assassination

  • The Arrow Duel at the Xuanwu Gate Incident [Sui & Tang]

    Brief: This article recounts the pivotal Xuanwu Gate Incident in 626 AD. Fearing elimination by Crown Prince Li Jiancheng and Prince Li Yuanji, Li Shimin launched a preemptive coup, killing his two brothers. He seized power, forced Emperor Gaozu to abdicate, and ascended as Emperor Taizong, laying the groundwork for the Zhenguan golden age.

  • Bian Que

    Bian Que (407–310 BCE) was a renowned physician of the Warring States period. His surname was Qin, and his given name was Yue Ren. He was from Mo County, Bohai Commandery (north of present-day Renqiu, Hebei). 

  • An Unexpected Teacher on the Bridge: Zhang Liang and the Yellow-Stone Elder [Western Han]

    Brief: This article tells Zhang Liang’s legendary encounter with the Yellow‑Stone Elder. After a failed assassination on Qin Shi Huang, Zhang met the old man on a bridge, who tested his patience and rewarded him with Taigong’s Art of War. This wisdom shaped him into a key strategist for the Han Dynasty.

  • Su Qin vs. Zhang Yi: Alliances vs. Division [Warring States]

    Brief: This article explores the intense rivalry between the Vertical Alliance (Hezong) of Su Qin and the Horizontal Alliance (Lianheng) of Zhang Yi during the Warring States period. It details how Su Qin’s coalition of six states threatened Qin, only to be countered by Zhang Yi’s diplomatic stratagems that divided them. The narrative follows…

  • Bian Que, the legendary healer [Warring States]

    Introduction: This article explores the life of Bian Que, the legendary “Father of Chinese Medicine” during the Warring States period. It recounts his miraculous diagnostic skills, highlighting his adaptive approach to healing—practicing gynecology, geriatrics, and pediatrics based on regional needs. The narrative centers on his famous, yet tragic, encounter with Duke Huan of Qi.…

  • The dagger in the fish [Spring & Autumn]

    Brief: This article recounts the legendary assassination of King Liao of Wu by the warrior Zhuan Zhu. It details the political intrigue where Prince Guang (the rightful heir) recruited Zhuan Zhu to eliminate the usurper King Liao. To bypass the king’s heavy security, Zhuan Zhu spent three months mastering the culinary arts to become…

  • Chu Ni – the assassin who chose death over murder [Spring & Autumn]

    Brief: This article tells the tragic story of Chu Ni, an assassin who chose death over killing the virtuous minister Zhao Dun. Set during the Spring and Autumn period, it depicts the tyranny of Duke Ling of Jin, who amused himself by randomly shooting civilians with a slingshot. When Chu Ni infiltrated Zhao Dun’s…

  • The fall and aftermath of a tyrant [Three Kingdoms]

    Brief: This article details the violent downfall of the tyrant Dong Zhuo and the subsequent chaos that consumed the Han court. It recounts how Minister Wang Yun masterminded a conspiracy, manipulating the volatile relationship between Dong Zhuo and his foster son, the mighty warrior Lü Bu. The narrative culminates in the assassination within Weiyang…

  • The hidden politics behind Sun Ce’s execution of Xu Gong [Three Kingdoms]

    The assassination of Sun Ce, the “Little Conqueror” of Jiangdong, is often attributed to a simple act of vengeance: his killing of Xu Gong, the former Administrator of Wu Commandery, led to retaliation by Xu’s loyal retainers.