The Sanguo Yanyi - Chapter 28

The Sanguo Yanyi - Chapter 28:

Putting Cai Yang To Death, The Brothers' Doubts Disappear;

Meeting At Gucheng, Lord and Lieges Fortify Each Other.

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WARNING! THE FOLLOWING COMMENTARY MAY CONTAIN SPOILERS!

Things have certainly been kinda...odd for the Three Brothers in previous chapters. Having been crushed in Xuzhou by Cao Cao's army, the three of them fled in different directions. Zhang Fei retreated to the Mang Dang Hills, Liu Bei went to seek protection from Yuan Shao, and Guan Yu, oddest of all, went to serve Cao Cao...for the time being.

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The Sanguo Yanyi - Chapter 26

The Sanguo Yanyi - Chapter 26:

Yuan Shao Loses Another Leader;

Guan Yu Abandons Rank And Wealth.

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WARNING! HEH, THAT WORD COULD ALMOST BE A CHINESE WORD. WAR NING. I WONDER IF HE WAS GAN NING'S HOTHEADED COUSIN...

Anyways, now that I've got my daily digression out of the way...it's Chapter 26, or as Yuan Shao might have called it, "HOLY SHIT! GUAN YU IS KILLING OFF ALL MY MOST POWERFUL GENERALS ONE BY ONE!"

That's pretty much what's going down, up in the northern regions of the Han Empire. Cao Cao, if you remember, obtained Guan Yu's services at the beginning of last chapter, and now, finds himself coming within half a mile of...guess who...his sworn brother and sworn lord, Liu Bei.

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The Sanguo Yanyi - Chapter 24

The Sanguo Yanyi - Chapter 24:

Cao Cao Murders The Consort Dong;

Liu Bei Flees To Yuan Shao.

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WARNING! THE FOLLOWING IS PROBABLY NOT VERY FUNNY AND ALSO CONTAINS LANGUAGE NOT SUITABLE FOR CHILDREN...

So Chapter 24 is probably the shortest chapter thus far produced in the Sanguo Yanyi audiobook. Clocking in at just under 20 minutes, but just like people with a Napoleon Complex, it's short of stature, but compensates for its lack of length by being jam-packed full of action. However, since it's so short, instead of writing a commentary on it like I normally do, I think I'mma just rewrite the chapter in slightly different terms. :p

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The Sanguo Yanyi - Chapter 21

The Sanguo Yanyi - Chapter 21:

In A Plum Garden, Cao Cao Discusses Heroes;

Using The Host's Forces, Guan Yu Takes Xuzhou.

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WARNING: THE FOLLOWING COMMENTARY MIGHT JUST CONTAIN SOME SPOILERS. MAYBE. JUUUUUUUUST MAYBE....

Chapter 21 is sort of a transitional chapter between one plot arc and another. Lu Bu has been destroyed, Liu Bei and Cao Cao have developed an uneasy friendship, and outside the capitol, the affairs of the Imperial warlords (i.e. Yuan Shao, Sun Ce, Liu Biao, Liu Yan/Zhang, etc.) grind on as the Middle Kingdom enters the 3rd century...

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The Sanguo Yanyi - Chapter 20

The Sanguo Yanyi - Chapter 20:

Cao Cao Organizes A Hunting Expedition In Xutian;

Dong Cheng Receives A Secret Command In The Palace.

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WARNING: THE FOLLOWING COMMENTARY MAY CONTAIN SPOILERS. SERIOUSLY.

Okay, so now it's Chapter 20. That means that we're 1/6th of the way through the novel. Yay!

For several chapters, the story has focused on Xuzhou, and the events there. Now, Lu Bu, the mightiest warrior in the land, is dead, as is Chen Gong. (Moment of silence, everyone...) The power of Yuan Shu has been broken, and Liu Bei is pretty much subordinate to Cao Cao at this point...

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The Sanguo Yanyi - Chapter 19

The Sanguo Yanyi - Chapter 19:

Cao Cao Makes a Flood In Xiapi;

Lu Bu Perishes At The White Gate Tower.

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WARNING: READING PAST THIS POINT MIGHT SPOIL SURPRISES IN THIS CHAPTER NOT ALREADY SPOILED BY THE CHAPTER'S TITLE!

If you've been paying attention to the story (and I certainly hope you have...), you might have noticed that things between Cao Cao and Lu Bu are coming to a head.

I mentioned before the power struggle taking place in the East of China, between Cao Cao, Lu Bu, Liu Bei, and Yuan Shu. For chapters, the four of them have been maneuvering around each other, and some rather strange alliances have grown out of that struggle.

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