strategic alliance

  • Han Feizi – Chapter 10.6

    What means greed and obstinacy? In ancient times, Yao, Lord Zhi, led Zhao, Han and Wei to conquer and destroy the Fan and Zhonghang clans. After returning from victory, he rested his troops for several years, then sent men to demand land from Han. Kang Zi of Han intended to refuse. His advisor Duan…

  • The Copper Horse Emperor: How Liu Xiu Forged an Empire in Chaos [Eastern Han]

    Brief: This article tells how Liu Xiu became the “Copper Horse Emperor.” He defeated the pretender Wang Lang, won over Hebei’s warlords, and peacefully absorbed the massive Copper Horse rebel army. His generosity and strategy secured his power. Refusing to serve the weak Gengshi Emperor, he laid the foundation for the Eastern Han.

  • The Myth of “Borrowing Jingzhou” [Three Kingdoms]

    The popular saying – “Liu Bei borrowed Jing Province and never returned” – is deeply entrenched in Chinese folklore, largely due to the Romance of the Three Kingdoms. Yet historical records tell a far more nuanced story. In fact, the very notion of “borrowing Jingzhou” is something of a misleading construct, if not a…

  • Three Visits to the Thatched Cottage [Three Kingdoms]

    Introduction: This article recounts the legendary “Three Visits to the Thatched Cottage,” a defining moment in the Three Kingdoms era. It details how the aging warlord Liu Bei, desperate to restore the Han Dynasty, humbled himself to visit the reclusive genius Zhuge Liang three times. The narrative highlights Liu Bei’s patience and virtue in…

  • Why did Xun Yu choose Cao Cao? [Three Kingdoms]

    The most renowned strategists of the Three Kingdoms period include core figures such as Zhuge Liang, Sima Yi, Guo Jia, Xun Yu, and Jia Xu. They were celebrated for their outstanding strategic planning, military tactics, and political acumen, playing a decisive role in shaping the geopolitical landscape of the Three Kingdoms.

  • Cao Cao’s ordeal against Lü Bu [Three Kingdoms]

    In the summer of 194 AD, while Cao Cao was deep in Xuzhou, devastating Tao Qian’s forces and advancing toward Tan County, disaster struck at home. News reached him: Chen Gong and Zhang Miao had rebelled, opening the gates of Yanzhou to Lü Bu, the famed warrior fleeing from Dong Zhuo’s downfall.