Novel notes To The Moss Roberts Translation by Yang Jiahua

[Lord Yang Jiahua]

Chapter 4: The Installation of The Chenliu Prince; Emperor Shao is Deposed
A Plot Against Traitor Dong; Cao Cao Presents a Jeweled Knife

(All events of Chapter 4 take place between Summer of 189 and early 190 A.D)
COULD Someone Please Show me how to Link this Post to the first page?!?

(1) Chapter 4 Pages 60-61 Yuan Shao's Removal From Court
Yuan Wei, Yuan Shao's uncle is Imperial Guardian, essentially the highest Civil office. Yuan Shao and Dong Zhuo could have killed each other on the floor of the Imperial Court, but Dong Zhuo is prevented by his adviser Li Ru.
Yuan Shao is eventually farmed out as it were, to the district of Bohai north of the Yellow River
and closer in location to modern day Tianjin.

This is all significant as, one, it gives Yuan Shao a power base to start from. Second, Dong Zhuo removes his most influential opposition at court. Three, had Yuan Shao actually been a loyal vassal, or just more daring, he should have found a different way to challenge Dong Zhuo than leaving/ accepting appointment and leaving court. (We will see later that Cao Cao is far more daring, and loyal this chapter).

Interestingly, the two ministers who recommend Yuan Shao for an office, Zhuo Bi and Wu Qiong, make a critical note of Yuan Shao's character : “Yuan Shao” Wu Qiong added, “loves to contemplate action but lacks resolution. He is not a problem.”
It seems Yuan Shao's indecisive nature which will much later be brought back up was well known to those at the Imperial Court. Yuan Shao's family influence, prestige, wealth etc, probably count a lot more for things than his character in terms of the vassals he will have, versus say someone such as Cao Cao in the novel.

(2) Chapter 4 Pages 61-63 Emperor Shao Deposed, Favour Shown to Cai Yong
This scene, thrown in straight at the beginning will be repeated a number of times in the novel, though the notetakers and critics do not make a mention of this. The only difference is that Dong Zhuo's deposition of Emperor Shao is by force and without any real ceremony.

Ding Guan denounces Dong Zhuo for deposing the Emperor. Many loyal vassals like a Ding Guan will attempt this or some other form of protest throughout the novel against the would be usurpers.

Cai Yong, had previously attempted to correct/ noticed the ills at court and made protest, however he is not blind enough to ignore Dong Zhuo's general brutality. Dong Zhuo shows remarkable restraint in simply not executing Cai Yong for ignoring him, but Zhuo needs Cai Yong as a symbol of legitimacy, in terms of restoring a former prominent minster etc.

(3) Chapter 4 Pages 63-65 Liu Bian (Emperor Shao) and Queen Mother He, Murdered
Dethroned, or powerless emperors composing poetry lamenting things seems to be a habit and pattern repeated in the novel, but first occurs here.

Though poetry is consistent throughout human history, as existing, and being a normal form of expression in all literary civilizations, and non-literary ones, Liu Bian's poems have a 14th century twinge to them.
In Luo Guanzhong's other classic The Water Margin , the principle hero of the novel Song Jiang, gets himself in trouble by writing a poem on the wall, this turns him into an outlaw, where he had previously tried to be completely law-abiding. Characters getting themselves in trouble with poems, is probably not limited to the 14th or 15th (or 12th in The Water Margin) centuries, but that it occurs in both of Luo Guanzhongs works and is a running theme, is certainly the original novelists' input.

Empress He is thrown out of a window, nobody catches her this time!

Eliminating the poetry would actually eliminate this particular scene from the novel.

Practically speaking, Dong Zhuo needed to get rid of Liu Bian, because he is a former Emperor and could represent a rallying point for any rebellion against his heavy handed rule, that the novel needs this as its excuse to kill Liu Bian (Dong Zhuo literally says Liu Bian's poetry of discontent is the excuse to kill him) is the novel's addition to the story, versus simply telling the historical and probably direct reason for the killing.

(4) Chapter 4 Pages 65-66 An Example of Dong Zhuo's Criminality
Dong Zhuo decides to pillage the locale, and kills much of the town of Yang, and steals all the womenfolk for his troops. Because he is a man acting as the government with the idea of being the legitimate government, this is a criminal act. Dong Zhuo, the general, the half-barbarian from West of the pass, from the outlands of the empire, is simply amoral, and a brute. Violence like this though, does not seem uncharacteristic for 190A.D anywhere though. The novel simply needs an example of Dong Zhuo's barbarity to any reader doubting he is one.

Wu Fu tries to kill Dong Zhuo, and fails because Dong Zhuo is much larger and more powerful, and the fact that Lu Bu almost immediately stops him. This is the first-time Lu Bu saves Dong Zhuo, this chapter.

(5) Chapter 4 Pages 66-68 The Jeweled Knife Plot
Yuan Shao's letter will prompt Minister of the Interior Wang Yun (One of the Three Elder Lords) to try to figure out a way to eliminate Dong Zhuo.

Of course nobody but Cao Cao, who is attending Wang Yun's banquet, comes up with a viable plan.
I imagine Cao Cao rubbing his hands and laughing to be less like the villain in a Disney cartoon
and more simply someone just crossing their arms and chuckling to himself and other peoples ineptness.

(6) Chapter 4 Appendicy Note 5 Mao's Note on the Jeweled Knife
Mao praises Cao Cao for thinking ahead, that in case he was caught, the Jeweled Knife could be interposed as a gift to Dong Zhuo to deceive him, and extricate Cao from the attempted assassination.

There is no mention of Cao thinking ahead, why tell the reader this? Dong Zhuo must also be a really big dummy to not understand that it could have been an assassination attempt almost immediately. Sure it is less brilliant to exposit how brilliant Cao is here, but then why note it if it makes it less brilliant? Let the reader come to their own conclusion that it was part of the intelligent idea.

(7) Chapter 4 Pages 68-69 The Assassination Attempt by Cao Cao

Of course Cao Cao fails, otherwise we would not have a novel!

Lu Bu, comes in almost immediately as Cao Cao fails, technically saving Dong Zhuo the second time. Lu Bu being supremely imposing, is much more subtle and accepted fact, than Dong Zhuo's strength. The reader is not told of each time of Lu Bu's awesome presence(not in terms of being in the physical place mind you), this lends Lu Bu more mystique and Dong Zhuo less. Whereas we have already been told twice, once with Wu Fu, and once more here again of Dong Zhuo's giant stature and imposing physicality. (He was apparently a large fat person, less a strong one, simply using his size to overawe people.)

Cao Cao abruptly leaves, and Lu Bu almost immediately suspects he was trying to kill Dong Zhuo.

The historical record the Sanguozhi simply states, Cao Cao thought Dong Zhuo would come to ruin, and that he fled his service.

If the novel will wish to negative Cao Cao, and later raise Liu Bei, why make Cao Cao essentially good here, and in the next chapter? The reader does not need all negatives for Cao, and all positives for Liu, but the assassination sequence could be blotted out and it would at least make Cao Cao a more neutral character. In this case, Cao has a couple points in the good-guy column.

(8) Chapter 4 Pages 70-71 Cao Cao Flees the Capital, Meets Chen Gong
An all-points bulletin essentially is issued for Cao Cao's capture, in and around the capital, as he flees. He is arrested by a local magistrate, here Chen Gong, who recognizes him.

Chen Gong will spare Cao Cao, and join him because he too is disgusted by Dong Zhuo, and likes Cao Cao's plan that he will rally the lords of the realm in coalition to punish Dong Zhuo. Another bunch of points for Cao Cao in the good-guy column. This is the first-time Chen Gong spares Cao Cao.

(9) Chapter 4 Pages 71-72 Cao Cao and Chen Gong at Chenggao, Night at Lu Boshe's Manor
Cao Cao and Chen Gong go to Lu Boshe, an apparent sworn brother of the Cao family.
Lu agrees to hide them in his manor and leaves. Paranoid Cao Cao however, begins to suspect Lu Boshe, and when he and Chen Gong hear the manor servants talking about kidnapping something, apparently them two, they rush out and slaughter the servants.

The mistake his noted only after the killing, that there is pig ready to be slaughtered, and they were talking about it, and not Cao Cao and Chen Gong. Chen Gong is unhappy with this action, but he did join in, so he doesn't overly protest. I have noted this sequence for reference to the Mao note as follows:

(10) Chapter 4 Appendicy Note 6 Note to Cao Cao at Lu Boshe's Manor (First Part)
A long two part note, the first part dealing with the above sequence: Cao Cao and Chen Gong were apparently at the manor, and apparently in fact the servants were going to kidnap and rob both of them, and probably turn them into the authorities. This note also says that this is the actual historical record, the Sanguozhi take on the incident.

Cao Cao has two points in the good-guy section, so why make him make an error through paranoia than instead simply tell the historical sequence as is. The author needs Cao Cao to be neutral, not the good-guy, therefore his prior and subsequent good actions, need to be contrasted with something rather terrible.

If the reader were to ignore this chapter altogether, Cao Cao simply comes forth in Chapter 5 as the coalition instigator, and he would probably be a more neutral character for it, as if not Cao Cao, some other lord may have called for an armed attack on the capital to remove Dong Zhuo. These contrasting scenes denote (as also stated in this particular appendix note) that Cao Cao is a far more colorful character than is being let on, and there is a good deal more information about him than the novel is telling.
The reader does not know what to make of all this though, they are simply being thrown around. Cao Cao, ostensibly in the hero role, has a right to be suspicious, and the reader would probably overlook this killing.

(11) Chapter 4 Page 73 Cao Cao Kills Lu Boshe, Chen Gong Contemplate Killing Cao
Fleeing from the Lu Boshe Manor, the duo run into, Lu Boshe, who promptly questions there leaving. Cao Cao, passes him, then turns around and suddenly and brutally hacks man and donkey(Lu Boshe's mount) down. He then states : “Better to wrong the world than have it wrong me”,which disgusts Chen Gong.

Chen Gong will consider killing Cao for his amoral action (by the novel's standard), but will relent and spare him, the second time he spares him.

(12) Chapter 4 Appendicy Note 6 Note to Cao Cao at Lu Boshe's Manor (Second Part)
Mao Zonggang is happy with Cao Cao's above line, and I agree here with Mao, that though it is very un-Confucianlike , Cao Cao is not being hypocritical, he simply lacks morals, but is willing to tell that he lacks the morality, rather than pass it off that he does somehow.

Why praise the man for his honest amorality, but then negative the man by giving him two questionable acts?

Why not make the acts he committed unquestionable, or at least positive, and then praise him for his honest amorality? (Killing is still wrong, at least if we take a pacifist view)

Also, Lu Boshe would definitely have reported the deaths, or may have ordered Cao Cao kidnapped anyway.

Its hard to negative Cao Cao's character here, because a skeptical reader would argue his actions had some justification for his circumstances. A first-time reader, would probably not like the actions, but consider them somewhat necessary as Cao may have a higher duty to overthrow the traitor Dong Zhuo.

[Dong Zhou]

COULD Someone Please Show me how to Link this Post to the first page?!?

Go to first page and edit
press insert url button (the two chains) so you get [ url ][ /url ] (remove spaces)

In first one, add a = so [ url= ] (remove spaces)
Insert link after the =
To find link, on post you wish link for, search in top left hand corner. "Post by Lord Yang Jiahua » Fri Feb 03, 2023 11:04 pm" to the left of that date is a small page, click it and then copy your post url. In this case viewtopic.php?p=624397#p624397
Between the two url symbols, insert text

So [ url=viewtopic.php?p=624397#p624397 ] Bo Bo the clown [ /url ] (remove spaces)

Empress He is thrown out of a window, nobody catches her this time!

Mao praises Cao Cao for thinking ahead, that in case he was caught, the Jeweled Knife could be interposed as a gift to Dong Zhuo to deceive him, and extricate Cao from the attempted assassination.

There is no mention of Cao thinking ahead, why tell the reader this?

I think it is more Cao Cao thinking on his feet then having an emergency backup plan.

Enjoyed the analysis

[DragonAtma]

(3) Chapter 3 Page 45-46 Death of He Jin

He Jin's stupidity knows no bounds, he is told not to go talk to his sister, not to enter the palace, make the Ten Eunuchs come out to receive him, but he walks in with unbridled arrogance that somehow he is untouchable. Only Empress He would have been untouchable in this case, unless of course the eunuchs felt they could somehow gain control of the military. If the Ten had eliminated the Empress, or worse, eliminated Emperor Shao in favour of Liu Xie(his brother), there is no telling what chaos they would have unleashed, but at least then they'd have been responsible for the fall of the empire and not He Jin. He Jin's objective is to destroy the Ten, execute them, they are aware of this,yet he says they cannot touch him. Either they are the enemy or they are not, He Jin seems to subscribe very easily to cognitive dissonance.

I feel it was more arrogance (which eventually killed off Wang Yun) than stupidity. Remember, Julius Caesar was in a similar situation (knowledge of a plot, warnings from both a seer and his wife, and falling for it anyway), and few people consider him an idiot.

Also keep in mind that He Jin was smart enough to send Huangfu Song, Zhu Jun, and Lu Zhi against the turbans instead of his family and friends -- which many people fell for, including in one case Zhuge Liang (putting his friend Ma Su in charge of 228's battle of Jieting despite Liu Bei's warning several years prior).

[Lord Yang Jiahua]

I feel it was more arrogance (which eventually killed off Wang Yun) than stupidity. Remember, Julius Caesar was in a similar situation (knowledge of a plot, warnings from both a seer and his wife, and falling for it anyway), and few people consider him an idiot.

Also keep in mind that He Jin was smart enough to send Huangfu Song, Zhu Jun, and Lu Zhi against the turbans instead of his family and friends -- which many people fell for, including in one case Zhuge Liang (putting his friend Ma Su in charge of 228's battle of Jieting despite Liu Bei's warning several years prior).

Belated reply, this is a good observation. However, I'm pretty sure (I think the Cambridge History of China), He Jin does get an inordinate amount of blame in "Fall of The Han" category. This is sort of why I made a point of putting some blame on Yuan Shao, we also have to remember Yuan Shao lasts about 30 something chapters of the novel, a good quarter of it, he's at least a Major Character, though not a Principal until around Guandu.
Principal characters being Liu Bei and his brothers, Cao Cao, technically Sun Quan and Zhou Yu, Zhuge Liang etc.

I am quite busy this week, and for the next couple days, but after Wednesday I'll have alot more time for posting, so expect a couple chapters in short span after this week long break.

[DragonAtma]

He Jin was mostly decent at his job, but he made one terrible, terrible decision (inviting Dong Zhuo to the capital), and that's the only thing people talk about. I am reminded of Herbert Hoover: he spent seven years as secretary of commerce and four more as president, but all people talk about is the great depression.

As for Yuan Shao, people tend to underestimate him because he's not affiliated with one of the three kingdoms. Do keep in mind that he conquered three and a half provinces, which puts him ahead of Shu and Wu.

[Lord Yang Jiahua]

Chapter 5: Cao Cao Rallies The Lords With A Forged Decree
The Three Brothers Engage Lu Bu In Battle

(All events in this chapter occur in 190A.D)

(1) Chapter 5 Pages 75-76 Cao Cao Forms His Army

This section is very straightforward, introducing secondary characters like Li Dian and Yue Jin, while taking advantage of introducing Cao Cao's extensive family connections. His financial backer, Wei Hong, gets a notable mention here too. Money, connections, supporters, Cao Cao seems to have it all. Cao Cao displays a slogan “Loyalty and Honor”, very convincing, and also very similar to the running theme in Luo Guanzhong other work The Water Margin where the main heroes of the work name their abode, Loyalty Hall, and have slogans similar to this one.
Note: This, is that one specific instance mentioned in the Chapter 2 Notes, where Cao Cao gets a financial backer mentioned in the novel.

(2) Chapter 5 Pages 76-77 The Decree and Coalition Against Dong Zhuo

A reader would do well to remember, that there is nothing wrong with this action, in fact this is the correct action and all the Lords being involved is the only way to eliminate the overwhelming might of Dong Zhuo. Otherwise he might gobble them up one by one.
A normal reader would have no problem with this, a savvy reader would argue that in doing this, Cao Cao is unleashing chaos, if the coalition should fail, the lords now have established independent military forces, nothing but chaos could come from this.
“Hero of Chaos” indeed, Cao Cao creates the chaos in a way.

(3) Chapter 5 Pages 77-78 Liu Bei Joins the Coalition

A normal reader would not think much of this section, only to note that it gets Liu Bei involved.
A savvy reader would note the odd titles Liu Bei gives to Guan Yu and Zhang Fei, mounted archer, and standing archer. Done for effect considering the chapter's main title, possibly, done to be self-effacing, possibly, done deliberately to make it look like Liu Bei and company are inept, and unworthy of taking part in realm wide politics/war, maybe indeed.

Its too easy to simply do the last thing as a literature comparison tool to contrast Liu Bei (Xuande) and company with the high lords in place, there may have been a deliberate cunning of over humbleness on Liu Bei's part so that he could either gain more fame from the participation or make himself and his brothers stand out more. As we shall see, this does have some weight later in the chapter.


(4) Chapter 5 Pages 78-80 Yuan Shao Leads the Coalition, Sun Jian Takes the Vanguard

Cao Cao deliberately gets Yuan Shao elected/appointed as coalition leader. This seems normal by all accounts, Yuan Shao is probably the best choice, he has the most connections, fame, and largest power base.

Cao Cao might actually have done this intentionally for cunning reasons. It might be his decree(fake), but if the coalition should fail, Yuan Shao as leader would get the blame. Not terribly important to the idea that the lords may squabble and eventually go off on their own. Definitely, important to the idea that slighting Yuan Shao for any potential loss in this endeavor, moves Cao Cao into a better light, and Yuan Shao into a worse light. Cao Cao may have been in fact making a long term plan, so that individuals wanting a capable lord to serve, may seek him out instead of the coalition loser-leader. Its an odd gamble, for should Yuan Shao have actually won and gained control of the Emperor, he would have been all powerful.

Sun Jian is queued up as the best leader for the Vanguard, most martially capable, best fighter etc. Nothing contentious about this, only to sort of perhaps set him up for a loss.

(5) Chapter 5 Pages 80-82 The Opening Battle, Hua Xiong vs Sun Jian

Hua Xiong, a rather capable fighter apparently, goes out instead of Lu Bu, to attack the coalition army. He defeats a small force under Bao Zhong, brother of coalition member lord Bao Xin, he then fights Sun Jian, who kills his lieutenant, Hu Zhen and pushes his army back. (Sun Jian's general, and secondary character for much of the novel Cheng Pu accomplishes this.)
At this point, Yuan Shu denies Sun Jian grain to feed his troops at the front. Why Yuan Shu believes a single Sun Jian could overcome a Dong Zhuo is anybody's guess. Yuan Shu also very readily listens to the slander of a random person, to cause Sun Jian's defeat.

(6) Chapter 5 Pages 82-83 Sun Jian Defeated

Sun Jian is defeated, and loses one of his commanders, Zu Mao in the process. Hua Xiong displays his definite skill in breaking (with no small help to Sun Jian having no food) the coalition Vanguard.
The only reason to mention this as its own note, is the fact that Sun Jian in fact killed Hua Xiong historically, this is mentioned in the notes to the text. (Note 13 Chapter 5 in the Text)

(7) Chapter 5 Pages 83-85 Lord Guan (Guan Yu) Slays Hua Xiong

Hua Xiong, downs a number of commanders, before the famous episode of Guan Yu killing him occurs. This episode, almost certainly a fiction, is nonetheless gritty. Liu Bei, having been seated at the coalition table, and having his two brothers recognized by both Cao Cao and Yuan Shao, to Yuan Shu's chagrin, sits and watches as Hua Xiong defeats a number of coalition commanders, his sworn brother, Guan Yu (Lord Guan), speaks up that he will take down Hua Xiong. Cao Cao proposes a toast of wine, to cheer his courage, and Lord Guan famously states “keep my wine warm” , Lord Guan leaves, downs his opponent in a short furious engagement and returns.
Could Hua Xiong, have already been tired out, sure, was Lord Guan still a very skilled warrior, more skilled that Hua Xiong, certainly.

(8) Chapter 5 Pages 85-88 The Lords Advance to Tiger Trap Pass, Enter Lu Bu

Yuan Shu is of course envious of Lord Guan's accomplishment, and Liu Bei's merit thereby as his Lord, it seems the coalition has a real back-biter of a person in Yuan Shu, first he messes up Sun Jian, then he is jealous of Liu Bei.
Intersected into this, Dong Zhuo kills Yuan Wei, the Imperial Guardian, and Yuan Shao's uncle, who is then under the Dong Zhuo court. This makes sense, even if Yuan Wei sort of pledged loyalty to Dong Zhuo earlier. Dong Zhuo is also being majorly amoral in doing this, eventhough it does make sense that Yuan Wei could plot from within the court to assist his nephew Yuan Shao on the outside. (Amoral due to the fact that relatives of enemies who are captured later in the novel for whatever reason, are not subject to an immediate execution most of the time, just because they are related to an enemy leader)

The Lords advance to Tiger Trap Pass, aptly named as Lu Bu is definitely a tiger among men.
Dong Zhuo brings up a large amount of soldiers to stop the Lords, and Cao Cao suggests dividing the army to fight.
The eight lords in the Vanguard get absolutely savaged by Lu Bu. Their commanders one after the other get felled. Only poor Wu Anguo, makes it a respectable 10 bouts before losing a hand and is saved.

(9) Chapter 5 Pages 88-90 The Three Brothers Engage Lu Bu

Cao Cao in fact has the right idea, capture Lu Bu, that would have been far more effective than what is about to happen.

Zhang Fei's insult, “Stay Bastard with Three fathers” is particularly good, as he engages Lu Bu.
It seems Zhang Fei is more Confucianist, moralistic, and points this out. (This is mentioned later in the book in the Chapter Notes, that Mao Zonggang gives Zhang Fei a higher praise as good Confucian vassal, versus just a sworn brother.) Perhaps, Lu Bu's infamy in becoming Dong Zhuo's man was simply very well-known, attesting to his fame.
Liu, Guan and Zhang, the Three brothers, successfully engage and drive off Lu Bu, to the cheer of the other Lords, and the anger of Lu Bu, and eventually Dong Zhuo.\

Chapter 5 Pages 90-93 Are Merely a Long Epic Poem on The Three Brothers Duel with Lu Bu, and one of the pictures/artwork in the novel itself detailing the encounter. ( I will not be reviewing most of the poems, as they would make these notes inordinately long, and the fact that much of the poetry is an English approximation and has other illusive qualities in standard Chinese. )

(10) Chapter 5 Mao's Note 14 On The Yuan's

The deliberate appointment of Yuan Shao as coalition leader may be intentional if we take Mao's note into consideration. Mao mocks Yuan Shao and Yuan Shu, for being disagreeable, uncontrollable with each other and unable to protect their uncle Yuan Wei.
Yuan Wei apparently led Emperor Shao down from the Imperial throne, during the “abdication” to Liu Xie, now Emperor Xian. This is important, because this should indicate that Yuan Wei is on Dong Zhuo's side and agreed with the removal of the Emperor, as no one, especially this man of an illustrious clan, famed, most powerful, highest office holder, would want to be disgraced for being the man that does this to an emperor!

Yuan Wei gets killed anyway! Disgracing the Emperor(former or not) seems to have its own cosmic repercussions.

[Lord Yang Jiahua]

Chapter 6: In Razing The Capital, Dong Zhuo Commits Heinous Crimes
By Concealing The Jade Seal, Sun Jian Betrays The Confederation
(All events in this chapter occur in 190A.D)
As with other, exposition based chapters, I have given this one a rather shorter treatment.

(1) Chapter 6 pages 94-95 Dong Zhuo Marriage Alliance Proposal to Sun Jian

This is rather dirty from Dong Zhuo to do, and doesn't really make any sense. Also, why insert this event In between the coalition victory at Tiger Trap, and Dong Zhuo leaving the capital? The readers are also not told if say Yuan Shao was made aware of this action, and then came to suspect Sun Jian already. Remember, historically Sun Jian killed Hua Xiong, Dong Zhuo could rightly admire the man, but a marriage alliance is just silly.

(2) Chapter 6 Pages 95-98 Dong Zhuo Destroys Luoyang, Evacuates to Chang An

Practically speaking Dong Zhuo's power base is closer to Chang An than Luoyang, its also much farther off from the power bases of the coalition lords. Wu Qiong and Zhuo Bi, who had suggested how to temporize Yuan Shao (By giving him a lordship) now oppose Dong Zhuo, and are executed, seems like they dug their own holes to lie in in this case.
Most of this sections is filled with various objections by the high ministers, and justifications by Dong Zhuo and his adviser Li Ru. Dong Zhuo's heinous actions are the digging up of the imperial tombs, the looting of much of Luoyang, and robbing most of the wealthy families of their possessions etc.

A note on numbers, Three Kingdoms does realistically exaggerate the numbers in many cases, its more likely that Luoyang had 500,000 people, not millions, but at least the question of scale is rather correct most of the time, therefore its a consistent exaggeration whereas actual history based of off statistics and archaeology would come up with more reasonable estimates. Is it possible Luoyang, and China in general had millions (and China theoretically having around 100-150 million circa 200 A.D) yes, it is possible, is it likely, probably not. Still though, the general population of China in the Late Han dynasty, could well have been around 50-80 million, considering the novel enters into a long period of sustained military action across much of the nation.

(3) Chapter 6 Pages 98-101 Cao Cao pursues Dong Zhuo, defeated at Yingyang

The general reaction should not be that Cao Cao is incompetent, or loses through lack of preparation, rather 10,000 cannot defeat 2 or 3 times that number. I always felt that Cao Cao at Yingyang was defeated just through sheer numbers, versus any actual strategy.
Cao Hong does a splendid job saving Cao Cao, this is the first occasion he does this in the novel. Cao Cao has to be saved a number of times by his subordinates throughout the novel. This rescues bears a resemblance to Xu Chu rescuing Cao Cao vs Ma Chao in chapters 58-59.
Xu Rong, who orchestrates the defeat of Cao Cao, at least gets hacked down for his smugness.

(4) Chapter 6 Mao's Note #7 On Cao Hong's Actions

Mao appraises Cao Hong as acting for the world, not the family in rescuing his cousin, Cao Cao. This is true enough, but the foreshadowing is that multiple people of Cao Cao's family will have to do this at some point. The novel is fast paced enough that a new reader will not notice the introduction of the “Cao Cao being saved, theme” into the novel. As this theme will reoccur throughout the novel while Cao Cao is alive.

(5) Chapter 6 Pages 101-105 Sun Jian Finds The Imperial Seal

The description and the history of the Imperial Seal is most interesting, that it has past down from Qin Shihuangdi all the way to Liu Bian, and then eventually Sun Jian, is significant to the continuity and symbolic power of the object.

What I never understood from this episode, is why Sun Jian should even give up the seal to Yuan Shao to begin with! The reader cannot help but feel that because of the amount of goading Sun Jian has to endure, that he is wrong and Yuan Shao somehow right, but the goading always nags at myself when I read it. Sun Jian turns over the seal to Yuan Shao, and then what? Yuan Shao would then just use the seal for his own ends anyway.
After Cao Cao's defeat, readers have a general feeling that the coalition is unmotivated to pursue Dong Zhuo to Chang An. So of course giving the seal to Yuan Shao would allow him to use it for his own ends.

At this point, Sun Jian has as much right to the seal as he does not. He found it, he can keep it, its what he might do with it, that counts! We will see later on, that the seal itself is immaterial, it's what it represents as a symbol of power that matters. What people do with it, will be all important.
Perhaps, had the coalition had possession of the seal, in theory it could have motivated the Lords to continue the campaign, as some confirmation of divine favor in their endeavor. Do I believe Yuan Shao could have motivated them as such, no, would it have complicated matters and changed the interaction of people in the coalition, definitely.


(6) Chapter 6 Pages 105-106 The End of The Coalition

Cao Cao's plan about the disposition of forces by the coalition forces to intercept Dong Zhuo at various points around the Capital District, is not terrible, but it seems like he overestimated the ability of the lords to cooperate. Dong Zhuo in theory had enough troops to deal with such a plan, but he would have had to divide his troops, and he probably lacked the personnel to competently deal with everyone all at once.
The coalition breaks up due to inaction and infighting, Yuan Shao leaves signaling its end and returns to his district, the book says east, but I assume he returns to Bohai, which he is lord of.

(7) Chapter 6 Pages 106-108 Liu Biao stops Sun Jian for the Imperial Seal

Apparently this incident is a work of fiction, however there is an important point to Liu Biao versus Sun Jian, in that it will extend Sun clan animosity to anything remotely related to Liu Biao for a very long time. At least it gives the reader some justification, though not particularly in this incident, but definitely that of the next chapter where Sun Jian goes on the offensive against Liu Biao with consequences.

Liu Biao was appointed by the Dong Zhuo court to be governor of Jing Province, the central province geographically, covering North to Wancheng outside the capital, and directly South across the Great River and down well into Southern China.
Yuan Shao is not above asking a Liu Biao to halt Sun Jian to take possession of the Imperial Seal, even if the proper thing to do would have been to ignore any legitimacy Liu Biao may have, because the appointment came from the Dong Zhuo court (though that would also question Yuan Shao's own appointment as Lord of Bohai).

The incident raises an important point, even if Sun Jian had surrendered the seal, whats to stop Liu Biao from attempting to kill him anyway? Readers tend to forget that though Sun Jian is being portrayed in the wrong, he actually has no reason and no guarantees should he give up the Imperial Seal. Sun Jian's actions are completely justified for self-preservation reasons.

(8) Introduction of Running Themes

From time to time I will add as I have done here, notes to running thematic sequences of the novel, there are quite a number of larger and smaller ones, and some that can be linked quite obviously, and some that linking though plausible doesn't add up.

Particular to Chapter 6: The Imperial Seal will become a running "Object" of contention for a while, its symbolism of power is extremely important apparently.

Cao Cao Being Saved - This theme as stated will reoccur multiple times as long as Cao Cao is alive in the novel, the Cao Hong sequence, is the first where he is directly saved by his generals or kinsmen etc.

Sun Clan Vs Liu Biao - This is introduced here, and will become a large problem later on in the novel, and will center much of major actions later on. (Also, Read Liu Biao et al, not just Liu Biao, but anyone around Liu Biao too.)

Yuan Clan Vindictiveness, and Self-Preservation - This is introduced in Chapter 5, by Yuan Shu, but Yuan Shao does it here regarding the Imperial Seal and then his apparent dissolution of the coalition by just leaving when they run out of momentum. It seems the Yuans are all about self-preservation, but in very different ways, Chapter 7 will have a good example of this for Yuan Shao.

[Dong Zhou]

Nice touch with Cao Cao being saved theme

What I never understood from this episode, is why Sun Jian should even give up the seal to Yuan Shao to begin with! The reader cannot help but feel that because of the amount of goading Sun Jian has to endure, that he is wrong and Yuan Shao somehow right, but the goading always nags at myself when I read it. Sun Jian turns over the seal to Yuan Shao, and then what? Yuan Shao would then just use the seal for his own ends anyway.

Because Yuan Shao is the head of the coalition, whatever one thinks of him and Sun Jian had sworn an oath to coalition at the start (then swears oath repeatedly that he doesn't have it). If one person is to hold the seal among the warlords until such a time as the court is rescued, it would be their elected head rather then a general

The incident raises an important point, even if Sun Jian had surrendered the seal, whats to stop Liu Biao from attempting to kill him anyway? Readers tend to forget that though Sun Jian is being portrayed in the wrong, he actually has no reason and no guarantees should he give up the Imperial Seal. Sun Jian's actions are completely justified for self-preservation reasons

Why would the novel Liu Biao, given his general reputation in the novel, attack Sun Jian and publicly murder him? If I recall rightly, the novel moves Liu Biao away from Dong Zhuo connection?

[Lord Yang Jiahua]

Because Yuan Shao is the head of the coalition, whatever one thinks of him and Sun Jian had sworn an oath to coalition at the start (then swears oath repeatedly that he doesn't have it). If one person is to hold the seal among the warlords until such a time as the court is rescued, it would be their elected head rather then a general

I touched on this answer too, in theory it could have served as a rallying symbol for the coalition, true. This also makes Sun Jian untrustworthy!

Why would the novel Liu Biao, given his general reputation in the novel, attack Sun Jian and publicly murder him? If I recall rightly, the novel moves Liu Biao away from Dong Zhuo connection?

I cheated out here by referring the connection to the novel's notation, you are quite right that the Novel depiction of Liu Biao in and of itself is sympathetic, the chapter's note directly adds he had been appointed by Dong Zhuo.

To me it raises a legitimacy question about receiving authority and appointments from the Han Court/whoever controls it. Cao Cao when he becomes Prime Minister is very careful with this in fact, other than blanket control of the secretariat and court appointments, he does seem to be very careful in who gets appointed. It seems Dong Zhuo, and the Ten Eunuchs, and then especially the Li Jue, Guo Si court, are examples of chaotic appointments.

Also, if you are rebelling against a man who is in control of the court, and is a tyrant, and yet you accept appointment from his court he controls, isn't that a strange implication? Liu Biao can be absolved on the grounds that he simple gets appointed but doesn't rebel, Yuan Shao gets appointed and then rebels (Which gets Zhuo Bi and Wu Qiong killed). Yuan Shao in my mind is actively fighting the legitimacy of a court that appointed him, but willing to use other lords appointed by said illegitimate court, to his own benefit.

The Thematic Sequences will be limited to Novel Events, I mean, yes could you link long term theme sequences depicting a broad "Idea", yes,
But for instance, all 3 major Kingdom Founders will get saved by a Horse(In some extraordinary way), to me its interesting to point out that for instance, and that the novel makes a point of emphasizing these events without linking them.

[DragonAtma]

But for instance, all 3 major Kingdom Founders will get saved by a Horse(In some extraordinary way), to me its interesting to point out that for instance, and that the novel makes a point of emphasizing these events without linking them.

Clearly the proper choice for emperor was Red Hare. :Þ