military coup

  • Stealing the Tiger Tally [Warring States]

    This article recounts the legendary stratagem of Lord Xinling during the Warring States period, who saved the State of Zhao from the tyrannical Qin army. Facing a paralyzed Wei king, Xinling was forced to steal the Tiger Tally (the imperial command token) from his brother’s favorite concubine to seize military control. The narrative details…

  • The Tyrant’s Ascent [Three Kingdoms]

    This article details the violent rise of Dong Zhuo, the tyrant who ignited the Three Kingdoms era. It recounts how the ambitious frontier general exploited the power vacuum in Luoyang following the death of Emperor Ling. Through a combination of military deception and brute force, Dong Zhuo intercepted the fleeing imperial party, deposed Emperor…

  • The rift and final break between Li Jue and Guo Si [Three Kingdoms]

    Originally, Li Jue and Guo Si shared a close bond. They were both native to Liang Province and had served under Dong Zhuo for many years. When defeated Lü Bu using the guerrilla tactics of Peng Yue, and captured Chang’an, they seized control of the Han court. Li Jue often hosted grand banquets for…

  • The death of Fan Chou and fracturing of the West [Three Kingdoms]

    After Dong Zhuo was assassinated by Wang Yun and Lü Bu, his former generals—Li Jue, Guo Si, Zhang Ji, and Fan Chou—stationed in Shan County east of Chang’an, were on the verge of collapse. It was Jia Xu who advised them to unite and strike back, warning that surrender would mean certain death.