Chapter 17

In the year 212, Yi Province was thick with the tension of conflict between Liu Zhang and Liu Bei, both of the Liu clan. It had already been a year since Liu Bei entered Yi Province and established his base at the garrison.

Liu Bei, who had brought troops to suppress Zhang Lu, delayed his attacks repeatedly, soothing the public sentiment of the surrounding regions and trying to turn them into his sphere of influence. This made Liu Zhang begin to suspect Liu Bei.

Although the conflict between the two had not yet surfaced, their uneasy coexistence could shatter in an instant if the right trigger occurred.

Fortunately, when I arrived in Yi Province, a loose cooperative relationship was still in place. Moreover, the officials of Yi Province considered the representative of this express dispatch to be a low-ranking officer. There was no particular reason to stop me.

The journey was tough, but we arrived at the garrison without any major issues.

Upon arrival, the garrison seemed ready to invade somewhere at any moment, with a sharp military atmosphere. It wasn’t just the gathering of elite troops; there was more to it.

Of course, they were in a standoff with Zhang Lu, but that was just for show.

“Young Lady, the atmosphere is quite tense.”

“Yes. It feels like a battle is about to break out.”

It seemed the war with Liu Zhang was about to begin.

I didn’t know exactly when Liu Bei’s conquest of Yi Province would start, but it was inevitable. Even if it started immediately, it wouldn’t be surprising.

“Let’s hurry.”

We followed the guide to the barracks. While the soldiers informed Liu Bei of the express dispatch, we took a short rest.

It wasn’t urgent news, and after a long journey, we thought we might rest for a day, tidy up, and then meet. But almost as soon as we unpacked, we were summoned.

“The situation seems to be moving quickly.”

“For such a situation, Young Lady, you seem quite calm.”

“I expected it. Anyway, rest with the kids while I’m gone.”

All the soldiers who fought with me were with me on this dispatch.

They are precious subordinates who said they would follow me to the end before I could even mention additional rewards. If not me, who would take care of them?

I had to dust off my clothes, wash my face lightly, and move immediately. Normally, this would make one look disheveled, but my body made it look like vintage fashion.

‘Is this some kind of mountain spirit buff?’

My long hair, which I hadn’t properly managed, was smooth without a single split end. I do wash my hair, but in an era without shampoo, is this even possible? My skin is still young, but my body was in an unusually good condition.

The garrison had a building that could be called an official residence, though smaller than the one in Gong’an City.

While waiting for the order to enter the meeting hall, faint voices could be heard from beyond the door.

A servant announced my arrival.

“Enter.”

The people in the meeting hall fell silent as I entered. The sound of my footsteps broke the silence as I bowed to Liu Bei in the center of the hall.

“Your humble servant, Chang-ran, greets the Lord.”

“Ran? You’ve grown so much. You’ve grown up well.”

Indeed, I had grown a lot. At 150 cm, I was almost as tall as an adult male by the standards of this era.

Liu Bei stood up from his seat and approached me. He helped me up and checked me over with a worried expression, checking if I was hurt.

“I’m not hurt, so don’t worry.”

“Haha, you look fine. But why did you come yourself? You could have sent someone else.”

“I requested it from the military advisor.”

“Zhuge Liang?”

I explained the events in Jing Province step by step.

Lady Sun tried to take Yu Xian back, taking advantage of the loosened tension. I predicted this and blocked the path, and Zhao Yun, who pursued, safely rescued Yu Xian. Finally, I volunteered to report directly.

Liu Bei listened calmly, surprisingly composed even though his son had almost been kidnapped. It was a stark contrast to the worry he showed earlier.

“So, that’s how it is. Sun Quan… Hmm, Military Advisor.”

“Yes, my Lord.”

Liu Bei muttered to himself and returned to his seat, calling someone. A man from the right side stepped forward.

This man of medium height with a sturdy build was the reason I had come all the way to this remote and treacherous land of Shu.

Pang Tong. More famous by his nickname “Young Phoenix” than by his official title, a tragic genius.

This was the first time I saw him in person. According to the legends, he was supposed to be ugly, but I didn’t think he looked that bad.

Of course, next to the incomparably handsome Zhuge Liang, anyone would look ugly, but that’s just how it is when standing next to a peerless beauty.

Pang Tong had a dull appearance, but his eyes were sharp. Though his looks were slightly below average, he definitely didn’t seem like an ordinary man.

He had a strange aura, both like a civil official and a military officer.

Liu Bei spoke to Pang Tong.

“Sun Quan asked for our help but also tried to disrupt our internal affairs. What should we do?”

Sun Quan asked for help? This was news to me. I had been paying attention to the surrounding information, or was there something during my journey from Jing Province to Yi Province?

Even so, I should have arrived first. If they used the Yangtze River waterway, it might have been possible.

Anyway, I had been too focused on the tension and neglected external affairs. I should reflect on that.

“Sun Quan must have realized that things have gone wrong, so we don’t need to support him. We should take advantage of the conflict between Sun Quan and Cao Cao to seize Yi Province.”

“What do you think, Fa Zheng?”

Fa Zheng, styled Xiaozhi, was of similar height to Liu Bei and had a rather stern appearance. Despite his notorious temper, his abilities were unparalleled.

While Zhuge Liang and Pang Tong were considered the top brains of Liu Bei’s forces, in terms of warfare, Fa Zheng might be the best.

Pang Tong died too early to be fully evaluated, but based on historical records, that’s how it was.

Like a strategist on par with Pang Tong, Fa Zheng agreed with Pang Tong’s opinion.

“I also agree with the Middle Cavalry Commander’s opinion. Liu Zhang is indecisive and will hesitate to make a decision. If we have Zhang Song respond internally and strike like lightning towards Chengdu, Yi Province will naturally become yours, my Lord.”

Even though he was once Liu Zhang’s subordinate, Fa Zheng called Liu Bei “my Lord” without hesitation.

With both of Liu Bei’s top strategists agreeing, Liu Bei nodded gravely.

“I requested support from Jing Province to block Cao Cao, but Liu Zhang didn’t send even half. Liu Zhang betrayed righteousness first, so how can I stand idly by?”

Liu Bei spoke coldly.

“Before Liu Zhang attacks us, we will take the initiative and attack.”

It was the declaration of the conquest of Yi Province.

The meeting concluded. Liu Bei ordered his generals to keep the soldiers in check, then kept Pang Tong, Fa Zheng, and me behind.

As the meeting hall emptied, Liu Bei finally brought up my merits.

“By the way, Zhuge Liang mentioned your merits as military achievements and asked me what reward to give you.”

“Yes, my Lord.”

“My Lord? You don’t need to be so formal. Just call me Uncle. So, what reward do you want? Is there anything you desire?”

This is my chance. With Liu Bei declaring the conquest of Yi Province, now is the time.

“I want to join the military.”

“Hmm?”

“I don’t need an official position. Just let me be a soldier to serve you.”

Liu Bei looked troubled. He would have readily agreed when I was younger, but things were different now. Back then, I had Zhang Fei as my protector, but now I don’t.

Moreover, in the past, when Liu Bei hadn’t even secured southern Jing Province, it might have been different. But now, Liu Bei is on the verge of becoming a warlord spanning two provinces. In such a critical moment, he would want to avoid any controversy.

However, acknowledging my merits and asking what I wanted, refusing would also not look good. Liu Bei hesitated. Pang Tong, understanding Liu Bei’s feelings, asked.

“How old are you, Lady Zhang?”

“Twelve.”

“That’s too young to join the military.”

“When I was nine, I followed my father to the battle of Nan Commandery. I killed the deputy of Zhao Yun, Wu Gong, and made him fall. Now, I can surely fulfill the role of one person.”

“That’s the bravery of a common soldier.”

The bravery of a common soldier. It’s an idiom from Mencius, often used to describe Xiang Yu, but not limited to him. It refers to someone who is only good at fighting and has no strategic sense, a derogatory term for a mere vanguard.

Anyway, Pang Tong dismissed my self-promotion as the bravery of a common soldier and asked like an interviewer.

“You must have seen some of Yi Province on your way to the garrison. How would you plan to take Yi Province, Lady?”

“There are superior and inferior strategies.”