The Sanguo Yanyi - Chapter 49

The Sanguo Yanyi - Chapter 49:

On Seven-Star Altar, Zhuge Liang Sacrifices To The Winds;

At Three Gorges, Zhou Yu Liberates The Fire.

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WARNING: THE WATER YOU ARE DRINKING HAS BEEN TAMPERED WITH. BE INFORMED. OH YEAH, AND THERE MIGHT BE SPOILERS HERE TOO.

So now it's Chapter 49. You may have noticed a bit of a pattern developing throughout the novel thus far. In Chapter 1, or 11, or 21, etc., a story arc was introduced. And by Chapter 9, 19, 29, etc. the arc was more or less resolved. Case in point, Lu Bu killed Dong Zhuo in Chapter 9. He himself was defeated and executed by Cao Cao and Liu Bei 10 chapters later, in chapter 19. Well, this chapter is number 49. So you know what that means? That's right, folks! It's dramatic-conclusion time! Duh da duhm!

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The Sanguo Yanyi - Chapter 48

The Sanguo Yanyi - Chapter 48:

Banquet On The Great River, Cao Cao Sings A Song;

Battle On Water, Northerners Fight With Chained Ships.

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WARNING: WE'RE SURROUNDED BY ZOMBIES. HUNDREDS OF MILLIONS OF GRAPE JELLY-DROOLIN' ZOMBIES.

And we come to Chapter 48. In the last chapter, Pang Tong convinced Cao Cao to chain his ships together, in order to promote stability and prevent seasickness among Cao Cao's mostly northern army. Then he even obtained a written decree of protection for his own family, in Cao Cao's own handwriting, guaranteeing their safety despite the fact that Pang Tong's advice is going to end up destroying Cao Cao's expeditionary force. Way to go, Pang Tong! But there's a person present who could expose Pang Tong. Xu Shu, who, having been tricked over to Cao Cao's service, is present, and knows full well what Pang Tong's advice will lead to.

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The Sanguo Yanyi – Chapter 46

The Sanguo Yanyi - Chapter 46:

Using Strategy, Zhuge Liang Borrows Arrows;

Joining A Ruse, Huang Gai Accepts Punishment.

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WARNING: THESE PRE-COMMENTARY DISCLAIMERS ARE GOING TO LOOK A LOT COOLER ON THE NEW SITE I'M BUILDING :D (Later note:  As you can see, they do indeed look better here. )

Chapter 46 sees a continuation of the web of ploys and schemes which so characterizes the Battle of Chi Bi. In the last chapter, Zhou Yu used Jiang Gan (who had been sent over to try to sway Zhou Yu over to Wei, and more importantly, away from Wu) as an unwitting weapon against Cao Cao, which resulted in Cao Cao being tricked into executing his two most capable, if despicable, naval Commanders, Cai Mao and Zhang Yun.

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The Sanguo Yanyi – Chapter 45

The Sanguo Yanyi - Chapter 45:

At The Three Gorges, Cao Cao Loses Soldiers;

In The Gathering Of Heroes, Jiang Gan Is Trapped.

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WARNING: IT'S BEEN A WHILE SINCE I WROTE ONE OF THESE COMMENTARIES, SO I MIGHT BE A BIT RUSTY. :P

Annnnnd I'm back. Miss me? Probably not, but you might have missed some of my content, such as the Sanguo Yanyi audiobook. So I guess I'll just dive right in here.

Chapter 45 is an amusing chapter to me. It introduces Jiang Gan, a man unfortunate to be intelligent enough and have enough of a reputation as a persuader for Cao Cao to consider sending him to attempt to sway Zhou Yu over to his side. He's also unfortunate enough to have suggested the whole notion himself, guessing incorrectly that their association as former students under the same master would cause Zhou Yu to betray the Sun Family. This bad judgment would cost Cao Cao the battle (and it does a great job of illustrating how the Mandate of Heaven turns against those who act against Heaven's Will. This is why Yuan Shao, so capable an officer early in the novel, fell when he attacked Cao Cao, and it is why Cao Cao's own southern expedition into Wu is also doomed to fail.

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The Sanguo Yanyi - Chapter 44

The Sanguo Yanyi - Chapter 44:

Zhuge Liang Stirs Zhou Yu To Actions;

Sun Quan Decides To Attack Cao Cao.

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WARNING: IF JESUS WERE HERE, HE'D CUT YOU. :P

Last chapter saw a whole lot of debate about whether or not the Southland should go to war against Cao Cao, and now, in Chapter 44, that war draws ever nearer. For Sun Quan has decided to leave the decision in the hands of his Foreign Policy advisor, (and Commander-in-Chief of his armies), Zhou Yu, and now all the officers, civil and military, in Wu know that it is Zhou Yu, rather than Sun Quan, that they must sway to their various conclusions.

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The Sanguo Yanyi - Chapter 38

The Sanguo Yanyi - Chapter 38:

Zhuge Liang Plans For The Three Kingdoms;

Sun Quan Attacks Xiakou To Take Revenge.

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WARNING! THE SANGUO YANYI AUDIOBOOK IS BACK IN PRODUCTION, BITCHES! (Oh yeah, and something about spoilers, too.)

So it's been pretty much a whole month since I last posted one of these (or, for that matter, anything). I know, right? I'm a lazy one, I am. Wanna see if I've still got it? Download and/or listen to the episode live, and read the commentary to figure that one out, I guess.

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