Rather Than Zhang Ran, Zhang Bao’s Eldest Daughter

A recent incident has been causing a stir in Jingzhou.
The tale of Lady Sun and Zhang Ran’s confrontation.
An era already bereft of entertainment witnessed the protracted wars reducing the once prosperous and culturally vibrant Jingzhou into a place solely focused on mere survival.
Amidst such hardships, Liu Bei’s wife Lady Sun, openly defiant towards her husband, was practically a public enemy among Jingzhou’s citizens.

Just as all had resigned themselves to Liu Bei’s inability to curb Lady Sun’s lawlessness, a young maiden unexpectedly arrived like a shooting star to administer a harsh lesson. That this maiden was none other than Zhang Fei’s daughter, famed as Liu Bei’s sworn brother, further piqued the populace’s intrigue.

Exhausted by their arduous existence, the commoners eagerly embraced and rapidly disseminated this morality tale of a maiden upholding justice against evil.
Despite my efforts to contain it, the rumor grew increasingly embellished and distorted – from Lady Sun seeking me out, it became me boldly confronting her, single-handedly vanquishing her hundred maids before rebuking her.

Of course, none seriously believed such exaggerations. Lady Sun’s arrogant conduct persisted, openly swaggering with armed maids during daylight, rendering the tales’ veracity transparently dubious.
Yet the core truth of me reining in Lady Sun’s excesses remained, earning me an untimely surge of renown.

Initially just warmly received by the populace, soon after officials and even personages of repute came calling at the Zhang estates, drawn by curiosity over the ‘Little Immortal Maiden’ epithet attached to my adolescent self.

Akin to the ‘Tiger of Jiangdong’ for Sun Jian, the ‘Peerless Brother-in-Arms’ for Guan Yu and Zhang Fei, or the ‘Zhugeliang’ for Zhou Yu, my appellation was:

“What troubles could our Little Immortal Maiden possibly have?”
“Mother, must you keep teasing me so?”
The Little Immortal Maiden – evidently derived from the Eight Immortal Maidens of Daoist lore who imparted strategies to the Yellow Emperor against Chi You.
Not that I was remotely comparable to the martial strategist Sun Ce, of course. Yet my parents enthusiastically embraced this grandiose epithet after learning of my confrontation with Lady Sun during their absence.

Eminent figures from the Records and Romance bore monikers aplenty, so from their perspective my new alias seemed quite fitting.
While any acclaim was welcome, I had not sought such an extravagant epithet – a modest, memorable style like Zhang Fei’s ‘Yan Ren’ or Cao Zhuoliang’s ‘Shang Shan’ would have sufficed.

Still, it bore unexpected benefits – the lofty appellation piqued curiosities, prompting reputed personages to seek out this prodigiously talented ‘maiden worthy of an immortal’s moniker’.

Not that their visits dramatically altered my routine of training, familial bonding and occasional scholarly pursuits. But today differed slightly, as Chokupak announced:
“A visitor has arrived seeking you.”
Setting aside my book, I inquired upon hearing the name:
“Who has come calling?”
“A…Counselor Fan Zhun, he says. Do you know of him?”

Fan Zhun, styled Chengming. Truthfully, I knew little of him specifically. Yet that name remained firmly imprinted in my recollections.
Upon resolving to be reborn as Zhang Ran to navigate this turbulent era, I had meticulously recorded my lingering past life memories, however fragmented my Romance of the Three Kingdoms knowledge.
And Fan Zhun’s name featured prominently among those scant details – because he was linked to Guan Yu’s demise.

‘Zhang Da and Fan Qiang, the father-killers. Mi Fang, Fu Shiren and Fan Zhun, the Guan Yu betrayers.’
While unclear what manner of man Fan Zhun was, the harsh assessments of these Jingzhou turncoats who forsook Liu Bei lingered vividly:
‘Fu Shiren actively colluded, Hua Po was deceived into surrender, while Fan Zhun ultimately capitulated.’

Fu Shiren eagerly cooperating with Wu after defecting.
Hua Po falling for Zhou Yu’s ruse, yet retaining enough shame to surrender.
And Fan Zhun, eventually acquiescing to Sun Quan’s persistent overtures unlike the others.
As for Mi Fang? He did not even warrant inclusion, the embodiment of treachery plotting betrayal before Zhou Yu’s arrival.

Certainly, as a founding meritorius elder he harbored grievances over his treatment. But did that justify such extreme measures? Had he voiced his disillusionment to his brother Mi Zhu and appealed to Liu Bei’s empathy, some accommodation could have been reached – Liu Bei was legendarily benevolent towards those under his dominion, after all.

At any rate, why had Fan Zhun come seeking me?
“Allow him in, for now.”
“Yes, Ran.”

Greeting Fan Zhun with ceremonial courtesy as he entered, I resolved to gauge his character first – I could hardly extend the same outright disdain towards him as the likes of Mi Fang and Fu Shiren, given he had ultimately refrained from outright defection.

“Counselor Fan Zhun, at your service.”
Fan Zhun seemed relatively youthful, likely in his late 20s at most. Though lacking the peerless fine features of Zhuge Liang or Zhou Yu to inspire universal admiration, his mid-20s visage remained strikingly handsome – refined yet unyielding.

After his succinct self-introduction, Fan Zhun readily accepted my offered seat without demurrer once I, as host, gestured him to make himself comfortable.
“Would you care for some tea?”
“I would be most grateful.”
“Chokupak, please bring two cups of tea.”

As Chokupak fetched the tea, Fan Zhun and I exchanged customary pleasantries. Then, as the tea’s aroma wafted through the room upon Chokupak’s return, I inquired:
“Though your duties must keep you exceedingly occupied, to what matter do I owe this visit?”

Fan Zhun calmly set down his teacup before responding:
“There are matters I wish to convey, as well as questions I hope to pose.”

§

Fan Zhun, styled Chengming.
A renowned Jingzhou official, he had studied under the era’s preeminent Confucian scholar Song Zhong.
During Yuan Shao’s lifetime, Fan Zhun served as a county clerk diligently enforcing law and order while rooting out corruption – though his stringent measures inspired trepidation among the populace, he simultaneously commanded trust and support.

Despite being a disciple of the eminent Confucian educator Song Zhong, Fan Zhun leaned more towards Legalist philosophies.
Akin to Zhuge Liang’s later advocacy of harsh penalties against Shu, Fan Zhun adhered to Confucian teachings yet governed through strict legal administration.

After Jingzhou came under Liu Bei’s control, Fan Zhun too entered his service. Recognizing his talents, Liu Bei did not relegate him to mere county or regional duties, instead elevating him as Jingzhou’s Chief Counselor.

Fan Zhun prided himself on dutifully fulfilling his assigned responsibilities.
‘The cultivated man is prepared to die for one who knows him’, went the adage – and Fan Zhun perfectly embodied that. Liu Bei reciprocated that devotion by entrusting him as Chief Counselor despite being Song Zhong’s student amidst their past conflicts.
So Fan Zhun in turn strove to repay Liu Bei’s faith through diligent service to the best of his abilities.

However, there inevitably existed matters beyond one’s individually assigned scope, regardless of utmost commitment.
For Fan Zhun, Lady Sun Rin’s existence posed such an issue.
The law-prioritizing Fan Zhun clashed with the law-flouting Lady Sun.

Yet unlike his former county clerk position, Lady Sun was beyond his jurisdiction as Liu Bei’s wife and Sun Quan’s dispatched monitor.
Keenly aware of her mandate, Fan Zhun could only internally seethe while outwardly acquiescing to Lady Sun’s legal transgressions as Liu Bei’s spouse.

Then, as if a lie, Lady Sun’s brazen lawlessness abruptly ceased.
While still brazenly strutting with armed maids exuding a menacing aura, her overt illegal conduct nevertheless vanished.
An outcome even Jingzhou’s sovereign Liu Bei could not achieve – prompting Fan Zhun to urgently investigate quicker than anyone else.

And at the crux stood someone Fan Zhun never could have anticipated or imagined.

“Zhang Ran? That Zhang Ran, the Governor of the Southlands’ daughter?”

Her name was not entirely unfamiliar. Tales of Zhang Fei’s daughter accompanying the Southlands campaign had spread among the soldiers.
Unlike her notoriously harsh father, the daughter’s compassionate camaraderie with the troops provided some solace to their weary souls.

But after the Southlands, Fan Zhun had heard she withdrew from military life. Having witnessed actual combat, he assumed the experience had prompted her to regain her senses and resign.
So why was her name suddenly resurfacing here? The rapidly circulating rumors soon provided detailed answers:

‘Lady Sun provoked Zhang Ran, only for Zhang Ran to display remarkable swordsmanship before rebuking Lady Sun’s unrestrained behavior.’
‘She struck down Lady Sun’s maids one by one, prompting Lady Sun’s awed apologies and pleas for forgiveness.’
‘Unable to tolerate such depravity any longer, Zhang Ran personally sought out Lady Sun, and with a single sword slash, felled all hundred of her maids.’

While the rumors grew increasingly distorted into fanciful legend as they transmitted from mouth to mouth, Fan Zhun’s own investigations had already uncovered the accurate account:
For reasons unknown, Lady Sun confronted Zhang Ran, proposing a wager settled through a duel between Zhang Ran and Lady Sun’s handmaid Chokupak.
Zhang Ran emerged victorious, demanding as her prize that Lady Sun uphold law and etiquette henceforth.

For Fan Zhun, this revelation proved shocking.
That a mere young maiden had accomplished what even he and Liu Bei could not.
And the underlying insight that this ‘unruly tomboy recklessly venturing onto battlefields’, whom he had so disdained, possessed enough profound judgment to demand Jingzhou’s stability as her prize.

Immediately after submitting his report as Chief Counselor, Fan Zhun promptly set out from Chengdu to Xinzheng to meet Zhang Ran.
The Zhang Ran he encountered in person proved far more mature than he had envisioned. And more stunningly beautiful than he could have fathomed – a true peerless beauty.

Having heard tales of her participating in battle alongside Zhang Fei, even contributing to Wuhuan’s capture, Fan Zhun had anticipated a rough-hewn, masculinized woman mirroring her father’s ruggedness.
Yet the Zhang Ran before him seemed almost implausibly delicate to have engaged in such soldierly ordeals, her petite frame radiating an ethereal, almost fragile loveliness.
Of course, she remained larger than typical for her adolescent age. But to Fan Zhun’s adult masculine eyes, she appeared little different from other young maidens.

Through their ensuing conversation, Fan Zhun came to acknowledge the failings of his initial assessment.
Hence, he could wholeheartedly express his sincere admiration:

“Allow me to first convey my deepest gratitude.”
“Pardon? What brings about such sudden words…”
“For undertaking the duty I as Chief Counselor failed to uphold – curtailing Lady Sun’s unlawful conduct. That I could not rein her in despite my position shames me deeply.”

Rising from his seat, Fan Zhun bent his torso in a gesture of profound appreciation mingled with remorse.
Though unaware, Zhang Ran’s earlier tales from the Southlands campaign had prompted his initial dismissive scorn – a discourtesy he now silently atoned for as well.

“Please, rise. I did not act with any intent to receive such gratitude.”
Gently urging the bowing Fan Zhun upright, he realized yet another misconception as Zhang Ran seemingly exerted effort to raise him with that unassuming display of physical prowess:

‘Such strength from a mere maiden…’
While a civil official, Fan Zhun possessed martial aptitude, diligently honing his combat skills with a formidable physique.
Yet Zhang Ran’s might seemed to differ negligibly from his own considerable abilities.

‘Truly a matchless beauty deserving of that moniker.’
Reseated by Zhang Ran’s guidance, Fan Zhun inwardly re-evaluated her as the flustered maiden recovered her composure, inquiring soberly:

“So what remaining questions did you wish to pose?”
For this was Fan Zhun’s true purpose in seeking her out personally, formalities like conveying gratitude being manageable via correspondence.
Fan Zhun asked his core question:
“Do you intend to continue involving yourself in martial affairs going forward?”