Chapter 7

Is it the intuition of a general? My body is large among my peers, but among the soldiers, I am small. Yet, he pointed me out as a suspect.

If I line up the soldiers as a wall and retreat, eventually, overwhelmed by the human wave tactic, that general would die or be captured. But instead, I took a step forward.

It was more of a reckless act than youthful vigor, but I, intoxicated by the battle, failed to realize it.

“Alright.”

As I readily admitted, the general approached me and asked, “Young soldier, what is your name?”

“Chang-ran.”

“Haha, so you’re a child without a father. I, Wugong, never thought I’d close my eyes in such a place.”

Wugong! Hearing that name, one would think of the famous general Yu Jin, who served Cao Cao for a long time, but in Wei, there was another Wugong with the same name.

He was Zhao Yun’s deputy, later serving under Sima Yi. Compared to Yu Jin, he might seem insignificant, but he was undoubtedly a seasoned veteran.

Wugong looked up at the sky for a moment. It seemed like a vulnerable action, but I intuitively realized that if I attacked now, I would be counterattacked.

No matter how injured, a beast is still a beast. I was lucky to knock him down, but Wugong was still beyond my ability to handle.

I added, addressing the disheartened Wugong, “I have no father, but my father is the lover Zhang Fei. If you go to the afterlife, tell them you were defeated by Zhang Fei’s child.”

“Zhang Fei’s son? Impossible! Zhang Fei’s sons are known to be scholarly…”

Wugong stopped mid-sentence in shock. He had realized it too. While the difference between men and women isn’t significant in childhood, my appearance was undeniably outstanding.

The premise that a woman could be on the battlefield was non-existent, so he hadn’t noticed. But now, considering the possibility, Wugong realized I was a woman and let out a hollow laugh.

“Are you the granddaughter of Xiahou Yuan?”

“My mother is from the Xiahou clan.”

“Huh… If you’re of Zhang Fei and Xiahou Yuan’s bloodline, then fine. You’re not a bad companion for the journey to the afterlife. This is a matter of the state, so Xiahou Yuan would understand.”

Wugong, resolved to bury his bones here, unleashed his energy towards me. The pressure was similar to when I first begged Zhang Fei to teach me martial arts, and my breath caught in my throat.

‘But compared to Zhang Fei, it’s lighter.’

Unlike the time when I stood like a mouse before a snake, my body now faithfully followed my commands.

Thud!

I clearly tracked Wugong’s spear with my wide-open eyes as he charged, kicking off the ground. His spear was unbelievably fast.

Even with all my nerves on edge, I barely dodged. Counterattacking was out of the question, and if I weren’t small, I would have been bloodied by his spear.

“Gasp!”

As if proving that the tales of his prowess weren’t just fiction, Wugong’s spear grew more ferocious and dangerous.

How could an injured man display such strength? A man on the brink of death was burning his remaining moments.

“Ugh!”

Blood dripped onto the ground. A searing pain shot through my shoulder where the spear grazed me.

‘I can’t dodge the next one!’

The momentary pain caused me to hesitate. My instincts screamed that trying to dodge the next attack would result in a more severe injury.

‘I have to block.’

Clang!

Without a shout, gritting my teeth, gripping the spear tightly.

I parried Wugong’s downward strike with my spear shaft.

If I hadn’t blocked slightly below his spearhead, the sharp blade would have split me in two.

My shoulder felt like it would dislocate. I barely managed to block, but if I stayed still, Wugong would twist his spear and pierce me.

Clang!

I pushed Wugong’s spear aside with all my strength, deflecting the attack. Wugong was also injured in the arm. His spear passed by my nose, slicing through the air.

As soon as I escaped Wugong’s spear, I rolled away on the ground.

This was all in just a few breaths.

Even though I thought I was breathing properly, my breath was caught in my throat.

“Ha, ha…”

“Pitiful. Blame yourself for coming to the battlefield too early.”

Although my allies were struggling to get closer, Cao Cao’s troops were also fighting to protect their general’s last moments.

The numerical difference meant Cao Cao’s troops would soon collapse, but before that, Wugong had enough time to take me down. But I felt no sense of crisis.

“Well.”

The earlier story was based on facing only ordinary soldiers.

“Focusing too much on me was your mistake.”

In front of an outstanding general, Cao Cao’s desperate struggle was just a sandcastle.

“What…”

Slash!

Before Wugong could finish, a blade sliced through his neck.

The body, now headless, didn’t last long and collapsed like a puppet with its strings cut. Behind Wugong’s fallen body, a blood-soaked giant came into view.

“Father…”

Zhang Fei, who had slain Wugong in one strike, looked down at me with a cold gaze, his spear dripping blood.

“This was too reckless.”

“Yes…”

I reflected on my actions.

If I hadn’t stepped forward to stop Wugong, if I had retreated immediately after knocking him down, if I hadn’t proclaimed myself as Zhang Fei’s daughter, Wugong would have prioritized escape, and I wouldn’t have been on the brink of death.

I was too caught up in the heat of battle. Losing my reason and being consumed by the excitement and madness of the battlefield was undoubtedly my fault.

“Fall back to the rear.”

“Are you pursuing?”

“Yes.”

Zhang Fei wasted no time and immediately mounted his horse.

Zhao Yun’s forces, having broken through the siege of Gangnyeong Castle, would be blocked by Guan Yu’s defense line, but Cao Cao’s external forces were also desperately trying to break through to rescue Zhao Yun.

If Zhao Yun were left alone, Guan Yu would be surrounded, so Zhang Fei had no choice but to hurry.

“I wish you good fortune.”

Zhang Fei nodded in response and quickly organized his troops to pursue.

After the storm, only corpses and wounded soldiers remained, their groans of pain echoing everywhere, and the stench of blood spread with the lonely wind.

The battlefield after the battle was filled with wounds, not glory. Having crossed the brink of life and death, I barely managed to hold up my exhausted body. Sitting down in a suitable spot, an ally approached and asked, “Young Lady, are you alright?”

“Yes, I’m just tired, so don’t worry too much. And here, I’m just a soldier, not a young lady.”

“But now, the battle is over. Moreover, with the general gone, if you give orders, the soldiers will follow.”

“Who are you to suggest such a thing to me?”

“I am Fan Jiang, a mid-level commander.”

“Fan Jiang?”

I unconsciously furrowed my brow at the name, not just because I was tired.

Fan Jiang and Zhang Da. How could I forget? The names of the traitors who beheaded Zhang Fei and surrendered to Sun Quan. It was still over a decade before Yiling, but I didn’t expect them to be following Zhang Fei already.

I don’t believe in physiognomy, but hearing his name, his face looked like a jackal waiting for an opportunity. He was indeed an opportunist, so it wasn’t entirely wrong.

This time was no different. Strictly speaking, I was just a soldier. Although Zhang Fei’s daughter, he had instructed not to give me special treatment. Yet, with Zhang Fei gone, Fan Jiang ignored the chain of command and waited for my orders, a typical opportunist.

In principle, I should ignore Fan Jiang and give direct orders, but his words had already drawn the soldiers’ attention to me.

I’ll get scolded by Zhang Fei later, but there’s no choice.

“Prioritize rescuing the wounded and prepare the dead for burial. Gather the bodies.”

“What about looting and spoils…”

I frowned and glared at Fan Jiang.

“I won’t say it twice. Prioritize rescuing our allies.”

“Yes, yes… Then what about Sun Quan’s soldiers?”

“Aren’t allies also allies? Of course, include them. I’ll handle it myself.”

As I stood up, not trusting Fan Jiang, a pleasant baritone voice reached my ears.

“I’ll handle that.”

The owner of the voice was a rare handsome man. Not just good-looking, but with a unique aura that made his identity unmistakable.

Zhou Yu Gongjin. Among those who managed Eastern Wu’s military authority, he was considered the most outstanding, with talents that shone in many areas, earning him the title of an all-around genius.

The prodigy known as the ‘Handsome Zhou,’ loved by heaven and people alike, stood before me.

“Zhou Yu…”

“Yes, I am Zhou Yu. You’re also injured. Get treated. I’ll take care of things here.”

Perhaps it was too difficult for him, who was seriously injured, to join the pursuit. With my father and Eastern Wu’s tiger ministers following Zhao Yun, Zhou Yu didn’t need to go.

I could trust Zhou Yu. He was more inclined to embrace Liu Bei’s forces rather than reject them. I clasped my hands in a respectful bow.

“I will follow your orders.”

And so, the Battle of Nan Commandery came to an end.

§

Before the battle ended, while the battle was still raging.

Knowing that Cao Cao’s troops would retreat through the north gate, Zhou Yu kept a close watch on it.

Placing Zhang Fei at the north gate was for the same reason. Zhao Yun, seeing Zhang Fei’s banner, would realize he couldn’t hold out any longer and retreat, and the timing was now, while Zhang Fei’s troops hadn’t fully recovered from the march.

Everything went as Zhou Yu expected.

Both the renowned Zhang Fei and the thousand-man general Zhao Yun moved within the framework Zhou Yu had set. This battlefield was undoubtedly under Zhou Yu’s control, and victory was smoothly falling into his hands.

Zhao Yun’s bravery was beyond Zhou Yu’s expectations. After Gan Ning was severely beaten by Zhao Yun and Zhou Yu himself was seriously injured, he called in Zhang Fei to stop Zhao Yun’s martial prowess.

No matter how impressive Zhao Yun’s skills were, in Zhou Yu’s judgment, Guan Yu and Zhang Fei were truly beyond human. The superhuman strength seen in Sun Ce and his father Sun Jian. With both of them mobilized in this war, Zhao Yun would never return safely.

Watching Zhang Fei crush Cao Cao’s troops, Zhou Yu was once again convinced that mobilizing Zhang Fei was the right decision.

“Ziming, let’s join…”

As he called for Lü Meng to join the battle, a shout reached Zhou Yu’s ears.

Following the sound was instinct, and Zhou Yu was no exception. Seeing a small soldier blocking Wugong, Zhao Yun’s capable deputy, Zhou Yu muttered.

“Is that child the one?”

As Zhou Yu spoke half in doubt, Lü Meng chimed in.

“Yes. It seems to be Zhang Fei’s daughter.”

“Zhang Fei’s daughter, huh. Right. Zhang Fei is returning.”

“Still, it’s quite an achievement. Capturing Zhao Yun would have been best, though.”

As Wugong was slain by Zhang Fei in one strike, Lü Meng clicked his tongue.

“Zhang Fei is impressive. But his daughter is also amazing. I heard she’s only about ten years old. The saying ‘like father, like daughter’ will have a new meaning.”

“Indeed. Let’s go.”

“Yes, General.”

The position to be awarded after capturing Nan Commandery was of no concern to Lü Meng or Zhou Yu. Nan Commandery was already theirs, and the only question was whether to capture Zhao Yun or not.

As Zhou Yu tidied up the battlefield, he couldn’t take his eyes off Zhang Fei’s daughter. Unlike Zhang Fei, who was harsh on soldiers, she prioritized rescuing the wounded and treated enemy soldiers equally, a clear difference from her father.

“I’ll handle that.”

And when he spoke to her directly and faced her, Zhou Yu had to try not to show his surprise. Zhou Yu’s face, usually calm, remained unchanged, but inside, he was quite startled.

The reason was simple. Zhang Fei’s daughter was more beautiful than he had thought. When he heard Zhang Fei had brought his daughter, he hadn’t thought much of it, but she was too pretty to be in the military.

Known as the ‘Handsome Zhou,’ with a reputation as the most handsome man in the land, even Zhou Yu had to admit that Chang-ran’s beauty was comparable to his own. Though still young and cute, Zhou Yu’s discerning eye didn’t miss the girl’s potential.

“Chang-ran, Chang-ran…”

Her bravery in facing Zhao Yun’s deputy, her character prioritizing soldiers and not forgetting the alliance’s loyalty.

And her beauty, possibly on par with or surpassing his own.

Even her lineage, born from the noble blood of Zhang Fei and Xiahou Yuan’s niece.

‘That girl…’

Zhou Yu’s thoughts deepened.