Chapter 29

In the 20th year of Jian’an (215 AD), shortly after, I officially organized my troops and set off for the Paser Army where my father was stationed.

Of course, I, Chang-ran, the General of Yiwei, was in command, with Ma Dai in charge of cavalry and Yu En in charge of infantry as my subordinate commanders. The ranks of lords and intermediate commanders were also well filled, and after staying in Chengdu, repeated training with the two commanders began to show the makings of elite soldiers.

The reason for going to the Paser Army was to assist my father, Zhang Fei, the Paser Governor, in suppressing the Yi tribes and bandits, but in reality, it was largely to send me, still young at 15, to my father’s side to be better raised.

Even after receiving the position of general, I obediently followed Liu Bei’s subtle treatment of me as a child without complaint. There was no point in opposing, and I didn’t want to leave a bad impression, but I had my own thoughts.

‘Pater is a treasure trove of talent!’

Isn’t the essence of the Romance of the Three Kingdoms the collection of talents?

Although I had a luxurious staff with Ma Dai and Yu En, there were still shortcomings. Not all commanders are the same, after all. With 2,000 soldiers, Yu En and Ma Dai were each responsible for different units.

The reason, of course, was the value of warhorses. To form a cavalry-centric army, I invested all my rewards in buying horses. Even so, I had fewer than 300 cavalry.

Horses were extremely hard to come by in Yi Province. With Liangxiang, rich in horses, already under Cao Cao’s control, horses were exorbitantly expensive in Yi Province.

In the Battle of Yiling, Liu Bei’s 40,000-strong expeditionary force had only 2,000 to 3,000 horses, so that says it all.

Soldiers from Jing Province quickly adapted to horses, but those from Yi Province were awkward. Even Yu En, the commander, was no exception, as he looked quite precarious riding beside me.

“Commander Yu, relax a bit. Think of matching your movements with the horse’s.”

“Hmm, understood. It’s just… entrusting my movement to another creature is… unfamiliar.”

For a first-time rider, Yu En was balancing quite well.

“You have a sword on your back, so it must be even harder for you.”

At Ma Dai’s words, I naturally nodded. Yu En carried a large greatsword on his back, twice the length of a normal sword.

It was called the True Sword. It was amusing to use a sword meant for cutting down horses while riding one, but Yu En was resolute.

“It’s a weapon I’ve spent a long time with. I can give up the horse, but not this.”

As a Liangxiang native who treated horses like companions, Ma Dai found this answer quite uncomfortable and replied awkwardly.

“It must be a precious item.”

“Yes. It’s a treasured sword I received from the best blacksmith I know.”

Oh, that’s intriguing. Someone like Yu En must have a discerning eye for weapons. If he calls this blacksmith the best without hesitation, their skill must be extraordinary.

“Would you introduce me to them?”

“Ah, it’s Po-won. When it comes to handling iron, few in the world surpass him.”

“Po-won? How do you know him?”

I was so startled I didn’t even mind my tone.

Po-won was someone I knew well. He was the actual creator of the legendary wooden ox and flowing horse, attributed to Zhuge Liang. While not as advanced as the tales, the wooden ox and flowing horse were real—the wooden ox was a one-wheeled cart, and the flowing horse a four-wheeled cart.

“Actually, I don’t know him personally. He’s an acquaintance of my friend, Wen Ran.”

“Wen Ran? The friend you mentioned investigating the gambling den?”

Yu En had friends from the same Shu army, Du Zheng and Yu Xin, and Wen Ran was Du Zheng’s courtesy name.

The gambling den disturbance where Yu En and I met. Yu En was there not to gamble but to carry out a request from his friend Du Zheng, who worked there. With complaints coming in about gamblers exploiting soldiers, Du Zheng sent Yu En to gather evidence and secure the situation. A sort of undercover investigation.

Anyway, if Po-won made Yu En’s True Sword, it’s no wonder Yu En couldn’t give it up. Legendary swords have a way of captivating people. It’s no coincidence that swords like the Yitian and Qinggang became famous in later generations.

“I’d like to meet him too.”

“Once this matter is over, I’ll relay your request to Wen Ran.”

“Please do.”

After a few days of marching with this unexpected gain, we smoothly arrived at the Paser Army.

Despite his busy official duties, my father personally came to greet me. Well, maybe he used me as an excuse to escape the paperwork hell. Still, I was happy to see my father’s warm welcome.

To rest from the march and to report to my father, I instructed Ma Dai and Yu En to set up camp for the soldiers. My father also made arrangements for my soldiers to rest comfortably.

Strict with his own troops but caring for my soldiers—how should I take that? While I managed to separate Fan Jiang and Zhang Da from my father using their merits in capturing Yi Province, the fundamental issue remained.

“Father, thank you for caring for my soldiers, but perhaps you could also look after your own private troops?”

“I care for your soldiers to follow your leadership style, not out of concern for them.”

Hearing that my father followed my approach to treating soldiers well, I decided to focus on another method rather than trying to change him.

Self-made people tend to have firm beliefs, and someone like my father would likely ignore even his beloved daughter’s nagging.

Even when Liu Bei, worried about my father, directly advised the soldiers to ease up, my father remained unmoved. What could I expect?

‘Attaching as many virtuous officers as possible to my father is the only way.’

My father is also someone who is exceptionally respectful and courteous to capable people. As I mentally searched for suitable candidates to attach to my father, we soon arrived at the official residence.

Setting aside our father-daughter relationship, as the General of Yiwei and the Paser Governor, I reported to my father, who listened quietly and then asked.

“You plan to subdue the Pa tribes?”

“Yes. Although Zhang Lu is resisting Cao Cao, it’s clear he will soon surrender or be destroyed. Previously, Pan Xun assisted Zhang Lu against Liu Zhang, so if Zhang Lu falls, Pan Xun will likely follow Cao Cao.”

“That makes sense.”

“If they join Cao Cao, they will return as his vanguard in the future, so it’s better to eliminate them beforehand.”

This was a rationale that even Liu Bei and Zhuge Liang accepted. However, the actual execution of the subjugation operation was entrusted to my father, the Paser Governor, so I needed to persuade him to proceed as planned.

“I will permit it if you answer two questions.”

I confidently puffed out my chest, ready to answer any question.

“First, the Pa tribes are not insignificant. Can you handle them alone? The troops I command are needed to maintain order and discipline, so I cannot support you. If you were counting on my cooperation, I cannot agree.”

“My followers alone are sufficient.”

Zhang Fei silently looked at me, prompting further explanation.

“I didn’t act without information. The Pa tribes are divided under three leaders: Du Hu, Bu Hu, and Yuan Yue. Defeating them individually is the best strategy, but even if we face them simultaneously, their lack of discipline compared to our well-disciplined troops means we cannot lose.”

Fighting is ultimately about morale. If morale breaks, numbers don’t matter. Moreover, battles against tribal forces, unlike the well-armed and disciplined armies of the Central Plains, rely heavily on the presence of fierce generals.

Look at Xiang Yu’s Battle of Pengcheng, where 30,000 defeated over 500,000. A fierce general is just that—their mere presence can shatter the enemy’s morale and will to fight.

Though I can’t compare to Xiang Yu, Yu En and I are more than enough to play the role of Xiang Yu against the tribes.

‘Countryside Xiang Yu.’

As someone who embodies the value of a fierce general, my father nodded at my answer and posed the next question.

“Next is timing. You must capture them before Cao Cao defeats Zhang Lu, but your confidence suggests that’s not an issue. Very well. Do as you wish.”

“I will prove your trust, Father.”

As I bowed in gratitude, my father patted my shoulder and said.

“You seem to have learned much about the Paser Army, but it’s still an unfamiliar place. While I can’t provide military support, I can at least assign you a guide.”

“Ah, about that. I already have someone in mind.”

I quickly seized the opportunity.

“Oh? Who is it?”

“Ma Chong.”