
He doesn’t appear in this story though, so I won’t elaborate. Liu Bei has the least land and is an equally cunning and devious man- in a very different way. Each kingdom is led by Cao Cao, Liu Bei, and Sun Quan respectively (the names are not like first and last names in the U.S., you say the entire thing when referring to the person.) Cao Cao has the largest kingdom, overwhelmingly powerful, said to be cunning and devious.

Anyways, there are three kingdoms that have formed at this point in the story, the Wei, Shu, and Wu. I thought I didn’t need to write that there were three kingdoms, but he apparently had not made the connection between the title and the plot. Some context is needed before reading this excerpt, as I found when conversing with my friend about this story. I try my best to do the tale justice, but ultimately if you are interested, try and get a hold of the book at the library or elsewhere.

The second, and arguably the more important goal, is to satisfy my selfish desire to try and capture this story the way I heard it. The first goal of this “article” is to inform people of its existence and how awesome it is. Another “professional” translation will be talked about after the excerpt. The beginning lines you just read are all my own invention except for the very first, which is my version of the translation. It is a classic story that most people in China have knowledge about, and I have rewritten this section of the book based on my knowledge of the plot and nothing else- so if you want a better written and more in-depth read, buy or check out the book at the library. Such begins the Romance of the Three Kingdoms by Luo Guanzhong, an epic tale following multiple legends across China after the fall of the Han dynasty. This is the tale of the Three Kingdoms, and of these men who would attempt to etch their names into the stones of time. At their word, kingdoms will follow, rise, and fall. The great men in times long past have shaped history to their will. As such, kingdoms shift, borders align, and promises are broken. Throughout all of history, it has stood true that an empire long divided must unite, and one united must divide.
