Rather Than Zhang Ran, Zhang Bao’s Eldest Daughter

Ma Chong was a famous general of Shu Han who was active in the later period of the Three Kingdoms, with an impressive debut record of rescuing Liu Bei from crisis after the great defeat at the Battle of Yiling. It is said that Liu Bei praised him highly, saying “I lost the Imperial Seal, but gained Ma Chong instead.”

Actually, the Ma Chong I first knew about was not the Shu Han general, but the Wu general. He was recorded in history just for capturing Guan Yu, and in the Romance, he was recognized for this merit and even received the Red Hare horse, but that was all.
He was strongly symbolic for delivering the final blow to Guan Yu, but his ability was probably mediocre. He also meets a miserable end due to the hatred of the Shu fanatic Luo Guanzhong, but anyway.

I learned about him because of the namesake Ma Chong, but Shu Han’s Ma Chong was a talent on a different level from Wu’s Ma Chong.

He was excellent in both civil and military affairs, with high administrative ability and military talent. Moreover, he was known to be especially excellent in governing ethnic minorities, possessing both virtue and benevolence.

It’s said that when he died, all the ethnic minorities who knew him shed tears, so you can imagine how beloved he was.

Befitting such a great figure, the Ma Chong standing before me was indeed an impressive man.

With a height slightly over 170cm, similar to Ma Dai, he had a well-built frame despite being a civil official, as if he trained separately. Truly a talent in both civil and military affairs.

“I heard you called for me.”

Ma Chong, who looked even younger than Liu Xun and Ma Dai, appeared to be not yet in his thirties.

Since my standard for guessing age was based on my previous life, by the standards of this era, he was incredibly young-looking.

“Yes. I heard you’re from Baxi Commandery. I requested you to guide us in the subjugation of the Ba tribe.”

“I’m just a mere official. Please speak comfortably, General.”

“How could I do that when you’re not yet my subordinate?”

“Since I’ve been assigned to guide you, I’m naturally assigned to you, General.”

This means yes, right? Of course, with Zhang Fei’s influence, it’s nearly impossible to refuse, but it’s fortunate that such words come from Ma Chong’s mouth first, so it seems he’s not averse to following me.

But Ma Chong keeps averting his gaze, unable to meet my eyes.

Well, I understand, though it’s really awkward for me to say this about myself. Even I am sometimes surprised when I look in the mirror.

It’s partly because I’m not used to looking in mirrors, but even if I get used to it, it’s still an appearance to marvel at.

Anyway, now that Ma Chong had arrived, I immediately entered the war council.

‘Time is gold.’

We don’t know when Zhang Lu will fall. Wang Ping follows the leaders of the Ba tribe to Luoyang and enters Cao Cao’s service.

I’m not sure of the exact date, but it must be in the near future. At the latest, they’ll be gone by autumn.

“Time is pressing. If we don’t settle this while they’re still watching the situation between Zhang Lu and Cao Cao, we’ll provide an opportunity for Cao Cao to interfere.”

As I spoke formally with honorifics, their eyes became more serious.

“Now the problem is how to draw those fellows out… If you have any good ideas, don’t hesitate to speak up.”

At my words opening the war council, Ma Dai, Liu Xun, and Ma Chong looked at each other with bewildered expressions. They looked as if they were confused about how to respond to my words.

Expecting brilliant military strategies from generals who had made names in history, I momentarily wondered if I had said something wrong.

“Gentlemen?”

“Uh, General. Do you really not know?”

“Pardon?”

This scene is familiar.

When I was tutoring in my previous life, when I pretended not to know a really easy problem, the student looked just like this, unsure whether it was an act or real, and struggling with what to say.

And if it turned out I really didn’t know that fact back then, I would lose my dignity as a teacher and get fired from the tutoring job.

‘I can’t lose my dignity as a general!’

I quickly said while managing my expression:

“Ah, hahaha, did I get caught? I was just testing you for a moment. Of course I know.”

“Hehe, I suppose it’s quite embarrassing for the general to say it directly.”

“That’s right. We should have spoken first before you asked, General. We apologize.”

No, so what is it?

It’s not like they’re thick-headed enough to come charging in on their own.

While I was rolling my eyes and watching the three of them, they were laughing and discussing how to conduct the operation.

Like a ray of light to me, who was desperately wracking my brains to figure out what the unknown enemies’ lure was, Ma Chong’s statement pierced through the war council.

“But shouldn’t we spread rumors first?”

“Is there really a need for that?”

“That’s right. The rumors must already be widespread in Baxi Commandery, so they must have reached their ears too.”

“Hmm, but still…”

“What are you worried about, as a man yourself? Originally, men’s ears are quickest to hear about fights and women, and with both of these at once, it’s impossible not to hear.”

Fights? Women? Aren’t I the only woman here? Surely not…?

“With the fame of the Heavenly Beauty already widespread in Xing Yi, how could they resist? They’re sure to come charging in.”

Ma Dai’s words put the saying “Even the unthinkable can happen” into practice.

What’s this Heavenly Beauty? Is my nickname evolving without my knowledge?

And on top of that, Liu Xun drove the nail in:

“Isn’t this the perfect example of the 11th of the 36 stratagems, the Beauty Trap? Hmm hmm.”

Is this right?

§

Words without feet travel a thousand li. As the proverb metaphorically expresses how quickly words spread, and as Ma Dai said in the war council, the rumor of my arrival in Baxi Commandery spread as quickly as if there was internet.

During the few days I was preparing supplies before the expedition, whenever I left the official residence, people would rush to see me. It was such a crowd that I wondered if so many people lived in a frontier area like Baxi Commandery.

Ba (Ba Commandery, Baxi Commandery) was home to ethnic minorities called the Ba tribe, including Fan Shun whom I was trying to capture, so there were still many areas outside Liu Bei’s sphere of influence, yet it was like this.

Of course, there might be people from other counties who had fled to Langzhong County and its vicinity, which belonged to Liu Bei’s sphere of influence, after suffering from bandits and ethnic minorities.

‘Is this how celebrities with sasaeng fans feel?’

No, they must have it worse. At least I have status and position, so people dare only look at me, but sasaeng fans even do illegal trespassing and stalking.

‘I really need to get a mask or something.’

Fortunately, the soldiers seem to have adapted quite well, probably because they’ve been with me for a long time. If the soldiers had stared at me like those civilians, as if watching a monkey in a zoo, it would have been quite troublesome.

Imagine if they didn’t follow orders and just stared blankly at me. What kind of army would that be?

I began the march, leaving behind the enthusiastic send-off from the people of Langzhong County. Our first destination was Hanchang County, located northeast of Langzhong County, at about 2 o’clock if looking at a clock face.

The Ba land was largely divided into three regions: Baxi, Bazhong, and Badong, collectively called the Three Ba. Hanchang County was a county in Bazhong, right under a mountain range, so the Ba tribe often came down to raid.

To prevent the Ba tribe from escaping to Hanzhong or Badong and fleeing to Cao Cao, I planned to first clear the Hanchang County area and then move south.

Ma Chong, who was from Langzhong County, nodded when he heard my plan, saying it was an efficient route.

Of course. This route was directly copied from the marching route of Wei’s Five Generals of Ba – Zhang He, when they invaded Baxi later.

According to Ma Chong, the leader of the Ba tribe near Hanchang County was a man named Du Hu. He was one of the three figures who surrendered to Cao Cao and received the titles of Marquis and Governor, but was later repelled by Huang Quan.

‘The battle itself isn’t a problem.’

Even if Ma Dai and Liu Xun are young and lack experience, can’t they handle someone like Du Hu? And I’m here too. I have no doubt we can win. So the problem was the possibility of them getting scared and hiding or running away.

My two lieutenants, Ma Dai and Liu Xun, said that my very existence was a beauty trap, so there was no need to worry about luring the enemies, but it’s a bit hard to believe that at face value.

I was once a man too, and even now I have a strong male gender identity, but I couldn’t shake off the feeling that this wasn’t quite right.

So I was operating a separate reconnaissance team, and they reported that a group was approaching.

“Hmm? Already?”

It seemed unexpected to others as well that we would encounter someone so quickly, but everyone formed battle formations diligently while looking puzzled. Ma Dai, who had less to do as the leader of the cavalry, quickly returned to me and said:

“Judging by the small numbers, it doesn’t seem to be the enemy.”

“I think the same.”

I was still using semi-formal speech with Ma Dai, not completely informal. With Liu Xun, I had no reservations as he was lower than me in every aspect except age, and even considering my previous life, he was still younger. But Ma Dai was different.

Considering the influence the Ma family held in Xiliang and his older brother Ma Chao, it felt stranger to speak completely informally.

As horses were rare in Yi Province, the unfamiliar group all approached on foot.

“About a hundred of them.”

Ma Dai’s mutter. Not only were their numbers small, but their armament was poor too, so they weren’t regular troops.

Surprisingly, the leader of the group walking at the front was a young man.

The young man, who looked to have just passed twenty, stepped forward alone, leaving his group behind to lower their guard.

“Halt. Who are you?”

When Liu Xun, who was also acting as the vanguard general, asked, the young man bowed politely. His manner of following etiquette showed he had received proper education.

“I am Qu Fu from Hanchang County. We heard rumors that the General Who Protects the Flank, the daughter of Liu Yizhou, had personally come out to subjugate the Ba tribe, so we gathered here, albeit with meager strength, to assist the general.”

Qu Fu? Qu Fu?

“Huxian, I’ll talk to him directly.”

“Yes, General.”

As I rode my horse along the path Liu Xun cleared, tension appeared on his face.

Although it feels strange to be treated like a princess, I want to give him points for coolly managing his expression rather than staring blankly at me even when face to face.

In fact, Qu Fu wasn’t a very famous figure. After all, there were few records of Shu. However, despite his low recognition, it seems his reputation at the time was quite considerable.

The reason I knew about Qu Fu was entirely because of Wang Ping. Wang Ping was my favorite character among the late Three Kingdoms figures.

A model of human victory who achieved great merit in the Battle of Lukou despite being a surrendered general, illiterate, and even controversial as an ethnic minority. He’s the type of person I can’t help but like.

Jiang Wei also has the romance of carrying on his master’s will to the end, but I liked Wang Ping more than Jiang Wei.

Qu Fu’s evaluation was on par with Wang Ping, with even a saying that “In the past there were Wang Ping and Qu Fu, later there were Zhang Yi and Liao Hua.”

Given that Wang Ping’s ability was recognized even in later generations, Qu Fu, who was compared to him, must have been a considerable great general.

I had thought about finding and employing him someday, but I didn’t expect to meet him so soon. I didn’t know he was from Hanchang County, but this is how it turned out.

Initially, I was only thinking of Ma Chong and Wang Ping as lieutenants for my military unit, but now Ma Dai and Qu Fu are joining my command?

‘This is like a Shu mid-to-late all-star team.’

Although Ma Dai has some inflation in the Romance, his background as a member of the Ma family is more than enough to pull his weight.

Wang Ping and Qu Fu are representative generals of mid-period Shu, and Ma Chong is a talent compared to Huang Quan, the tactical genius according to Liu Bei.

Even with just the three excluding Wang Ping, using them to subjugate ethnic minorities is like using a butcher’s knife to kill a chicken.

I got off my horse and approached Qu Fu. As I got closer, Qu Fu also flinched and turned his head away. I placed my hands over his two hands that were clasped together in respect.

“Your loyalty is truly admirable. I will gladly accept you and the volunteer army from Hanchang County.”

“General…”

Qu Fu looked up at me with a face filled with emotion. Then, as if he had made some decision looking at my face, he prostrated himself right there and bowed to me.

“I will serve with all my loyalty! Please allow me to stay by your side, General.”

“Uh, hmm?”

What’s with this sudden development? I feel more bewildered than happy that a talent like Qu Fu is swearing loyalty so easily.

I didn’t expect him to react like this just from holding his hand once. Is the threshold for being moved extremely low? I’d be more than grateful if Qu Fu joins under me like this.

Before Qu Fu could come to his senses and change his words, I quickly helped him up and said:

“How could I turn away your sincere desire to join? If you and the volunteer army are willing, I will officially accept you into my army and make you a Dunzhang. I expect you to demonstrate your abilities and perform well in this battle.”

As I officially accepted Qu Fu into my command, he said with a resolute face:

“My courtesy name is Xiaoxing, so please speak comfortably, General. I will exert every effort not to disappoint your expectations.”

Yes. I pray that you achieve merit this time. That’s how I can promote you quickly, you know.

I patted his shoulder encouragingly.

Ah, how great would it be if Wang Ping joined here too.

Entrusting the cavalry to Ma Dai, with a line of three Colonels – Liu Xun, Wang Ping, and Qu Fu, and making Ma Chong the Army Supervisor like I was in the past, it would be so fulfilling just to watch them train.

‘Wait for me, Wang Ping. I’m coming soon.’