Rather Than Zhang Ran, Zhang Bao’s Eldest Daughter

After conquering Luo Castle, Liu Bei hosted a large gathering, just as he had done when he captured Fucheng.
In the original history, Luo Castle was a traumatic place for Liu Bei, where Pang Tong died and delayed the conquest of Yi Province by a year, so he went straight to Chengdu after capturing it. But here, it’s the opposite.
Although there was the unfortunate incident of Pang Tong being hit by an arrow, he recovered perfectly without complications like tetanus, and they achieved the military feat of capturing the troublesome Zhang Ren and Liu Xun alive. How could he not be happy?

Liu Bei, in high spirits after everything going his way without a single defeat during the entry into Shu, gathered his generals to discuss the treatment of the captured enemy generals and summoned them.

The captured individuals were not even bound with ropes despite being prisoners.
Liu Xun, Liu Zhang’s son and overall commander, entered first, followed by Liu Gui, Deng Xian, Leng Bao, and Zhang Ren, who appeared one by one.
Unlike those who knelt down on their own, only Liu Xun and Zhang Ren remained standing firmly, causing nearby soldiers to try to force them to kneel.
However, before the soldiers could kick the two down, Liu Bei raised his arm to stop them.

“Let them be. You others may rise as well. Although I have come into conflict with Liu Meng and fought, how could I harm even his subordinates carelessly? I know you were simply being faithful to your duties. So, won’t you use your talents for me?”

As soon as Liu Bei spoke about surrendering, Liu Gui, Deng Xian, and Leng Bao, who saw a chance to survive, hastily prostrated themselves again.

“How could we not follow when you give even the defeated a chance?”
“We will dedicate ourselves to Liu Xuande from now on.”
“I have served the wrong master until now. Only now do I meet my true lord.”

These small fries sure talk well. Don’t they think it’s unsightly to bow so eagerly just to survive somehow?
Anyway, even if we take them in, the appropriate rank for them would be about Colonel. I watched their actions indifferently and then shifted my gaze to the two who still hadn’t bent their knees.

Liu Bei, true to his reputation for having an excellent eye for talent, quickly passed over Liu Gui, Deng Xian, and Leng Bao’s surrender and spoke to Zhang Ren:

“What about you, Zhang Ren? Won’t you join me in achieving a great cause?”

“…How can taking the land of one’s relatives be called a great cause? This old servant will not serve two masters even if it means death, so just cut off my head quickly.”

Liu Bei, filled with regret at Zhang Ren’s answer, tried to persuade him again:

“I’ve been remembering a lot of old memories lately. There was a similar situation like this before. It was when we captured Lü Bu. Lü Bu, Zhang Liao, Zhang Yi, Gao Shun… many became prisoners and came before me and Cao Cao, just like now. Everyone said they would submit, but only Gao Shun maintained his integrity and died with Lü Bu. But look at the situation now. Zhang Liao and Zhang Yi, who surrendered and survived then, are now renowned throughout the realm, but how many remember Gao Shun? Zhang Ren, please reconsider once more.”

“I have nothing more to say.”

As Zhang Ren firmly closed his mouth, Liu Bei sighed.

A characteristic of rulers: strong desire for talent.
Cao Cao, Liu Bei, and Sun Quan, the founding rulers of Wei, Shu, and Wu, were all second to none in their desire for talent.
Cao Cao, who was said to have mourned more for Dian Wei’s death than his eldest son Cao Ang’s.
Liu Bei, who almost lost Zhao Yun while trying to save his son and then cast Liu Shan aside.
Even Sun Quan, who was said to have been as sad as if he himself was sick when Lü Meng fell ill, and secretly made a hole in the house to watch over him, worried about burdening Lü Meng.
Their love for the talents they boasted about had a special aspect.

“How can you seek death first when your lords Liu Zhang and Liu Xun are still alive? I will give you and Liu Xun a place to rest, so I hope you will organize your thoughts there for the time being.”

In the original history, with Pang Tong dead and the capture of Luo Castle dragging on, they might have executed them to boost morale and break the enemy’s fighting spirit. But now, Liu Bei was in an overflowing situation.

Since there was no need to kill them, Liu Bei sentenced them to house arrest and finally addressed Liu Xun:

“Although I have had conflicts with your father, how could I harbor ill feelings as a member of the same imperial family? I will make arrangements so that you are not uncomfortable, so if you have anything you want to say, feel free to tell me anytime.”

Though he said “anything you want to say,” it basically meant “If you feel like accepting the situation and want to persuade your father to surrender, let me know.”

Liu Bei, who was about to move on since there was no point in trying to make Liu Xun surrender as he couldn’t appoint Liu Zhang’s eldest son to an important position, narrowed his eyes as if he had discovered something strange.

“Oh… I see. Liu Xun, why do you keep staring at my niece?”

Your niece? That’s me, isn’t it?
As I looked at Liu Xun, not Zhang Ren, as if to say “What’s that about?”, our eyes met, proving Liu Bei’s words true. Liu Xun quickly turned his head to avoid my gaze.
Seeing his ears turn red, I felt like something might come up even though my stomach was empty.

‘I should really wear a mask or something.’

As I showed my displeasure, Pang Tong, sitting next to me, shook his shoulders, trying hard to hold back laughter.
I feel like I’ve seen that expression somewhere before, is this déjà vu?

Regardless, Liu Bei seemed determined to tease Liu Xun and said with a laugh:

“I thought we had only captured Liu Xun’s body, but it seems we’ve captured something else too. You’re already so popular, you’ll have a lot of trouble in the future. What do you think, Ran? Since it’s come to this, how about marrying our A’dou as I agreed with your uncle?”

No. It turns out he was trying to tease me, not Liu Xun. But why are you making such a shocked expression?

“My lord, we are in the presence of all the generals. Please maintain decorum.”

“Ahem, right. Let’s discuss this later in private.”

Was it not a joke but sincere? Tsk, I need to prepare something to say so I don’t get caught off guard.

Anyway, after sending Zhang Ren and Liu Xun back, Liu Bei seated those who had surrendered this time at the lowest seats and gestured to the attendants.

As they brought out pre-prepared food and wine, the military council to determine the treatment of prisoners immediately transformed into a banquet hall.

Ah, by the way, I’m having tea instead of alcohol. Even though I’m of marriageable age here, at 14 I’m still a minor even in this era. Why? Because I haven’t received my courtesy name yet.

Wait, but that means it’s normal to marry as a minor here. I just can’t get used to this early marriage custom.

Liu Bei seemed to be in an especially good mood today. Didn’t he get scolded by Pang Tong when he held a banquet after conquering Fucheng last time? Well, even then, Pang Tong gave one sharp rebuke and then enjoyed the banquet together, so it might not matter.

This time, Pang Tong also seemed happy to have confirmed Heaven’s will and was fully enjoying the banquet in step with Liu Bei.

Perhaps because they had smoothly won through the battle of Luo Castle, which was their first prolonged battle, the generals overall seemed to have relaxed.

After several rounds of drinks had gone around, Liu Bei raised his cup and said contentedly:

“The greatest contributor to this battle of Luo Castle is undoubtedly my niece, Acting Army Advisor Zhang Ran. How can we not hear the tale of her heroic deeds?”

I don’t dislike company dinners, but I don’t particularly like them either, so I was just enduring by enjoying watching the famous people. But suddenly he’s put me on the spot.

Still, my attention-seeking tendencies don’t just go away, so I stood up from my seat and raised my teacup.

Ahem, I cleared my throat and was about to start telling the story as if giving a presentation, but before I could open my mouth, someone interrupted:

“My lord, this is not appropriate.”

What’s this about now?

“Although Army Advisor Zhang did contribute to the fall of Luo Castle, this is beyond the role of an Acting Army Advisor, and it’s against the great and righteous principles for a woman to interfere recklessly in military affairs.”

It was Zhang Zun, a Jingzhou counselor who had followed Liu Bei into Shu. The banquet hall was plunged into shock at his words.

Does this guy have no sense of reading the room? Is he completely devoid of the ability to read the atmosphere?

Even amidst the bewildered gazes of the generals, Zhang Zun held his head up stiffly as if he were some lofty scholar.

While even I, the person in question, was dumbfounded and could only gape, Liu Bei glared at him, wiping the smile off his face.

“Acting Army Advisor Zhang Ran not only protected Military Advisor Pang from a stray arrow, but also straightened out the disarrayed military discipline because of it and turned crisis into opportunity to capture Luo Castle. How can you say that’s not the duty of an Acting Army Advisor! Are you trying to disparage her just because she’s a woman!”

Liu Bei’s shout, growing louder and more intense towards the end, echoed through the hall. His anger towards the one who dared to slander his beloved talent and niece who had become the vanguard in protecting his cherished advisor and capturing the castle exploded as he slammed down the wine cup he was holding onto the table.

Bang!

Ignoring the wine that spilled over and wet his hand from the cup he had struck down so hard it seemed it might break the table, Liu Bei ordered:

“Remove that man from office immediately! I thought I had confidence in my eye for people and kept talents by my side, but this time I was mistaken.”

Liu Bei, who had just dismissed a counselor on the spot, was still fuming as if his anger hadn’t subsided.
He seemed about to shoot out another word, but seeing me, he tried to control his expression, an effort visible to manage his demeanor in front of his niece.

Taking deep breaths to calm his excitement, Liu Bei issued a warning in a tone more aggressive than usual:

“Generals, listen. I’ll say this firmly here and now. From now on, if anyone discriminates against or slanders my niece, Zhang Ran, for being young or for being a woman, I will absolutely not forgive them. I have no intention of coddling her just because she’s my niece. However, anyone with a brain should know how great the merit Acting Army Advisor Zhang Ran achieved in this battle, and how outstanding her abilities are. I’m not saying to support her unconditionally. Who would dare stop rightful criticism of genuine mistakes? That’s not what I’m saying to stop. Rather than considering age and gender, look at the person’s abilities. Do you all understand?”

“Yes, my lord!”

The generals answered in unison to Liu Bei’s declaration.
Liu Bei, having poured out a long speech, seemed to have cooled down a bit and wiped his wine-stained hands with a cloth received from an attendant.

“Ran, I showed you an unseemly sight. I apologize to the generals as well.”

“Not at all, Uncle. I’m just grateful for your consideration of me.”

“That’s right. My lord’s words go beyond personal affection for a relative, aiming to prevent opposition for opposition’s sake and to give treatment befitting the merits of those with outstanding abilities. How is this not a virtue of a ruler?”

It was Fa Zheng, who acted like Liu Bei’s tongue.
Besides his abilities, Fa Zheng certainly had an exceptional talent for subtly matching his superior’s mood. It was an even more special way with words in that it wasn’t mere flattery.

“Come, everyone raise your cups! On this joyous day, we can’t just remain gloomy.”

“My lord! Then I shall perform a sword dance to add to the ambiance.”

“Oh, if it isn’t Wenchang. Good, show us your skills.”

“Yes, my lord!”

Wei Yan’s sword dance, this is certainly something to look forward to.
In the Romance, he tried to cut down Liu Zhang while performing a sword dance like at the Hong Gate Banquet, but I wonder what it’s really like.

Wei Yan began to dance with his sword to the sound of the few musicians.

And to sum up the result, it was less impressive than expected.
Maybe my expectations were too high, but it was like watching a executioner from a historical drama, if I may say so. Still, it seemed to be quite a spectacle here, as the atmosphere improved considerably.

‘I should show them the real thing.’

My attention-seeking tendencies, which had risen ambiguously due to the dud, made me stand up.

“Uncle, although it wasn’t my intention, Colonel Wei has loosened up the stiffened banquet with his excellent sword dance caused by me, so please allow me to return the favor.”

“Oh, yes. How could we not watch when our niece steps forward like this?”

I don’t know professional sword dances. But having seen what Wei Yan did, I’ve grasped the general idea.
Combining kendo forms and longsword techniques should be enough to whip up one sword dance.

‘Ah, this is what you call fusion swordsmanship.’