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In the pivotal year of 208 CE, the balance of power in China shifted dramatically as Cao Cao’s lightning conquest of Jing Province triggered a chain reaction of flight, sacrifice, and strategic realignment.
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In Romance of the Three Kingdoms Chapter 36, a pivotal transition unfolds: the departure of Xu Shu (courtesy name Yuanzhi), Liu Bei’s first true strategist, marks not just a moment of sorrow, but the prelude to a greater destiny. While steeped in dramatic fiction, this chapter bridges the gap between Liu Bei’s early struggles…
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The departure of Xu Shu from Liu Bei remains one of the most emotionally charged and widely misunderstood episodes in the lore of the Three Kingdoms.
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Cao Cao, the famed warlord of Wei, was renowned for his policy of “employing talent regardless of background” – a pragmatic approach that allowed him to attract brilliant minds like Xun Yu, Guo Jia, and even Xu Shu, whom he successfully lured away from Liu Bei. Given this track record, a natural question arises:…
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Among the many figures of the Three Kingdoms era, few are as enigmatic – or as influential – as Sima Hui, styled Decao, the reclusive scholar known as Master Water Mirror. Though he never held office, raised an army, or penned a single decree, his quiet words altered the course of history.
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In Chapter 35 of Romance of the Three Kingdoms, Liu Bei’s journey from desperation to hope unfolds through two pivotal encounters – first with the reclusive sage Sima Hui (Water-mirror Master), and then with the disguised strategist who would briefly illuminate his path to legitimacy: Xu Shu, alias Shan Fu.