Even Hannibal Folds a Hand, Varus Folds Two -1
"Let's negotiate."
"No."
"This time, I'm dead serious too."
I argued with Uncle Gongming for ages. I had to take responsibility.
"Who do you take after, being so damn stubborn?"
Uncle Gongming gazed up at the night sky. Seeing my resolute face, he pulled me into a tight hug.
"Fine, then. Go. I won't stand in your way."
I handed full command of the army over to Uncle Gongming. Escorted by Father and Zhao Yun, I set off for Cao Cao's base with just my 100 personal guards.
"Come on. Time to go."
Zhang Liao walked silently, still bound. Zhang Lian's spies guided us along the way.
I'd heard Cao Cao was pulling back from Xiaopei and marching straight here to Hefei. If we kept going, we'd run into him soon enough.
"Lighten up. Why the funeral face? I'm letting you live."
Zhang Liao's expression was sour as hell. Gauging his mood, I tried again.
“Hey, now you get to live, right? Can't you at least crack a smile? You're making me wanna bail.”
“...”
No reaction, like I'd wasted my breath.
Guess the only way to show I'm open to talking is to prove it.
Yeah, actions speak louder than words when it comes to winning hearts.
“Untie the ropes.”
Zhao Yun, who'd been gripping Zhang Liao's gear like I was pulling some epic troll move, jumped in to stop me.
“No way! He's dangerous!”
I almost died to this guy not long ago—of course he's dangerous.
"Untie him. The young miss says so—what's the worst that could happen?"
"Lord Cheonma, you agree with the young lady?"
"Always on her side."
Zhao Yun kept shooting suspicious glares but slowly loosened the bonds.
"There. Now walk."
People have their pride, right? Zhang Liao's gotta have at least some basic morals—a proper guy from late Han, cultivated through righteous living.
After all, he's the one who shattered the unspoken rule that defeated generals don't get big roles.
“First impressions matter. I wanna leave a good one with Cao Cao. We're heading into the lion's den at Sazi. To boost our odds, we gotta do whatever it takes, yeah?”
We're the ones begging here. I'm young and a girl—double underdog status. If Cao Cao's pissed, he might not give a damn and lop off my head, turning me into a durahan.
If I've got any cards to play, I gotta use 'em.
"Talk nice for me, okay?"
We treat our POWs like royalty. You guys do the same.
Geneva Conventions? Eh, something like that shows up later anyway.
“No weapons—what's he gonna do? Zhang Liao won't go berserk. Right?”
I flashed a big grin, but he whipped his head away.
Looks like that first impression's burned in bad. Wasn't mocking him, though.
“Can't do it? Fine, tie him back up.”
“...No need.”
Now free, Zhang Liao didn't make a fuss and just followed along quietly.
See? Gotta show, don't tell.
“Good call. You must be beat—let's eat together later.”
“...”
We even feed our POWs hearty meals.
I handed him a few upgraded Huang Yueying-version less painful cat rice balls.
"Here."
The Huang Yueying version was the prototype. This one's my tweak—less painful cat rice balls.
"Ha... these are pricey. Eat 'em or what?"
These were salted and savory, and back then, salt cost a freaking fortune.
I could ask Guan Yu, ex-salt reseller extraordinaire, for the exact price, but nah.
Zhang Liao accepted the rice ball politely.
“Then I'll take it.”
“You sure talk curt.”
“Then take it back. How far into the pits are you gonna drag me?”
Hate me quiet? Hate me loud? What the hell do you want?
“Ugh, can't win with you. Why the sudden puppy eyes? Doesn't suit you. Eat it or don't.”
“...I'll eat.”
“Then eat. Why the grump fest if you're gonna? Grouchy toad much?”
Maybe venting cleared his head—his pissed-off tone softened a bit.
“You've got a lot in common with someone.”
Random nonsense, then he chomped into the rice ball like a beast.
Sounded like some anime line.
“Common with who? Slow down. If you're that hungry, just ask for more.”
Zhang Liao seemed lost in thought as he ate.
“If Lord Lü Bu were alive, he'd have taken a shine to you.”
'Whoa, cringey.'
Not heartless enough to ignore his awkward face, I asked what I didn't care about.
“Ooh, super curious. Why would Lü Bu like me?”
“...Forget it.”
Sigh.
Suit yourself. I'm good too.
“Guess I'll meet this Lü Bu guy someday.”
"He lived out his natural life."
"Oh."
Thanks for the history lesson I already knew.
"Shall we walk again?"
Father scooped me up. We kept going.
After that, Zhang Liao followed quietly all the way to Cao Cao's doorstep without a peep.
I blinked and opened my eyes to a massive camp—too big for just a mountain stronghold.
"We're here."
Now it really hit: we were in the tiger's den.
"Put me down?"
Father patted my shoulder. Thwack!
"Chin up. Shoulders back. You got this."
I straightened up at the front, trying for some dignity.
The soldiers' stares were intense. Dragging Zhang Liao like a leashed dog would've gotten us cursed, rejected, total disaster.
Ah... good job, me.
"Military Strategist General's daughter, Soyang Governor, and Viscount of the Inner Library, Chen Soyoung, has come to meet the Grand Chancellor Cao!"
*
Zhang Liao walked in silence. In hindsight, failing to overcome the enemy's superiority was no excuse.
Hefei's insides were crawling with spies already. If we'd held the siege, unswept spies would've turned it into hell. Opening the inner city would've just gotten innocents killed.
Hefei had prepped defenses against flooding.
They'd built granaries on high ground inside the walls.
But they overlooked the moisture rising from the ground.
The whole area soaked up dampness. Unforeseen mud clogged drains, flooding even the inner city.
Water seeped up from below. In the end, the entire fortress drowned. High ground didn't matter.
Once the damp grain collapsed, rice sacks toppled helplessly.
Dampness spread like contagion. They rushed the rest onto carts to prevent secondary spoilage—no other choice.
That eased the grain crisis a tad, but the enemy horde was the real problem.
Sieging meant outer gates breached, floods pouring in, morale in the toilet.
So they picked a suicide charge: 1,000 cavalry straight into the enemy's maw.
Emulating my old lord Lü Bu's peerless valor, I vowed to do the same and charged boldly.
The surprise cavalry strike should've inflicted heavy damage... or so it went in theory.
The enemy's formation was unlike anything I'd seen. Cavalry couldn't find targets, slowing in the muck. Scattered foes regrouped and spread, encircling us.
I challenged their champion to single combat, hoping to break the crisis. The man in silver-white armor was a spear master, his skill at its peak.
Impatience led to my fatal mistake.
Even suicide failed. With no choice but to betray my lord, humiliation peaked at that frail girl—barely to my waist—looking at bound me with pity.
Now she offers to untie me.
None of it made sense.
After victory, she'd risk her life delivering me to her lord. Personally.
Highest chance of retreat? No clue. Didn't add up.
Where'd that "highest retreat chance" even come from?
The girl's name was Chen Soyoung.
As a defeated general shunned from court, I ignored worldly affairs. But her first impression overlapped with Lü Bu's daughter, Lady Lingqi.
Lady Lingqi was warm even to taciturn me. I pledged loyalty to Cao Cao—and he accepted this defeated wretch—because of her.
To guarantee Lü Bu's family's safety and livelihood. For that, I'd offer my life eternally.
Lady Lingqi grew beautiful like her father Lü Bu and mother Diaochan. After Hefei fell, she refused food, wasting away. Even when I visited Ye from Xu, she'd refuse to see me.
She resented me. Why hadn't I died, forcing this shameful life? Tearful pleas cursing the world—why did Mother choose death while she lingered alone?
I watched her break. But survival mattered. She'd recover someday, I hoped vaguely.
My new lord was Cao Cao. Hefei held Lü Bu's end. I couldn't yield or lose. But I broke.
“What do you plan to do with me?”
Chen Soyoung smiled faintly.
“Who knows? It'll work out somehow, right? See? You're alive, so opportunities pop up.”
“Opportunities? To shame my lord and become a disgraceful turncoat?”
“Pfft, don't say it like that—what's that make you, Zhang Liao? Nah, I'll hype you up big time. Heck, I can make it seem like you lured us here.”
She chattered excitedly, her innocent, childlike tone jarring.
“Truth? I don't guarantee success. While we chat, our army's retreating right now... so it's just buying time.”
Spilling what she shouldn't—like Lady Lingqi exactly.
Couldn't be harsh. I'd already made one woman cry forever; repeating it would make me less than human.
So... I accepted the request to untie.
And walked out in silence to honor it.