#Zhou Yu ~ Victory Version

[music-musou]

#Shin Sangoku Musou #Dynasty Warriors #Sangoku Musou #Dynasty Warriors 1 #Zhou Yu ~ Victory Version #Zhou Yu #Victory Version #Wu #Koei BGM Division #music musou #tune warriors

[bookofjin]

Regarding the Yu Lidi question, his Chinese name is 于栗磾 though after reading about his great grandson, Yu Zhong, I think it could also be 勿忸于栗磾

See below for his biography from WS031. As you mention, his family name probably was Wuniuyu 勿忸于, but Weishu anachronistically applies the sinicized versions of the Xianbei family names throughout. (So Zhou Ji should be Pu Ji, and Xi Jin should be Daxi Jin)

When Zhao and Wei were pacified and setted, Taizu set up a grand drinking assembly. He spoke to Lidi, saying:

Sir, you are precisely my Qing and Peng.

He greatly bestowed gold and silk, and advanced him to provisional Duke of Xin'an.

Taizu hunted at Baideng Mountain, and saw a bear commanding several children, he looked back and spoke to Lidi, saying:

Sir, you are bravely shielding like this, is it not better to wrestle with it?

He replied, saying:

The nature of Heaven and Earth is that man is prized. Suppose [I] wrestle with it and do not succeed, how is it not needlessly killing this one strong soldier. [I] myself can spur on and deliver the driven in front, sit down and arrange it.

Soon all were caught and captured. Taizu looked back and apologized.

Middle of Yongxing [409 – 413],crowds of bandits greatly rose up in Guandong, Xihe turned to rebellion. Lidi accepted instructions to conquer and attack, the places he was pointed to were all pacified. Immediately after, using his original title, he stayed to garrison Pingyang. He moved to General who Garrisons the Distant and Garrison Commander of Henei. He was bestowed the feudal title of Baron of Xincheng Lidi consoled and guided the new nation, and very much had power and favour.

During Liu Yu's invasion of Yao Hong, Lidi worried about his northern disturbances. He thereupon built ramparts at above the He, and personally defended them himself. He endured defending, was rigorous and circumspect. He looked out and scouted, but did not communicate. Yu very much dreaded him and did not dare proceed with the advance. Yu dispatched a letter to Lidi, distantly quoting the affairs of Sun Quan seeking to chastise Guan Yu, to make use of the roads and go west upriver. The title of the letter said:

Under the banners of His Excellency Black Lance.

Lidi, since the descriptive petition became known, and Taizong allowed it, he was conferred Black Lance General. Lidi was fond of wielding a black lance as a symbol for himself. Yu viewed him and was astonished, for that reason he had told it so.

At Xi Jin's conquest of Huluo, Lidi separately led the multitudes by which a section attacked Dezong's Grand Warden of Henan, Wang Juanzhi at Jinyong. Juanzhi abandoned the castle to escape and ran.

He moved to Inspector of Yu province, General like before, and advanced in feudal rank to Marquis of Xin'an. Luoyang, though the capital of successive eras, for a long time had been at the edge of the border. The walls and guard-towers were barren and bleak, the countryside had no [hearth] smoke and fires. Lidi cut down and opened up the rampant weeds, the labourers came and calmly collected. His virtue in punishment had been established, and he considerably obtained the hearts of the hundred families. Taizong went south to favour Mengjin, he spoke to Lidi, saying:

Can the He be bridged?

Lidi said:

Du Yu built a bridge, ignored matters can be pondered.

He therefore arranged a sequence of great ships, joining together into a bridge at Yeban. When the Six Armies had crossed, Taizong deeply sighed and commended him.

At Shizu's conquest of Helian Chang, he counselled Lidi and the General of Song Troops, the Marquis of Jiaozhi, Zhou Ji, to assault Xiacheng. Chang's Grand Warden of Hongong, Cao Da did not fight, but ran. They exploited the victory for a long chase, continuing until they arrived in Sanfu. He was advanced feudal rank to be a Duke, concurrently General who Calms the South.

When they pacified Tongwan, he moved to Garrison Commander of Puban. At the time, thieves rose up in Hongnong, Henei and Shangdang commanderies, Lidi chastised them. He shifted to Garrison Great Commander of Hulao, concurrently Controller of the Army of Henei. Soon after he moved to Envoy Holding the Tally, Commander-in-Chief of All Army Affairs of Yan and Xiang Provinces, General who Garrisons the South and Chief Commander of Fangtou. He again became a Great Official of the Outer Capital, he was fair with punishments and settled litigations, he considerably had fame and esteem.

He passed on aged 75. He was bestowed a private receptacle in the Eastern Garden, one outfit of court dress, one set of clothes, and the posthumous rank of Grand Commandant Excellency. Lidi handled armaments from he was young until he was white-haired. When supervising affairs he was good at making decisions, in any direction there were none in front. Even more so, due to his humble modesty subordinate gentlemen, his punishments and penalties were not excessive. Shizu very much grieved the loss of him.

[injanery]

A beginner's guide to Romance of the Three Kingdoms

Romance of the Three Kingdoms is among the most widely-read and influential novels in the world, bringing together centuries of accumulated folk tales and popular elaborations relating to the Three Kingdoms period in ancient China (220-280 AD). The amalgamated version we read today is usually attributed to the fourteenth-century playwright Lo Kuan-Chung. Later editions added to this work, however, and by the seventeenth century the most widely-circulated version had acquired the immortal opening line: 'Empires wax and wane; states cleave asunder and coalesce.'

Partly because the book relates to such an omnipresent phenomenon as the rise and fall of states, it continues to capture imaginations on a global scale. Chinese and Japanese culture has drawn heavily on the themes and lessons of the Three Kingdoms in poetry, artwork, theatre, literature, and politics. In China, the novel has been adapted into multiple serialised television programmes, as well as a string of blockbuster films. Japan has developed many video games based on the book, and the British studio Creative Assembly also released their own Three Kingdoms strategy game.

For the casual reader, however, the book can present a bewildering challenge. The most popular English edition tops out at 1,360 pages, despite being heavily abridged. Following all the countless narrative threads from start to finish requires multiple readings, especially as some of them seem insignificant at first. The reader is also given a dizzying list of names to memorise, including geographical locations and, for individuals, as many as three different names which may be used interchangeably. The writing style is also not what most Western readers will be accustomed to: for example, detailed descriptive passages are used sparingly, and much of the scenery is not described at all. It is a shame for this remarkable story to go under-appreciated for such superficial reasons, but it does require some demystification. So what, exactly, is the book all about, and why does it still matter so much?

***

Until the end of the Qing dynasty in 1912, China was ruled by a millennia-long succession of imperial families. The history of the country is usually split into chunks named after the dynasty ruling at the time, such as the Zhou (1050-256 BC), the Han (206 BC-220 AD), and the Tang (618-906 AD). Each dynasty ascended to power after a period of upheaval and civil war, and ended in the same fashion after descending into weakness, corruption, and inefficiency. This process gave rise to a sense of inevitability and a feeling that all regimes have a limited lifespan—hence the inclusion of the line 'Empires wax and wane' in the edition that was circulated shortly after the fall of the Ming dynasty (1368-1644 AD).

The events of Romance of the Three Kingdoms take place during and after the demise the Han dynasty, which succeeded the short-lived Qin dynasty (221-206 BC) and before that the Zhou. The influence of Confucianism, a deeply hierarchical, patriarchal, and ritualised philosophy of social order formulated in the time of the late Zhou dynasty, can be felt throughout the Romance. Women, for instance, only become key actors when they are used as pawns to seduce enemies and destabilise states, or when they attempt to meddle in politics and thereby doom their own cause. All main characters have a deeply hierarchical view of the world, and among their followers, loyalty and sacrifice are the most prominent virtues. Nowhere are this themes more visible than in the opening chapters.

Readers are presented with a Han state that, through decades of misrule, has fallen into chaos. Instead of listening to learned advisers, recent emperors have let power fall into the hands of a group of eunuchs, leading the Heavens to inflict natural disasters and supernatural events upon China, and a visitation by a 'monstrous black serpent' upon the emperor. This sets the tone of the whole story: real events interspersed with fantastical elaborations and dramatised innovations.

We hear from one of the emperor's ministers, who informs him that the recent happenings were 'brought about by feminine interference in State affairs'. The social order has been neglected, leading to a general decay in the moral standing of state and country. Into this power vacuum comes a popular rebellion inspired by a mystical movement: the Yellow Turbans. The causes, composition, and objectives of the rebellion are left unexplored, and for the authors these details are inconsequential anyway—it merely serves as a narrative tool to demonstrate the extent of government weakness and set the scene for the introduction of the tale's central heroes.

The Han government puts out a call to arms to defeat the Yellow turbans, and among those to answer the call is Liu Bei, a shoemaker who claims descent from the Han royal line and, together with his sworn warrior-brothers Guan Yu and Zhang Fei, goes on to found the Shu-Han state in south-western China—one of the Three Kingdoms. Liu Bei is the character with whom the authors seem to sympathise most, being portrayed as an empathetic and just ruler who surrounds himself with able advisers and noble warriors. His virtue, however, often becomes a detriment when competing with less scrupulous opponents.

Another to answer the call was Ts'ao Ts'ao, later the founder of the kingdom of Wei in northern China and an altogether more ruthless, cunning, and suspicious character. Although he takes on a villainous aura at times, his state would prove to be the base from which a new dynasty was ultimately founded.

The Yellow Turban rebellion is successfully defeated by this coalition, and the eunuchs too are deposed from their over-powerful position in the royal court. Into the power vacuum, however, comes another menace, Dong Zhuo—gluttonous, cruel, barbaric—who seizes possession of the young emperor Xian and therefore the levers of power. Another coalition of regional warlords, including Liu Bei and Ts'ao Ts'ao, is formed to challenge Dong, and at this point we meet the family behind the third of the Three Kingdoms—Sun Jian and his sons, Ce and Quan. Their kingdom would be called Wu, based south of the Yangtze river.

The coalition against Dong eventually breaks apart and fails, and he is instead killed by his own general when members of his court hatch a plot to involve the two of them in a love triangle. With Dong gone, China once again descends into a violent power-struggle. The list of petty regional lords and pretenders to the throne is gradually whittled down until there remains a triumvirate of challengers—Liu Bei's Shu-Han, Ts'ao Ts'ao's Wei, and Wu under the Sun family. What follows is an epic, winding tale of political and military intrigue, plots, assassinations, battles of wit, moral dilemmas, and an ever-changing web of alliances and loyalties. Each kingdom has its moments of triumph and disaster, and their rulers all declare themselves to be the sole legitimate emperor.

***

There are perhaps four key moments that define the direction of the story following the founding of the Three Kingdoms. The first is the Battle of Red Cliffs (208 AD), fought on the Yangtze river between an alliance of Liu Bei and Sun Quan and the vastly more numerous invading forces of Ts'ao Ts'ao. Liu’s strategist, the legendary Zhuge Liang, prays for a favourable wind, enabling the allies to launch a daring fire attack and burn the Wei navy. This victory halts Ts'ao's momentum, but Shu and Wu eventually fall out over territorial disputes, and one of Sun Quan's generals later kills Liu Bei's beloved brother, Guan Yu.

Liu's rage at the death of his brother prompts him, against the advice of his followers, to invade Wu. The result, the Battle of Xiaoting (222 AD), is the second key turning point in the story. Wu's forces again deploy fire tactics to destroy the invading army, and the defeated Liu retreats to coalesce and focus his efforts against the more expansive kingdom of Wei.

From 228 to 234 AD, the unmatched Shu strategist Zhuge Liang leads a series of northern expeditions against Wei, and these campaigns comprise the third turning point. Although Zhuge uses his superhuman strategic abilities to achieve some remarkable results on the battlefield, none of his expeditions inflict a decisive blow, partly because Wei had by this time found its own talismanic strategist in Sima Yi. A long rivalry ensues between these two great minds, and while Zhuge is portrayed as having the edge, he is always foiled at the last moment by natural causes or by political failures in Shu following the death of Liu Bei. Zhuge's own demise then removes the greatest external threat to Wei's dominance.

Another key player to have passed away by this point is Ts'ao Ts'ao. Like the Han state before it, the kingdom of Wei was now in the hands of far less capable figures than its founder, leaving the way clear for the final key moment in the tale: Sima Yi's coup against Ts'ao Shuang and his seizure of power in Wei (249 AD). Sima's descendants go on to conquer Shu-Han (263 AD), declare their own dynasty (the Jin, 266-420 AD), and finally conquer Wu (280 AD).

And so it was that none of the Three Kingdoms survived to unify China. All of them ultimately became microcosms of the same dysfunction and decay that afflicted late Han, and they suffered the same end. This is the great irony of the Romance. However, it also helps to explain the enduring popularity of this tale, for it concerns not just the fortunes of states, but something much more intimate—the apparent powerlessness of human effort when stacked against the will of the Heavens and the crushing inevitability of fate. As the book's concluding poem states:

All down the ages rings the note of change, For fate so rules it; none escape its sway. The kingdoms three have vanished as a dream, The useless misery is ours to grieve.

#china #threekingdoms #rotk #history #literature #dynasty #books #totalwar #dynastywarriors #educational

[fuyonggu]

Chen Lin’s Proclamation to Wu (Short Version, No Commentary)

This is the abridged version of this post.

Proclamation to the Generals, Officers, and Subordinates of Wu

By Chen Kongzhang (Chen Lin)

On the first day of the year, the Prefect of the Masters of Writing, Xun Yu, distributed this proclamation to the various generals, officers, and subordinates of the Southland and to Sun Quan's friends and relatives, both near and far:

"It has been said, 'Happiness and misery have no gate by which they must enter, but each man calls the one or the other for himself'. For the man who 'sees his opportunity and acts', rather than remain amidst adversity and peril, has the wisdom of a great sage; he who, faced with danger and pressed by circumstances, heeds the new situation only in the end, deserves the concern of the knowledgeable; and he who only plunges deeper into the muck and mire, never turning aside from doom, merits the annihilation of the foolish. Thus does the refined and superior gentleman consider danger even while at peace, and contemplates future regrets even when they seem remote, while the inferior man is caught unawares by misfortune and laments his loss, and in the end meets with death and destruction. Is there not a great divide between them?

"Now Sun Quan is a mere whelp, and 'unable to distinguish beans from wheat'; he has not worth enough to 'douse the axe' of authority, nor reputation enough to impress anyone. He is a mere hatchling, still growing his adult feathers. Yet he would seek to wander about and do as he pleases, like a dog who barks at his master; he claims that his boats and ships will let him oppose the imperial majesty, and his rivers and lacks shall save him from august punishment. But he does not recognize that Heaven casts its net wide, and he shall be caught in it; he is nothing but a fish in the pot, who will cook when its time has come.

"Has he his rivers to protect him? Yet by the waters of Lake Dongting there remains not a trace of the three ancient states of Miao. Ziyang (Gongsun Shu) had the Jing Gate to guard him, yet he was defeated; Chaoxian (northern Korea) had their ramparts, but they availed them not; Nanyue had their banners, yet they too perished.

“In ancient times, the King of Wu, Fuchai, inherited the legacy of his father Helü and the trained army provided by Shen Xu (Wu Zixu), and he stood astride the region of Kuaiji. Certainly he could have been called a mighty king. Yet when he sought to prove whose was the premier state and struggled with Jin for supremacy, his capital city was sacked by Goujian of Yue and his soldiers were put to flight at Huangchi, and in the end his state was toppled and destroyed and his corpse fell into the hands of the Yue army.

“During the Han dynasty, there was the Prince of Wu, Liu Bi, who was proud, arrogant, and overbearing. Out of his ferocity and cunning, he sought to start disorder, for he believed that he had a strong army and a rich territory, and that he was powerful enough to bully the capital. But when the Grand Commandant (Zhou Yafu) led his army down to Xingyang, the armies of the seven states cracked like tiles and melted like ice, and before Liu Bi could even say a word of condemnation, his throat had already been cut by the blade of Dantu.

“What to make of the fate of such men? Merely this: that the might of Heaven cannot be opposed, and those who rebel against its will are great criminals indeed.

"Nor can Sun Quan be secure in the power of his army. After all, it has been nearly thirty years by now since Dong Zhuo first began the turmoil. And during that time, great heroes and talents roamed the length and breadth of the land, territorial as bears and implacable as tigers. The most powerful among them were those like the two Yuans (Yuan Shao and Yuan Shu), and the strongest were those like Lü Bu; for more than ten years, they stood astride several provinces, and they wielded power and commanded respect. Even beyond them, there were many remarkable heroes with passion and zeal, gazing like owls and glancing like wolves, and in this struggle for heroic supremacy there were too many people to count. Yet in the end, every one of them fell under the axe and parted with their heads; the clouds dispersed and the plains were scorched, and not a man remained among them.

"More recently, there were the generals of Guanzhong (Ma Chao and his allies), who banded together to rebel and cause chaos. They blocked the two Huas (Huayin and Huayang), occupied the Yellow and Wei Rivers, led the Qiang and other tribes to charge forward, and pushed their vanguard towards the east. They possessed towering zeal and lofty ambitions, and it seemed as though no one could stand against them. Yet the Prime Minister (Cao Cao) took up the military battle-axe and spread the word, and, sure as wind and blazing as fire, he 'led the way in front' and routed the foe before a roll of the drums. The result was 'a heap of corpses by the thousands and tens of thousands, of flowing blood and discarded shields'. These are things which all the realm well knows.

"Later, when the grand army had come to the banks of the Yangzi but had not yet crossed, Han Yue (Han Sui) and Ma Chao scampered off and fled back to Liangzhou, where they once again sought to caw and bark. The traitor and bandit Song Jian, who had declared himself King of the Source of the Yellow River, formed common cause with their evil; they helped each other as the lips support the teeth. It was the same way with the General Who Guards The South, Zhang Lu, who was confident in his defenses and so refused to respect royal authority. These enemies were all deserving of our royal punishment. Thus the Prime Minister merely reviewed the troops and made a demonstration at the Yangzi, then once again put the royal armies in order and charged to the west on campaign, to inflict the punishment of the realm against these foes.

"What were the results? No sooner had mere subordinate generals crossed the Long Mountains when Song Jian and Han Sui parted with their heads, and their heads and banners were sent ten thousand li to us. The moment that our army entered San Pass, the various Di tribes came to submit to us, and their kings, nobles, chiefs, and leaders all fled in the face of our advance. When we advanced to Hanzhong, Yangping Gate fell before us; Zhang Lu's army of a hundred thousand men was no more than fallen earth or rotting fish. Zhang Lu himself scurried away, fleeing into Bazhong, but then cherishing the kindness that he had been shown and repenting of his transgressions, he brought his whole family and returned to surrender. The King of the the tribes of Ba, Pu Hu, and the Marquis of the Cong tribes, Du Huo, each led their forces to come and submit, presenting up Ba commandary, and these leaders were employed in office. Thus with one blow of the horns and one roll of the drums, these two corners of the realm were all pacified; we reaped the full bounty of the western sea without even a clash of the vanguards.

"Such things as these only come about through the might and wisdom of Heaven above and the martial prowess of the very spirits of state; they are not something that the power of a mere mortal can accomplish.

"And how generous and benevolent the court is; most impartial, fully civil and fully trustworthy, and greatly willing to grant titles as a display to all the realm. Having submitted to the dynasty, Zhang Lu, Pu Hu, and Du Huo were all granted fiefs of ten thousand households, Zhang Lu's five sons were all granted fiefs of a thousand households, and more than a thousand of the relatives and subordinates of Pu Hu and Du Huo were granted titles from minor marquises and generals on down. Thus were the people able to enjoy tranquility, and the Four Professions returned to their livelihoods. But as for those who rebelled, Song Jian and Han Yue (Han Sui) and their ilk were all 'buried under a mound', while Ma Chao's wife and children were beheaded at Jincheng and his parents and infants were executed in the Xu marketplace. These were not merely the whims of the state to inflict misfortune here and bestow blessings there; they were the just fruits of the submissive and the traitorous.

"Before it snatches its prey, a raptor will often first ascend in order to muster its full power. Likewise, before King Wu of Zhou's ultimate victory at Muye, he first withdrew from Meng Crossing. So too have we been clearing the brambles and cutting away the thorns, restoring peace among the tribes and the Xia (ethnic Han), such that now all the territory for ten thousand li around has become respectful and submissive, and there is no military trouble to be found.

"And now (~217) we have brought forth this heavenly army against you, one million strong, bolstered with the support of the Chanyu of the Xiongnu, Huwanchu (Huchuquan), the various tribes of the six commandaries, the Wuhuan, the Dingling, and the Chuge, and the Qiang and Bo tribes of Huangzhong. Like the rolling of thunder and the unfurling of a mat, we have swept south from Shouchun. At the same time, the General Who Conquers The West, Xiahou Yuan, and others are leading forth fifty thousand elite armored soldiers. The Di and Qiang tribes of Wudu and the zealous troops of the Ba and Han regions are marching south to the Wen River and the Yangzi to swiftly occupy the regions of Tang and Shu. The armies of Jiangxia and Xiangyang are also on the move, crossing the Xiang and Yuan Rivers and approaching Yuzhang. Lastly, our great fleet of tower ships is skirting the coast of the sea and heading straight for the regions of Wu and Kuaiji. All along this front of ten thousand li, we march as one, advancing along five routes against us. Sun Quan's fate is now at hand.

"Now the Prime Minister, as the agent of the state's authority, is acting to remove threats to the people, and there can be no salvation for the abhorrent chief criminals; they shall surely part with their heads. But 'the branches attached and the leaves that follow' may yet be spared; though the leaders are doomed, their followers need not be condemned. The imperial edict does not decree that such people must die. On the contrary, every time that the Prime Minister has vanquished a powerful foe, he has never failed to first offer opportunities for surrender and only afterwards execute those who would not submit. He has recruited generals and obtained talents, and all such people found their full use in his service. And in all instances, there have been meritorious ministers who have 'stood on tiptoes and craned their necks', who have heeded the situation and responded to circumstances.

“For example, when Yuan Shu treasonously claimed imperial title and the court executed him and his generals, the Administrator of Lujiang, Liu Xun, offered up his commandary to the court and return to the fold of the state. When Lü Bu caused turmoil and the Prime Minister led the army to Xiapi, Zhang Liao and Hou Cheng led their troops out to surrender. When the Prime Minister returned to campaign against Sui Gu, Xue Hong and Jiu Shang opened the gates of his city and submitted. During the battle of Guandu, Zhang He and Gao Huan (Gao Lan) changed sides and performed great deeds. Later, during the campaign against Yuan Shang, the General-Commandant, Ma Yan, the former Inspector of Yuzhou, Yin Kui, and the Colonel of Archers Who Shoot At A Sound, Guo Zhao, came and surrendered during the fighting. When the Prime Minister surrounded Ye, the general Su You turned against Yuan Shang and supported the Prime Minister from the inside, and Shen Pei's nephew opened the gates of the city and let the army in. After Yuan Tan was executed, the great general of Youzhou, Jiao Chu, attacked Yuan Xi and drove him out, then heeded the situation and came to submit.

"There were hundreds of such people, all loyal, strong, stalwart, and zealous, all intelligent, all benevolent. They all joined with the Prime Minister to advise him and help develop his plans, to break and charge on campaigns against his foes, to root out his enemies and pull up their banners, and to restore peace and tranquility within the Four Seas. They did not take such actions lightly! It was truly an instance of 'Heaven displaying its heart', of them 'thinking deeply and considering the long-term'.

"Consider well the crossing-point between good and evil; understand the division between possible and impossible. Let the brave not die a pointless death; let the dutiful not maintain a meager charge. Bow to the reality of circumstances, for there is only one road by which you may preserve yourself. And if you do so, then you may establish a mountain of achievements and enjoy an incalculable salary. Those who in the morning were hated criminals may become the highest of generals by evening. This is what is meant by 'recognizing the situation in the midst of difficulties and exchanging bad fortune for good'.

"There are those who will say I am only enticing you with honeyed words and trying to win you over with trifling kindness. But such people are merely stuck in the mud; they are already lost, yet they do not realize it. How many people shall continue to go along with the flow and be snuffed out in the flames with all the others? Would it not be tragic to throw away a chance for good fortune?

"A few years ago, when the army was at Hanzhong, the eastern flank of the state was far away from the west, and the garrison remaining at Hefei was not even five thousand strong, while Sun Quan personally led tens of thousands of soldiers against it. Yet he was routed and driven off in defeat. Now he thinks to stand against the rolling thunder. He has little hope.

"One must gain the assistance of Heaven through submission to its will, and the help of the people through the building of trust; to act properly is called righteousness, and to show kinship is called benevolence. Yet though Sheng Xiaozhang (Sheng Xian) was a superior fellow, Sun Quan still executed him, and though Sun Fu was his own brother, Sun Quan still killed him. No one is worse than him in being a robber against righteousness and a ruffian against benevolence. Thus the gods and the spirits judge him as guilty, and the people are united in hatred of him.

"Those who would associate with such a criminal are themselves considered wicked bandits. That is why when, in ancient times, Yi Zhi (Yi Yin) abandoned Xia, he did no injury to virtue, but when Fei Lian died for the sake of King Zhou of Shang, he was not considered a worthy man. Why? Because there are times when it is proper to remain, but also times when it is proper to leave.

"Now the Prime Minister deeply cherishes the longstanding legacies and virtues of the old Southland clans, which have been known for many generations. It was not so long ago that the brilliance of Wei Shuying rose above the highest mountains and his reputation spread all throughout the seas, that the moral principles and indulgent love of learning of Yu Wenxiu were widely regarded, and that the peerless talents and cultivated virtue of Zhou Taiming were known by all. Thus their descendants should 'long enjoy much happiness', and their sons and grandsons should be protected and preserved. Yet Zhou Sheng and all his clan, though innocent, have been executed; the lineage has been scattered and lost, falling into oblivion among the trees and grass. Is that not regrettable? And we have heard that Wei Zhourong and Yu Zhongxiang (Yu Fan) have inherited the legacies of their ancestors, so that 'what the father planned, the son must build', 'the wood chopped by the father must be carried by the son'. So too should the old gentry clans of the Wu region, the Gu, the Lu, and all the rest that have enjoyed high status for generations, repay the virtues of the Han dynasty and glorify the good names of their ancestors.

"Indeed, all the generals and officers of Sun Quan, all his marital relations, are fine treasures and useful tools of our state. Yet they are all pressing one another forward, like rain tumbling from the heavens; they are like an axe-blade without a handle, and how can that be used? They are falling into ruin together. Is that not lamentable?

"Among birds, the phoenix builds its nest high up on a lofty ridge, thus displaying the virtues of a worthy sage. But wrens and shrikes build their nests on reeds and twigs, and when the reeds snap the chicks are destroyed; this displays the delusions of the lowly and foolish. And currently, the Southland itself is no different from such a reed or twig, with many worthy people perched upon it. Truly, they are in great danger.

"The court is generous and magnanimous, tolerant and forgiving, and most sympathetic to the lives of the people. They seek the execution of one man alone, but have no suspicion towards anyone else. Thus they present uncommon rewards, in the expectation of uncommon achievements. Is there not some domineering fellow, some man of passion and drive, who will seize this moment to wrest control of their fate? If so, be diligent! For whosoever can arrange a grand undertaking and perform the greatest of achievements will earn great glory and riches; that would lead to the greatest fortune. Or if you cannot bring yourselves to do that, it would still be sufficient for you to analyze well the situation you face and consider how to exchange death for life.

"Even a tiger will gnaw off its own paw if it is bound by a rope, and even a strong fellow will chop off his own wrist if there is a viper on his hand. Why? Because of the danger posed to the whole body. They see the preservation of their whole body as more important than the loss of the limb. Will you then take delight in your misfortune and think you are at peace, continue your wandering and forget to turn back, be blind to the praises of the Daya poem and ignore the ways in which the past worthies exchanged sides, and turn away from a sure means of safety and prefer to remain on the snapping branch? Shall you live your life only one day to the next, until in the end you are lost? For when our great soldiers are flung against you, then the jade will be smashed along with the stone, and even if you sought to save yourself then, it would be too late.

"Thus I have sent forth these offers to recruit you, to offer titles and rewards and this opportunity to reform yourselves. When you receive this proclamation, carefully consider what I have said to you.

"This decree has the force of an imperial edict."

#Chen Lin #Sanguo #Three Kingdoms

[the-archlich]

I read on one site about the TK that Ling Tong defected Xu Huang in a battle in Jing while Zhou Yu was saving Gan Ning’s force. Any idea what the source of this is?

This would be in reference to Siege of Jiangling. Parts of that are correct, but it’s a little confused.

Short version:

At the start of the siege, Zhou Yu and Cao Ren were camped on opposite sides of the Changjiang. Instead of attempting to force a crossing, Zhou Yu sent Gan Ning upriver to attack Yiling with a small group. Gan Ning captured it quickly but was soon surrounded by Cao Ren’s reinforcements. Zhou Yu took the bulk of the army to aid him.

Ling Tong was left in charge of the main defenses while Zhou Yu was away. Zhou Yu was able to rescue Gan Ning and substantially damage Cao Ren’s army in the process, while Ling Tong maintained the camp (it’s unclear if he actually came under attack or not). With this victory, Zhou Yu was able to establish a bridgehead on the north of the river, prompting Cao Ren to withdraw to Jiangling itself.

Xu Huang was involved with he fighting at Jiangling, although in what capacity is unclear. He was initially stationed at Fan but led a detachment to defeat Guan Yu at Han Crossing, then joined Cao Ren at Jiangling.

The poster in question seems to be under the impression that Xu Huang attacked Ling Tong’s position while Zhou Yu was relieving Gan Ning. I haven’t found any evidence of this, though.

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Hidden Secrets in Disney’s Original 1998 Mulan

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It’s been over 20 years since the original Mulan movie hit our screens and now Disney is blessing us with a remake of the princess-with-a-twist tale. Forget sparkly slippers and a true love’s kiss, Mulan leads her army to victory in her fight for freedom.

The phenomena that became Mulan was originally set to be a short based on an oppressed woman who finds love with a soldier who sweeps her off her feet, but doesn’t find independence. But Disney didn’t want to work on that. The Mulan we all know and love wouldn’t be anything if she wasn’t the independent and resilient girl that we saw. Far from that of the typical princess, Mulan’s love life even comes second to her ambition and drive to protect her family (and identity in doing so). With no need for frocks and fancy, Mulan was a girl who didn’t want or need a man to save her, but was definitely a girl worth fighting for. The remake sees her even more independent, with no Li Shang in sight.

It’s about time that a remake came around, with the first film being so successful that it was nominated for an Oscar for the score. Doesn’t everybody love ‘I’ll Make a Man Out of You’ and the tear-jerking ‘Reflection’ that rocketed Christina Aguilera to stardom?

In anticipation of the upcoming remake, reignite your love for this fiery heroine with some Mulan facts that even the biggest of Disney fans may not know! 

Names are important

Chancellor Chi-Fu is beyond misogynistic and pompous – which doesn’t bode well with Mulan’s reluctance to stay within her female boundaries, or with General Li Shang who wants to make his own mark in protecting China. It’s no surprise then that Disney gave the Chancellor a name that literally translates to ‘bully’.

History plays a part

Mulan is based on a very old legend. ‘The Ballad of Mulan’ is the story of Hua Mulan. Hua Mulan fought for 12 long years in her father’s place, disguised as a man. She was a powerful female warrior from the Northern and Southern Dynasties, and although she was highly praised, she refused to receive any reward for her war efforts, and retired to her hometown for a quiet life.

Comfort is key

Other than Princess Jasmine and Elsa in Frozen 2, Mulan is the only Disney princess to wear trousers, and she rocks them! Of course, it would be pretty tough to wear a skirt or dress in combat. When Mulan is forced to wear a dress for her Matchmaker she looks acutely uncomfortable, and in true girl power style, dismisses any authority over her and goes back to the comfies.

Bring honor to us all

In the scene with her Matchmaker, Mulan makes it clear how irrelevant she thinks gender roles are. She’s scolded for ‘speaking without permission’ and is told she needs to be poised, silent and act calmly. The directors really emphasised the reality of the patriarchy vs women in this scene, and whilst most are happy to conform, Mulan finds it all far too overbearing. Mulan knows she may never be a ‘perfect bride or perfect daughter’ but follows her own dreams anyway – a woman of our modern hearts!

A princess without a crown

Technically, Mulan is not a princess. She wasn’t born into royalty, her father was just a more well-off commoner, and didn’t marry into it either. Even assuming that she married General Li Shang, she still wouldn’t have been a princess consort through marriage. She does receive the Emperor’s Crest though, and that definitely gives her a more regal edge.

Even so, she’s one of the 11 classic princesses that doesn’t wear a crown. It’s a shame, because she would be a great ruler.

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It took a whole army, literally

The film took over 5 years and a team of 700 animators and artists to make. While the original Mulan had an astounding number of people involved to make it happen, the remake is Disney’s biggest gamble yet. The most expensive of any of the recent live-action remakes, Mulan was budgeted $200 million.

The original Mulan garnered a Golden Globe and Oscar nomination, bringing in more than $300 million, which is around $475 million in today’s money. It didn’t do as well in the Chinese box office however, so fingers crossed for the remake.

A voice so beautiful it had to be used more than once

Recognise that beautiful voice? The lovely Lea Salonga, who is the singing voice of Mulan, was also the lady behind Princess Jasmine’s beautiful hits.

Lea also originated the role of Kim in Miss Saigon and was the first Asian to play Fantine and Éponine in Les Misérables on Broadway.

In 2011, she was recognised by the Disney Hall of Fame as a Disney Legend, meaning her handprint and signature is on show at Burbank Studios in California, and she gets a Disney Golden Pass – a lifetime ticket to all Disney parks. We think that Golden Pass is far better than a crown!

Mulan has a real personality

Mulan is so full of character. You may notice she fiddles with her hair a lot. The directors added this in because they noticed that the voice of Mulan, Ming-Na Wen, did this a lot while recording. Just 2 years ago, Ming-Na let her fans know that she still does this, a lot.

The directors got involved more than most

Tony Bancroft and Barry Cook, the directors of the film, made cameos as the firework lighting men at the end of the film.

Tony worked at Disney Animations for over 12 years during its Renaissance Period – a time that saw Disney producing critically acclaimed and commercially successful films that were usually based on old or well-known stories.

While they’re not involved in the new Mulan remake, Bancroft is happy that the 2020 version isn’t a carbon copy of the original, and loves that above all, it shows a girl who wants to bring honor to her family and protect her father.

A bit of a coincidence

The software that the animators used to create the incredible avalanche that Mulan brought down, killing just under 4,000 Hun warriors, and leaving only 6 survivors, was called Atilla. Sounds like a coincidence? Well, yes and no. Although Atilla the Hun was the ruler of the Huns for nearly 10 years, Shan Yu is not based on him! Attila’s many armies didn’t invade the Northern Wei territory, so Shan Yu’s army is most likely based on the Xiongnu Nomads who fought a lot with the Han dynasty in China during the third century onwards

Women are pretty badass

The film makes us believe that it’s a huge shock for a woman to be a warrior, but actually, Hun armies often had women amongst them. Maybe that’s why Shan Yu doesn’t seem all that surprised when he finds out Mulan is a girl at the end of the film.

More Disney princesses are getting involved in combat these days, especially when it comes to protecting their family. Especially Merida who is better with a bow than any man, and Elsa who will do anything to protect Arandelle.

Imagine having things named after your legend? Pretty cool, eh 

Mulan’s father, Fa Zhou, is practicing some tai chi before we see him break down due to injury. The type of tai chi that he’s practicing was Mulan Quan, which is a style named for the legend Hua Mulan herself!

The film is full of little nods to history, which is just one of the things it does so well.

The first of its kind

In the late 80s, a satellite animation studio was set up in the backyard of Disney’s MGM Studios in Florida. This was where Mulan was created, making it the first feature film that Walt Disney Animation Florida created! The Studios went on to create Lilo and Stitch and Brother Bear just a few years later.

A special and secret thank you

Mushu calls out for the Fa ancestors to ‘rise and shine’ in their beautiful family temple and the glowing tombstones light with glistening Chinese calligraphy. In sweet sentiment to the talented creators of the film, the calligraphy actually reads a list of names of people who helped create the film. It’s a beautiful nod to all those who helped build such a masterpiece and perhaps even more special that it’s hidden away a little.

How else would we tell them apart?

The horses from the Hun army have red eyes – evil! It’s classic Disney really, making the ‘bad guys’ look far more scary or unsavoury looking. 

However, it’s actually been reported that Hun parents placed binders on their children’s heads so that their skulls would deform over time, making them look more menacing in appearance. Fear was after all, their main weapon.

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