Chapter 1

View Cover

Romance of the Three Kingdoms.

A steady bestseller that continues to enjoy popularity across East Asia, even in modern Korea where anti-Chinese sentiment is at its peak.

In Korea, there are probably not many men who don’t know about the Romance of the Three Kingdoms. Especially for my generation, it was considered essential reading during school years. As someone who majored in history, it’s impossible for me not to know it.

I may not know every detail, like specific years or minor characters mentioned in historical records, but I have a good grasp of the general flow, major events (like the Battle of Red Cliffs), and the names of notable figures.

Thanks to that, I quickly understood my current situation.

According to the mention of last year’s Battle of Red Cliffs, it is now the year 209, the 14th year of Jian’an, the year when Liu Bei conquered the four commanderies of Jingnan and secured his first base since Xuzhou.

And I, Chang-ran, am now 9 years old, the eldest daughter of Zhang Fei. The birth year of Empress Jing’ai, Zhang Fei’s eldest daughter, is unknown, but it seems she was born right after Zhang Fei married.

But the age of Lady Xiahou, Zhang Fei’s wife and the mother of Empress Jing’ai, when she married…

“Ran, what are you thinking about?”

My mother’s voice, scolding me, brought me back to reality, and I focused on the present.

“Sorry, Mother. I was just worried about Father, wondering if he got hurt…”

My excuse, or rather non-excuse, was met with a loud burst of laughter.

Following the booming laughter, I saw a man of imposing stature.

A hero considered the protagonist of the Romance of the Three Kingdoms, sworn brother of Liu Bei, and a general who dominated the era. And at the same time, my father, Zhang Fei, looked at me.

He didn’t look as barbaric as described in the novel, nor was he as delicate as the so-called handsome men of the time. If anything, he was closer to the former, a man who truly embodied the term “rugged.”

With bold features and intense eyes, Zhang Fei was a man who perfectly fit the description of “manly.” My mother, Lady Xiahou, was indeed beautiful, but with a father like this, it’s no wonder Chang-ran was also beautiful.

“Were you worried that this old man would come back hurt? Don’t worry. There are only two people in the world who can hurt me.”

And with the mention that one of them is now gone, I could guess who they were. The one who’s gone is probably Lü Bu, and the one still alive is his sworn brother, the legendary warrior Guan Yu.

To Zhang Fei, who boasts as much pride as his exceptional skills, I bowed deeply and answered in his stead. Zhang Fei patted my head with his large, thick hand and headed inside with his wife.

Only after Zhang Fei left did I relax and let out a long sigh.

His overwhelming presence matched his intense appearance. The pressure emanating from his massive body was truly suffocating.

Having been reborn as Chang-ran less than a week ago, the first core general of the Three Kingdoms I encountered, and my own father, left a huge impact on me.

‘Can I really do this?’

Even a man like him couldn’t go against the tide of the times. Even with Guan Yu, who was comparable to him, and Liu Bei, who was called one of the great warlords of the era alongside Cao Cao.

But can I really bring about meaningful change by intervening? Especially in this ancient era where male dominance is the norm.

‘I do have some confidence.’

Knowing the future is a great power. I preferred the Napoleonic Wars over the Romance of the Three Kingdoms and studied Napoleon’s life more than the tales of Liu Bei, Guan Yu, and Zhang Fei, but I’m still one of Korea’s history enthusiasts. My knowledge of the Three Kingdoms is certainly above average.

If I can prevent Guan Yu’s death, which marks the beginning of the end, and even earlier, the death of Feng Chou, who led Liu Bei’s forces, the future will surely change significantly.

I clenched my delicate hands tightly.

I, who admired historical figures and wished to leave a mark in history, may no longer be a man and my name may have changed, but my desire remains unchanged.

‘I can do it.’

Honestly, I have no patriotism for the Han Dynasty. In fact, my Korean identity is still strong, and I feel more affection for countries like Goguryeo, which is just beginning to rise.

Then, for the sake of future Korea, should I let China tear apart as it did in history? I’m not sure. If I contribute to the founding of a unified dynasty in China, leading to the Han Dynasty continuing to dominate the continent instead of the Qin Dynasty, what would the butterfly effect be?

I decided not to worry about that. No matter how much I struggle, changing history is uncertain, and the possibility is very low. The opponent is Wei, a country that has already conquered the Central Plains and essentially holds the hegemony of the world.

The era of warlords fighting for the mandate of heaven in the Central Plains ended with the Battle of Guandu. After that, it’s just Shu and Wu struggling to rise from the corners, and Wei trying to end the era.

There was only one exception: the storm raised by Guan Yu. The first time Cao Cao felt a sense of crisis.

But since it ended in a fleeting dream, hope has dwindled to almost zero.

So let’s forget all worries. The time I have left is too precious to spend worrying about an uncertain future.

“I’ve decided.”

What I want to do.

What I must do.

For that, I took a step.

One step. The step forward is heavy. Will they accept my request? The times are not kind to me. As a woman, I’m starting from a negative, not zero.

But I have a connection that can fill that gap.

“Father, I have a request.”

Zhang Fei. The core of a faction and a general symbolizing the era, my father.

“A request?”

Zhang Fei asked, puzzled by my sudden visit. My mother, sitting beside him, glared at me, asking what I was doing, but I ignored her and firmly met Zhang Fei’s gaze.

“Yes.”

“Hmm, speak.”

Intrigued by my resolute attitude, Zhang Fei allowed me to speak. At the same time, he subtly raised his aura, pressuring me with the presence of a seasoned warrior.

I must not back down here. Many think of Zhang Fei as a straightforward, passionate man, but that’s the novel’s portrayal. The real Zhang Fei is very calculating and cold.

A man who respected gentlemen and despised the petty. To win Zhang Fei’s favor, I must prove my ability. If I fall below his expectations, he will decisively reject me, even if I’m his daughter.

To rise above the disadvantage of being a woman, I must be even more outstanding.

I put all my strength into my eyes, barely suppressing the trembling in my body, and spoke confidently.

“I want to learn martial arts.”

Silence fell. Zhang Fei stared at me, and my mother looked shocked.

Zhang Fei’s gaze, as if trying to dissect my intentions, revealed a chilling pressure, making the previous pressure seem like a joke.

“Are you serious?”

Martial arts. In this era, what it entails is not just for show.

It’s the art of killing, a skill for survival and victory on the battlefield where swords clash and flesh is torn.

If my half-brothers Zhang Po or Zhang Zhao had made such a request, Zhang Fei would have gladly accepted them. He might have even praised them, saying, “That’s my son.”

But I’m different. Being a woman feels like a shackle holding me back.

“Of course.”

Ironically, I gained confidence from my half-brothers.

The sickly Zhang Po and Zhang Zhao, more suited to civil roles, both failed to inherit Zhang Fei’s martial prowess. But Zhang Fei, who takes pride in his martial skills, must have hoped his children would follow in his footsteps.

Setting aside the eldest son, who was born weak and died young, Zhang Fei, who highly valued scholarly and virtuous men, might not oppose his second son becoming a civil official, but deep down, he must feel regret.

He must wish for his child to master martial arts and become a vanguard in the great cause of unifying the land and restoring the Han Dynasty, the dream of his sworn brothers.

I will fill that void.

“I am not just a girl. I am the daughter of Zhang Yide. My two brothers may have excelled in civil matters and chosen different paths, but I am different. I will become a general who follows in my father’s footsteps. I will be the sword for the restoration of the Han Dynasty.”

Female generals are rare, but they have existed in history.

The story of Joan of Arc is too famous, and even in Chinese history, there have been female generals like Qin Liangyu.

Why can’t I do it?

With confidence, I faced Zhang Fei’s challenge.

A manly tone, a bold attitude, and a firm mindset. Every word and action I carefully delivered caught Zhang Fei’s attention.

As Zhang Fei and I faced each other in silence, my mother, who had been watching, couldn’t hold back and spoke.

“Ran, what are you talking about? How can you, a girl, take up a spear and follow your father to the battlefield? Please, talk some sense into her. Didn’t you say Ran would marry the son of a noble family?”

The son of a noble family. If it’s a noble family, it must refer to Liu Bei, meaning I was to marry Liu Shan. Considering Zhang Fei’s status, it’s not surprising that a marriage alliance was planned from childhood.

But I didn’t want to end my life like that. I didn’t want to be recorded as Empress Jing’ai, Liu Shan’s wife.

Now that my name is Chang-ran, I want to be remembered not as a passive empress but as an active general who navigated the era.

“No.”

So the words slipped out.

“There’s Yeon-yi. I don’t want to be a noblewoman who only receives treatment in the palace. I want to live as a general who achieves the great cause of the Han Dynasty on the battlefield.”

Zhang Fei has two daughters. The eldest, me, Chang-ran, and the second, Chang Yeon. Both married Liu Shan and became empresses. So even without me, the alliance between Zhang Fei and Liu Bei through marriage was entirely possible.

“Are you serious?”

“Yes. Not a single lie.”

“The things you love, like grooming your hair, you can’t do on the battlefield. The battlefield is not what you think it is. You should leave now.”

No matter how manly I appear, this body is still that of a girl. Zhang Fei, having decided to refuse, relaxed his aura and waved his hand.

Faced with a clear dismissal, I pulled out the dagger I always carried.

“You!”

Zhang Fei’s eyebrows twitched, and my mother shouted in shock.

In front of them, I grabbed my long, beautiful hair and swung the dagger without hesitation.

Swipe.

The hair fell in clumps, scattering across the room.

As my waist-length hair was cut to just below my neck, my mother looked like she might faint, her mouth agape and eyes wide. Meanwhile, Zhang Fei calmly spoke as if he had expected this.

“Is this your resolve?”

“Yes.”

“…”

Zhang Fei, who had been sitting all along, suddenly stood up and stood before me. Facing his towering height and muscular build, I felt intimidated, even though I knew I was his daughter.

Zhang Fei, looking down at me, sighed deeply and gently stroked my roughly cut hair.

“What has changed you so suddenly?”

“It’s said that it takes a day to form a resolve. And when you meet a determined person again after seven days, you should rub your eyes and look again.”

Sorry, Lü Meng, but I’ll use this first. From now on, when people talk about the story of “Guan Yu’s seven days,” it will be my name, Chang-ran, not Lü Meng, that’s mentioned. It’s also a petty revenge on Lü Meng, who ruined Shu Han’s dream.

“Seven days apart, and you should look with new eyes. I see you have not only resolve but also knowledge.”

Zhang Fei naturally took the dagger from my hand and trimmed my hair. As someone skilled in martial arts, his barbering skills were quite impressive.

After putting the dagger back in its sheath and returning it to me, Zhang Fei spoke.

“Alright. I will teach you martial arts.”

Yes!

I felt like I had successfully threaded the first button, and with a smile on my face, I beamed. Zhang Fei smiled slightly and continued.

“But remember this. Just because you’re my child, or a girl, I won’t go easy on you. In fact, because you’re my child, I’ll be even harsher. And if I judge that you don’t meet my standards, I’ll stop immediately, and the same goes for going to the battlefield. Understood?”

“I will remember.”

“Good. Then follow me.”

Seizing the moment, Zhang Fei immediately started, saying we begin now, and strode outside. My mother, catching up late, quickly followed Zhang Fei.

“What, what are you saying? That child is a girl. She should be holding a comb, not a spear, and reading makeup books, not military strategy. How can you do this?”

“When one has a resolve, what difference does it make between a boy and a girl? Ran has already embraced a great cause in her heart, so gender distinctions are meaningless. You take care of Yeon-yi. I’ll handle Ran.”

Already in the training ground, Zhang Fei picked up two wooden staffs used for practice and handed the shorter one to me.

“Let’s see your skills.”