#Battle of Changban

[grand-theft-carbohydrates]

first day as a early-third-century general and my lame loser of a liege lord has just suffered an overwhelming defeat at the hands of his rival warlord because he refused to abandon the refugees who were slowing him down.

this is our darkest hour. the coalition has been utterly crushed, my sworn-brother is presumed dead and our best general was last seen defecting to the enemy. it's up to me to cover our retreat. i scrape together twenty men and prepare to take a final stand. i am going to save the man i love--this stupid, loyal, big-hearted loser--or die trying.

i hide my men in the nearby woods and order them to tie branches to their horses tails to stir up dust to make it look like there's a lot of us, and then I ride out alone to face the Rival Warlord's army, screaming and raving like a lunatic.

my deranged, suicidal improvisation ends up being an OVERWHELMING SUCESS because the Rival Warlord is a neurotic over-thinker and he believes there's a huge force in the woods, waiting to ambush him. Rival Warlord calls for a retreat and i use this moment to change my pants.

suddenly, a man comes riding towards us with a baby strapped to his back. IT'S OUR BEST GENERAL!!! He hadn't betrayed us after all! he was behind enemy lines, rescuing the Loser Leige Lord's son and wife! we hug, kiss and shed manly tears. the wife gets a fist-bump. don't ask what happens to the baby later, it's not important.

my actions today have single-handedly changed the course of history. we have earned the undying love and support of the people and my Loser Liege Lord will live to fight another day. by the time Rival Warlord has figured out the ruse and orders a second attack, my sworn-brother has arrived with reinforcements and this time we ambush him for real.

as we make sail for the southern lands, i can't help but feel hopeful in spite of the lingering pain in my heart. although we have suffered unimaginable losses, i still have my sworn-brothers by my side. as long as the three of us are togather, there is nothing in the world i cannot endure. if anyone cares to remember my story after i am dead and gone, let it be known that i am but a coarse, common man with more flaws than strengths. if i have become a hero, then it was in spite of myself and all for the people that i loved.

[hidakka]

[popfishjr]

LMAOO CHAT LOOK WHAT I FOUND PAINTED BY THE ROADSIDE

[its-not-a-pen]

Lady Gan, General Zhao Yun and A'dou at the battle of Changban.

[trisshawkeye]

I'm glad we're all still thinking about Zhuge Liang in the timeloop (featuring Zhou Yu edition) now consider the following:

3 loops in: we make it to the Southlands (the last two attempts don't make it that far, we're just starting out, okay? getting the hang of things, figuring out how to survive Bowang and Changban) and I meet this smartass rival strategist who makes me sweat because dear heavens this man is intimidatingly clever, but that's not enough to save us, the timing's all wrong, I can't persuade Sun Quan to engage and it'll take another couple of loops to figure out.

6 loops in: I know the conversations that need to happen now, I know the battles to be fought, I know how long we need to wait for the wind, I know that fire will do our work for us. I know this man. This man who knows most of this already, and he doesn't even have the advantages I do, he's just that good, but it takes the two of us working together to get everyone else to go along with us, and the two of us work so very well together.

10 loops in: I know this man. I know he loves music. I know the sound of his laughter. I know his favourite food. I know the shape his mouth takes when deep in thought. I know the way that he looks at me as if to pick up his sentence where he leaves it off. I know exactly how to do so. I know that he knows me too.

11 loops in: I know the shape of his face beneath my fingers, and he knows mine.

12 loops in: I know that we are pitted against each other before too long, and it kills us both.

15 loops in: I have the conversations I need to hold, the people I need to persuade and infuriate, the timing of every puff of wind along this stretch of the river, down to a fine art. And Zhou Yu doesn't know how I know, but he knows enough to be suspicious. Knows enough to consider me a threat. Just like that, he slips from my grasp.

18 loops in: the first time he tried to kill me he succeeded. I don't think I expected him to actually do it, though I know him well enough that I should have seen it coming. Blinded by my own affection, I didn't notice how his intentions had turned deadly. Now that I know, it's not too hard to slip from his grasp each time he tries. I can't hate him for it. I just laugh, and reassure Lu Su, and arrange for Zhao Yun to pluck me from danger again. I make up elaborate fictions and rituals to call for the wind just to put his mind at ease, though it doesn't quite work.

25 loops in: each time, he dies furious with me. Each time, I still weep at his funeral.

[zhoudadudugongjin]

Red Cliff Part One Thoughts

I really like the style/design (idk proper terminology) whatever. The sets and the locations! The cinematography. It's all really pretty!

My heart was breaking in literally the very first scene with Emperor Xian and the little birdie and he looked so happy for a single second in his miserable life and then Cao Cao came in and he just went... deflate :(

Speaking of Cao Cao.. he didn't really do it for me. He lacked a certain chaotic pizzazz that I think Cao Cao should have. Like he was just Some Guy who occasionally went into Cartoon Villian mode and it was just a bit... bleh. He looked ok though.

Zhuge Liang is kinda cute and I like his energy. His introduction was fun with the way they had him lying in the grass. Looks-wise he doesn't really fit my image of him (i can't deal with his hair being up all the time for a start) but he's still Blorbo™

ZHAO YUN BABY RESCUE ZHAO YUN BABY RESCUE. I didn't initially know the movie covered Changban but I'm SO glad it does.

Also. He got to cuddle Liu Bei 🥺🥰 (who, I might add, DID NOT YEET HIS SON!!!)

Actually Liu Bei really was just a cute old dad in this 💗

We haven't seen much of Guan Yu and Zhang Fei but I like that Zhang Fei seems to actually have braincells. It's a nice change. Also the scene with Guan Yu reading to the kids towards the end is so fucking cute.

I was a bit confused about Sun Quan already being styled as a prince because I was sure that didn't happen until later? but maybe i'm wrong. He's kinda hot.

I found it a bit weird that Zhuge Liang could just walk up into his face like that because it feels a bit inappropriate to do that to a prince you have literally only just met?

Where is Ziyu? Where is my son??

ZHOU YU??? I HAVE to talk for a long time about Zhou Yu. To me this portrayal is like, the Real™ Zhou Yu. I mean don't get me wrong, I enjoy the petty, competitive little bitch that he often gets portrayed as thanks to Luo Guanzhong, but this dude? He's charming. He's kind. I fell so in love with him. Sure in an ideal world he'd have been more of a prettyboy in the face but hey you can't have everything, and he was still kinda handsome. With a gorgeous smile :)

Oh yeah and the way they introduce him by fixing the flute for that kid. I was like THAT'S HIM THAT'S MY NERD. My HEART.

The romantic and sexual tension between these two is off the charts

They go to see Zhou Yu's pretty wife Xiao Qiao and Zhuge Liang helps her deliver a baby horse... just... because? And they gaze lovingly at each other a bit more

And then they go into a darkened room to have sex play a duet while Xiao Qiao and Lu Su watch on awkwardly.

Then Sun Quan's baby sister Xiaomei shows up and asserts herself as the obligatory Sword Girl™. She insists on being involved in all the action and battle scenes. Which, well, fine I guess. At least she was historically into swords.

Anyway they go hunting and we have to watch a guy almost get eaten by a tiger.

Speaking of girls, after this we have to watch Zhou Yu have ACTUAL sex with his wife (possibly to try and make us forget about his chemistry with Zhuge Liang). Which is fine, I guess. But Xiao Qiao has been pretty much a cardboard cut-out Pretty Wife for most of this. She doesn't have anything inspiring or valuable to say. They don't even mention that she's a good musician too!

Off they all go back to meet Liu Bei + Crew again and they all become FRIENDS and it turns into a really cute buddy movie between Wu and Shu. Liu Bei is WEAVING SHOES.

There's a little bit of dick-measuring, but mostly they all get on and it's cute :)

Then there's a bit long battle or whatever. The most notable moment being Zhou Yu PULLING THE ARROW OUT OF HIS SHOULDER OH GOD WHYYYYY. NOO. WHY WOULD YOU RUIN A PERFECTLY GOOD MOVIE WITH THAT

And then they have a big banquet and Sun Quan decides NOW is the perfect time to propose a marriage between his baby sister and that pathetic old Liu Bei. So she seals Liu Bei's accupoints.

The difference between Zhao Yun and Zhuge Liang's reactions to this is very befitting of their characters I think lmao

Cao Cao continues to be a horny vanilla old dick. Zhuge Liang and Xiaomei play with pigeons and have a cute chat. Which feels good to me because I always saw Liangliang as the type that properly respects women.

Zhuge Liang and Zhou Yu have a final little chat where they're like "oh gosh I really hope we don't become enemies :(:(:( " and then that's the end!!

[yeonchi]

Warriors Orochi: The Recollective Redux Part 5.2: Samurai Warriors Side Stages

Chapter 2-X: Battle of Kawanakajima 川中島の戦い

Coalition Army and Ma Chao Army vs. Orochi Army Allied characters: Nobunaga Oda, Huang Zhong, Mitsuhide Akechi Third-party characters: Ma Chao, Peasant x 5 Enemy characters: Sima Yi, Zhang Chunhua, Sima Shi, Sima Zhao, Wang Yuanji, Jia Chong, Zhuge Dan, Zhong Hui, Deng Ai, Dong Zhuo, Ieyasu Tokugawa

Unlockable character: Ma Chao

Clear Chapter 1 to unlock this stage.

Nobunaga arrived at Kawanakajima to find a warrior bravely leading his army against Orochi’s forces. It was Ma Chao, one of the legendary Five Tiger Generals of Shu. He was attempting to keep the citizens of the area safe, leading them to Zenkōji. However, the Orochi Army was led by Sima Yi. Nobunaga moved to their aid after being urged by Huang Zhong.

At the start of the battle, Sima Zhao will appear in place of Wang Shuang, Wang Yuanji will appear in place of Zhong Hui and Jia Chong will appear in place of Guo Huai. Zhuge Dan will appear in place of Wang Lang, Sima Shi will appear in place of the generic Sima Zhao and Zhang Chunhua will appear in place of Xin Pi. Zhong Hui will appear in place of Niu Jin when he appears alongside Deng Ai as ambush troops inside the Stone Sentinel Maze.

Defeat Sima Yi and guide the peasants to Zenkōji to win the battle.

To unlock Ma Chao, ensure that all peasants reach Zenkōji.

Chapter 3-X: Battle of Xiapi 下邳の戦い

Coalition Army and Lu Xun Army vs. Orochi Army Allied characters: Nobunaga Oda, Mitsuhide Akechi, Hideyoshi Toyotomi, Kazumasu Takigawa Third-party characters: Lu Xun Enemy characters: Cao Ren, Zhang Liao, Xu Huang, Mitsunari Ishida, Yue Jin, Li Dian, Yoshitsugu Ōtani

Unlockable character: Lu Xun

Clear Chapter 2 to unlock this stage.

Lu Xun led a resistance unit comprised of Wu soldiers who refused to side with Orochi under any circumstances. Sun Ce defeated him initially at Changban, but Orochi sent out Cao Ren to surround him at Xiapi Castle.

Mitsunari Ishida will replace Guo Jia and Li Dian will replace Xu Shu in this battle.

To unlock Lu Xun, escort him to your main camp and complete the battle with your allies still alive.

Chapter 4-X: Battle of Sishui Gate 汜水関の戦い

Coalition Army vs. Orochi Army Allied characters: Hideyoshi Toyotomi, Okuni, Zhang Jiao, Hanbei Takenaka Enemy characters: Koshōshō, Dong Zhuo, Ina, Lu Lingqi, Lu Bu

Unlockable character: Koshōshō

Clear Chapter 3 to unlock this stage.

Dong Zhuo served Orochi for one reason and one reason only: gold. Orochi was having gold transported to him “for military funding use”. Hearing of this, Hideyoshi Toyotomi gathered an army to ambush the supply units…

This is one of few stages where the unlockable character is different from the original. This was done to maintain Dong Zhuo’s status as a staunch officer of the Orochi Army (and to account for future appearances in other stories).

Hanbei Takenaka will appear in place of Kanbei Kuroda in this battle. Koshōshō will appear as an additional officer in Dong Zhuo’s main camp. Zhang Ji will appear with the first supply captain and Lu Lingqi will take his place to appear with the second supply captain. Lu Bu will continue to appear with the third supply captain.

In the original version, Dong Zhuo will lose faith in Orochi when his gold doesn’t arrive, but in this version, he will proclaim revenge on the Coalition Army while Koshōshō will become intrigued by them. Defeat Koshōshō and Dong Zhuo to win the battle.

To unlock Koshōshō, defeat all supply captains before they reach Dong Zhuo.

Chapter 5-X: Battle of Nagashino 長篠の戦い

Coalition Army and Takeda-Uesugi Army vs. Orochi Army Allied characters: Huang Zhong, Guan Ping Third-party characters: Shingen Takeda, Kenshin Uesugi, Kanetsugu Naoe, Kagekatsu Uesugi Enemy characters: Cao Pi, Sun Quan, Cao Ren, Zhou Tai, Lianshi, Ding Feng, Li Dian, Motonari Mōri, Takakage Kobayakawa, Yoshitsugu Ōtani, Yue Jin

Unlockable character: Cao Ren

Clear Chapter 5 to unlock this stage.

Shingen Takeda and Kenshin Uesugi advanced upon Nagashino, hoping to draw the full attention of the Orochi Army. Their plan worked; Orochi transferred his primary forces from Guandu to Nagashino, leaving Guandu dangerously undermanned.

If Nobunaga were to take advantage of this opportunity and attack Guandu, then a mortal blow could be dealt to Orochi’s ambitions. For this reason, Shingen and Kenshin were prepared to sacrifice themselves. But just as they were prepared to ride to their deaths, help came from an unexpected quarter…

Takakage Kobayakawa will appear with Zhu Huan and Hao Zhao as they attack the Takeda-Uesugi main camp at Nagashino Castle, while Motonari Mōri will appear with Yue Jin and Hiroie Kikkawa as they attack the Tobigasu Garrison. Lianshi and Ding Feng will appear as additional units outside the Orochi Army main camp at Shitaragahara. Li Dian will replace Takatora Tōdō in this battle. Kagekatsu Uesugi will appear with Kanetsugu Naoe when the main cavalry arrives.

During the battle, Cao Ren will be wondering how they can fight if they are prepared to discard their lives to defeat Orochi. To unlock him, rescue Shingen and Kenshin within 5 minutes (originally 2), then defeat him by yourself (preferably while you are escorting the cavalry units to the Maruyama Garrison).

Chapter 6-X: Showdown at Odawara Castle 小田原城決戦 (uses SW2 west map)

Coalition Army vs. Orochi Army Allied characters: Nobunaga Oda, Huang Zhong, Hideyoshi Toyotomi Enemy characters: Zhuge Liang, Sima Yi, Jia Xu, Hisahide Matsunaga, Munenori Yagyū, Ina, Sun Shangxiang, Guan Suo, Ding Feng, (Aya)

Unlockable character: Aya (secret mission)

Clear Chapter 6 to unlock this stage.

Having seized the Orochi Army fortress at Guandu, Nobunaga’s army was riding the crest of a wave. Just at this time, news filtered through of a rebellion against Orochi led by Cao Pi and Mitsunari Ishida at Odawara Castle. The forces of the Orochi Army in Odawara had been severly depleted through the ongoing battle. Nobunaga immediately dispatched a unit to aid the rebellion, thinking that such a golden opportunity should not be overlooked.

Jia Xu will appear among the ambush units in the southern garrison, while Hisahide Matsunaga and Munenori Yagyū will appear among the ambush units in the northern garrison.

Aya can be unlocked in this battle after completing a secret mission, which can be unlocked by defeating Zhuge Liang and Sima Yi after foiling their plans.

See through Sima Yi’s ambush plan by defeating both Yellowbelly and Urutu before they arrive at the northern and southern garrisons. Then see through Zhuge Liang’s empty castle plan by rushing into the central garrison (Mt Ishigaki) alone before your allies do. After defeating Ina and Sun Shangxiang, resume fighting as normal.

After Zhuge Liang and Sima Yi retreat, Aya will appear in an event, explaining that she got lost while she was fleeing the Orochi Army’s attack. She managed to find the Coalition Army and seeing their skill in foiling Zhuge Liang and Sima Yi’s plans, wants to test their skill before she joins them. Defeat Aya in the secret mission and win the battle.

Chapter 7-X: Battle of Kanegasaki 金ヶ崎の戦い

Coalition Army and Honda Army vs. Orochi Army Allied characters: Huang Zhong, Okuni, Xiaoqiao, Kanbei Kuroda Third-party characters: Tadakatsu Honda Enemy characters: Masamune Date, Kojūrō Katakura, Motonari Mōri, Takakage Kobayakawa, Chen Gong, Yu Jin, Jia Xu, Zhuge Dan, Lu Bu

Unlockable character: Tadakatsu Honda (4/4)

Clear Chapter 6-X to unlock this stage.

Orochi sent his closest ally, Masamune Date, to the headquarters of the Resistance in Kanegasaki. If Kanegasaki were to fall, it would mean the end of the resistance. In addition, a fatal blunder had been made, leaving Huang Zhong with a very small defense unit…

On the Orochi Army side, Koroku Hachisuka is replaced by another generic officer because why would he be an enemy when he appears as an ally in Chapter 6-X and 8-X? Kojūrō Katakura will appear as an additional officer next to Masamune Date, while Motonari Mōri and Takakage Kobayakawa appear in place of Zhang He and Guo Jia in this battle.

Enemy reinforcements led by Yu Jin, Jia Xu and Zhuge Dan will arrive when the messenger escapes the battlefield or is defeated; in the case of the former, it will provide the Coalition Army with more enemies to defeat so when the allied reinforcements arrive, it doesn’t look like they came for nothing. Kanbei Kuroda will appear in place of Morichika Chōsokabe among the allied reinforcements. Also, the allied reinforcements will arrive two minutes after the messengers escape instead of three minutes.

This is one of four battles required to unlock Tadakatsu Honda. To impress him, guide the messenger to the northeastern garrison as usual. Defeat Lu Bu yourself and allow the messenger to escape. Wait for the allied reinforcements to arrive, then defeat Masamune to win the battle.

An additional condition in the original game was that none of your allies could be defeated, but that condition has been removed in this version.

Chapter 8-X: Battle of Baidi Castle 白帝城の戦い

Coalition Army and Nō Army vs. Orochi Army Allied characters: Nobunaga Oda, Hanbei Takenaka Third-party characters: Nō, Cao Cao Enemy characters: Kotarō Fūma, Lu Bu, Orochi, Da Ji, Diamondback

Unlockable character: Lu Bu (4/4)

In Chapter 7, get 1000 KOs to unlock this stage.

Baidi Castle was one of the Orochi Army’s main strongholds. Forced to respond to other uprisings, Orochi had left this castle undermanned. Coordinating with his wife, Lady Nō, who had been freed by Sun Ce, Nobunaga organised a pincer attack on the castle. Just when the castle seemed likely to fall, however, Nobunaga received news that Orochi had sent an enormous force to welcome him…

Hanbei Takenaka is replaced by a generic officer in this battle. Yoshimasa Oka and Morishige Tsuchihashi are replaced by other generic officers because the Saika Renegades should be with Shu.

Orochi will appear in this battle if Chapter 8 has been cleared.

This is one of four battles required to unlock Lu Bu. To impress him, just defeat him without running away from him.

[grand-theft-carbohydrates]

OK I HAVEN'T SEEN ANYONE TALK ABOUT THIS YET SO IM GOING TO ASSUME YALL HAVEN'T SEEN IT this is from total war: 3 kingdoms and I am fucking obsessed with all their game trailers because it is 100% made by people who Get It. Favourite things:

1/ the SONG. the FUCKING SONG. ok. this is based on the poem "Hard Roads to Shu" by Tang Dynasty poet Li Bai. The road to Shu was a treacherous mountain path that once led to sichuan and it's also a HOMOPHONE for the Kingdom of Shu Han, which Liu Bei creates with blood, sweat and tears. The first verse, as Liu Bei's army prepares to face Cao Cao: "The road to Shu is hard. As hard as climbing the great blue sky." the verse that plays when Liu Bei falls: "The ground splits, mountains fall, and stout heroes die."

2/ All the citizens are running while Liu Bei and his sworn brothers are walking towards the danger. 3/ Liu Bei helps a fallen man onto his feet. later on, it is the people who do not lose faith in him as his sworn brothers + zhao yun lift him back onto his feet (zhuge liang is also there!). the man lui bei helped before is the one who gives him back his sword.

4/ SMASH CUT TO THE BATTLE OF CHIBI, WITH LUI BEI LEADING THE LAND ATTACK.

5/ ok. yknow. when Cao Cao's calvary is seconds from bearing down on Lui Bei, the dust of their hooves blotting out the sun, and the last thing lui bei does is glance behind him to look at the fleeing refugees???????????? im frothing at the fucking mouth.

5/ im so inordinately pleased with Cao Cao's single, wordless gesture commanding his men to charge. he gets like 3 seconds of screentime and it's used SO well.

6/ I just really, really, really like the overhead shots showing the battle formations ok??? im a slut for a good battle formation. (small nitpick, lui bei actually outnumbered cao cao 2-1. not that it mattered, they were still totally outmatched bc they were basically all footsoldiers. i get this is visual shorthand to show they're the underdog, but still.)

7/ *gasp!* guan yu if you're here at dangyang then who is at jiangling escorting the refugees? you know what, i'll get it slide just this once because it's just that badass.

8/ im such a slut for historically accurate battle tactics you have NO idea, like that little detail of the archers retreating behind the pikemen and see how the pikemen are all STANDING STILL, bracing their ji INTO THE GROUND and NOT CHARGING? pay attention john woo that's how you're suppose to use a polearm against calvary!!!!

9/ OMG these are crossbolt archers!!!! hell yeah!!! also has the implication that lui bei has a less skilled, run-down peasant militia

10/ zhang fei's little wink before the battle. god how do these people sum up their personalities in .5 seconds so well????? 11/ I SEE THEM. I SEE THE BOYS. THEY INCLUDED HIS BIG STUPID DUMBO EARS!!!!!!!!!!!!! 100000/10 NO FUCKING NOTES.

[take-me-to-gusu-emperor]

Leslie Cheung as concubine Consort Yu in "Farewell My Concubine" and Wang Yibo as Zhao Yun in "The Battle of Changban" Day Day Up show

Classic Beijing Opera

[natstarbuck]

Zhao Yun saving Liu Bei’s kid, ep. 32

[huigusu]

WANG YIBO as ZHAO YUN 赵云 in the BATTLE OF CHANGBAN 长坂坡

A classic from the Beijing opera repertoire, the Battle of Changban is adapted from the Romance of the Three Kingdoms. When Liu Bei is forced to flee from Cao Cao’s forces and leaves his family behind, Zhao Yun single-handedly enters Cao Cao’s camp to rescue Liu Bei’s wife and child.

[zhoudadudugongjin]

"Fearing that Liu Bei would take the strategic Jiangling County in the south, Cao Cao swiftly gave chase to Liu Bei with a 5,000-strong elite cavalry force, leaving his baggage behind. As Liu Bei was bringing along more than 100,000 unarmed people and thousands of carts of luggage, his force could not move very quickly. Someone suggested to Liu Bei that he should abandon the people for his safety, but Liu Bei did not have the heart to desert them when the people risked their own lives to follow him." - The Battle of Changban

[mia-japanese-korean]

Zhang Fei of the Yan People, Tsukioka Yoshitoshi, 1872, 11th lunar month, Minneapolis Institute of Art: Japanese and Korean Art

one sheet; dark-skinned man with mouth open, riding a black horse with trappings decorated with red tassels; man holds a red, blue and gold staff and wears predominately green and yellow kimono; horse is crossing a red bridge with green and yellow panels; mountain visible in middle ground behind side of bridge at right Zhang Fei (Jap.: Chō Hi; d. 221) was a great fighter and one of the so-called Five Tiger Generals during the Chinese Three Kingdoms (220–80) period. He fought for Liu Bei (161–223), who had crowned himself as the emperor of Shu state. In 220, Liu Bei attacked a rival kingdom, Wu, to regain control over the lost state of Jing, and Zhang Fei was assassinated by two of his subordinates. This powerful portrait shows him during the Battle of Changban in 208, standing on the bridge, shaking his lance, and daring the opposing forces to attack him. Size: 13 9/16 × 9 in. (34.45 × 22.86 cm) (image, Vertical ōban) 14 × 9 7/16 in. (35.56 × 23.97 cm) (sheet) Medium: Woodblock print (nishiki-e); ink and color on paper

https://collections.artsmia.org/art/127840/

[yeonchi]

Warriors Orochi: The Recollective Redux Part 4.1: Wu Story A

Here we go again with the Wu story!

Initial characters: Sun Ce, Lu Su, Han Dang, Hanzō Hattori, Ieyasu Tokugawa, Naotora Ii, Naomasa Ii

Chapter 1: Battle of Mt. Dingjun 定軍山の戦い

Orochi Army and Xu Huang Army vs. Resistance Army Allied characters: Sun Ce, Sun Quan, Ieyasu Tokugawa, Han Dang Third-party characters: Xu Huang, Yue Jin Enemy characters: Ma Chao, Ranmaru Mori, Yueying, Jiang Wei, Ma Dai, Zhang Bao

Unlocked characters: Zhou Yu, Ranmaru Mori

The officers of Wu were defeated by Orochi at Hefei and Dingtao. Many of their officers, including their leader, Sun Jian, were captured as prisoners-of-war. Sun Ce was then forced to join the Orochi Army and fight the Resistance Army, with his father’s life at threat. However, for every unit they suppress, one hostage will be freed.

Ma Chao banded together some scattered units and led them to Mt. Dingjun. Sun Ce was sent there to suppress this Resistance unit. Though he does not like the prospect of fighting for Orochi, he does so both to protect his family and friends and to test his skill on some worthy opponents.

In the aftermath, Ranmaru is captured by Sun Ce, but he lets him go. Confused at Sun Ce’s actions, Ranmaru decides to join him. Ma Chao escapes the battlefield and Zhou Yu is freed by Orochi.

Chapter 2: Battle of Changban 長坂の戦い

Orochi Army and Da Ji Army vs. Resistance Army Allied characters: Sun Ce, Zhou Yu, Ranmaru Mori, Naotora Ii Third-party characters: Da Ji (withdraws) Enemy characters: Lu Xun, Gan Ning, Zhu Ran, Motochika Chōsokabe, Ling Tong, Sakon Shima

Unlocked characters: Taishi Ci

Orochi orders Sun Ce to wipe out another Resistance unit in Changban. The officers in the unit included Lu Xun, Zhu Ran, Gan Ning and Ling Tong, all officers of Wu. This was a test devised by Da Ji to measure Sun Ce’s loyalty by having him fight against his former allies.

Naotora Ii will appear as an additional officer advancing to the centre of the battlefield. Motochika Chōsokabe will appear in the northwest of the battlefield.

Defeat all officers to win this battle. In the aftermath, Taishi Ci is released from imprisonment.

Chapter 3: Battle of Odani Castle 小谷城の戦い

Orochi Army and Sakon Shima Troop vs. Resistance Army Allied characters: Sun Ce, Zhou Yu, Lu Su, Han Dang, Naomasa Ii Third-party characters: Sakon Shima Enemy characters: Xingcai, Yoshihiro Shimazu, Ling Tong, Gan Ning, Toyohisa Shimazu

Unlocked characters: Lu Meng, Sakon Shima

Sun Ce was ordered to supress the Resistance again, this time at Odani Castle. They were led by Xingcai, with assistance from Gan Ning and Ling Tong, who had fled from Changban. Just as Sun Ce was about to set off, he receives a letter from Sakon, who he met at Changban. He has information concerning Sun Jian that he wants to give to Sun Ce at Odani Castle. However, when they arrive, Sakon has not arrived yet, so they decide to supress the Resistance.

Lu Su replaces Ranmaru Mori in this battle and he will take Zhou Yu’s line about stopping the enemy reinforcements. Toyohisa Shimazu replaces Zhang Bao as well (Zhang Bao will have been captured in Chapter 1), with his place in the Shimazu reinforcements taken by Toshihisa Shimazu.

In the aftermath, Lu Meng is released from imprisonment. Sakon tells Sun Ce that his father is being held at Ōsaka Castle. Sun Ce asks Sakon for his help to guide them there.

Chapter 4: Battle of Ōsaka Castle 大坂城の戦い

Coalition Army and Sun Jian Army vs. Orochi Army Allied characters: Sun Ce, Sakon Shima, Ranmaru Mori Third-party characters: Sun Jian Enemy characters: Cao Ren, Pang De, Yue Jin, Yu Jin, Deng Ai, Zhong Hui, Zhuge Dan, Chen Gong

With the information of his father’s whereabouts gained from Sakon, Sun Ce decided to defect from Orochi and rescue his father.

Yu Jin replaces Hao Zhao and Zhong Hui replaces Zang Ba in the main keep of Ōsaka Castle. Deng Ai replaces Hognose, Zhuge Dan replaces Boomslang and Chen Gong replaces Mamushi as you escape Ōsaka Castle.

To win the battle, Sun Ce and Sun Jian need to reach the escape point (which is basically where you started, but once the father and son are about to escape, more Orochi defence units confront them. Sun Jian offers to stand his ground to allow Sun Ce to escape.

Chapter 5: Battle of Sekigahara 関ヶ原の戦い

Coalition Army vs. Orochi Army Allied characters: Sun Ce, Zhou Yu, Taishi Ci, Naotora Ii, Han Dang, Lu Su, Naomasa Ii Enemy characters: Ina, Sun Shangxiang, Daqiao, Ding Feng, Sun Quan, Zhou Tai, Lianshi

Unlocked characters: Ina, Sun Shangxiang

The morale of the Wu Army was damaged after the failed rescue of Sun Jian. Sun Quan and Sun Shangxiang were obliged to continue their service to the Orochi Army. Sun Ce was declared a traitor, with his punishment tasked to Sun Quan. The three siblings meet at Sekigahara for a confronting showdown.

Naotora Ii and Lu Su appear in place of Zhu Zhi and Cheng Pu in this battle. Naomasa Ii will appear later in place of Tadayoshi Matsudaira when allied reinforcements arrive. Lianshi will appear in place of Zhuge Jin, who in turn will appear in place of Zhuge Ke (Luo).

In the aftermath, Ina tells Sun Shangxiang that Sun Ce is a good man who is concerned for his family. They decide to join Sun Ce’s army.

Chapter 6: Battle of Hefei 合肥の戦い

Coalition Army vs. Orochi Army Allied characters: Sun Ce, Lu Meng, Hanzō Hattori, Ina, Naomasa Ii, Naotora Ii Enemy characters: Sun Quan, Zhou Tai, Lianshi, Cao Ren, Keiji Maeda, Zhenji, Ding Feng, Lu Lingqi, Hisahide Matsunaga, Munenori Yagyū, Yoshitsugu Ōtani

Unlocked characters: Zhou Tai

Orochi sends Sun Quan to attack his brother once more at Hefei, supported by Cao Ren and Keiji Maeda.

On the Coalition Army side, Ina will appear in place of Han Dang, Naomasa Ii will appear in place of Naotaka Ii and Naotora Ii will appear in place of Tadaoki Naitō in the ambush attack.

On the Orochi Army side, Lianshi will appear in place of Sun Shao, Lu Lingqi will appear in place of Yue Jin, Hisahide Matsunaga will appear in place of Cao Zhang and Munenori Yagyū will appear in place of Hiroie Kikkawa.

In the aftermath, Zhou Tai helps Sun Quan escape before he reveals (via Lu Meng) that Sun Quan has been blackmailed by Orochi into fighting for him. Sun Ce asks Zhou Tai to join him.

Chapter 7: Battle of Komaki-Nagakute 小牧長久手の戦い

Coalition Army and Sun Jian Army vs. Orochi Army Allied characters: Sun Ce, Sun Shangxiang, Lu Su, Han Dang Third-party characters: Sun Jian, Sun Quan, Lianshi Enemy characters: Da Ji, Sima Yi, Dong Zhuo, Zhuge Dan, Sima Shi, Zhang Chunhua, Ding Feng (defects to Sun Jian after his rescue)

Unlocked characters: Sun Jian, Sun Quan, Lianshi, Ding Feng

Sun Quan returned to Orochi, aware that he would be punished for his repeated failures to subdue his brother’s rebellion. The news filtered through to Sun Ce that his father, brother and sister-in-law would soon be executed at Komaki-Nagakute, under the direction of Dong Zhuo and Da Ji. Sun Ce quickly assembles an army and sets off. With the help of Hanzō, Sun Jian, Sun Quan and Lianshi have escaped execution, but they are trapped within the enemy camp. Sun Ce and Sun Shangxiang will move to rescue their family, while the other officers act as decoy units.

Lu Su replaces Dong Xi as he heads north alongside Jiang Qin while Han Dang and Cheng Pu head to the centre. Lianshi will appear with Sun Jian and Sun Quan in the southwestern garrison.

Zhuge Dan appears in place of Zhang He, Sima Shi appears in place of Sima Zhao and Zhang Chunhua appears in place of Guo Huai in this battle.

In the aftermath, Ranmaru finally understands that Sun Ce and Sun Quan’s actions were done out of consideration for the future of Wu.

Chapter 8: Battle of Koshi Castle 古志城の戦い

Coalition Army vs. Orochi Army Allied characters: Sun Jian, Sun Ce, Sun Quan, Sun Shangxiang, Zhu Zhi Enemy characters: Orochi, Da Ji, Lu Bu, Dong Zhuo, Deng Ai, Zhong Hui, Diamondback

Some variations have been made to the Chapter 8 Koshi Castle battles. In each faction’s version, they will fight one of Orochi’s main generals with the exception of Da Ji and Lu Bu, who will appear in each version. In this version of the battle, that general will be Dong Zhuo (because of an event in the original where he traps Sun Shangxiang in the southeastern garrison).

In the southern cannon garrison, Deng Ai appears in place of Yellowbelly, who will appear later to fire the cannon again on allied units inside Koshi Castle upon entering the inner sanctum. Inside Koshi Castle, Zhong Hui and Diamondback will respectively defend the main gate and the inner gate.

Defeat Orochi to win the battle.

[extraordinarilyextreme]

Crown Prince Li Kaiqing, Chen Ji, and Fushui

MAJOR spoilers for 《骊歌行》 Court Lady (2021)!!! This is just me blabbing about my feelings.

so we all knew that Crown Prince (CP) and Chen Ji (CJ) were gonna be BE cuz they have historical prototypes. after Chengxin was executed, Li Chengqian grieved for a long time, refusing to attend court and also building a shrine for him in the palaces.

well, even with that knowledge, i still cried like a little baby at the end of the drama. there’s not a single un-sad 感情线 in this entire show, but i really do think that the mess of these three is tragic.

before we dive into the mess that i’ve become, a huge round of applause to Li Zefeng for his amazing portrayal of the Crown Prince—the good-intentioned, sort of foolish boy that we first meet and then later the wide-eyed, paranoid, remorseless man. and of course similar props to Wang Yizhe’s two roles of sweet Chen Ji and scheming Fushui (and Sun Langlang for voicing them! Wang Zhi’s VA!).

so as i’ve already said, CP is really a whole different person after CJ dies. and the contrast between CJ and Fushui (FS) is very plainly evident: CJ dressed in pale white-blue, FS mostly in grey-black; CJ kept his hair loose, FS wears a bun (or hat, when he rises thru the ranks); CJ is a lowly palace entertainer, FS is well-trained in combat and medicine (and ends up as Senior Imperial Physician, somehow); CJ was terrible at weiqi, FS is good at weiqi but pretends to be bad at it. CJ was targeted and subjected to rumors, but no one dared question CP’s relationship with FS—because CP was in so much grief after CJ died, how could anyone bear to do that to CP again? even though FS was absolutely the one that everyone should have removed from CP’s side immediately…

when CP and CJ first meet in episode 7, CP is kind of a typical princely character: he’s kinda entitled, the world is his, his future is bright… and i firmly believe he 一见钟情 because while CJ still treated him with courtesy and respect, it’s obvious that CJ didn’t expect or want anything from him. and this continues in episode 9, when CP is trying to clear his thoughts by the riverside and runs into CJ who is fishing: CP brattishly orders CJ to stay and keep him company, and CJ is honestly more confused than anything as to why the freaking Crown Prince of the country wants to spend the whole goddamn day here. of course, it’s because CJ represents a freedom for CP: here, the Emperor won’t compare him to Prince Zhou or Prince Han; here, the Empress won’t admonish him over and over again; here, there’s no scheming advisors who try to curry favor with him. here, as CP tells CJ to use, it’s just “you and I” without care for rank or formalities.

(but also the death flag in episode 9 was atrociously obvious LOL with CP promising “I will make you a grave” to CJ’s absolute terror. on-the-nose. still made me sad later on, so that’s that i guess. in any case, the episode ends with a 定情信物 whereupon CP gives a jade from his belt to CJ.)

CP watches CJ perform (as he is an entertainer from Prince Han’s mansion) for the first time in episode 10, and we see it again in episode 12, episode 16, and episode 17. based off 《三国演义》Romance of the Three Kingdoms, the lyrics are as follows:

大丈夫只患功名不立 A great man should only worry about not gaining fame and honor/

何患无妻 Why worry over not having a wife/

舍生忘死报恩住 Leaving behind life and death to repay my Lord/

忠肝义胆待友朋 Treat my friends with righteous loyalty/

我要做有血性的英雄 I want to be a hot-blooded hero/

为义而生 To live for righteousness (loyalty)/

为义而死 To die for righteousness (loyalty)

CJ plays the main role of Zhao Zilong (Zhao Yun), and he helpfully compares the story to a game of weiqi in episode 16.

“A gambit [sacrificing insignificant pieces to protect the significant ones] is what Zhao Zilong did in the Battle of Changban. In order for Zhao Zilong to save A Dou, he couldn’t save Madam Gan. So, Madam Gan committed suicide. Isn’t Madam Gan a gambit?”

to which CP responds: “Thank goodness you are Zhao Zilong, and not Madam Gan.”

CJ: “The Crown Prince regards me as his soulmate [知己]. Even if in the future, the Crown Prince were to sacrifice me as a gambit, I would be willing.”

CP: “What are you saying? You and I are friends. No matter what happens in the future, I will never treat you as a sacrificial gambit.”

(so, like, death flags everywhere! 知己-mention! and, c’mon, i think for CP’s consort to be jealous/insecure is a little bit justified considering the amount of times CP has CJ perform this piece with a line like “Why worry over not having a wife”.)

backing up for just a moment before everything goes to shit, other notable events are CP finding out his wife is pregnant in episode 13 (but he spends the day fishing and then cooking the fish with CJ at the riverside, and they walk off with arms draped around each other’s shoulders), CJ hurting his leg after climbing a cliffside to pick red flowers after CP mentioned his wife loves the color red most in episode 14, and finally CP leading a blindfolded CJ to a new house just for him to tick off another romance-y trope in episode 15.

CP: “Didn’t you say you didn’t have a home? So I bought you this little estate. When you fall in love someday, have children, and have a great career, this will be your home.”

(the point is they’re both still kind of in a honeymoon phase right now, tho it ends quickly in episode 16 when our FL Fu Rou warns CJ against being so close to CP—but CP is a little bit too idealistic right now, a little bit too stuck in his blissful fantasy, a little bit foolish. foolish, and incompetent, and unable to protect the people he loves bc he unwittingly endangered them to begin with.)

of course, things come to a head in episode 17 when CP’s wife tells her sister about CJ, leading to the Emperor eventually finding out. but while that’s happening, CP goes to see CJ at the estate he bought for him.

CP: In the future, I won’t come here anymore. Therefore, let’s put aside differences for today and be friends like we used to. We will never have those kinds of days again.

CJ confesses he’s going to leave Chang’an: I want to learn swordsmanship well, and become a wandering hero, feeling at home wherever I am. When the Crown Prince becomes Emperor in the future, I can help you take care of bad guys along my journey out there. This will be my way of helping the Crown Prince to keep the empire stable.

CP gives his dagger to CJ: This is not a reward, but a gift for my friend who is about to leave. In the future, whenever you look at it, it will be like looking at me.

CJ: A gift from my soulmate. Chen Ji will definitely take good care of it.

(for ppl who’ve watched Qing Ya Ji, the parallel to Zhongxing and Fangyue here killed me. but there’s also a parallel within the show itself near the end when Fu Rou gives the Emperor a collection of scrolls and explains that the late Empress hoped that he would treat her writings like he were seeing her—one of Court Lady’s many confirmations that CP and CJ should be read as a romantically by paralleling it to visible, het relationships. ALSO, CP has CJ perform Zhao Zilong again right after this conversation, like a last nail in the coffin.)

so the Emperor finds out in episode 18 and angrily orders CP to kill CJ himself, lest he be stripped of rank. Fu Rou warns CJ, but he refuses to escape.

If I run away, the Crown Prince will not be able to fulfill the Emperor’s order—what would happen to the Crown Prince? […] Life and death are not the most important things; the most important thing is to stay true to yourself.

and so CJ unsheathes the dagger CP gave him.

The Crown Prince regards Chen Ji as his soulmate, Chen Ji also regards the Crown Prince as his soulmate. ‘A man of service dies for the one who knows him.’ (An upright man can die for his soulmate.)

CJ quotes “士为知己者死” from Sima Qian’s 《史記·刺客列傳》Records of the Grand Historian, tho if you’ve watched Winter Begonia, it should probably also look familiar.

CP pushes aside the soldiers who’ve accompanied him on the journey to CJ’s home, but it’s too late: CJ took his own life, using the weapon CP gave him, in order to protect CP.

the chorus of Lu Hu’s 《万里》 Ten Thousand Li plays as CP staggers toward CJ’s lifeless body.

呼吸，想着你, When I breathe, I think of you

在梦里，在心里, In my dreams, in my heart

怪完相遇，怪自己, After I’ve finished blaming that we encountered each other, I blame myself

别离，痛彻心扉！Farewell, my heart is broken

(this is a song from the OST we hear multiple times with the other couples in the drama—and we also see many couples by the same river that CP and CJ would fish together by. i think, like, all the couples associated with this song except our main one have a BE…)

in CP’s immense grief, he has the weiqi pieces from his last game with CJ glued to the board, never to be moved again, and he has the flowerbed outside flattened. we get our callback to episode 9: “Chen Ji has no family. I promised him that if he died, I would make him a grave.”

CP doesn’t meet FS until episode 37, but what the Emperor says in episode 19 about Chen Ji is what really makes the whole thing a tragedy.

You must be cautious when choosing friends. He would only have misguided you.

and that’s the thing, the Emperor isn’t wrong!!! it ultimately truly is the Crown Prince’s love for Chen Ji that destroys him. his love for Chen Ji ruins him, ruins the imperial family and threatens the dynasty as a whole. because when Fushui shows up, a man who shares Chen Ji’s face, the Crown Prince trusts him unconditionally—it’s the Crown Prince’s desperation to see any small part of Chen Ji again that leaves him vulnerable to FS’s manipulation: CP forgets who he truly is. because how could a man who looks like Chen Ji ever betray him?

CP is thrown from his horse in episode 37, striking his head upon a rock.

he wonders: Chen Ji, have I also died? Did you come here just to pick me up?

(but of course it’s FS, who was actually going to kill him but the soldiers arrived too quickly.) they meet officially in episode 38.

CP: I thought I was going to die. Dimly, I felt someone approach me—he wanted to save me. I originally thought it was Chen Ji who couldn’t bear for me to die, so his spirit appeared. I didn’t expect that it was you.

FS remarks that CP has brought up “Chen Ji” several times already; immediately, he understands that this is a weakness to exploit.

CP basically throws a temper tantrum in episode 39 when he discovers he will have a permanent limp from now on. (idk if it was an intentional parallel, but CJ also had a limp after falling from the cliffside in episode 14.) FS is the only person that CP allows to approach him, and FS gets him to eat grilled fish (which is apparently CP’s favorite food—how much of the people we love do we carry with us?)

FS acts innocent: I really am bad at lying; as soon as I lie, you see right through me.

it’s everything CP wants to hear.

CP tells him: When I fell off my horse, and was on my last breath, you came to my side and encouraged me to continue living. I’m now crippled and in despair, but you talked sense into me to eat grilled fish. Everything that has happened—if it were Chen Ji, he would also have talked sense into me, encouraged me. Sometimes, I feel that you are Chen Ji, just with a different face.

(obviously it’s the same face for us tho cuz he’s played by the same guy. but anyway, when FS comes clean about everything in episode 51, he mimics the words CP says here.

I am not Chen Ji. I, Yang Fushui, came to your side to find an opportunity to take revenge.)

back to episode 39, FS says he doesn’t want to be “another Chen Ji” because he doesn’t want to die so young—he’s afraid of death.

CP: I guarantee you that I won’t let anyone harm you. What happened to Chen Ji will never happen to you.

(and it’s true! FS gets away with so much goddamn shit because CP’s wife doesn’t dare criticize FS, and even the Emperor doesn’t after knowing what it’s like to see his son in such heavy grief. CP’s wife thinks this is her chance at making amends; she felt real remorse after CJ died, and honestly that line from It’s Quiet Uptown sums it up best: “If I could trade his life for mine/He'd be standing here right now/And you would smile and that would be enough.” a shame, of course, that CP was FS’s freaking main target. nobody wants to repeat the tragedy of Chen Ji, so no one questions Fushui.)

but, like, FS isn’t truly even that subtle—it’s just that CP is so blinded by his love for CJ. from episode 46:

CP: I have taught you for so long, but you’re still terrible at playing.

FS: I am doing it on purpose. Only if I play poorly, will the Crown Prince be willing to continue teaching me.”

CP: Even you put on an act before me? […] You are the person I trust the most. Don’t lie to me.

(太子，你醒醒吧!)

so FS successfully sows discord between CP and his brother Prince Han; the Empress passes away (always sickly, but her illness was very much exacerbated upon seeing her beloved sons turn on each other); CP’s wife kills her own sister in what she believes is a beneficial political move for CP; Prince Han’s wife is wrongfully executed; Sheng Chujun is killed and silenced too after he discovers FS’s plans. CP stages a coup against Prince Han. (the man who looks like Chen Ji must only want the best for him, right?) FS gets away with everything and goes to visit CP in prison in episode 51.

AND HERE! HERE! FS is supposed to kill CP; that’s been his goal from the very beginning. CP hasn’t eaten for days in the prison, but FS shows up with a grilled fish and CP eats without a second thought that it could be poisoned.

but. FS has been at CP’s side for so long now. he’s orchestrated CP to lose everything. there is nothing left that CP could give to him but the mere fact that he’s still breathing.

in episode 49, FS poisons Lian Yan’er and Yan Zifang is obviously upset on behalf of blissfully ignorant, head-over-heels Ma Haihu.

FS: I will kill whoever gets in my way.

YZF: What about someone you love? If it was someone you loved, you would be just as ruthless, right?

FS: It is human nature to be greedy and selfish. Where does love come into play? This question—you’ve asked the wrong person.

(but FS’s expression changes. someone he loves? he’s startled, he looks afraid.)

FS ruined CP’s life; and at the same time, gave CP reason to live again. CP started playing weiqi again, his relationship with his wife improved; he started smiling again. there was a passionate fire to him that he never had before (this was his second chance to do everything right, to protect the people he loves!)... the kindling, unfortunately, was his trust in Prince Han and his parents. from episode 39, FS comes in and sits down next to CP after CP trashes his room during his tantrum.

CP: Do you know why I treat you differently from other people?

FS: Because I remind Your Highness of your friend who already passed away—Chen Ji?

CP never stopped loving CJ; he loved Fushui, because he never stopped treating him as Chen Ji. after the failed coup against Prince Han, CP smiles in prison in episode 51 when FS visits him.

CP: It was fate who made us each other's soulmate [知己]. [...] If you can continue living well, I wish that you live your life to the fullest, with both smiles and tears.

how can Fushui bear to take the Crown Prince’s life when he’s received nothing but unwavering trust from him? when he explains who he truly is, when he calls CP foolish for trusting the wrong person, FS is on the brink of tears. his mouth trembles, his breaths shake. when the poison begins to take effect, and CP agonizingly reaches for him, FS takes his hand—just as CP gripped CJ’s lifeless hand so long ago, just as CP reached out to the person he thought was CJ when he fell from his horse. FS takes his hand, sobs, and gives him the antidote.

(Consort Yan’s eunuch is, of course, outraged.

Yu He: If you can’t bear to kill him, then I will!

Fushui: I forbid you. [...] He has nothing left to lose. I forbid you from killing him.)

so, we have the Crown Prince, ruined by his love for Chen Ji—and Fushui, who both took and freely gave the Crown Prince’s life back to him. it’s a love story; it has always been a love story.

and finally, FS gets Ma Haihu killed in episode 53. he picks up the comb MHH carved for Lian Yan’er (a 定情信物!), and when he speaks, ends up telling the story of CP and CJ as well.

There was a woman who sacrificed her life for your bright future. You only needed to enjoy it, yet you took the road of self-destruction.

and then he remembers what CP said to him in the prison in episode 51.

CP: If, in this world, fate truly exists, then so do the hearts of men.

FS remarks now: If you have a heart, you will be easily hurt, or even lose your life.

heartless Fushui, who kills without batting an eye, who nearly upturned the entire Tang dynasty, who doesn’t know of love. in the end, he couldn’t bear to end the Crown Prince’s life.

so, yeah. these three broke my heart. i really wonder what Chen Ji would say to the Crown Prince when they see each other again at last in the afterlife. what the Crown Prince would say to Chen Ji. how violent love can be. what it means to live in someone’s memory. or maybe they would return to the river and spend a long day fishing together again.

[the-archlich]

What can you tell me about Cao Zhen?

Naturally, his biography contains most of what there is to know, aside from a few anecdotes found elsewhere.

https://threestatesrecords.com/2017/09/29/9-6-cao-zhen/

The short summary though:

His exact origins are disputed but he became Cao Cao’s foster son after the death of his father, who was killed in Cao Cao’s service. With Cao Xiu he shared quarters with Cao Pi (who must have been a few years younger) and the three of them were extremely close. As a young man he established a reputation for martial valor and earned Cao Cao’s particular praise when he killed a tiger during a hunting expedition.

When Cao Zhen was old enough he served in the elite cavalry unit led by Cao Chun, along with Cao Xiu. As part of this unit he would have participated in several key battles including the conquest of Ji and Qing, the battle against the Wuhuan at White Wolf Mountain, and the pursuit of Liu Bei at Changban.

This unit was disbanded after Cao Chun’s death and Cao Zhen held independent command for a time. During this span he won some minor battles. He was sent west during the Hanzhong campaign and earned more distinction in battles against Liu Bei. After Xiahou Yuan’s death he was given a major field promotion and put in charge of Xu Huang’s army, among others. They fended off Liu Bei’s forces and guarded the rear as the army withdrew from Hanzhong, avoiding further disasters.

When Cao Pi came to power Cao Zhen instantly became one of the most influential figures in Wei and one of the state’s highest ranking generals. He was put in charge of Yong and Liang provinces and coordinated efforts to suppress local rebels over the next few years. During the Great River Campaign he led one of the most significant fronts of the army, and although the campaign was ultimately unsuccessful he still distinguished himself in the field.

When Cao Pi was dying Zhen was personally summoned and asked to advise Cao Rui, along with Chen Qun and Sima Yi. When Cao Rui took the throne, Cao Zhen was made Grand General. He returned to west and fended off Zhuge Liang’s three invasions in 228 and 229. In 230 he and Sima Yi led an invasion of Shu, but bad weather made the roads impassible and the campaign was called off after some minor skirmishing.

He passed away in 231. At that time there was probably no officer in Wei more distinguished. Cao Zhen was well-loved because he performed labor along with the officers and soldiers. He was generous with rewards and when the state's rewards were insufficient he paid his officers and soldiers from his own pocket.