Han Feizi argues reformers face five disadvantages against corrupt elites. Isolated, they risk execution or assassination.
Chapter 17 of Romance of the Three Kingdoms marks a turning point in the fragmentation of the Eastern Han dynasty, where ambition, legitimacy, and survival collide in the wake of Yuan Shu’s fateful decision to declare himself emperor.
When people think of Gongsun Zan in the Romance of the Three Kingdoms, many immediately associate him with Liu Bei, as the two were classmates under the famed scholar Lu Zhi. Though their relationship was that of schoolmates, Gongsun Zan never achieved the same legendary status as Liu Bei—largely because Luo Guanzhong, the author…
In the chaotic aftermath of the warlords’ campaign against Dong Zhuo, one man stood out for his valor and military prowess—Sun Jian, known as “Tiger of Jiangdong”, the fearless warrior of the Three Kingdoms Era. As the coalition of eastern lords hesitated, Sun Jian pressed forward, defeating Dong Zhuo’s forces in battle after battle.…