#gongsun zan | Explore Tumblr posts and blogs

dtriad · 2 months ago

Text

summoning the soul 招魂

I keep coming across passages as I reread Good Morning! Workers of the Three Kingdoms that make me go :')!!! but also oof so many knives... which ngl is to be expected for a novel that's set in the Three Kingdoms era and is at least 66.66667% fighting (jk I have no idea what the % is, but no joke there are a LOT of battles). I do appreciate how the author refuses the temptation of OTT bloody descriptions for shock value, and tends to be more understated about the immediate consequences of war.

Context for this section I've translated below: it's set early on in the story, when Lu Xuanyu has been staying for a while in the city of Pingyuan under Liu Bei's governance—just a night watchman who's happened to make a name for herself as a phenomenally good swordsman after Stuff Happened.

Meanwhile, Cao Cao is nearing the end of his first invasion of Xuzhou (Xu Province) in 193 CE—infamously, he invaded two years in a row with such brutality that the Book of the Later Han talks of how the Si River stopped flowing due to all the bodies that clogged its course. Xuzhou is ruled by the old warlord Tao Qian, who's allied with Liu Bei's boss Tian Kai + bossboss Gongsun Zan, and they are worried about what Cao Cao's actions mean for the shifting alliances & balance of power in the region. Liu Bei is tasked with canvassing the situation, and he decides to send his subordinate (& childhood friend) Jian Yong as his emissary, accompanied by Lu Xuanyu for protection.

Ch. 99 | III. The Lightning Sword 列缺剑 (17):

They kept heading south, and as they traveled through the unaffected areas of Xuzhou, the news kept piling up. The good news was—after besieging Tancheng for more than ten days, Cao Cao had withdrawn because he’d run out of food; The bad news was—when the Qingzhou soldiers retreated back to Yanzhou, they took an utterly bizarre route. As everyone knew, Yanzhou was to the northwest of Xuzhou—if they wanted to withdraw, then they ought to go northwest. But Cao Mengde chose the road south; he took a detour to attack the cities of Qulü, Suiling, and Xiaqiu, and emerged victorious all along the way. Just as some were starting to suspect he was going down south to fight Yuan Shu in Huainan, Cao Cao finally returned to Yanzhou. As a result, she could finally test those conjectures she had idly discussed with the Black Blade in Pingyuan. —In the end, what kind of war had this been? —And what kind of person had started this war?

When they passed by Xiaqiu, the Qingzhou soldiers had already retreated, so people began to return one by one. Most of them had scattered during their flight from calamity, and hurried back to their homeland when they heard the fighting was over. But it seemed that there was nothing left of the city of Xiaqiu. What was missing ranged from the roof beams, window lattices, and door panels, to the clay pots, bamboo baskets, and dry firewood—and one needn’t even mention the gold and silk, or the livestock and foodstuff. However, it wasn’t quite accurate to put it that way, because the Qingzhou soldiers had left countless corpses in the city. Even before she entered the city on horseback, she heard the heart-wrenching cries, and then her eyes were filled with the sight of blood. The corpses had died in many different ways. Some had died easily, some had died painfully, but not a single one of them was clothed; whether man or woman, they were all hanging stark naked throughout the houses, or were piled up by the side of the road. So those who returned, one by one, began to search through the blood-bathed mountains of corpses, searching for their fathers and mothers, siblings and lovers, sons and daughters. They were as dazed as wandering ghosts, with tears flowing like blood from their eyes. In each and every corner of this small city, they turned over each and every desecrated corpse—did it bear the face of someone familiar, did it bear a birthmark that they remembered? If not, then they would go on searching through this ghost town, packed full of dead souls. And if they found that someone, then the stone in their heart could settle at last; and they could take off their clothes to shroud the body of their beloved, who would never speak or smile at them again; and they could drag them out, or carry them out in their arms or on their backs, and search beyond the city walls for a spot in the wasteland. And there they could bury them.

Such a city no longer distinguished between day and night. No soldiers were there to guard the city, and no city officials were there to enforce the law; naturally, no watchmen were there to call out the time, in a city so unsuitable for staying. Thus, their travel party slept in the open outside the city, and were able to see many people going in and out nonstop, all day and all night, moving and burying the bodies of their loved ones. Even though no one could find any coffin boards now, those who had survived still tried their hardest with all their heart, so Lu Xuanyu saw all kinds of funerals when she crossed the open land. Some people molded clay dolls, simple and crude in make with their features blurred, and yet they were treasured and valued—so Jian Yong told her: that is the custom of Chu, where they want to send servants to the dead, and it was once the most common of customs back when our great Han’s Gaozu rose up in arms in Pei County; Some people left their hair disheveled, held a flag aloft, and called out the names of their loved ones—so Jian Yong told her: those are Daoist believers, shouting names to gather them together, for they want to call the souls of their dearly departed back from the vast wilderness at night, and send them up to the heavens where the gods yet dwell; Some people tore at their clothes and wailed by the roadside, smashed the clay jars in their hands, and continued beating away on iron pots—so Jian Yong told her: these are people from Wu, and I heard that they believe ghosts are conscious and can do harm, so they want to scare off the ghosts, and will do so even if it’s their own family; And then there were some people who stayed silent, and heaped rocks on top of yellow paper filled with writing—so Jian Yong told her: I didn’t expect there to still be followers of the Way of Taiping; these people believe in ghost soldiers, and have to write down all the merits and demerits of a person’s life on yellow paper, for only after that can they see off the dead soul to the underworld. “Ah, how strange!” This scholar, who in normal times would always be chatting and laughing, kept gazing at the people out in the wilderness. “On ordinary days, if these people were to run into each other, I’m afraid they’d already be fighting. But look at them—it’s as if they can’t see each other.” She had been listening for a while, and suddenly asked, “Sir, Xiaqiu isn’t a city with any fame, so why would so many people come here from different places?” Jian Yong fell silent for a moment, then slowly said, “They were refugees from Luoyang and Guanzhong. They heard tell of Tao-gongzu’s benevolence, so they came a long way here to join him.” His voice echoed in her ears, and seemed to echo too in the wilderness. “They escaped from Dong Zhuo, and they escaped from Li Jue and Guo Si, but they couldn’t escape from this.” At the end of a funeral—and it didn’t seem to matter where the person was from—they would take out a piece of clothing and stand on this earth filled with graves, facing north and crying out to their loved one. That clothing was known as “belly clothing,” and it originally should’ve been clothing once worn by the deceased; but those who were dead practically had no clothes left, so the living had no choice but to take out their own, and hope that so long as their loved one had touched it, so long as the breath of their loved one had stained it, they could summon the soul of the dead—who would follow this familiar and intimate scent, and return to their side. “Mama—come back!” “Papa—come back!” “Darling—come back! Come back!”

On a night like this, there was no way for anyone to sleep in peace. She walked around outside her tent, but she didn’t feel lonely at all. For there were still people in the wilderness, who sat in front of the graves all night, or went on bustling about and lighting torches in search of hope inside the city. They wouldn’t feel lonely either, because they were together with the people they loved. It would be light soon; those souls hidden in the darkness could no longer be held back from leaving, for they were about to go on a long journey. Stepping on long grass and slurried mud, she walked slowly along the dirt road that Cao Cao’s soldiers had taken in their retreat. There were also corpses on the wayside, one after another piled on top. As the color of the sky brightened, she suddenly came to a stop. There were two bodies in the grass by the side of the road, of small stature; one looked to be a boy, twelve or thirteen years old, and the other was a little girl around ten years old. A bloody hole was exposed in the boy’s back, from a very deep stab; not only had it pierced straight through him, but it had also pierced through the girl underneath him, whom he had shielded with his body. But even so, that boy had tried in vain with all his strength to protect the girl in his arms… It had all been useless. She’s probably his little sister, she thought. Just like that, she stood there beside the two corpses, staring. It wasn’t until the Black Blade made a puzzled sound that she suddenly asked a question. [You know how San-lang died, right?] The Black Blade was silent for a moment. [Indeed, he died much like this.] “Young man, what are you looking at?” Lu Xuanyu was startled by this unexpected voice, and raised her head to see a woman of about forty standing next to her, smiling broadly as she gazed at her. She wasn’t properly dressed, her whole face was stained with mud and blood, and yet she smiled so happily. “Don’t look at them,” she said. “This is a good thing—they’ve all gone to enjoy a blessed life, they’ve all gone! My son has gone too. The void has shattered to pieces, and all of creation has flown like ash—they’ve all gone to a better place! Only those like you and I have been left behind to suffer here.” As she kept talking, she proudly raised her head, her expression very much like Fan-shi’s. So Lu Xuanyu couldn’t help but respond to her. “Your child, where did he go?” The woman’s loving and joyful eyes looked up at the sky, filled with the greatest pride and expectation that a mother could have, so she looked up as well. Dawn was breaking, and a faint light glimmered through the clouds.

I really, really like the part that's focused on the different funeral customs. ;__; 招魂 is the title of the chapter.

Fan-shi and her son San-lang were Lu Xuanyu's neighbors in Luoyang, and later Chang'an (where they took in a refugee girl, A-Huan). During the Battle of Chang'an in 192 CE, they were among the many who weren't able to escape & survive.

#早安！三国打工人 #good morning! workers of the three kingdoms #dt translates

10 notes · View notes

the-archlich · 1 year ago

Note

Do you think you've about exhausted things to talk about with respect to the 3 Kingdoms era?

Not at all.

This got very out of hand but I'm going to leave it as is.

Oh, sure, some subjects have been beaten to death. There's only so much you can say about the particular events that have been told and retold in folktales, opera, novels, and (in the modern age) movies, TV shows, and video games for the last 1800 years. There isn't a lot left to say about the most famous battles and individuals that hasn't been said already.

There's also a lot that is still relatively overlooked, outside of very specific circles. People who didn't get prominent roles in fictionalizations of the period are still pretty obscure. Events that aren't depicted in stories and adaptations don't get much discussion. That's the sort of thing I try to write about, like with my articles on the Crown Prince Affair (Part I | Part II) or my series on Yuan Shao and Gongsun Zan.

But the things I write about are just one very limited facet of the period's history. There's so much more to be said. The stuff I write about is probably the least meaningful. Ultimately it doesn't make much difference who won what battle or what faction took over a government. Individuals varied but all the governments of the time were fundamentally the same. No matter who took power in what region, it was going to be a Han style government, dominated by Han culture. Nothing meaningful was going to change, no matter which of our well-known warlords won. Their battles were largely irrelevant. There's a reason nothing meaningful changed in Shu when it was conquered by Wei, or Wu when conquered by Jin. There's a reason the Sima regime was only superficially different from that of the Cao, and why it really doesn't matter if, say, the Quan family had seized the throne of Wu. Despite individual differences they were all fundamentally the same.

To see what I mean, we don't have to look very far into the future. The collapse of western Jin meant the rise of non-Han polities in significant areas of the former Han/Jin empire. The governments of the Xiongnu, the Xianbei, and and other groups from outside of the Han culture were meaningfully different. Prolonged chaos in the northern portions of the empire resulted in mass movement to the south, into areas previously claimed by the Han people only in name but not in fact. The efforts of Wu and Shu (largely due to He Qi and Ma Zhong) to establish firm control over these regions laid the groundwork for the "sinicization" of southern China, but it was really only with the collapse of Western Jin that the new status quo was established. At the same time, we can also observe the so-called "barbarians" adopting many elements of Han culture to help them rule their new empires.

You could spend your whole career studying something like that.

You could analyze the literature of the period and compare different style and composition across different years and regions. You could dig deep into the economics and study things like government monopolies on key industries, and contrast the different approaches taken by the various rulers of the era. You could study all the material left by civilians who had no part in the "great affairs" of the time. You could study how infrastructure projects meant to support warfare (like the many canals Wei dug) impacted trade and travel for others. You could study the visual arts; paintings, sculptures, miniatures, etc. And all of that gets much more complicated and interesting when you reach beyond the Han culture, into the areas and eras where non-Han influences achieved supremacy and influenced the existing culture.

The era produced some of China's most influential figures whose contributions are far more meaningful than the battles fought by its various generals. Zhong Yao's calligraphy was so influential that we still imitate his writing today. Pei Xiu was one of the most important cartographers in China's extensive history. Hua Tuo's scientific approach to medicine was revolutionary in its time. Du Kui and Xun Xu made extraordinary contributions to music. There are so many others to speak of.

Sociology. Visual arts. Performing arts. Economics. Mathematics. Literature. Technology. The list goes on and on and on. There is absolutely no shortage of new things to study and talk about. A very accessible example is the deep dive @discourseofthethreekingdoms did on the theology of the Yellow Turbans. I don't think I've ever heard that much said about them anywhere. It was a significant and meaningful look at the actual beliefs and ideology of a group usually just dismissed as rebellious malcontents deceived by charismatic opportunists.

Now, none of that is what I generally write about. A big part of that is because that's serious academic work. It's hard, it's complicated, and it requires both resources and training I don't have to get it right. I'm not any kind of real academic. There are people doing this work, and because it doesn't have mass appeal they don't get the kind of credit they deserve, but that's the kind of work that actually matters. People like to read about wars and battles and politics and don't give the same attention to these much more serious and meaningful subjects. It's a damn shame, really, and I can only hope that the ones doing the important work at least receive the respect of their peers.

And if I'm being fully honest, even if I did have the training and resources it takes to do the important work, that's not where my passion is.

I'm a storyteller.

I'm fascinated by these people and their lives. When I get invested in a particular historical era, it's because I find it to be filled with a wide variety of very interesting individuals whose stories I love, and whose stories I want to try to share with others. I like to tell the stories I think don't get told enough; or that get so obscured by fictionalization that the real people involved become unrecognizable. That does end up with me writing about a lot of battles and politicking, because that's where we get a lot of these stories from. When I believe a story is left untold (like with the Crown Prince Affair) I want to tell it. When I believe that a story is being misrepresented, I want to try and correct it. The reason I get so passionate about "history vs. fiction" is because these people were real. Their accomplishments and failures were real. Their triumphs and tragedies were real. Every single name you see was a full human being exactly as complex as you are; and so is every single anonymous soldier and civilian killed in their pointless wars.

Some of these stories have been told and retold so many times that there's nothing interesting left to say. But there are so many others that remain in relative obscurity, and ones where the truth has become obscured over time. That's mostly what I spend my time writing about now.

23 notes · View notes

masterofrecords · 1 year ago

Text

The Ravages of Time episode 3

So at the end of this card it says “excerpt from “The Records of the Three Kingdoms” – biography of Liu Bei. “The Records of the Three Kingdoms” does have a Liu Bei chapter, but it is titled “Biography of the Former Lord” (and in the translation below he will be addressed as such, according to the original source as well as the text on the card in the donghua). There is, however, a computer game titled “The Records of the Three Kingdoms, Biography of Liu Bei”. As you can imagine, that made my search a little more complicated than it had to be.

“The Records of the Three Kingdoms” has never been fully translated into English, but there were plans to do so, that were regrettably discontinued. Still, William Gordon Crowell, who was working on the project, kindly made the otherwise unpublished completed parts of the translation public, along with his translator’s notes.

The donghua card presents an abridged version of the opening paragraphs of the chapter; I took the liberty to edit Dr. Crowell’s translation to fit the card text as well as for general readability or to bring them in accordance with the terminology I use in my other translations. I have omitted most of the notes except for the explanation on Liu Bei’s looks; I suppose the details on geography and personas mentioned there will be of little interest to most, but if you want to know more, I encourage you to look into the full translation – it is available for free and easily googlable.

Episode 3

From historical records on Liu Bei The Former Lord was surnamed Liu and had the given name of Bei and the courtesy name Xuande. He was a native of Zhuo prefecture in Zhuo commandery, and he was the descendant of a son of Emperor Jing of the Han, Prince Jing of Zhongshan [Liu] Sheng. The Former Lord's grandfather Xiong and his father Hong served in provincial and commandery offices. Xiong was recommended as filially pious and incorrupt, and he rose to become prefect of Fan in Dong commandery. When the Former Lord was young, he was left without a father. With his mother he wove mats to make a living. In his youth, when the Former Lord would play beneath a tree with other small children from his clan, he would say, “I must ride in this feather-covered chariot. His uncle Zijing said to him, “Don't talk so foolishly! You'll bring destruction on our house!” When he was 15, his mother sent him to study. With his clansman Liu Deran and Gongsun Zan of Liaoxi he became a disciple of the former grand administrator of Jiujiang commandery, Lu Zhi who was from the same commandery. Liu Deran's father, Yuanqi, frequently gave the Former Lord material support. Yuanqi's wife said, “Each has his own family. How can you regularly do this?” Yuanqi replied, “This boy is in our clan, and he is an extraordinary person.” The Former Lord did not enjoy studying. He liked dogs and horses, music, and dressing in fine clothing. He was 7 chi 5 cun (173 cm) tall, and his hands hung down to his knees. He was able to look back and see his own ears [1]. Humble before good people, he did not manifest his happiness or anger in his look. He enjoyed associating with braves, and in his youth he fought and hung out with them. The great merchants from Zhongshan, Zhang Shiping and Su Shuang, had riches of several thousands in gold. They sold horses, and they made a circuit through Zhuo commandery. They happened to see Liu and were struck by him, so they presented him with much money and wealth. With this, the Former Lord was able to assemble a group of followers. At the end of the reign of Emperor Ling, the Yellow Turbans rose up, and every province or commandery called up righteous armies. The Former Lord led his adherents, and under Colonel Zou Jing attacked the Yellow Turban bandits with distinction. He was appointed commandant of Anxi. – excerpt from “Records of the Three Kingdoms” – Biography of Liu Bei

[1] These physical idiosyncrasies were thought perhaps to be signs that Liu Bei had been destined to be ruler. Miyakawa Hisayuki has suggested that this description of the large ears and long arms may show the influence of Buddhist iconography from the sutras that had recently arrived in China. The size of Liu's ears, at least, appears not to have been a literary invention, for Lü Bu referred to him as the “big-eared boy.” “Looking back” and being able to see his own ears perhaps means they could be seen with his peripheral vision. The “braves” were ruffians with a code of honor, albeit one at odds with officially sanctioned moral values. Generally viewed by the government as potential threats to the social order, they were often considered heroes by the populace.

And into the spoilers we go!

Shuijing villa - Shuijing means bright, can be used in the sense of a person's brilliance. Literally means "bright as a mirror". The villa here refers specifically to a mountain villa.

I'm afraid there isn't much I can say about the Liu Bei and his companions in the context of the coalition against Dong Zhuo. It is for sure known that they participated in the campaign, but that's about it. The Romance of the Three Kingdoms popularized some fictional events of it, like the 3-vs-1 fight of the trio against Lü Bu, but I'm not sure if those will be included in this donghua. Liu Bei is described as a cunning tactician though, so I can imagine the donghua scenes happening.

Still, I'll give a bit more background info on all three. Liu Bei, Guan Yu and Zhang Fei are probably the most famous example of sworn brothers. Around the time of the Yellow Turban rebellion (more on that on another episode) they gave the famous oath in the peach garden - or at least, so the legends and "The Romance of the Three Kingdoms" say. The actual chronicles only mention the three were "as close as brothers", but the idea is still firmly ingrained in the collective conscious. There are even temples dedicated to the three of them - lit. called "Temples of the Three Righteous".

The above text only mentions he helped his mother make straw mats, but in the cut part shoes are also mentioned; as such, Liu Bei is sometimes worshiped as a god of shoemakers.

Largely thanks to the novel, Liu Bei is commonly regarded as an example of a benevolent and humane ruler, because of the author's preference for him. Considering that The Ravages of Time is mainly considering Sima Yi's point of view (and Liu Bei and Sima Yi will later lead rivaling kingdoms) I was actually rather surprised by the rather sympathetic portrayal of him in the donghua.

Still, while Liu Bei's political decisions and ruling philosophy can be discussed at length, there is no doubt that his choice of companions caused him trouble more than once.

Liu Bei was considered the eldest of the three brothers; the second was Guan Yu (courtesy name Yunchang). His life has been even more glorified than Liu Bei's - and since the Sui dynasty (581-618) he's been considered a deity. In fact, to this day, he is worshiped both in Buddhism and Taoism, as well as respected in other philosophies and religions, to say nothing of the Chinese folk tradition.

Still, despite this truly overwhelming veneration from pretty much all the following dynasties, the records say that despite his righteousness, he was "unrelenting and conceited", which proved to be his downfall..

Finally, the third brother was Zhang Fei (courtesy name Yide), whose main shortcomings - his quick temper and brutality - are the things he's most well-known for, and in a lot of ways he can be seen as the opposite of Guan Yu. While there are accounts of him composing poetry in the middle of the battle, it is by far overshadowed by his cruelty towards his soldiers and the fights he got into, sometimes dragging his sworn brothers into trouble as well.

(Just to complete the picture, yes, Zhang Fei is also sometimes worshiped along with Guan Yu.)

Regardless of all that, both Guan Yu and Zhang Fei were regarded as mighty warriors "worth a thousand men", as well as loyal followers of Liu Bei's.

---

Some final thoughts - it definitely feels like the story is playing up the future main players to keep the cast a little more manageable and maybe to put the more recognizable faces in early. Also the extra drama! It's definitely fun, so I'm not complaining XD

#the ravages of time #masterofrecords translates

5 notes · View notes

bookofjin · 2 years ago

Text

Biography of Liu Yifu (WS097)

So-called Emperor of Song

His son Yifu was usurpingly installed. Taizong, since his decorum and respect was insufficient, dispatched the Duke of Shanyang, Xi Jin, and others to lead 20 000 infantry and cavalry to Huatai, and cross the He for a southern chastisement. Yifu's Inspector of Si province, Mao Dezu dispatched Marshal Zhai Guang to lead 3 000 infantry and cavalry to come and resist him. Minister of Works Xi Jin used more than 1 000 cavalry to patrol Chenliu. The Grand Warden, Yan Leng, led the multitudes to surrender. He carried on to attack Huatai. Its commandery Grand Warden, Wang Jingdu, ran and fled, beheaded his Marshal, Yang Zan. Dezu also dispatched his general Dou Yingming to attack the wagon train at Shiji [the “Stone Crossing”]. Xi Jin at Tuluo greatly routed Guang and others, and exploited victory to straight-away arrive at Hulao. Yifu dispatched his general Du Yuan and others, together with the Inspector of Xu province, Wang Zhongde, to stay at Hulu. Taizong decreed the Duke of Anping, Shusun Jian and others with the army at Sidukou. Yifu's Inspector of Yan province, Xu Yan, handed over Yinmao City to run and retreat, and so in Taishan and other commanderies they fully abandoned their defence posts and fled. Taizong decreed the Count of Wuzi, Gongsun Biao, and others, to then to attack Hulao. Yifu dispatched general Tan Daoji to lead the legions to hurry in aid.

8th Year [423 AD], Yifu changed the year to be Jingping [“Shining Peace”]. Xi Jin advanced to attack Jinyong. Yifu's Grand Warden of Henan, Wang Juanzhi, set out and ran. Taizong went on a southern tour, arriving at Ye. Xi Jin turned back from Jinyong to besiege Hulao. Taizong again decreed the Duke of Anping, Shusun Jian, and others to go east and strike Qing province. Its Inspector, Zhu Kui, defended Dongyang City. The Grand Warden of Jinan, Yuan Mao, ran to Kui from Liangzou. Xi Jin divided off an army to attack Yingchuan. The Grand Warden, Li Yuande, and others, ran back to Xiangcheng Jin again dispatched cavalry to rout five counties governed by Gaoping commandery, and carried off the residents, more than 2 000 families. Shusun, since it was the hot season, turned around the legions. Tan Daoki and Wang Zhongde turned toward Qing province, and thereupon did not dare advance. Taizong arrived at Hulao, and following that, favoured Luoyang. Then he went north across the He. Jin overcame Hulao. He apprehended Dezu and his Grand Warden of Xingyang, Zhai Guang, General who Broadens the Martial, Dou Ba, and others. Yifu's Inspector of Yu province, Liu Cui, guarded Xiangcheng, and did not dare to advance. Jin dispatched infantry and cavalry reaching Xuchang. The Grand Warden of Yingchuan, Suo Yuande, ran to Xiangcheng. Thereupon he besieged Ruyang, the Grand Warden, Wang Gongdu, burst through the siege and set out. He continued with routing Shaoling carried off more than ten thousand mouths, and then turned back.

Beginning of Shiguang [424 AD], Yifu's Minister of Works, Xu Xianzhi, Prefect of the Masters of Writing, Fu Liang, Army Leader Xie Hui, and others assembled at his government court, arrested his King of Luling, Yizhen, moved him to Xin'an commandery, and killed him. Yifu was dim-witted, brutal, and neglected morality. Xianzhi and others directed troops to enter the hall. At the time Yifu was on a boat in Hualin [Park]. The soldiers competed to advance and killed his attendants, went along with Yifu to set out from the eastern doors, and deposed him to be King of King of Yingyang. Thereupon they moved him to Wu commandery, and at Jinchang Precinct they killed him.

#ws097

5 notes · View notes

aishangotome · 1 month ago

Text

Chapter 8-12 Truce Alliance (休戰同盟)

Chapter 8-8

You: How do you plan to explain this to Yuan Shu?

Sun Ce: I'll just say I messed up. What can he do to me? But he's very ambitious, he won't let it go easily.

You: Then whose side are you on? The Yuan family or mine?

Sun Ce: Yours, of course!

You: ..........................

Sun Ce: Why the surprised look? Even if the whole world were against you, I'd definitely be on your side!

Sun Ce: I... I... Uh... Achoo!!!

You: You... Achoo!!!

The cold wind was biting by the water in the forest. Soaked to the bone, we both started sneezing.

???: Would the young friends by the water perhaps need some dry clothes?

The voice came from the carriage nearby... It didn't sound hostile.

Sun Ce: Thank you, kind sir! May I ask, which way should we go to return to Shannan?

The carriage curtain lifted. Inside, a scholar dressed in white smiled at us.

White-Robed Scholar: This one is also going to Shannan. If you don't mind the cramped space inside the carriage, please join me.

Sun Ce: I'll take you back to Guangling first... Remember, if anyone calls you to Xiapi, don't go.

You: Are you talking about the armistice alliance meeting that will be held in Xiapi soon? Tao Qian will be going from Xuzhou.

Sun Ce: The leader of this armistice alliance is Liu Yu, the Governor of Youzhou.

Sun Ce: The Yuan family wants to make Liu Yu the Emperor, but he's been refusing. This time, the Yuan family wants to force his hand.

You: ...They want to coerce Liu Yu during the alliance meeting and force him to agree?

Sun Ce nodded. The white-robed scholar across from us opened his eyes slightly and took a sip of tea.

Sun Ce: Xiapi is a Hongmen banquet. Things could get very bloody.

Sun Ce: If they secure Liu Yu, they'll have the "Emperor" in their grasp, giving them a legitimate excuse to wage war. And the first to bear the brunt would be... you.

White-Robed Scholar: Ahem, excuse me, the Shannan post station is just ahead.

You: Thank you so much, sir. May I ask for your esteemed name and family background?

White-Robed Scholar: This humble one is... Gongsun Fan. I am the younger cousin of Gongsun Zan, the General of Agile Valor of Youzhou.

Sun Ce: We're so lucky to have met such a kind person... Oh no, I forgot to return his clothes!

Sun Ce: The Gongsun family is really refined. Look at this fabric—a northern warlord family, using such fine material...

...Something feels strange. But now's not the time to dwell on it.

You: Let's go back to Guangling together, Sun Ce.

Sun Ce: ........................

You: What are you... staring at me for?

Sun Ce: Hehe, I'm not ready yet... To move to Guangling right now... It makes me seem like such a casual guy...

You: I like casual guys like that!

Sun Ce: I'm not casual! ...But, but if you like it, then I'll be a bit more casual! I'll move!

You: ...I meant, come back to Guangling with me to get something, a "treasure."

Sun Ce: What treasure? Don't tell me it's the Imperial Seal again...

You: You guessed it, it's the Imperial Seal.

He stared at me in astonishment. After a long while, he suddenly clapped his hands.

Sun Ce: I understand! You want me to use the Imperial Seal to become Emperor, right? I'll become Emperor first and wipe them all out!

Sun Ce: What? You want my father to become Emperor? He's already at that age, let's not bother him with this!

You: It's for Yuan Shu! You'll give the Imperial Seal to Yuan Shu for me!

You: Yuan Shu wants to kill me because of the rumor that I have the Imperial Seal. He cares about the Seal, not my life.

Sun Ce: Why is this Imperial Seal bouncing between our families... Forget it, my family is your family. We'll do as you say.

You: ...And also... I'm going to Xiapi to attend the peace talks and try my best to ensure that the four provinces reach an armistice alliance.

If the Yuan family causes trouble at the meeting and the four-province truce falls apart, reigniting the war, Guangling will be in danger once again...

Chapter 8-16

If you’d like to support my translations, feel free to buy me a coffee here! :)

0 notes

yeonchi · 6 months ago

Text

Warriors Orochi: The Recollective Redux Part 6.1: Orochi Story A

The Orochi story was extended to have the Orochi Army subjugate all factions. This story begins after Da Ji frees Orochi from his prison on the Wuhang Mountains (scenario can be played in Dream Mode).

Initial characters: Orochi, Da Ji, Dong Zhuo

Chapter 1: Battle of Odawara Castle 小田原城の戦い (uses SW2 west map)

Orochi Army vs. Hōjō-Toyotomi Army Allied characters: Orochi, Da Ji Enemy characters: Hideyoshi Toyotomi, Ujimasa Hōjō, Nene, Keiji Maeda, Kotarō Fūma, Hanbei Takenaka, Kanbei Kuroda, Masanori Fukushima, Kiyomasa Katō, Ujiyasu Hōjō, Kai, Lady Hayakawa, Yoshimoto Imagawa

Unlocked characters: Keiji Maeda, Kotarō Fūma

After being broken out from the mystic realm by Da Ji, Orochi used his demonic powers to warp time and space, creating a world where they would fight the bravest warriors of China and Japan. Dong Zhuo encounters them and decides to join them, seeing that they can help him create his world of paradise.

Hanbei Takenaka replaces Teruzumi Akashi in this stage.

Masanori Fukushima and Kiyomasa Katō appear inside Odawara Castle alongside Nene’s ninja unit when the Orochi Army enters the castle.

After Ujimasa and Hideyoshi are defeated, Ujiyasu Hōjō, Kai, Lady Hayakawa and Yoshimoto Imagawa will appear in the central garrison at Mt Ishigaki and charge the main camp. Defeat Ujiyasu and Yoshimoto to win the battle.

Chapter 2: Battle of Xiapi Castle 下邳城の戦い (uses DW8XL map)

Orochi Army and Himiko Troop vs. Lu Bu Coalition Allied characters: Da Ji, Dong Zhuo, Diamondback Third-party characters: Himiko Enemy characters: Lu Bu, Diaochan, Chen Gong, Lu Lingqi, Zhang Yan, Yuan Shu, Gongsun Zan, Jia Xu, Tao Qian, Liu Yao, Zhang Xiu

Unlocked characters: Lu Bu, Diaochan, Chen Gong, Lu Lingqi, Jia Xu, Himiko

Upon discovering that all the lands were taken in the chaos caused by Orochi, numerous regional lords of China banded under Lu Bu at Xiapi Castle. They knew that it would be worthless fighting Orochi themselves, so they hoped that Lu Bu would be able to protect them.

Da Ji and Dong Zhuo arrive at the northwest of the battlefield. One of Da Ji’s soldiers spots a girl with mystical powers trapped in the southwestern garrison while Dong Zhuo’s soldiers find a floodgate to the northeast, which they can use to decimate Lu Bu’s forces.

Da Ji and Dong Zhuo set about their tasks. Da Ji heads to the southwestern garrison is isolated by Zhang Lu sealing the gates to the garrison. Zhang Lu knew that Da Ji was a sorcerer and he used the girl as bait due to her magical powers. Because Zhang Lu neutralised the girl’s powers, she has been weakened, unable to use her powers to save herself. Zhang Lu sends in phantom soldiers and sorcerers to attack Da Ji and the girl, who introduces herself as Himiko. Assist Da Ji by opening the gates into the garrison (if outside) and defeating the sorcerers which will make the phantom soldiers disappear. Zhang Lu will appear with his own troops to attack Da Ji. Defeat him to recover Himiko’s powers.

Dong Zhuo heads east and heads past the north side of the castle to the floodgates. Chen Gong would know that Dong Zhuo would head for the floodgates, so ambush units led by Yuan Shu and Gongsun Zan will attack him. Defeat the ambush units to open the floodgates and flood Xiapi Castle.

With the castle flooded, Dong Zhuo will send out bridgelayers and siege ramps to allow the Orochi Army to enter the castle. Da Ji suggests to Dong Zhuo that they set parts of the castle (the armory and supply depot) on fire. Himiko teleports into Xiapi Castle and engages Lu Bu’s forces while Dong Zhuo’s officers head to execute the fire attacks.

Regardless of whether the fire attacks are successful or not, Jia Xu will arrive with Tao Qian, Liu Yao and Zhang Xiu from the south and east. Lu Bu and his officers will be captured upon their defeat. Defeat Lu Bu and Jia Xu to win the battle.

Lu Bu is angered at the prospect of being captured by Dong Zhuo, to which Dong Zhuo says that he won’t kill him if he joins the Orochi Army. Da Ji also mentions that her lord Orochi is looking for worthy opponents from all over the land to fight; since Lu Bu is also interested in fighting worthy opponents, he decides to join them. Jia Xu decides to surrender to the Orochi Army while Himiko joins Da Ji as her personal companion.

Chapter 3: Battle of Chengdu 成都の戦い

Orochi Army vs. Shu Army Allied characters: Orochi, Kotarō Fūma Enemy characters: Liu Bei, Zhao Yun, Zhuge Liang, Yueying, Guan Xing, Zhang Bao, Fa Zheng, Guan Suo, Bao Sanniang, Meng Huo, Zhurong

Unlocked characters: Zhuge Liang, Guan Xing, Guan Suo, Fa Zheng

The Orochi Army’s next conquest was the land of Shu, specifically the city of Chengdu, remarked by their scouts as empty and insignificant.

With this game adapting characters from Dynasty Warriors 8 and Samurai Warriors 4, some generic officers are upgraded to playable characters where appropriate.

Bao Sanniang appears alongside Guan Suo just outside the western gate of Luo Castle. Fa Zheng appears at the north gate of Chengdu Castle, staying behind when Liu Bei escapes with Zhao Yun and Yang Yi. Yueying appears with Zhuge Liang in the inner sanctum of the castle.

Unlike the original version, the north gate of Chengdu Castle will be closed and will not open until all enemy officers inside are defeated. The central gate will remain locked, as with the northern gate of Luo Castle.

Liu Bei is captured and Zhuge Liang, along with a number of Shu officers, are forced to serve Orochi. Zhuge Liang mentions that there are other officers who will surely come to rescue Liu Bei and that this will provide great opportunities to neutralise them.

Chapter 4: Battle of Mt. Shigi Castle 信貴山城の戦い (uses SW4 map)

Orochi Army vs. Miyoshi Coalition Allied characters: Orochi, Lu Bu, Chen Gong, Jia Xu Enemy characters: Hisahide Matsunaga, Munenori Yagyū, Goemon Ishikawa, Nagayasu Miyoshi, Masayasu Miyoshi, Tomomichi Iwanari, Yoshikata Rokkaku, Masamoto Kodera

Unlocked characters: Hisahide Matsunaga, Munenori Yagyū

Orochi’s army arrive in Kii Province, under the hands of Hisahide Matsunaga and the Miyoshi. The Rokkaku and Kodera clans also gather in the area to stop Orochi.

Starting in the southwest, Chen Gong and Jia Xu work together to claim Mt. Shigi Castle. After an initial attack from the west, an explosion caused by Goemon Ishikawa blocks their path to the castle. After breaking through the Rokkaku troops in the centre, Hisahide sets the area on fire. Jia Xu and Chen Gong find the troops who are responsible for the fire and capture them to set another fire attack to the northeast of the battlefield. Chen Gong sets the fire while Jia Xu clears the western path to the northern garrison to allow access.

Entering Mt. Shigi Castle, Munenori Yagyū will defend the entrance to the keep. Upon defeating him and entering the keep, Hisahide sets off the explosives contained in the teapots set around the walls of the castle, causing another fire. Despite this, Hisahide Matsunaga is defeated.

Goemon Ishikawa escapes the battlefield while Hisahide and Munenori surrender to Orochi.

Chapter 5: Battle of Kawanakajima 川中島の戦い

Orochi Army vs. Takeda-Uesugi Army Allied characters: Orochi, Dong Zhuo, Keiji Maeda Enemy characters: Shingen Takeda, Kenshin Uesugi, Yukimura Sanada, Nobuyuki Sanada, Kanetsugu Naoe, Kagekatsu Uesugi, Aya, Kunoichi

Knowing of the threat posed by the Orochi Army, Shinken Takeda and Kenshin Uesugi form an alliance and set their camps at Kawanakajima. The Orochi Army are split into two groups, with Dong Zhuo and the main army in the northeast (at Mt Saijō) and Keiji Maeda in the southeast.

Aya will be with Kenshin in the northwestern garrison (Kaizu Castle). Kagekatsu is with Kanetsugu in the western garrison; his original place in the north of the battlefield is replaced by a generic officer.

Nobuyuki Sanada replaces Nobutsuna next to Yukimura in the southeast. Kunoichi appears with the Takeda ambush units upon entering the Stone Sentinel Maze.

Chapter 6: Battle of Jiange 剣閣の戦い (uses DW8 Hanzhong map)

Orochi Army and Kiyomori Troop vs. Shu Army Allied characters: Da Ji, Himiko, Dodomeki, Diaochan, Lu Lingqi, Zhuge Liang, Guan Xing, Fa Zheng Third-party characters: Kiyomori Taira Enemy characters: Liu Shan, Jiang Wei, Guan Yu, Zhang Fei, Wei Yan, Pang Tong, Xu Shu, Guan Ping, Xingcai, Ma Dai, Guan Yinping, Ma Chao, Huang Zhong, Liu Biao, Liu Zhang

Unlocked characters: Guan Yu, Zhang Fei, Liu Shan, Kiyomori Taira

Just as Zhuge Liang predicted before, the remaining Shu officers are forming a stand against Orochi in Jiange. Liu Shan and Jiang Wei are at the northeast with the more veteran officers while the younger officers are stationed at their main camp beneath the mountaintop (where Mt. Dingjun is in DW8). Da Ji and Zhuge Liang set up camp in the southwestern garrison within the forest caves. Receiving report that the Orochi Army have set up camp, Guan Yu and Zhang Fei charge towards the Shu camp to attack Zhuge Liang and Da Ji, hoping to have their brother Liu Bei freed from capture. They are defeated and they retreat soon after.

Upon reaching the southern garrison, Orochi Army scouts have found a mysterious grave on the mountaintop (Mt. Tiandang in DW8). At the same time, Pang Tong and Xu Shu begin their plan by sending wave after wave of officers to attack the Orochi Army. Zhuge Liang implements stage one of his plan by having Diaochan and Lu Lingqi lure the enemy frontline to the centre and setting a fire attack, lowering the Shu forces’ morale. Pang Tong and Xu Shu fall back to work out what Zhuge Liang could be planning next.

Zhuge Liang prepares the second part of the plan in preparation of a pincer attack on Liu Shan and Jiang Wei. He sends Himiko, Diaochan and Lu Lingqi to wait in the east while he goes with Da Ji and Guan Xing to the mountaintop. Dodomeki will defend the southern garrison in their absence. Jiang Wei predicted Zhuge Liang’s plan and he sends out units to counterattack.

Pang Tong reappears on the mountain with reinforcements from the Nanman (not Meng Huo however). Xu Shu also reappears to the east, suspecting that Zhuge Liang is trying to ambush their main camp. He attacks Diaochan and Lu Lingqi, but Xu Shu is defeated and he retreats for a second time. Back to the west, Da Ji, Zhuge Liang and the others defeat Wei Yan and Xingcai on their way to the summit. Wei Yan and Xingcai retreat to the northeast and the main camp respectively. Xingcai warns Guan Ping and the others at the camp to strengthen their defences for Zhuge Liang’s assault. Zhuge Liang defeats Pang Tong and the Nanman reinforcements, claiming the mountaintop for the Orochi Army. Pang Tong retreats again.

On the mountaintop, Da Ji discovers the grave of Kiyomori Taira, who was said to have died somewhere else in a duel (against Yoshitsune Minamoto). Magically digging up his body, Da Ji wonders what it would be like if Kiyomori could rampage against the Shu Army. Da Ji and Himiko resurrect Kiyomori into a half-human, half-demon after Kiyomori agrees to sell his soul to the Orochi Army.

Once Kiyomori is resurrected, he charges down into the Shu main camp and unleashes his newfound demonic power against the young Shu officers. Zhuge Liang, Da Ji and the others follow Kiyomori into the battlefield. The entire Shu Army goes into a panic, with masses of Shu soldiers fleeing the battlefield. Jiang Wei gathers the rest of the Shu Army and charges towards their main camp.

Himiko, Diaochan and Lu Lingqi set fire to the Shu main camp and ambush it. Guan Yu and Zhang Fei reappear again to tell Liu Shan to escape. Pang Tong and Xu Shu assist him, taking a break mid-way.

Back on Mt. Dingjun, the Orochi Army with the help of Kiyomori eliminate the majority of the Shu Army, with many officers captured. Zhuge Liang heads to where Guan Yu and Zhang Fei are fighting and announces to them that their children have been captured and will be spared, along with Liu Bei, if they immediately surrender.

Following Guan Yu and Zhang Fei’s surrender, Jiang Wei joins Liu Shan and the others in his escape. Zhuge Liang chases them to the escape point (east of the southern garrison) and after being intercepted by Orochi Army officers, Liu Shan and the others put up a fight before Liu Shan is captured.

In the aftermath, Ma Chao, Huang Zhong, Guan Ping, Xingcai, Ma Dai, Wei Yan, Guan Yinping, Jiang Wei, Pang Tong and Xu Shu have evaded capture. Guan Yu, Zhang Fei and Liu Shan are forced to work in Orochi’s army.

Chapter 7: Battle of Shangyong 上庸の戦い (uses DW8XL map)

Orochi Army and Sun Wukong Troop vs. Jin Army Allied characters: Kiyomori Taira, Dong Zhuo, Lu Bu, Gyūki, Chen Gong, Jia Xu Third-party characters: Sun Wukong Enemy characters: Sima Yi, Sima Shi, Sima Zhao, Deng Ai, Zhong Hui, Wang Yuanji, Zhuge Dan, Xiahou Ba, Guo Huai, Jia Chong, Wen Yang, Zhang Chunhua

Unlocked characters: Sun Wukong, Sima Yi, Sima Shi, Sima Zhao, Wang Yuanji, Zhang Chunhua

With the surrender of the entire Shu Army to the Orochi Army, the entire land was determined to fight, but were scared to because of the Orochi Army’s immense power. Knowing of the danger the Orochi Army would pose against Wei, Sima Yi decided to engage them by gathering his army in Shangyong. In response, Dong Zhuo and Lu Bu set to the battlefield with Kiyomori Taira.

Starting from the northeast, the Orochi Army are ordered to occupy Shangyong Castle. On the way, Kiyomori spots a mysterious boulder (at the northmost part of the battlefield) where Sun Wukong is squashed under it, having been put there by the Mystics for failing to prevent Orochi’s release. Kiyomori offers him freedom in exchange for servitude under his wing; Wukong accepts and Kiyomori frees him as they continue to Shangyong Castle.

After defeating Xiahou Ba and Guo Huai, Shangyong Castle is set on fire and ambush units attack from the path leading to the northwest. Once the ambush units are defeated, Kiyomori will send sorcerers through the northwest path to unleash poison gas on Sima Zhao’s camp while Chen Gong and Jia Xu hold the Jin Army back. Defend the sorcerers as they head to the strategic point, then once the poison gas is unleashed, defeat Sima Zhao and his army.

Sun Wukong will then summon clones of himself in Sima Yi and Sima Shi’s camps, forcing them to advance their armies to Shangyong Castle, with Xiahou Ba and Guo Huai reappearing as well. Defeat Sima Yi and Sima Shi to win the battle.

In the aftermath, Sima Yi happily surrenders to the Orochi Army, claiming that his intellect can surpass anyone else’s in the land. Sima Shi happily follows his father while Sima Zhao is uneasy about his father’s decision, a foreshadowing for the Jin stories.

Chapter 8: Battle of Hefei 合肥の戦い

Orochi Army vs. Wu Army Allied characters: Zhuge Liang, Guan Suo, Fa Zheng Enemy characters: Sun Jian, Zhou Yu, Ling Tong, Zhang Liao, Gan Ning, Guo Jia, Yue Jin, Li Dian, Yu Jin, Lu Su, Sun Ce, Daqiao, Han Dang

Unlocked characters: Sun Ce, Daqiao, Han Dang

Da Ji decided to have Zhuge Liang lead a mobile unit to quash the human resistance, which he agreed to and set off for Hefei to confront the Wu Army.

Li Dian and Yu Jin will appear with Zhang Liao and Gan Ning’s ambush unit.

Ding Feng and Lu Su are replaced by other generic officers.

#dynasty warriors #samurai warriors #warriors orochi #warriors orochi z #warriors orochi: the recollective redux

0 notes

zl181 · 2 years ago

Text

Comprehensive Biography of Liu Dai

Liu Dai, styled Gongshan (劉岱字公山; bef. 156 - Spring 192), was a minor civil administrator, serving as Inspector of Yan Province. He was also Liu Yao's elder brother and an imperial kinsman. He died in battle against the Yellow Turbans.

Biography

Ancestry

His ancestors were from Mouping County, Donglai Commandery. Liu Dai's line was traced to Liu Jianglü, the Prince of Qi.[1] Liu Jianglü was the grandson of Emperor Gaozu of Han through his eldest son, Liu Fei.[2][3] Liu Jianglü's youngest son was enfeoffed as Marquis of Mouping, which is where his descendants, and thus Liu Dai, lived.[1][3]

Liu Dai's grandfather was Liu Pi; he had two sons in order of birth: Liu Chong (not the Prince of Chen) and Liu Fang. Liu Pi and Liu Chong will be described in Liu Chong's own biography.[3] Liu Pi also had a cousin named Liu Wei (劉韙), whose tale will be recounted in Liu Yao's biography.

Liu Fang (劉方), also known as Liu Yu (劉輿), would serve as Grand Administrator of Shanyang. Liu Fang had two sons: Liu Dai and Liu Yao. Liu Yao has his own biography.[1][5]

Life

Both Liu Dai and Liu Yao were recognized for their talent.[4][5] Liu Dai, in particular, was praised as being 'filial and fraternal, benevolent and forgiving, and humble when receiving others'.[5] The brothers were held in high esteem that a Taoqiu Hong nominated them to be Flourishing in Talents (maocais). The Inspector of a province, who most likely handled such nominations, complained,

"Last year, we nominated Gongshan. Whyfor should we also nominate Zhengli (Liu Yao)?"

Taoqiu Hong replied,

"If you would enlighten yourself, sir, to use Gongshan at the front and have Zhengli at the rear, this is akin to what is called '[having] two dragons on a long journey' and 'urging legendary steeds to run a thousand li'. Why not do this?"

It is heavily implied that Liu Yao was also nominated.[6] Liu Dai would later serve as Palace Attendant.[1]

Guandong Coalition

Around 190, he presumably became Inspector of Yan Province because Zhou Bi and Wu Qiong, whom Dong Zhuo held high opinions of, advocated for Liu Dai to be appointed to office.[7] However, he soon contributed his troops to the Guandong Coalition.[8] As Inspector of Yan Province, he was nominally in command over his subordinate Grand Administrators, Zhang Miao, Yuan Yi, and Qiao Mao, as well as Bao Xin. Around this time, he also met with Zang Hong, recommended by fellow coalition member Zhang Miao, and was impressed by him.[9]

In the second lunar month, Dong Zhuo moved the capital from Luoyang to Chang'an. Liu Dai stationed himself and his army at Suanzao alongside fellow members (and also his nominal subordinates) Zhang Miao, Yuan Yi, and Qiao Mao.[10] Qiao Mao, who controlled Dong Commandery, was nominally subordinate to Liu Dai. It is likely that Qiao Mao and Liu Dai's rivalry had its roots in that; this rivalry would blow up between Qiao Mao and Liu Dai, and eventually, Liu Dai killed Qiao Mao and appointed his subordinate, Wang Gong, to replace Qiao Mao.[11] Despite this violence, Liu Dai was one of five lords to remain in the Guandong Coalition against Dong Zhuo.[12]

Supporting Yuan Shao over Gongsun Zan

Yuan Shao and Gongsun Zan were locked in conflict with each other; both men were close with Liu Dai. Liu Dai was entrusted by Yuan Shao over his wife and children, while Gongsun Zan showed military support by reinforcing cavalry led by Fan Fang to him. Gongsun Zan soon demanded that Liu Dai send Yuan Shao's family with Liu Dai to him as well as sever ties to Yuan Shao. Liu Dai could not decide, even as Gongsun Zan defeated Yuan Shao's army. Soon, Gongsun Zan backed this up with a threat and told Fan Fang,

"If Dai does not send Shao's family [to me], lead your cavalry back. Once I defeat Shao, lead more troops against Dai."

Liu Dai, however, was still hesitant after several days. His subordinate, Wang Yu, told Dai that Cheng Yu, who had earlier declined to serve Liu Dai, would be able to decide who to side with. Cheng Yu told Liu Dai,

"If you abandon Shao, who is nearby with support, to ask for Zan's distant reinforcements, it is said to be using someone from Yue (south-east China) to save a drowning child [in the Central Plains]. Gongsun Zan is not Yuan Shao's equal. Now although he has defeated Shao's army, he will eventually end up captured by Shao. If you support tonight's power and not concern yourself with long-term plans, you, sir, will end up defeated."

Thus, Liu Dai remained loyal to Yuan Shao, and soon, Gongsun Zan was defeated by Yuan Shao. Liu Dai tried to thank Cheng Yu by petitioning he be made Commandant of Cavalry, but Cheng Yu declined and claimed illness.[13]

Defeats and Death

Around Late 191, over 100,000 Yellow Turbans invaded and seized Wei Commandery. They also defeated Wang Gong, who fled. Cao Cao was able to defeat them somewhat, enough for Yuan Shao to petition for him to become the new Grand Administrator of Dong Commandery.[14]

Around Spring 192, the aforementioned force of 100,000 Yellow Turbans began to encroach against Liu Dai. Liu Dai eventually decided to attack them, despite the protests of his advisor, Bao Xin. He engaged the Yellow Turbans and was killed in the fight. The ensuing vacancy had Liu Dai's former subordinates, among them Chen Gong and Bao Xin, invite Cao Cao to be the Governor of Yan Province.[15]''

Family

Liu Dai has no known children. He had a younger brother, Liu Yao, who has his own biography.

Legacy

The death of Liu Dai opened a pathway for Cao Cao to govern an entire province.

References

[1] - 【劉繇字正禮，東萊牟平人也。齊孝王少子封牟平侯，子孫家焉。繇伯父寵，為漢太尉。繇兄岱，字公山，歷位侍中，兗州刺史。】《三國志注•卷四九》

[2] - 【齊悼惠王劉肥者，高祖長庶男也。...後一歲，孝文帝以所封悼惠王子分齊為王，齊孝王將閭以悼惠王子楊虛侯為齊王。】《史記•齊悼惠王世家》

[3] - 【劉寵字祖榮，東萊牟平人，齊悼惠王之後也。悼惠王肥，高祖子也。悼惠王子孝王將閭，將閭少子封牟平矦，子孫家焉。父丕，博學，號為通儒。】《後漢書•卷七十六》

[4] - 【弟方，官至山陽太守。方有二子：岱字公山，繇字正禮。兄弟齊名稱。】《後漢書•卷七十六》

[5] - 【（《續漢書》曰：繇父輿，一名方，山陽太守。岱、繇皆有雋才。《英雄記》稱岱孝悌仁恕，以虛己受人。）】《三國志注•卷四九》

[6] - 【平原陶丘洪薦繇，欲令舉茂才。刺史曰：「前年舉公山，奈何復舉正禮乎？」洪曰：「若明使君用公山於前，擢正禮於後，所謂御二龍於長塗，騁騏驥於千里，不亦可乎！」】《三國志注•卷四九》

[7] - 【「初，卓信任尚書周毖、城門校尉伍瓊等，用其所舉韓馥、劉岱、孔伷、張咨、張邈等出宰州郡。】《三國志注•卷六》

[8] - 【兖州刺史劉岱…同時俱起兵，】《三國志注•卷一》

[9] - 【致之於劉兖州公山、孔豫州公緒，皆與洪親善。】《三國志注•卷七》

[10] - 【二月，卓聞兵起，乃徙天子都長安。卓留屯洛陽，遂焚宮室。是時紹屯河內，邈、岱、瑁、遺屯酸棗，術屯南陽，伷屯潁川，馥在鄴。】《三國志注•卷一》

[11] - 【劉岱與橋��相惡，岱殺瑁，以王肱領東郡太守。】《三國志注•卷一》

[12] - 【臣松之案：於時此盟止有劉岱等五人而已。】《三國志注•卷七》

[13] - 【初平中，兖州刺史劉岱辟昱，昱不應。是時岱與袁紹、公孫瓚和親，紹令妻子居岱所，瓚亦遣從事范方將騎助岱。後紹與瓚有隙。瓚擊破紹軍，乃遣使語岱，令遣紹妻子，使與紹絕。別勑范方：「若岱不遣紹家，將騎還。吾定紹，將加兵於岱。」岱議連日不決，別駕王彧白岱：「程昱有謀，能斷大事。」岱乃見昱，問計，昱曰：「若棄紹近援而求瓚遠助，此假人於越以救溺子之說也。夫��孫瓚，非袁紹之敵也。今雖壞紹軍，然終為紹所禽。夫趣一朝之權而不慮遠計，將軍終敗。」岱從之。范方將其騎歸，未至，瓚大為紹所破。岱表昱為騎都尉，昱辭以疾。】《三國志注•十四》

[14] - 【黑山賊于毒、白繞、眭固等十餘萬眾略魏郡、東郡，王肱不能禦，太祖引兵入東郡，擊白繞於濮陽，破之。袁紹因表太祖為東郡太守，治東武陽。】《三國志注•一》

[15] - 【青州黃巾衆百萬入兖州，殺任城相鄭遂，轉入東平。劉岱欲擊之，鮑信諫曰：「今賊衆百萬，百姓皆震恐，士卒無鬬志，不可敵也。觀賊衆羣輩相隨，軍無輜重，唯以鈔略為資，今不若畜士衆之力，先為固守。彼欲戰不得，攻又不能，其勢必離散，後選精銳，據其要害，擊之可破也。」岱不從，遂與戰，果為所殺。（《世語》曰：岱旣死，陳宮謂太祖曰：「州今無主，而王命斷絕，宮請說州中，明府尋往牧之，資之以收天下，此霸王之業也。」宮說別駕、治中曰：「今天下分裂而州無主；曹東郡，命世之才也，若迎以牧州，必寧生民。」鮑信等亦謂之然。）信乃與州吏萬潛等至東郡迎太祖領兖州牧。】《三國志注•卷一》

#bao xin #cao cao #liu dai #dong zhuo #liu yao #sanguo #cheng yu #yuan shao #gongsun zan

8 notes · View notes

sunfin3k · 5 years ago

Text

The Wuhuan People and The Empire of Han by Rafe De Crespigny

Themes: Wuhuan; Army

Overview:

De Crespigny begins this chapter by introducing the Wuhuan, describing them as having a “comparatively unimpressive history” compared to the other Northern tribes. The sources mainly describe them based upon their impact between the Han Dynasty and other tribes. He then describes the primary sources available, their overlap and content.

Next, he turns to what the sources say about their culture. He notes that they were a splinter of the Donghu tribe who were defeated by the Xiongnu. He also challenges the assertion that they got the name Wuhuan from the mountains at which they gathered, instead suggesting the mountains were named after the tribe. The word Wuhuan seems to mean wise and he suspects that the name came from a prince’s title.

De Crespigny says the sources describe them as nomads and gives details about how they lived, what they wore and their knowledge of iron. Next, he talks about agriculture and what they ate and drank. He also describes their religion and funeral practises; however, he questions the Chinese statement that they believed the most honourable way to die was in battle. De Crespigny points out this was also said about the Qiang and argues this could just be Chinese ignorance.

Much of this was understandable to the Chinese, De Crespigny says. However, their marriage and family customs not so. In particular he describes the priority given to the young and how generations and sexes happily mixed. The last area he considers in their social history before moving to their interactions with the Han dynasty is their political structure.

At the beginning of the Former Han, the Wuhuan paid tribute to the Xiongnu. However, Huo Quobing on an expedition against their overlords formed an alliance with the Wuhuan and encouraged them to return to China with him to serve as a buffer. This worked well for many years other than an occasional raid, until the Wuhuan grew complacent attacked the Xiongnu burial grounds. The Chinese went to help but seeing the Xiongnu had already retreated attacked the Wuhuan themselves. Sufficiently weakened the Wuhuan no longer attempted to raid China and were submissive to the central government.

The continued until the reign of Wang Mang. At this point the Wuhuan broke off the informal alliance with the Central court and instead realigned themselves with the Xiongnu. De Crespigny considers in depth the account in the Chinese sources and Bielenstein’s argument that the sources at this point need to be treated carefully as they contain anti-Wang Ming biases. This remained the state of affairs for most of Emperor Guangwu’s rule. De Crespigny considers Ma Yuan’s expeditions against the Wuhuan before explaining how the Xiongnu civil war bought the Wuhuan back under the sway of the Imperial court of the Later Han.

This became the settled state for many years. De Crespigny describes the office of Colonel Protector of the Wuhuan and the state of the relationship between the Later Han Dynasty and the Wuhuan. He says the existence of the Chang River regiment of the Northern Army was proof of a strong relationship between court and tribesman. This began to change when the Xianbi rebelled against the Han in 109 AD. Some Wuhuan joined with the rebels and although they were defeated the Xianbi continued to cause problems, giving disgruntled Wuhuan an outlet to join.

The chapter then moves into the fall of the Later Han. Looking at the Wuhuan uprising under Zhang Chun before examining Gongsun Zan, Liu Yu and Yuan Shao. De Crespigny briefly describes the Wuhuan hopes of becoming a powerful force under Tadun before ending with Cao Cao’s campaign at White Wolf Mountain. This led to the end of the Wuhuan as a distinct people. Many settling into China as part of Cao Cao’s army, whilst others were absorbed into the Xianbei.

Analysis:

This chapter doesn’t cover as much about the cultural history of the Wuhuan as Duthie’s essay does. However, De Crespigny does engage with secondary sources and makes some interesting observations as a result, that Duthie misses out on. If you are interested in the cultural history, I would recommend reading both, while lots of information will be repeated both provide unique nuggets.

Of course, De Crespigny’s scope is far wider and this is a comprehensive look at the Wuhuan engagement in political history throughout the Han. He covers in some depth their involvement in the lives of Gongsun Zan, Cao Cao and the Yuan clan. That makes this chapter a valuable read for anyone interested in the fall of the Later Han.

#wuhuan #xiongnu #later han #rafe de crespigny #cao cao #yuan shao #liu yu #gongsun zan

6 notes · View notes

the-archlich · 9 months ago

Note

Did Dong Zhuo do anything at all right after seizing power? Did the junta do anything at all right? Or were their regimes just the sheer idiotic sadism and chaos that they're often depicted as?

I recommend listening to @discourseofthethreekingdoms because we spend probably too much time talking about Dong Zhuo over there. He made some good moves but the bad far outweighed them.

Li Jue and the rest didn't take the titles of the Excellencies like Dong Zhuo did. Their positions were all military and they dictated all important affairs of state, but they kept the traditional hierarchy intact. Theoretically the government was back to the way it was supposed to be, if everyone ignored all the soldiers. They were also able to make a convincing argument in favor of killing Wang Yun, and they somewhat distanced themselves from Dong Zhuo. All of this made them somewhat more palatable to the various warlords.

The Li junta was completely unable to expand its direct sphere of influence but it had some success in other areas. Most of the major warlords sent tribute to the capital, tacitly accepting the junta's regime. In return, the traditional court authorized the titles they were already claiming for themselves, giving some degree of imperial legitimacy to their territorial claims. In other places they were able to use that authority to raise up rivals to their enemies (most successfully with Liu Yao in Yang) or pit factions against each other (as with Gongsun Zan and Liu Yu). They didn't have much leverage, but what they did have they utilized fairly effectively.

It's impossible to say how much of that is due to Jia Xu specifically, but SGZ indicates that he was the guiding hand behind much of their success while avoiding high titles and attention.

3 notes · View notes

hahahakeemu · 5 years ago

Text

Always interesting to see what’s happening in China from Samguk Sagi:

Year nineteen [197]. As there was great turmoil in China, many Han people fled the disorder and came in great numbers to surrender. This was the second year of the Jianan era in Han Xiandi’s reign.

It seems silly, but I’ve never really considered the people that would flee the country overall. China’s events are getting mentioned a little more frequently (always in small detail) as things get more intense over there, and it’s real interesting to see how that’s all playing out and how it affects Goguryeo specifically.

#samguk sagi #three kingdoms #Jianan Era #China #Chinese history #korean history #삼국사기 #삼국시대 #삼국지 #Romance of the Three Kingdoms #Cao Cao #Gongsun Zan #goguryeo #고��려

10 notes · View notes

zirroxas · 6 years ago

Text

Jieqiao Stage 4 - Tactical Map Prototypes

Welcome back to the second to last part of my series of prototype maps for the Battle of Jieqiao! This one has been a long time coming, but there was a lot to do (interrupted by a bout of illness and a sudden trip I had to take) and it took me a couple of revisions before I was happy with the end product.

So lets dive in:

We left off with the deployment of forces from last time. Qu Yi’s best men were the van of Yuan Shao’s army, and Gongsun Zan sent his cavalry from his flanks to overrun them due to their small number. Qu Yi’s 800 line troops formed a defense by hiding behind their great shields, most likely to protect against the fire coming from the White Horse Righteous Followers directly in front of them and any of the oncoming charge who were shooting as well. At this moment, Qu Yi’s actions are entirely defensive.

The next phase shows that this was all indeed a trap set by Qu Yi. His soldiers waited until the oncoming charge was less than 100 meters away and suddenly countercharged, with the crossbows loosing volleys at the same time. This presumably shattered the oncoming horsemen and sent them reeling from the shock, likely off the battlefield entirely. This is both a testament to the nerve of Qu Yi’s men, who didn’t falter in the face of an overwhelming charge of cavalry, as well as to what was likely a Gongsun cavalry force more built on quantity than quality. The quality was likely in the White Horse Righteous Followers, who probably hadn’t taken part in the charge itself, since their job was shooting from the center.

With his cavalry arm shattered, Gongsun Zan has nothing to threaten Yuan Shao’s army with. The deeper square formation relied on the cavalry wings to protect the flanks, but more importantly, the momentum of battle had swung to Yuan Shao very decisively. Qu Yi’s men were likely still charging towards the Gongsun lines, while the rest of the Yuan army would have been greatly emboldened by his show of courage and brilliance. The Gongsun army had just watched their cavalry force be routed by a vanguard a fraction of their size and may have already been flagging. At this point, there was nothing else for Yuan Shao to do but charge to back up Qu Yi and deliver the coup de grace, while Gongsun Zan was probably doing his best just to keep order in his ranks while figuring out what course of action to take next.

The final part of the field engagement south of Jieqiao was the Yuan forces pressing home their advantage. With Gongsun Zan’s cavalry gone, they were free to outflank and possibly partly surround the Gongsun army. This being the Jian’an period, most of the soldiers were conscripts with little training and low discipline. While the White Horse Righteous Followers were of sterner stuff, there were not enough of them, and being in the center, there was no chance for them to outmaneuver the enemy anymore. The Yuan army therefore fell upon the already demoralized Gongsun army and proceeded to rout it.

As with many battles, casualty counts for all sections of the battle need to be partly inferred. Given how morale heavy this battle was and how it was essentially decided by the actions of the vanguard alone, the amount of killing in pitched combat was likely very low, while the amount of casualties taken by the Gongsun army during the rout was much higher.

Since the Gongsun cavalry force engaged a numerically inferior foe first and was routed in a decisive volley and charge without pitched combat or much pursuit, their casualties were probably light. However, since they left the battle first and possibly without their officers, many of them probably didn’t rally nor return later on. We will return to their fate in the next part.

The Gongsun infantry in the center would have had a much worse time, packed into the denser square formation and then outflanked. We know that Yan Gang, the man Gongsun Zan had just made Inspector of Ji Province, was killed along with a thousand of his armored men. Since the fact that they were well armored implies that they were of higher quality than the average conscript, it’s probable that their high casualties were a result of them being near the front of the formation and not breaking that quickly. There may well have been several more thousand casualties, but the vast majority of losses here would have likely been from surrendering troops and those who went missing during the rout, as opposed to those actually killed by Yuan soldiers. Many more may have been crushed or trampled trying to escape, given the denseness of the Gongsun formation and the limited avenues to retreat.

And that’s the end for the big field engagement at Jieqiao. There’s one more part to this series (which follows the pursuit and subsequent engagements), but fortunately, I’ve already finished the maps themselves and just have to do the writeup. I’ll hopefully post it this evening.

As always, let me know if you have any criticisms or questions!

#3k #Three Kingdoms #chinese history #military history #maps #gongsun zan #Yuan Shao #Qu Yi

12 notes · View notes

aishangotome · 1 month ago

Text

Chapter 7-22 To Have no Just Cause (師出無名)

Chapter 7-20

The army loomed over Pengcheng like a storm cloud, soldiers encircling the city.

Below the city walls, Cao Cao's messenger began to read the declaration of war aloud. From our vantage point, we could hear the sounds of chaos rising from within.

The people were terrified, scrambling to find places to hide...

Pengcheng Lieutenant: ...Will we be spared if we surrender?

You: We must never surrender. Surrendering means becoming fish on a chopping block, just another city to be slaughtered.

Chen Deng: After Cao Cao, the next to come will be either Yuan Shu or Sun Ce, then Yuan Shao, Gongsun Zan... Xuzhou will never have a day of peace.

You: That's why we can't surrender. Fu Rong, negotiate with the envoy. I want to meet with Cao Cao on the battlefield.

Fu Rong: I'll arrange for guards...

You: I'll go see him alone. You all stay on the city wall. If they dare to attack the city, everyone can work together to defend it.

I stepped down from the city wall. But just then, someone grabbed my wrist...

---Fu Rong gripped my hand tightly. After a brief moment, he said nothing and silently let go.

Cao Cao: Your Highness, it's been a while.

You: Xuzhou is already awash in blood. Are you still unwilling to stop?

Cao Cao: Making the first move means there's no stopping.

You: Until both hands are cut off, you won't stop?

Cao Cao: Yes, until the hands of all my enemies are cut off.

The wind howled past. Before me was the army, behind me the city. I glanced again at the letter of challenge he had sent, listing three major crimes.

You: The first crime, "harboring the rebel Que Xuan." Xuzhou can hand over Que Xuan to you for disposal, to clear this charge.

Cao Cao: Who can guarantee that it's the real Que Xuan? What if you hand over a double, while the real Que Xuan remains hidden?

You: Then let's talk about the second crime, "Tao Qian's invasion of Chongzhou." Now that Liangzhou has counterattacked and taken ten cities, how about we wipe this charge clean?

He nodded in agreement.

You: As for the third crime, "murdering Cao Song"... This is completely baseless. I was framed. I want room for negotiation.

Cao Cao: If my father were still alive, there would be room for negotiation. But the dead cannot be brought back to life. Your room for negotiation is dead.

You: ...Not necessarily! Heaven never seals off all exits.

The sound of silver bells suddenly came from the distance.

A pure white deer-drawn carriage emerged from the dust clouds and stopped beside me. The curtain lifted, and attendants helped an elderly man out of the carriage.

Cao Cao: Father?!

You: I was worried someone would try to harm him, so I found him in advance and replaced him with a double.

After learning Cao Song's whereabouts, I didn't wait for the Five Pecks of Rice followers to report back. I immediately had someone find Cao Song and switch him with a double.

Only then did I go with Liu Bian to find "Cao Song." Xiuyi Tower lacked manpower, and the Five Pecks of Rice couldn't be trusted, so I entrusted this task to... the Hidden Kite Pavilion.

You: Cao Song is not dead. You have no justification for this war. Will you withdraw your troops?

Cao Cao: Even if my father is safe, you may not have handed over the real rebel Que Xuan.

Cavalry: General Cao, General Xiahou has arrived and says he has an urgent matter to report!

Cao Cao: ...Why is he here... Shouldn't he be in Baima County with the Emperor...?

A young general rode through the ranks and came to Cao Cao's side.

Xiahou Ting: Because this matter is of great importance, I came to report in person.

Xiahou Ting: The Prince of Guangling sent someone to deliver the rebel Que Xuan to Baima County and handed him over to His Majesty, who has verified his identity and awaits his punishment.

You: Cao Cao, the Emperor has recognized Que Xuan. Do you have any further objections?

We stared into each other's eyes, countless ambitions and calculations hanging in the balance.

You: All three charges are cleared, you have no justification for war. You've slaughtered enough people to fill the Si River. Even if you take Xuzhou, you'll lose the hearts of the people.

Cao Cao said nothing more and turned back towards his army. The tense atmosphere relaxed slightly.

But just as he returned to his ranks, he looked back at me one last time. His eyes held an icy, bone-chilling killing intent --

!!! This is bad---

Cao Cao: Kill.

As soon as he spoke, a slender figure flew out, a hairpin-like dagger in hand, hurtling towards me with deadly intent --

Chapter 7-25

If you’d like to support my translations, feel free to buy me a coffee here! :)

0 notes