The fourth chapter of Romance of the Three Kingdoms tells the story of Dong Zhuo's dethronement of Emperor Shao and the establishment of Emperor Xian, and Cao Cao's escape after his failed attempt to assassinate Dong Zhuo. The article describes in detail Dong Zhuo's atrocities, the resistance of ministers, and Cao Cao's trade-offs, showing the political chaos and turmoil in the late Eastern Han Dynasty. After Cao Cao failed to assassinate Dong Zhuo, in order to protect himself, he even accidentally killed his lifesaver Lü Bushe's family, which reflects his character of using any means to achieve his goals. In the end, Cao Cao fled Luoyang, laying the groundwork for the future crusade against Dong Zhuo.
This chapter's podcast analysis of the third chapter of Romance of the Three Kingdoms tells the story of how He Jin summoned Dong Zhuo to the capital, which led to the killing of the eunuchs, and Dong Zhuo's subsequent dethronement and enthronement of the emperor, as well as the power struggle between him, Ding Yuan, and Lu Bu. He Jin's plan failed, triggering a palace coup, and Dong Zhuo took the opportunity to seize power. Lu Bu repeatedly defected between Ding Yuan and Dong Zhuo, and eventually became Dong Zhuo's subordinate, laying the foundation for Dong Zhuo's autocracy. This plot shows the political chaos and cruelty of the power struggle in the late Eastern Han Dynasty.
It tells the story of Liu Bei, Guan Yu and Zhang Fei following Zhu Jun to quell the remaining Yellow Turban party after the Yellow Turban Uprising, as well as the incident of Zhang Fei furiously whipping the postal supervisor. The article shows Liu Bei's benevolence and righteousness, Guan Yu's loyalty and bravery, and Zhang Fei's ruggedness. It also describes the corruption of the court and the eunuch's dictatorship, and finally leads to He Jin's plan to kill the eunuch, laying the groundwork for subsequent conflicts. This plot shows the character traits of the early Three Kingdoms figures and the political chaos at that time.
Joshua and Sophia open the first chapter of Romance of the Three Kingdoms with a lively dialogue, telling the background of the Yellow Turban Rebellion and the story of Liu Bei, Guan Yu, and Zhang Fei's oath of brotherhood in Taoyuan. It shows the social environment of the late Eastern Han Dynasty, where political corruption and people's livelihood were in dire straits, which eventually led to the peasant uprising. The three brothers became sworn brothers because of their common ideals - to support the Han Dynasty and pacify the world. They fought bravely and made great achievements, laying the groundwork for the subsequent Three Kingdoms. At the same time, Cao Cao's early image was also shown, foreshadowing his fate of being a powerful figure in the future.