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Chen Deng [Three Kingdoms]
In the turbulent final years of the Eastern Han Dynasty, while warlords clashed and emperors reigned in name only, a rare figure emerged—not a conqueror, but a visionary administrator and master strategist whose influence far exceeded his rank. Chen Deng (courtesy name Yuanlong), though only ever a Prefect of Dongcheng, was courted by Liu…
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Yuan Shu’s failed plot to topple Lü Bu in Xuzhou [Three Kingdoms]
In previous articles, we discussed why Yuan Shu launched an attack on Xuzhou and how he managed to turn Lü Bu against his ally, Liu Bei. Yuan Shu won this war, but after exhausting his efforts and paying a heavy price, he gained nothing. Liu Bei lost—utterly and completely. The only beneficiary was Lü…
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The distant cannot separate close stratagem [Three Kingdoms]
“Distant cannot separate close” or “Strangers never come before relatives” means that those who are distantly related should not interfere in the affairs of those who are closely related, and outsiders cannot drive a wedge between those with close bonds.
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Lü Bu’s betrayal of Liu Bei [Three Kingdoms]
In 195 AD, after being defeated by Cao Cao, Lü Bu fled from Yan Province to Xu Province and sought help from Liu Bei. Despite the objections of Guan Yu and Zhang Fei, Liu Bei, upholding his reputation for benevolence and righteousness, stationed Lü Bu at Xiaopei (present-day Pei County, Jiangsu) and formed an…