This article tells Shi Le’s inspiring rise from a Jie slave to founding emperor of Later Zhao. Guided by strategist Zhang Bin, he unified northern China, governed with wisdom and mercy, and valued history despite being illiterate. His legacy proves courage and integrity can lift even the lowest‑born to greatness.
This article recounts the fall of Western Jin and the founding of Eastern Jin. After Emperors Huai and Min were captured and killed, Sima Rui established Eastern Jin in Jiankang with Wang Dao’s support. The era’s famous saying “Wang and Ma rule together” emerged. Meanwhile, northern heroes Liu Kun and Zu Ti died disappointed,…
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.
After the court-appointed Inspector of Yang Province, Liu Yao, occupied Danyang Commandery, Yuan Shu was deeply unwilling to accept this. He immediately appointed his subordinate Hui Qu as the Inspector of Yang Province, with Wu Jing as the general, and sent them along with Sun Ben to attack Liu Yao. However, they were unable…
In February 195 AD, during a high-level meeting in Chang’an, Li Jue ordered the assassination of his fellow warlord Fan Chou, who had grown increasingly influential and independent. The killing, carried out by Li Jue’s nephew Li Li, shattered the fragile alliance among the warlords controlling the Han court. From this point on, mutual…