The Three Kingdoms Volume 1
Read The Three Kingdoms Volume 1 Online
Authors: Luo Guanzhong
Published by Tuttle Publishing, an imprint of Periplus Editions (HK) Ltd.
Copyright © 2014 Ronald C. Iverson
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or utilized in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without prior written permission from the publisher.
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data in process.
ISBN: 978-1-4629-1437-1 (ebook)
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Dedication
To my son, Winston, and my daughter, Aimee, who, from a toddler’s age to adulthood, were thrilled with my telling and retelling of the stories from this great book.
With sincere gratitude to Yu Sumei for accepting the challenge to work with me to create a new translation of this classic literature with the goal of turning it into an exciting novel. My belief is that it is not just what you say but how you say it. My appreciation to Yu Sumei’s daughter who typed out each page. They worked diligently for two years to produce a uniquely compelling version of this epic work, complete with footnotes for clarification of certain events and words in the text. My gratitude extends to a friend, Shen Li who was instrumental in recommending and introducing me to Yu Sumei.
And certainly a note of gratitude to Cheryl Banks for her suggestions as to improving the look of the book, as well as her many hours of help in preparing this text for printing which ultimately led to its publication.
No dedication would be complete without the mention of my many Chinese and American friends who encouraged me to continue this new translation and share it with the world. May readers enjoy the journey as much or beyond what we have experienced in the production of this classic, which will live in perpetuity.
Ronald C. Iverson
Contents
CHAPTER TWO
Zhang Fei Thrashes the Inspector in Wrath
He Jin Plots to Kill the Eunuchs in Secret
CHAPTER THREE
Dong Zhuo Silences Ding Yuan at Wenming Gardens
Li Shu Bribes Lu Bu with Lavish Gifts
CHAPTER EIGHT
Wang Yun Cleverly Employs the “Chain” Scheme
Dong Zhuo Raises Havoc at Fengyi Pavilion
CHAPTER TEN
Ma Teng Raises an Army to Fight the Rebels
Cao Cao Attacks Xuzhou to Avenge his Father
CHAPTER ELEVEN
Liu Bei Rescues Kong Rong in Beihai
Lu Bu Defeats Cao Cao at Puyang
CHAPTER TWELVE
Prefect Tao Thrice Offers Xuzhou to Liu Bei
Cao Cao Fights a Great Battle Against Lu Bu
CHAPTER THIRTEEN
Li Jue and Guo Si Fight a Bloody Battle
Yang Feng and Dong Cheng Rescue the Emperor
CHAPTER FOURTEEN
Cao Cao Moves the Throne to Xudu
Lu Bu Raids Xuzhou at Night
CHAPTER FIFTEEN
Taishi Ci Fights a Fierce Battle with
Sun Ce Sun Ce Competes with the White Tiger
CHAPTER SIXTEEN
Lu Bu Performs a Feat in Archery
Cao Cao Loses a Battle at Yushui River
CHAPTER EIGHTEEN
Jia Xu Engineers a Great Victory
Xiahou Dun Loses An Eye
CHAPTER NINETEEN
Cao Cao Assembles His Forces at Xiapi
Lu Bu Perishes at the White Gate Tower
CHAPTER TWENTY
Cao Cao Goes Hunting at Xutian
Dong Cheng Receives a Secret Decree in the Palace
CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE
Mi Heng Strips and Rails at Cao Cao
Ji Ping Is Tortured for Poisoning Cao Cao
CHAPTER THIRTY
Yuan Shao Is Defeated at Guandu
Cao Cao Burns the Wuchao Granary
CHAPTER THIRTY-ONE
Cao Cao Overcomes Yuan Shao at Changting
Liu Bei Seeks Shelter with Liu Biao
CHAPTER THIRTY-TWO
Yuan Shang Strives for the Rule of Jizhou
Xu You Schemes to Flood the Zhang River
CHAPTER THIRTY-FOUR
Lady Cai Overhears a Secret
Liu Bei Leaps Over a Stream
CHAPTER THIRTY-FIVE
Liu Bei Meets a Recluse at Nanyang
Shan Fu Finds a Noble Lord at Xinye
List of Main Characters
Cai Mao
—brother-in-law of Liu Biao
Cao Cao (Cao Meng-de,
A.D.
155–220)
—prime minister to Emperor Xian, controls the real power of the state; later created Duke of Wei, Prince of Wei and posthumously, Emperor Wu of Wei Dynasty
Cao Hong
—cousin of Cao Cao and senior officer under him
Cao Pi (
A.D.
187–226)
—second son of Cao Cao, later first emperor (Emperor Wen) of Wei Dynasty, which he established in
A.D.
220
Cao Ren
—cousin of Cao Cao and senior officer under him
Cao Rui
—son of Cao Pi, later Emperor Ming of Wei
Cao Shuang
—son of Cao Zhen, enemy of Sima Yi
Cao Zhen
—senior officer of Wei
Cao Zhi (Cao Zi-jian,
A.D.
192–232)
—favorite son of Cao Cao and a famed poet
Chen Deng
—advisor to Lu Bu but later plots his destruction
Chen Gong
—chief advisor to Lu Bu
Chen Lin
—notable scholar, first served as advisor to Yuan Shao but later surrendered to Cao Cao
Chen Wu
—senior officer of Wu
Cheng Pu
—senior officer of Wu
Cheng Yu
—advisor to Cao Cao
Deng Ai
—commander of the forces of Wei after Sima Yi
Dian Wei
—bodyguard to Cao Cao
Diao Chan (Sable Cicada)
—singing girl at Wang Yun’s house, who helps her master destroy Dong Zhuo; concubine of Lu Bu
Ding Feng
—senior officer of Wu
Dong Cheng
—general of Han and relative to the imperial house, who receives the secret edict from Emperor Xian to assassinate Cao Cao
Dong Zhuo
—governor of Hedong, later establishes himself as prime minister of Han; set up Emperor Xian in place of his brother, Emperor Shao, in order to build his own power
Emperor Shao (Liu Bian)
—son of Emperor Ling and Empress He, deposed and murdered by Dong Zhuo
Emperor Xian (Liu Xie)
—brother of Emperor Shao, a puppet ruler controlled by his ministers; deposed by Cao Pi in
A.D.
220 (r.
A.D.
189–220)
Empress Dowager He
—mother of Emperor Shao, sister of He Jin; murdered by Dong Zhuo
Fa Zheng
—Liu Zhang’s official who helped Liu Bei acquire the rule of Shu
Feng Ji
—advisor to Yuan Shao, enemy of Tian Feng
Gan Ning (Gan Xin-ba)
—senior officer of Wu, famed for his bravery
Gao Shun
—officer under Lu Bu
Gongsun Zan
—patron of Liu Bei and one of the seventeen lords who join forces to wage war on Dong Zhuo; commits suicide after being destroyed by Yuan Shao