Three Kingdoms Prequel-----Dream of Emperors in the Late Han Dynasty

Author: Yu Tao
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2006-01-01
Features: Defeating the Yellow Turban Rebellion, Eliminating the Eunuchs, Dong Zhuo Enters the Capital. The story begins here. Heroes rise from all sides in chaos, every family yearns for turmoil, and every person fears danger, all engaging in conspiracies and tricks. Historical storytelling is a Chinese tradition, and before Romance of the Three Kingdoms, there were tales of Taigong. Politics favors power, while literature leans toward the weak, and history's right or wrong lies between the two. — Professor Li Ling, Peking University
The northern China's dominant ruler chosen by history will not be the martial Dong Zhuo, the cowardly Han Fu, or the pedantic Kong Rong, but rather the "hero" Cao Cao, who carries a hint of arrogance. This first-class military strategist and statesman is also a sensitive poet, and his passionate and melancholic verses, like brilliant gems, are perfectly embedded in the historical context of The Prequel to the Three Kingdoms, illuminating the indispensable spirit of the Jian'an era: "Raise a cup to sing, how fleeting is life?" — Professor Wang Xiaoyi, Tsinghua University
In my opinion, this book is a crucial achievement in the study of the Three Kingdoms history and is worthy of being listed alongside Records of the Three Kingdoms and Romance of the Three Kingdoms. If you want to understand how the Three Kingdoms era formed without being misled, reading this book is enough. — Li Yaping, author of Imperial Politics in the Past
Who will be the emperor? The history of the late Han Dynasty begins here. The imperial relative He Jin lost his life, the scholar Yuan Shao seized military power, the warrior Dong Zhuo entered the court, the eastern scholars abandoned their allies, Cao Cao declared his allegiance to the emperor, the military forces expanded, the ambitions changed, the Cao family played someone else's game, the ideal of peace was transformed into a secret to replace the Han Dynasty, and the division of the three realms became a reality. From the Luoyang coup in 189 to Cao Pi's accession in 220, the life of the Han emperor was manipulated by his subordinates, yet history still moved forward under the banner of the Han. What made the transition of power so prolonged? Behind Dong Zhuo's assassination, was the mastermind the Grand Secretary Wang Yun or the beauty Diaochan? Yuan Shao, who claimed to be "saving the throne," why did he instead kill the emperor's envoy? The Cao Cao who did not declare himself emperor had a mysterious connection with the Yellow Turban Army. How did Sun Quan, Liu Bei, and Cao Cao achieve the Triumphant Stand of the Three Kingdoms? Why could Cao Pi defeat Cao Zhi and replace the Han?
This book poses layer upon layer of questions, analyzes thoroughly, and is richly illustrated, presenting readers with the bloody and fiery historical reality of the heroes vying for dominance in the prelude to the Three Kingdoms.