Rather Than Zhang Ran, Zhang Bao’s Eldest Daughter

Hanzhong Commandery, Nanzheng County.
He was there.
The man who had seized hegemony in this era.
The hegemon who had swept through the Central Plains. His name was Cao Cao.
Cao Cao was looking down languidly at the man bowing his head at his feet.

“Your Excellency, please forgive this foolish one who dared to go against you.”

The one begging for forgiveness was Zhang Lu, who once ruled Hanzhong. Contrary to his wishes, he failed to control his subordinates and chose to resist Cao Cao, ultimately failing.

What power could a loser have? Begging for the victor’s mercy was the only thing a defeated person could do.

And Cao Cao willingly showed mercy to Zhang Lu.

“Lord Zhang, rise. I saw that you preserved the reports as they were. How could that be the action of someone plotting a fight to the death? I know it wasn’t your true intention, so raise your head now.”

“Yo-Your Excellency…”

Zhang Lu raised his head to look up at Cao Cao, moved to tears.

Though taller than the average of this era, he wasn’t quite 8 chi tall, and while his body was well-built from continued training even after achieving wealth and glory, he wasn’t a large man.

Nevertheless, in Zhang Lu’s eyes, Cao Cao appeared more enormous than anyone. A small giant. That’s the kind of person Cao Cao was.

Long ago, Zhang Lu had seen the emperor directly. It was from a distance and secretly, but contrary to the awe-inspiring title of Son of Heaven, to Zhang Lu, he seemed no different from an ordinary person.

However, this man before him now, Cao Cao, was different. He had an overwhelming presence incomparable to Zhang Lu, who had boasted of being the leader of the Five Pecks of Rice.

“I shall appoint you as General Who Guards the South and enfeoff you as Marquis of Langzhong.”

“I am infinitely grateful.”

Zhang Lu thanked Cao Cao for his mercy, using expressions normally reserved for addressing a monarch. Although his words and actions clearly didn’t conform to proper etiquette, no one picked on it.

“I will let you continue to govern Hanzhong. But I will take away your military power.”

“Of course.”

The officials of Hanzhong who might have opposed this had long since died in battle against Cao Cao or had their will broken. At this moment, in Hanzhong, Cao Cao’s word was law.

“Miaozai, Junyi.”

“Yes, Your Excellency.”

Xiahou Yuan and Zhang He stepped forward at Cao Cao’s call.

“I’ll entrust Hanzhong to you.”

“We obey.”

Having placed his trusted capable relative and one of his best generals in Hanzhong, Cao Cao now wanted to withdraw his army to recover the strength expended during the war.

However, the advisors who had helped Cao Cao occupy Hanzhong had different thoughts.

“Your Excellency, how can you turn back the army here?”

The one daring to express a different opinion to Cao Cao’s judgment.
Beneath his gentle eyes lay coldness, and his benevolent voice carried strong determination. His name was none other than Sima Yi, possessing a sinister quality that made even Cao Cao, who had looked down upon the world, wary.

Cao Cao hid his displeasure at Sima Yi’s words, who had accompanied the army as Assistant Minister of the Masters of Writing.

“What do you mean, Zhongda?”

“Zhang Lu, who had been contending with Yi Province, has surrendered, and you have occupied Hanzhong. Yi Province is trembling at your might. If you ride this momentum and strike Shu, they will surely crumble like tiles.”

To Sima Yi’s suggestion to drive the army straight to Yi Province, Cao Cao clicked his tongue as if reproaching him.

“Tsk. Zhongda, you are truly greedy. People should know satisfaction. It is because they are not satisfied that people meet with catastrophe and suffer. I have already gained Yong, so how could I desire Shu as well? This is excessive greed.”

As Cao Cao quoted the story from Emperor Guangwu’s era about “wanting Shu after gaining Yong,” Sima Yi could only bow deeply and retreat. Reconfirming Cao Cao’s wariness towards him, Sima Yi bit his innocent lips.

However, there was another who held the same thoughts as Sima Yi. It was Liu Ye, another Assistant Minister of the Masters of Writing like Sima Yi.

“Your Excellency, Liu Bei raises the banner of righteousness, so people gather and unite firmly under him, but because of this, he chooses to retreat. Moreover, although Liu Bei has gained Shu, he has shown actions contradicting the righteousness he proclaims, so he hasn’t gained the full trust of the Shu people. If we leave him be, internally Zhuge Liang, and externally Guan Yu and Zhang Fei will assist Liu Bei, completing a natural fortress. I believe it is right to strike now and eliminate future troubles.”

“Ziyang’s (Liu Ye’s courtesy name) argument knows one thing but not the other.”

Cao Cao immediately rebutted Liu Ye’s words.

“It’s been over half a year since Liu Bei occupied Yi Province, so even if he momentarily lost popular support, he would have regained it by now. And haven’t you heard? The story of Zhang Ran, Zhang Fei’s daughter, suppressing the Ba tribes who were showing intentions to submit to us is widespread throughout Yi Province.”

At Cao Cao’s words, Xiahou Yuan, who had been standing still like a statue, flinched. He too was paying attention to Zhang Fei’s daughter. Zhang Ran, Zhang Fei’s daughter, was also his great-granddaughter.

Unaware of Xiahou Yuan’s reaction, Liu Ye spoke without hesitation.

“Although Zhang Fei’s daughter has shown some martial prowess, how could that be pure fact? There must be falsehoods mixed in to capture the hearts of the people. Also, Liu Bei is not in Yi Province due to friction with Sun Quan over Jing Province, and even the most feared Guan Yu is tied down in Jing Province, so isn’t this the Heaven-sent opportunity?”

In the original history, there wasn’t much time difference between Liu Bei occupying Yi Province and Cao Cao occupying Hanzhong. And Zhang Lu’s surrender to Cao Cao, separate from the occupation of Hanzhong, was not now but in November.

However, history had long been twisted due to Zhang Ran.

Liu Bei took Yi Province half a year earlier, and because Zhang Ran stabilized Baxi Commandery, Zhang Lu chose to surrender to Cao Cao instead of fleeing to Bazhong. Thanks to this, Cao Cao completely brought Hanzhong under his feet several months earlier.

Originally, upon hearing the news of Zhang Lu’s surrender in November, Liu Bei hurriedly concluded an agreement with Sun Quan regarding the ownership of Jing Province and returned, but due to Zhang Lu’s early surrender, it was difficult for him to return immediately.

As Liu Ye said, the current Yi Province was indeed more vulnerable than ever.

However, this situation wasn’t much different from the original history. And even then, Cao Cao insisted on withdrawing his army. He did so even though it was a more advantageous situation with the Ba tribe submitting to him.

Seeing this action, Pei Zong guessed that Cao Cao’s retreat was not due to lack of courage, but because there must be some internal circumstances.

That was true. Cao Cao judged that he didn’t have the capacity to continue waging war.

From 208 to late summer of 215, which is now. Except for the time recovering from the aftermath of defeat after Red Cliffs, Cao Cao had been continuously at war.

The Battle of Red Cliffs, the Battle of Jiangling, the Battle of Hefei, the Battle of Taoling, the Battle of Tong Pass, the Battle of Yangping Pass, the Battle of Hanzhong, the conquest of Xiliang, and now the conquest of Hanzhong.

It was by no means that Cao Cao underestimated Liu Bei. Rather, he prided himself on being the only one in the world who perfectly understood Liu Bei’s true value.

That in the world, there were only two heroes: Cao Cao and Liu Bei.

In Cao Cao’s eyes, even Sun Quan who defeated him at Red Cliffs, and Zhou Yu who defeated Cao Ren whom he trusted more than anyone, were lacking.

‘Liu Bei, do you also seek to grasp the pearl of power?’

When he closed his eyes, he could clearly see that scene at the Feast at Hong Gate. How were Liu Bei’s eyes as he dropped his chopsticks in fear, startled by thunder? Was that truly filled with fear?

‘No. You may deceive the world, but you cannot deceive this Cao Cao.’

Like a tiger hiding its claws and concealing its body in the bushes, watching for an opportunity, Liu Bei had merely crouched down. For an emergency just like now.

‘Xuande, perhaps you are the Mandate of Heaven bestowed upon this Cao Mengde.’

Heaven tends to give trials for heroes.

Until now, Cao Cao had overcome countless trials and hardships to reach this point.

For the great cause of unifying the world, Cao Cao had endured the bitterness of loss and defeat, walking steadfastly.

Even when he stumbled on the rock of the Battle of Red Cliffs just as he was about to achieve his long-cherished desire, he stood up again.

And he became newly convinced. That Liu Bei was the greatest, strongest, and final wall he would face.

“Junyi.”

“Yes, Your Excellency.”

When Cao Cao called Zhang He, Liu Ye showed expectation. And that soon turned into exhilaration.

“I’ll give you troops. Twenty thousand.”

There was only one reason for giving troops to Zhang He instead of Xiahou Yuan. To entrust Hanzhong to Xiahou Yuan and use Zhang He to attack Shu.

“There’s no need to go deep into Shu. It’s enough to stir up the Three Ba.”

If Liu Bei hadn’t been advancing without a single failure like now.

If, as in the original history, he had suffered defeat at Luo Castle and failed to subdue the Ba tribes, unable to fully unite Yi Province. Cao Cao would have withdrawn, looking to the future.

However, the current Liu Bei was too high-spirited, stimulating Cao Cao’s sense of crisis.

Not now, but someday, the moment of decisive battle would come. But before that, Cao Cao judged that it was necessary to break their momentum at least once, deciding to raise an army even if it was risky.

“Ziyang. You stay in Hanzhong with Miaozai and support Junyi’s rear.”

“Yes, Your Excellency.”

Zhang He and Liu Ye. They were talents who could deliver good news no matter where they were deployed. Plus 20,000 troops. Guides could be easily procured from Hanzhong.

“Zhang Fei and his daughter Zhang Ran remain in Baxi, so be cautious of them.”

“I will keep that in mind, Your Excellency.”

A storm was once again descending upon Shu, which had regained stability.

‘Xuande. This Cao Mengde will reveal the true nature of the niece you cherish.’

It was a wind blowing from the north.