#yangp

[fistfuloflightning]

From My Heart Within Yours

[lgcmanager]

FUTURE DREAMS SEASON 7: ALUMNI (AUDIENCE)

SCHEDULE TYPE: N/A RESTRICTIONS: non contestant muses

as revealed in the CONTESTANT POST, word of the newest season of FUTURE DREAMS is finally out, with LEGACY ENTERTAINMENT officially confirming that the competiton will return for a 7th season that will begin on DECEMBER 28, with a total of 8 episodes.

since the finale will take into account AUDIENCE MEMBERS VOTES, we're giving you all a chance to influence who will be the winner of FUTURE DREAMS 7.

as it is, LEGACY currently boasts of 9 SOLO ARTISTS with their own distinctive color;

BAE SIWOO (dbsd): Rap & Dance (based on psy)

KANG JAEHYUK (haru): Vocal & Dance (based on taemin)

KANG WOOHEE (blazing): Vocal (based on ailee & soyu)

KIM HYUNBIN (dbsd): Vocal & Rap (based on dean)

KIM YOUNGIM (blazing): Vocal & Rap (based on heize)

LEE SHINHAE (dbsd): Vocal & Dance (based on baekhyun)

SEO HANEUL (dbsd): Rap & Vocal (based on jaewon/one)

SONG HANUI (blazing): Vocal & Dance (based on hyolyn)

WU YANGPING (haru): Vocal, Rap & Dance (based on jay park & jackson)

based on the current list of solo artists, we want you to pick which skill should be prioritize between DANCE, RAP and VOCAL by ranking them between 1 to 3. rewards will be revealed AFTER the finale and will be the same accross all your muses, based on YOUR ranking.

** please note that ic wise, besides BLAZing and HARU members, no other legacy member will be allowed at the venue. however, for those free on JANUARY 13, a live feed will be streamed at the company. **

you have until JANUARY 6 at 11:59PM EST to vote. please submit the following form ONCE on the points blog:

TITLE: FUTURE DREAMS 7 VOTES - MUSES: (list all your muses full name) - RANKING: 1. (highest priority skill), 2., 3. (lowest priority skill)

[the-archlich]

How important was Mount Dingjun from a strategic perspective? It seems like Shu's victory at Mount Dingjun, one of the few (or only) battles they won during their Hanzhong campaign, was a big enough strategic win to force Cao to retreat and win the entire campaign for Shu--but Mount Dingjun didn't seem to matter at all during Cao Zhen's, Cao Shuang's, or Zhong Hui's invasions of Hanzhong. Why did Dingjun matter so much at first but not at all later?

I think this map helps a lot. (To Establish Peace)

At the start of the campaign in 217, Liu Bei's only route to advance was through Yangping. There, the road split into two branches: the Lianyun Road through San Pass to Chencang and the Baoye Road through Yegu to Mei. Nanzheng controlled the merger of the Mian and Han rivers, and passage down the latter.

In 217, Liu Bei advanced to Yangping. Xiahou Yuan and Zhang He encamped at Guangshi to prevent his advance, and he was unable to break their defensive line throughout 218. Zhang Fei was sent to secure the Liangyun Road but was defeated by Cao Hong, entirely ending the western operations.

If you look closely, you can see that Mount Dingjun is south of the Mian River (interchangeable with the Han at that point), while Xiahou Yuan's defenses were to the north. Liu Bei relocated from Yangping to Mount Dingjun in hopes of outflanking Xiahou Yuan and Zhang He, since he couldn't gain the road. Xiahou Yuan challenged the position but was killed.

Zhang He and Guo Huai regrouped the survivors and maintained the defensive line along the Han/Mian River. They stretched in a belt from Guanshi to Baozhong to Nanzheng. Encamped at Mount Dingjun, Liu Bei decided not to challenge them.

Cao Cao had been waiting at Chang'an. His forces had been victorious throughout 218 so there had been no need for him to get involved personally. Once Xiahou Yuan died, he advanced to reinforce the defenses. The two armies faced each other for several months but no decisive battle took place and Cao Cao withdrew north to the Wei.

So, Mount Dingjun was important because Liu Bei was maneuvering around Xiahou Yuan's specific position. Subsequent campaigns in the area didn't operate along exactly the same lines, so this specific position wasn't really relevant again. Shu's main defense in the region was concentrated on the fortified Yangping Pass, since that was the route any invading army needed to take.

[yeonchi]

What if the new characters were in Warriors Orochi 3 Ultimate? (Redux)

I had an idea for a new instalment of Warriors Orochi. It would be a crossover between Dynasty Warriors Multi Raid 2, One Piece: Pirate Warriors, Toukiden and Hyrule Warriors. They’d have to have a Kickstarter or something of the sort if they’d want to do that, ESPECIALLY if people want English dubs on it. Think of the cost!

But I’m not talking about this now and I don’t intend to in the future. For now, I’m going to explain to you how the new characters in DW8 (with XL) and SW4 would have fit in with Warriors Orochi 3. Take it as a break from all the usual ranting I do.

Originally, I was just going to stop it after the first two Warriors Orochi games, but I thought, what the heck! It doesn’t hurt!

Some stages mentioned may not have been in the actual Warriors Orochi 3 game. Please be aware of this.

Dynasty Warriors 8 new characters:

Wei:

Yue Jin 楽進: Unlocked in the Battle of Fan Castle (樊城の戦い), Chapter 3. Present with his lord at Fan Castle (replaces Yu Jin). He also assists his lord’s escape at Chengdu. He then works with Zhang Liao to rescue Li Dian at Bowangpo.

Li Dian 李典: Unlocked in the side stage Battle of Xiakou (夏口の戦い), Chapter 3. When Zhang Liao and Yue Jin (Kaguya is the other recommended character) were there with Li Dian in the original timeline, Masamune’s army of horses and riflemen spotted them and decided to attack them. Li Dian sacrificed his life so that Zhang Liao and Yue Jin could escape. Now they are going back in time to rescue him.

Yu Jin 于禁: Unlocked in the Battle of Tong Gate (潼関の戦い), Chapter 3. He is present with Cao Pi and Sima Yi at Tong Gate.

Xun Yu 荀彧: Unlocked in the side stage Battle of Puyang (濮陽の戦い), Chapter 4. Cao Cao receives a report that Demon Army troops and Mystic Army troops are fighting and so, he sets out with Guo Jia and Jia Xu to pacify the uprising. On one side of the castle, however, the demons and mystics don’t seem to be fighting each other – because they’re fighting Xun Yu, who is efficiently using strategy to confuse the enemy. Cao Cao and company meet up with Xun Yu and they manage to eliminate the enemy before he joins them.

Wu:

Lu Su 魯粛: Unlocked in the Battle of Odawara Castle (小田原城の戦い), Chapter 1. He fights with his Wu comrades and his allies the Hōjō to repel the Demon Army.

Han Dang 韓当: Unlocked in the Battle of Nagashino (長篠の戦い), Chapter 1. He works with Zhou Tai to repel the Date Army, assisted by Sun Wukong and Kiyomori’s servants.

Zhu Ran 朱然: Unlocked in the side stage Battle of Hefei (合肥の戦い), Chapter 4. He joins the coalition along with Lu Xun after the battle and he appears in the true ending.

Shu:

Xu Shu 徐庶: Unlocked after clearing Battle of Yiling Redux (夷陵の戦い・改変後), Chapter 1. In the original timeline, he escaped with Ma Chao to Odawara Castle.

Guan Xing 関興: Unlocked in the Battle of Mt. Dingjun (定軍山の戦い), Chapter 2. He is alongside his father, working for Kiyomori until he is freed of his control. He then fights Zhang Bao at Yangping Gate.

Zhang Bao 張苞: Unlocked in the Battle of Yangping Gate (陽平関の戦い), Chapter 3. He appears alongside his father here.

Guan Yinping 関銀屏: Unlocked in the side stage Battle of Qing Province (青州の戦い), Chapter 2. When the serpent army attacked, her father and her brothers helped her escape because they did not believe that she was strong enough to fight off an invasion of such proportions. She hid away in Changshan practising until an alliance featuring the likes of Yuan Shu and Zhang Xiu made base in the area. Believing this an opportunity to show her strength, she charged solo into the enemy. But what she didn’t know was that the alliance was led by Dong Zhuo and he would probably take her in as one of his harem. Luckily, Xu Shu, Guan Yu and Guan Xing were searching in the area and managed to find her just before Dong Zhuo arrived. Together, they fought off Dong Zhuo and Guan Yinping joined the coalition.

Fa Zheng 法正: Unlocked in the Battle of Yangping Gate, Chapter 3 (陽平関の戦い). He is the strategist in this stage. He also appears to help his lord escape at Chengdu.

Jin:

Jia Chong 賈充: Unlocked in the Battle of Ueda Castle (上田城の戦い), Chapter 1. He stayed with Zhuge Dan and the others when Sima Zhao went off to Odawara. He then joins Sima Zhao and Zhuge Dan at Hasedō.

Wen Yang 文鴦: Unlocked in the Battle of Nagashino (長篠の戦い), Chapter 1. Along with Guo Huai and the others, they were Kiyomori’s puppets until Hideyoshi, Ma Chao and the others beat them back to their senses.

Zhang Chunhua 張春華: Unlocked in the Battle of Hulao Gate (虎牢関の戦い), Chapter 3. She was alongside her husband at Tong Gate, but not at Shizugatake.

Other:

Chen Gong 陳宮 and Lu Lingqi 呂玲綺: Unlocked in the side stage Battle of Xiapi Castle (下邳城の戦い), Chapter 2 (uses the DW8XL map). When Lu Bu left Xiapi with Diaochan, he entrusted Chen Gong and Lu Lingqi to defend the castle. When Nezha passes by with the Mystic Army, he thinks that Lu Bu will probably be waiting inside, so he decides to set various traps inside, including fire, flood, poison and explosive attacks. However, Nezha doesn’t know that Lu Bu isn’t even in the castle, so when he arrives, he chases Nezha in anger. Sent by a message of an attack on Xiapi, Guan Yinping and Lady Hayakawa (with Xu Huang as other recommended character) arrive to defuse the traps inside the castle, which were mostly caused by sorcery. They then chase down Nezha, who is fighting Lu Bu. Lu Bu tells them to get out of his way and turns on Chen Gong and the others. While Lu Bu is distracted with fighting the others, Nezha escapes. Lu Bu is defeated and he escapes too. Feeling abandoned by their lord, Chen Gong and Lu Lingqi join the coalition. Later, Chen Gong helps recruit Kasumi in Yan Province.

Samurai Warriors 4 new characters:

Takatora Tōdō 藤堂高虎: Unlocked in the side stage Battle of Kanegasaki (金ヶ崎の戦い), Chapter 2. Guan Xing and Zhang Bao journey there (Zhang Bao, Xingcai and Bao Sanniang is the recommended team) to find a Demon Army patrol to defeat so that they can show off their skills against each other. During their competition, they come across Takatora who was forced to flee during the intial assault on his home. Together, they defeat the Demon Army and Takatora joins the Coalition.

Naotora Ii 井伊直虎 and Naomasa Ii 井伊直政: Unlocked in the side stage Battle of Okehazama (桶狭間の戦い), Chapter 3. When the coalition from the future attacked Yangping Gate, Naotora took her foster son Naomasa and hid. Later, Ieyasu Tokugawa, accompanied by Tadakatsu Honda and Liu Bei, head to Okehazama to find Naotora and convince her to join the coalition. However, Naotora is scared that Ieyasu and company are working for the Demon Army, so she decides to fight them. In the end, Ieyasu manages to convince the mother and son that they are not the Demon Army.

Munenori Yagyū 柳生宗矩: Unlocked in the Battle of Odawara Castle Redux (小田原城の戦い・改変後), Chapter 1. In the original battle, he did not make it to help his friend Musashi Miyamoto because he and Shigekata Tōgō were surrounded by the Demon Army. Yoshihiro, Kai and Sun Shangxiang save them at Dongkou, which allows them to make it to Odawara Castle and save Musashi. After the battle, he joins the coalition along with Musashi.

Nobuyuki Sanada 真田信之: Unlocked in the side stage Rescue at Yiling (夷陵救出戦), Chapter 3. He is one of those held captive by the Demon Army and he is the first one Guo Jia, Guo Huai and Xingcai meet (he is in the Stone Sentinel Maze).

Yoshitsugu Ōtani 大谷吉継: Unlocked in the Battle of Tong Gate (潼関の戦い), Chapter 3. He follows Mitsunari in joining the coalition later.

Hisahide Matsunaga 松永久秀: Unlocked in the side stage Battle of Mt. Inaba Castle (稲葉山城の戦い), Chapter 4. In defiance of his fate, he hid away with some rogue officers (ie. the Miyoshi, Satake and others) and made a base at Kuzegawa. A treasure report leads Dong Zhuo and Jia Xu (with Magoichi Saika as other recommended character) to search there, but ends up finding tea leaves and kettles. After a conflict, Dong Zhuo takes Matsunaga back to the coalition.

Kojūrō Katakura 片倉小十郎: Unlocked in the Battle of Luoyang (洛陽の戦い), Chapter 2. He was with Masamune at Nagashino.

Kagekatsu Uesugi 上杉景勝: Unlocked in the Battle of Shizugatake (賤ヶ岳の戦い), Chapter 3. He joins the coalition together with Aya.

Takakage Kobayakawa 小早川隆景: Unlocked in the Battle of Sekigahara (関ヶ原の戦い), Chapter 2. He follows his father Motonari in working for Da Ji at Kyūshū and Nanzhong. However, when the coalition ends up saving Da Ji when she is chased by Nezha, Motonari, Achilles and Takakage join the coalition as well.

Koshōshō 小少将: Unlocked in the Battle of Xuchang Redux (許昌の戦い・改変後), Chapter 2. Instead of being a hostage, she works under Dong Zhuo. When the Demon Army soldiers spot Jiang Wei, Koshōshō finishes him off in the original timeline and retreats. However, after the timeline has been changed, she does not notice Jiang Wei that easily and she joins the coalition after her defeat.

Toyohisa Shimazu 島津豊久: Unlocked in the Battle of Odawara Castle (小田原城の戦い), Chapter 1. He follows his uncle Yoshihiro in working for the Demon Army. With the coalition, he works with Jia Xu and Ginchiyo in chasing Da Ji at Kyūshū.

Lady Hayakawa 早川殿: Unlocked in the Battle of Changban (長坂の戦い), Chapter 3. She appears as reinforcements alongside Sun Ce, Zhou Yu, Daqiao and Ujiyasu Hōjō.

[postsofbabel]

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[bookofjin]

Administrative geography of Western Han (34,115)

According to Ban Gu's Book of Han.

Places names on the map:

You 幽州

Bohai勃海郡

Yangxin陽信

Dongguang東光

Fucheng阜城

Qiantong千童

Zhonghe重合

Ding定

Gaole高樂

Linle臨樂

Zhongping重平

Tiaoshi脩市

Zhangxiang章鄉

Puling蒲領

Ji冀州

Guangping廣平國

Quzhou曲周

Nanqu南曲

Xindu信都國

Xindu信都

Li歷

Fuliu扶柳

Biyang辟陽

Nangong南宮

Xiabo下博

Wuyi武邑

Guanjin觀津

Gaodi高隄

Guangchuan廣川

Lexiang樂鄉

Pingdi平隄

Tao桃

Xiliang西梁

Changcheng昌成

Dongchang東昌

Xiu脩

Hejian 河間國

Gonggao弓高

Wei魏郡

Guantao館陶

Qingyuan清淵

Wei魏

Yuancheng元城

Yin'an陰安

Ping'en平恩

Julu鉅鹿郡

Nanluan南䜌

Linping臨平

Shi貰

Qiao郻

Xinshi新巿

Tangyang堂陽

Lixiang歷鄉

Lexin樂信

Qinghe清河郡

Qingyang清陽

Dongwucheng東武城

Yimu繹幕

Ling靈

Cuo厝

Shu鄃

Beiqiu貝丘

Xincheng信成

Souti𢘿題

Dongyang東陽

Xinxiang信鄉

Liao繚

Zaoqiang棗彊

Fuyang復陽

Yan 兗州

Dong東郡

Liaocheng聊城

Dunqiu頓丘

Fagan發干

Fan范

Chiping茬平

Dongwuyang東武陽

Boping博平

Li黎

Qing清

Dong'e東阿

Lihu離狐

Linyi臨邑

Xuchang須昌

Shouliang壽良

Lechang樂昌

Yangping陽平

Linqiu廩丘

Chenliu陳留郡

Cheng'an成安

Ningling寧陵

Xiangyi襄邑

Yan傿

Shanyang山陽郡

Changyi昌邑

Nanpingyang南平陽

Chengwu成武

Huling湖陵

Dongmin東緍

Fangyu方與

Tuo橐

Juye鉅野

Shanfu單父

Bo薄

Duguan都關

Chengdu城都

Huang黃

Yuanqi爰戚

Gaocheng郜成

Pingle平樂

Xiaqiu瑕丘

Xiyang西陽

Jiyin濟陰郡

Dingtao定陶

Yuanqu冤句

Lüdu呂都

Jiami葭密

Chengyang成陽

Juancheng鄄城

Gouyang句陽

Du秺

Chengshi乘氏

Chengyang 城陽國

Ju莒

Yangdu陽都

Dong'an東安

Lü慮

Huaiyang淮陽國

Zhe柘

Dongping東平國

Wuyan無鹽

Rencheng任城

Dongpinglu東平陸

Fucheng富城

Zhang章

Kangfu亢父

Fan樊

Taishan泰山郡

Fenggao奉高

Bo博

Chi茬

Lu盧

Feicheng肥成

Yiqiu蛇丘

Gang剛

Chai柴

Gai蓋

Liangfu梁父

Dongpingyang東平陽

Nanwuyang南武陽

Laiwu萊蕪

Juping鉅平

Ying嬴

Mou牟

Mengyin蒙陰

Hua華

Ningyang寧陽

Shengqiu乘丘

Fuyang富陽

Taoshan桃山

Taoxiang桃鄉

Qing青州

Zichuan甾川國

Ju劇

Dong'anping東安平

Louxiang樓鄉

Jiaodong 膠東國

Jimo即墨

Xiami下密

Zhuangwu壯武

Yuzhi郁秩

Ting挺

Guanyang觀陽

Zoulu鄒盧

Gaomi高密國

Gaomi高密

Chang'an昌安

Shiquan石泉

Yi'an夷安

Chengxiang成鄉

Pingyuan平原郡

Pingyuan平原

Ge鬲

Gaotang高唐

Zhongqiu重丘

Pingchang平昌

Yu羽

Ban般

Leling樂陵

Zhu'e祝阿

Yuan瑗

Eyang阿陽

Tayin漯陰

Li朸

Fuping富平

Ande安悳

Louxu樓虛

Long'e龍頟

An安

Qiancheng千乘郡

Qiancheng千乘

Dongzou東鄒

Shiwo溼沃

Ping'an平安

Bochang博昌

Liaocheng蓼城

Jianxin建信

Di狄

Langhuai琅槐

Le'an樂安

Beiyang被陽

Gaochang高昌

Gaowan高宛

Yanxiang延鄉

Ji'nan濟南郡

Dongpingling東平陵

Zouping鄒平

Tai臺

Liangzou梁鄒

Tugu土鼓

Yuling於陵

Yangqiu陽丘

Panyang般陽

Jian菅

Zhaoyang朝陽

Licheng歷城

You猇

Zhu著

Yicheng宜成

Qi齊郡

Linzi臨淄

Changguo昌國

Li利

Xi'an西安

Juding鉅定

Guang廣

Guangrao廣饒

Linqu臨朐

Taixiang臺鄉

Beihai北海郡

Yingling營陵

Jukui劇魁

Anqiu安丘

Chunyu淳于

Yi益

Pingshou平壽

Ju劇

Duchang都昌

Pingwang平望

Liuquan柳泉

Shouguang壽光

Lewang樂望

Rao饒

Zhen斟

Sangdu桑犢

Pingcheng平城

Mixiang密鄉

Chengxiang成鄉

Jiaoyang膠陽

Donglai東萊郡

Ye掖

Chui腄

Pingdu平度

Huang黃

Linqu臨朐

Qucheng曲成

Mouping牟平

Dongmou東牟

Jian㡉

Yuli育犁

Changyang昌陽

Buye不夜

Dangli當利

Luxiang盧鄉

Yangle陽樂

Yangshi陽石

Xuxiang徐鄉

Yu豫州

Liang梁國

Dang碭

Zi甾

Shuqiu杼秋

Meng蒙

Yishi已氏

Yu虞

Xiayi下邑

Suiyang睢陽

Lu魯國

Lu魯

Bian卞

Wenyang汶陽

Pi蕃

Zou騶

Xue薛

Pei沛郡

Xiao蕭

Guangqi廣戚

Feng豐

Gongqiu公丘

Jingqiu敬丘

Pei沛

Jianping建平

Li栗

Fuyang扶陽

Qixiang祈鄉

Xu 徐州

Chu楚國

Pengcheng彭城

Liu留

Wu梧

Fuyang傅陽

Lü呂

Wuyuan武原

Langye琅邪郡

Dongwu東武

Buji不其

Haiqu海曲

Ganyu贛榆

Zhuxu朱虛

Zhu諸

Wucheng梧成

Lingmen靈門

Gumu姑幕

Linyuan臨原

Langye琅邪

Fei祓

Ju柜

Ping缾

Fu邞

Qianzou黔陬

Jijin計斤

Dao稻

Gaoyu皋虞

Pingchang平昌

Changguang長廣

Heng橫

Dongguan東莞

Weiqi魏其

Chang昌

Zixiang茲鄉

Ji箕

Bi椑

Gaoguang高廣

Gaoxiang高鄉

Li麗

Xinshan新山

Gaoyang高陽

Kunshan昆山

Zhequan折泉

Fangshan房山

Anqiu安丘

Donghai東海郡

Tan郯

Lanling蘭陵

Xiangfei襄賁

Xiapi下邳

Liangcheng良成

Pingqu平曲

Qi戚

Qu朐

Kaiyang開陽

Bi費

Licheng利成

Haiqu海曲

Zeng繒

Nancheng南成

Jiqiu即丘

Zhuqi祝其

Linyi臨沂

Houqiu厚丘

Rongqiu容丘

Dong'an東安

Hexiang合鄉

Zheng承

Jianyang建陽

Quyang曲陽

Siwu司���

Duyang都陽

Yinping陰平

Wuxiang郚鄉

Xinyang新陽

Jianling建陵

Changlu昌慮

Not located

Dong東郡

Panguan畔觀

Limiao利苗

Shanyang山陽郡

Zhongxiang中鄉

Zheng鄭

Zixiang甾鄉

Lixiang栗鄉

Quxiang曲鄉

Jiaodong 膠東國

Changwu昌武

Pingyuan平原郡

Heyang合陽

Qiancheng千乘郡

Fan'an繁安

Taishan泰山郡

Shi式

Qi齊郡

Zhaonan昭南

Beixiang北鄉

Pingguang平廣

Beihai北海郡

Zhi瓡

Pingdi平的

Yangshi羊石

Ledu樂都

Shixiang石鄉

Shangxiang上鄉

Xincheng新成

Langye琅邪郡

Xushui虛水

Yujia雩假

Yun雲

Rou柔

Jilai即來

Wuxiang武鄉

Yixiang伊鄉

Canfeng參封

Boshi博石

Shenxiang慎鄉

Siwang駟望

Gaoling高陵

Lin'an臨安

Shishan石山

Donghai東海郡

Lanqi蘭祺

Shanxiang山鄉

Jianxiang建鄉

Yuxiang于鄉

Pingqu平曲

Wuyang武陽

Duping都平

County locations and ancient rivers, lakes, and shorelines from The Historical Atlas of China.

I have intentionally stuck to the Hanshu where it differs from the Historical Atlas.

[travelbinge]

Wanfenglin Lake by Tyler Sprague

Yangping, Guizhou, China

[materialsscienceandengineering]

Ultralow magnetic damping of a common metallic ferromagnetic film

Ultralow damping is of key importance for spintronic and spin-orbitronic applications in a range of magnetic materials. However, the number of materials that are suited for charge-based spintronic and spin-orbitronic applications are limited due to magnon-electron scattering. To quantitatively calculate the transition metallic ferromagnetic damping, researchers have proposed theoretical approaches including the breathing Fermi surface model (to describe dissipative magnetization dynamics), generalized torque correlation model, scattering theory, and the linear response damping model. In a new report now published on Science Advances, Yangping Wei and a team of scientists in science, magnetism and magnetic materials, and chemical engineering in China and Singapore experimentally detailed a damping parameter approaching 1.5 x 10-3 for traditional, fundamental iron aluminide (FeAl) soft ferromagnets. The results were comparable to those of 3-D transition metallic ferromagnets based on the principle of minimum electron density of states.

Read more.

[fuyonggu]

The Romance Continued, Chapter 1

Who doesn’t appreciate a good fanfiction?

This text, Continued Romance of the Three Kingdoms, was written in 1609, almost three hundred years after the original novel. Its author went by the pen name The Unauthorized Historian of Xiyang of Western Shu; their real name is unknown. It continues the story of the Romance, beginning with the fall of Shu-Han and continuing into the Jin era, and it assumes that its reader is familiar with the Romance already. The basic premise is something along the lines of “what if most of the people who brought down Western Jin were actually descendants of people from Shu-Han?” It goes without saying that you shouldn’t expect too much historical accuracy here beyond the broad strokes.

One thing to know is that this is a long novel, clocking in at 145 chapters (making it longer than the Romance’s 120 chapters). Ironically, the work was never finished; the end of the 145th chapter states that the text up to that point was only the first half, and that the second half (either never written or lost) would finish the story.

I don’t know how often I’ll post chapters from this. This is just something fun for now. But there might be more?

後主降英雄避亂

Chapter 1 -- The Later Lord Surrenders, Young Heroes Flee The Chaos

蓋聞天開於子，地闢於丑，人生於寅。自人之生，而有聖人繼天立極以維人紀，上自三皇，中及五帝，下至商湯文武，迭相為治。當是時也，純用禮樂，行一不義、殺一不辜���得天下，所不為也。孔子曰："三分天下有其二，以服事殷，周之德，可謂至德也已矣。"宜其延世三十，歷年八百，後世鮮及焉。迨至戰國，亡王用霸，日尋干戈，壞亂已極矣。秦用商鞅之法，尚戰功，忽禮樂，雖然得志一時，幸吞六國，而享祚不長，傳世惟二，孰謂天道微藐之不足信，禮樂教化之不足用哉？漢高之興，能變秦律，立法三章，天下歸心，隨滅秦楚。雖然厄於強臣佞戚，光武卒能繼述，垂統綿長，不亦宜乎！及於三國之際，炎精將涸，吳魏分崩，所賴薦生玄德，足稱令主。至窮不背於仁，百敗不折其志，天生賢哲為之羽翼。雖雲立國一隅，而實君臣一德。以弱為強，六徵九伐，敵畏若虎，足為一時之偉稱也。奈何營中星殞，丞相云亡，遂使奸雄得志，千載於今，人心痛忿。幸而天道尚存，假手苗裔夷凶翦暴，使漢祀複興，炎劉紹立。要惟卯金餘德未艾，禮樂未廢，人心向慕之至也歟！

In the beginning, the heavens stretched into being, the earth took form, and mankind arose. Ever since the dawn of humanity, there have been wise rulers who have inherited the legacy of Heaven, stood atop the pinnacle, and directed the affairs of the people. In distant antiquity ruled the Three Emperors. Then came the Five Sovereigns. And after them were Tang of Shang and Kings Wen and Wu of Zhou. Each of these passed on the administration of the realm. During these ages, sovereigns were pure and conducted themselves with propriety and ritual. There was never an instance of someone who gained the realm by acting unrighteously or killing the innocent. Thus Confucius could state, "King Wen of Zhou possessed two thirds of the empire, yet with those he still served the dynasty of Yin (Shang). The virtue of the house of Zhou may be said to have reached the highest point indeed." And the house of Zhou indeed ruled for thirty reigns and eight centuries; never has there been another to equal them.

By the time of the Warring States, the royal sway had fallen into decline and the Hegemons ruled the realm; every day saw bloody battle, and the destruction and turmoil were absolute. The state of Qin, following the policies of Shang Yang, achieved military dominance. But they cared nothing for propriety or ritual, and though they achieved their ambitions for a time by swallowing up the other Six States, they did not enjoy a long legacy, and perished after only two reigns. Who then can claim that the ways of Heaven ought to be slighted and belittled, or that the education and culture provided by ritual and ceremony can be ignored?

When Gaozu of Han (Liu Bang) established the Han dynasty, he was able to transform the canons of Qin, and he established the laws in three articles. He won the hearts of the realm, who helped him to vanquish the Qin dynasty and the rival state of Chu. And though at times the house of Han fell prey to the dominance of its ministers and the flattery of its relatives, in the end, Emperor Guangwu was able to continue the succession. He propagated its rule and inherited its legacy; well that it was so!

When the realm split into the Three Kingdoms and the states of Wu and Wei tore the land asunder, the flame of the dynasty was nearly snuffed out. Yet even so, it could still depend upon the efforts of that devoted fellow, Xuande, who was worthy to be called its lord. Even when driven to his lowest points, he never abandoned his benevolence; even when defeated for the hundredth time, he never gave up his ambition. Heaven itself provided him with worthy and talented people to serve as his wings. And though he established his state in a corner of the realm, truly both he and his subjects displayed the selfsame virtue. Six times he mustered his armies for war, nine times he campaigned against the foe. His enemies feared him like a tiger. Worthy was he to be acclaimed as a talent of the age.

Alas, that Xuande's star should fall while he was in the midst of his camps, and that the Prime Minister (Zhuge Liang) too should expire. Their deaths allowed the wicked villains to attain their evil desires. Even a thousand years later, our hearts still rend with pain at the thought. But how fortunate, then, that Heaven was not finished with the house of Han, and it allowed their descendants to slay the cruel and smite the wicked. They restored the fortunes of Han and revived the flame of the Liu clan. The lingering virtue of their house had not been extinguished; the rites and ceremonies of the dynasty had not yet fallen. And our hearts beat with admiration for them!

且說蜀主劉禪自癸巳登位，賴孔明當國，安享四十餘季。丞相既亡，至炎興元年，其中寵用宦官黃皓，致先世文武大臣關、張、黃、馬、趙諸勛舊子孫皆不得干預軍事，或退閒，或致仕，於是國勢���衰，兵威不振。魏司馬昭聞知，議欲伐之。當有王祥一門，常懷漢德，因上疏阻之云："蜀土雖狹，民感其惠，君臣義睦，無隙可乘。況今歲星在蜀，伐之恐致不祥。"昭不聽，乃命鄧艾領兵五萬，自狄道越甘松嶺出沓中，以絆姜維之師；諸葛緒引兵五萬，自祁山趨武街橋頭，以絕姜維歸路；鐘會引兵十五萬，從斜谷、子午谷分作三路而進，以趨漢中。細作報入沓中，大將軍都督軍事姜維急修表馳奏後主。後主即命蔣舒、傅僉領兵二萬，分守陽平等關要隘，更欲大發兵以助姜維。時黃皓用事，深恨姜維常欲除己，今若發兵助勢，敵退爵尊，我必受虧，隨阻於帝曰："臣曾探得魏主深疑司馬，司馬自救不暇，焉能謀人？此來風聞乃懼我兵見加，故為虛張聲勢耳。"又引巫師詐誕，以聾帝聽，以是帝遂不為設備，罷其預守之議，群臣皆不知姜維上表請兵之故。八月，魏軍長驅大進。姜維聞鐘會兵至，乃與廖化、張翼等合議扼守劍閣以拒之。鐘會引兵攻打，被維出奇兵斷會糧道，前後身自挑戰凡數十合，互有勝敗。會亦慮糧運險遠，急未能得志，隨退兵安營相守。忽探得姜維有襲糧之兵出矣，會心甚懼，即欲退回長安，再圖後舉。

But us set the scene. The lord of Shu, Liu Shan, had risen to the throne in the Guimao year (223). And thanks to the supervision of Kongming over the state of Shu, Liu Shan had enjoyed a peaceful reign for more than forty years. But by now, the Prime Minister had died, and it was the first year of Yanxing (263). Liu Shan favored the eunuch Huang Hao and entrusted him with affairs, while the descendants of those great civil and martial servants of his father's age, the families of Guan, Zhang, Huang, Ma, and Zhao, were no longer granted any part in either the army or in government. Some of these scions lived in obscurity, while others held minor posts. But the state had fallen into decline and decay, and the morale of the soldiers had sunk too low to be revived.

When Sima Zhao of the state of Wei heard that such a state of affairs prevailed in Shu, he held a discussion among his subordinates, proposing a campaign to conquer Shu. Among these men was a certain Wang Xiang, who had always cherished the virtues of the Han dynasty. Thus he sent up a petition opposing the proposed expedition. He stated, "Although the territory of Shu is a cramped place, the people there venerate the kindness of their lord, and the relationship between its sovereign and his subjects is proper and harmonious. There is no internal dissension within the state which we could take advantage of. Besides, the Year Star (Jupiter) is currently hanging over Shu. It is well-known that no state which is enjoying the protection of the Year Star can be attacked. Thus to campaign against Shu would only invite misfortune upon us."

However, Sima Zhao did not listen to the pleas of Wang Xiang. Being determined upon the campaign, he devised a strategy for his armies to destroy the rival state. He would order the general Deng Ai to lead fifty thousand soldiers from Didao to cross the Gansong mountain ranges and enter Tazhong, where he could keep the army of Shu's Grand Commander, Jiang Wei, occupied. At the same time, he would order the general Zhuge Xu to lead another fifty thousand soldiers from Qishan to cross the bridgehead at Wujie and cut off Jiang Wei's route of escape. While these operations were taking place, Sima Zhao would send the main army of a hundred and fifty thousand under the general Zhong Hui to advance along three roads through Xie Valley and Ziwu Valley and capture the Shu bastion at Hanzhong.

Word of the planned Wei operations made their way to Jiang Wei at his base at Tazhong. He wrote a petition informing Liu Shan of the situation and dispatched a messenger at once to bring it to the capital. Liu Shan thus ordered the generals Jiang Shu and Fu Qian to lead twenty thousand soldiers to form garrisons to guard Yangping and other strategic places. 

Liu Shan even planned to mobilize the full manpower of the state to reinforce Jiang Wei's army. But Huang Hao, who monopolized power at the capital, deeply hated Jiang Wei and had often wanted to get rid of him. He was worried that, if such a mobilization proved critical to letting Jiang Wei drive away the invaders, then Jiang Wei would surely be rewarded and honored while his own influence would diminish. Thus he opposed this mustering of troops, telling Liu Shan, "I have always heard that the ruler of Wei has been most suspicious of the Sima clan. The Sima clan must be entirely focused on securing their own position in Wei; how could they have a free hand to plot against us as well? If we panic in the face of this rumor and thus bolster Jiang Wei's ranks, we will only augment his power for no purpose." And he also brought in some shamans to perform a false ritual, and they deceived Liu Shan. Thus Liu Shan canceled his drafting preparations and dropped all discussion of reinforcing the defences of the state. None of his ministers ever realized that Jiang Wei had submitted this petition asking for reinforcements.

In the eighth month of that year, the Wei armies surged forward, advancing far into the state. When Jiang Wei heard that Zhong Hui's troops were on their way, he held a discussion with Liao Hua, Zhang Yi, and the other generals. They resolved to man the defenses at Jiange Pass and hold out against the enemy. When Zhong Hui's army arrived at Jiange, they launched an assault. But Jiang Wei devised a plan which allowed special troops to sever Zhong Hui's supply lines, and he also personally dueled enemies for dozens of bouts during the fighting. Each side had their share of victories and defeats. Zhong Hui was worried about keeping his troops provisioned over so far a distance and across such rough terrain, and he had his troops fall back to prepared camps to maintain their position. But when Jiang Wei's special troops continued to appear in his rear and launch surprise attacks against Zhong Hui's supply lines, Zhong Hui's heart failed him. He was resolved to fall back to Chang'an, then wait for some later time to plan another campaign.

鄧艾聞知，以書抵會曰："竊窺蜀國無能為也。蓋由宦豎專權，忠良解體，縱一姜維之智，亦不能驅眾遠出，不過虛為聲勢以分我軍，彼得以逸待勞耳。將軍但當堅守，待小將父子引本部兵，從陰平邪徑，經德陽亭，出劍閣之背，西去成都，不過三百里，以奇兵出其不意，衝其腹心。姜維知之，必撤劍閣之兵，還救涪城，都督則可方軌而進矣，何退之有哉？如劍閣兵不回，涪城無救，取之甚易。姜維前後受敵，必為公擒，此不待智者可知也。"艾竟不俟約期，即引兵行無人之徑七百餘里，鑿山通道，極其險處，艾則自裹以氈，推墮而下，將士扳援魚貫以進。至江油城，蜀將蔣舒以城降，傅僉戰死，隨逾陰平。

When Deng Ai learned that Zhong Hui's resolve had begun to waver, he sent him a letter criticizing him. He wrote, "Shu is an exhausted state, unable to accomplish anything. Its affairs are in the hands of a pathetic eunuch, and its loyal and good servants can do nothing. It is thanks to Jiang Wei's cunning alone that they are able to resist at all. But they lack the ability to move their forces about or march long distances. They can do no more than make threatening noises sufficient to cause us to divide our forces, allowing them to safely receive the brunt of a reduced attack.

"General, you need but hold firm and maintain your position. Allow my humble self and my son to lead the soldiers of my command to march through the badlands at Yinping, pass by Deyang Point, and emerge from behind Jiange Pass. From there, it will be no more than three hundred li west to the enemy capital at Chengdu; we can seize it by surprise and occupy the very heart of the enemy's country. Once Jiang Wei learns of it, he will surely bring his troops at Jiange to hurry to hold Fucheng against me, and you can then simply follow in his wake. Why then would you need to retreat? Or if the soldiers at Jiange do not turn back towards the capital, Fucheng will be defenseless and extremely easy to take. Jiang Wei will be surrounded by enemies on both sides, and he would doubtlessly fall into your hands. It would not take a genius to recognize that."

Without waiting for a response, Deng Ai at once led his troops along his proposed route. They traveled through more than seven hundred li of uninhabited land, carving through mountains and clearing roads as they went. When the road suddenly ended in a cliff, Deng Ai had himself wrapped in felt and personally rolled down the cliff, and his generals and soldiers then fashioned a fish-scale rope to descend the precipice. When they arrived at the city of Jiangyou at the far end of the road, the Shu generals Jiang Shu and Fu Qian were waiting for them. But Jiang Shu surrendered, and Fu Qian perished in battle. Deng Ai's troops then advanced to Yinping.

忽於岩畔見一石牌，上題："二火初興，有人越此，二士爭衡，不久自死。"艾探知乃諸葛孔明先設示警者。艾因大驚，遂訪孔明之墓，躬備儀禮拜祭，以求赦宥。是夜乃夢二力士，稱元運真君有召命，艾方猶豫，二士夾之而去。須臾至一處，殿閣崢嶸，光曜顯赫，力士引艾至內門。仰觀殿上，執事羅列，整肅森嚴。少頃，真君出御曰："吾即孔明耳。往時謫降人世，目擊曹瞞、馬懿並無仁德，惟務奸偽，欺上惑下，竊據土宇。吾曾奏聞上帝，削其國籍。劉漢二十六君，守道育民，初無失德，宜使其裔興漢複祀。其餘附奸凶忍之徒，悉填憲典，即目劉主迎降，乃保眾惜民之仁。爾兵進城，若不約束，大禍旋至，可宜知改。"諭畢，命力士引還。後來鄧艾忘戒縱暴，父子遭戮，鐘會亦坐誅夷，魏晉國祚不永，劉氏繼立，漢祀複存，皆如夢中之語。艾既覺悟，神思惑亂，按兵遲回者數日。鄧忠等進曰："大人深明理道，何不察妖幻者邪術也？是不脫王郎假妻為神，以阻光武之故智耳！何因一夢，隨阻軍心？正中其術矣。"艾隨釋疑，引兵而起，進至綿竹。飛報入成都，後主大驚失措，慌議出師，群臣無敢應諾者。

As Deng Ai's troops were marching along the side of a cliff, Deng Ai suddenly saw a stone stele. Upon it was written these words: "Two fires arise; men pass by here. Two commanders compete; both will soon perish." Deng Ai realized that Zhuge Kongming must have earlier placed the stele here as a warning to him. Greatly frightened by the omen, Deng Ai went to visit the grave of Kongming, and he personally conducted the rites to offer a sacrifice to the spirit of Kongming, hoping to win his pardon and forgiveness.

That night, Deng Ai saw two strong men in his dreams, who said that they had been ordered by the Steadfast Lord to fetch him. Before Deng Ai realized it, the two strong men had grabbed him, and they took him with them. The three of them soon arrived at a magnificent residence; its halls and pavilions were lofty and towering, and it shone with a glorious luster. The strong men brought Deng Ai through the gates of the residence. Deng Ai looked up to gaze at the hall, and he saw that everything was laid out meticulously and in strict order, with everything in its proper place. 

The Steadfast Lord soon appeared to receive Deng Ai. He told him, "I am none other than Kongming. In life, when I walked the world below, I saw with my own eyes how Cao Man (Cao Cao) and Sima Yi were both lacking in benevolence or virtue, caring only for wickedness and cunning. They deceived their sovereigns above and beguiled the people below, seeking covetously how they might take the land for themselves. But I have heard the wishes of the Supreme God above, and I know how he has laid out the fates of dynasties. Through the twenty-six rulers of the Liu clan of Han, they have held fast to principle and nurtured the people. Never since the beginning have they abandoned their virtue. Thus it shall be that their descendants shall restore the fortunes of Han. Only for the moment shall the minions of the cruel and wicked villains be suffered to hold the laws in their hands. I have foreseen that Lord Liu shall surrender to you, for in his benevolence he wishes to protect the masses and spare the people from suffering. When you advance to the capital, unless you restrain yourself, disaster will overtake you as well. I have informed you so that you might reform yourself." Having finished speaking, he ordered the strong men to take Deng Ai away again.

Alas for Deng Ai, that he later forgot this warning and set loose his soldiers to pillage; father and son both suffered a grisly end. So too did Zhong Hui suffer execution. Nor did the fortunes of Wei or Jin long endure either. For the Liu clan was able to restore itself and the Han dynasty once again flourished, just as this dream had foretold.

When Deng Ai awoke from the dream, his thoughts were troubled by what the spirit had told him, and for several days he kept his troops back and would not advance. Then his son Deng Zhong and the other generals stepped forward and said, "Sir, you have always been wise and clear-sighted. Don't you see this is some sorcery that has taken hold of you? This is no different from when Wang Lang heeded the spirit of his wife and opposed Emperor Guangwu, to his ruin! Why should you burden the hearts of the army all for the sake of a dream? You must see through this craft." Deng Ai thus set aside his doubts and put his troops in order, and they advanced to Mianzhu.

When word arrived in Chengdu that Deng Ai's army was close at hand, Liu Shan was so shocked that he was at a loss. He hastily summoned a council to discuss sending out an army to oppose Deng Ai. But none of the assembled ministers dared to volunteer to lead it.

諸葛瞻急入，大慟曰："國家養兵育士，正在今日之用，何無一人應命？皆由陛下寵用黃皓，以至於此。今事已危急，臣雖不才，願拼微軀，上報陛下，下慰父心。"帝即付以禁兵二萬。瞻至綿竹，與鄧艾兵遇。安營已畢，召子諸葛尚議曰："吾兵屢敗，銳氣已喪，須以奇計取勝。若韓信背水，庶可為力於眾也。"尚曰："大人之見甚善。彼兵屢勝，志必驕惰。若能三軍致死，勝之極易耳。"次日，兩軍方合，瞻即揮退，艾即逼追至港次。諸葛尚大呼曰："前臨溪港，後有追鋒，若諸軍不拼死鬥，則盡無生矣。"以是三軍回身死鬥，艾兵大敗。瞻亦不敢深追。鄧艾收兵，責眾不盡力。忠曰："一人舍死，百夫莫敵，況勝敗兵家之常，安足為責？以子之見，諸葛終非父比，趁今夜彼方得勝，必不提防，一去劫營，必收大功。"艾曰："謀人之所不謀，正此之謂也。"即命忠在前，自為策應，三軍盡起，望瞻寨殺來。是夜，瞻父子果不提備，為忠斫營而入，諸軍俱在睡中，人不及甲，馬不及鞍，諸葛瞻乃嘆曰："天不佑漢人，其如何？"隨與子尚俱戰死於陣。可憐忠義兒，罹此殺身慘。所謂綿竹之戰，見孔明之有子也。敗兵逃回者入城奏知後主，計無所出。或曰急召姜都督回救，或曰棄城奔白帝城，入吳求救。眾議紛紛不定。

Then in rushed Zhuge Zhan, the son of Zhuge Liang. In a voice full of grief, he lamented, "The state has raised its soldiers and trained its officers for just such a day as this. How is it then that none of you will take up the call? It is all because Your Majesty has favored and employed Huang Hao that things have come to this. But though the emergency is already so great, and I have no talents to speak of, still I am willing to take the command and oppose the foe. Thus I may repay Your Majesty above and soothe the heart of my late father below." Liu Shan thus assigned Zhuge Zhan twenty thousand soldiers from the palace guards.

When Zhuge Zhan's forces arrived at Mianzhu, they encountered Deng Ai's army. Once the camp was complete for the day, Zhuge Zhan summoned his own son, Zhuge Shang, and discussed the situation with him. "Since our soldiers have suffered several defeats and their spirits have sunk low," said Zhuge Zhan, "we must rely on a special plan to gain a victory. We shall have to follow the example of Han Xin of old, and post our soldiers with their backs to the river. Then our men will fight with all their strength to defeat the enemy."

"You see things all too well, Father," said Zhuge Shang. "And the enemy, after having won several victories, will have also grown complacent and remiss. Thus if we can compel our soldiers to fight to the death, it will be quite easy to triumph."

The next day, just as the two armies were about to clash, Zhuge Zhan began to have his men fall back. Deng Ai led his own army in pursuit, pressing Zhuge Zhan's soldiers as far as a nearby river landing. Zhuge Shang then called out to the soldiers, "Before you is the flowing river; behind you is the enemy in hot pursuit. Unless you fight for your very lives, not one of you will survive." The Shu soldiers then turned and plunged into battle, fighting for dear life, and Deng Ai's army was greatly defeated.

Zhuge Zhan did not dare to press the pursuit too closely. Thus Deng Ai was eventually able to gather up his scattered soldiers again. He reproached his troops for not fighting with their full strength. But Deng Zhong said to him, "A man driven to the brink of death can overcome even a hundred opponents. Besides, victory and defeat are the common lot of any army. Why should you reproach them? As I see it, Zhuge Zhan is not the equal of his father. He has seized upon a momentary advantage to snatch a victory, but now his troops will be flush with their triumph, and they will surely not have prepared any defenses against us. If we march immediately and strike their camp at once, we will win a great achievement." 

Deng Ai remarked, "The schemer does not account for schemes, as they say." So he ordered Deng Zhong to lead the vanguard, while he held overall command. His army advanced at once, determined to see Zhuge Zhan dead.

That night, Zhuge Zhan and Zhuge Shang had indeed failed to prepare their defenses. Deng Zhong was thus able to break into their camp, where he found the Shu soldiers in the midst of sleep. They did not even have time to put on armor or place bridles on their horses before being overrun. Zhuge Zhan wailed, "Can it be that Heaven does not aid the servants of Han?" He and his son rushed into the battle, where both died in the fighting. 

What a pity, that such a loyal and righteous son should meet with such a tragic fate. But we can see from his victory at Mianzhu that he was truly Kongming's son.

Some of the soldiers who had fled from the night attack returned to Chengdu, and Liu Shan was thus informed of Zhuge Zhan's fate. He did not know what to do. Some of his ministers advised him to immediately summon Jiang Wei back to save the capital, while others advised him to abandon the city and flee to Baidicheng, where he could seek aid from the state of Wu. Arguments flared back and forth, and no one could decide what should be done.

太史令譙周曰："大將軍拒鐘會，其兵不可抽，抽則兩失。東吳非好相識，且艾兵已近郊，若知陛下出，縱輕騎追之，亦恐不能脫，皆非善策耳。臣觀乾象，見國數已衰，賊氣方盛，客星犯��，主星韜光，戰則無益，不如出降。上可救全城百姓之命，下可以保全九族，乃應天順時之舉，非臣不忠，敢陷陛下為屈膝事也。"後主惑其言，乃議出降。鄧艾因頓兵城下。當有帝之第三子北地王劉諶知之，急入阻曰："誰獻此計，誤陛下為萬世何如主？況城中尚有十萬之眾，當率之或戰或守，敵兵何能即入？彼兵遠來，野無所虜，糧草不接濟，但能堅守一月，全軍皆沒城下矣。且姜維諸將在外，安得無計？獻此計者，不但誤陛下，誠可斬也！設使勢窮力竭，猶當父子背城一戰，何至含垢忍恥以圖苟活，何以見先帝於地下耶？"帝曰："爾小兒何知國計？可速去。"

Then the Prefect of the Astrologers Bureau, Qiao Zhou, offered his thoughts. "The Grand General is busy opposing Zhong Hui," he said, "and his army cannot break off from that struggle; if they did so, they could neither defeat Deng Ai nor Zhong Hui. As for Wu, they are no good friends of ours. Besides, Deng Ai's army is already so close to the outskirts of the city that even if His Majesty tried to flee, Deng Ai could send light cavalry to pursue him, and I fear he would never escape. So that is not a suitable plan either. 

“As for me, I have seen the signs and omens and recognized in them the steady decline of the state. The stars are abundant in the quadrant of the sky symbolizing the enemy, while wayward stars have violated our own quadrant and the luster of our chief star has grown dim. It would do you no good to risk a battle. Better to go out and surrender at once. By doing so, our sovereign may ensure the lives of all those within the city, and we may protect the lives of our own families and clans. It is time to heed the will of Heaven and the sign of the times. Though I am not disloyal, still I must dare to propose that Your Majesty bend the knee."

Liu Shan was beguiled by Qiao Zhou's words, and he proposed going out to surrender. Deng Ai thus halted his troops and waited outside the walls of the city.

When Shu's Prince of Beidi, Liu Shan's third son Liu Chen, learned what was about to happen, he rushed into court to oppose the planned surrender. "Who has proposed this idea and thus led Your Majesty astray?" he cried. "Shall you let future generations wonder at your actions? Besides, there are still a hundred thousand soldiers within the city. We could easily have some of them go out to fight while the others remain to defend the city. Then how could the enemy ever break inside? The enemy army has traveled a great distance, and there is no food in the fields for them to forage, nor provisions in store to keep them supplied. We need only defend the city for a month before their whole army wastes away beneath our walls. And Jiang Wei and the other generals are still in the field; can they really do nothing to help us? 

“Bring forth this person who has proposed that you surrender, for not only has he misled you, he ought to be beheaded! At the very least, we should do our utmost and exert every effort by risking a final battle, fathers and sons together with our backs to the city! How could you swallow such disgrace and endure such shame merely in order to save your own lives? How will you be able to face His Late Majesty in the world below?"

But Liu Shan told him, "What does a brat like you know of affairs of state? Begone at once."

北地王知帝存婦人之仁，執性不回，乃將幼子托劉璩撫育，隨哭入昭烈之廟，先殺其妻，乃自刎。劉璩者，梁王劉理之子也。在諸王之內，號稱智囊，且機警有權略，比時亦欲進議，因見劉諶之死，知帝執迷，不可以舌諍也。方哭念劉諶間，有劉封次子劉靈入省，璩曰："今國勢如此，奈何？"靈曰："惟應與吾兄劉宣等商議，全身遠害，豈宜束手待斃，行奴顏婢膝事乎？"劉璩曰："某亦為此而思度，非宣兄莫可與計者。"靈即馳請宣至。璩曰："大廈將崩，一木難扶，城若一破，玉石俱焚。兄輩計將安出？"宣曰："吾弟才略勝我百倍，必有定見。以愚諒之，帝意不可轉，國事不可支，明矣。為今之計，惟有逃避遐方，審機諒勢，或圖興複，此為上也。若還居此遲回，必遭大辱。"璩曰："兄計深與我合。"言未畢，又有一人自外而入，呼曰："劉子通在否？"劉靈忙出迎候，乃楊儀之子楊龍也。龍曰："適到尊府訪議，云兄到此，是以隨亦來會。正欲見殿下呈鄙見耳。"於是同入見璩等，乃曰："龍本不識時務之人，因思先父曾言諸葛丞相臨終，惟先父在側，囑以後事。言劉氏此複中衰，越三十年後，當有英主再出，複興漢業，重定中原。臣父對臣言之，謹記不忘，將謂國家尚有一統之日，不意事勢若此。主上惑於譙周之說，必不可移矣。臣觀七殿下相貌不凡，神異種種，將來主大器者，必殿下也。夫智者見於未萌，豈待已著乎？申生止而待死，重耳逃而複伯。此已往之明鑒也。吾輩願從殿下周游，萬死而不辭。"言未畢，有一勇士自外披襟而入，大叫曰："汝眾尚不逃走，是欲自送死耶？"眾視之，乃梁府���衛親兵總領秦州狄道人齊萬年也。

Liu Chen recognized that Liu Shan had only the kindly nature of a woman, and he was stubborn in his decision and would not be swayed. So Liu Chen first entrusted the care of his young son Liu Yao to his cousin Liu Qu to raise as his own. Then, wailing as he entered the ancestral temple of Emperor Zhaolie (Liu Bei), he killed his wife and then cut his own throat.

This Liu Qu was the son of the Prince of Liang, Liu Li. Among the princes of the royal family, he had gained a name for himself as a clever and intelligent young man, and he was quick-witted and had a calculating mind. He too had been planning to offer his thoughts in the recent discussion. But when he saw how Liu Chen had been driven to death, he knew that Liu Shan would not change his mind and rhetoric would not do any good.

Liu Qu was weeping as he thought of Liu Chen's demise, when Liu Ling came into his residence; this Liu Ling was the second son of Liu Bei's adopted son Liu Feng. Liu Qu said to him, "The state has been driven to such dire straits. What are we to do?"

Liu Ling told him, "Why not discuss things with your elder brother Liu Xuan and the others? We might preserve ourselves and stave off danger. Why should we sit here with folded hands and await disaster, or else submit to becoming slaves and bending the knee?"

Liu Qu replied, "I had just been thinking the same thing. Liu Xuan is the only one who can tell us what we should do."

Liu Ling thus quickly sent word asking Liu Xuan to join them. When Liu Xuan arrived, Liu Qu told him, "The trunk is about to fall, and the branches can hardly survive; the city is about to be taken, and the jade will be smashed alongside the stones. Elder Brother, can you think of nothing for us to do?"

Liu Xuan replied, "Younger Brother, you are a hundred times as talented and clever as I am, and you will surely be able to think of something. But in my own humble view, it seems clear that the Emperor's intention cannot be changed and the state can no longer be saved. Thus all I can suggest is that you run away and seek refuge in some distant place, then muster your strength while watching for some opportunity. By doing so, you may find some chance to revive the state. That would be the best plan. But if you stay here and linger any longer, you too will have to suffer the great disgrace of surrendering."

Liu Qu said, "Elder Brother, that is exactly what I was thinking."

He had not yet finished speaking when another man approached the residence, calling out, "Is Liu Zitong here?" Liu Ling quickly hurried out to see who the new arrival was, and discovered that it was Yang Yi's son Yang Long. "I was just about to attend the council," Yang Long said, "when they told me that you were here, so I came to find you. I only hope that His Highness will be willing to see me."

They both went back inside to rejoin Liu Qu and Liu Xuan. Yang Long told Liu Qu, "The reason that I had never taken up office is because I have always been thinking of the words that my father once heard from Prime Minister Zhuge on his deathbed. Back then, my father was the only one by his side, and he was asking the Prime Minister about his last will. The Prime Minister told him that although the Liu clan would fall into decline, thirty years after that time, a bold hero would emerge to restore the endeavor of the Han dynasty and reconquer the Central Plains. My father told this to me and instructed me to be sure never to forget it, saying that such a day for the state was sure to come. Only I never thought that things would come to this. 

"Now our sovereign has been led astray by the words of Qiao Zhou, and he surely cannot be moved. I have studied the appearances of the other seven princes of the royal family, but none of them measure up. The only one who seems to have a remarkable appearance and has the makings of a grand leader is Your Highness.

"A wise man recognizes what is going to happen long before the event comes to pass. Why then do you linger here? Do not forget the fates of the sons of Duke Xian of Jin; Shensheng remained at home and so met with death, while Chong'er fled and reclaimed his inheritance in the end. These are clear examples for Your Highness to heed. As for me, I am willing to follow Your Highness wherever you go, and I would not complain even if I suffered ten thousand deaths."

Yang Long had hardly finished speaking when some bold fellow strode into the room, shaking out his sleeves as he roared, "Why haven't you people run away yet? Are you so eager to die?" Everyone turned to look, and they recognized him as a troop leader of the soldiers from the Liang garrison, Qi Wannian from Didao county in Qinzhou.

劉璩乃拉萬年手曰："吾知欲脫此虎阱，非將軍不能周旋，奈何尚有一大關系，須累將軍保扶之。昨北地王死於社稷，天地為之悲慘。又將幼子劉曜托我撫育，以為我必不負托者。我輩仗威力，或可幸全，是兒方在襁褓，為之奈何？若此兒不得出，我亦無棄行之理。"言訖，淚下如雨。萬年言曰："殿下親子在外監軍，尚不言及，而拳拳以托侄，立相與存亡之誓，真仁人之設心也。他日必為萬民之主，不卜可知矣。"蓋璩之長子聰，生而有神力，善於弓馬，因此後主命之監助姜維之軍。姜維每資其力，倚重之，故嘗留於其軍。萬年乃曰："臣敢不體殿下之心以報北地王之忠？但只身恐不能兩全。臣有契友廖全者，真勇士也，兼之義俠逾常，乃平西將軍廖化之子也。每欲從徵為國家出力，渠父惜惟一子，留家不遣，因與臣較藝，隨為刎頸之交。臣當前去約彼至此，將曜主縛於其背，臣則向前開路，誓當死戰以報國恩。但須急速，毋致遲誤。"眾曰："永齡真義勇丈夫也，速宜馳之。"萬年即偕廖全至，劉靈、楊龍等皆會。萬年即手持大刀，當先開路，廖全負劉曜挺槍次隨。劉英、劉宣保護各家眷屬居中，璩與劉靈、劉和等斷後，一齊俱望西門而出。當有魏將方來引兵攔阻去路，曰："吾觀汝輩皆仕宦裝束，且汝主既降，則盡是魏民，吾主方事招徠，何用逃竄？"萬年更不開言，怒眸若電，就輪起大刀劈面斫去。方來亦挺槍相迎。論方來豈萬年之敵乎？但賊兵眾多，又要保衛眷屬，惟衝擊而已。萬年乃殺條血路而出，廖全奮勇挾斗，人不敢追，擁衛眾人以出敵圍。方來不舍，從後引兵追來。萬年曰："賊徒不知死活，尚敢來追，不斬之無以見英雄。"乃隨勒轉馬迎之，未及二合，將方來手起一刀斬之。眾魏兵見如此利害，那個敢來追？各自奔散。正是：他年開國興基手，先向成都顯首功。

Liu Qu took Qi Wannian by the hand and said, "I know all too well that I ought to escape from this tiger's trap. But without your assistance, General, I cannot do so. I have been entrusted with a new ward, and I shall have to depend upon you to defend him. Yesterday, the Prince of Beidi died before the altars of state, and Heaven and Earth grieved and mourned for him. He entrusted me with the care of his young son, Liu Yao, to nurture and raise, for he knew that I would never shirk such a duty. Yet though by my own strength alone I might be able to preserve my life, how could I ever protect this mere infant, still in his swaddling clothes? He would never be able to escape, yet I would not abandon him." And as he spoke, his tears flowed like rain.

Qi Wannian said, "Your Highness has a grown son who is away with the army. Yet rather than speak of him, you show so much concern about this nephew that you even pledge that you shall live and die together? Truly you have the heart of a benevolent man. This very day, I recognize you as my master; who could have guessed it?"

This son was Liu Qu's eldest son Liu Cong, who had been born with prodigious strength and was a skilled mounted archer. For that reason, Liu Shan had ordered him to assist Jiang Wei's army. Jiang Wei had esteemed his strength and deeply appreciated him, thus he had remained at the frontlines.

Qi Wannian continued, "Would I dare not to honor the wishes of Your Highness's heart or repay your loyalty to the Prince of Beidi? Yet I fear that I alone cannot protect both you and the babe. But I have a sworn friend named Liao Quan, the son of the General Who Pacifies The West, Liao Hua. He is a true warrior, not to mention an uncommonly righteous fellow. He has always wished to exert his strength on behalf of the state, yet since he is an only son, his father has kept him at home and not allowed him to venture forth. He has thus taken the opportunity to test his strength against me, and we have become friends who would live and die together. Allow me to go and fetch him here, and I will have him tie the Young Master to his back, while I clear the way in front. I pledge that we will repay the grace that the state has shown us, in life or in death. But we must move swiftly; to delay further would only be a mistake."

The others all said, "Yongling is indeed a bold and righteous fellow. Quickly bring him here."

So Qi Wannian went to get Liao Quan, and the two of them rejoined Liu Ling, Yang Long, and the princes. Qi Wannian wielded a large blade and went in front to clear the path, while Liao Quan followed behind with a spear in hand and Liu Yao on his back. Liu Ying and Liu Xuan stood in the middle of the group, protecting their family members and dependents. Liu Qu, Liu Ling, Liu He, and others brought up the rear.

The group all fled out of the west gate of the city. But they soon found the road barred by Wei troops under the general Fang Lai, who had occupied that place. He said to them, "I can see that all of you are dressed in the attire of officials. Besides, your lord is going to surrender, so you are all people of Wei now, and our lord is going to take good care of you. Why then should you scurry away?"

Qi Wannian did not bother with words, but, with eyes full of rage like lightning, he hefted his blade to cleave Fang Lai's face in. Fang Lai too brought up his spear, and the two of them traded blows. Now could a man like Fang Lai have ever been a match for Qi Wannian? But the enemy was so numerous, and besides, Qi Wannian had to protect the others as well. So he did no more than charge the enemy and break through, leaving the road filled with blood behind him. Liao Quan too put on a bold display. The enemy did not dare to pursue them, thus they were able to escort the others out of the encirclement. 

Yet Fang Lai would not stand by, and he soon led his troops to chase after them. Qi Wannian said, "These villains don't know the meaning of life and death, to dare to follow after us. Unless I behead this one, they will not recognize my prowess as a hero." So he turned his horse about to face Fang Lai, and before the two of them had gone two bouts, just as Fang Lai was raising his hand, Qi Wannian lopped off his head with one swing of his blade. When the Wei soldiers saw their commander suffer such a grievous wound, who among them would have dared to pursue any further? They all scattered and fled.

Truly it could be said: that year saw the laying of the foundation for the new state, and here was displayed the first achievement in their flight from Chengdu.

卻說鄧艾知得西門廝殺，即令部將褚群引兵助戰，從後殺來。劉璩忙令劉靈抵敵，曰："不殺鼠賊，無以雪胸中之忿。"乃大喝曰："認得劉將軍麼？"褚群忽見劉靈身長一丈，膀闊三停，威風凜凜，大是驚駭，旋勒馬謂曰："汝家國已破，尚欲何往？不降何待？"靈曰："賊奴！汝輩尚可降彼婦人小子，安能降我真將軍耶？"言訖，橫衝而入。褚群亦魏中名將，舉刀急架。鏖戰移時，魏兵合圍而來。靈即心生一計，抽馬佯敗而走。褚群不料，從後急追。靈故勒馬緩行，褚群馬逸不能收步，撞過馬頭，被靈一���刺中透心，落馬而亡。後兵潰散，不敢複追。正是：巧施阱虎擒龍技，得樹安邦立國勛。

We should mention that, when Deng Ai had learned of the disturbance and slaughter at the west gate, he had dispatched the general Chu Qun to reinforce the garrison there. These reinforcements were now coming around from behind, determined to slaughter the fugitives. Liu Qu hastily ordered Liu Ling to deal with these foes, telling him, "Unless you slay these scurrying bandits, I will not be able to quell the rage in my chest."

Liu Ling stepped forward and announced to the Wei soldiers, "Do you recognize the banner of General Liu?"

Chu Qun suddenly noticed Liu Ling standing before them; he was a man of great height, with broad and powerful shoulders, and the very air around him seemed to chill in a fearsome aura. Chu Qun was greatly astonished. He turned his horse toward Liu Ling and called out, "Your family has already been smashed, so where are you planning to flee to? Why not surrender at once?"

Liu Ling retorted, "Bandits, slaves! Only the women and children of my generation could deign to submit to you. How could I give in and still call myself a general?" And with these words, he charged forward to attack.

Now Chu Qun too was a Wei general of some renown, so he also lifted his blade and rushed to engage his enemy. As they were fighting, the Wei soldiers began to close in around them. Then Liu Ling quickly devised a plan; he pulled on his horse and, pretending to yield the fight, he ran away. Chu Qun, not suspecting that anything was amiss, dashed after him. But Liu Ling suddenly turned his horse about; Chu Qun's horse was unable to react in time, and the two horses collided. Liu Ling seized the opportunity by driving his spear straight into Chu Qun's heart, and Chu Qun toppled dead from his horse. The other pursuit troops all scattered and fled, none daring to chase Liu Ling any further.

Truly it could be said: Through skill and guile one traps the tiger and catches the dragon. Thus was this kinsman of the royal line able to establish an achievement for the state.

卻說劉靈方離家之際，猛憶起王彌乃吾心腹之友，當今無以為匹者，萬一陷於敵中，為彼收用，則失吾國一棟梁矣。忙使人邀到，與之同出。蓋王彌者，乃北地將軍王平之子也。自幼生而穎異，膂力過人，長而有千斤之力。尤精於騎射，每為其父器重之。後乃襲父蔭居職，嘗有開跋之志。因見帝之昏庸，信任黃皓，妨賢拒諫，遂杜門不出，時人尚未之奇，惟劉靈痛父失事遭戮，飲恨不仕，彌乃與之結為異姓兄弟，時與較藝，始知彌之賢於人矣。其後彌與關氏兄弟俱稱時俊，亦相結納。當日得靈之信，乃喟然嘆曰："吾父子早知有今日矣。子通兄既來見召，倘不從命，是無忠義之心而負生平之所學矣。但關家兄弟與我有休戚之托，彼年尚��，安能自拔？"遂奔至關家。而關防、關謹見說彌至，乃從內大慟而出曰："飛豹兄，當今事勢若此，奈何奈何？"初，關興於青龍元年間從征失利，患病在家，因見國事日非，每嘆說："任奸邪於危難之秋，喪無日矣。吾族安能免哉？"昨見王彌來省，坐論時事，乃太息曰："王子均之有子也，可以托孤寄子矣。"遂囑防、謹深相結納之。王彌曰："國家垂破，而尊府與賊為世仇，禍且不測。吾因劉子通召往偕遁，深念昆玉，故此特來相訊。且欲議為今之計，惟當速避，後與諸公協謀興複，乃為上策。"防曰："兄言甚是，其如家口之計何？"彌曰："大丈夫為國不顧家，況司馬父子方有大志圖篡天下，假仁假義以收攝人心，安肯仇害人之家屬乎？願賢弟放懷以圖大事。"防、謹乃依命同出，竟留家屬在城中，後遭龐德之子龐惠毒手，合家盡罹慘禍，曾無噍類，傷哉！

We should mention that at the moment when Liu Ling had been preparing to depart from his family, he had suddenly remembered his good friend, Wang Mi. Liu Ling had thought to himself, "Wang Mi is no common fellow, and if by some chance he were to fall into the hands of the enemy and be used by them, we would lose a great pillar of our state." So he had dispatched someone to go and inform Wang Mi of his intentions at once, so that Wang Mi might flee as well.

This Wang Mi was the son of the General of Beidi, Wang Ping. He had been remarkable ever since youth; his arm strength surpassed others, such that by the time he was grown, he possessed the strength of a thousand pounds. And he was exceptionally skilled at mounted archery. He had always been deeply appreciated by his father, who recognized his potential. After Wang Ping had passed away and Wang Mi had inherited his offices, Wang Mi had originally had the ambition to make a name for himself. But when he saw that the Emperor was a dull mediocrity who entrusted affairs to Huang Hao, was jealous of worthy people, and ignored criticism, Wang Mi shut the gates of his residence and would not go out. Thus the people of that time had not recognized how remarkable he was. Only Liu Ling knew about him. Liu Ling had been bitter at how his father Liu Feng had been put to death, and he had nursed his resentment and refused to serve in office. Thus he and Wang Mi had found kindred souls in one another; they formed a bond as brothers of different surnames, and at times they tested their strength against one another. So Liu Ling recognized Wang Mi as a worthy fellow.

Wang Mi had later become good friends with the brothers of the Guan family as well, for they had all been acclaimed as talents of that age. So when Wang Mi received Liu Ling's message, he sighed deeply and lamented, "My later father always knew that this day would come. Now Brother Zitong is bidding me come and join him, and if I should fail to heed the call, I would be betraying my loyal and righteous heart and casting away the things I have learned all my life. But the brothers of the Guan family have entrusted me to share weal and woe together with them. They are still so young; how could they ever escape on their own?"

So Wang Mi hurried to the home of the Guan family. Guan Fang and Guan Jin saw him approach, and they led him inside. Then, bursting with great sorrow, they exclaimed, "Brother Flying Panther (for this was his nickname), you see how dire the situation has become. What are we to do?"

Years earlier, in the first year of Qianlong (233), their father Guan Xing had suffered a loss during one of the northern campaigns and had been lying in his sickbed at home. Guan Xing had recognized the steady decline of the state, and he was always lamenting, "Now is the season when the villains shall have their way; the day of grief is fast approaching. What shall become of our clan?" But then when he had seen Wang Mi come into their home and sit and speak of affairs, he had been reassured and thought, "He truly is the son of Wang Zijun. I can entrust the fates of my sons to him." And he had commanded Guan Fang and Guan Jin to form a close bond with Wang Mi.

Wang Mi now told the brothers, "The state is about to fall into the hands of the sworn enemies of your family. You cannot allow this disaster to overtake you as well. Now Liu Zitong has bade me come and take refuge along with him, and because of my deep regard for you, I came especially to inform you of it as well. If you ask me what you should do, the only option is to seek shelter at once, then later join your efforts with those of the other scions to assist them in reviving the state. That would be the best plan."

Guan Fang said, "Elder Brother, it is just as you say. But what shall we do about the members of our families?"

Wang Mi replied, "When a man acts in the interests of the state, he must put aside considerations of his family. Besides, the Sima clan is just about to fulfill their grand ambition of usurping the throne, and they will want to put on a show of benevolence and righteousness to win over the hearts of the masses. How could they indulge in vengeance against your family? I entreat you, my worthy brothers, to put aside your worries and think only of how to serve the state."

Guan Fang and Guan Jin thus heeded the call and fled along with Wang Mi, leaving their families behind. Alas, the remaining members of the Guan clan perished at the poisonous hand of Pang De's son Pang Hui; the whole family was caught up in that tragic disaster, so that the Guan clan was nearly extinguished. What a loss!

卻說王彌同防、謹到家辭親，帶平時用器、強弓勁弩，忻然偕關氏弟兄一齊躍馬而出。關謹曰："北門有鄧艾自在那裡，不可輕往，東西二門賊兵亦盛，惟南門路窄，提防稍懈，我們當從南門而出。"王彌然之，於是望南門衝突而去。時有魏將李因列兵擋住去路。王彌乃曰："我等是異鄉客人，因在成都生理，今天兵圍城，口食不給，是以欲奔還鄉，望將軍開一生路，放我眾人逃命，深感大恩。"因曰："吾奉主將之令，那敢放走一人？必須拿進大營，查驗一過，方可發落放去。"王彌知事不諧，即輪起大刀殺進。李因亦挺槍急架。二人相持良久，關防怒上心頭，亦提起鐵楞混殺一場。於是且戰且卻，將逃二十餘里。

We should mention that when Wang Mi, Guan Fang, and Guan Jin had gone home to take leave of their families, they had buckled on their usual equipment, including strong bows and powerful crossbows. Then, in joyful company, they had all mounted their horses and dashed off.

Guan Jin observed, "Deng Ai himself is present at the north gate, and we could not easily break through there. And the east and west gates are both filled with enemy soldiers. But the road through the south gate, being somewhat narrow, will be less guarded by our foes. Let us flee through the south gate." Wang Mi agreed, so they hurried towards the south gate.

At this time, the Wei general Li Yin had arrayed his troops to block this road. Wang Mi thus said to him, "We are travelers from another town who were in Chengdu to make a living for ourselves. But now the government troops have surrounded the city, and we have nothing to eat. So we want to go back to our hometown. General, we hope that you will clear a path for us; if you allow us to escape with our lives, we would be deeply grateful."

But Li Yin replied, "I have my orders from my commander; would I dare to let any fugitives escape? You had better go to the main camp first, and once they have examined you, then you might be allowed to depart."

Wang Mi saw that further deception was useless, so he lifted his blade and charged ahead, ready to kill. Li Yin too hefted his lance and hurried to meet his opponent. The pair were engaged in combat for quite some time before Guan Fang, whose heart and mind were now full of rage, also raised his weapon and plunged into the fighting. The trio of fugitives were thus slowly able to get away from the city, now turning to fight, now falling back, until they had advanced for more than twenty li.

且說鄧忠正巡視至南門，知城中奸細走出，李因已去追趕，乃令族弟鄧濮帶領家兵二千，星飛趕捉。而王彌等早被魏人團團圍住不放，正在危急之際，只見東南坡下突出三騎，領了莊客數百人，各持利刃殺入陣來。且看那三人入陣，恰似虎入羊群，揮刀亂斫。鄧濮驟馬接戰，卻不提防被暗箭正中坐馬，把鄧濮掀翻在地，那樊榮只一刀斫死。不想放箭者卻是李圭，於是關防、關謹乘亂殺出重圍。李因馳馬急追，防、謹奮力抵衛，殊不知王彌從旁躍出，將李因一刀刺中左腿。因負痛逃去，諸副將亦不知去向。那三人縱橫衝突，彼追兵伏尸流血，殺死殆盡。王彌、關防等見追兵已散，乃回身下馬，相見拜謝，深感再造之恩，且問為何得諸君來救，願聞姓字因由。三人���曰："某等弟兄乃李圭、李瓚與表弟樊榮也。先祖李嚴被上譴責，徙居於安樂鎮，此去尚有六十餘里。先父李豐曾為參軍，見朝廷任非其人，囑我輩不可出仕。今與叔父李裕權止舊窩，聽得魏兵追捉列位，吾弟兄在前山看已多時，見諸公勢窘，心甚忿怒，以是統領蒼頭前來助鬥耳。"王彌等稱謝不已，亦各道訴逃竄之故。圭曰："既如此，皆是同志，即吾一家，乃天使之相遇也。且今天色已晚，權到敝莊住宿一宵，再作他圖。"王彌等感其殷勤，即與同到莊所。

We should mention that Deng Zhong had been on patrol near the south gate, and when he saw these fugitives making a desperate escape and that Li Yin had already gone in pursuit of them, Deng Zhong ordered his younger kinsman Deng Pu to lead two thousand of their household soldiers and chase after the trio like shooting stars. 

Wang Mi and the Guan brothers soon found themselves totally surrounded by the Wei soldiers; they were unable to break through, and they were in a most perilous position. But suddenly they saw three riders charge out from behind a slope to the southeast, and behind them followed several hundred strong retainers, each wielding good weapons and prepared to slaughter the enemy ranks. And when these three horsemen led their forces into the enemy, they were like tigers among sheep, and their blades inflicted great destruction as they swung to and fro. Deng Pu turned his horse to attempt to face this new threat, but then an arrow loosed from some unknown direction struck his horse; Deng Pu tumbled to the ground, where one of the horsemen, Fan Rong, finished him off with a single swipe of his blade. The marksman had been another of the riders, Li Gui. Guan Fang and Guan Jin then took advantage of the confusion to cut their way out. Li Yin made a mad dash to pursue them, but they exerted all their strength to hold him off. Wang Mi then closed in from the side and pierced Li Yin in his left leg. Yelping with pain, Li Yin fled, and his subordinates did not know which way to turn. Then the three horsemen charged their flank, and the enemy pursuit troops were nearly wiped out; the ground was strewn with their fallen bodies and flowing blood.

When Wang Mi and the Guan brothers saw that the pursuit troops had all scattered, they turned back and descended from their horses to offer their thanks to their rescuers, deeply grateful for having been saved from certain destruction. They further asked these gentlemen where they had come from and inquired what their names were. The three riders replied, "We are the brothers Li Gui and Li Zan, along with their cousin Fan Rong. Our grandfather was Li Yan, who was censured and denounced by the court and exiled to the Le'an Garrison, some sixty li from here. Our late father Li Feng once served as an advisor in the army, but when he saw that the court had no regard for him, he charged us never to take up office ourselves. Until this time, we had been doing nothing more than living with our uncle Li Yu in his old home. But when we heard that the Wei troops were about to catch some fugitives, we went up on that slope earlier and saw that you gentlemen were being sorely pressed. Our hearts were moved by anger and indignation for you, so we led our retainers to come and help you in your struggle."

Wang Mi and the Guan brothers thanked them unceasingly, and they too related the stories of their escape. Li Gui observed, "Then it seems that we all share the same ambition; we shall be as one family, for Heaven has arranged for us to meet this day. Yet see how the sky is already growing dark. Let us go and take shelter with our uncle at his village to spend the night, then tomorrow we can plan our next move." The trio were moved by this hospitality, so they agreed to return to the village with the horsemen.

莊內僮僕迎進，其叔李裕秉燭出接，分賓主坐定，又各達姓名衷曲。裕置酒相款，席間嘆息曰："余先君在日，每嘗戮力王室，為國忘家。後因失事被譴，厥志不遂。見諸葛丞相人亡，傷念不已，竟成疾而逝。今吾輩目擊國破主辱，不能繼述先君之忠，以匡救王室，何用生為？"眾皆感悼，無不泣下數行淚。惟王彌撫掌大笑而起曰："夫否泰運也，榮辱數也，何足悲哉？況天生吾才，必有所用。昔晉文避難出奔，賢士雲從，卒複霸業。吾輩才雖不及古人，然有志者事竟成，安知他年建立，出於晉文公下乎？諸君何用作楚囚之對泣耶？"裕曰："飛豹之言，真達時有志之論也。"眾皆拱手稱謝。次日，彌等辭謝，即欲告行。裕曰："且劉氏諸公子，不知去向。諸君宜且暫住寒莊，待我遣人往張、黃、諸葛、趙等各家探聽的實，那時赴會未遲。不然，彼此各自一方，勢分力弱，欲成大事，此實難矣。"彌曰："既蒙老丈厚愛，敢不惟命是從？固願速修書一封，令盛使馳各家一探，則老丈報主之忠，交友之信，可謂兩得矣。但思我輩家屬且不顧，恨不能滅此逆賊而後朝食，安可再有遲疑？今就告別，隨盛使去尋舊主，兼打探各家下落，以共圖大事。蓋國賊不俱生，非賊死吾手，我必死於賊之手矣。"裕曰："有諸君如此忠肝義膽，天地亦為之垂佑，何患事不成哉？"即送王彌等起程。臨行，攜手囑曰："早晚若舉大事，某當遣侄輩三人前來相助，聊盡老夫先世以來報國之志耳！"眾皆謝別。裕又曰："諸公如有確信，望早惠玉音，以慰懸念。"

When they arrived at the village, the household servants came out to meet them, and Li Yu set out candles to welcome their arrival. Once the hosts and guests were all properly seated, Wang Mi and the others all gave their names and poured out their emotions. Li Yu passed around the wine, and from his mat he sighed and said, "When my late father was still alive, he was always exerting all his strength on behalf of the royal house, and devoted himself to the state even at the expense of his family. But alas, because my father committed a fault and was denounced, he was never able to fulfill his ambitions. And when he saw that Prime Minister Zhuge had died, he became so overcome with grief that he developed an illness and passed away as well. As for my own generation, we have seen with our own eyes that the state has fallen and our sovereign has been shamed. We are powerless to carry on the loyalty of our forefathers or rescue the royal family. What purpose do our lives have?" And the others were so moved by his grief that not an eye was dry, but all wept freely.

Wang Mi alone let forth a great laugh. He rose up and declared, "Sir, it is not you who has suffered this extreme fate or endured such bitter shame; why then should you grieve so? Besides, Heaven must have had some purpose in mind when it created such talented fellows as ourselves. Remember that Duke Wen of Jin too was once forced to flee his state and abandon his inheritance, yet worthy gentlemen flocked to his cause like the gathering of clouds, and in the end he was able to restore his lineage and become a hegemon. Although we young people cannot claim to be as talented as those heroes of old, still we too have our ambitions and mean to see them fulfilled. And who knows whether in some distant year we might not establish ourselves and put the achievements of Duke Wen of Jin to shame? What use is it for you all to sit around and weep like prisoners of Chu?"

Li Yu replied, "Flying Panther speaks true. That is truly what a man of ambition would say in such times." And everyone present clasped their hands and apologized to him.

The next day, as Wang Mi and the others were preparing to take their leave, they asked for advice on where they should go. Li Yu told them, "I do not know where the Liu princes have gone off to. Why don't you fellows stay in this humble village for a while longer, and wait until I can send people to fetch the scions of the Zhang, Huang, Zhuge, Zhao, and other clans and inform them of what is going on? Once they arrive, it would not be too late for you to all leave together. But otherwise, if you all go your separate ways like this, your strength will be divided and weak, and even if you wished to complete the great achievement, it would be hard to accomplish anything."

Wang Mi replied, "You have been most kind to us, Sir, and would I dare not to consider your proposal? I am certainly willing to write a letter at once and let you send your messengers to seek out each family. By doing so, you would be able to both repay your loyalty to our lord and win the trust of our friends, and could kill two birds with one stone. But suppose our family members are unwilling to join us, and not ready to dedicate themselves to slaying the traitors before tending to their daily concerns? How then could you say that we would not be too late? So though we part ways for now, we will send out word for everyone to rejoin their former masters and let everyone seek out the whereabouts of their own families so that someday we may plan the great achievement together. For the same world cannot contain both us and the villains; either they shall die at our hands, or we shall die at theirs."

Li Yu said, "With such loyal hearts and righteous souls as you gentlemen possess, Heaven and Earth themselves will lend you their aid. Should there be any worries of failure?" And he accompanied Wang Mi and the others on the first stage of their journey.

As the young men were about to depart, Li Yu clasped his hands and instructed them, "If you should someday launch your great endeavor, perhaps it will have been because I sent my three nephews earlier to aid you. Thus may I repay the ambitions of the generations of our state before us!" They all thanked him and took their leave. Li Yu added, "If you gentlemen are earnest in your efforts, be sure to write to me soon, so that you do not keep me in suspense."

眾應而別，裕贈詩一首曰：君因國破棄家鄉，萬里迢遙赴遠方。此去若能興大業，早傳魚錦慰牽腸。

When the young men had all departed, Li Yu sang a verse to himself:

These scions of a worthy line

Depart their fallen home

Their kith and kin they leave behind

And far afield they roam.

But if their journeys can revive

The state, let them depart!

And should ambitions they achieve,

Send word to worried hearts. 

[satoshi-mochida]

Romance of the Three Kingdoms XIV will launch for PlayStation 4 and PC via Steam on February 28, 2020 in North America and Europe, publisher Koei Tecmo announced.

Early purchases of the game will include the additional scenario “Battle of Yiling.” It will be downloadable for free via the PlayStation Store and Steam for two weeks following release.

In Japan, the historical strategy simulation game was previously dated for release on January 16, 2020—about one and a half months ahead of the western release.

Here are the latest details on the game, via its official website:

■ Domestic System

Area Overseers

By appointing an area overseer to each of the centers of your areas, you can promote development and increase gold income. Since in area development, the type of development each area overseer is good at depends on their abilities and characters, how each area is developed will require strategic management of personnel.

Also, area overseers will automatically suppress the surrounding area with each turn. By expanding your controlled territory, not only does your territory increase, but you can also serve to cut off an enemy unit’s supply route. Such activities allows one to create a kind of “Offense Administration” that can cooperate with your military actions.

Cities / Gates

Cities, after fulfilling a number of conditions, will expand. Not only will it receive a number of benefits, like higher durability, increases in gold and supplies, and so on, certain of the cities will develop tactics that can be activated as counters during battle.

Also, in important locations there are Gates like Hulao Gate and Yangping Gate. Troops can be stationed there. These gates can also activate tactics. This means that city expansion and the use of gates become an important tool for defense and will greatly affect conflict around bases.

—The city changes visually as it expands.

—“Hulao” gate, where the battle takes place between the Anti Dong Zhuo Coalition and Lu Bu, is one of the important gates.

■ Battle System

Tactics

Deployed officers can use the tactics they know to greatly reduce enemy numbers, drop them into disorder and immobilization in order to make battle more advantageous for them.

In addition, some officers have unique and powerful tactics, which when triggered, can greatly change the flow of battle.

Tactics can be linked among nearby officers with high affinity, like sworn brothers, to release even more powerful effects. These will be of great aid to them in leading their force to victory.

—Each officer is assigned a formation, tactic, and troops when they are deployed.

—Xiahou Dun’s Towering Aura tactic. Has the effect of raising the morale of nearby troops and lowering the movement of the enemy they are battling.

—Linked tactics achieved by officers with high affinity who activate their tactics at the same time.

—With these linked tactic, the various effects of each officers’ tactics become stronger.

■ One Single Map

Buildings

The new battlefield allows the construction of various Buildings that allow the player to customize for his or her own advantage.

In addition to military facilities that automatically attack encroaching enemy or which lowers supply consumption, there are also Obstacles that restrict enemy actions and Traps that will cause damage to nearby enemy units. There are also Buildings like “Stone Soldiers” which only certain officers can construct.

By carefully mixing these buildings, you can recreate the dramatic fights of the Romance of the Three Kingdoms period, like the Battle of Yiling and its large scale fire attack.

—Buildings can be constructed by deployed units.

—The “Arrow Tower” attacks nearby enemy units.

—The “Camp” lowers the allied forces consumption of supplies.

—An “Earthen Wall” will stop an enemy advance.

—“Stone Soldiers” lower enemy morale and cause disorder.

—Setting traps will allow you to attack approaching enemies all at once.

Various Battles

Players will see various battle scenes as enemies meet in differing locations and situations.

The front lines will see a variety of battles: Siege battles that involve towers and catapults, Naval battles where attack ships and roofed ships clash furiously.

Where to meet the enemy, what kind of battle to fight. Strategies that take into account the battle conditions will be vital to your success.

—Siege, where siege weapons show their might.

—Naval battles, where having a powerful navy gives you the advantage.

 Characters

Guo Jia

Minister under Cao Cao. Gained trust for his ingenuity and wisdom. Overcome with illness during the suppression of Neibei and died at age 38. Afterwards, Cao Cao often exclaimed, “If only Guo Jia were alive!”

Xun Yu

Minister under Cao Cao. A wise man whom Cao Cao called “My own Zhang Liang,” in reference to a famed strategist of early Han. Opposed the establishment of Wei and died of illness – or possibly suicide – shortly after.

Xiahou Yuan

Officer of Wei and Xiahou Dun’s cousin. A commander of Cao Cao’s army from its inception. Though especially skilled at surprise attacks, he was tricked by Fa Zheng of Shu at Mt. Dingjun and slain by Huang Zhong.

Lu Meng

Officer of Wu. A courageous general who matured into greatness after Sun Quan persuaded him to master academics as well. As viceroy of Wu, he led an army to reclaim Jing and captured Guan Yu.

Lu Su

Minister of Wu. Entered the service of Sun Quan under recommendation from Zhou Yu. Insisted on an alliance with Liu Bei in the battle of Chibi. Inherited the title of commander after Zhou Yu’s death. Excelled in land-based battles.

Lu Xun

Officer of Wu and Sun Ce’s son-in-law. Schemed with Lu Meng to slay Guan Yu. Annihilated the army of Shu as grand viceroy at the battle of Yiling. Appointed to defend Jing and later became prime minister of Wu.

Sun Jian

Said to be a descendant of Sun Tzu. Participated in the suppression of the Yellow Turbans and became the prefect of Changsha. Led the vanguard in the coalition against Dong Zhou. Died in battle at Xiangyang fighting Yuan Shu and Liu Biao. Posthumously named Emperor Wu Lie.

Xu Shu

Pupil of Sima Hui. Master of fencing. Acted as strategist under Liu Bei but submitted to serving Cao Cao after the latter kidnapped his mother. Recommended that Liu Bei employ Zhuge Liang.

Fa Zheng

Minister under Liu Bei. Originally served Liu Zhang. Planned Liu Bei’s conquest of Shu with Zhang Song. An accomplished schemer, he acted as staff adviser in the battle of Hanzhong. It is said that had Fa Zheng lived, Liu Bei would not have failed at Yiling.

Sima Yi

Minister of Wei. Served the fourth generation of the Cao clan and founded the Jin dynasty. Passed through Shu’s defenses and claimed victory over the kingdom. Fought with Cao Shuang and took control of Wei. Posthumously named Emperor Xuan.

Wang Yuanji

Wife to Sima Zhao. Gave birth to Sima Yan and Sima You. Brilliant enough to be able to recite classic texts at the mere age of 8, her grandfather Wang Lang despaired that she had not been born a man. She predicted Zhong Hui’s rebellion and warned Sima Zhao against him multiple times.

Yuan Shu

Prefect of Nanyang in late Han. Yuan Shao’s brother by a different mother. Given the imperial seal from Sun Jian as collateral for soldiers. Used the seal to claim himself emperor, but was soon overthrown for his misrule.

Zhang Bao

Zhang Jiao’s younger brother. He helped raise an army against the Han court with Zhang Jiao, and caused the Yellow Turbans Revolt. He led the revolt using his supernatural powers, but was killed.

Zhang Jue

Forefather of the Way of Peace. He spread his teachings among the people and gathered enormous support. He formed the Yellow Turbans Party and opposed the Han court, causing a revolt.

And here is an overview of the game in general, via Koei Tecmo:

The entire map of China becomes a grand battlefield in Romance of the Three Kingdoms XIV, with no boundaries to where fights can take place. Warfare includes everything from siege—such as battering rams and catapults, to battles on water with a variety of different assault boats. Players will even find famous landmarks from the period of The Three Kingdoms; including the Yangtze River and Yellow River, with the chance to claim them as part of their domain.

In Romance of the Three Kingdoms XIV, claiming land is vital to overthrowing enemy forces and uniting The Three Kingdoms. Once an area is controlled by ally forces an officer can be appointed the role of ‘Area Overseer’, tasked with advancing the land’s development to increase its income; in commerce, agriculture, etc. During each turn this overseer will supervise the area they have been assigned and increase the territory of their forces – this simplifies territorial expansion and can be used tactically to cut off local supply lines. Carefully choosing an officer with appropriate abilities and characteristics can ensure the developments they make will lead to a strong and prosperous domain. For example: Those with a high charm statistic or the fame characteristic, and who are proficient in domestics, can become a force to reckoned with.

Some domains envelop Cities and Gates, which are extremely important locations on the map. Cities are bases for armies that can grow in scale and raise durability, if the right conditions are met. This growth brings increased gold and supplies, as well as unique tactics to defend these locations from enemy units. Gates such as Hulao Gate – which guards Luoyang on the East—and Yangping Gate—which guards Hanzhong from invasion from the North – are just two points on the map which are crucial to control. These sturdy locations can be occupied by military units and, like some of the cities, can have tactics activated to swiftly repel enemies.

While it is pivotal for players to develop areas within domain, it is also important to use ally land to construct an assortment of buildings and obstacles to defend and attack from incoming foes. Faculties such as “Arrow Towers,” which attack enemy units in the area automatically, “Camps,” allowing allied forces to consume less supplies on long campaigns, and “Stone Soldiers,” lowering enemy morale and causing great disorder through their ranks, are just a few of the unique strategies players can use to their advantage to protect their land. Combined with Obstacles, which play both an offensive and defensive role, these structures can have a great impact on the flow of battle. Strategic construction can allow players to re-create famous moments from The Three Kingdoms—set-up a long string of fire trap obstacles and carry out a large-scale fire attack like Lu Xun did at the Battle of Yiling.

Watch a new trailer below. View a new set of screenshots at the gallery.

[sneaselsawashiro-blog]

As a bit of personal insight, I think it's safe to say that DW Fa Zheng doesn't fully understand himself as to why he serves Liu Bei other than his personal obligation to his home province of Yi.

But I think it's also to add to DW Liu Bei's character in that "hey, this murderous trickster obsessed about revenge and/or debts of any kind is somehow unnerved from this guy's charismatic kindness". The more I look at it especially with Fa Zheng's hypothetical DLC scenario (where Jiang Wei wasn't recruited in Tianshui which I find funny lol), the more I see Fa Zheng as a guy who owes far too much to Liu Bei always being so generous to him, being so off-put by his kindness and/or actually being a softie in reality (tsundere Fa Zheng lol).

But overall I'm all for at least making him a deeper-layered character regardless even if the novel whitewashed him a bit. At least in history, everyone in Shu acknowledged Fa Zheng's death to be a major setback whereas why tf did no one in the novel mourn his passing even IF it went out of its way to say he basically corrected some of his wrongdoings? That kind of inconsistency is another thing to get mad at the novel about that I'm glad DW goes out of its way to avert (e.g. Lu Su since DW8, amazing since sliced bread *chef's kiss*).

The one other aspect I like about Fa Zheng's character is that while he's a vindictive debt-repayer, he's not one to consider bad timings. He no doubt made it a point to Liu Bei in his DW9 DLC route where after the events of Yiling and defending Yangping Gate from another punitive Wei assault from the north, he already considered the "revenge against Wu to be served" and that "yeah, we already used resources against them in that regard, let's not go overkill for such things, and you need to remember you vision for virtue/benevolence you cared so much about since look on the bright side, Guan Yu is still alive".

And it also impresses me that he managed to have Liu Bei himself go down to Nanzhong to talk with Meng Huo himself. Even it had to involves some bs trickery on Wu's part (Lu Su would've no doubt stopped such bs and Lu Xun would've known better too), it was cool to see an alternate take on the Nanzhong Campaign and what if Liu Bei and Meng Huo met. It sounds bs just like with Zhuge Liang vs. Meng Huo, but alas. Nanman and Shu friendship always interested me.

Edit via 8/29/2024: I also noticed that Liu Bei too likes to actually make sure he can pay back his debts hence his times serving under Tao Qian and then Liu Biao, and I assume Fa Zheng also finds a bit of kinship towards Liu Bei on that (via their Warriors portrayals that is).

Dynasty Warriors: Who Is Fa Zheng?

In March of 2018 I wrote a very long article about Fa Zheng. I was going to write articles like that for everyone in DW9 but soon realized it was entirely unsustainable. This article was 6,000 words long with over 100 citations and footnotes. In other words, hopelessly long-winded. It does, however, let me know precisely what I was thinking at that time, which makes this much shorter article easier to write.

I didn’t really expect Fa Zheng to ever be added to Dynasty Warriors. The franchise has generally preferred to credit his achievements to others (particularly Pang Tong and Zhuge Liang) and the dark stuff in his personal life taints the image they try to project of the saintly Liu Bei and his Benevolent Buddies. Nevertheless, they included him in DW8:XL so he was grandfathered into DW9.

In Koei’s various strategy games (ROT3K and Dynasty Tactics) he usually enjoys extremely high intelligence and is skilled in whatever ability impacts domestic policy. He tends to struggle in other areas, but that’s to be expected of the “strategist” type characters. He was added to Total War with the Fates Divided DLC, where he gets a unique appearance and ability. It’s a lot of respect to put on him.

Of course, by their nature, none of those titles give the sort of personalized narrative that he has in DW9, so that’s what I have the most to talk about.

Through his story in DW9 Fa Zheng is depicted (accurately, in my opinion) as a cunning but thoroughly villainous man. He is quick to betray Liu Zhang and help arrange Liu Bei’s attack on Shu. During the campaign he mocks Liu Zhang for not surrendering sooner. Fa Zheng’s lack of moral fiber is a recurring theme, one that causes conflict with other officials. At the end of his story, though, the narrative has Zhuge Liang agree that Fa Zheng’s lack of morals is useful, which is not a position I expected the game to take with those characters. That gets it a few points from me.

Fa Zheng comes off as one of the most genuinely intelligent characters in the game. Throughout his brief story he correctly predicts many future problems, particularly in Jing province. Though these concerns are ignored by Zhuge Liang and his other colleagues, he is ultimately proven correct. I’ll give them credit, intelligent and immoral are certainly the two words I’d use to describe Fa Zheng, and those characteristics really come through.

On the negative side, Fa Zheng has kind of a one-note obsession with revenge, retribution, etc. that gets kind of grating but at least he has other things going on in addition to that (compared to his various colleagues shouting “Justice!” “Benevolence!” or, in Huang Zhong’s case, “AARP!”)

The main narrative issue I have with his story is that they give him the stated goal of “saving Yi province.” This feels like a slapdash attempt to paint a nice gloss over actions that are otherwise just self-centered ambition. It doesn’t really make a whole lot of sense (he isn’t even from there!) but I guess they wanted a little complexity to an otherwise pretty simple character.

One final note about him in fiction: in Kessen II he is a loyal officer of Liu Zhang who only joins Liu Bei after his lord’s death. I’m confident that you wouldn’t even know who that character was supposed to be if they changed the name.

With all of that opinion given, then: who actually is Fa Zheng? Where did he come from and what was his deal? Let’s look at a brief rundown of his life.

Fa Zheng was from Youfufeng, near Chang’an, and his family was highly respected.[1] His grandfather Fa Zhen was noted as being an excellent judge of talent as well as a very accomplished scholar. He constantly refused court appointments and spent his whole life as a private scholar, dying in 188 at the age of 89.[2] Fa Zheng’s father Fa Yan pursued an official career and eventually served as an assistant to one of the Excellencies and to the Minister of Justice.[3] Not a spectacular career, but a respectable one that put Fa Zheng on the fringes of the upper crust.

Around 196, Fa Zheng and his friend Meng Da fled from Youfufeng to escape a local famine and the general destruction of the region. Together, they traveled to Yi province (which covered the geographical regions of Ba, Shu, and Nanzhong), where they took up service with the local governor Liu Zhang. For the next several years. Fa Zheng served as the head of a county in Guanghan. He was later transferred to Chengdu to serve as a military adviser of petty rank. Fa Zheng was always dissatisfied with these appointments. In addition to his low rank, other refugees from his home region spread word that he was an immoral man, and as a result Liu Zhang never put much trust in him. Despite his ambitions, Fa Zheng never rose high in Liu Zhang’s administration.[4]

In 208, Cao Cao received the surrender of Liu Zong/Cong, governor of Jing.[5] Concerned by Cao Cao’s growing strength, Liu Zhang sent an envoy named Yin Pu to meet with him. Cao Cao granted Liu Zhang and his brother titles as generals, effectively confirming their control over Yi province. Liu Zhang next sent his steward Zhang Su to Cao Cao with 300 soldiers as a tribute. Cao Cao rewarded this display by naming Zhang Su as executor of Guanghan canton.[6] Liu Zhang then sent Zhang Su’s younger brother Zhang Song with a third embassy.[7]

Fa Zheng’s biography describes Zhang Song as the steward of Yi, the same position his elder brother held.[8] Presumably, Zhang Song was promoted to this position after his brother received Guanghan. Zhang Su was noted for being handsome, while Zhang Song was short and unattractive. However, Zhang Song was the more intelligent of the brothers.[9]

When Zhang Song arrived, Cao Cao had settled Jing and was focused on pursuing Liu Bei and defeating Sun Quan. He largely ignored Zhang Song, much to the envoy’s chagrin.[10] Zhang Song did befriend one of Cao Cao’s secretaries, the scholar Yang Xiu. He showed Zhang Song Cao Cao’s commentary on Sunzi’s writings, and Zhang Song could recite it all after reading it only once.[11] This has been the source of various fictional anecdotes about Zhang Song’s intelligence. When Zhang Song returned to Yi, after witnessing Cao Cao’s defeat at Wulin, he did so with a firm hatred of Cao Cao and urged Liu Zhang to break off relations with him.[12]

Zhang Song was one of the few friends Fa Zheng made. In addition to Zhang Song’s enmity towards Cao Cao, he and Fa Zheng both detested Liu Zhang. On Zhang Song’s advice, Liu Zhang decided to sever ties with Cao Cao and ally with Liu Bei instead. Fa Zheng reluctantly served as his ambassador.[13] He and Meng Da were also ordered to bring a small body of soldiers to bolster Liu Bei’s forces as a token of goodwill.[14] Fa Zheng’s visit went well, and he was impressed by Liu Bei. He and Zhang Song conspired to replace Liu Zhang with Liu Bei at the first opportunity.[15]

For the details on how all of that shook out, you can read my article on Liu Bei's conquest of Yi province. Fa Zheng played a crucial role in orchestrating the campaign and it would be fair to regard him as the mastermind, along with Pang Tong.

Upon taking Yi, Liu Bei named Fa Zheng as executor of Shu canton, the capital of that province, as well as a general. In addition to governing Shu itself, he also served as Liu Bei’s chief military adviser. However, Fa Zheng proceeded to abuse his authority. While he rewarded anyone who had once shown him kindness, he also used his power to take revenge against anyone who he felt had slighted him. He even went so far as to murder several people, executing them without any authority or due process. Some asked Zhuge Liang to intercede and stop him, but Zhuge Liang refused due to Fa Zheng’s contributions to Liu Bei’s success.[16]

Let’s be honest, Fa Zheng has a pretty negative reputation and it’s easy to see why. His betrayal of  Liu Zhang has met with mixed opinions over the years (what’s a little light treason between friends?) but it’s hard to get around the whole “killing people for personal vengeance” thing. Still, there was more to him than that, so there are a couple of other things to look at from his time in government.

One personnel issue that came up for Liu Bei was the subject of a man named Xu Jing. He was Fa Zheng’s predecessor as executor of Shu and was a highly respected scholar. However, he planned to desert Chengdu while it was under siege and because of this Liu Bei held him in low regard. (Pot, meet kettle.) Fa Zheng told Liu Bei that although Xu Jing was a man of empty reputation, he nevertheless had a great reputation. Since Liu Bei couldn’t go door-to-door explaining why he didn’t make use of Xu Jing, it would be better to employ him lest the people of Yi think Liu Bei did not value men of talent. Liu Bei followed his advice and treated Xu Jing well.[17] He was subsequently made Liu Bei’s adjutant.[18] His nephew Chen Zhi eventually became one of Shu’s leading officials.[19]

During this time, Fa Zheng also helped compose a new legal code for Shu, along with Zhuge Liang, Liu Ba, Li Yan, and Yi Ji.[20] The fifth-century commentator Pei Songzhi recounts a discussion between Zhuge Liang and Fa Zheng regarding law. Fa Zheng argued for greater leniency and thought that since Liu Bei was new to the province, it was wisest for him to adopt the local customs and expectations before introducing new laws. Zhuge Liang believed it was best to begin with strict, even harsh rule so that any future leniency would have a greater impact.[21] Chen Shou, author of the Sanguo Zhi and a native of Shu, regarded these laws, and Zhuge Liang’s policies in particular, as strict but fair.[22] Of course, I can’t let the opportunity pass to note that while advocating for strict laws and harsh punishments, Zhuge Liang was content to let Fa Zheng commit outright murder. But laws never apply to those who make them.

After spending a couple years establishing LIu Bei’s government in Yi, Fa Zheng started advocating for war again in 217. Liu Bei accepted his arguments and launched his campaign for Hanzhong at the end of the year. You can read abut it here. Once again, Fa Zheng can be accurately described as the primary architect of the campaign. Although Liu Bei’s army suffered many setbacks throughout 217 and 218, the tide turned at the start of 219 and Liu Bei was ultimately able to claim the region.

In autumn of 219, Liu Bei named himself King of Hanzhong. Leaving Wei Yan to guard the territory, he subsequently returned to Chengdu.[23] Fa Zheng was named Director of the Secretariat and General Who Protects the Army. However, Fa Zheng did not enjoy these honors for long. He passed away the next year, at the age of 44. He was posthumously awarded a marquisate, and Liu Bei personally wept for him.[24] In subsequent years, Zhuge Liang would continue to praise Fa Zheng’s abilities. When Liu Bei was defeated in Yidu in 222, Zhuge Liang lamented, “If Fa Xiaozhi were still here, then he would have been able to hold back our ruler, and have him not go east, but even if we had gone east, then it certainly would not have been this much of a disaster.”[25]

Holding the two of them up side-by-side, the DW9 Fa Zheng does have a lot of overlap with the real deal. 

As always, most fictitious depictions of Fa Zheng can be traced back to SGYY and it’s various inspirations. He first appears in chapter 60, which tells a somewhat distorted but still recognizable version of Zhang Song’s embassy to Cao Cao and Fa Zheng’s mission to Liu Bei.[26] For the next several chapters, he and Pang Tong employ various plans to capture Yi province, an endeavor in which they are ultimately successful. In the novel, Pang Tong generally takes the senior role.[27]

Perhaps unsurprisingly, the novel glosses over Fa Zheng’s misdeeds while in government. It describes him repaying favors and avenging past slights, though it doesn’t say he had people killed. It also says that he subsequently changed his ways and made amends.[28] That’s the sort of distortion I really hate in this book.  Fa Zheng was a murderer. There is no evidence that he ever regretted it or reformed. But since he’s associated with the heroes of the story his crimes get painted over  and watered down.

Fa Zheng next appears when Liu Bei is making plans to capture Hanzhong. Zhuge LIang sends him to supervise Huang Zhong and together they defeat Xiahou Yuan, earning a huge victory.[29] His subsequent appearances are brief. He is rewarded for his role in taking Hanzhong[30] and convinces LIu Bei to marry Wu Yi’s sister.[31] Strangely, Fa Zheng dies off-screen. Although his passing is later mentioned by Zhuge Liang[32] it doesn’t come up until after the fact.

I’ve already complained about the Yanyi glossing over Fa Zheng’s crimes inventing a redemption arc for him so I don’t need to repeat myself here. Aside from that, his appearance in the novel is actually reasonably accurate. The liberties the novel takes with him are rather small and easy to understand in the context of the story.

Endnotes

1. SGZ 37.2 2. Sānfǔ Juélù Zhù 三辅决录注; SGZ 37.2 3. PSZ; SGZ 37.2 4. SGZ 37.2 5. SGZ 1 6. SGZ 31.2 7. SGZ 31.2 8. SGZ 37.2 9. Yìbù Qíjiù Zhuàn 益部耆旧传; SGZ 31.2 10. SGZ 31.2 11. Yìbù Qíjiù Zhuàn 益部耆旧传; SGZ 31.2 12. SGZ 31.2 13. SGZ 37.2 14. SGZ 31.2 15. SGZ 37.2 16. SGZ 37.2 17. SGZ 37.2 18. SGZ 38.1 19. SGZ 39.5 20. SGZ 38.5 21. PSZ; SGZ 35 22. SGZ 35 23. SGZ 32 24. SGZ 37.2 25. SGZ 37.2 26. SGYY 60 27. SGYY 61–64 28. SGYY 65 29. SGYY 70–71 30. SGYY 73 31. SGYY 77 32. SGYY 81

[yeonchi]

Dynasty Warriors 7: Recycled Maps from 6

If you’ve played Dynasty Warriors 7, you might have noticed that a lot of the battlefields have been reused from 6. A portion of the recycled maps were ported from their direct counterparts, while others were renamed, some which correspond to nearby locations and some that refer to totally different locations.

Here is a list of all the battlefields in 7 with indications as to whether they are original or recycled from 6. Unless specified, battlefield names are the same for their respective battles.

Information was taken from one of the Japanese wikis for 7. DLC stages pertaining to remastered battles from previous games are not included.

Yiling 夷陵 Original

Yan Province 兗州 Recycled from Jinyang 晋陽 (6 Empires)

Xiakou 夏口 Recycled from Battle of Ruxukou 濡須口の戦い (6 Special)

Xiapi 下邳 Recycled from direct counterpart

Hefei 合肥 Recycled from direct counterpart

New Hefei Castle 合肥新城 (Guanzhong XL 関中侵攻戦) Recycled from direct counterpart

Guandu 官渡 Original

Ji Castle 冀州 (Mt. Qi XL 祁山争奪戦) Original

Mt. Niutou 牛頭山 (Shu Invasion 蜀撃退戦, Xiping Gate XL 西平関の戦い) Recycled from Yong’an 永安 (6 Empires)

Xuchang 許昌 (Attack on Sima Shi 司馬師襲撃, Shiting XL 石亭の戦い) Recycled from direct counterpart

Jiange 剣閣 (Capture of Chengdu Part 3 成都攻略戦・後編, Escape from Luoyang XL 洛陽脱出戦) Original

Jianye 建業 (Assassination of Dong Zhuo XL 董卓暗殺戦, Taoyang XL 洮陽の戦い) Original

Jiao Province 交州 (Ding Feng/Lianshi/Sima Zhao Chronicles, Conflict at Nanzhong XL 南中攻防戦) Recycled from 交趾 Jiaozhi (6 Empires)

Mt. Xingshi 興勢山 (Conquest of Shu 蜀討伐戦) Recycled from Battle of Shiting 石亭の戦い

Guangzong 広宗 (Yellow Turban Rebellion 黄巾の乱) Original

Jiangdong 江東 (Wujun 呉郡の戦い, Guanqiu Dian & Wen Qin’s Rebellion 毌丘倹・文欽の乱) Recycled from direct counterpart (6 Special)

Wuzhang Plains 五丈原 Original

Hulao Gate 虎牢関 Recycled from direct counterpart

Sanjiang Castle 三江城 (Nanzhong XL 南中) Original

Sishui Gate 汜水関 (Elimination of Dong Zhuo 反董卓連合) Original

Shouchun 寿春 (Zhuge Dan’s Rebellion 諸葛誕の乱, Ruxukou XL 濡須口の戦い) Original

Xiangyang 襄陽 (Jing Province 荊州の戦い, Xuan Castle XL 宣城防衛戦) Recycled from Battle of Fan Castle 樊城の戦い

Xu Province 徐州 Original

Xinye 新野 (Wan Castle 宛城の戦い) Original

Qing Province 青州 (Wang Ling’s Rebellion 王淩の乱) Recycled from Beihai 北海 (6 Empires)

Chengdu 成都 Recycled from direct counterpart

Xiliang 西涼 (Sun Shangxiang/Meng Huo Chronicles) Recycled from direct counterpart (6 Empires)

Chibi 赤壁 Original

Duangu 段谷 (4th Shu Invasion 第四次蜀撃退戦) Original

Changjiang River 長江 (Huang Gai/Xingcai Chronicles) Recycled from Battle of Chibi 赤壁の戦い

Changban 長坂 Recycled from direct counterpart

Mt. Dingjun 定軍山 Recycled from direct counterpart

Tianshui 天水 (2nd Shu Invasion 第二次蜀撃退戦, Jieting XL 街亭の戦い) Recycled from Battle of Jieting 街亭の戦い (6 Special)

Tong Gate 潼関 Recycled from direct counterpart

Dongxing 東興 Recycled from Conquest of Wu (aka Wujun/Wu Territory) 呉郡平定戦

Dongkou 洞口 Original

Taoshui 洮水 (3rd Shu Invasion 第三次蜀撃退戦) Recycled from Battle of Wuzhang Plains 五丈原の戦い

Nanjun 南郡 (Ou Xing’s Rebellion 区星の乱) Recycled from Battle of Jing Province 荊州の戦い

Nanzhong 南中 (Zhuge Liang/Guan Suo/Meng Huo/Zhurong Chronicles) Recycled from direct counterpart (6 Empires)

Nanpi 南皮 (Sun Quan/Sima Zhao/Zhong Hui/Zhuge Dan Chronicles, Jieqiao XL 界橋の戦い) Recycled from Yellow Turban Rebellion 黄巾の乱

Fan Castle 樊城 Original

Puyang 濮陽 (Zhenji/Deng Ai/Wang Yuanji/Zhong Hui Chronicles, Campaign Against Liu Bei XL 劉備討伐戦) Recycled from Battle of Guandu 官渡の戦い

Yangping Gate 陽平関 (Capture of Chengdu Part 1 成都攻略戦・前編) Recycled from Battle of Hanzhong 漢中攻防戦

Luo Castle 雒城 (Capture of Chengdu Part 2 成都攻略戦・中編, Rescue of Kong Rong XL 孔融救出戦) Original

Luoyang 洛陽 (Dong Zhuo’s Trap 董卓の罠, Coup d’etat 正始の変, Wei Emperor’s Last Stand 皇帝蜂起) Original

Liang Province 涼州 (Mt. Xisai XL 西塞山の戦い) Recycled from Lingling 零陵 (6 Empires)

Liaodong 遼東 (Gongsun Yuan’s Rebellion 公孫淵の乱) Recycled from Struggle at Hebei 河北掃討戦 (6 Special)

  And finally, here are the provincial cities that are accessible in Chronicle Mode. The battlefields of some provinces are known by their city names.

Ji Province 冀州

Bing Province 幷州

Si Province 司州

Qing Province 青州 - Beihai 北海

Yan Province 兗州 - Chenliu 陳留

Yu Province 豫州

Xu Province 徐州 - Xiaopei 小沛

Yong Province 雍州

Yang Province 揚州

Jing Province 荊州 - Jiangling 江陵

Liang Province 涼州 - Wuwei 武威

Yi Province 益州

Jiao Province 交州 - Jiaozhi 交趾

Arena 闘技場

Original maps: 19 + 13 Cities = 32

Recycled maps: 32 (12 from direct counterparts, 20 from other battles)

Note: Battle of Yiling from 6 is the only map not recycled in 7 (probably due to the Stone Sentinel Maze)

[bitter-rock-sugar]

[bookofjin]

The King of Qinghe, Shao (WS16)

[A very naughty boy]

August Emperor Daowu had ten sons. August Empress Xuanmu, Liu, gave birth to August Emperor Mingyuan. Lady He gave birth to the King of Qinghe, Shao. The Greater Lady Wang gave birth to the King of Yangping, Xi. Lady Wang gave birth to the King of Henan, Yao. For the mother of two kings, the King of Hejian, Xiu, and the King of Changle, Chu, the clan name is missing. Lady Duan gave birth to the King of Guangping, Lian, and the King of Jingzhao, Li. For august sons Hun and Cong their mothers' clan names are also missing. Both passed away young and had no descendants.

The King of Qinghe, Shao, was ennobled in the 6th Year of Tianxing [403 AD]. He was fiendish, disobedient, sinister, and contrary, and did not obey teachings and tutoring. He was fond of frivolously roaming the hamlets and alleys, forcibly stripping travelling people, and chopping and shooting dogs and pigs, he considered it an amusing delight.

Taizu once was angry with him, he hung him upside down inside a well until he was almost dead and then let him out. Taizong, due to his right principles and moral propriety, often criticized him, consequently there was no unison between them, and he constantly feared he would make a disaster. Then Shao's mother, the Lady Ms. He, was reprimanded, and Taizu secluded her in the palace, wanting to kill her. At the juncture of day and evening he had not yet decided. Ms. He secretly exhorted Shao, saying:

Maybe you could save me?

Shao therefore at night together with his close followers and eunuchs, several people, went past the palace to violate the forbidden quarters. Left and right the attendant servants shouted, saying:

Traitors are coming!

Taizu stood up in alarm, he sought his bow and blade but did not obtain them, and thereupon violently collapsed.

Next day, the palace gates by the middle of the day had not opened. Shao claimed a decree summoning the hundred companions to the Western Palace's main gate to face north and install [him]. Shao from between the gate doors spoke to the crowd of subjects, saying:

I have a father, and also have an older brother, who do you nobles and dignitaries wish to follow?

The Kings, Dukes, and below were all frightened and alarmed, and lost colour. Nobody had a reply. After quite a while, the Duke of Nanping, Zhangsun Song, said:

Follow the King.

The crowd of subjects therefore understood the palace chariot was reposing in the carriage, but did not examine the conditions of the climb to the far distant. Only the Duke of Yinping, Yuan Lie, wailed and wept, and then left.

Hence court and countryside were ghastly terrified, and people held close different aspirations. The Marquis of Feiru, He Hu, raised up a signal fire to the north of Anyang City, and for that reason the people of the Helan section all went and hurried to him. The remaining old sections likewise led their sons and younger brothers to assemble their clans' people, and went to gather with each other. Shao heard people's feelings were not calm, and therefore sent out cloth and silk to distribute to the Kings, Dukes, and below, to those of high rank several hundred bolts and those of low ten belts.

Before this, Taizong was outside. When he heard about the disaster, he then turned back, and hid among the mountains. He sent people at night to inform the Marquis of Beixin, An Tong, the multitudes all echoed in response. When Taizong arrived west of the city, the soldiers of the guard apprehended and sent of Shao. Hence he bestowed death on Shao, mother, and son, and he executed his close followers and eunuch officials, and those palace women who had responded to him inside, around ten people. Those who first had violated the Driving Carriage, the crowd of subjects at the capital thoroughfare to the south of the city cut and minced alive and ate them. Shao at the time was aged sixteen [sui]*.

Shao's mother was precisely August Empress Xianming's** younger sister, she was beautiful and gorgeous. Earlier, when Taizu went to the Helan section, he saw and was pleased with her. He reported to Empress Xianming, and requested to admit her. The Empress said:

Impossible, this excessive beauty will do no good. Moreover, she already has a husband.

Taizu covertly ordered people to kill her husband, and then admitted her. She gave birth to Shao, and in the end caused the great confrontation to him.

[*Hence Shao was born in 394. Taizu was assassinated 6 November 409. Taizong was enthroned 10 November.]

[**Taizu's mother]

[atlas416]

Jie Piao & Gao Zuo

JIE PIAO (解剽)

(? ~ ?)

GAO ZUO (高祚)

(? ~ ?)

Jie Piao and Gao Zuo were Wei officers. 

In 215, they partook in the war against Zhang Lu (張魯). 

In the 7th month, Cao Cao’s (曹操) forces arrived in Mianyang County. Zhang Lu sent his brother, Zhang Wei (張衛), and officers Yang Ang (楊昂) and Yang Ren (楊任) with several tens of thousands of soldiers to defend Yangping Gate as well as to cut across the mountains and construct a fort about ten li away. 

Cao Cao struggled to make progress due to the rugged terrain, and his attacks against Zhang Wei’s camps on the mountains were repulsed. His army suffered great casualties and provisions ran dry. Losing his resolve, Cao Cao began pulling his troops from the mountains. Seeing the enemy retreat, Zhang Wei’s forces relaxed their defenses and the army became disorganized.

At night, Cao Cao's vanguard led by Jie Piao and Gao Zuo went up a small mountain path and they wandered into Yang Ren’s camp, ambushing and killing him in a sudden raid. The rest of Zhang Wei’s camps became alarmed and as Cao Cao resumed his attack, Zhang Wei fled in the night. 

Zhang Lu and Zhang Wei fled to Pa Commandery, but would later surrender to Cao Cao.

Nothing further is recorded about Jie Piao and Gao Zuo.

SGZ 1, ZZTJ 67

[starkmarshcpallp]

Congratulations to Cole Dionne & Li Yangping for passing the CFE!

Both are now one step closer to attaining their CPA Designation. Enjoy the celebrations to come and this moment in time 👍