Chapter 25

In the summer of the 19th year of Jian’an (214 AD), Chang-ran proposed to Liu Bei to rescue Ma Chao’s family, and after much deliberation, Liu Bei agreed. Subsequently, Liu Bei appointed Chang-ran as a general and assigned Zhao Yun, Jin Dou, and Wei Yan to assist her, all of whom were renowned warriors. Later, Bang Deok joined them, breaking free from Zhang Lu, and the world praised them as the “Five Generals Who Broke Through the Pass.”

The sound of galloping horses echoed. The numbers were few, barely a dozen riders, with one pulling a carriage, leaving less than nine proper cavalry. Yet, those who knew their future reputations would have been astonished.

Zhao Yun, the Tiger of Changshan; Jin Dou, commander of the Baiyi Army; Wei Yan, the future General of the Western Front; Bang Deok, the White Horse General; and I, Chang-ran, escorted Ma Chao’s family with a handful of soldiers.

“The pursuit is close!” Bang Deok shouted from the rear, excelling in horsemanship. “Let’s cut them off!” Wei Yan boldly turned his horse, followed by a few soldiers, charging into the thousands of pursuers.

The cries of the enemy and the clash of weapons faded into the distance. “Will he be alright?” Bang Deok asked. “Don’t worry, General Wei is a fierce warrior cherished by our lord,” Zhao Yun assured.

Wei Yan returned, bloodied but alive. “Damn it! Lost one!” he cursed. The death of a soldier, a life not insignificant. Wei Yan mourned his elite cavalryman, a disciple-like soldier. Bang Deok, enraged, grabbed his iron halberd. “I’ll avenge his blood. Let’s show the might of the Xiliang cavalry!”

Though only two Xiliang cavalrymen followed Bang Deok, they charged without hesitation. Their fight was a massacre. Wei Yan and the Jingzhou cavalry’s charge was formidable, but Bang Deok’s prowess was on another level.

Returning with his white horse stained red, Bang Deok still had his two Xiliang cavalrymen. “Was the blood price paid?” Wei Yan asked, impressed. As the pursuit closed in again, Jin Dou, usually silent, spoke up. “General Wei, let’s go again.” “Together?” “Yes.”

Jin Dou and Wei Yan, a dual-headed slaughter chariot, wreaked havoc on the pursuers. Despite the carriage’s speed limit, Jin Dou and Wei Yan demonstrated why we hadn’t been caught yet. Jin Dou, rivaling Zhao Yun, was no mere title.

Unlike the still-maturing Wei Yan, Jin Dou, at his peak, perfectly timed his strikes and retreats, repeatedly halting the pursuers. “I didn’t know Jingzhou had so many fierce generals,” Bang Deok remarked. “Indeed, those country bumpkins can ride horses,” a Xiliang cavalryman quipped. “Watch your tongue,” Bang Deok warned.

It seemed we wouldn’t lose. Even turning to face the pursuers head-on, we might win. Of course, we couldn’t abandon Ma Chao’s family, but we could probably win if we fought.

“General Zhao.” “I’m against it.” “What do you think I’ll do?” “You’re going to charge in like them, aren’t you?” “Doesn’t a general’s blood boil?” “Our lord’s orders come first. I’m duty-bound to protect you.” “Then come with me.”

Sorry, but I must step forward. It was my plan, my suggestion that led to this. Soldiers are risking their lives; I can’t stay safely behind. This is my responsibility and duty.

“This time, I’ll go!” “I’ll follow!” “Ran! You stubborn girl. General Jin, take care of the carriage. Charge!”

With me at the forefront, flanked by Zhao Yun and Wei Yan, we charged. Left Zhao Yun, right Wei Yan—such luxury! Few have enjoyed this, perhaps only Liu Bei or Zhuge Liang, and even they might not have charged side by side into enemy lines.

“Hahaha!” I was thrilled, joyous in this moment. Even knowing the horror of killing enemies, I was moved to tears by the historical significance.

‘Not yet.’ I could savor this ecstasy after everything was over. For now, I focused only on the enemies before me.

“Thud!” A red line followed my spear’s path. “Block them!” “Swoosh!” I cut down everything in my way. “Ugh, what strength…!” “Thud!” It was no longer a battle but a slaughter. Where we passed, only corpses and blood remained.

Strength surged through me, perhaps from the brain’s constant secretion of narcotic substances. I felt no fatigue, and neither did Zhao Yun or Wei Yan.

Have you seen hornets fight bees? Bees can kill hornets, but thousands die for one hornet. It’s a massacre. Our fight with the pursuers was similar. Unlike bees, humans feel fear, but even their reverence for orders paled before the terror of death.

Bang Deok’s appearance drove the final nail into the enemy’s morale. “Let’s capture the enemy general!” I shouted, spotting the enemy leader. The three fierce generals joined me, and together, we charged through the enemy lines.

The miracle Zhao Yun achieved at Changban, the legend Bang Deok would write as the White Horse General, the great northern expedition Wei Yan would lead—it was all happening here, now.

“Monsters…” The enemy general trembled, his last words before my spear severed his head. “The enemy general is dead! Retreat if you want to live!” Wei Yan lifted the head on his spear, and the pursuers, already demoralized, lost their will to fight.

We leisurely returned over the path of corpses. “That’s Yang Ren,” Bang Deok said, looking at the head Wei Yan had taken. “The enemy general’s name?” “One of Zhang Lu’s strongest. But he was no match for this heroine. If his daughter is like this, what kind of monster is Zhang Fei?” “Ma Chao wouldn’t stand a chance against General Zhang either.” “Hmph, who knows.”

Even Bang Deok couldn’t confidently say Ma Chao was stronger.

Jin Dou, unusually regretful, said, “I should have joined you.” “We’re already comrades in everything.” “Huh, I guess so.”

He smiled. Wow, I’ve never seen Jin Dou smile before. “What about me?” Bang Deok asked, riding alongside. “Of course. We’ve risked our lives together; how could we exclude you?” “An honor.”

We broke through thousands of pursuers with just fifteen men, repeatedly charging into their midst to hold them off.

Everyone knew this escape would be remembered in history, their names passed down for millennia.

But Wei Yan couldn’t easily join the joy. The reason was clear. The soldiers who accompanied us were all trained by him. “Three died. Only on our side.” “Yes.” “We’ll remember them, but who will remember them?” It was a new side of Wei Yan, who was thought to be a sociopath. Who knew he cared so much for his subordinates?

“I just lamented. We should rejoice in the great achievement; forget it.” “I won’t forget.” “Huh?” “Xing Yao, Bai Zhen, Gao Meng.” “Their names…” “We’ll remember them.”

I remembered the names of all who fought with me, even briefly. History might forget them, but I will remember.

As I hope to live in someone’s memory, so do others. As I hope to remain in someone’s memory, I will remember others.

“…Yes.”

On the way back, the wind blew fiercely, trying to disperse the stench of blood, yet gently comforting the weary travelers.

The blood-stained cloak fluttered in the wind, revealing stains—no, names written in blood, the traces of the fallen.

Hoping for a death remembered rather than an honorable one, I returned to Yi Province.

Ma Chao came out to welcome us. Not long after our return, the white flag was raised in Chengdu.

Finally, Liu Bei became the ruler of Yi Province.