Chapter 35

As he led the soldiers back to the military camp, Hahupa thought to himself.

‘It wasn’t just empty fame.’

The stories about Chang-ran were no longer limited to just the region of Hyeongik.

At first, she was only famous within a certain area. Chang-ran’s appearance in the world began with the Nan Commandery battle, but she hadn’t done anything particularly noteworthy.

She had blocked Wu Jin, Zhao Yun’s deputy, but she almost died after only a few exchanges before Zhang Fei saved her.

Later, she gained some fame through her interactions with Lady Son and saving Adu, but those stories were still confined to the regions around Gong’an and Xingnan.

Moreover, the latter incident was deliberately concealed, so the name Chang-ran was only known to a select few.

However, after the Fallen City battle, where Chang-ran truly gained her reputation, her actions became a series of dramatic events.

She single-handedly captured Liu Xun and took the city, rescued Ma Chao’s family in Hanzhong with a small group of generals, and gathered the Pa tribes to make a strong impression on the ethnic groups in Yi Province. All of Chang-ran’s deeds were spread as a form of propaganda.

Naturally, the higher-ups who heard about this saw it as propaganda to deceive the people and quickly stabilize the occupied territories.

Common sense dictated that it was impossible for a 15-year-old girl to achieve a series of victories that even seasoned generals would find difficult.

Hahupa thought the same. He believed it was all a ploy to elevate the reputation of a girl with the blood of Zhang Fei and the Hahupa family, to boost Liu Bei’s image by marrying her into his family.

‘They must be trying to deceive the people.’

But now, after crossing swords with her, he knew.

That all of it was true.

An unbelievable strength. Exquisite martial arts. Proactive and swift adaptability.

If the battle had lasted just a little longer, Hahupa himself would have been dead or taken prisoner.

The satisfaction of having fought a great warrior outweighed the shame of being pushed back by a girl half his age. Chang-ran had reached a whole new level.

‘But she still can’t match my father.’

Xiahou Yuan’s martial prowess had already surpassed mastery and was nearing perfection. Even among the many talented generals in Cao Cao’s army, his strength was among the top.

Only Zhao Yun and Zhang Liao could compare to Cao Cao’s left arm. The name “Ghost Speed General” Xiahou Yuan carried immense weight.

Comparing such a figure to a 15-year-old girl was already beyond words, something that shouldn’t even be possible.

But what Hahupa had experienced himself was undeniable, and there was no room for doubt.

It was simply astonishing. Hahupa found it hard to believe that his young niece, half his age, possessed such skill, but he had to believe it. Letting emotions cloud judgment was something only incompetent generals did.

‘Was this what my father and the renowned strategist hoped for when they arranged the marriage between Zhang Fei and Hahupa?’

Hahupa had felt firsthand how terrifying a child born from the blood of the “Ghost Speed General” and the “Ten Thousand Eyes” could be.

He even wondered if Cao Cao’s intention was not just to recruit Zhang Fei but to create a legendary warrior.

That made it all the more regrettable. His niece, who could have helped Cao Cao achieve the great task of unifying the land, was now under Liu Bei.

‘What a sad thing.’

Thinking of his niece, who resembled his cousin, Hahupa bitterly glared at the sky.

§

‘Hahupa.’

Even after returning to the tent, my mind was filled with thoughts about Hahupa.

Hahupa. A name unfamiliar to those who only read the Romance of the Three Kingdoms up to Zhuge Liang’s death at Wuzhang Plains, but unforgettable to those who read to the end.

After Xiahou Yuan’s eldest son died, Hahupa inherited his father’s title and became prominent in the Wei military. When Sima Yi seized power in the Gaoping Tomb Incident, Hahupa shocked the world by defecting to Shu Han.

‘Defection to Shu Han.’

At that time, Hahupa had lost his father, Xiahou Yuan, to Shu Han and burned with hatred, fighting fiercely on the front lines against Shu Han.

Despite Shu Han having nearly exhausted its momentum for the Northern Expedition and no longer having the strength to challenge for power, Hahupa crossed the treacherous mountains to join Shu.

Shu Han bestowed upon Hahupa the title of General at Gogi, a position usually given to relatives, and treated him generously. Liu Shan even brought his own child and said, “This child is a descendant of the Xiahou family.” It was likely the child of Yuan Yi or Yeon-yi.

“Can we recruit him?”

I shook my head at my own question and answered myself.

Hahupa’s defection was largely due to the Gaoping Tomb Incident. If I were to alter the future and revive Shu Han, the Gaoping Tomb Incident might not happen.

And if that didn’t happen, Hahupa would never come to Shu Han.

Because.

‘I won’t prevent Xiahou Yuan’s death.’

He would become both a relative and an enemy, a relationship of love and hate.

Yet, I still vividly remember the vow I made when I first awakened to my past life and asked my father to teach me martial arts.

The promise that if he ever wished to return, I would be the first to welcome him with the utmost respect. Could I really welcome him after killing Xiahou Yuan? It was a future I couldn’t fathom.

“It’s difficult.”

“What’s difficult?”

“Ah, Father…”

I stuttered, feeling guilty. But my father, with a knowing expression, patted my shoulder and said.

“You met Zhongquan, didn’t you?”

Zhongquan was Hahupa’s courtesy name.

“Yes…”

“Is it because of your mother?”

“If not, it would be a lie.”

“I feel the same.”

“Huh?”

I couldn’t believe the words coming from Zhang Fei’s mouth.

Zhang Fei. Liu Bei’s sworn brother, strict and clear in his human relationships. How could I accept that he was troubled by fighting the Xiahou family?

“Why are you looking at me like that? I have feelings too. I can’t do this to Xi. To Xi, Xiahou Yuan and his children are like her own parents and siblings.”

Zhang Fei’s love for his family was no different from anyone else’s. It’s just that.

“But I have made my sworn brother’s great task my life’s work. I vowed to prioritize it above all else.”

He simply loved something more than his family.

“From tomorrow, stay by my side and don’t go to the front lines.”

After that, I stayed by Zhang Fei’s side, observing the battlefield and overseeing military deployments.

The battles continued without major changes. Even though I had gathered all of Shu Han’s rookies under my command, Cao Cao’s army was no pushover. The Hahupa I met was formidable, and even the renowned general Bi Yao followed Zhang He.

But I knew. All the battles so far were just preparations for the trap Zhang Fei was setting.

“Mencius said the world is determined by three things.”

“Heaven’s timing, Earth’s advantages, and Human harmony.”

The timing given by heaven. The benefits provided by the earth. The power achieved through human harmony.

“War is also part of the world. It follows the same principles. We’ve lost heaven’s timing. But the earth’s advantages are on our side. So, the outcome of the battle depends on who achieves superior human harmony. Currently, both sides are evenly matched. Zhang He must be anxious.”

When Zhang He moved south, the Pa Dong army expressed their submission. But Pa Dong was beyond our reach. It wasn’t a result that aligned with our goal of striking a blow.

Moreover, even that would be lost if we defeated Zhang He and fully secured Pa Xi.

“Soon, Zhang He will be at a crossroads.”

“So, you deliberately created a weakness.”

My father’s military tactics were truly remarkable. I followed him, seeing what he saw and hearing what he said, or else I wouldn’t have noticed the weakness.

It would likely appear as a natural result of repeated complex mountain warfare, not something deliberately created. Zhang Fei effortlessly succeeded in such meticulous military operations.

“But will Zhang He move as you expect?”

No matter how great my father’s tactics were, Zhang He was no ordinary general. He was among the top in strategy, even in the Five Tiger Generals.

“An unnecessary question. You already know the answer.”

At his words, I smiled awkwardly. I, who knew the answer sheet of history.

“Zhang He’s options are limited.”

“Exactly. That’s Zhang He’s weakness. No matter how excellent he is, it’s an original sin he can’t overcome.”

Zhang He’s weakness.

It was that he was a surrendered general.

§

“Is it a trap, or not?”

Zhang He muttered as he looked down at the military map with wooden pieces. It was suspicious. Rationally, he thought it was a plan to break the stalemate, but his instincts as a general told him to be cautious.

Zhang He trusted his instincts. But he also had confidence in his tactical plans. When both pointed in the same direction, he achieved great victories. Sometimes they differed, but even if he made a misjudgment, he broke through with his command.

However, Zhang He was well aware of his own weaknesses.

Zhang He’s strategies and tactics were among the best in Cao Cao’s army, but he was somewhat lacking in straightforward battles. Brute force and frontal assaults were not his specialty.

The Tangju battles so far had been closer to the kind of force-on-force combat Zhang He disliked, rather than involving clever strategies. It was a form favorable to Zhang Fei, who relied on familiar terrain to wage a war of attrition.

When he spotted the gap created in the process, Zhang He realized it was time to leverage his strengths.

‘But why? The unease won’t go away.’

The quicker the decision, the better.

Indecision on the battlefield is a sin. Zhang He closed his eyes and envisioned the outcomes of attacking and retreating.

The time for deliberation was short. When he opened his eyes, Zhang He made his decision.

“Retreat.”