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Following the brutal purge of Dong Cheng and his co-conspirators in the “Girdle Edict” plot, Cao Cao’s grip on the Han court tightened with terrifying finality. As depicted in Chapter 24 of Romance of the Three Kingdoms—and corroborated in spirit, if not in full detail, by historical sources like the Book of the Later…
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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.
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After being betrayed by Lü Bu and losing Xuzhou, Liu Bei sought refuge with Cao Cao, using Cao Cao’s influence to eliminate Lü Bu. Later, Cao Cao took complete control of Xuzhou and placed Liu Bei under house arrest. Liu Bei bided his time, waiting for an opportunity. Eventually, when Yuan Shu attempted to…
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After leveraging Cao Cao’s forces to capture Xuzhou and eliminate Lü Bu, Cao Cao did not return Xuzhou to Liu Bei. Instead, he appointed his trusted subordinate Che Zhou as the new Governer of Xuzhou and brought Liu Bei to Xuchang. Ostensibly, this was to present him at court for rewards, but in reality,…