History of the Three Kingdoms

The Histoire of the Three Kingdoms (三國演義) is a historical novel Chinese over the end of the Dynastie Han and the period of the Three Kingdoms, (220 - 265). Written by Luo Guanzhong at the 14th century according to the work of Chen Shou written at the 3rd century, it is the most popular epopee of the Chinese Littérature, but its assistantship is not limited to the Chinese. This book had a great cultural influence in Southeast Asia.

It is also the first complete novel divided into distinct chapters to appear in China. No other work of this kind, any confused time, had impact such a major and extended on the Chinese company. Its Mandarin title ( Sanguo Yanyi ) indicates that it makes virtue its main theme, quality which was one of the most standard at a certain time of old China. The varied episodes of the novel were transmitted to all the layers of the Chinese company, that it is directly or indirectly, inter alia by the theater, the song or by other facets of the popular culture, which in fact a history known in all the hearths of the country.

The three kingdoms in question are those of Wei (魏), Shu (蜀) and Wu (吳).

Summary

Chapter 1: The fall of Han The rebellion of the Yellow Turbans The fall of Han At the end of the second century, the Han dynasty, formerly inébranlable are in prey with internal struggles and corruption. The dark country in chaos and the people unable to make confidence with the authority of Han puts its destiny between the hands of a sect nun: `The voice of peace'. Seeds of the rebellion Zhang Jiao, the chief of the voice of peace announces that the time of the han is completed to make place at the new era of the voice of peace. And thus an anti-imperial feeling starts to be spread in all the country. Large professor Zhang Jiao In 184, Zhang Jiao takes finally the control of the country. Autoproclament Large Professor, it started to organize in military forces the many partisans whom its miracles attracted with him. The rebellion of the Yellow Turbans All the soldiers of Zhang Jiao carry yellow fabrics around the head in homage to their Master. For this reason they are called the Yellow Turbans and that their movements enters the history under the name of the rebellion of the Yellow Turbans. Their unit seems stronger than all and they come to end from the imperial forces through all the country. The Han offensive To face the forces of the Yellow Turbans, the imperial court orders to the generals Huanfu Song, Known Lu and Zhu Jun of raising a Force of Subjugation and fighting Zhang Jiao. During this time, Liu Yan, the prefect of the province of You starts to recruit troops of volunteers to support the Imperial Forces. The oath of the garden Among all those which answer the call of Liu Yan, there is Liu EIB which, with his/her brothers in arms Guan Yu and Zhang Fei swore to restore the order in the country and to give again with the Han dynasty its glory of antan. The messenger of Chaos During this time, CAD CAD, appointed well messenger of Chaos, illustrated itself by overriding Zhang Bao and Zhang Liang. Liu EIB, although join later the combat made also great impression by opening a breach in the lines of the Turbans to help the imperial general Dong Zhuo. The Imperial Forces know a new dash. The fall of the Yellow Turbans The Yellow Turbans are cut in their impetus by the disappearance of their chiefs, Zhang Jiao, embanked by the disease. Zhang Bao and Zhang Liang die also a little later in the combat. One year later, the rebellion is subdued and the remainder of the forces is effectively controlled thanks to the effort of officers such as Sun Jian. Post-war period Thus the rebellion of the Yellow Turbans finishes. The assessment is mitigated. Certain leave reinforced and other there weakened. Some are liberally rewarded and others do not receive anything. In such a context, the end of this rebellion forecasts one era of war and chaos. The battle of the door of Hu Lao The rise of Dong Zhuo But the end of the rebellion does not mark the end of the internal struggles which make rage at the Imperial Court. Dong Zhuo, of Xi Lian, ends up benefitting from the ambient confusion which prevails in the capital to take the control of the Imperial Court thanks to its military power. Begin the reign of the tyrant then. The call to the weapons of CAD CAD Day after day, the anger caused by the atrocities of Dong Zhuo goes up among the regional chiefs. CAD CAD even tries to make an assassination but it fails. It then launches a call to the regional chiefs of all the country in order to form a force of coalition able to reverse Dong Zhuo. The Coalition Famous chiefs like Yuan Shao, Yuan Shu, Sun Jian and My Teng answer the call of CAD CAD. Liu EIB and its brothers also join with him just as Gongsun Zan, thus the Allied Army is raised against Dong Zhuo On the way for Luo Yang In 190, the Allied Forces, ordered by Yuan Shao, leave to the meeting Dong Zhuo, in the capital of Luo Yang. Sun Jian, the chief of the force moving puts initially the course at the east: Direction the door of If Shui The Battle of the door of If Shui Dong Zhuo entrusts to Hua Xiong the defense of the door of If Shui. Sun Jian gains the first confrontation but, Yuan Shu not having correctly supplied them, the moral one of the troops of Sun Jian is with lowest and hooted Xiong ends up putting them in rout. Guan Yu keep silent Hoots Xiong Xiong hooted, in the dash of its victory, attacks the principal camp of the Allied Army. Whereas he massacres hordes of troops and officers combined, Guan Yu proposes a duel to him. A little later it returns to the camp with the head of Hooted Xiong. The Battle of the door of Hu Lao Learning death from Xiong Hooted. Dong Zhuo prepares a new offensive with the door of Hu Lao. The guard of this door is not other than Drunk Lu. The Allied Army staggers vis-a-vis such a frightening enemy and Gongsun Zan is about to be eliminated when, suddenly, Zang Fei comes to its rescue. Powerful Drunk Lu Zhang Fei fights with eagerness, but Drunk Lu does not yield. Guan Yu joined the combat: Lu Drunk still does not show sign of weakening. And it is only when Him EIB as finishes him by launching out in the battle as Drunk Lu gives up. The escape of Dong Zhuo After the Drunk Lu withdrawal, Dong Zhuo is folded up on Luo Yang. It puts fire then and starts a vast exodus at it towards the Western capital of Chang An with its partisans and the Emperor. Chang An then becomes the new base of the operations of Dong Zhuo. Again divided Thus the Allied Forces override the tyrant by driving out it of Luo Yang. But when the allied ones penetrate in the ruins of the old capital it does not have there more no trace of the enemy or the Han emperor and it does not remain to them more than to regain their respective territories where internal combat await them. The Battle of Xia pi The Drunk Lu treason Dong Zhuo finds refuge has Chang An but is not long in falling into the trap from Wang Yun, after which Drunk Lu kills it. Later, Wang Yun is killed by former officer of Dong Zhuo and Drunk Lu is constrained to leave Chang An. Lu Drunk wandering it After one period of wandering, Drunk Lu and its men penetrate in the Yan province where they face the forces of CAD CAD for the control of the area. Lu Drunk the battle loses and takes refuge in Xu where Liu EIB office as a prefect on order of CAT Qian. Liu EIB Betrayed Lu Drunk Liu EIB calls his/her “little brother” and settles in Xu. Quickly it benefits from the situation and during the absence of Liu EIB takes the control of the castle of Xia pi. This last has other choices only to serve Drunk Lu but Zhang Fei sows the disorder immediately what involves a rupture of the relations. Despaired, Liu EIB is constrained to request the assistance of CAD CAD. Hero and scélérat CAD CAD has much regard for Liu EIB and readily accepts to help it. Surrounded by enemies, Drunk Lu constitutes a real threat for CAD CAD. It sends an emissary to ask a joint attack against Drunk Lu, but this last discovers the plot. Confrontation with Drunk Lu Made insane of rage by this treason, Drunk Lu attacks Liu EIB has Xiao Pei. CAD CAD dispatches there a force ordered by Xiahou Dun but that Ci is wounded with the eye by an arrow and must be withdrawn, Him EIB is quickly Vaincu and CAD CAD must now him be also mobilized. The seat of the castle of Xia pi In 198, the forces of CAD CAD encircle Lu Drunk with the castle of Xia pi and, on the councils of its strategists, diverts the course of two close rivers to flood the castle. Whereas muddy water infiltrates there, moral troops of Drunk Lu drops. The Drunk Lu fall For lack of convincing solution, Drunk Lu posts an increasingly odd behavior. It starts to drinking before giving up alcohol definitively. Without the knowledge a servant offers to him to drink and is killed by Drunk Lu. Such intrigues start to start the good relationships which Drunk Lu and its men maintained. The captured animal Several officers are not long in rebelling against Drunk Lu and conceal its horse to him flash of fire to offer it to CAD CAD. Moreover, they allow the army CAD CAD to penetrate in the field of the castle. Drunk died and deadened, Drunk Lu immediately is captured and bound The fall of the Powerful one Overcome and confronted with CAD CAD, Drunk Lu offers its services to him and proposes to him to conquer the country together. Liu EIB gives to CAD CAD the example of Dong Zhuo which was betrayed by Drunk Lu. This last utters threats against Liu EIB but are these last words. What awaits us Thus the most powerful warrior of its generation disappears. CAD CAD joined its capital with Liu EIB but this one is not kind to be made order. On the first occasion it is released from the yoke of CAD CAD and only takes again its search of glory Chapter 2: The rise of CAD CAD The Battle of Guan Of He Fei and He Nan After having overcome Gongsun Zan and taken the control of all the He area EIB, Yuan Shao becomes one of the most powerful characters of the country. If it is not most powerful any more. During this time, CAD CAD accommodates the Han emperor on his He Nan territory while its capacity does not cease increasing. Guan Yu joined CAD CAD A confrontation between these two powers is inevitable and Yuan Shao taken the first step while launching its immense army in a campaign towards the south. But CAD CAD remains calm and gets rid initially of Liu EIB, capturing and thus appeasing Guan Yu. The Battle of Bai My In 200, an open conflict bursts between CAD CAD and Yuan Shao. CAD CAD uses tactics of diversion against the powerful army of its enemy and launches a surprised attack has Bai My. There, Guan Yu fulfills its obligations towards CAD CAD by killing Yan Liang, one of the most frightening generals of Yuan Shao The Battle of Yan Jin At the conclusion of the battle of Yan Jin, CAD CAD sends a convoy of supply like soft food to oblige the forces of Yuan Shao to break their formation and to attack. CAD CAD prepares a supposed ambush then to enable him to gain a new victory. Once again, Guan Yu is illustrated by killing Wen Chou, another large general of Yuan Shao The escape of Guan Yu But after the battle, Guan Yu learns where his/her brother in arms Liu EIB is and leaves the rows of CAD CAD to join it. After having crossed 5 doors and having overcome 6 officers, the last challenge of Guan Yu consists in approaching Xiahou Dun quickly. But CAD CAD ends up giving up this continuation, renting Guan Yu for its honesty. The Battle of Guan Of In spite of two cuisantes defeats, Yuan Shao does not give up. It moves its imposing armed towards Guan Of where CAD CAD adopted a defensive position. Yuan Shao sets up turns along the walls of the castle which it uses to unchain a rain of arrows inside this one. A new weapon In answer, CAD CAD uses its new catapults to destroy the turns, sowing the fear in the rows of Yuan Shao. Yuan Shao then decides to change tactics and to dig a gallery under the walls but this plan fails because of the ditches. Wu Chao To the wire of the battle, food and the supplies come to miss and the desertion prevails in the two camps. Among these defectors appears Xu You, a graded top of the camp of Yuan Shao which provides to CAD CAD invaluable information on its enemy. The fold of Yuan Shao According to this information, Yuan Shao keeps the vivres of its army in a deposit located has Wu Chao. By learning it, CAD CAD immediately orders a night raid on Wu Chao. The attackers, disguised with uniforms of the troops of Yuan Shao, quickly eliminate the troops which keep the deposit and burn all the food which is there. The conqueror of the Central Plains Décontenancées and demoralized by this surprised attack, the troops of Yuan Shao are forced with the fold. Yuan Shao manages to flee but succumbs a few years later to a disease. Thus CAD CAD becomes the conqueror of the Central Plains. The Battle of Chang Round of applause Two ways After carryhaving carried it on Yuan Shao, CAD CAD has only one idea at the head: to eliminate what remains of the family of Yuan, in north. During this time liu EIB, always private of ground, arrives in the Jing province or liu Biao, prefect and remote cousin of Liu EIB, charge it with supervising the borders. The deadened dragon Although appreciating this short period of peace under the orders of Liu Biao, Liu EIB deplores not to be able to achieve its great destiny. But very quickly the chance smiles to him in the person of the scientist Zhuge Liang who becomes his statège. A country divided into three Zhuge liang presents a plan to its new Master, according to whom Liu EIB would take the control of the provinces Jing and Yi, would be combined with the kingdom of Wu and would face the kingdom of Wei of CAD CAD. But while at the same time they discuss, CAD CAD eliminates the Yuan family in north and prepares a campaign in the south. Liu EIB with the foot of the wall In 208, Liu Biao succumbs to the disease and at the end of rough quarrels of succession, its second wire, Liu Zhong takes the control of Jing. But vis-a-vis the imposing force of invasion of CAD CAD, Liu Zhong goes leaving immediately Liu EIB isolated to the accesses from the castle of Fan. The escape of Liu EIB Liu EIB understands very quickly that it does not make the weight vis-a-vis the gigantic army of CAD CAD and flees towards the south in direction of Jiang Ling. Local peasants, allured by his charisma, encase the step to him, cause a massive exodus of more than one hundred of thousands of people. Continuation of CAD CAD The escape of Liu EIB is slowed down considerably by the many civilians. CAD CAD as for him launches to its continuation a unit of cavalry made up of 5.000 men. The latter catch up with it in Chang Ban. Zhao Yun in Chang Round of applause The forces E Liu EIB are taken of panic and, in general confusion, it is separated from its family. At this point in time Zhao Yun making rider alone, share with the rescue of Liu Chan, the young person wire of Liu EIB, and faces all the dangers to bring back his/her child for him. Zhang Fei in Chang Round of applause In addition, Zhang Fei is supervised by the back keeps of Liu EIB and, whereas the enemy approaches, it is only held on the bridge of Chang Ban and pushes a howl which freezes the very whole army of CAD CAD. Zhang Fei benefits from it to destroy the bridge, delaying the projection of the troops of CAD CAD. The escape of the claws of death CAD CAD does not release not taken. During this time, Guan Yu arrives with new troops, obliging it to beat a retreat. Liu EIB, after miraculeusement escaped with the catastrophe, having joined a fleet which carries out it towards the east, in direction of Xia Kou. Be a prelude to of the war During this time with Jiang Dong, the death of Sun Jian and Sun This, its oldest son, has constrained Sun When, the second wire, to take in hand the fate of the Sun family. Liu EIB now must, also, to entrust its destiny to him to the young chief. The Battle of Chi Bi Progression of CAD CAD The countryside of the south of CAD CAD has already constrained Liu EIB to flee and the control of Jing gave him. Now, CAD CAD descends Chang Jiang, in direction of Jiang Dong with its gigantic armada. During this time, Liu EIB dispatches Zhuge Liang in Wu to seal an alliance with the Sun family. To go or fight The camp of Wu is divided between those which want to go and those which want to fight. And it is the skilful speech of Zhuge Liang which directs the final decision of Sun Quan. In 208, Sun Quan entrusts to Zhou Yu the command of the fleet of Wu and prepares to face CAD CAD. The great stratagem The fleet of CAD CAD is numerically higher than that of Wu. To cure it, Wu must benefit from its knowledge of the ground. In addition, it must resort to a stratagem and for Zhuge Liang and Zhou Yu, that passes by fire. A desperate plan Very of accesses, Huang Gai addresses a false letter of defection to CAD CAD. After which, so that CAD CAD bites with the hook, it authorizes Wei spy to be assisted with the corporal punishment that Zhou Yu Inflige in Huang Gai. The plan of the chains Then, Pang Tong is sent to the camp of Wei for advising to use chains in order to connect the ships to prevent the troops from suffering from the sea sickness. The stratagem is in place but a problem remains for Zhou Yu. The concern of Zhou Yu We are in winter and the wind blows of the North-West; Where the fleet of Wei compared to that of Wu is positioned. In the state of the things, an attack by fire would be right of its own fleet. The situation worries Zhou Yu so much that it falls ill. But Zhuge Liang goes to its bedside and promises to him to make blow the winds of south-east. Zhuge Liang calls upon the wind Zhuge Liang sets up a furnace bridge on the mount Nan Bing and starts to call upon the wind. The day agreed upon, a wind of south-east rises and the forces of Wu, indicator which the moment came give the attack. The attack by the fire of Merry Huang To make believe that it passed to the enemy, Huang Gai starts by dispatching some man towards the fleet of Wei. Winds pushing it towards its target; the small fleet of Wu receives the signal of Huang Gai to launch the attack by fire, after which the wind of south-east propagates the flames of Wei on the very whole fleet. The fleet of Wei on fire When CAD CAD discovers the pot with the pinks, it is already too late. The ships burned and the fleet of Wu is thrown on the confused and frightened troops of Wei. Birth of the three kingdoms CAD CAD is definitively overcome and constrained to fold up itself towards north. The domination of Wei moves back. Victorious, Sun Quan made of Wu a great power and Liu EIB reached a stage towards success by taking the control of the Jing province. Chapter 3: A divided country Attack of Cheng Of Towards the West After its defeat with Chi Bi CAD CAD prepares with launching a new attack against Wu. With this intention, it must initially eliminate any threat coming from the back. Playing of trick, CAD CAD puts at dead My Teng, the prefect of Xi Liang and évince also his/her son, My Chao, during a battle with the door of Tong. An emissary of Yi During this time with Han Zhong, Zhang Lu, fearing a Wei invasion, decides to launch out to the conquest of the Yi province to fight against the Wei threat. The news of this invasion worries Liu Zhang, the governor of Yi, which dispatches Zhang Song in Wei to require of it of the assistance. Zhang Song disillusioned In Xu Chang, Zhang Song runs up against the contempt of CAD CAD and even considers, a short moment, to give the control of Yi to him before raviser. It ends up exasperating CAD CAD which drives out it of Xu Chang. The new champion of Zhang Song At this point in time Zhang Song comes into contact with Liu EIB which, contrary to CAD CAD, accommodates it with respect and hospitality. Zhang Song is impressed by the virtue of Liu EIB and decides to entrust Yi to him. Liu EIB leaves for Yi Zhang Song turns over to Yi and advises with its lord Liu Zhang to request the assistance of Liu EIB, Liu Zhang accepts because Liu EIB is same line as him. Put at the current, Liu EIB launches a campaign immediately aiming at eliminating Zhang Lu. The governor of Yi Liu Zhang is not a big boss and, in its rows, it is question of replacing it by somebody of more qualified. Another feeling also prevails in the camp of Liu EIB: to make it possible the strategy of the Three Kingdoms to succeed, the Yi province must be conquered. The decision of Liu EIB Liu EIB hesitates with attack Liu Zhang, a relative, but this last having refused to give him its support, a quarrel bursts between the two leader and Liu EIB finally decides to take Cheng Of. The fall of the Phoenix The strategist Pang Tong is charged to invade Cheng Of. He takes quickly the door of Fu Shui and progresses towards the strategic defensive position of the castle of Luo. But in way, it is taken for Liu EIB and assassinated. My Chao and Cheng Of The castle of Luo is finally taken by Zhuge Liang and Zhang Fei which precipitated there since Jing. With the door of Jia Meng however, they undergo the keen attacks of My Chao, which was combined in Zhang Lu. Thanks to the operations of Zhuge Liang, My Chao joined the rows of Liu EIB. Three Kingdoms Whereas My Chao joined the seat of Cheng Of, Liu Zhang loses any hope of victory and ends up going. In 214, the territories of Shu pass under the control of Liu EIB. In spite of the loss of Pang Tong, Liu EIB seizes the province Yi and the Three Kingdoms are born officially. The He Fei battle The emissary of Liu EIB CAD CAD starts a campaign in the west and gets rid easily of Zhang Lu. It controls from now on Han Zhong and awaits the occasion to strike in the south, towards Yi. Liu EIB, which has just taken control of it, worries about the intrigues of CAD CAD and is not long in sending an emissary to Sun Quan. The countryside of the north of Sun Quan Liu EIB proposes to restore part of the Jing province if Wu attacks Wei with He Fei. Sun Quan knows that it is an emanating stratagem of Liu EIB, but he sees the occasion there to drive out CAD CAD of Han Zhong. He accepts and prepares with the He Fei attack. The Wu army crosses Chang Jiang In 215, Sun Quan crosses Chang Jiang with 100.000 men. The avant-garde is entrusted to Lu Meng and Gan Ning. Sun Quan remaining in the center with Zhou Tai. Thanks to the efforts of the avant-garde, Wu takes the castle of Wan easily. The He Fei seat The He Fei castle is protected by three officer: Li Dian, Yue Jin and Zhang Liao. This last tries to save the castle of Wan but it is too late and it must prepare with the seat. At this point in time it receives a letter of CAD CAD Orders of CAD CAD The message of CAD CAD is the following: “`' Zhang Liao and Li Dian attack the doors of outside. Yue Jin, protect the castle. ” The He Fei troops count only 7.000 men and, after long discussions, Zhang Liao wants to attack. The strategy is defined. The He Fei Battle Yue Jin launches the offensive, but after being itself run up against the Wu forces, it is folded up. The troops of Wu continue it and Sun Quan approaches the face. At this point in time Zhang Liao and Li Dian attack their side laterally. The jump of Sun Quan Sun Quan immediately starts to be folded up, but the bridge located behind him is cut. On the councils of one of its officers, it decides to jump on other bank to horse, which it succeeds in doing. Zhang Liao of Wei Sun Quan escapes the immediate danger, but undergoes a cuisante demolished vis-a-vis the troops much fewer of Wei. This battle discredits the officer Wei Zhang Liao, who will be perceived a long time like a monster by the children of Jiang Dong. During this time, Sun Quan regains its territory and rebuilds its forces for a new attack. The Ru battle Xu Kou Now, Zhang Liao requires reinforcements of CAD CAD which moves in person of Han Zhong. The army of Wu knows a new dash with the night raids of Gan Ning, but Sun Quan is again encircled. In spite of the incredible efforts conceded by Zhou Tai, Sun Quan fled once more. The king of Wei, CAD CAD Sun Quan ends up giving up its countryside of north and makes peace with CAD CAD. Joining Xu Chang, CAD CAD autoproclame King of Wei and continues to increase its influence. During this time, Liu EIB, which had been made forget CAD CAD, seeks to take again Han Zhong The Battle of Yi Ling The king of Shu, Liu EIB After several campaigns in north, Liu EIB ends up joining Han Zhong and, into 219, autoproclame king. Guan Yu mobilizes its forces in north to attack the castle of Fan, defended by the officer Wei CAD Ren The battle for Jing Guan Yu launches, since Jing, an attack by water against the castle of Fan and is shown largely with the height of the defensive force of Wei. At the same time, the commander of L `armed Wu, Lu Meng, awaits the occasion to take again Jing. Lu Meng also counts on the assistance of little known but crafty one Lu Xun, whom it will choose later to succeed to him. Guan Yu, captured The Lu Meng prediction, according to which Guan Yu would leave Jing vulnerable to an attack by behind, is checked. Lu Meng progresses immediately towards Jing, coordinating the efforts of the Wei forces to attack Guan Yu by front and behind. Guan Yu must be folded up with the castle of May when it is finally captured. The death of the Heroes Refusing to serve Sun Quan, Guan Yu is carried out. Lu Meng also dies him, mysteriously, little time afterwards. The head of Guan Yu is returned to CAD CAD, which holds heroic funeral for him. Then is with the turn of CAD CAD to die of disease. Two Emperors In 220, CAD pi, founds the Wei dynasty and autoproclame Empereur. One year later, Liu EIB declares, as for him, successor with the Han throne and founds the dynasty Shu Han. Then seeking to avenge death for Guan Yu, it orders the invasion of Wu. End of Zhang Fei Nobody can calm the anger of Liu EIB, not even his more faithful officers. Zhang Fei, also brother in arms of Guan Yu, division this anger. But that is fatal for him. Scorned by its troops, it ends up being assassinated during its sleep. Liu EIB strikes Wu Even private of its wings, the determination of Liu EIB does not waver. All the peace proposals of Sun Quan are immediately disallowed. Without another choice, Sun Quan decides to be combined in Wei, Liu EIB personally carries out its troops out of Cheng Of and thus begins the rough battle between Shu and Wu. The commander of Wu, Lu Xun Sun Quan places the forces of Wu under the Lu Xun command and prepares with the attack of Liu EIB. During this time, the army Shu, very justified, gains Yi Ling, but Lu Xun still does not move. The defeat of Yi Ling At the end of a long walk, the Shu army shows signs of tiredness, it what Lu Xun expected. In 222, Lu Xun launches its first offensive with a vast attack by fire. In spite of moral of steel at the beginning, the Shu army crumbles before even the attack. The death of Liu EIB Liu EIB takes refuge in the castle of Bai Di and, after having left the fate of Shu between the hands of Zhuge Liang, he dies into 223. The next month, Liu Chan succeeds his/her father as Empereur Shu Han and the relations between Wu and Wei enveniment more and more. One era of revival is profiled for the Three Kingdoms. The countryside of Nanman Zhuge Liang, become Prime Minister for Shu and principal adviser of Liu Chan, is arranged to join again peaceful relations with Wu and suggests launching a campaign to the south. He wants to choke risings of Nan Zhong and to eliminate any threat coming from the back. Spirit attacks At the time, the king of Nanman, Meng Huo, is the most influential chief of the south. In 225, Zhuge Liang dispatches its troops on the territory of Nanman, concerned to attack `' the spirit of Nanman'' and to force its people to go. The first battle During the first confrontation between Zhuge Liang and Meng Huo. Zhao Yun destroys its forces, after which Meng Huo itself is captured by Wei Yan. Meng Huo refuses to go to Zhuge Liang. The strategist releases it, offering one second chance to him to the combat. The second battle More careful, Meng Huo sets up fortifications along a river for the second battle, incentive the forces of Shu to cross it. But extreme heat was right of water the level of the river and the Shu forces easily manage to cross it with rafts. Moreover, several officers of Nanman betray Meng Huo and deliver it to the Shu army. Meng Huo still does not go. The third battle Zhuge Liang makes visit the camp of Shu with Meng Huo before releasing it for the second time. Meng Huo, charmed more on the enemy camp, orders with his/her brother to play the false defectors, but he is quickly uncovered and the two brothers are captured. The fourth battle Released once again and furious, Meng Huo raises a force of 100.000 men and attacks the camp of Shu, on what Zhuge Liang immediately makes evacuate all its force. Of course, it is another stratagem and the army of Meng Huo falls into the many pits dug in the camp Meng Huo ends up being captured, once more. The fifth battle Anxious to benefit from the lesson of its defeats. Meng Huo now chooses to wait until the enemy attacks. The plan consists in attracting the Shu forces in the poisoned marshes, but Zhuge Liang, defendant of the danger by Meng Jie, the older brother of Meng Huo, manages to avoid them. Useless to say that this time still Meng Huo is overcome and captured The sixth battle Zhu Rong, the wife of Meng Huo joined the battle field, but it is quickly captured. Meng Huo then tries to gather wild animals, like elephants and tigers, to fight the enemy, but the latter are frightened by the machines fire-eaters of Zhuge Liang. New defeat. The seventh battle This time, Meng Huo calls upon the troops equipped with cane armours presumedly deviated the swords and the arrows. But Zhuge Liang is not long in detecting their weak points and launches an attack by fire to put the routed army. Meng Huo is captured for the seventh time. End of the campaign of Nanman Meng Huo is acknowledged overcome and promised to go to Shu. The threat of the south is now neutralized and the Shu army returns to it. Finally, Zhuge Liang can turn to north.

Critical reading

Under cover of a simple historical novel, Three Kingdoms is a work of a beauty, a richness and a complexity amazing, which take part of the epopee and myth.

Thus, each hero, of share his name, its physical description and its acts arrives to a mythical dimension of universal range. Liu EIB (Hidden Virtue) is the model of generosity, of the virtue and of uprightness. Guan Yu (Long Cloud) becomes God of the War. Zhuge Liang (Hidden Dragon or Light of the Reason) appears like the paragon of Large Omniscient strategist.

CAD CAD, character of a very excavated psychology, can reach tops of cruelty or generosity calculated. Canted and cheating spirit, CAD CAD will have the destiny that it deserves: a malignant tumor with the brain will finish by to make perish.

Just as in Greek mythology, the animals themselves are remarkable and supernatural. One cannot prevent oneself from comparing Red hare, mounting of Lu Drunk, with PEGASE or Bucéphale.

The novel the Three Kingdoms sits at the Pantheon of the letters universal as well as Iliade and the Mahabharata.

Characters

See Hero of the Three Kingdoms

French translation

the Three Kingdoms T1 , (Flammarion, 1987, ISBN 2-08-064648-6)
the Three Kingdoms T 2 , (Flammarion, 1987, ISBN 2-08-066079-9)
the Three Kingdoms T3 , (Flammarion, 1988, ISBN 2-08-066079-9)
the Three Kingdoms T 4 , (Flammarion, 1988, ISBN 2-08-066079-9)
the Three Kingdoms T 5 , (Flammarion, 1989, ISBN 2-08-066160-4)
the Three Kingdoms T 6 , (Flammarion, 1989, ISBN 2-08-066161-2)
the Three Kingdoms T 7 , (Flammarion, 1991, ISBN 2-08-066267-8)

Adaptations

Plays

This novel inspired by the many video games, most known being those produced by Koei. The series " there are found; Lovesong off the Three Kingdom" and Dynasty Warriors like Kessen II.

Manhwa

This novel also inspired the manhwa " Eternity" in a very free adaptation currently happening.

See too

Chronic of the Three Kingdoms

External bonds

Kongming
Series of stamps on the Chinese literature: The Novel of the Three Kingdoms

Zh-yue: 三國演義

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