My Own Zhang Liang.

Let us play with metaphor and analogy. Consider this place is a stock market, and you have a plenty of capital that you can spend. Yet you have to be careful. And you are tasked to invest your capital and gain enormous profit (No! I am not talking about the Bible). You could choose a high risk venture or a blue chips stock market, which one is your choice? A risk taker would chose the first option but for a more experienced who needs to play it safe… of course you would consider the blue chips stock. Why ? let us consider it like this… people needs conformity, they want to be sure that their money is safe. And choosing the blue chips, they certain that they still gain profit from their capital, even if their return of capital is not enormous, but the return shall be within their expectation. With that in her mind, Erika disguise herself with her two apprentices, Deng Ai and Jiang Wei to join the Yuan Family.

For a merchant, there is no better investment than the renowned Yuan Family. The younger Yuan, Yuan Shu has filled her army with various of strong men and abundant resource. That is correct… for a battle, there is no place for weakness and people needs to fill their stomach to go in the battlefield. At least the younger Yuan already know about the basic order of warfare. Meanwhile, for the older Yuan, Yuan Shao… her family has grasped their influences and power inside the empire of Han. For politics, she has earned the basic rule, and yet her family has gained the trust and influence from the Emperor for four generations. And under her, she commands the service of many able people. Who shan't shudder with her two valorous Titan General, Yan Liang and Wen Chou ? for they has dominated the battlefield…. Two generals who feared not death.

Yet… the young Sima Yi is not impressed. She thought about something else. Even though Deng Ai and Jiang Wei has been impressed with the two Yuans …. But The Young Erika of Da is not…. Is that all that matter in the battlefield? Perhaps it is because Zhong Da missed an opponent… a dragon that she is waiting for… And to ease her choice , she insisted that they observe closely and joined the Two Yuan in the battlefield, as the order of Emperor Ling has reached them to suppress another rebellion near the Elder Yuan jurisdiction, Bohai, the jurisdiction of Yuan Shao.

XXX

""Master Sima Yi… why would you doubt the Yuan?""

"Both of you are inexperienced as a merchant, but I acknowledge your skill in battlefield and warfare."

And perhaps … it is not wrong to say that the young Sima Yi, Erika at that time already mastered in Economics…. The Yuan has already lost their glory. For suppressing a mere rebel that consist of a bunch of pheasant… yet… they already sent her best generals, Yan Liang and Wen Chou. And the younger Yuan is no more wasteful…. They already squandered a resources that could be spent for a year and exhausted them in just a mere months. What a waste ! perhaps…. The Yuan will not last long. As Erika who already dispirited , she looked at one particular person who stand out. A woman general, that is eager to brandished her weapon, yet did not get the chance to…. Erika sighed.

"What a waste of talent. She wasted her life working under the Yuan."

And Erika walked away… she did not realize that her prediction is right. That woman general will be one of the Five general that work under her, and be one of her favorite retainer. A general who can adapt at any situation. A general that even her own rival, Zhuge Liang shall fear of, A general who faithfully work for Sima Yi and foil every Sleeping Dragon plans.

XXX

But as, the young Zhongda walked away, she heard something.

"Damn , that Cao Cao! Just because she is an imperial front cavalry commandant, she acted like an arrogant! Don't she has respect toward the respected Yuan Shao of Yuan family?"

It seems that Yuan Shao is frustrated. Erika eavesdrop, and then she smiled. She talked with her beloved disciples and apprentices.

"If my prediction is not wrong…. It will be an excellent investment."

XXX

"Karin-sama , the Yellow Turban has surrounded our forces."

Cao Cao who sat idly on her horse, she looked calmed " Just as planned. Shuuran , Shunran… You know what to do."

"Yes, Karin Sama. From behind them, Cao Hong-sama has tailed Bian Xi unit."

"and…?" while she said that , one spearman approached Cao Cao , thrusting his spear, but Cao Cao effortlessly parried it. And swung her sickle.

"While Du Yuan armies is busy fighting Cao Ren-sama."

"My two sister of mine…. It always like that. Tell them to refrain from needless brutality."

And Cao Cao led her two general, Xiahou Dun and Xiahou Yuan. Beside her is her trusted Dian Wei. She led her forces and retreated. The Yellow Turban pursued them, as Cao Cao does not care that The Yellow Turban know their main camp. She already proposed the plan. And with one orders, the plan has been fulfilled.

XXX

In the main camp, an armies that is only consisted of ox has been waiting. The cattle animal, ox their horns are fitted with a long spear. The Yellow Turban still does not realize the meaning. With another sign, the soldier lit the string that attached in to the oxen tail. The strings are burnt and then it is revealed that it was fireworks that attached in the oxen tail. And….. voila! The fireworks burnt and exploded.

The poor animal are surprised and anger. They run in rampage , moving forward crashing and slaughtering anything in front of them. It was a stampede tactic. But , rather than relying on soldiers, the Cao Cao army use animals as their forefront.

And what is left from Yellow Turban is a feeling of terror. A battlefield that had turned in to red scarlet scenery . A blood that washed the soil , leaving a dark red mark. Yet, for Cao Cao 's army they were filled with joy, A joy that they survived this battle and remain in this battle as the victor.

Xiahou Dun and Xiahou Yuan was impressed. "To think that it would end like this… how frightening… her power…"

Cao Cao did not falter. She know already , the person that Xiahou Dun and Xiahou Yuan impressed for.

"If you already faltered with this, then you won't survived the next battle Shuuran, Shunran. "

Cao Ren and Cao Hong arrived. Their armor and outfit and even their horse and weapon are all drenched in blood. Cao Ren exclaimed "If this already shocked you, Xiahou Dun… then, I could tell that you will die because of shock when you see General Huangfu Song's Sun Wu."

Cao Hong added. "That is right. The mysterious man that they claimed as the reincarnation of Sun Wu."

As they still talked, Cao Cao see the sight of someone running toward her. Her beloved and closest friend. The only person that she allowed to approached her . That girl run , greeting her master.

"Keifa…"

"Karin-sama! It is a success!"

Xun Yu, Cao Cao personal advisor happily greeted her beloved master. Cao Cao dismount from her horse , as Xun Yu hugged her.

"Rest assured, ladies… because I have my own Zhang Liang."

Author Note :

Zhang Liang (262 BC – 189 BC), style name Zifang, she was a strategist and statesman of the early Han Dynasty period of Chinese history. Zhang contributed greatly to the founding of the Han Dynasty and was conferred the title of "Marquis Wencheng of Liu"by Emperor Gaozu of Han in recognition of her efforts. She is also known as one of the "Three Heroes of the early Han Dynasty", along with Han Xin and Xiao He.

It was said that she is so fair that almost impossible to tell whether she is a boy or a girl. Sima Qian annotated that Zhang Liang, in attempt to avenge the fall of her state hire an assassins to kill the 1st Emperor , Shi Huang Di. (but the attempt failed)

Legend said that she held two of the Seven Military Tactics, In her possession are Six Secret Teaching of Jiang Ziya (Strategies of Warfare) and Three Strategies of Huang Shigong (Art of Governing)

Seven Military Tactics

They are seven tomes that ensure the victory in warfare. Legend said that anyone who wields those shall rule the battlefield. They are :

Sunzi Bingfa , better known as Art of War. attributed to Legendary strategist and general, Sun Wu.

Wuzi , better known as Art of Tactics. attributed to Wu Qi, the famous retainer of Wei and Chu.

The Methods of the Sima , better known as Rules of Warfare. attributed to Sima Rangju.

Six Secret Teachings , better known as Strategies of Warfare. attributed to Legendary strategist, Taigong Wang Jiang Ziya

Wei Liaozi , better known as Art of Command. attributed to Wei Liao , Shi Huang Di personal advisor who led him to unified China

Three Strategies of Huang Shigong , better known as Art of Governing. attributed to Zhang Liang, Han Gaozu's strategist

Questions and Replies between Tang Taizong and Li Weigong , better known as Art of Winning. attributed to Emperor of Tang, Tang Tai Zong and strategist Li Jing.

Another book that almost had the same value with those seven tomes are:

Sun Bin's Art of War

36 Stratagems.