“The Yellow Turbans! It’s finally here!”
Zhang Fei shot to her feet and shouted. Her eyes burned with excitement, along with her fury. Liu Bei calmly questioned the villager who had brought them the news about the details of the situation.
“Well, you see….”
The rebellion started by the three Zhang Jue brothers from Julu had spread completely out of control, reaching as far as the area around You Province. They were said to be fighting fierce battles with the Imperial forces, especially in Yingchuan, in southern Yuzhou. In response, Liu Yan, the Inspector of You Province, had hurriedly posted notices recruiting volunteers. But with even the regular army struggling, the people were understandably terrified.
“Sis! We have to do something too! This is our chance—the heavens are giving us one right now!”
Zhang Fei urged Liu Bei on excitedly.
“Yide is right.”
Guan Yu nodded as well, her expression resolute.
“Wasn’t our great cause to set this troubled world right and save its people? We may have nothing, but this is our chance to devote our lives to the nation and rescue the people.”
Liu Bei gazed at the determined eyes of her two sworn sisters. Then, sensing the unease hanging outside the window, she fell deep into thought. As a member of the imperial clan, and as someone who cared deeply for the people, she couldn’t turn her back on this chaos either.
A short while later, she spoke with a firm expression, as if she had made up her mind.
“Yes. You’re right. We may be weak, but let’s join our will and raise a volunteer army! We cannot stand by while the nation is in danger. With our own hands, we shall crush the traitors who threaten the realm and restore the Han imperial house!” “Just like I knew you would, Sis!”
Zhang Fei jumped for joy, while Guan Yu clenched her fist with a grim expression. It was a moving moment as the three sisters joined forces.
‘I’m really seeing this with my own eyes.’
Minjun felt his heart grow hot. At last, a page of history was being written right in front of him. But his emotion lasted only a moment before he realized the cold reality.
‘Wait. These sisters are heading off to fight… so what about me? Leadership 5, Might 3?’
The moment he set foot on a battlefield, he was guaranteed to get slaughtered. Seeing the anxiety and worry filling Minjun’s face, Liu Bei placed a hand on his shoulder.
“Ziming, don’t worry. War isn’t fought with swords and spears alone. There is surely a role only you can play.”
Liu Bei’s voice was gentle, but it held a deep trust in Minjun. Guan Yu, standing beside them, added her own words.
“Your ability to draw people in and move their hearts may be worth more than ten thousand soldiers. Recruiting volunteers, raising the soldiers’ morale, securing the supplies we need… All of those tasks require your strength, Ziming.”
Guan Yu still kept her distance, continuing to address him formally, but she trusted Minjun to a certain extent all the same.
“Hmph! Sure, that weakling can’t fight, but he’s got one heck of a way with words. He’ll be useful for recruiting soldiers, at least!”
Even while grumbling, Zhang Fei seemed to acknowledge Minjun’s role. Encouraged by the three women’s support and expectations, Minjun found his courage.
‘That’s right. I may not be able to fight, but I can contribute in other ways! Charisma: 100, Politics that’s gradually growing, and knowledge of the future. If I use all of that, I can definitely be helpful.’
“Yes, sisters! I may not be able to wield a sword, but I’ll help you with every ounce of my ability and wisdom! Leave recruiting volunteers, supplies, and morale-boosting to me!”
At Minjun’s declaration, Liu Bei smiled brightly and clasped his hand.
“You’re dependable, little brother.”
While his sisters slept, Minjun spent the night agonizing over and preparing a speech and slogans infused with a modern sensibility(?).
Starting the next day, Liu Bei and her sisters, along with Minjun, began seriously recruiting a volunteer army. They raised a banner in the middle of Zhuo County’s marketplace bearing the words, “Aid the Han House, Crush the Traitors,” and began gathering people. Word had already spread about Liu Bei’s reputation and Guan Yu and Zhang Fei’s bravery, but volunteers willing to risk their lives on a battlefield were not easy to find.
“Ugh. An army led by women? I don’t know about that.” “I’ve heard Guan Yu and Zhang Fei are good fighters, but… still.”
There was considerable prejudice and doubt, especially over the idea of women leading soldiers. That was when Minjun stepped forward. Along with the attention-grabbing slogans he had prepared in advance, he began delivering a passionate speech.
“Righteous people of Zhuo County! The traitorous Yellow Turbans are eyeing our homeland! Will you stand by and let them trample our families and homes beneath their blades?”
Minjun’s voice wasn’t particularly loud, but somehow every word struck the listeners’ ears. His heartfelt appeal and the aura of Charisma: 100 overwhelmed the entire crowd. Everyone’s eyes focused on him.
“Here stands Liu Bei Xuande, a member of the Han imperial clan and a virtuous commander blessed by the heavens, who has raised a volunteer army! Together with the brave and peerless generals Guan Yu Yunchang and Zhang Fei Yide, she intends to defend our Zhuo County and set the realm right! Will you join this great journey, make your name known, and become heroes remembered for generations to come? Now is the time for true men to draw their swords!”
Minjun raised Liu Bei’s, Guan Yu’s, and Zhang Fei’s hands in turn, emphasizing their extraordinary qualities. As his passionate speech and magnetic presence took hold, the hesitant people’s eyes began to change. In particular, Minjun’s speech did more than appeal to their emotions. He had subtly woven in both the honor and practical benefits they could gain by joining.
“He’s right! I’d rather fight and die than sit around waiting to die!” “With General Liu and those two female generals, we can trust them!” “That young man Kang Ziming is no ordinary person! If someone like him is joining them, maybe we can do this too!”
As people began volunteering one or two at a time, the atmosphere heated up in an instant. Minjun wrote each volunteer’s name in the roster, taking each person’s hand, meeting their eyes, and encouraging them.
“Thank you for coming!”, “Thank you for your courage!”, “Let’s fight together and crush the traitors!”
At his warm, sincere words, the volunteers were moved and pledged their loyalty.
[Mass crowd speech successful!] [Massive experience gained in recruiting talent using Charisma and Speech abilities!] [Politics increased by 2! (10 -> 12)] [Leadership increased by 1! (5 -> 6)] [Title ‘Immortal Agitator’ acquired!] * Immortal Agitator: Your speeches have a greatly increased chance of capturing a crowd’s hearts and prompting specific actions. Charisma receives a +10 bonus when performing speech- or agitation-related actions. Persuasion success rate increased.
‘Even my Leadership went up! And the title effect is incredible!’
Minjun cheered inwardly. In just a few days, nearly five hundred able-bodied men had gathered. Liu Bei and her sisters could hardly contain their surprise and joy.
“Ziming… you really are incredible. Without you, how could we ever have gathered this many volunteers?”
At Liu Bei’s praise, Minjun puffed out his chest. But gathering soldiers wasn’t the end of it. They were desperately short on weapons, armor, and provisions. Even after combining the money Liu Bei and her sisters had raised by selling off everything they owned with the money Minjun had earned selling woven mats in the market, it was nowhere near enough.
“What are we going to do…?”
Liu Bei let out a deep sigh. Minjun thought for a moment, then remembered an event from the game.
‘That’s it! The Zhongshan magnates Zhang Shipei and Su Shuang!’
He immediately made a suggestion to Liu Bei.
“Xuande, I’ve heard there are two extremely wealthy horse merchants named Zhang Shipei and Su Shuang in this area. They’re said to be righteous men who worry about the nation’s safety, so why don’t we seek them out and ask for their help? If we explain our cause, I’m sure they won’t turn us away.”
Liu Bei was skeptical, but with no better option available, she decided to follow Minjun’s advice. After asking around, Liu Bei, Guan Yu, Zhang Fei, and Minjun found Zhang Shipei and Su Shuang’s mansion. They were, as their reputation claimed, immensely wealthy, and their estate was magnificent.
‘They’re seriously loaded. Let’s squeeze them for everything we can get.’
At first, Zhang Shipei and Su Shuang were wary of Liu Bei’s group, who had arrived unexpectedly in such shabby attire. They were especially firm in refusing the request for military funds. Investing a huge sum in a volunteer army whose chances of success were uncertain carried far too much risk.
“Hahaha, I understand General Liu’s noble intentions, but in a chaotic age like this, it’s difficult to hand over military funds recklessly. We are merchants, after all….”
At the moment negotiations were about to collapse, Minjun stepped in. He began by offering a polite greeting, then calmly but passionately explained Liu Bei’s character and cause, Guan Yu and Zhang Fei’s bravery, and the importance of suppressing the Yellow Turbans. Rather than beg them simply to give him money, he persuasively presented it as a “valuable investment.”
“Master Zhang, Master Su! You two are not merely merchants who sell horses.”
Zhang Shipei and Su Shuang stared at Minjun with expressions that seemed to say, ‘But that’s exactly what we are.’
“You possess the insight to read the state of the realm and foresee the future! Investing in Liu Bei Xuande now isn’t merely spending money—it’s investing in a hero who will pacify this chaotic age!”
Zhang Shipei and Su Shuang began to look increasingly uncertain.
“When our General Xuande achieves great deeds in the future, your names will shine throughout history as well. More importantly, what greater honor could there be for merchants than joining this righteous endeavor to set the troubled world right? And General Xuande is not a woman who forgets a debt of gratitude.”
Minjun brought every advantage to bear: his Charisma: 100 aura, the effect of his newly acquired ‘Immortal Agitator’ title, and his increased Politics stat. His earnest gaze and eloquence—both logical and capable of stirring emotion and reason—slowly began to sway the seasoned merchants.
‘Well… it does sound pretty convincing.’
They had dealt with countless people over the years, but they had never seen someone as young as Minjun possess such confidence and such power to see straight into people’s hearts. Moreover, the woman he served, Liu Bei, seemed to possess the extraordinary bearing of a ruler.
“Hahaha! I am deeply moved by Master Kang Ziming’s words! Truly, heroes are born in chaotic times, and recognizing those heroes requires vision! Very well! We believe in General Liu’s great cause and will gladly help!”
Zhang Shipei and Su Shuang laughed heartily and readily agreed. Then they promised support on a scale beyond anything Minjun could have imagined.
“Fifty fine horses and one thousand geun of iron, of course, along with a complete set of armor and weapons for five hundred soldiers. We will also provide ample gold, silver, provisions, and operating funds right away!”
“Y-you really mean it?”
Liu Bei and Minjun were so moved they couldn’t close their mouths. This was the same as gaining an army of heavenly soldiers and generals!
“Thank you so much! I will never forget this kindness for as long as I live!”
Liu Bei bowed deeply, while Minjun was too overwhelmed to know what to do with himself.
[Super-special achievement completed! Secured the support of the magnates Zhang Shipei and Su Shuang!] [Politics increased by 5! (12 -> 17)] [Charisma proficiency increased dramatically!] [Reputation +500 (throughout You Province), Contribution to Liu Bei’s faction +1000] [Title ‘Golden Networker’ acquired!] * Golden Networker: Your chance of earning the favor of wealthy or influential people and attracting investment is greatly increased. Success rate for negotiation- and fundraising-related actions is significantly increased, and Charisma receives a +15 bonus.
[Zhang Shipei and Su Shuang, impressed by your abilities, present you with gifts!] [Item acquired: Silk Robe of Eloquence] * Silk Robe of Eloquence: A robe made of fine silk. Wearing it makes your bearing appear more dignified and gives you the impression of becoming more eloquent. (When equipped: Charisma +2, Politics +1, Defense +2)
[Item acquired: Merchant’s Lucky Talisman] * Merchant’s Lucky Talisman: A small talisman said to attract financial fortune. Carrying it may bring unexpected wealth or give you the upper hand in a transaction. Slightly increases luck during commerce- and negotiation-related actions.
‘Politics 17! Increased Charisma proficiency! Reputation 500! A title and two items, too!’
Minjun screamed inwardly as he checked the system messages. The moment he equipped the silk robe, his shabby hemp clothing transformed into gleaming(?) silk, and the Charisma, Politics, and Defense values in his attributes window increased.
‘Is it just my imagination, or is my posture straighter and my words coming out more smoothly?’
With Liu Bei’s volunteer army now backed by solid material support, it finally began to look like a proper military force. The soldiers received gleaming new armor and sharp weapons, and their morale soared to the heavens. Using the iron provided by Zhang Shipei and Su Shuang, Liu Bei had a blacksmith forge Guan Yu a Blue Dragon Crescent Blade and Zhang Fei a Zhangba Serpent Spear. Zhang Fei was so delighted to receive the Zhangba Serpent Spear that she even jumped up and down.
“With weapons like these, those yellow-turbaned punks are nothing but a one-punch job.”
Guan Yu seemed quietly impressed as she examined the Blue Dragon Crescent Blade.
“The edge is sharp.”
Now that they had weapons perfectly suited to them, the two women vowed to fight with even greater valor. With all preparations complete, Liu Bei’s volunteer army finally prepared to leave Zhuo County and suppress the Yellow Turbans.
‘My Might may be low, and I can’t fight, but I have a role to play.’
Minjun sat in a baggage cart wearing his newly acquired ‘Silk Robe of Eloquence,’ with the ‘Merchant’s Lucky Talisman’ tucked against his chest. But his attitude was completely different from when he had started. An updated Status window floated before his eyes.
[Kang Minjun] Courtesy Name: Ziming Level: 1 (75% EXP) Leadership: 6 Might: 3 Intelligence: 13 Politics: 17 => 18 (+1 item) Charisma: 100 => 102 (+2 item) Trait: Beloved by All, Mediator Titles: Lucky Charm Salesman, Immortal Agitator, Golden Networker Inventory: Smartphone (5% battery), wallet, hoodie, jeans, Silk Robe of Eloquence (equipped), Merchant’s Lucky Talisman, small silk pouch Status: Fine, slightly excited
‘Great, I’m growing! At this rate, I can at least take on the Yellow Turbans!’
Their first destination was Yingchuan, where the Yellow Turbans were at their fiercest. With excitement and fear mixed together in his heart, Minjun set out toward Yingchuan. His chaotic Three Kingdoms survival story had only just begun—and it was racing toward the stage of real battle.