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Three Kingdoms (Three Volume Edition) #2
The Three Kingdoms, Volume 2: The Sleeping Dragon
This exciting new translation will appeal to modern readers who find the twists and turns of Game of Thrones so compelling.
The Three Kingdoms is an epic Chinese novel written over six centuries ago. It recounts in vivid historical detail the turbulent years at the close of the Han Dynasty, when China broke into three competing kingdoms and over half the population were either killed or driven from their homes. Part myth, part fact, readers will experience the loyalty and treachery, the brotherhood and rivalry of China's legendary heroes and villains during the most tumultuous period in Chinese history.
Considered the greatest work in classic Chinese literature, The Three Kingdoms is read by millions throughout Asia today. Seen not just as a great work of art, many Chinese view it as a guide to success in life and business as well as a work that offers great moral clarity—while many foreigners read it to gain insights into Chinese society and culture. From the saga of The Three Kingdoms, readers will learn how great warriors motivate their troops and enhance their influence, while disguising their weaknesses and turning the strengths of others against them.
This second volume introduces Liu Bei's greatest ally, his advisor Zhuge Lian—a master strategist whose clever strategies allows Liu Bei to claim many victories in the never-ending battle for dominance during the Warring States period in Chinese history.
The Three Kingdoms is an epic Chinese novel written over six centuries ago. It recounts in vivid historical detail the turbulent years at the close of the Han Dynasty, when China broke into three competing kingdoms and over half the population were either killed or driven from their homes. Part myth, part fact, readers will experience the loyalty and treachery, the brotherhood and rivalry of China's legendary heroes and villains during the most tumultuous period in Chinese history.
Considered the greatest work in classic Chinese literature, The Three Kingdoms is read by millions throughout Asia today. Seen not just as a great work of art, many Chinese view it as a guide to success in life and business as well as a work that offers great moral clarity—while many foreigners read it to gain insights into Chinese society and culture. From the saga of The Three Kingdoms, readers will learn how great warriors motivate their troops and enhance their influence, while disguising their weaknesses and turning the strengths of others against them.
This second volume introduces Liu Bei's greatest ally, his advisor Zhuge Lian—a master strategist whose clever strategies allows Liu Bei to claim many victories in the never-ending battle for dominance during the Warring States period in Chinese history.
448 pages, Paperback
First published January 2, 1360
47 people are currently reading
571 people want to read
About the author
Luo Guanzhong
685 books177 followersLuo Ben (c. 1330–1400), better known by his style name Luo Guanzhong (罗贯中) (Mandarin pronunciation: [lwɔ kwantʂʊŋ]), was a Chinese writer who lived during the Yuan Dynasty. He was also known by his pseudonym Huhai Sanren (Chinese: 湖海散人; pinyin: Húhǎi Sǎnrén; literally "Leisure Man of Lakes and Seas"). Luo was attributed with writing Romance of the Three Kingdoms and editing Water Margin, two of the Four Great Classical Novels of Chinese literature.
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Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews
January 21, 2022
3.5 Stars
I love the TV show adaptation, but I continue to find the translated story to be dense and dry. The written text just does not bring the characters to life the same way for me.
I love the TV show adaptation, but I continue to find the translated story to be dense and dry. The written text just does not bring the characters to life the same way for me.
July 1, 2021
“Cao Cao’s million men are but swarms of ants in my eyes. I have only to lift my hand and they will be crushed to powder.”
That may sound like a stylish supervillain from the Marvel universe, but that immortal throw-down belongs to Zhuge Liang, Confucian-advisor superhero of Romance of the Three Kingdoms. And right there, the fact that scholars are super-heroes, tells you this is not an ordinary book. I bought the first volume of this Ming Dynasty novel on a whim at Powell’s bookstore and let it sit for a few years. Once I got through the first thirty pages, though, it became an addiction, and I quickly bought the other two and hunkered down. At 1300 pages, this 14th century epic may seem intimidating, but if you’ve read The Count of Monte Cristo, Game of Thrones, War and Peace or other such tomes, you’ll have no problem with The Three Kingdoms.
For some perspective, this novel is one of the Four Classics of Chinese Literature, basically, the four great novels of the Ming and Qing dynasties that one traditionally must read to be a literate person. Written during the collapse of the Yuan Dynasty and the resurgence of the Ming, the book looks back on an earlier period of Chinese history in which society was undergoing a similar collapse and resurgence. Covering the period from about 180 AD to 280 AD, the book opens during the impending collapse of the once-mighty Han Dynasty, where a weak emperor is manipulated by cunning eunuchs and courtiers. As palace coup follows palace coup, the kingdom fragments into anarchy, with seventeen warlords all contending for power. Eventually, these consolidate into three “empires” vying for power, each with its own “emperor” and claims to legitimacy. The book covers the endless (and I mean endless) stabbin’ and grabbin’ as warlords plot and scheme to outwit, out-deceive and out-fight their peers. The texture of this book is one of plots, deceptions, military strategies, victories and defeats and the slow accumulation of power. It’s all great fun. There’s also a whole lot of beheading, but we’ll get to that later.
This is not a balanced book. There are three kinds of characters: Warlords, Heroes and Advisors. Women are relegated to scheming dowagers or virtuous relatives who hang themselves or brain themselves against a pillar to make a point to their wavering husbands or sons. (For a Chinese Classic that is all about women, I recommend Dream of the Red Chamber). The book is a myriad of events, with less focus on character’s internal lives. Like many books remote from our time and culture, you’ll need at least 20 pages to get the rhythm. And yet, for many reasons, this book is well worth reading. Here’s why:
First of all, it’s just a whole lot of fun. Sure, there’s over 800 characters, but you quickly learn to recognize which ones are cannon fodder and which ones to pay attention to. Thrilling victories and reversals happen every few pages, there’s tons of heroic single-combat, as each of the flawed heroes ultimately commits the mistake that will destroy his kingdom or his life. It's no accident that this book has been made into video games several times over. It also includes a long and exciting treatment of The Battle of Red Cliffs, the largest naval battle you’ve never heard of. The professions of fake humility are an entire genre in itself (“I am just an ignorant man from Shaanxi, of little ability. How can I possibly be of use to a wise ruler like yourself?”) and I often found myself laughing out loud at the outrageous stratagems and statements made by my favorite characters.
Second, where else are the scholarly advisors on the level of superheroes? While emperors and warlords won the battles, it was really the scholars and intellectuals who built Chinese society, and as such they were revered. Figures like Mencius, Confucius, Han Fei and others were not just bloviating about morality and the sacred rites: they also set tax rates, implemented the law and oversaw the civil service on which every large state depends. They were priests, professors and technocrats. They also were often military figures, such as Sun Tzu, who wrote The Art of War. In Romance of the Three Kingdoms, a good advisor and stragegist will save your Kingdom, and they are wooed and coveted like secret weapons. Zhuge Liang, the Sleeping Dragon, is the maximum hero of this book, leaving a life of hermetic seclusion in the mountains to assist the virtuous Liu Bei in settling the Empire. Zhuge Liang dominates the middle of the book, and we marvel at his superhuman intelligence and strategy, just as the other characters do. Think of a Confucian Count of Monte Cristo, and you get the picture. One of my favorite literary characters of all time.
Third, if you are a student of Chinese philosophy and history, this is a chance to see all those ideas you read about in the Analects and the Tao Te Ching take on flesh and blood and walk through the society. Noble Confucian advisors plead for the people and are executed. Taoist magicians change the weather, bend time and space and travel as clouds. Sun Tzu’s concepts of advance, retreat and ambush are endlessly invoked and put to use. Like society itself, the book is a stew of often-conflicting philosophies that are likely at any time to be overridden by pure self-interest. You don’t need to be well-read in Chinese culture to thoroughly enjoy this book, but it is gratifying to see your favorite philosophical concepts get name-checked for 1300 pages. This book will help bring your reading together.
Finally, there are some important concepts in this book that relate to both Chinese culture and our own. Most crucial is the Law of Dynastic Succession. The Chinese assumed that each new dynasty (lasting typically 200-300 years) entered vigorous and strong, but gradually decayed into self-indulgence and corruption, ultimately collapsing and beginning the cycle anew with the next dynasty. We see this in the collapse of the Han, the consolidation of the Three Kingdoms, and ultimately the decay of those kingdoms until they, too, are swept away by the conquering Jin dynasty. Within this iron rule, the reasons are shown: self-indulgent leaders, power-hungry subordinates, and lack of concern for the well-being of the people on which a country’s strength rests. Sound familiar?
The book has some serious blind spots. While historically fairly accurate, what it leaves out is that from the beginning to the end of this period, the population of China dropped by roughly two-thirds. The incredible misery implied by this statistic (taken from Chinese census figures) is barely apparent. Armies seize food stocks without consideration of the starvation they leave in their wake. Soldiers are recruited and squandered without mention of the families and farms that are bereft. Nearly all history I’ve read is exactly like that: Greek, Roman, American- at least in this book the Confucian advisors occasionally urge the rulers to forego war and let the people rest. This advice is usually ignored.
One last quirk of this book: beheadings. Heads fly like kernels of popcorn in a hot pan. You can be beheaded for giving unwelcome advice, for telling the truth, for losing a battle, or for being a messenger whose offer is rejected (nothing says “No!” like sending the guy's head back in a bag). If you plotted, your whole family would be beheaded, and if you really angered someone your whole clan would be murdered for three generations, sometimes hundreds of people, from elders to babies. Near the end, in a final over-the-top gesture of disapproval, they behead the plotters, three generations of their families, and even drag their dead cousin out of his tomb and behead the corpse. That’s retribution done right!
Final verdict on this book: a super-fun journey to an alien culture that will entertain and educate you.
That may sound like a stylish supervillain from the Marvel universe, but that immortal throw-down belongs to Zhuge Liang, Confucian-advisor superhero of Romance of the Three Kingdoms. And right there, the fact that scholars are super-heroes, tells you this is not an ordinary book. I bought the first volume of this Ming Dynasty novel on a whim at Powell’s bookstore and let it sit for a few years. Once I got through the first thirty pages, though, it became an addiction, and I quickly bought the other two and hunkered down. At 1300 pages, this 14th century epic may seem intimidating, but if you’ve read The Count of Monte Cristo, Game of Thrones, War and Peace or other such tomes, you’ll have no problem with The Three Kingdoms.
For some perspective, this novel is one of the Four Classics of Chinese Literature, basically, the four great novels of the Ming and Qing dynasties that one traditionally must read to be a literate person. Written during the collapse of the Yuan Dynasty and the resurgence of the Ming, the book looks back on an earlier period of Chinese history in which society was undergoing a similar collapse and resurgence. Covering the period from about 180 AD to 280 AD, the book opens during the impending collapse of the once-mighty Han Dynasty, where a weak emperor is manipulated by cunning eunuchs and courtiers. As palace coup follows palace coup, the kingdom fragments into anarchy, with seventeen warlords all contending for power. Eventually, these consolidate into three “empires” vying for power, each with its own “emperor” and claims to legitimacy. The book covers the endless (and I mean endless) stabbin’ and grabbin’ as warlords plot and scheme to outwit, out-deceive and out-fight their peers. The texture of this book is one of plots, deceptions, military strategies, victories and defeats and the slow accumulation of power. It’s all great fun. There’s also a whole lot of beheading, but we’ll get to that later.
This is not a balanced book. There are three kinds of characters: Warlords, Heroes and Advisors. Women are relegated to scheming dowagers or virtuous relatives who hang themselves or brain themselves against a pillar to make a point to their wavering husbands or sons. (For a Chinese Classic that is all about women, I recommend Dream of the Red Chamber). The book is a myriad of events, with less focus on character’s internal lives. Like many books remote from our time and culture, you’ll need at least 20 pages to get the rhythm. And yet, for many reasons, this book is well worth reading. Here’s why:
First of all, it’s just a whole lot of fun. Sure, there’s over 800 characters, but you quickly learn to recognize which ones are cannon fodder and which ones to pay attention to. Thrilling victories and reversals happen every few pages, there’s tons of heroic single-combat, as each of the flawed heroes ultimately commits the mistake that will destroy his kingdom or his life. It's no accident that this book has been made into video games several times over. It also includes a long and exciting treatment of The Battle of Red Cliffs, the largest naval battle you’ve never heard of. The professions of fake humility are an entire genre in itself (“I am just an ignorant man from Shaanxi, of little ability. How can I possibly be of use to a wise ruler like yourself?”) and I often found myself laughing out loud at the outrageous stratagems and statements made by my favorite characters.
Second, where else are the scholarly advisors on the level of superheroes? While emperors and warlords won the battles, it was really the scholars and intellectuals who built Chinese society, and as such they were revered. Figures like Mencius, Confucius, Han Fei and others were not just bloviating about morality and the sacred rites: they also set tax rates, implemented the law and oversaw the civil service on which every large state depends. They were priests, professors and technocrats. They also were often military figures, such as Sun Tzu, who wrote The Art of War. In Romance of the Three Kingdoms, a good advisor and stragegist will save your Kingdom, and they are wooed and coveted like secret weapons. Zhuge Liang, the Sleeping Dragon, is the maximum hero of this book, leaving a life of hermetic seclusion in the mountains to assist the virtuous Liu Bei in settling the Empire. Zhuge Liang dominates the middle of the book, and we marvel at his superhuman intelligence and strategy, just as the other characters do. Think of a Confucian Count of Monte Cristo, and you get the picture. One of my favorite literary characters of all time.
Third, if you are a student of Chinese philosophy and history, this is a chance to see all those ideas you read about in the Analects and the Tao Te Ching take on flesh and blood and walk through the society. Noble Confucian advisors plead for the people and are executed. Taoist magicians change the weather, bend time and space and travel as clouds. Sun Tzu’s concepts of advance, retreat and ambush are endlessly invoked and put to use. Like society itself, the book is a stew of often-conflicting philosophies that are likely at any time to be overridden by pure self-interest. You don’t need to be well-read in Chinese culture to thoroughly enjoy this book, but it is gratifying to see your favorite philosophical concepts get name-checked for 1300 pages. This book will help bring your reading together.
Finally, there are some important concepts in this book that relate to both Chinese culture and our own. Most crucial is the Law of Dynastic Succession. The Chinese assumed that each new dynasty (lasting typically 200-300 years) entered vigorous and strong, but gradually decayed into self-indulgence and corruption, ultimately collapsing and beginning the cycle anew with the next dynasty. We see this in the collapse of the Han, the consolidation of the Three Kingdoms, and ultimately the decay of those kingdoms until they, too, are swept away by the conquering Jin dynasty. Within this iron rule, the reasons are shown: self-indulgent leaders, power-hungry subordinates, and lack of concern for the well-being of the people on which a country’s strength rests. Sound familiar?
The book has some serious blind spots. While historically fairly accurate, what it leaves out is that from the beginning to the end of this period, the population of China dropped by roughly two-thirds. The incredible misery implied by this statistic (taken from Chinese census figures) is barely apparent. Armies seize food stocks without consideration of the starvation they leave in their wake. Soldiers are recruited and squandered without mention of the families and farms that are bereft. Nearly all history I’ve read is exactly like that: Greek, Roman, American- at least in this book the Confucian advisors occasionally urge the rulers to forego war and let the people rest. This advice is usually ignored.
One last quirk of this book: beheadings. Heads fly like kernels of popcorn in a hot pan. You can be beheaded for giving unwelcome advice, for telling the truth, for losing a battle, or for being a messenger whose offer is rejected (nothing says “No!” like sending the guy's head back in a bag). If you plotted, your whole family would be beheaded, and if you really angered someone your whole clan would be murdered for three generations, sometimes hundreds of people, from elders to babies. Near the end, in a final over-the-top gesture of disapproval, they behead the plotters, three generations of their families, and even drag their dead cousin out of his tomb and behead the corpse. That’s retribution done right!
Final verdict on this book: a super-fun journey to an alien culture that will entertain and educate you.
January 26, 2022
This book, the 2nd volume in the 3 volume novel, is aptly titled "Sleeping Dragon". This refers to arguably the central character of this book, Zhuge Liang, known by his Taoist name, Sleeping Dragon. Arguably the most legendary strategist of all time, Zhuge Liang more than earns his titular status through his own legendary feats, animated by the timeless prose of Luo Guanzhong and interpreted by Yu Sumei. See my earlier review for more specifics!
March 23, 2021
No rest for the traitor! No retreat for the Han!
August 28, 2017
(NOTE: This is a review for all three volumes of the Romance of the Three Kingdoms)
I had been aware of this epic of Chinese literature for many years, but first developed a serious interest in reading it after having watched the excellent Chinese drama adaptation made in 2010. That gave me the impetus to pick up the first volume and give it a go.
Some words of caution first, from one who has now read all three volumes. This is a book that very much requires you to juggle hundreds of names in your head and keep track of who is who. Indeed, I would strongly recommend watching that aforementioned TV series prior to reading the books. This may sound the wrong way around, but having made my way through all 1,377 pages, it would have been considerably harder without some pre-knowledge of key characters to anchor my progress. Having some understanding, for example, that a Lu Su matters where a Lu Xun does not, certainly makes getting through the book a mite less daunting.
Another warning for those considering embarking on the Three Kingdoms: if you are not interested in military strategy and take no pleasure in reading about the minutiae of war, you should probably turn away. A significant percentage of the book is spent on detailing battles: many, many battles, often in quick succession. While war itself is not the core of what the Three Kingdoms is about, it is nevertheless the medium through which many of the story's messages are related.
This is a fictionalised account of a very real historic period in Chinese history. After the fall of the Han dynasty in 220 AD, the country fell into a state of civil war, as rival warlords fought one another for superiority - each claiming to be the rightful successor to Han. Gradually power consolidated around three separate kingdoms: Wei in the North, Wu in the South and Shu in the West. Each was led by its own charismatic leader - Cao Cao, Sun Quan and Liu Bei respectively. The Romance of the Three Kingdoms tells their story, how they rose to power, what they did with that power and how each, ultimately, fell. It is truly epic in its scale, and widely recognised in China as one of the greatest books ever written.
For me, this book is about much more than just a historic narrative. Still less is it a book merely about military tactics - although they certainly feature prominently throughout. Rather, the Three Kingdoms represents an insightful, penetrating look at power - how it can be won, how it can be maintained and how it can be lost. Each of the three rulers demonstrates different virtues and flaws, and is aided by a wide variety of generals and advisers, each with their own agendas. The ruthlessness of Cao Cao is tempered by his intellectual brilliance and his ability to exercise power without ever openly admitting to it. The virtue of Liu Bei, meanwhile, is undone by his inability to win his own battles and by his undying loyalty to those who do not always serve him best. The astuteness of Sun Quan is highlighted by the way in which he employs people best suited to the role, implicitly acknowledging his own shortcomings. Each ruler has a coterie of advisers, and the relationship between power and those who would shape and direct that power is fascinating. Zhuge Liang and Sima Yi both stand out as impressive figures in their own right, often outshining the men they exist to serve. Their interplay, in particular, is a highlight of the book. And it would be remiss of me not to mention Liu Bei's two brothers-in-arms: Zhang Fei, the oft-drunk and irascible warrior and Guan Yu, the legendary fighter who keeps his honour to his very last breath.
Another lesson the Three Kingdoms teaches is that for all the struggles and grand designs, winning or losing may very often lie in the lap of the gods. A rainstorm at the wrong moment or a change in the direction of the wind can make all the difference. Illnesses strike down otherwise undefeated veterans, just as ultimately the collapse of the three kingdoms ends up owing more to the dissipation and idleness of the rulers' successors than to any great military victory. Power is ephemeral, and it cannot ever be taken for granted.
There are so many stories and sub-plots woven into the fabric of the Three Kingdoms that it would be both infeasible and futile to assess them all here. The best I can say of this book is that it is a joy to read and its many pages a wonderful place within which to lose yourself. It is long, and there will be times when you may wonder if the battles will ever end with one siding achieving anything close to a significant victory; but stick with it and you will be rewarded.
I had been aware of this epic of Chinese literature for many years, but first developed a serious interest in reading it after having watched the excellent Chinese drama adaptation made in 2010. That gave me the impetus to pick up the first volume and give it a go.
Some words of caution first, from one who has now read all three volumes. This is a book that very much requires you to juggle hundreds of names in your head and keep track of who is who. Indeed, I would strongly recommend watching that aforementioned TV series prior to reading the books. This may sound the wrong way around, but having made my way through all 1,377 pages, it would have been considerably harder without some pre-knowledge of key characters to anchor my progress. Having some understanding, for example, that a Lu Su matters where a Lu Xun does not, certainly makes getting through the book a mite less daunting.
Another warning for those considering embarking on the Three Kingdoms: if you are not interested in military strategy and take no pleasure in reading about the minutiae of war, you should probably turn away. A significant percentage of the book is spent on detailing battles: many, many battles, often in quick succession. While war itself is not the core of what the Three Kingdoms is about, it is nevertheless the medium through which many of the story's messages are related.
This is a fictionalised account of a very real historic period in Chinese history. After the fall of the Han dynasty in 220 AD, the country fell into a state of civil war, as rival warlords fought one another for superiority - each claiming to be the rightful successor to Han. Gradually power consolidated around three separate kingdoms: Wei in the North, Wu in the South and Shu in the West. Each was led by its own charismatic leader - Cao Cao, Sun Quan and Liu Bei respectively. The Romance of the Three Kingdoms tells their story, how they rose to power, what they did with that power and how each, ultimately, fell. It is truly epic in its scale, and widely recognised in China as one of the greatest books ever written.
For me, this book is about much more than just a historic narrative. Still less is it a book merely about military tactics - although they certainly feature prominently throughout. Rather, the Three Kingdoms represents an insightful, penetrating look at power - how it can be won, how it can be maintained and how it can be lost. Each of the three rulers demonstrates different virtues and flaws, and is aided by a wide variety of generals and advisers, each with their own agendas. The ruthlessness of Cao Cao is tempered by his intellectual brilliance and his ability to exercise power without ever openly admitting to it. The virtue of Liu Bei, meanwhile, is undone by his inability to win his own battles and by his undying loyalty to those who do not always serve him best. The astuteness of Sun Quan is highlighted by the way in which he employs people best suited to the role, implicitly acknowledging his own shortcomings. Each ruler has a coterie of advisers, and the relationship between power and those who would shape and direct that power is fascinating. Zhuge Liang and Sima Yi both stand out as impressive figures in their own right, often outshining the men they exist to serve. Their interplay, in particular, is a highlight of the book. And it would be remiss of me not to mention Liu Bei's two brothers-in-arms: Zhang Fei, the oft-drunk and irascible warrior and Guan Yu, the legendary fighter who keeps his honour to his very last breath.
Another lesson the Three Kingdoms teaches is that for all the struggles and grand designs, winning or losing may very often lie in the lap of the gods. A rainstorm at the wrong moment or a change in the direction of the wind can make all the difference. Illnesses strike down otherwise undefeated veterans, just as ultimately the collapse of the three kingdoms ends up owing more to the dissipation and idleness of the rulers' successors than to any great military victory. Power is ephemeral, and it cannot ever be taken for granted.
There are so many stories and sub-plots woven into the fabric of the Three Kingdoms that it would be both infeasible and futile to assess them all here. The best I can say of this book is that it is a joy to read and its many pages a wonderful place within which to lose yourself. It is long, and there will be times when you may wonder if the battles will ever end with one siding achieving anything close to a significant victory; but stick with it and you will be rewarded.
July 16, 2018
Finally we get to the Battle of Red Cliffs (the only part of the story I already knew) and Liu Bei and Zhuge Liang assume a leading role in the story. The novelty has worn off a bit for me, and sometimes the book just seems to be one battle after another, with the focus on conquering rivals through deception. Then again, at times the narrative captures my interest and pulls me along to find out what happens next. The television series puts faces to the names so I can envision the characters as real people. However, the 2010 tv series also embellishes the story to capture audience interest, so I also find myself comparing the novel to the on screen version.
January 23, 2023
This book is my favorite in the 3-volume series. Most memorable of all is the near-mythological character of Taoist master and advisor to Liu Bei, Zhuge Liang. He's pure brilliance, magic, wit, wisdom, and purely unfathomable. I found myself laughing, gasping, and (in language very much in the style of the translation) "sighing in admiration and wonder" at the way he won the heart of the most stubborn person on the planet (the leader of the Mans in the south) by capturing and releasing him over ten times when it would have been much easier to subdue him with force. The obstacles that Zhuge Liang faced as he sought to repay the kindness of Liu Bei are truly mind-boggling and those of us in the modern world can learn wisdom from how this real person became legend through how he dealt with these challenges with grace.
Plus all 3 volumes are replete with visions, dreams, omens, Chinese astrology, Taoist weather working, spirits of people and spirits of the land, twists of fate, codes of honor and loyalty, backstabbing, political intrigue, poetry and song lyrics, and of course, tons and tons of military strategy. I feel like I actually learned some principles of military strategy (at least in the days before technology) through reading these books.
Plus all 3 volumes are replete with visions, dreams, omens, Chinese astrology, Taoist weather working, spirits of people and spirits of the land, twists of fate, codes of honor and loyalty, backstabbing, political intrigue, poetry and song lyrics, and of course, tons and tons of military strategy. I feel like I actually learned some principles of military strategy (at least in the days before technology) through reading these books.
May 5, 2020
Hồi này cuộc chiễn tranh thời Hán sau đã đi vào bố cục 3 nước. Truyện đi sâu vào quá trình gây dựng vị trí của Lưu Bị sau nhiều năm lang thang không nơi cố định. Phần tập này làm tôi liên tục phải suy nghĩ về tầm quan trọng của ngoại giao. Vì là 3 nước đối đầu lẫn nhau, việc sui bên này, khích bên kia lại càng làm cho câu truyện trở nên hấp dẫn.
Gần đến cuối, cái chết của Quan Vân Trường đôi lúc làm tôi không muốn tiếp tục đọc. Nhưng kể cũng hay khi chỉ vì 1 sự kiện trong truyện cũng làm người ta xúc động.
Gần đến cuối, cái chết của Quan Vân Trường đôi lúc làm tôi không muốn tiếp tục đọc. Nhưng kể cũng hay khi chỉ vì 1 sự kiện trong truyện cũng làm người ta xúc động.
February 13, 2024
While Volume 1 was all about the falling apart of the Han empire and the desperate scramble for power by prime ministers, prefects, and "heroes", Volume 2 is all about major battles like the Battle of Red Cliff.
Not as shocking or as bloody as Volume 1, but still a really engaging story. It really helps to take notes about who is working for each of the three major warlords. Also, watching YouTube videos about "Three Kingdoms of China AD 189-280 : Every Year" to see who has which territory and where can greatly increase one's understanding of the military maneuvering.
Not as shocking or as bloody as Volume 1, but still a really engaging story. It really helps to take notes about who is working for each of the three major warlords. Also, watching YouTube videos about "Three Kingdoms of China AD 189-280 : Every Year" to see who has which territory and where can greatly increase one's understanding of the military maneuvering.
October 29, 2020
Zhuge Liang shows up in this book and it was so fun to read about his strategies. Sometimes, it is just as fun as watching/reading extremely intelligent characters like Sherlock Holmes.
The Dynasty Warrior games did a major disservice to Zhang Fei. He is so much more interesting in this book.
Only problem is, after a while, most of the battles seem to involve faking a retreat and then ambushing the enemy that overextended.
The Dynasty Warrior games did a major disservice to Zhang Fei. He is so much more interesting in this book.
Only problem is, after a while, most of the battles seem to involve faking a retreat and then ambushing the enemy that overextended.
July 9, 2021
Very powerful book.. learnt a lot for my life. Especially the fact that an ordinary person is also special even if he has no succesful career. Every character has its own traits which is unique and loved. I dont desire to be special in this world anymore, because my strenghts and weaknesses are special right now.
October 10, 2018
Zhuge Liang seemed to be a bit too "all-knowing" at points, but this volume was entertaining nonetheless. I think it dealt a lot with Sun Quan, which was cool for variety.
June 21, 2021
A but more character-driven than the first book, plus a little interlude where a guy does a bunch of magic tricks and then runs off without affecting the plot at all. Cool.
November 5, 2021
The continuation of Romance of the Three Kingdoms.
Read
April 8, 2022This book continues the intrigue of who will win each battle. It really starts getting good.
September 10, 2016
Goodreads Win Copy
This is compelling Chinese novel written over six centuries about the end of the Han dynasty. The struggle for power and the people who arose with power. This is the second part of a three part epic which is a classical work for the Chinese people.
We are thrown into Liu Bei's strategist adviser Zhuge Lian role which allows Liu Bei to be victorious over numerous battles. The continuing battle of people usurping for power and title.
Being a messenger can be dangerous at this time when you can be easily killed. The lives that are sacrifice along with the soldiers who fight for what they believe in or not.
An interesting reading about battles and strategies are played out.
This is compelling Chinese novel written over six centuries about the end of the Han dynasty. The struggle for power and the people who arose with power. This is the second part of a three part epic which is a classical work for the Chinese people.
We are thrown into Liu Bei's strategist adviser Zhuge Lian role which allows Liu Bei to be victorious over numerous battles. The continuing battle of people usurping for power and title.
Being a messenger can be dangerous at this time when you can be easily killed. The lives that are sacrifice along with the soldiers who fight for what they believe in or not.
An interesting reading about battles and strategies are played out.
August 29, 2016
Three Kingdoms, vol. II down! I couldn't keep up the same momentum as I did in vol. I--I think I'll take a break and return to finish off the third volume when I'm feeling fresh and recovered from my reading slump.
March 12, 2013
Lots of battles...not a whole lot of progress, at least that's how it felt to me.
September 25, 2018
Enjoyed the second volume as much as the first. Looking forward to reading the third volume.
November 4, 2015
A step up! Less repetitive than the first book (though "retreating" into an ambush seems to appear every chapter), great characters, slightly more stable storyline. Lots of fun.
April 3, 2017
It surely feels weird to both play the game and read the romanticized version around the same time. I mean, I played based on whatever scenario they throw at me. And some has two sides of the route. Yeh, I'm talking about Chi Bi and Wu Zhang Plains.
Anyhow, this second part has more war and drama during the war. Though, on the first half, it's a battle of wit between Zhuge Liang and Zhou Yu. Not much told on the Wei side aside when they're trying to conquer Wu area which prompted the collaboration between Shu and Wu.
Sadly, not much about Guan Yu as well. He's a real awesome persona through and through. And he has 50 officer points, which is the highest I found so far.
Anyhow, this second part has more war and drama during the war. Though, on the first half, it's a battle of wit between Zhuge Liang and Zhou Yu. Not much told on the Wei side aside when they're trying to conquer Wu area which prompted the collaboration between Shu and Wu.
Sadly, not much about Guan Yu as well. He's a real awesome persona through and through. And he has 50 officer points, which is the highest I found so far.
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