[Three Kingdoms] A Famous General's Self-Cultivation

Reader's Guide: Began posting in 2022. Not official history, but a blend of historical fiction and historical fact. Please don't scrutinize it too closely.

Synopsis

Ding!

This is the Famous General Development System. Ride across the battlefield and defeat your enemies with a single move. A legendary general begins his journey today. Host identity confirmed: Zhen Yao.

From the start, he's a nobody who can only grow through sheer luck, forced to make his way alone through the muddy, rotten soil of a chaotic age.

Warlords carve up the land and vie for supremacy, while the common people suffer miserably. When Zhen Yao is down on his luck, he meets the moonlight of his life, someone he wants to remember forever. He vows that if he ever rises to greatness, he'll repay them properly.

To fulfill the moonlight's hopes and his own wishes, Zhen Yao sets out to find them. He stumbles and struggles along the way (not really), and eventually lets his brilliance shine. He turns down invitations from powerful figures to join their teams. Then, after hearing news of the moonlight, he hurries straight to Cao Cao's camp.

But...

The moonlight in his heart, so free-spirited and forthright, like a clear radiance fallen from the heavens, turns out to be...

Zhen Yao: Are you sure you're not tricking me?

Fake moonlight, real strategist, devoted and unrestrained top x slow-to-catch-on, true general, considerate and devoted bottom

Coming soon, please show your support: Three Kingdoms: A Guide to Becoming a Well-Rounded Warrior

Yuan Zhan had just completed his nth life achievement and was bragging to his friend when a gust of wind from the northwest blew grit into his eyes and chilled him to the bone.

Yuan Zhan: It feels like I've started over.

System: That's not just a feeling. You really have started over.

As a dedicated overachiever, Yuan Zhan insists that even if he has to start over, he'll keep up his overachiever persona to the very end!

When Yuan Zhan opens his eyes, he has become a chubby little toddler, playing in the mud alongside his older half-brother, who studies with one hand and practices martial arts with the other. Yuan Zhan plays in the mud while his brother trains.

Yuan Zhan (dropping the mud, clutching a little wooden sword, eyes sparkling): Martial arts, I want them!

The family passes down the Meng Clan's Book of Changes as its ancestral learning. His grandfather studied under the family tradition when he was young, and now, retired, discusses the classics and the Way with his friends. Yuan Zhan grabs his little sword and hurries over to hug his grandfather's leg (looking up and trying to act cute): Scholarship, I want it!

His eldest brother is gentle in temperament and tall and graceful, already showing the bearing of an heir. Yuan Zhan clutches his sword and book and happily follows him into the carriage bound for Luoyang (eagerly anticipating the journey): I want a powerful patron... I mean, big brother was killed by that old villain.

Yuan Zhan: I didn't get a powerful patron, but I did get an old villain... Damn it!

Fortunately, Yuan Zhan is a first-rate wilderness survivor, and he even picks up a few skills, renowned scholars, and famous generals on the way home. Back home, Yuan Zhan looks at his good-for-nothing legitimate older brother, who does nothing but eat, drink, and have fun. Thinking of his half-brother, who recklessly disregards his family, and his beloved eldest brother who died, he turns dark on the spot (sharpening his knives) (gritting his teeth): "Just you wait."

Years later, a crowd of strategists and famous generals (rising to their feet and applauding) look at their lord, whose abilities in civil and military affairs are both outstanding and whose character and bearing are exemplary, and exclaim with delight: What do we do when our lord is a well-rounded warrior?

Yuan Zhan's inner monologue: Surely this time I can brag for once.

Bottom-focused, but with a harem of admirers. There are one-sided crushes, but he only responds to the top. For now, readers can place their bets.

The protagonist seems serious and dependable, but is actually a tsundere little princess (not really). He talks like a scheming tea-drinker. All in all, the character is an absolute delight!

Theme: With light in your heart, you can overcome anything