Romance of the Eastern Han Dynasty (Vol. 1 & 2)

Author: Lian Keru narrated, Lian Liru, Jia Jianguo compiled
Publisher:
Publishing Date: 2005-04-01
Features: This book is the representative work of the late storytelling artist Lian Keru. It primarily tells the story of Emperor Liu Xiu, the Han prince, leading his thirty-six generals from the Cloud Platform to rebel against Wang Mang after his usurpation of the throne in the late Western Han Dynasty. They fought through battles, restored the Han dynasty, and later, after the establishment of the Xiangshi Emperor, corrupt ministers plotted against Liu Xiu, leading to the second restoration of the Han dynasty by Emperor Guangwu. The book begins with Wang Mang's usurpation and ends with Empress Dowager Xindu bestowing her loyalty upon her subjects. The main chapters include Liu Xiu's imperial examination journey, Cen Peng and Ma Wu winning the imperial examination, chaos in the martial arts examination hall, the dual rescue of the emperor on Pudigang, the three invitations to Yao Qi, the flower-sword duel, Cen Peng's return to the Han, the single whip deception of Yingyang, the twenty-eight constellations' chaos in Kunyang, the double heroes' birth at Shijun Mountain, the marriage in Guojiazhuang, the single pestle subduing the three rivers, the battle of the dragging intestines, the five elements' celestial array set up in Kunyang Mountain, the three confrontations with the giant, Ma Yuan's appointment as general, the eight-hammer chaos in Tong Pass, the true and false Cen Peng's linked strategies, beheading Wang Mang and executing Su, dispersing the generals at Tong Pass, the assassination attempt at the Three Emperors' Temple, the single whip sweeping the platform, lifting the thousand-jin gate, the birth of the Iron, the bombardment of the Tai City, Yao Qi's acquisition of the treasure spear, planting the spear to pacify the grass bridge, surrendering Chang'an, the battle at Pucheng, the birth of Geng Er, the Xiangshi Emperor's demise by the Yellow River, and the execution of the eight corrupt ministers.