The Sanguo Yanyi - Chapter 53
Thursday, December 23, 2010 at 1:22AM The Sanguo Yanyi - Chapter 53:
Guan Yu Releases Huang Zhong;
Sun Quan Fights With Zhang Liao.
Listen:
WARNING: THE HUMAN SPECIES IS WILLFULLY, EVEN GLEEFULLY, JUMPING OFF A VERY HIGH CLIFF. WITH THAT GOING ON, WHO REALLY CARES ABOUT SPOILERS?
And so we come to Chapter 53, which is actually quite an eventful chapter. But before I get into it, I just want to take a minute to thank each and every one of you for your patience. It's been a while since I've posted a chapter, due to attacks which destroyed my last PC and put everything on hold for quite a while, and I'm grateful if you're still here to read this. Thank you. Your continued support means a lot to me.
That said, Chapter 53 is, as I said, an eventful Chapter. It ties up several of the post-Chi Bi loose ends, and many of the great heroes of the period seem to play a significant role in this chapter, from all three Kingdoms. The chapter begins with the conclusion of Liu Bei's conquest of Jing Nan (southern Jing). You might remember in the last chapter, Gui Yang and Ling Ling fell to Liu Bei's forces, under Zhuge Liang and Zhao Yun (Zilong). This time, it's Zhang Fei's turn, and Guan Yu, also, helps in the subjugation of the region. These battles in the Jing Province, following so close on the tail of the great victory of the southern coalition forces at Chi Bi, are very important, and here's why. Prior to Chi Bi, as you have read, Liu Bei was pretty much on the verge of being totally crushed once and for all by his onetime friend, and perennial enemy, Cao Cao. Taking advantage of the power-vacuum following Chi Bi, though, Liu Bei's conquest of the Jing Province at last gives him a wealthy, and relatively secure, province to serve as a base of operations. For the first time in the story (and mind you, we're at just under the halfway point here), Liu Bei finally seems to be able to establish somewhat of a secure footing for himself, his army, and his people. It is this which allows the Three-Kingdoms model envisioned by Zhuge Liang to come to pass.
