Chapter 19 of Romance of the Three Kingdoms delivers one of the most dramatic and symbolically rich episodes in the entire saga—the fall of Lü Bu, the peerless warrior whose unmatched martial prowess was ultimately undone by personal flaws, betrayal, and superior strategy. As Cao Cao closes in on his most dangerous rival, the…
In the chaotic narrative of Romance of the Three Kingdoms, the encounter, companionship, and eventual separation of Cao Cao and Chen Gong resemble a brief yet profound intertwining of fate.