Chapter 34

The area around Tanggeohyun was rugged with steep mountains and flowing streams in the valleys, making it unsuitable for conventional battles. However, it was a necessary passage to enter the Paser region held by Liu Bei in Hanzhong. Father chose Tanggeohyun as the battlefield to offset our numerical disadvantage by leveraging the terrain.

Zhang He also knew that abandoning Tanggeohyun would leave him no choice but to head to the impregnable fortress of Garrison, so he prepared for battle despite being aware of Father’s strategy.

Mountain warfare differs greatly from battles on flat ground. Obstacles like trees and rocks block visibility, the difficulty of horses moving delays information transmission, and the slopes create advantages for both offense and defense. Even if Han Xin were to return from the dead, it would be impossible for a single commander to manage the troops organically.

“Therefore, we divide the army.”

It was decided that multiple guerrilla units would be more suitable for mountain warfare than a single large force.

“Ma Dai, Yu En, Ma Chong, Gu Bu, Wang Ping. Each of you will lead 500 soldiers and act independently.”

Although Ma Chong was a marching officer, he also had the talent to lead a unit, so there was no reason to exclude him.

“I will also lead the remaining 500 and move accordingly. However, I will separate some troops to serve solely as messengers to ensure information is shared without delay.”

I formed a messenger unit from those familiar with the mountains, ensuring smooth communication between the guerrilla units and Father’s main force. This was essential to prevent being picked off one by one.

“If Cao Cao’s forces are too numerous, avoid engaging recklessly and retreat. Inform the main force, and they will handle it.”

We are in a defensive position. In the original history, Zhang He prioritized a quick defeat to prevent the Paser Army’s people from being evacuated to Hanzhong and to stabilize public sentiment in Yi Province. But now, things are different.

Yi Province has already begun to take root under Liu Bei’s rule. The people of Paser have been evacuated as much as possible, so there’s no need to recklessly defeat Zhang He.

‘If we can hold out until Liu Bei resolves the conflict in Xiang Province and returns, victory will be ours.’

“I wish you all good fortune.”

“General, take care as well.”

After watching the officers depart, I followed suit.

“We are also moving out.”

In preparation for the potential battle at Tanggeohyun, I had familiarized myself with the terrain through Wang Ping. My capable subordinates also understood the local geography, so I boldly split the army and began navigating the mountains.

Zhang He had not yet fully established his base or completed his terrain analysis, so the current battle was merely a skirmish. The enemy also deployed small units to scout the mountains and harass our forces.

The sound of birds chirping in the mountains of Tanggeohyun had long disappeared.

In their place were the cold clashing of metal and the unsettling screams of men.

The thick scent of blood overwhelmed the fragrant smell of grass, causing even wild beasts to turn away.

But humans, sometimes more vicious than beasts, ensured that the battle did not cease.

Clang!

I deflected a sword thrust aimed at my side and slashed the enemy soldier’s throat. The spurting blood soaked the ground.

One sword, one kill. Flowing like a river, striking like lightning.

I prioritized protecting my allies over annihilating the enemy. A week had already passed since the battle at Tanggeohyun began. Having grown accustomed to mountain warfare, I rescued allies in danger and relentlessly pressed the enemy when they faltered.

With each step I took, another soldier survived.

There was no time to rest. Cao Cao’s forces, leveraging their numerical superiority, continued to press forward, naturally wearing down our stamina like a wheel of battle. No matter how familiar our soldiers were with the mountains, the life-and-death combat added significant fatigue.

“The enemy is retreating!”

“Do not pursue.”

Thus, I prioritized our troops’ rest over chasing the enemy for minor additional damage.

I remember that the original battle at Tanggeohyun lasted over a month. Although there are differences from the historical battle, the flow is roughly similar. So, this battle will likely continue for a while longer.

“Gather any spoils quickly, and tend to our casualties. We will now rejoin the main force.”

It was time to descend the mountain and rest. While the soldiers busily moved about, I stood guard with a few troops, wary of another Cao Cao attack.

However, what caught my eye was not a counterattacking Cao Cao force but a frantic messenger from our side.

“General! Ma Chong requests reinforcements!”

“Ma Chong?”

Among my subordinates, Ma Chong was indeed the weakest in combat. But he was more of a military officer than a civil one, with good judgment and decisiveness, so it was unusual for him to be in danger.

‘Is the enemy general extraordinary?’

Our enemy was not some local warlord but Cao Cao’s elite forces, who had conquered the Central Plains. It wouldn’t be surprising if a talented individual suddenly appeared and defeated Ma Chong.

“Everyone, stop looting! Those not seriously injured, help the wounded down the mountain. The rest, follow me. Lead the way.”

“Yes!”

The soldiers, upon confirming the messenger, dropped what they were carrying and quickly formed ranks.

Following the messenger, the sounds of battle began to faintly reach us. Screams were frequent.

Unlike the battle I had just fought, this was not a one-sided fight but a fierce clash between both sides.

My heart grew anxious. I wanted to speed up but held back, moving cautiously.

Rushing in recklessly without the stamina to fight would be meaningless. Especially since the enemy could also receive reinforcements.

‘Ma Chong will hold out.’

I forced myself to replace anxiety with faith.

And Ma Chong repaid my faith.

“Reinforcements have arrived! General Guangwei is here!!”

He had held out until my arrival.

At Ma Chong’s shout, the soldiers mustered their last strength and roared, pressing the Cao Cao forces.

I searched for the enemy general. From what I glimpsed on the way, the advantage was clearly with Cao Cao’s forces. The numbers were similar, with Cao Cao’s side slightly larger, but not by much.

Yet, if they had gained the upper hand against Ma Chong, the enemy general must be a renowned commander or someone with the potential to become one.

‘We must cut them down here.’

Cao Cao, who had already conquered the Central Plains, was rich in talent. We needed to eliminate as many as possible when the opportunity arose.

“You…”

The enemy general, spotting me breaking through, widened his eyes in an unusually flustered manner.

Enemies often recognized my identity immediately due to my gender and reacted with surprise, but the enemy general’s reaction was disproportionately large.

‘This is my chance.’

Being a woman had its advantages in such moments. Enemies encountering an unexpected opponent on the battlefield always exposed vulnerabilities, and I never missed them.

But this time was different.

Before my sword could reach him, the enemy general composed himself and effortlessly deflected my attack, as if his earlier expression had been an act.

A sharp counterattack grazed my neck.

Fortunately, it only nicked the skin, but it was my first injury in this battle.

“Was it an act?”

“……”

The enemy general remained silent at my words. But to me, it didn’t seem like an act. Even method acting has its limits. If that was an act, he must have had Oscar-worthy talent without any formal training.

“It doesn’t matter anyway.”

He was just an enemy.

All I had to do was fight and win.

I made one final offer before the real battle began.

“Surrender, and I’ll spare you.”

“Return the favor. If you join us, I’ll guarantee your safety.”

I felt a strange sense of déjà vu.

The enemy general’s words didn’t feel like a mechanical offer but a sincere plea. It was a genuine concern for me as an individual, unrelated to my gender or appearance.

But it was too late to stop. We had met on the battlefield. Struggle was our duty.

The enemy general was strong. His well-trained body exuded explosive strength, and his swordsmanship was admirable. He was undoubtedly the best I had faced so far.

‘But still…’

Our swords clashed. In terms of raw strength, we were evenly matched, with perhaps a slight edge to me. Our swordsmanship was also nearly equal.

Considering the enemy general was at least ten years older than me, my talent was more remarkable.

‘I will win.’

The enemy general also gave his all. As if my earlier sense of déjà vu was a mistake, he fought fiercely with all his might.

If he had truly hesitated out of some emotion towards me, I would have taken his head long ago.

The intense battle ended in a draw. At Ma Chong’s shout announcing the arrival of Cao Cao’s reinforcements, I disengaged first. Since we had the upper hand, it was possible.

A little more time would have been nice, but greed brings disaster. Knowing when to retreat was also important.

Cao Cao’s forces also seemed to think that continuing the fight would bring more losses than gains, so a natural lull formed as both sides gradually distanced themselves.

Cao Cao’s forces were the first to turn their backs.

I called out to the retreating enemy general without thinking.

“You!”

Somehow, he knew I was calling him. He stopped abruptly, turning his body slightly to look back at me.

“What is your name?”

At my question, he made a very complex expression. Who was he? Had I met him before? I hadn’t encountered anyone from Wei since the battle at Nan Commandery.

But for some reason, I also felt a strange sense of familiarity with him.

He answered my question with a question.

“How is Xi’a doing?”

“Xi’a?”

At the sudden question, I tilted my head and repeated his words.

As I pondered who that was, a hypothesis popped into my head, and my eyes widened.

“Could it be, you…”

Xi (曦). That was my mother’s name.

And the only person from Wei who would call my mother by the nickname Xi’a was someone I should have recognized.

“You’re from the Xiahou family.”

“Yes. I am Xiahou Pa, the second son of Marquis Bochang.”

Marquis Bochang was Xiahou Yuan’s title. In other words, he was my mother Xiahou Xi’s cousin and my maternal uncle.

“Tell Xi’a. Father still misses her and is often lost in sorrow.”

Private conversations with an enemy general on the battlefield were unnecessary and could raise suspicions. After saying what he needed, Xiahou Pa turned away.

I shouted at his retreating back.

“Uncle! Don’t forget! As long as I am here, we will always welcome your surrender!”

No answer came to my shout. As Xiahou Pa disappeared into the distance, I too turned my steps back to our camp.