she meant, covered her mouth and looked at Yu Ji, saying, "Oh dear, this must really be my sister-in-law!"
Yu Ji smiled and said, "You're too kind. It seems I should be the one calling you 'elder sister'."
Hua Mulan punched Xiang Yu in the chest: "Congratulations, now you don't have to live like this."
Yu Ji looked at Xiang Yu with a smile, and said with a playful tone, "Oh, is that so?"
Xiang Yu said awkwardly, "Ahem... Mulan, tell me what's the situation now."
Hua Mulan's initial joy had just subsided when her stomach ailment flared up again, causing her to sweat profusely from the pain. I said dejectedly, "There was medicine in the carriage, but unfortunately it was left with Bangzi." Since I couldn't keep up with Xiang Yu while driving, I left it at Gaixia, figuring I could always drive back later.
Hua Mulan frowned and said, "No need. Fortunately, I remember the prescription that Doctor Bian gave me. I'll have someone prepare it in a bit."
Yu Ji said, "Men are clumsy and rough, so let Xiao Huan and I go instead."
Hua Mulan wrote down the prescription and handed it to Yu Ji. As she watched Yu Ji leave, she winked at Xiang Yu and said, "Is that really my sister-in-law?"
Xiang Yu laughed and said, "Enough with the nonsense, let's talk about your business first."
When the topic turned to military affairs, Mulan immediately became serious and solemnly said, "If things continue as they have been, then the next two years will be our most difficult time..."
I asked in surprise, "The next two years? So you haven't been in the military for 12 years?"
Mulan nodded, then suddenly said shyly, "Oh, now that you mention it, I realize I look two years younger than before, haha." Ah, women will be women.
I counted on my fingers and said, "Let me see, you're two years younger than before, which is 27, and I'm one year older than before, which is 28 this year—oh dear, from now on I can only call you Mulan, my little sister!"
Chapter 179 The Reckless Man
Women generally want to feel young. When we arrived in Northern Wei, Mulan had only been in the army for 10 years and was two years younger than before. This was probably the only thing that made the busy and warlike Mulan relatively happy.
When Mulan heard me call her "little sister," she glared at me and said, "At least I'm older than you mentally. I used to be twenty-nine, but I'm twenty-seven this year. My exact age should be fifty-six!"
I scoffed and said, "How can you calculate it like that? Did you know you could be a pioneer the year you were born? Besides, children mature earlier the more they grow up. When I was 16, my psychological age was 38. Kids back then knew how to date at 12. Can you do that?"
Mulan laughed and said, "These days, kids become fathers at 16. Can you do that?"
I whispered, "Anyway, it's definitely physiologically possible!"
Xiang Yu said, "Can you stop talking nonsense now? Mulan, let me ask you, what's the actual situation now? Why do you say these are the two most difficult years for you?"
I said, "It's the darkness before dawn."
Hua Mulan nodded and said, "More or less." Pointing to the map, she said, "Around Yanshan, we will engage in the final battle with the Rouran. The Rouran have 120,000 cavalry, and they are extremely fast whether attacking or retreating. We have about 150,000 men, plus 30,000 infantry, so our overall strength is roughly equal. However, the Rouran are more skilled in battle than us, and we can only try to isolate them and defeat them one by one. Our total strength is slightly greater than theirs, an advantage gained through careful planning. Therefore, the current battle is very difficult. If there are any unexpected losses, both sides will be back to square one. That would be disadvantageous for us."
Xiang Yu listened attentively for a while, then rested his chin on his hand and said, "Congratulations, General Hua, you now have a total force of 200,000."
Hua Mulan knew that Xiang Yu had decided to help her, and said with a smile, "Thank you."
Xiang Yu placed his large hand on the map and said decisively, "I will end this war of yours two years earlier, perhaps in the next day or two—have your men find their main force, and then do as I say, launch a surprise attack on them when they are not prepared, and wipe out their stronghold in one fell swoop."
Hua Mulan shook her head and said, "It's your old tricks again. I told you the Rouran are extremely fierce. With your 50,000 troops, plus our Marshal He's 150,000, wouldn't it be better for us to plan a general offensive? Would you rather your soldiers go to their deaths?"
Xiang Yu said, "The enemies who ambushed you are all dead. Their main force is unaware of my arrival. A confused mongrel is nothing to fear."
Hua Mulan said, "But if you try to hit it, it will always turn around and bite you."
Xiang Yu smiled and said, "It's just a mongrel dog. At worst, it can bite us a few times."
I said cautiously, "Getting bitten by a dog can have serious consequences; you'll have to get a vaccination."
Mulan snorted and said, "I think the aftereffects of your brother Yu being bitten by a dog before have already started to appear."
Xiang Yu sighed, "'Women' are not good at commanding troops,' that saying is absolutely true."
Just as Mulan was about to retort, a scout came to report: "Reporting to the vanguard, 5,000 Rouran cavalry have been spotted outside a small grove north of Yanshan. They are probably here to investigate the whereabouts of those who ambushed us."
Mulan clenched her fist and said, "Well done!" She waved away the scouts and said to Xiang Yu, "We can argue about this later. I'm not going to be polite with you anymore. I need your men to help me take down his 5,000 troops."
"you say."
Hua Mulan said, "I'll have my men act as bait to lure them into the woods, where you can set up an ambush. What do you think?"
Xiang Yu simply smiled and remained silent. Hua Mulan was taken aback and said, "What, you're unwilling? Hmph, that's true. You didn't need to concern yourself with my affairs anyway; I can handle them myself." With that, Hua Mulan put on her helmet and prepared to go out to make arrangements.
Xiang Yu stopped her with a smile and said, "Am I that kind of person? I remember we made a bet before, you said 500 men could never defeat 5,000, right?"
Hua Mulan said, "So what?"
Xiang Yu strode outside: "Today I'll show you how 500 men can devour 5,000!"
Hua Mulan grabbed him: "What do you want to do?"
Xiang Yu shouted the order: "Assemble 500 guards!"