|
|
Post by chefying on Jan 10, 2015 17:04:44 GMT
So far, this story covered up to the point where CaoCao failed in his attempt to assassinate Dong Zhuo, and fled off to his home town (Chapter 4).
Meanwhile SiTu WangYun used managed to split the alliance of Dong Zhuo and Lv Bu, and Lv Bu then killed Dong Zhou (Chapter 8).
Remnants of Dong Zhuo's supporters seized the capital, and forced the death of SiTu WangYun. Lv Bu was not able to quell rebellion by Dong Zhuo's supporters, so he fled to the protection of Yuan Shu, the Prefect of NanYang (Chapter 9).
The Capital and the Emperor is now in the hands of Dong Zhuo's supporters.
Now, for a bit of a back story. This is from Chapter 5.
CaoCao had failed to kill Dong Zhuo, and fled to his hometown. He then called for the Dukes of the many provinces to rise up against Dong Zhuo. Some 17 Dukes heeded the call, and the three sworn brothers did so as well. The three brothers chanced upon Gongsun Zan 公孙瓒 from Bieping 北平, and follow him to join CaoCao’s call. Liu Bie, the eldest of the three sworn brothers, were friends with Gongsun Zan.
The Prefect of BoHai 渤海 Yuan Shao 袁绍 and (cousin) brother the Prefect of NanYang 南阳, Yuan Shu 袁术 were also there. Another who heeded the call was Sun Jian 孙坚, Sun Quan’s 孙权 father. Sun Quan subsequently became the head of the Wu Kingdom.
Since 4 generations of Yuan Shuo’s family government ministers, CaoCao proposed Yuan Shuo to be the leader of the Confederacy of 17 Dukes. Yuan Shuo appointed his cousin Yuan Shu as Quarter Master in charge of provisions, and Sun Jian as lead vanguard. Yuan Shuo propose they attack SiShui Pass 汜水关 , near the Capital Luoyang 洛阳 (Dong Zhuo subsequently moved the Capital to ChangAn).
Dong Zhuo got news of this imminent attack by the forces of the Confederacy of the 17 Dukes and sent HuaXiong 华雄 to defend SiShui Pass.
SiShui Pass was well defended, and Sun Jian was not able to take it. He retreated and sent for supplies from Yuan Shu, the Quarter Master. But Yuan Shu was worried that, as strong and as capable as Sun Jian was, should Sun Jian win the fight, press on to LuoYang and defeat Dong Zhuo, Sun Jian would be in control of the capital and of the Emperor. So Yuan Shu did not send grains to Sun Jian, and Sun Jian’s soldiers starved.**
Sun Jian's starving soldiers showed indiscipline, some deserted, and some turned spies. Having learned that Sun Jian’s army was in hunger, Hua Xiong lead a night ambush on Sun Jian’s camp. Sun Jian’s starving army was surprised and defeated, and Sun Jian had to flee.
Hua Xiong the went on to attack the camp of the Confederacy of the 17 Dukes. Defenders from the Confederacy fell one after another and no one dared to resist Hua Xiong. Yuan Shuo asked for someone to take on Hua Xiong, and Guan Yu volunteered. CaoCao offered him a cup of wine to send him off to battle, Guan Yu replied, “Pour it out for me for I will return shortly.” And indeed, when Guan Yu returned with Hua Xiong’s head, the wine was still warm.*
With Hua Xiong dead, Dong Zhuo and Lv Bu went to Tiger Trap Pass 虎牢关 to take on the Confederacy. There, Lv Bu was defeated by the joint effort of the three sworn brothers – as detailed in a prior post.
* This part is known as 关羽温酒刹华雄 showing the prowess of Guan Yu.
** This did not bode well for the Confederacy.
|
|
|
|
Post by chefying on Jan 10, 2015 17:21:25 GMT
This is a clip from the 2010 Romance of the Three Kingdoms depicting the part where Guan Yu killed Hua Xiong while the wine was still warm. This detail was not mentioned at all in this version of the TV series. Instead, note that in the 6'40" of the clip, we see Cao Cao touching the cup of wine and he noted that it was warm. Very subtle.
Guan Yu kills Hua Xiong
Do note that this 2010 does not follow that closely to the book. Here, it was shown that CaoCao was planning the attack SiShui Pass and on Tiger Trap Pass when the Confederacy was challenged by Hua Xiong. In the book, Hua Xiong came after the Confederacy's failed attack on SiShui Pass. |
|
|
|
Post by chefying on Jan 11, 2015 15:50:46 GMT
I dug up this book of mine  and it had a map showing the Provinces and the areas from which the 17 Dukes hail to answer CaoCao's call to topple Dong Zhuo.  |
|
|
|
Post by chefying on Jan 12, 2015 9:51:14 GMT
Continuing on to Chapter 6...
And so Lv Bu’s defeat by the joint effort of the three sworn brothers in Tiger Trap Pass, and he fled back to safety beind the walls of Tiger Trap Pass. Again, Zhang Fei attacked Tiger Trap Pass, but to no avail.
With Lv Bu’s defeat by the three sworn brothers, Dong Zhuo’s army did not have the stomach for battle. Dong Zhuo then decided to move the capital from Luoyang to ChangAn, the latter being better protected. To raise funds for the move and to rebuild ChangAn, Dong Zhuo raided the homes of the rich people of Luoyang, and in the process, Luoyang was sacked by the departing troops, leaving it in ruins.
Since Zhang Fei was not able to penetrate Tiger Trap Pass, Yuan Shuo sent Sun Jian to attack it. Sun Jian was not keen to do so - after all, he is from the Southlands* and he had no quarrel with Dong Zhuo. Also, the victory of the battle benefited Yuan Shuo and would make Sun Jian an enemy of Dong Zhuo. In addition, Sun Jian remembered only too well that Yuan Shu withheld grains and provisions for his troops in the last battle.
So it was left to the three sworn brothers take Tiger Trap Pass. Now that Lv Bu had headed off to ChangAn, Tiger Trap Pass fell quickly.
Meanwhile the Commander of SiShui did not offer any resistance because he did not have any support, now that Luoyang was in ruins. As such, Sun Jian was able to proceed to Luoyang with ease.
In the ruins of Luoyang, Sun Jian found the Imperial Seal. Disillusioned with the Confederation, he led his army for home in JiangDong, the Eastern Region. Yuan Shuo got news of Sun Jian’s possession of the Imperial Seal, and sent a letter to the Governor of JingZhou, Liu Biao**, to intercept Sun Jian. The Seal was important because should Dong Zhuo be deposed, the holder of the Imperial Seal could claim himself Emperor.
Near JingZhou, Sun Jian did encountered Liu Biao. When Liu Biao accused Sun Jian of stealing the Imperial Seal, Sun Jian falsely swore that he did not have it. A battle ensued, and although Sun Jian managed to escape and return to his domain in the Southlands, he lost many men and quite a few capable leaders.
After this battle, Sun Jian (and subsequently the State of Wu) and Liu Biao, the Governor of Jingzhou were deadly enemies.
Meanwhile, back at the camp of the Confederacy, CaoCao expressed his disappointment with the results – after all, it was he who called for the Dukes to rise against Dong Zhuo and restore power to the house of Han. Now Dong Zhuo had left for ChangAn and what was the capital, Luoyang was in ruins. With that, CaoCao lead his troops over to Yangzhou.
Gongsun Zan could see that Yuan Shuo was not a capable leader, so he too, decided to leave and advised the three sworn brothers to do the same. With that, Gongsun Zan broke camp for BeiPing. The three sworn brothers left with him, Along the way, Gongsun passed by PingYuan 平原 and left Liu Bei in charge while he continued on to BeiPing.
Seeing the Confederacy breaking up, Yuan Shuo left for Henei 河内***.
This ended the Confederacy, Dong Zhuo and the Emperor were in ChangAn, Liu Bei and his brothers in charge of PingYuan， CaoCao was in YangZhou, Yuan Shuo in Henei, and the rest of the Dukes returned to their respective centres of power. The House of Han was still in the control of Dong Zhuo and the uprising had failed badly.
* Southland is the translation used in the 2010 Three Kingdoms. The original term is JiangDong 江东 which refers to the area East of the Yangtze River (Changjiang 长江).
** Liu Biao succeeded as Governor of JingZhou after the death of Ding Yuan. Ding Yuan was the (ex-)godfather of Lv Bu. After Dong Zhuo managed to convince Lv Bu to change allegiance, Lv Bu killed Ding Yuan and presented Ding Yuan’s head to Dong Zhuo as proof of loyalty.
*** Henei is the area north of present day LuoYang, ZhengZhou and KaiFeng. The Chinese name for the Capital of Vietnam, Hanoi, is also Henei 河内 but this Vietnamese city is not related to the Romance of the Three Kingdoms.
|
|
|
|
Post by chefying on Jan 12, 2015 9:54:16 GMT
This is a map showing HeNei, China, as opposed to HaNoi, Vietnam. The Chinese characters for both these places are the same.  HeNei, shaded in blue. |
|
|
|
Post by chefying on Jan 13, 2015 3:58:40 GMT
On now to Chapter Seven...
At the end of the last chapter, the Confederacy dissolved and Dong Zhuo and the Emperor were in ChangAn. Meanwhile, Liu Bei and his brothers were given charge of PingYuan by Gongsun Zan, the Prefect of BeiPing. Meanwhile, CaoCao left for YangZhou, Yuan Shuo settled in Henei, and the rest of the Dukes returned to their respective centres of power. The House of Han was still in the control of Dong Zhuo and the uprising had failed badly.
Yuan Shuo in Henei had desires for the fertile lands of YiZhou 翼州, but he had no excuse to start a war. So he sent a letter to Gongsun Zan proposing a joint attack on YiZhou. Then he double crossed Gongsun Zan, and informed the Governor of YiZhou of Gongsun Zan’s imminent attact.
YiZhou was not able to withstand an attack from Gongsun Zan, so the Governor of YiZhou invited Yuan Shuo into Yizhou to repel Gongsun Zan. Once Yuan Shuo was in YiZhou, he took over the governance and in effect, YiZhou was his without a battle.
When Gongsun Zan arrived, he demanded his share of the spoils – after all, it was supposed to be a joint attack on YiZhou. However, Yuan Shuo argued that he was INVITED INTO YiZhou and refused to share any spoils with Gongzun Zan. A battle ensued.
Yuan Shuo’s side was lead by two of his most capable generals, Yan Liang 颜良 and Wen Chou 文丑. Gongsun Zan was beaten back and pursued by Wen Chou when suddenly a civilian came out to assist Gongsun Zan. This man was Zhao Yun 赵云. Zhao Yun was formerly under Yuan Shuo, but left Yuan Shou’s service because Zhao Yun found Yuan Shuo to be disloyal. And thus Gongsun Zan was saved, and Zhao Yun entered the services of Gongsun Zan.
The battle continued, and the tides turned to Gongsun Zan’s favour when Liu Bei and his two sworn brothers came to his aid. Liu Bei was in nearby PingYuan when he heard of Gongsun Zan in battle. Since Gongsun was Liu Bei’s benefactor, the three sworn brothers went to aid Gongsun Zan. The battle came to a stalemate.
Dong Zhuo, the Prime Minister in ChangAn, heard of this battle and entreated the two parties to make peace, thereby ending the conflict.
By now, a friendship had been struck up between Zhao Yun and Liu Bie. Zhao Yun initially sought the service of Gongsun Zan because he believed Gongsun Zan was noble, but after this battle, he realized Gongsun Zan was no different from Yuan Shuo. Zhao Yun wanted to throw in his lot with Liu Bei, but Liu Bei could not take him – especially when Zhao Yun* is in the service of his protector and benefactor, Gongsun Zan.
Meanwhile, Yuan Shu, Yuan Shuo’s cousin, became aware that Yuan Shuo had taken YiZhou. Yuan Shu requested 10,000 horses from Yuan Shuo, but was denied, and so they became enemies. Yuan Shu also requested a loan of grains from Liu Biao of Jingzhou and was also denied. Yuan Shu seethed with anger at being rebuffed.
Yuan Shu wanted revenge for this slight.
He wrote to Sun Jian in the Southlands and explained that it was at Yuan Shuo’s instructions that Liu Biao of Jingzhou attacked Sun Jian on his way home from LuoYang**. Yuan Shu suggested a simultaneous attack – he against his cousin Yuan Shuo and Sun Jian against Liu Biao. This way, Yuan Shu will be able to gain control of YiZhou, while JingZhou would belong to Sun Jian.
Sun Jian agreed, but was killed in the battle with Liu Biao at the battleground in the province JingZhou. Sun Jian’s army then retreated back to the Southlands. This was in C.E. 191.
(The book did not mention if Yuan Shu attacked Yuan Shuo, but it could be in the later chapters.)
And so it was that the Confederacy was no more, Yuan Shuo usurped YiZhou and expanded his territory, Gongsun Zan was back in BeiPing, and Liu Bei continued to be in charge of PingYuan. The House of Han was still in the control of Dong Zhuo in ChangAn, with the Emperor in his clutches. CaoCao was last heard going to YangZhou,and Sun Jian had died, leaving the Southlands in the hands of his successor.
* Zhao Yun would eventually join Liu Bei and would be one of his Five Tiger Generals.
** See previous chapter - Sun Jian lost the battle and lost quite a number of his men.
|
|
|
|
Post by chefying on Jan 17, 2015 16:20:42 GMT
At the end of the last chapter, the Confederacy was no more, Yuan Shuo usurped YiZhou and expanded his territory, Gongsun Zan was back in BeiPing, and Liu Bei continued to be in charge of PingYuan. CaoCao was last heard going to YangZhou,and Sun Jian had died, leaving the Southlands in the hands of his successor. The House of Han was still in the control of Dong Zhuo in ChangAn, with the Emperor in his clutches. At this point, the story turns to Dong Zhuo in Chang'An. The story of Dong Zhuo and his death had been told in Chapter Eight in this post while the consequences arising were told in Chapter Nine in this post. Continuing on to Chapter 10 and 11 of 120.... The four generals who were formerly under Dong Zhuo controlled the court. They did not rule the people well. Consequently, the Yellow Turbans rose once again in Shandong 山东. The four generals were advised to get CaoCao, Prefect of DongJun 东郡* to quell rebels. Under imperial order, CaoCao raised and army and easily quelled the undisciplined Yellow Turban rebels. He was well liked by the people and his fame grew. The Emperor conferred him the title “General”, and CaoCao had his headquarters in YenZhou 兖州. More people entered the services of CaoCao and his power became strong. It so happened that CaoCao’s parents and retinue were under the protection of the Prefect of XuZhou 徐州 when the underlings of the Prefect robbed and killed CaoCao’s parents and retinue. CaoCao was furious, and now that he was strong, CaoCao wanted to extract revenge for this parents’ death.** He led his army towards Xuzhou and laid waste to everything along his path. The Prefect of XuZhou sent out assistance from Liu Bei in PingYuan. Liu Bei agreed, and approached Gongsun Zan for troops. “You have no quarrel with CaoCao, why are you entering the fray on behalf of your friend,” Gongsun Zan asked. “I have promised my friend, I cannot break my word,” replied Liu Bie. And so it was that Liu Bie borrowed troops and the warrior Zhao Yun from Gongsun Zan, and set forth for XuZhou. Arriving at Xuzhou, Liu Bie was well received. Finding Liu Bie a good person at heart, the Prefect of Xuzhou decided to retire and offered his position to Liu Bie. Liu Bie declined. Once more was this position offered, and for the second time, Liu Bie declined. Liu Bie suggested they write a letter of peace to CaoCao to resolve this situation, and it was agreed. CaoCao was not happy to receive a letter of reconciliation for Liu Bei, and was all ready to launch an all out attack. At this same time a report came that Lv Bu had taken YenZhou, CaoCao’s headquarters. If CaoCao is unable to retake YenZhou, he would lose his own base. Given the circumstances, CaoCao had no choice but to make peace with Liu Bei, and ride off to retake his base of power, YenZhou. And how was it that Lv Bu took YenZhou? Lv Bu left the Capital Chang’An when Chang’An was overwhelmed by the remnant forces loyal to the late Dong Zhuo. Lv Bu first went to Yuan Shu, who rejected his services 袁术. Then Lv Bu met a man called Chen Gong 陈宫, who advised Lv Bu to attack and gain YenZhou since CaoCao was away attacking XuZhou. This was how Lv Bu ended up with YenZhou. Back in XuZhou, it appeared to all and sundry that a letter from Liu Bei to CaoCao was all it took to repel the attack. Banquets were held, and for the third time, the Prefect of XuZhou offered Liu Bei his position. Once more Liu Bei declined. In the end, the Prefect of XuZhou offered Liu Bei to encamp at the small town of XiaoPei 小沛. To this, Liu Bie consented, and left with his army for XiaoPei. And so at the end of this chapter, Dong Zhuo had died and the court was in the hands of Dong Zhuo’s old forces. Sun Jian had died and his forces had returned to the Southlands. Lv Bu managed to capture CaoCao’s headquarters in YenZhou in CaoCao’s absence. CaoCao, who was laying siege on XuZhou, called off his attack and returned to YenZhou. Lui Bei was given a small town of XiaoPei in XuZhou Province and encamped his army there. * At the end of Chapter 6, it was said that CaoCao went to YangZhou. DongJun and Yangzhou are two different places, and are quite far apart. ** CaoCao used the army for his personal reasons - to avenge his father's death. |
|
|
|
Post by Admin on Jan 24, 2015 18:15:46 GMT
Thanks chefying this is a good thread. Actually it makes me want to watch ROTK 2010 again  I love Caocao depiction there. I hate Peter Ho as Lv Bu. I really can't understand why Peter is casted in so many series as the great warrior. lv Bu, and then Xiang Yu. Peter Ho??? Sigh!!! |
|
|
|
Post by chefying on Jan 26, 2015 9:03:48 GMT
Thanks chefying this is a good thread. Actually it makes me want to watch ROTK 2010 again I love Caocao depiction there. I hate Peter Ho as Lv Bu. I really can't understand why Peter is casted in so many series as the great warrior. lv Bu, and then Xiang Yu. Peter Ho??? Sigh!!! I loved the way CaoCao was portrayed. I understand that the actor who played CaoCao came from the Xinjiang region. I do not know if was from the Hui tribe. I did not watch Peter Ho's portrayal of Xiang Yu, but I thought he did well as Lv Bu. Look dashing, but all brawn and no brains! |
|
|
|
Post by chefying on Jan 26, 2015 9:06:52 GMT
Chapter 12 - 14
At the end of the last chapter, Dong Zhuo had died and the court was in the hands of Dong Zhuo’s old forces. Sun Jian had died and his forces had returned to the Southlands. CaoCao attacked XuZhou, and Lui Bei stepped in to help XuZhou. CaoCao called off his attack on XuZhou, and the grateful Prefect of Xuzhou gave Liu Bei the small town of XiaoPei in XuZhou Province and Liu Bei encamped his army there.
Then Lv Bu met a man called Chen Gong 陈宫, who advised Lv Bu to attack and gain YenZhou since CaoCao was away attacking XuZhou. And so Lv Bu managed to capture CaoCao’s headquarters in YenZhou in CaoCao’s absence. CaoCao, who was laying siege on XuZhou, called off his attack and returned to YenZhou.
CaoCao and Lv Bu clashed again and again, and Lv Bu lost more and more of his area of control to CaoCao. Lv Bu’s losses would not have been that great had he taken the council of Chen Gong. However, Lv Bu was hot headed, and was very confident of his own fighting capabilities. This was true, but wars are not won on the fighting capabilities of one person alone. CaoCao commented thus on Lv Bu, “He had the courage but had no strategy.” 有勇无谋.
And so it was that Lv Bu kept losing and CaoCao kept regaining the Province of Yen (YenZhou) that Lv Bu recently robbed from CaoCao.
Now that Lv Bu had lost YenZhou, he and his troops had nowhere to settle. The advisor Chen Gong advised Lv Bu to seek asylum from Liu Bei. And this time, Lv Bu heeded the counsel of Chen Gong.
Liu Bei’s sworn brothers were not welcoming to the idea, but Liu Bei explained that had Lv Bu not attacked CaoCao’s YenZhou, CaoCao would not have backed away from XuZhou and Liu Bei would not have gained control of XiaoPei. This was how it was that Lv Bu ended up in XiaoPei.
Meanwhile, over at ChangAn and the imperial court, the Emperor was still in the clutches of the Dong Zhuo’s old forces. Eventually, the four generals from Dong Zhuo’s forces started fighting among each other. As it had always been in case like these, whoever has physical possession of the Emperor has the upper hand. Forces loyal to the Emperor helped the Imperial Family flee ChangAn for the previous capital of Loyang, all the while pursued by the forces of the four generals.
While the Imperial Family managed to reach Loyang, the old palace was in ruins, there was no protection for the Imperial Family, and it was the time of famine. An officer of the court suggested the Emperor seek the help (protection) of CaoCao, and a message was sent.
Before long, CaoCao did arrive at Luoyang, and the Emperor conferred honours on CaoCao. CaoCao had the capital moved XuDu 许都*, then surveyed his position. He may have the Emperor, but with Liu Bei and Lv Bu together, they could threaten CaoCao’s forces.
CaoCao’s advisors came up with this plan. Issue an Imperial Edict to have Liu Bei capture Yuan Shu in the south. At the same time, inform Yuan Shu that Liu Bei intends to extend his control to include Yuan Shu’s territory in the south. This would cause Yuan Shu and Liu Bei to fight, and weaken them. At the same time Lv Bu would be tempted to usurp Liu Bei’s territory, and this would divide all the parties.
CaoCao agreed to this plan, and it was set in motion. Liu Bei knew it was a ruse, but he could not disobey an Imperial Edict. Before long, Liu Bei was attacking Yuan Shu, and in his absence, Chen Gong advised Lv Bu to attack Liu Bei’s XuZhou. Before long, XuZhou was in Lv Bu’s hands. Liu Bei’s family, who was still in XuZhou, was unharmed.
And so, at the end of the Chapter, the Emperor escaped from the clutches of Dong Zhou’s old forces and sought the protection of CaoCao. CaoCao had the capital and the Emperor moved to the city of XuDu 许都. Through a ruse set by CaoCao, while Lui Bei was attacking Yuan Shu, Lv Bu attacked and gained XuZhou from Liu Bei’s hands, thus dividing the forces that may threaten CaoCao. After Sun Jian’s death his forces remained in the Southlands.
* XuDu许都 subsequently changed its name to XuChang 许昌.
|
|
|
|
Post by chefying on Jan 26, 2015 13:08:11 GMT
This clip is from the 2010 Three Kingdoms, depicting the Emperor at the ruins of Loyang, and his subsequent rescue by CaoCao.
|
|
|
|
Post by chefying on Jan 27, 2015 7:58:57 GMT
Chapter 15 And so, at the end of the last Chapter, the Emperor escaped from the clutches of Dong Zhou’s old forces and sought the protection of CaoCao. CaoCao had the capital and the Emperor moved to the city of XuDu. Through a ruse set by CaoCao, Liu Bei received an Imperial Edict to to attack Yuan Shu. While Liu Bei and Yuan Shu faced each other, Lv Bu attacked and captured XuZhou from Liu Bei’s hands, thus dividing the forces that may threaten CaoCao. After Sun Jian’s death his forces remained in the Southlands. When Yuan Shu 袁术 heard Lv Bu had taken Liu Bei’s XuZhou 徐州, Yuan Shu sent presents and enticed Lv Bu to attack Liu Bei. When Liu Bei heard this news, he disbanded his army, so when Lv Bu’s forces arrived, there was no battle to be fought. Lv Bu then demanded his reward from Yuan Shu – but Yuan Shu refused to pay up. Granted Lv Bu’s forces went to attack Liu Bei, but Liu Bei was not destroyed, so no payment. Lv Bu was furious, but his forces were insufficient to attack Yuan Shu. In the end, to pacify things, Lv Bu offered Liu Bei XiaoPei 小沛. Liu Bei’s sworn brothers were not pleased – after all, XuZhou was Liu Bei’s, Liu Bei offered XiaoPei to Lv Bu as shelter. Now, Lv Pu had snatched XuZhou from Liu Bei, and offered XiaoPei to Lv Bu as shelter. However, Liu Bei, seeing that his wife and family in XuZhou was not harmed - in fact, well looked after - let things be and they all retired to XiaoPei. The story turns now to Sun Jian’s family – subsequently the Wu 吴 Kingdom of the Three Kingdoms of Wei 魏, Shu 蜀 and Wu 吴. Upon Sun Jian’s death, his son, Sun Ce 孙策 realized that he does not have sufficient army to rule the Southlands. So, left Sun Ce left his mother and the rest of his family at Qu’E 曲阿 while he sought the service of Yuan Shu. Yuan Shu’s indirect role in the death of Sun Jian, Sun Ce’s father, was told in Chapter Seven here[/font][/a]. Yuan Shu used Sun Ce in many a successful battles. Eventually, Sun Ce decided to borrow troops from Yuan Shu to, ostensibly, pacify and regain his father’s stronghold of JiangDong/the Southlands south of the Yangtze River. As a surety, Sun Ce offered the Imperial Seal* to Yuan Shu for safekeeping. Shortly after Sun Ce set off, he met his old friend Zhou Yu**. Zhou Yu was well versed in strategy and is also a capable warrior. Together, they managed to enlarge the Sun family’s influence and conquered many cities, including the strategic city of Hangzhou. Sun Ce absorbed his opponent’s forces and soon, his troops grew in size. In time, he pacified the region south of the Yangtze river, and the whole fertile area came under his control. Having done this, he wrote a memorandum to the Emperor, and reached an understanding of non-interference with CaoCao. Next, Sun Ce then wrote to Yuan Shu to demand back the Imperial Seal found by his father, Sun Jian. However, Yuan Shu was unwilling to return the seal for, whoever holds the seal (and with sufficient military power) could proclaim himself Emperor. Yuan Shu thought of attacking Sun Ce, but his advisor noted that at present, Sun Ce was strong. It would be more advisable to strike Liu Bei in revenge for his unwarranted attack*** on Yuan Shu. Moreover, Liu Bei was camped in Xiaopei, and could be easily taken. At the end of this Chapter, the Emperor had escaped from the clutches of the remnants of Dong Zhuo's troops, and sought the protection of CaoCao. CaoCao had the capital and the Emperor moved to the city of XuDu. Lv Bu captured XuZhou from Liu Bei’s hands, but granted Liu Bei the resting place in the form of Xiaopei. Sun Jian’s son, Sun Ce, together with Zhou Yu, managed to pacify the Southlands and increase his influence and power. * This was the Imperial Seal that was lost when Dong Zhuo moved the capital from Loyang to ChangAn. Sun Jian found it, and kept it. Yuan Shuo, cousin in Yuan Shu, ordered the Prefect of JingZhou to stop Sun Jian’s retreat to the Southlands and retrieve the seal. Sun Jian lost many soldiers in this battle. ** The same Zhou Yu who would, in time, become the Wu Kingdom’s military advisor. *** I suppose that in Yuan Shu’s eyes, Liu Bei’s Imperial Edict to attack Yuan Shu does not count as being a warranted attack. |
|
|
|
Post by chefying on Jan 27, 2015 8:03:16 GMT
This clip is from the 2010 Romance of the Three Kingdoms. It depicts Sun Ce taking leave of Yuan Shu, meeting Zhou Yu and the offering of the Imperial Seal as surety. There was no mention of the loan of soldiers, and it changed it to the loan of four generals - all formerly in the service of Sun Ce's father, Sun Jian. The sequence of events and the events were changed somewhat.
|
|
|
|
Post by chefying on Jan 27, 2015 15:14:56 GMT
In the clip above, at 6'50" Zhou Yu said to Sun Ce, "大丈夫生为豪杰死为鬼雄" which had been translated as "A man should live a hero or die as one".
In the Sung Dynasty (a few hundred years after the Han Dynasty) poet Li Qing Zhao wrote the poem
《夏日绝句》
生当作人杰，
死亦为鬼雄。
至今思项羽，
不肯过江东
Alive, one should be outstanding
Even dead one should be a heroic spirit
Until now, one still reminiscent of XiangYu
Who was unwilling to cross to the Southlands.
The first two lines of the poem closely resemble Zhou Yu's speech.
I am not too sure if these words were in the book itself, or if the writers applied poetic license, spanning a few dynasties.
|
|
|
|
Post by chefying on Jan 28, 2015 9:00:20 GMT
This is the details on the Imperial seal as per the book I have mentioned above. I am too lazy o translate it. All willing parties welcomed.  Meanwhile, the 2010 ROTK showed Yuan Shu admiring the seal, and I took a screen cap of the inscription on the seal.  The characters are in the seal script, and I recognise only a few of them. These characters agree to that detailed in my aforementioned book, i.e. 受命于天既寿永昌. I would presume these were the exact words as stated in the book Romance of the Three Kingdoms. |
|
I love Caocao depiction there. I hate Peter Ho as Lv Bu. I really can't understand why Peter is casted in so many series as the great warrior. lv Bu, and then Xiang Yu. Peter Ho??? Sigh!!!
