•
Chapter 53 of Romance of the Three Kingdoms – presents a striking contrast between two kinds of heroism: one rooted in Confucian virtue and martial honor, the other in tactical mastery. In the south, Guan Yu and Huang Zhong engage in a duel that transcends enmity, bound by mutual respect and chivalry. In the…
•
Lady Mi, sister of the wealthy merchants Mi Zhu and Mi Fang from Donghai (modern-day Lianyungang), entered Liu Bei’s life in 196 CE under extraordinary circumstances.
•
In the 41st chapter of Romance of the Three Kingdoms, when Cao Cao attacked Jingzhou to the south, Liu Bei led civilians across the river to the gates of Xiangyang but was denied entry by Cai Mao and Zhang Yun. Wei Yan, enraged by their surrender to Cao Cao, “led hundreds of men straight…
•
Emperor Xian of Han (Liu Xie) has long been cast in the shadows of history and literature as a helpless puppet, a symbol of imperial decay and impotence. In both Romance of the Three Kingdoms and traditional historiography, he is often portrayed as a passive victim—first under Dong Zhuo, then Cao Cao, and finally…
•
Chapter 21 of Romance of the Three Kingdoms stands as one of the most iconic and psychologically intense episodes in Chinese literature—a masterclass in political deception, hidden ambition, and the delicate dance between survival and destiny.
•
Chapter 20 of Romance of the Three Kingdoms presents a masterful study in political theater, veiled rebellion, and the fragile legitimacy of imperial authority during the twilight of the Eastern Han dynasty.
•
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…
•
Chapter 18 of Romance of the Three Kingdoms unfolds at a critical juncture in the power struggle among the warlords of the late Eastern Han dynasty. As Cao Cao consolidates his authority in central China, he faces mounting threats from multiple fronts—Zhang Xiu’s rebellion in the south, Yuan Shao’s looming invasion from the north,…