SuaveG – The Gentle Path

Chinese mythology, folktales, and literature

Kong Rong

  • Reproving My Sons

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    — by Tao Yuanming (Jin Dynasty) White hair drapes across both my temples,My skin and flesh are firm no more.Though I have five sons,Not one takes pleasure in paper and brush.A-Shu has reached twice eight,Yet in laziness he has no equal.A-Xuan approaches the age of aspiring to learn,But has no love for letters and…

  • The Partisan Prohibitions: the Fall of the Han Scholar-Gentry [Eastern Han]

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    This article explores Eastern Han’s Partisan Prohibitions. Eunuchs branded scholar‑gentry like Li Ying and Chen Fan as “partisans,” triggering two brutal purges. Many were killed, exiled, or banned for life. The crackdown destroyed honest officials, fatally weakening the Han and paving the way for its collapse.

  • The forgotten strategist: Lou Gui [Three Kingdoms]

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    In Chapter 59 of Romance of the Three Kingdoms, as Cao Cao’s army faces Ma Chao and Han Sui’s coalition along the frozen banks of the Wei River, a mysterious old man named Lou Zibo (Lou Gui) suddenly appears. He advises Cao Cao to pour water over sand during a cold snap, creating instant…

  • The fall of a Confucian idealist – Kong Rong [Three Kingdoms]

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    Kong Rong (153–208 CE), the twentieth-generation descendant of Confucius, was born into a family steeped in scholarly and political prestige. His seventh-generation ancestor, Kong Ba, had served as tutor to Emperor Yuan of Han, and his father, Kong Zhou, held the post of Commandant of Taishan. Orphaned at thirteen, Kong Rong displayed exceptional moral…

  • Loyalty in the shadow of tyranny: The Friendship of Kong Rong and Zhi Xi [Three Kingdoms]

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    In 208 CE, Kong Rong – a famed scholar, descendant of Confucius, and former Governor of Beihai – was executed by Cao Cao. His crime? Repeatedly mocking Cao Cao, openly criticizing his policies, and refusing to show deference in official memorials and letters. Though ostensibly punished for “slandering the court,” his real offense lay…

  • The tragedy of Cui Yan [Three Kingdoms]

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    After capturing Yecheng, Cao Cao promptly executed the highly meritorious Xu You to win the hearts of the people in Jizhou (Ji Province) and secure the support of the local gentry. Simultaneously, he began seeking out influential local talents to join his ranks, aiming to consolidate his rule over Ji Province.

  • Why Dong Zhuo annihilated the Yuan Clan [Three Kingdoms]

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    The mass execution of the Yuan family—including over fifty members led by the venerable Yuan Wei, uncle of Yuan Shao and Yuan Shu—is one of the most chilling episodes of the late Eastern Han dynasty. While Romance of the Three Kingdoms portrays this atrocity as a simple act of vengeance after Yuan Shao joined…

  • Chapter 22. The failed probe by Liu Dai and Wang Zhong [Three Kingdoms]

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    Chapter 22 of Romance of the Three Kingdoms marks a pivotal escalation in the struggle for supremacy during the twilight of the Eastern Han dynasty. As Liu Bei consolidates his control over Xuzhou, his defiance ignites Cao Cao’s fury, setting in motion a chain of events that draws in the era’s most powerful warlords.

  • Chapter 11. Liu Bei’s righteous rescue and Lü Bu’s surprise strike [Three Kingdoms]

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    The turbulent era of the Three Kingdoms saw the emergence of numerous heroes, where benevolence and strategic cunning intertwined to create a magnificent historical tapestry. Today, let us delve into Chapter 11 of Romance of the Three Kingdoms to witness how Imperial Uncle Liu Bei came to the rescue of Kong Rong in Beihai,…