Already Born a Phoenix, Why Born a Ke?

From the time he was old enough to think, Zhuge Ke realized he was different from others.

To know what you know and know what you don’t know, that is true knowledge.

What some might have called metacognitive ability, this self-objectification, Zhuge Ke had awakened to at the mere age of 5.

Normally, such abilities develop naturally as one grows older. But Zhuge Ke possessed superhuman cognition superior to most adults at a young age.

This alone was remarkable, but Zhuge Ke’s talent didn’t end there.

Memory, reasoning, language skills, speed of perception, and more. Zhuge Ke’s intelligence was far superior to others.

To sum up all these aspects in one expression, Zhuge Ke was undoubtedly a genius.

Zhuge Ke, with his excellent self-objectification, realized he was a genius and thought:

‘I’m different.’

Child prodigy.

A term referring to those who demonstrate genius at a young age, proving superior ability even to adults.

This always accompanied Zhuge Ke as a modifier in his childhood. There were numerous anecdotes showcasing Zhuge Ke’s astonishing genius.

One day, Sun Quan, intending to mock Zhuge Ke’s father Zhuge Jin’s appearance, brought a donkey and had “Zhuge Ziyu” written on its face. Ziyu was Zhuge Jin’s courtesy name, so it was mocking the donkey as Zhuge Jin.

At that time, Zhuge Ke asked Sun Quan’s permission to add two characters, and he added “zhi lü” (之驢). This changed the mockery of “Zhuge Jin” to mean “Zhuge Jin’s donkey.”

Those gathered were delighted by the son’s wit in considering his father and found him admirable.

Sun Quan, the instigator of the joke, admired Zhuge Ke’s talent and filial piety and gave that donkey to Zhuge Jin. And praising Zhuge Ke, he said:

‘They say jade comes from Lantian, truly it’s not an empty saying.’

The story of “Lantian produces jade” originated from here.

Zhuge Ke was only six years old at the time.

After that, Zhuge Ke continued to stand out.

When Sun Quan asked which of Zhuge Jin and Zhuge Liang was wiser, Zhuge Ke answered that Zhuge Jin was superior because he knew whom to serve, while Zhuge Liang did not.

He also won consecutive verbal battles against Zhang Zhao, a minister and elder statesman of Wu.

The one who stopped Zhuge Ke, who was running rampant like a thunderbolt relying only on his excellence, was not his father Zhuge Jin but Zhang Zhao’s eldest son Zhang Cheng.

Zhang Cheng, who was also Zhuge Ke’s brother-in-law and 25 years older, won several victories against Zhuge Ke’s wit that no one else could counter.

Zhuge Ke, who ultimately couldn’t win against his brother-in-law who was only 4 years younger than his father, began to acknowledge and follow him.

Zhuge Ke was arrogant because he knew better than anyone else the level of his talent, but he wasn’t a very dogmatic character who proclaimed solipsism.

It’s just that his standard was so high that it appeared dogmatic to those around him, like combining only the bad aspects of Guan Yu and Zhang Fei’s interpersonal relationships.

Zhuge Ke showed respect to only a few extremely rare individuals, such as his lord Sun Quan, his father Zhuge Jin, and Zhang Cheng who had defeated him.

Worried about this, Zhuge Jin confided his concerns to Zhang Cheng, who was both his son-in-law and close friend.

Zhang Cheng, who was also concerned about Zhuge Ke, heard his friend’s request and had many conversations trying to correct Zhuge Ke’s personality.

“Brother-in-law, the world is wide and there are many who surpass you.”

“I know that, brother-in-law. With my father, uncle, and you around, how could I not know that?”

The value of wisdom that comes with age.

The gap in knowledge created by the difference in time possessed.

Zhuge Ke understood and accepted all of this. And also that there were individual differences in these things too.

“That’s not what I mean. I’m saying there are people your age who are more remarkable than you. So learn to always be humble and lower yourself.”

“Hmm…”

Seeing Zhuge Ke’s reaction as if he found it hard to accept even Zhang Cheng’s words, Zhang Cheng brought up a name.

“Have you heard the name Zhang Ran?”

“Ah, the one Lord Zhou wanted to take in?”

Zhou Yu had died not long after Zhuge Ke earned the story of “Lantian produces jade”. As Zhou Yu was traveling abroad, Zhuge Ke didn’t have much experience conversing with him, but he acknowledged how great a person he was.

“I heard she prevented Lady Sun from bringing Liu Bei’s son this time.”

Even hearing that Zhang Ran had thwarted the plan to kidnap A’dou, Zhuge Ke was indifferent.

“Well… isn’t that just a fight between women?”

“That child participated in the battle of Nanzhun at your current age. It’s not something to be taken lightly.”

“Didn’t she go with Zhang Fei?”

“Yes.”

“What’s so great about that? Even Cao Cao took his 10-year-old second son to the battlefield. Cao Cao lost, and Zhang Fei won thanks to Lord Zhou, so it’s just fame. If not for that, she would have just been a laughingstock like Cao Pi.”

At that time, Zhuge Ke only considered Zhang Ran as a brief topic of conversation. Logically, it wasn’t possible for a woman to continue such exploits.

At best, she would probably end up like Lady Sun over there, entering a political marriage and then plotting internally.

However, Zhuge Ke’s complacent prediction was completely off the mark.

Three years later, Zhang Ran reignited her fading fame in the battle of Yizhou.

And four years after that, she achieved great merit by repelling Cao Cao in Hanzhong, establishing the name Zhang Ran throughout the world.

For Zhuge Ke, Zhang Ran’s life was a series of shocks.

And at the same time, it was an expansion of his worldview.

Zhuge Ke, who had prided himself that no one among his peers could dare match him, even if he had to accept that older people born with talent not far behind his were unavoidable.

It was a festival of innovation that shattered his narrow frame of perception.

To use the passage of time as an excuse, the time between Zhang Ran and Zhuge Ke was merely 2 years.

When Zhuge Ke, who had come of age, was enfeoffed as Marquis of Jidou, Zhang Ran had risen to the ranks of one of the world’s top generals by killing Cao Zhang and saving Guanzhong in the offensive of the Wei-Wu alliance army.

Two years is a long time.

Two years is a lot of time.

Two years was enough for the alliance between Shu and Wu to crumble and for Wei and Wu to join hands.

It was not insufficient time for an individual to rise rapidly.

But Zhuge Ke couldn’t be certain. Even Zhuge Ke, who always had strong self-confidence, couldn’t guarantee whether he could rise to the same level as that Zhang Ran in just 2 years.

Zhang Ran. Zhang Ran. Zhang Ran.

There was no corner of the world where that name wasn’t heard.

Not only in Wei, which had been thoroughly beaten several times, but even in Wu, which had clashed once in the battle for Jingzhou four years ago, the name Zhang Ran was constantly mentioned.

Zhuge Ke was bewildered by the sense of inferiority he felt for the first time.

‘Me? This Zhuge Ke? Inferior to others?’

But Zhuge Ke was still a 20-year-old youth with boiling blood, too much to crumble from just one feeling of inferiority.

Rather than falling into frustration due to inferiority, Zhuge Ke burned with enthusiasm that he had finally found an opponent he could truly contend with.

Zhuge Ke learned, researched, and analyzed everything he could about Zhang Ran.

Even the Wei officials who had tried to understand her under Cao Cao’s orders hadn’t gone this far. Zhuge Ke’s actions seemed to have a kind of obsession.

And the more he learned about Zhang Ran, the deeper Zhuge Ke’s interest grew.

In the end, Zhuge Ke realized:

‘She is a genius equal to this Zhuge Ke.’

Zhuge Ke believed this without a doubt.

Therefore, when he heard about the marriage proposal between Zhang Ran and Lu Yan, the first emotion Zhuge Ke felt was none other than displeasure.

Suspicion about Lu Xun, the ploy to sow discord contained in the marriage proposal – these were outside Zhuge Ke’s interest.

‘Zhang Ran is going to marry such a weakling?’

He couldn’t accept that.

It’s a talent given by heaven. It shouldn’t be wasted like this.

A while later, when he heard that Zhuge Jin was going to Jingzhou instead of Lu Xun, Zhuge Ke expressed his desire to accompany him.

Zhuge Ke persuaded the opposing Zhuge Jin with his eloquent speech, and even got permission from Sun Quan, who had appointed him as the tutor of the crown prince Sun Deng.

Everything was according to the natural order.

Sun Quan sending Zhuge Jin to Jingzhou was with the intention of using his friendship with Shu Han to prevent attacks.

Of course, there was an unshakable trust underlying this that Zhuge Jin would never betray him.

Whether advancing the marriage talks or restoring the alliance, it was obvious that Zhuge Jin would send an envoy to Shu Han. Zhuge Ke wanted to be part of that.

Becoming a condolence delegation instead of an envoy was unexpected even for him, but he rather liked the fact that he could meet Zhang Ran directly, skipping the intermediate process.

Zhuge Jin opposed this time too, but ultimately couldn’t break Zhuge Ke’s logic.

“As an elder brother, I’ve only exchanged letters with Jiao for too long after sending him, so I miss my younger brother’s face so much. I won’t be a burden to you, Father, so please allow me to meet my brother.”

Zhuge Ke was arrogant, but he wasn’t a heartless person without love for his family.

He sincerely respected his father Zhuge Jin. Knowing this, even though Zhuge Jin saw through that he might ruin the family someday, out of love for his child, he couldn’t stop him.

This time too, Zhuge Jin allowed Zhuge Ke to accompany him, carrying worries and concerns.

“You must absolutely maintain the etiquette of an envoy, and must never leave without my permission.”

He attached conditions for accompanying, but Zhuge Ke gladly accepted.

And finally, Zhuge Ke saw with his own eyes the real person he had only known through writing.

“I am Zhuge Ke.”

Even in the moment of bowing his head, Zhuge Ke saw. Zhang Ran’s eyes trembled subtly at his introduction.

She knew too. Of Zhuge Ke’s existence.

How would she know about Zhuge Ke, who was still no different from a young scholar?

‘Zhang Ran’s talent, truly worthy of being called the Three Perfections.’

The Three Perfections, a term for someone with three outstanding talents.

Martial prowess, Beauty, Discernment.

Strong, beautiful, and insightful.

She had seen it. The talent Zhuge Ke possessed.

The one and only existence comparable to herself.

Finding this so delightful, Zhuge Ke smiled.