#liu biao

[zhoudadudugongjin]

I LOVE HIM I LOVE HIM SO MUCH 😭😭😭😭 @popfishjr

[staydandy]

The Ingenious One (2023) - 云襄传 - Whump List

List by StayDandy Synopsis : Yun Xiang entered the pugilistic world after ten years of painstakingly training. He falls for Shu Yanan, an eccentric and intelligent woman, yet the good times do not last long. Yun Xiang unearths appalling secrets as he investigates the tragedies from the past. He experiences deception, betrayal and the separation of life and death. Yun Xiang decides to stand up and defend the justice in his heart, even at the expense of himself. (MDL) AKA : The Gate of Renewal

Whumpee : Yun Xiang / Luo Wen Jia played by Chen Xiao (2nd from left) • Su Ming Yu played by Tang Xiao Tian (2nd from right) • Jin Biao / Jin Shi Liang played by Liu Guan Lin (far left)

Country : 🇨🇳 China Genres : Romance, Wuxia

Notes : This is a Full Whump List • Adapted from the novel "Qianmen the Secret Manual" (千门之门) by Fang Bai Yu (方白羽) • Lost interest in the story by ep 12 ... started fast-forwarding through the rest just to check for whump. Honestly the best thing was Jin Biao, I've seen Liu Guan Lin in a few roles (all side characters), and thought this one suited him well.

Episodes on List : 14 Total Episodes : 36

*Spoilers below*

01 : (at end) Yun Xiang captured, imprisoned

02 : … continued from previous ep. ... Dream of childhood trauma, still imprisoned … kicked, purposefully dislocates his shoulder.. dislocated shoulder gripped; pain … relocates his shoulder

05 : Nightmare, wakes sweating

07 : Performs 10 breath move, which leaves him panting with the effort.. stumbles … pinned to the ground & arm wrenched (comedic) … Su Ming Yu punched

10 : (past halfway point) Fight, coughs up blood.. in shock, knocked out

11 : Yun Xiang attacked, choked

12 : Su Ming Yu nightmare

16 : Jin Biao captured, chained … caged, gagged … gassed, passes out

17 : Punched to the ground, knocked out

19 : Chained, hooded, gagged

31 : (near end) Poisoned, coughs up blood … falls off a roof, fighting while still poisoned.. Yun Xiang choked

32 : … continued from previous ep. ...Jin Biao, still poisoned, helped to walk.. fight, stabbed & cut, passes out (assumed dead)

35 : (near end) Yun Xiang in a fight; knocked out, spits up blood

36 : Jin Biao & Su Ming Yu in a fight

[web-novel-polls]

Priest (Author) Character Lower Bracket

[“Anti-propaganda” is not allowed. Please only give reasons to vote FOR a character, and please be courteous in the notes.]

Chu Huan from Of Mountains and Rivers / Shan He Biao Li 

Submission: 

His vibes are insane. A character pipi made by putting Wen Kexing and Zhou Zishu in a jar and shaking, and then wrapping the result in the most unassuming shell possible. That one post that went like "perfectly normal man that has something seriously wrong with him" might as well have been made about him. Kills like 20 ppl in his introduction scene, falls off a cliff, gets on a bus, and agrees to become a teacher for those random guys he met because one of them is hot. Speaking of, his bi awakening and accepting it happens in a span of like, one second. *Sees a hot guy* welp, homosexual attraction is not a sin! Also, somehow has perfect tumblr shitposter vibes. Was asked what's a word for "good brother" in his language and after careful consideration said "bitch". Did I mention he's insane? "Play me a tune, and I'll go along with your BDSM play." Or that time he woke up after being clinically dead for a bit (saw his deceased loved ones asking him to go into the light and all) and to his bf's frantic questioning of "Does it hurt?" immediately went "Yes. It hurts a lot. You have to kiss it better." like bestie your priorities.... Anyway yeah what a guy.

Tong Ru / Lord Beiming from Liu Yao: The Revitalization of Fuyao Sect 

“Beiming? Who deserves the title of Beiming? That’s merely an arrogant title given by some short-sighted people.” - Lord Beiming, Liu Yao: The Revitalization of Fuyao Sect, Chapter 16

[No propaganda submitted]

“It’s just death, nothing serious.” - Lord Beiming, ch.30 

***I, the poll runner, have not gotten to the Lord Beiming reveal, so I’m not 100% sure the quotes from where I’m at are correct/for the same person (since there’s another person trying to claim the title of Lord Beiming)

(Also, Tong Ru and Han Muchun are sharing a picture because it’s way too blurry with just one lol)

Mu Xiaoqiao from Bandits / You Fei / Legend of Fei

Submission: 

"People tended to apply the highest of standards when judging the behavior of revered saints like the Sword of Mountains and Rivers: if they made even the smallest of missteps, they would be deemed unworthy of their sterling reputations, and be lambasted for hypocrisy. But people were much more magnanimous towards Mu Xiaoqiao and those of his vile ilk, for as long as these fiends didn’t go around killing everyone in sight…or as long as this violence was directed at others instead, they could sometimes even find something perversely charming about these villains." (Bandits, book 3, chapter 13)  Callout for who? Callout for me. Pipi is very right about this but also she is the one writing her murderous gays so epic and sexy and fascinating and irresistible and…

[zhoudadudugongjin]

Nominating Liu Bei in the Advisors Alliance, but Part 2 (Growling Tiger Roaring Dragon Specifically). He never actually appears in the show (and is already dead by this point) but that man and his un-deflatable boner for the Han Dynasty is a large part of the reason that the entire Three Kingdoms period of China (The 3rd bloodiest war in human history) even happened! Zhuge Liang launched 5 unsuccessful expeditions into the Wei kingdom (plus a southern campaign) because of his devotion to his dead Zhugong/Bixia - and then Jiang Wei launched eleven more on the back of that...

But of course, another huge aspect of the first half of GTRD is the heart-wrenching paternal relationship between Zhuge Liang and Liu Bei's son, the young, feckless emperor Liu Shan, whom his father bade him guide and protect.

Here is a beautiful reading of an English translation of the Chu Shi Biao, a memorial that Zhuge Liang famously wrote to Liu Shan about the late Emperor and the importance of reuniting the country.

There might feature only briefly (or not at all) in the text, but they cast a long shadow on the characters

Write-ins, propaganda, and images are welcome!

[fuckyeahchinesefashion]

During Qingming Festival (清明节Tomb-Sweeping Day) every year, Chinese netizens enthusiastically went to pay respects to Zhuge Liang诸葛亮（181—234）(People respectfully called him "Wuhou"武侯Marquis Wu, Wu stands for martial, ardent, courageous, valiant and dauntless etc, it's his official noble title, which later became an honorific celebrating his achievements and unwavering loyalty). His memorial temple is in Chengdu, Sichuan Province, where he's enshrined together with his best bromance Liu Bei刘备, the Emperor of Shuhan蜀汉(eastern han dynasty of ancient sichuan area)—it's the only 'ruler and minister shared temple' in Chinese history. So when people visit the Wuhou Shrine, they honor Liu Bei as well (Liu Bei once said "Having Kongming (literary name of Zhuge Liang) is to me like fish having water"). Meanwhile, Zhuge Liang's actual tomb is located at the foot of Dingjun Mountain in Mian County, Hanzhong 汉中勉县定军山(Shaanxi Province). Every Qingming Festival, it gets covered in flowers, along with many playful tributes left by young people, like three kingdoms-themed fandom merch, train tickets from Xi'an the capital city of shaanxi province to Chengdu, characters in a Three Kingdoms-themed mobile card battle game, BRPG cards and cartoon badges of three kingdoms (Wuhou Shrine's cultural-themed souvenirs), soil of central plains, memes and all kinds of handwritten letters.

Zhuge Liang is deeply loved by people for his wisdom and lifelong care for the common folk. He is seen as a symbol of intelligence, courage, and loyalty, a guardian deity of the people.

Many famous ancient Chinese poets admired him and wrote poems in his honor. For example:

Lu You陆游 (1125—1210) wrote: "His Memorial on Expedition has won him immortal fame;Who could ever stand with him shoulder to shoulder in name?(by xu yuanchong) "This campaign memorial alone ensures his name will never fade —Through a thousand years, who could match his grade? (by Burton Watson)出师一表真名世，千载谁堪伯仲间"

Du Fu杜甫 (712—770) penned: "Where is the famous premier’s temple to be found?/Outside the Town of Brocade with cypresses around./In vain before the steps spring grass grows green and long,/And amid the leaves golden orioles sing their song./Thrice the king visited him for the State’s gains and pains;/He served heart and soul the kingdom during two reigns./But he died before he accomplished his career./How could heroes not wet their sleeves with tear on tear (translated by xu yuanchong)丞相祠堂何处寻？锦官城外柏森森。 映阶碧草自春色，隔叶黄鹂空好音。 三顾频烦天下计，两朝开济老臣心。 出师未捷身先死，长使英雄泪满襟."

What moves people most is Zhuge Liang’s "Memorial on the Campaign" (Chu Shi Biao出师表).

It’s a heartfelt letter he wrote before leading the Northern Expeditions, expressing his devotion to his kingdom and ruler, despite knowing the odds were against him.

He vowed to give his all for his people, even as he grieved lost allies and faced his own aging and illness.

The mix of duty, sacrifice, and unshaken resolve makes it one of history’s most touching political texts—a testament to loyalty unto death.

In Chinese culture, it's believed that outstanding individuals who made remarkable contributions to people (like Zhuge Liang, Guan Yu, Mazu, etc, Mazu is worshipped as the guardian deity of sailors and fishermen) would be elevated to divine status after death. That's why these figures are deeply revered by the people.

Also at the tomb of Emperor Zhao Lie汉昭烈皇帝/ Emperor of Illustrious and Ardent (Liu Bei's posthumous title), you can see a fan tribute, a metal certification labeled 'Eastern Han Dynasty succubus东汉魅魔', for his ability to attract and inspire loyal generals to serve him, despite his humble beginnings. Fans even dropped a beagle plushie at the tomb as an offering—shoutout to Gan Ning甘宁, the original gangster ‘rebel pup’ of the Three Kingdoms. People love leaving inside-joke offerings for their favorite historical badasses. In Sichuan, Zhuge Liang is revered as one of the guardian spirits protecting the Land of Abundance天府之国 from evil spirits and misfortune. That’s why Chinese tourists visiting Sichuan always make a stop at the Wuhou Shrine to pay their respects—not just to Zhuge Liang (honored as "Marquis Wu"), but also to Liu Bei, Guan Yu, and Zhang Fei housed within the shrine. People think that a trip to Sichuan isn’t complete without these things: Admiring the natural beauty of Western Sichuan’s landscapes; Spicy hot pot; Visiting the pandas; and making a pilgrimage to the Wuhou Shrine—where history, legend, and local faith intertwine. The main reasons for them to visit the Wuhou Shrine are to attend a docent-led interpretation session and explore the exhibits—immersing themselves in the stories of the Three Kingdoms. If they just rush through it, they’ll miss the depth of the experience. (Note: During peak seasons, advance booking is required.)

"Little Sweet Ginger" (小甜姜xiaotianjiang) is a modern affectionate nickname for Jiang Wei (姜维), Zhuge Liang’s successor in the Shu Han kingdom. Jiang Wei took over after Zhuge Liang’s death, continuing the near-impossible mission of defending Shu Han against the stronger Wei kingdom. Despite his efforts, Shu Han fell in 263 CE, and Jiang Wei died fighting. Fans see Jiang Wei as a tragic figure—a loyal student burdened with his mentor’s unfinished legacy. To honor Zhuge Liang and his fellows, the standard seat fare for high-speed rail tickets from Chengdu to Xi'an is set at 263 yuan (Xi'an, anciently known as Chang'an, served as the historic capital of the Han Dynasty, and Zhuge Liang devoted his entire life to restoring the Han dynasty's glory—to return to the old capital and bring peace back to the Central Plains). Some believe it's just a coincidence, while others think it's an low-key tribute quietly endorsed by the authorities. Nearly two thousand years have passed. The Three Kingdoms are now but a distant dream, yet in their hearts, people still long to see him win.

[kungfuwushuworld]

R.I.P sifu Lee Hoi-sang!

Lee Hoi-sang (April 15, 1941 – September 9, 2024) was a Hong Kong martial arts film actor and martial artist, known for his roles in The 36th Chamber of Shaolin (as Abbot Li Hai Sheng) (1978), Shaolin Challenges Ninja (1978), The Incredible Kung Fu Master (1979), The Young Master (1980), The Prodigal Son (1981), Project A (1983), Shaolin and Wu Tang (1983) and Disciples of the 36th Chamber (1985) , alongside actors such as Jackie Chan, Gordon Liu, Sammo Hung, Yuen Biao and Bolo Yeung.

Lee Hoi-sang was a master of Wing Chun boxing. He served as a martial arts instructor and an action movie actor (debuting in British Hong Kong) starting in his early years. During the 1970s and 1980s he often utilised his kung fu expertise playing martial arts roles as well as other supporting roles on Asian TV dramas. To some of his audience he was known as "King of Fighters".

Lee Hoi-sang was a disciple of Yip Man, learning Wing Chun from him and later teaching it.

[mademoiselle-red]

my fellow Zhuge Liang fans might also appreciate the fun facts and cute art at the end of the Zhuge Liang chapters in the comic book version of “When History Meows”:

We’ve got Zhuge Liang promoting Shu Silk to raise money for war; refraining from using his political position to accumulate excessive wealth, leaving behind only his mulberry tree garden; allegedly inventing mantou 😋

Inventing and innovating on various new military technologies; writing the Chu Shi Biao; being honored together with Liu Bei in the Wuhou Shrine

[ryukang1995]

Mortal Kombat (my version) - actor influences/inspirations

Jax - Wesley Snipes, Michael Jai White, Steve James

Johnny Cage - Linden Ashby, Jean-Claude Van Damme, Brandon Lee

Kano - Trevor Goddard, Darren Shahlavi, Vernon Wells

Kitana - Talisa Soto, Jennifer Connelly, Tia Carrere

Kung Lao - Mark Dacascos, Donnie Yen, Yuen Biao, Paolo Montalban

Liu Kang - Jackie Chan, Bruce Lee, Robin Shou, Jason Scott Lee

Raiden - Christopher Lambert, Sonny Chiba

Shang Tsung - Cary-Hiroyuki Tagawa, John Lone, James Hong

Sonya Blade - Cynthia Rothrock, Bridgette Wilson, Cameron Diaz, Jaime Pressly

That's all for now.

[nemisisnemi]

》 TWST OCS 《

last updated: 11/1/2024

DO NO REPOST || DO NOT FEED TO AI

Junqiao:

Inital concept + more concept art

old Junqiao art (scrapped lore)

meme Junqiao (mustache)

proper-ish intro for Junqiao

Royalty trio (wip) + (fin)

soru's day 2 prompt w/ royalty trio

Jianying:

Bai Jianying intro!

Jianying full body

forgotten bust shots

More:

Biao Bailey og concept art

Other people's ocs:

Chenfeng sketch (@spookyavenuestreet )

spade of storms art event submission! ( @raguiras )

Ash Cinderfall + timelapse ( @driedupeyeballs )

Liu Wei Jie ( @ceruleancattail )

Mariette ( @beneathsakurashade )

Ivy & Soliel art req ask ( @cherrytreegrove & @nyx-of-night )

Link to ENTIRE art masterlist: here!

dividers by @/cafekitsune !

[pompomqt]

Journey to the West Chapter 9

Tang Sanzang's mom this whole chapter:

No wonder Tang Sanzang is going to almost die so many times in this book.

Ah man, my man Tang Sanzang's backstory has it all- gods disguised as fish, getting moses'ed, and bandits. A fitting backstory for a chosen one. So let's get into this chapter of Journey to the West with @journeythroughjourneytothewest

So we start off with the new emperor setting up examinations where any worthy scholar can try their hand and possibly earn a place to work in administration or government. One person who decides to try their hand and take such an exam is Chen E also known as Guangrui- or perhaps even better known as- Tang Sanzang's father.

So Guangrui takes the exam and passes with flying colors and is awarded the title 'Zhuangyuan'. During the celebratory procession, one Wenjio Yin (The Chief Minister's daughter) was about to throw down an embroidered ball from her tower in order to select a spouse. Which... beats tinder I guess? Anyways she spots Guangrui getting paraded around below her tower, and thinks he's cute, as well as recognizing that he was the one who passed the examinations- so she drops the ball onto his head. Anyways all the servants of the house swarm the guy and bring him before the chief minister and his wife and they are wedded at once, which Guangrui seems pretty cool with. Anyways, so life seems to be going pretty well for Guangrui. The emperor has appointed him the governor of Jiangzhou, he has a new wife, and he's bringing her and his mother along with him to his new post. Unfortunately things don't stay peachy for long as they are only a few days out on their journey when his mother gets sick, and they have to stop at an in. The next day Guangrui heads down to the market, and buys a big golden carp. Who seems to be blinking at him in Morse code. Deciding that a fish that blinks that much can't be a normal creature he asks the fisherman where it was caught and returns it to the Hong river. Anyways he tells his mother about what happened with the fish, but also tells her that he has to leave tomorrow to make it to his new job. She says she isn't well enough to travel and instead suggests he rent a house and leave her some money, so he can come back for her later when the weather is better for travel. He agrees, and he and his wife take their leave.

Since they have to cross the Hong River, they hire two boatmen, Liu Hong and Li Biao to take them across. But since these are the parents of our 'Chosen One Protagonist' of course something terrible happens to them. Liu Hong gets the hots for Wenjio, so he beats Guangrui to death and throws his body into the river. Wenjio tries to dive in after him, but is caught and threatened at knife point. So she yields to him for now. Anyways Liu Hong steels Guangrui's credentials and proceeds with the kidnapped Wenjio to the post in Jiangzhou. Anyways Guangrui's body floats to the bottom of the river and is rushed to the Dragon King, who recognizes him as the man that freed him while he as disguised as a golden carp. In return for saving him, the Dragon King decides to save Guangrui, so he has his soul brought back from the underworld. Guangrui tells the dragon king about what happened, and the Dragon King instead of just sending him back immediately preserves his body and lets him be an officer for a while.

Anyways- back with Sanzang's mom, she passes out and gives birth to him while Liu Hong is away on business. During this time she received a message from the Star Spirit of the South Pole, that her son will one day be known far and wide for he can not be compared to an ordinary mortal, but that she has to protect him from the Liu Hong. He also tells her that her husband has been rescued by the dragon king and that they will all be reunited one day.

Liu Hong returns and immediately wants to drown him, but she manages to delay it, and when he is called away on business once again she decides to take her chances with the river. She writes a letter with blood stating the the parents names and their family history as well as the current situation. Then she bites off his little toe from his left foot to be able to identify him in the future. With that she ties him to a plank that had conveniently floated by and sends him off.

Anyways our newly abandoned hero makes his way to the temple of Gold Mountain where he is picked up by the Monk Farming. Monk Farming reads the letter and stashes it in a safe place and names the baby 'River Float' and has him raised at the temple. When River Float turned 18 he was given the religious Xuanzang.

Anyways one day a fellow monk, angry that Xuanzang had outwitted them during their discussion, yells at him that Xuanzang doesn't even know his own name or have parents. At this Xuanzang goes to his master crying (bringing his cry count to 1) about how there can be a person with no parents. The Monk then shows him the letter written in blood that arrived with him, and Xuanzang bursts into tears yet again at learning what happened to his parents. Xuanzang begs his master to let him go and find his mother. The Monk agree's and tells him to go the to the governor's mansion of Jiangzhou, and so Xuanzang immediately departs and heads straight for the private quarters at the governor's mansion.

Luckily his mother was in a way more or less expecting him, since she had had yet another strange dream, and figured that if her son was still alive he would be 18 by now, and that perhaps the dream was an omen that they would meet today.

Anways, she let's him inside and they start talking and she notices that he bears a strong resemblance to her husband. So she asks him about his family and he tells her that his father was murdered and his mother taken. He also reveals that his mothers name was Wenjio Yin and his father's name is Guangrui Chen, and that his name is River Float, but his religious name is Xuanzang.

Wenjio says she is Wenjio Yin, but asks him to prove his identity. Xuanzang cries again that she doesn't believe him and shows her the letter of blood. And then the two hug each other and cry for a while. Before Wenjio tells him he has to leave before the bandit Liu Hong returns to kill him. She says that she will tell him she made a vow to donate a hundred monk shoes so they can talk again then.

So Wenjio plays sick and tells Liu Hong that she has to go to a temple to donate some monk shoes. After gathering the shoes she heads off for the Temple of Gold Mountain to meet with Xuanzang again. Wenjio asks Xuanzang to remove his shoes and when she see's that he is missing his left little toe the two once again hug and cry it out. And I'm starting to see which parent Xuanzang got his crying habit from...

Sadly the two are still short on time before Liu Hong starts to get suspicious, so Wenjio gives him an incense ring and sends him out to find his paternal grandmother where they left her at that inn. She also gives him a letter to give to her father, his maternal grandfather, to have the emperor send some men to have the bandit arrested and executed to avenge his father. And with that she takes her leave again while Xuangzang goes crying back to the temple and tells his master everything before heading to the Inn as instructed.

Once Xuanzang arrives at the Inn he asks the Innkeeper about the status of his grandmother, only for it to be revealed that she went blind and became a street begger once the money ran out. So Xuanzang immediately seeks her out and explains that he is her grandson and that the reason his father and mother never came back for her was because he was murdered and she was captured. Xuanzang then also cures her blindness for her and pays for her to stay at the Inn again.

Taking leave of his paternal grandparent, he goes off to find his maternal one. Luckily his grandmother had also received a dream about their daughter finally coming home so they let him in. Xuanzang starts crying upon seeing them and gives them letter his mother asked for him to pass on.

The next morning his grandfather sends a note to the emperor explaining what happened, so the emperor sends sixty thousand imperial soldiers to apprehend Liu Hong. Which sounds like overkill for a simple boatman/bandit to me. I mean- it's not like they are trying to arrest Sun Wukong. Either way though- the mission is a success and Liu Hong is captured.

Wenjio Yin meanwhile is to ashamed to face her father and tries to hang herself, but is stopped by Xuanzang. Wenjio explains her shame in yielding to the bandit while his father explains it wasn't her fault. And the two embrace and cry it out- which Xuanzang also joins in of course- because our boy would never miss out on a cry fest.

Anyways Liu Hong and his accomplice Li Biao are both violently executed and Xuanzang and Wenjio Yin offer the liver and heart of Liu Hong as sacrifices at the Hong River. And of course the family once again cry's it out at the river.

The word manages to make it back to the Dragon King who tells Guangrui the good news that he has been avenged so he's sending him back to life along with some sweet gifts. So the dragon king has his body sent to the mouth of the river to have his soul returned there. While his body is floating by, Wenjio is once again trying to kill herself while Xuanzang is holding her back. Recognizing the body of her husband she starts crying even harder. And Guangrui wakes up to find his wife, father in law and son all crying over him.

Anyways, husband and wife both explain what happened on each of their ends. A banquet is held, the troops head home, Guangrui finally goes back for his mother, who had recieved yet another prophetic dream, Guangrui is promoted to Subchancellor of the Grand Secretariat, Xuanzang heads out to practice zen at the temple of Infinite Blessing before heading back to the temple of Gold Mountin to repay his master- and Wenjio commits suicide the second he's out of sight. And with that we finally have our propagandist's backstory all sorted out.

Current Tang Sanzang stats: Names/Titles: River Float, Xuanzang Abilities: Curing Blindness Cry Count: 9 Bandit Problems: 1

Previous - Masterpost - Next

[zhoudadudugongjin]

Wait hold the fuck up-

Lady Huang was Liu Biao's niece?? Zhuge Liang actually married into the extended Liu family??

This makes the Liu Qi kidnapping Zhuge Liang in his attic story so much more funny like girl that's his cousin's husband 😭😭

[imperial-han-gy24crisis]

The Empire, Long United, Must Divide; Long Divided, Must Unite

Seventeen years after the fall of Dong Zhuo, China lies in ruin. To the north, the barbaric Mongols and hill tribes eye the ripe fruit of conquest, poised to plunder what little wealth China has left. To the West, angered by rampant corruption, weak harvests, and a poor economy, civilians protest Liu Biao’s weak rule, and rebel groups grow exponentially, whilst Liu Bei struggles to convince Zhu Ge Liang to join him. To the East, the Shanyue tribes continue to be a thorn in the Wu Kingdom’s side - every trade route disrupted and civilian massacred lowers the masses’ confidence in Sun Quan to rule. 

In the midst of the chaos, atop marred, bloody red cliffs  of corpses, the three kingdoms of China, bent on the unification of this godly land (on their own terms, of course), each prepare for the greatest battle the Heavens would ever gave upon - a battle which could make or break China. As the Lords and Ministers of each Kingdom gather to ponder their next course of action (even as their Kingdom crumbles before their very eyes), every moment spent in vain marks another step closer towards the annihilation of their kingdom. 

Emperors, Generals, and Ministers of the Three Kingdoms, the Heavens welcome you.

[the-archlich]

In the Romance, it's stated that Guan Yu left behind three main commanders--Mi Feng, Fu Shiren, and Pan Jun--to block Wu so he could attack Fan. Fu Shiren and Mi Feng are well known, but can you tell us about the third guy, Pan Jun? All the Romance says of him is that he's kind of a jerk and that Guan Yu should have left a different officer (it names Zhao Lei in particular) to block Wu instead.

Let's review everyone here.

SGZ 45.4 tells us that Shi Ren (Junyi) was from Guangyang. He was assigned to guard Gong'an under Guan Yu but betrayed him to Sun Quan. Guan Yu's biography (SGZ 36.1) concurs with this. It inserts the character 傅 in front of his name (leading to the misnomer Fushi Ren). SGZ 2 and SGZ 54.3 both agree with SGZ 45, so we can conclude that the character 傅 is a corruption or an error.

Mi Fang was the brother of Mi Zhu (SGZ 38.2). Their sister was married to Liu Bei before he fled to Jing province. At the time of the Fan campaign, Mi Fang was the head of Nan canton, with his headquarters at Jiangling (which he shared with Guan Yu). His family had a reputation for being skilled at the horse and bow, and he successfully helped suppress a revolt after defecting to Wu, so he was not without some talents.

Pan Jun was by far the most important and interesting of these men. His biography (SGZ 61.1) is a bit on the longer side.

Pan Jun was from Wuling in the unfashionable part of Jing. He distinguished himself as a scholar when he was young and became a military adviser in Jiangxia (where he would have served Huang Zu. He was later made magistrate of Xiangyang, making him a figure of substantial note at Liu Biao's court. When Liu Bei took over, Pan Jun became one his advisers. During the campaign for Yi province, Pan Jun was left in Jing to manage the province's affairs.

Pan Jun initially refused to serve Sun Quan when he annexed Jing but changed his mind after receiving a personal visit. He subsequently advised Sun Quan in securing the territory. When Sun Quan took the imperial title, Pan Jun was made one of the Nine Ministers. Eventually he became Minister of Ceremonies (which Wu appears to have treated as the chief of the Excellencies), a title he retained for the rest of his life.

The most notable exploit of Pan Jun's career was a campaign in the 230s. Over the course of several years he subdued the various tribes of western Jing, bringing the territory firmly under Sun Quan's control. Many of Wu's future commanders first saw serious campaigning during this episode.

However, Pan Jun and Sun Quan started to fall out later in life. Sun Quan began listening to corrupt officials and Pan Jun had no patience for that. Back when he was just a military advisor he had executed the corrupt chief of Shaxian. He wrote repeated letters to Sun Quan warning him about the unscrupulous officials at his court but to no avail. A particularly powerful official, Lu Yi, tried to have Pan Jun ousted but failed.

Eventually Pan Jun got fed up with being nice. He traveled to Jianye attempting to simply murder Lu Yi himself and face the consequences. However, Lu Yi avoided the meeting. Soon, the officials were able to prevail upon Sun Quan to punish Lu Yi, who was duly executed. Nevertheless, the rift between Sun Quan and his advisers never fully healed, and Pan Jun himself died not long after this.

[journeythroughjourneytothewest]

Chapter 9 Recap: Guangrui, going to his post, meets disaster; Monk River Float, avenging his parents, repays his roots

Before the Bodhisattva Guanyin and Moksa come to the city of Chang’an, we are told that the emperor Taizong of the Great Tang dynasty had been ruling for thirteen years and that the whole land was at peace. Because of this, his prime minister Wei Zhen recommends that the emperor holds civil examinations “so that we may invite worthy scholars to come here and select those talents who will best serve the work of administration and government.” Taizong agrees, and issues a summons for those who could, regardless of rank, potentially pass the exams.

Eventually the summons reach the ears of a man named Chen E—courtesy name Guangrui—who tells his mother (maiden name of Zhang) that he wishes to try. His mother gives him her blessings, and Guangrui not only manages to travel to Chang’an in time for the examination but takes first place in all three sessions on administrative policy. This gains him the title “zhuangyuan” and a celebratory procession in which he is led through the streets on horseback for three days. It is during this public celebration that the chief minister Yin Kaishan’s daughter Wenjiao (nicknamed Mantangjiao i.e. “A Hall of Loveliness, also known as Lady Yin) sees Chen Guangrui passing below. Knowing that he possesses an “outstanding appearance” and that he was the recent zhuangyuan of the examinations, Wenjiao takes the opportunity to throw down an embroidered ball which is used to select a spouse and manages to hit Chen Guangrui. Immediately, musicians, maids, and serving girls run down from the chief minister’s tower and lead Guangrui inside to hold a wedding between him and Wenjiao with the chief minister and his wife presiding. Everyone feasts merrily for a whole evening, after which the new husband and wife “walked hand in hand into the bridal chamber.”

The next morning, Emperor Taizong makes Guangrui the governor of Jiangzhou and orders him to leave for his new post without delay, which he does so in the company of his wife. On the way over, Guangrui pays a visit to his mother Lady Zhang and the happy family—Guangrui, Wenjiao, and Lady Zhang—decide to head to Jiangzhou together. Yet they had been on the road for but a few days before Lady Zhang falls ill and asks to stay at the Inn of Ten Thousand Flowers for a few days. Guangrui obeys, a decision that gives him an opportunity to buy a golden carp for his mother’s dinner before realizing that the fish, as it was “blinking its eyes vigorously,” is no ordinary creature. He lets it go back in the Hong river where it was caught, an act, as “It is a good deed to release living creatures from captivity,” that greatly pleases Lady Zhang. Yet as the “imperial command is an urgent one,” Guangrui decides that he must leave tomorrow in spite of Lady Zhang’s ongoing illness. Husband and wife agree to give her some funds and to rent her a house to stay in during spring and summer, and that they would return for Lady Zhang in the autumn when it’s cooler and she could travel more comfortably.

After making their leave, Guangrui and Wenjiao soon reach the crossing of the Hong River, where two boatmen, Liu Hong and Li Biao, give them a lift. Yet as it happened “that Guangrui was destined in his previous incarnations to meet this calamity,” Liu Hong, noticing the beauty of Lady Yin and being stirred “at once to cruelty,” forms an evil scheme with Li Biao. They punt the boat to an isolated area and wait until midnight, upon which they kill the couple’s servant and beat Guangrui to death before pushing both bodies into the water. Lady Yin tries to escape, but is caught by Liu Hong. She’s threatened with death unless she "submits" to him and, unable to think of a better plan, she agrees. Liu Hong then turns the boat over to Li Biao, while he himself “put on Guangrui’s cap and robe, took his credentials, and proceeded with the lady to the post at Jiangzhou.”

As for the real Chen Guangrui, his body sinks to the bottom of the Hong River. A yaksa on patrol reports this to the Dragon King, who has the body brought to him. Recognizing Guangrui as the man who saved his life when the dragon was in the form of a golden carp, the Dragon King manages to get the man’s soul into his possession as well as prevents the body from deteriorating by putting a preservative pearl in his mouth. Yet body and soul are not yet reunited, and the Dragon King has Guangrui enter his Water Bureau as an officer.

Lady Yin, for her own part, despises the bandit Liu so much “that she wished she could devour his flesh and sleep on the skin.” Yet as she’s pregnant she has no choice but to obey his demands. Liu Hong also manages to fool all the officials and seamlessly enters Guangrui’s place as the governor of Jiangzhou. Him having to leave on official business, however, means that Lady Yin is alone when she falls unconscious and gives birth to a son. While she’s insensate, she’s further visited by the Star Spirit of the South Pole which tells her as a disembodied voice that her son was sent “by the express command of the Bodhisattva Guanyin,” and that “one day his name will be known far and wide.” Yet the bandit Liu is sure to try and hurt her child, and so she must do what she can to protect him. Lady Yin is also told that her husband was rescued by the Dragon King, and that in the future their family will surely be reunited. Waking up, Lady Yin is desperate to save her son but can think of no plan to do so. She is, however, able to convince a returned Liu Hong to not immediately drown her son in the river.

Liu Hong is called away by urgent business the next morning, but Lady Yin knows her son is doomed if he’s still there by the time the bandit returns. As such, she decides to “abandon him now to the river, and let life or death take its own course” but in the hopes that Heaven might take pity on her child and let him be rescued and raised by someone. Fearing that she wouldn’t be able to recognize her son if he does survive and they manage to reunite, Lady Yin bites her finger and writes a letter in her blood detailing her family history and the reason she abandoned her son. She also bites off his little toe “to establish a mark of his identity.” Wrapping her son in one of her own inner garments, Lady Yin takes him to the river and, bursting into tears, ties him to a floating plank and lets him drift away.

The current carries the baby along until it comes to a standstill beneath the Buddhist Temple of Gold Mountain. The abbot of this temple, Monk Faming, soon discovers the wailing infant and, after reading the letter written in blood and learning of the child’s origin, gives him the name River Float. Abbot Faming also arranges for someone to nurse and care for the child while he himself keeps the letter hidden safely away. Time passes swiftly, and upon reaching his eighteenth year River Float’s head is shaved and he's asked to join the monastery as a monk. River Float agrees and is given the religious name Xuanzang. He proceeds to pursue the Way “with great determination.”

One day in late spring, a “feckless monk,” having been “completely outwitted by Xuanzang’s questions” about the fine points of their religion, calls him a “damnable beast” who is “ignorant of your own parents.” This rebuke drives Xuanzang to tears and before his shifu, where he begs Abbot Faming to tell him his parents’ names. The abbot finally shows Xuanzang the letter and the inner garment he was wrapped in as an infant. This compels Xuanzang to fall weeping to the floor and makes him determined to seek his mother. Abbot Faming encourages Xuanzang to take the letter and the inner garment and to travel as a mendicant monk to the private quarters at the governor’s mansion of Jiangzhou, where he could meet his mother. Following his shifu’s advice, Xuanzang makes his way to Jiangzhou and, begging for alms at the governor’s mansion, is invited inside by his mother for a vegetarian meal. Lady Yin notices that Xuanzang bears “a remarkable resemblance to her husband” and, asking the monk to tell of his origins, soon learns that he is indeed her child. Mother and son embrace and weep.

Immediately afterwards, Wenjiao tells Xuanzang to leave in fear that the bandit will kill him, but they conspire to meet again. Telling her “husband” that she had made a vow to donate one hundred monk shoes to one of the Buddhist monasteries, Lady Yin is able to visit the Temple of the Gold Mountain. There, she’s able to see Xuanzang is indeed missing his little toe, and, after embracing her son again, she gifts him an incense ring. She further tells him to go to Hongzhou so that he might find his grandmother Lady Zhang. She also gives him a letter to take to her father Chief Minister Yin so that he might get the Tang emperor “to dispatch men and horses to have this bandit arrested and executed, so that your father may be avenged. Only then will you be able to rescue your old mother.” She leaves soon after, fearing the bandit’s wrath if she returns late.

Weeping, Xuanzang returns to the temple, tells his shifu everything, and leaves immediately for Hongzhou. There he finds out that not only had his grandmother gone blind but that she’s been living in a dilapidated potter’s kiln and surviving through begging. Xuanzang finds and relates everything to Lady Zhang, who is left weeping not only at her son’s fate but from having finally learned the truth after living for so long thinking her son had abandoned her. Xuanzang then cures his grandmother of her blindness with a prayer and by licking her eyes. He further rents her a room at an inn and leaves her some money, promising to return in a little more than a month’s time.

Leaving his grandmother and going straight to Chang’an, Xuanzang makes his way to chief minister Yin’s house where, after being invited inside, he falls weeping to the floor before handing over his mother’s letter. Chief Minister Yin and his wife join him in weeping when they learn of their daughter’s life. Chief Minister Yin brings this case before the Tang emperor, who becomes “exceedingly angry” at learning of this evil and “immediately called up sixty thousand imperial soldiers and ordered the chief minister Yin to lead them forth.” Soon reaching Jiangzhou, this force quickly overwhelms Liu Hong and takes him prisoner. Lady Yin is overcome with shame seeing her father again to the point where she wanted to hang herself, but Xuanzang rushes in and manages to save his mother, crying “If mother were dead, how could your son possibly remain alive?” Chief Minister Yin further reassures her that there’s nothing to feel ashamed for, as she was forced by the bandit to submit. Son, mother, and grandfather then go to the execution ground, and watch as both Liu Hong and a newly captured Li Biao suffer gruesome executions. This ends with Liu Hong’s heart and liver, which had “been gouged out from him live,” being offered as libations at the bank of the river. As essay eulogizing Guangrui is also burned.

Alerted by their sobs, a yaksa brings the essay in its spirit form to the Dragon King. After reading it, the Dragon King summons Guangrui and, congratulating him, lets him return to life and gives him many treasures. And this was just in time, as after this libations Lady Yin tries to kill herself through drowning and is only prevented from doing so by Xuanzang clinging to her desperately. The two are “struggling pitifully” when they see Guangrui’s dead body floating toward the river bank. Seeing who it is brings Lady Yin to further tears before the body comes back to life. And so the family is reunited and then further reunited when Guangrui meets his mother once again and the group travels back to the chief minister’s residence in Chang’an to see Chief Minister Yin’s wife.

The next morning Chief Minister gives his report on these events to the Tang emperor. Chen E is promoted to Subchancellor of the Grand Secretariat and Xuanzang is sent to practice austerities at the Temple of Infinite Blessing. As for Lady Yin, some time after this she commits suicide after all. Xuanzang then goes back to the Gold Mountain Temple to “repay the kindness of abbot Faming.”

We’ll have to wait for the next chapter to learn what happened next.

[craftercat]

A Short Timeline of the Events of 422-3

(Somewhat of a companion piece to Wei-Song Wars Part 1)

guihai day of the fifth month (June 26th 422): Liu Yu dies. Liu Yifu, aged 16, inherits the throne.

An unknown time between the fifth month and ninth month: Tuoba Si heard of Liu Yu's death and plans an invasion of Liu-Song.

At some point before troops are sent out: After a long debate, although Tuoba Si agreed with Cui Hao that the countryside should be attacked first, on the insistence of Gongsun Biao and Daxi Jin he uses the strategy of attacking the three cities first.

Ninth month: Daxi Jin, Gongsun Biao and the others lead 20,000 troops to attack Huatai, but are unable to take it.

dingchou day of the tenth month (November 7th): Northern Wei launches an attack on Chenliu, and the governor Yan Leng surrenders.

renchen day of the tenth month (November 22nd): Daxi Jin and the others ask for reinforcements. Tuoba Si, angry, rebukes Daxi Jin and Gongsun Biao for insisting on attacking cities and gathers 50,000 troops from his vassals, which he leads to aid them as reserve troops.

Eleventh month: Tuoba Dao is sent to guard against Rouran, leaving the minister An Tong and another son of Tuoba Si's, Tuoba Mi, to guard the capital.

gengxu day of the eleventh month (December 10th): Northern Wei forces take Huatai. Wang Jingdu flees, while Ruogan Er is appointed to guard the city.

Shortly after: Daxi Jin and the others take Tulou garrison, and move to threaten Hulao, while Wuniuyu Lidi leads 3,000 to threaten Luoyang.

bingxu day of the twelfth month: Tuoba Si sends Yizhan Jian with a force to attack Qing and Yan provinces.

Twelfth month: Wuniuyu Lidi and Daxi Jin attack Dou Huang together and defeat him. Tuoba Si sends E Qing, Yujiulu Dafei and Pu Ji to take Que'ao.

guiwei day of the twelfth month (January 12th of 423): The Song governor of Yan province, Xu Yan, abandons the province, allowing Yizhan Jian to enter Qing provinces.

wuzi day of the twelfth month (January 17th): Northern Wei threatens Hulao.

jichou day of the twelfth month (January 18th): Liu Yifu sends Tan Daoji to relieve the threatened provinces.

guimao day of the first month of the first year of Jingping (February 1st): Wuniuyu Lidi takes Jinyong fortress and takes him; Tuoba Si appoints him to remained stationed.

First month: Yizhan Jian enters Qing provinces, taking many of the surrounding cities, but Zhu Kui orders that Dongyang be bolstered as a defense center and outside grain be burned.

Third month: Daxi Jin and the others assault Hulao with 15,000 troopsl. Mao Dezu digs tunnels to burn Northern Wei siege equipment; but despite killing hundreds of troops, the Northern Wei army quickly resume their siege.

Tuoba Si sends troops from Ye to help attack Hulao. Daxi Jin leads 3,000 troops out of Hulao, while leaving Gongsun Biao and the rest of the troops to attack Xuchang, and Li Yuande flees. He seizes Henan commandery, Yingchuan commandery and Chen commandery before returning to Hulao.

Gongsun Biao fought a fierce battle at Hulao, and at first Mao Dezu killed hundreds of Wei troops. But when Daxi Jin returned from seizing nearby land, he attacked Mao Dezu and defeated him; Mao Dezu lost more than a thousand armoured men, and he stopped venturing out of Hulao, keeping resistance from inside the city.

Tuoba Si sent 10,000 troops to cross the Yellow River to camp at Puyang and strengthen his hold on Yan province.

Mao Dezu frames Gongsun Biao as a collaborator; Daxi Jin falls for the trap and tells Tuoba Si. Eventually, a petition is sent blaming Gongsun Biao for the length of the siege. As well, Tuoba Si was frustrated with Gongsun Biao's military mistakes, so due to all of this, he sent someone to kill Gongsun Biao, but since he did not announce Gongsun Biao's death, Mao Dezu's ploy failed to cause division in the Wei army.

Tan Daoji, seeing that he was closer to Qing province and they were in more need of aid, saves Qing province, essentially abandoning Si province due to his lack of troops.

Third month: Tuoba Si sends 50,000 cavalry to relieve Yizhan Jian; when the Wei army attacked Qing province, in total 60,000 Wei cavalry crossed the Yellow River from beginning to end (the Zizhi Tongjian's placement of Tuoba Si's sending of Diao Yong must be incorrect; it was in the late second or early third month, not in the first month)

jiazi day of the third month (April 23rd): Li Yuande launches a surprise attack on Xuchang and recaptures it (The Weishu dates this to the ninth month instead).

E Qing, Pu Ji and Yujiulu Dafei seize the rest of Yan province, reaching Gaoping and Hulu, where, after the civilians shoot at them with arrows, they massacre the men of more than two thousand families and take as captives the women and children.

Tuoba Si sends the governor of Bing province, Yilou Ba, to help assault Hulao. While Mao Dezu killed many Wei troops, he was losing many of his own soldiers as well.

dingmao day of the fourth month (April 26th): Tuoba Si leads a reinforcement army into Hulao. After cutting off water from the Yellow River to Hulao, he waited for three days before personally supervising an assault. However, the city still did not submit, so he left Hulao for Luoyang.

jisi day of the fourth month (April 28th): Tan Daoji arrives at Linzi.

renshen day of the fourth month (May 1st): Since Tan Daoji arrived and a plague had spread through the army at Qing province, Yizhan Jian burns his siege equipment and retreats.

Tan Daoji camps his troops at Hulu, and Wang Zhongde soon joins him. Diao Yong gathers refugee families at Yinmao. Yizhan Jian joins the fight at Hulao, but this also spreads the plague his troops encountered to the troops at Hulao.

dingsi day of the intercalary month (June 15th): Northern Wei blocks access to Hulao's wells.

jiwei day of the intercalary month (June 17th): Hulao falls. Mao Dezu and his officers are almost all captured.

Fifth month: Tuoba Si returns to Pingcheng.

Ninth month: Tuoba Si calls Daxi Jin back from Hulao, leaving troops to guard the south.

Eleventh month: Pu Ji attacks Xuchang, which falls.

wuchen day of the eleventh month (December 23rd): Northern Wei takes Ruyang commandery. Pu Ji destroys Xuchang's walls and Zhongcheng city before returning to garrison Fangtou.

jisi day of the eleventh month (December 24th): Tuoba Si dies.

[mademoiselle-red]

Zhuge Liang: If Liu Biao asks you to take control of Jing Zhou, you should say yes.

Liu Bei: I hear you

Liu Biao: You should govern Jing Zhou after my death

Liu Bei: Nyoooooo, I can’t possibly deprive your son of his inheritance and let you down like this

Zhuge Liang: watching this trainwreck unfold in front of him while struggling to maintaining a polite smile 🙂, but is definitely face-palming 🤦‍♂️ in his head 🫠

Zhuge Liang: the exasperated look of a teacher when whose student wrote all the wrong the answers to questions they literally went over right before the test

Liu Bei: the guilty but defiant look of a kid who intentionally wrote all the wrong answers to questions on a test