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 27

The Sanguo Yanyi - Chapter 27:

The Duke Of the Beautiful Beard Rides On A Solitary Journey;

Guan Yu Slays Six Generals Through Five Passes.

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WARNING! THE FOLLOWING COMMENTARY MAY CONTAIN SPOILERS! SAN DIMAS HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL RULES!!!!! (Ummm, actually, NO football rules. Seriously, what a dumb sport...)

Ahem. Anyways...now that I've got most of the capital letters out of me for the time being, it's time to get down to the commentary...

So Guan Yu, previously a sort of "Free-Agent" working for Cao Cao, has learned of the whereabouts of his true Master, his sworn-brother Liu Bei. Here's the funny part...it turns out that Liu Bei is up north, chilling with Yuan Shao, a man who just so happens to be at war with Cao Cao at the moment. (Guan Du, anybody?)

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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 25

The Sanguo Yanyi - Chapter 25:

Besieged In Tushan, Guan Yu Makes Three Conditions;

Relieved At Baima, Cao Cao Beholds A Marvel.

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WARNING! THE FOLLOWING COMMENTARY MAY CONTAIN SPOILERS!

In Chapter 25, the great Battle of Guan Du, one of the most titanic clashes between two rulers that China...and perhaps the world...has ever known, begins in earnest. And who would have been able to foresee the way the lineup has changed over the past few chapters.

Liu Bei, having been crushed by Cao Cao in Xu Province, has fled to seek refuge with Yuan Shao, and Guan Yu, sworn brother of Liu Bei, now serves, at least for the time being, the man who did the crushing...

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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 23

The Sanguo Yanyi - Chapter 23:

Mi Heng Slips His Garment And Rails At Traitors;

Ji Ping Pledges To Kill The Prime Minister.

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WARNING: THE FOLLOWING COMMENTARY MAY CONTAIN SPOILERS!

In previous chapters, we've seen Liu Bei join a conspiracy to assassinate Cao Cao, and then fly the coop known as Imperial Xuchang at the very first opportunity, cleverly taking control of part of Cao Cao's army in the process. Thus far, things don't seem to be going very well for Cao Cao.

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