Chapter 20

After arriving at the fallen city, I made sure to stay as close as possible to Pang Tong. History is ever-changing. In a world where irregularities intervene, the flow will inevitably take a different direction.

Yet, unease lingered. Thoughts of the homework Pang Tong had given me were nowhere in my mind.

Instead, I found myself pondering things like coercion, fate, and causality—words that suggest the future cannot be changed.

Rationally, I knew it couldn’t be true, but my heart continued to beat irregularly.

“Zhou Yu is dead.”

Though I had witnessed his death, Zhou Yu died as history dictated. How could I be so sure Pang Tong wouldn’t meet the same fate?

But, to my relief, the siege of the fallen city proceeded without major issues.

Siege warfare is like that—strength against strength. Even Zhuge Liang was once thwarted by He Xie. In sieges, clever strategies are hard to come by. Unless a massive flood submerges the entire city, the nature of siege warfare remains the same.

However, even in a battle of strength, there’s a knack. Just as in arm wrestling, the stronger one keeps winning. Siege warfare, too, has its own tactics.

Pang Tong, as if anticipating every move, observed the entire battle from the rear, deploying troops at the right moments and pressing the fallen city with precision.

But the fallen city was no pushover. Unlike previous battles, the resistance here felt desperate, as if they had nothing left to lose.

Rumor had it that Liu Zhang’s eldest son, Liu Xun, was personally leading the defense. It made sense—for the Yi Province army, it was as if the crown prince himself was fighting alongside them.

Moreover, the fallen city was a natural fortress. The river to the south and its tributaries to the east made it difficult for a large army to attack.

Ultimately, the fallen city held firm even as the sun set.

It wasn’t just the soldiers’ tenacity that kept them going. In fact, the city had been on the brink of collapse multiple times during the siege.

What kept the fallen city alive was the relentless efforts of Zhang Jin, who appeared like a thorn every time Pang Tong tried to pierce through.

“That man is the problem.”

Pang Tong observed Zhang Jin closely before slowly urging his horse forward.

“General! The front is dangerous!”

“Without taking risks, how can we expect results? They’re reaching their limit. If I show myself, they’ll try to capture me to end the battle.”

Despite my protests, Pang Tong didn’t stop. Was it now? If he was deliberately exposing himself to lure them in, it made sense that Pang Tong, a strategist and not a general, would be targeted.

As Pang Tong got close enough for the fallen city to recognize him, the eastern gate opened, and a group of soldiers poured out.

“They’re desperate. They want to capture me.”

“General!”

“Don’t worry. I’ve already stationed General Huang. Once we deal with Zhang Jin, capturing the fallen city is only a matter of time.”

Pang Tong had used himself as bait to lure out Zhang Jin.

Battle brings immense stress. PTSD exists for a reason. The prolonged siege, lasting beyond a year, took a toll on both sides. For the defenders, it must have felt like their blood was drying up.

Even if the generals wanted to continue fighting, once the soldiers reached their limit, it was over. Zhang Jin, understanding this better than anyone, threw himself into the gamble the moment he spotted Pang Tong.

But even that was part of Pang Tong’s plan.

While coordinating the battle, Pang Tong had meticulously observed how frayed the enemy’s nerves were and how close they were to breaking.

After confirming that Zhang Jin had been captured by Huang Zhong, Pang Tong finally turned his horse and retreated to the rear.

While I was on edge, fearing arrows aimed at Pang Tong, he seemed to sense the enemy’s desperation with uncanny precision.

‘I might develop frayed nerves before the enemy does.’

As I secretly grumbled to myself while feeling relieved, something caught my eye.

‘Huh?’

An arrow, flying straight toward Pang Tong.

It raced through the air, as if drawn to him. At its origin stood a young man in armor, glaring at us with hatred.

Time seemed to slow. The arrow moved sluggishly, as if I could reach out and catch it. But when I tried to raise my arm, it moved even slower than the arrow.

‘I can’t catch it. Can I block it?’

Losing an arm wouldn’t kill me. If I blocked the arrow, even if it pierced through, it wouldn’t fatally wound Pang Tong.

‘No. That won’t work either. The angle is wrong.’

Only one option remained.

I grabbed Pang Tong and pulled him hard, twisting my body to shield him. I prayed that luck would have the arrow hit me instead.

*Thud!*

The sound of the arrow piercing flesh echoed loudly, even amidst the chaos of the battlefield.

But there was no pain. The arrow had struck Pang Tong. The sudden twist had thrown us off balance, and we fell from the horse. With Pang Tong wounded, the injuries would only worsen if he fell.

I took most of the impact, landing below and cushioning the fall. My blessed physique allowed me to move unscathed, even after such a fall.

Ignoring the dull pain spreading across my back, I checked on Pang Tong first.

“General! General! Are you alright?”

My shout drew the soldiers, who quickly formed a shield wall around us, protecting us from further arrows. Slowly, Pang Tong opened his eyes.

“Yes… I’m fine. It hit my shoulder.”

“We must take the general to the rear!”

The arrow had struck Pang Tong’s shoulder. Thanks to my pull, it missed his chest. The wound wasn’t deep, likely due to the angle.

As long as it wasn’t a poisoned arrow, Pang Tong would survive. We just had to watch for infection. Though not entirely out of danger, we had overcome a critical moment.

As I led Pang Tong to the rear, I spoke to him.

“General, do you remember the homework you gave me?”

“Homework… I remember.”

Why had Pang Tong wanted to promote Yi Yan? That was the question.

There were many answers. Yi Yan was highly capable, and his surrender at Mianju Gate was a significant achievement, deserving of recognition.

But that wasn’t the answer Pang Tong was looking for.

So I pondered. Why had he asked such an obvious question? Was I missing something? Since arriving at the fallen city, I had been so focused on protecting Pang Tong that I had forgotten about the question.

Then, seeing Pang Tong’s face before the arrow struck, a thought occurred to me.

Perhaps he already knew he would die.

So I said, “I think I understand why you wanted to promote Yi Yan.”

“I’d like to hear it.”

“At first, I thought it was to bridge the gap between the Yi Province and Jing Province factions. But that doesn’t make sense. Yi Yan has no close allies except for Bi Guan. He can’t lead a faction.”

“Go on.”

“Next, I thought it was to prioritize ability over loyalty, using him for his skills and then demoting him once peace was achieved. But that’s too general. It doesn’t answer the question you left for me.”

Then it hit me. Why had Pang Tong specifically asked me this? Considering the questioner was Pang Tong, a hypothesis formed.

“General, did you see Yi Yan as your successor?”

“…Impressive.”

“But there’s still a question. Why were you already thinking of a successor? Yi Yan is even older than you.”

The answer lay in his expression.

“General, you knew you would die, or at least believed it. That resolves all doubts.”

“Your thoughts are entirely correct. Before entering Shu, I was told my star was in danger, and there would be misfortune.”

Zhuge Liang is said to have foreseen Pang Tong’s death by observing the stars. But that’s from the Romance of the Three Kingdoms.

Why bring up the Romance here? But upon further reflection, it wasn’t just a matter of fiction.

This was an era where superstition and divination were highly trusted. Physiognomy was considered a legitimate study, and predicting the future based on Daoist principles was commonplace.

No, I am the embodiment of superstition. Why had I dismissed it? To belittle it as a limitation of the era? I, who was born as a supernatural being, dismissing superstition was a contradiction.

Pang Tong, sweating from pain, continued.

“You spoke of my death. Of course, I didn’t believe it. Kongming and I studied under Master Shui Jing, rejecting such superstitions. But as you said, intuition exists. When I heard that ominous prophecy, I felt a vague premonition that it would come true. Preparing a successor was truly a precaution.”

“Then why did you take such risks knowing that?”

If you know, shouldn’t you be cautious? My direct question made Pang Tong smile bitterly.

“General, do you believe in destiny?”

“I don’t know.”

“I do. I had opportunities. I could have discussed the world from Jing Province under Liu Biao or continued Zhou Yu’s plan to divide the realm under Sun Quan. But I chose to serve our current lord, Liu Bei. Why do you think that is? At the time, Liu Bei wasn’t as powerful as Sun Quan.”

“Did you believe our lord had destiny?”

The Han Dynasty must endure.

Only a member of the Liu family can ascend to the throne.

Many still believed in such rigid laws as destiny. Was Pang Tong one of them? Before I could feel disappointed, Pang Tong shook his head, denying it.

“Similar, but different. I believed that if there was destiny, it should belong to Liu Bei. I sought to make him destiny.”

Destiny. Pang Tong said he sought to create destiny with his own hands.

“Destiny isn’t something to follow but to create. That’s why I threw myself into the test. If I failed to conquer Yi Province and died, my great undertaking of making our lord destiny would also fail.”

“That’s irresponsible. Isn’t that abandoning your duty as a strategist!”

“I admit it. But I believed it necessary. Our great undertaking requires luck. Destiny is made by people, but its realization depends on heaven’s will.”

Man proposes, God disposes.

What Pang Tong called destiny was fate. The task heaven assigns to man. But no matter how much man strives, without luck, it cannot be achieved. That’s why we call it heaven’s will.

Zhuge Liang’s words and Pang Tong’s current speech shared the same logic.

“I now believe heaven’s will is with us. Don’t you think so too? Your anxious face has now relaxed.”

Saying my face relaxed after my superior was shot was misleading. But it was true. I felt relieved when I confirmed he was alive.

Before I could say more, Pang Tong, struggling to keep his eyes open, left his final words.

“Fulfill destiny. Let heaven’s will follow you.”

I let the sleeping Pang Tong go. Watching the soldiers carry him to the rear, I pondered his words.

The destiny Pang Tong spoke of—if I had one, what was it? Was being born as Zhang Lan instead of Zhang Ran also my destiny?

Beyond leaving my name in history, how did I want to be remembered? My resolve to be remembered as a general, not an empress.

I looked up at the sky. It was clear. The blue sky was serene, indifferent to the screams and cries below.

‘What I wanted was to live as Zhang Ran.’

But I became Zhang Lan. Was it a simple mistake? Or was it destiny, as Pang Tong said?

‘Destiny isn’t something to follow but to create. Fulfill destiny and let heaven’s will follow.’

“Alright.”

I picked up a spear lying on the ground.

“I’ll test it too.”

I moved against the retreating soldiers, heading toward the front.

To the soldiers, disoriented after Pang Tong’s fall, I shouted.

“Comrades—!”

My clear, strong voice cut through the noise, rising high.

“I am Zhang Lan, daughter of General Zhang Fei, acting military strategist!”

The soldiers hesitated, then stopped, their attention turning to me. Yes, I wanted to be remembered. By the people of this era, and by future generations.

“The general is safe! The enemy general who came out has been captured, and the enemy is exhausted from the long siege! If we retreat now, they will regroup and restore their morale! Then, this battle will drag on indefinitely! That’s why we must fight! Turn around! Raise your spears and swords! Not retreat, but advance! Not defeat, but victory!”

Our army hadn’t fully retreated yet. If we pressed now, with Zhang Jin captured and the enemy’s defenses weakened, we could take the city. My instincts screamed it.

I charged toward the city, leading the way.

Before anyone could stop me, I kicked up a fallen shield, grabbed it, and climbed the ladder, shouting.

“Attack! Before being a strategist, I was a soldier! And I still am!”

The tide of battle turned.

The moment the battlefield’s flow reversed.