The Romance of Three Kingdoms

 

by Luo Guanzhong (circa 1300-1400)

 

Translated by C. H. Brewitt-Taylor

 

 

 

 

 

Foreword   Commentary

A few quotations from the characters in Romance of Three Kingdoms      Lecture by Dr Rafe de Crespigny

Preface     Introduction

by C. H. Brewitt-Taylor and Snow N. Snow

Overture

The Beginning Song

Chapter 1

Three Heroes Swear Brotherhood In The Peach Garden;
One Victory Shatters The Rebels In Battlegrounds.

Chapter 2

Zhang Fei Whips The Government Officer;
He Jin Plots To Kill The Eunuchs.

Chapter 3

In Wenming Garden, Dong Zhuo Denounces Ding Yuan;
With Red Hare, Li Su Bribes Lu Bu.

Chapter 4

The Deposition Of The Emperor: Prince Of Chenliu Becomes Emperor;
Schemes Against Dong Zhuo: Cao Cao Presents A Sword.

Chapter 5

Cao Cao Appeals To The Powerful Lords;
The Three Brothers Fight Against Lu Bu.

Chapter 6

Burning The Capital, Dong Zhuo Commits An Atrocity;
Hiding The Imperial Hereditary Seal, Sun Jian Breaks Faith.

Chapter 7

Yuan Shao Fights Gongsun Zan At The River Pan;
Sun Jian Attacks Liu Biao Across The Great River.

Chapter 8

Wang Yun Prepares The Chaining Scheme;
Dong Zhuo Rages At Phoenix Pavilion.

Chapter 9

Lu Bu Kills Dong Zhuo For Wang Yun;
Li Jue Attacks The Capital On Jia Xu's Advice.

Chapter 10

Gathering Arms, Ma Teng Moves To Rescue The Emperor;
Commanding An Army, Cao Cao Marches to Avenges His Father.

Chapter 11

Liu Bei Rescues Kong Rong At Beihai;
Lu Bu Defeats Cao Cao Near Puyang.

Chapter 12

Tao Qian Thrice Offers Xuzhou To Liu Bei;
Cao Cao Retakes Yanzhou From Lu Bu.

Chapter 13

Li Jue and Guo Si Duel In Changan;
The Emperor Establishes Anyi The New Capital.

Chapter 14

Cao Cao Moves The Court To Xuchang;
Lu Bu Night-Raids Xuzhou.

Chapter 15

Taishi Ci Fights With The Little Prince;
Sun Ce Cuts Short The White Tiger King.

Chapter 16

In The Camp Gate, Lu Bu Shoots The Halberd;
At River Yu, Cao Cao Suffers Defeat.

Chapter 17

Yuan Shu Marches Out An Army Of Seven Divisions;
Cao Cao And Three Generals Join Forces.

Chapter 18

Giving Counsels, Jia Xu Directs A Great Victory;
Braving Battlefield, Xiahou Dun Loses An Eye.

Chapter 19

Cao Cao Fights In Xiapi;
Lu Bu Perishes At The White Gate Tower.

Chapter 20

Cao Cao Organizes A Hunting Expedition In Xutian;
Dong Cheng Receives A Secret Command In The Palace.

Chapter 21

In A Plum Garden, Cao Cao Discusses Heroes;
Using The Host's Forces, Guan Yu Takes Xuzhou.

Chapter 22

Yuan Shao And Cao Cao Both Take The Field;
Guan Yu And Zhang Fei Captures Two Generals.

Chapter 23

Mi Heng Slips His Garment And Rails At Traitors;
Ji Ping Pledges To Kill The Prime Minister.

Chapter 24

Cao Cao Murdered The Consort Dong;
Liu Bei Flees To Yuan Shao.

Chapter 25

Besieged In Tushan Mountains, Guan Yu Makes Three Conditions;
The Rescue At Baima, Cao Cao Is Released.

Chapter 26

Yuan Shao Loses Another Leader;
Guan Yu Abandons Rank And Wealth.

Chapter 27

The Man of Beautiful Beard Rides On A Solitary Journey;
Guan Yu Slays Six Generals Through Five Passes.

Chapter 28

Putting Cai Yang To Death, The Brothers' Doubts Disappear;
Meeting At Gucheng, Lord and Liege Fortify Each Other.

Chapter 29

The Little Chief Of The South Slays Yu Ji;
The Green Eyed Boy Lays Hold On The South Land.

Chapter 30

Shunning Advice, Yuan Shao Loses Leaders and Granaries;
Using Strategy, Cao Cao Scores Victory At Guandu.

Chapter 31

Cao Cao Overcomes Yuan Shao In Cangting;
Liu Bei Seeks Shelter With Liu Biao In Jingzhou.

Chapter 32

Jizhou Taken: Yuan Shang Strives;
River Zhang Cut: Xun You Schemes.

Chapter 33

A Gallant Warrior, Cao Pi Marries Lady Zhen;
An Expiring Star, Guo Jia Settles Liaodong.

Chapter 34

Behind The Screen, Lady Cai Overhears A Secret;
Across The Tan Torrent, The Dilu Horse Carries Its Master.

Chapter 35

Liu Bei Meets A Recluse At Nanzhang;
Shan Fu Sees A Noble Lord At Xinye.

Chapter 36

Shan Fu's Strategy: Fankou Is Captured;
Xu Shu's Affection: Zhuge Liang Is Recommended.

Chapter 37

Sima Hui Recommends A Scholar To Liu Bei;
Liu Bei Pays Three Visits To The Sleeping Dragon Ridge.

Chapter 38

Zhuge Liang Plans For The Three Kingdoms;
Sun Quan Attacks Xiakou To Take Revenges.

Chapter 39

At Jingzhou The Son Of Liu Biao Thrice Begs Advice;
At Bowang Slope The Directing Instructor Plans His First Battle.

Chapter 40

Lady Cai Renounces Jingzhou;
Zhuge Liang Burns Xinye.

Chapter 41

Liu Bei Leads His People Over The River;
Zhao Yun Rescues The Child Lord At Dangyang.

Chapter 42

Screaming Zhang Fei Triumphs At Long Slope Bridge;
Defeated Liu Bei Goes To Hanjin.

Chapter 43

Zhuge Liang Disputes With The Southern Scholars;
Lu Su Denounces The Majority Opinion.

Chapter 44

Zhuge Liang Stirs Zhou Yu To Actions;
Sun Quan Decides To Attack Cao Cao.

Chapter 45

At The Three Gorges, Cao Cao Loses Soldiers;
In The Gathering Of Heroes, Jiang Gan Is Trapped.

Chapter 46

Using Strategy, Zhuge Liang Borrows Arrows;
Joining A Ruse, Huang Gai Accepts Punishment.

Chapter 47

Kan Ze Presents The Treacherous Letter;
Pang Tong Suggests Chaining The Ships Together.

Chapter 48

Banquet On The Great River, Cao Cao Sings A Song;
Battle On Water, The Northern Soldiers Fight With Chained Ships.

Chapter 49

On Seven-Star Altar, Zhuge Liang Sacrifices To The Winds;
At Three Gorges, Zhou Yu Liberates The Fire.

Chapter 50

Zhuge Liang Foresees The Huarong Valley Episode;
Guan Yu Lifts His Saber To Release Cao Cao.

Chapter 51

Cao Ren Fights The South Land's Troops;
Zhuge Liang Angers Zhou Yu.

Chapter 52

Zhuge Liang Negotiates With Lu Su;
Zhao Yun Captures Guiyang.

Chapter 53

Guan Yu Releases Huang Zhong;
Sun Quan Fights With Zhang Liao.

Chapter 54

The Dowager Marchioness Sees Her Son-In-Law;
The Imperial Uncle Takes A Worthy Consort.

Chapter 55

Liu Bei Rouses The Spirit Of Lady Sun;
Zhuge Liang A Second Time Angers Zhou Yu.

Chapter 56

Cao Cao Feasts In The Bronze Bird Tower;
Zhuge Liang Provokes Zhou Yu A Third Time.

Chapter 57

Sleeping Dragon Mourns At Chaisang;
Young Phoenix Intervenes At Leiyang.

Chapter 58

Ma Chao Launches An Expedition For Revenge;
Cao Cao Flees The Field In Disguise.

Chapter 59

Xu Chu Strips For A Fight With Ma Chao;
Cao Cao Writes A Letter To Sow Dissension.

Chapter 60

Zhang Song Turns The Tables On Yang Xiu;
Pang Tong Proposes The Occupation Of Shu.

Chapter 61

In The River, Zhao Yun Recovers Liu Shan;
With One Letter, Sun Quan Repulses Cao Cao.

Chapter 62

Taking Of River Fu Pass, Yang Huai and Gao Pei Are Slain;
Siege Of Luocheng, Huang Zhong and Wei Yan Rival.

Chapter 63

Zhuge Liang Mourns For Pang Tong;
Zhang Fei Releases Yan Yan.

Chapter 64

Zhuge Liang Plans For The Capture Of Zhang Ren;
Yang Fu Borrows Soldiers To Destroy Ma Chao.

Chapter 65

Ma Chao Battles At Jiameng Pass;
Liu Bei Takes The Protectorship Of Yiazhou.

Chapter 66

Armed With Sword, Guan Yu Goes To A Feast Alone;
For The State, Empress Fu Offers Her Life.

Chapter 67

Cao Cao Conquers Hanzhong;
Zhang Liao Terrorizes Xiaoyao.

Chapter 68

Gan Ning's Hundred Horsemen Raid The Northern Camp;
Zuo Ci's Flung-Down Cup Fools Cao Cao.

Chapter 69

Guan Lu Sees Things In The Book Of Changes;
Five Loyal Subjects Die For Their State.

Chapter 70

Zhang Fei Takes Wakou Pass With Tactics;
Huang Zhong Captures Tiandang Mountain By Stratagem.

Chapter 71

At Opposite Hill, Huang Zhong Scores A Success;
On The River Han, Zhao Yun Conquers A Host.

Chapter 72

Zhuge Liang's Wit Takes Hanzhong;
Cao Cao's Army Retires To The Ye Valley.

Chapter 73

Liu Bei Becomes Prince Of Hanzhong;
Guan Yu Attacks Xiangyang.

Chapter 74

Pang De Takes His Coffin To The Field;
Guan Yu Drowns The Seven Armies.

Chapter 75

Guan Yu Has A Scraped-Bone Surgery;
Lu Meng Crosses The River In White Robe.

Chapter 76

Xu Huang Fights At The River Mian;
Guan Yu Retreats To Maicheng.

Chapter 77

Cao Cao Is Possessed At Luoyang;
Guan Yu Manifests At The Jade Spring Mount.

Chapter 78

Treating A Headache, A Famous Physician Dies;
Giving The Last Words, The Crafty Hero Departs.

Chapter 79

Brother Oppressing Brother: Cao Zhi Composes Poems;
Nephew Harming Uncle: Liu Feng Receives Punishment.

Chapter 80

Cao Pi Deposes The Emperor, Taking Away The Fortunes of Hans;
Liu Bei Assumes The Throne, Continuing The Heritage.

Chapter 81

Eager For Vengeance, Zhang Fei Is Assassinated;
Athirst Of Retribution, The First Ruler Goes To War.

Chapter 82

Sun Quan Submits To Wei, Receiving The Nine Dignities;
The First Ruler Attacks Wu, Rewarding Six Armies.

Chapter 83

Fighting At Xiaoting, The First Ruler Captures An Enemy;
Defending The Three Gorges, A Student Takes Supreme Command.

Chapter 84

Lu Xun Burns All Consecutive Camps;
Zhuge Liang Plans The Eight-Array Maze.

Chapter 85

The First Ruler Confides His Son To The Guardian's Care;
Zhuge Liang Calmly Settles The Five Attacks.

Chapter 86

Using Words, Qin Mi Overcomes Zhang Wen;
Setting Fire, Xu Sheng Defeats Cao Pi.

Chapter 87

Conquering The South Mang, The Prime Minister Marches The Army;
Opposing Heaven Troops, The King Of The Mangs Is Captured.

Chapter 88

Crossing River Lu---The Mang King Is Bound The Second Time;
Recognizing A Pretended Surrender---Meng Huo Is Captured The Third Time.

Chapter 89

The Lord of Wuxiang Uses The Fourth Ruse;
The King of Mang Is Captured The Fifth Time.

Chapter 90

Chasing Off Wild Beasts, The Prime Minister Defeats The Mangs For The Sixth Time;
Burning Rattan Armors, Zhuge Liang Captures Meng Huo The Seventh Time.

Chapter 91

Sacrificing At River Lu, The Prime Minister Marches Homeward;
Attacking Wei, The Lord Of Wuxiang Presents A Memorial.

Chapter 92

Zhao Yun Slays Five Generals;
Zhuge Liang Takes Three Cities.

Chapter 93

Jiang Wei Goes Over To Zhuge Liang;
Zhuge Liang's Reviles Kill Wang Lang.

Chapter 94

Zhuge Liang Defeats The Qiangs In A Snowstorm;
Sima Yi Quickly Captures Meng Da.

Chapter 95

Ma Su's Disobedience Causes The Loss Of Jieting;
Zhuge Liang's Lute Repulses Sima Yi.

Chapter 96

Shedding Tears, Zhuge Liang Puts Ma Su To Death;
Cutting Hair, Zhou Fang Beguiles Cao Xiu.

Chapter 97

Sending A Second Memorial, Zhuge Liang Renews The Attack On Wei;
Forging A Letter, Jiang Wei Defeats The Northern Army.

Chapter 98

Pursuing The Shu Army, Wang Shuang Meets His Death;
Raiding Chencang, Zhuge Liang Scores A Victory.

Chapter 99

Zhuge Liang Defeats The Wei Army;
Sima Yi Invades The West River Land.

Chapter 100

Raiding A Camp, The Shu Soldiers Defeat Cao Zhen;
Contesting Array Battles, Zhuge Liang Shames Sima Yi.

Chapter 101

Going Out From Longshang, Zhuge Liang Dresses As A God;
Dashing Toward Saber Pass, Zhang He Falls Into A Snare.

Chapter 102

Sima Yi Occupies The Banks Of River Wei;
Zhuge Liang Constructs Mechanical Bullocks And Horses.

Chapter 103

In Gourd Valley, Sima Yi Is Trapped;
In Wuzhang Hills, Zhuge Liang Invokes The Stars.

Chapter 104

A Falling Star: The Prime Minister Ascends To Heaven;
A Wooden Statue: The Commander-In-Chief Is Terrified.

Chapter 105

The Lord of Wuxiang Leaves A Plan In The Silken Bag;
The Ruler of Wei Removes The Bronze Statue With The Dew Bowl.

Chapter 106

Suffering Defeat, Gongsun Yuan Meets His Death;
Pretending Illness, Sima Yi Deceives Cao Shuang.

Chapter 107

The Ruler of Wei Hands Over The Power To Sima Yi;
Jiang Wei Is Defeated At Ox Head Hills.

Chapter 108

In The Snow, Ding Feng Wins A Victory;
At A Banquet, Sun Jun Executes A Secret Plan.

Chapter 109

A Ruse Of A Han General: Sima Zhao Is Surrounded;
Retribution For The House Of Wei: Cao Fang Is Dethroned.

Chapter 110

Riding Alone, Wen Yang Repulses A Brave Force;
Following The River, Jiang Wei Defeats The Enemy.

Chapter 111

Deng Ai Outwits Jiang Wei;
Zhuge Dan Battles Sima Zhao.

Chapter 112

Rescuing Shouchun, Yu Quan Dies Nobly;
Attacking Changcheng, Jiang Wei Mobilizes.

Chapter 113

Ding Feng Makes A Plan To Slay Sun Chen;
Jiang Wei Arrays A Battle To Defeat Deng Ai.

Chapter 114

Driving To The South Gate, Cao Mao Plunges Into Death;
Abandoning Stores, Jiang Wei Defeats The Wei Army.

Chapter 115

Listening To Slander, The Latter Ruler Recalls His Army;
Living In Farms, Jiang Wei Avoids Disaster.

Chapter 116

On Hanzhong Roads, Zhong Hui Divides The Army;
In Dingjun Mountain, The Martial Lord Shows His Apparition.

Chapter 117

Deng Ai Gets Through The Yinping Mountains;
Zhuge Zhan Falls In The Battlefield Of Mianzhu.

Chapter 118

Weeping At The Ancestral Temple, A Filial Prince Dies;
Marching To The West River Land, Two Leaders Competes.

Chapter 119

The False Surrender: A Wit Scheme Becomes A Vain Plan;
The Abdication: Later Seeds Learns From The Ancient.

Chapter 120

Recommending Du Yu, An Old General Offers New Plans;
Capturing Of Sun Hao, Three Kingdoms Becomes One.