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Game of Thrones during the Three Kingdoms Period: How did Cao Wei, Shu Han, and Dong Wu fight for the throne?
The Three Kingdoms period is one of the most chaotic yet fascinating periods in Chinese history. From the establishment of Cao Wei in 220 AD until the unification of the Western Jin Dynasty in 280 AD, the struggle for hegemony among the Three Kingdoms of Cao Wei, Shu Han and Eastern Wu made the acquisition and protection of power a battleground for many treacherous officials and strategists. Today, not only do scholars conduct in-depth research on various events of this period, but literary works and film and television performances are also influenced by major events of the time, so the "Three Kingdoms" itself has become a cultural phenomenon.
The heroic qualities depicted in Romance of the Three Kingdoms make this period of history even more poetic and dramatic.
What similarities are there between the power struggles among the Three Kingdoms of Cao Wei, Shu Han and Eastern Wu and the political struggles we see today? During this period, Cao Cao, Liu Bei, and Sun Quan were all scheming for the prosperity of their countries, fighting against each other and constantly advancing their own interests. This article will review the basic structure of the Three Kingdoms and how each country strived to become strong and fight for the world.
Background and prelude to the establishment of the Three Kingdoms
The prelude to the Three Kingdoms period was closely related to bureaucratic corruption, natural disasters and man-made disasters. The outbreak of the Yellow Turban Rebellion in 184 AD was undoubtedly one of the turning points in this period of history. This rebellion, which was based on Taoism, not only made the common people feel desperate, but also provided an opportunity for local tyrants to rise.
The Rise of Cao Wei
Cao Cao's pragmatism and treachery made him the biggest warlord in the north where many heroes stood side by side. After many battles, he defeated Yuan Shao, who had several times more troops than him, in the Battle of Guandu in 200 AD and consolidated his control over the north. As Cao Cao gained control of the Central Plains, he laid a solid foundation for the later Cao Wei. Not only was he strategically wise, he also understood local governance. He used the military farming system to combine agriculture and the military, allowing the economy to continue to grow despite turmoil.
The "Order to Recruit Talents" proposed by Cao Cao also created a good atmosphere for the future civil service system.
Hardships and Struggles of Shu Han
Liu Bei's story is full of hardship and perseverance. After many defeats, he finally gathered a loyal army under stable conditions in the city. It was with the assistance of the outstanding military commander Zhuge Liang that Shu Han was established. Although Liu Bei failed to achieve his goal due to various reasons during the Northern Expeditions, they also injected him with bravery and prestige.
The wisdom and strategy of the Eastern Wu
Compared with Shu Han, Dong Wu was famous for its stable economy and naval superiority. Sun Quan was good at employing people and attached great importance to the use of the geographical environment. His naval tactics, especially those based on rivers, enabled him to gain a foothold in many conflicts with Cao Wei. However, not long after the peak of his rule, internal power struggles gradually caused unrest, which also laid the hidden dangers for this transfer of power.
The End of the Three Kingdoms Period
In 263, Wei defeated Shu Han, and then in 266 gradually eroded Eastern Wu and established its own rule. However, the story of the Three Kingdoms period did not end with this annexation, but instead triggered subsequent changes of dynasties. So much so that the most famous "Romance of the Three Kingdoms" in Chinese history emerged against this background, leaving behind a classic work.
This period of history seems to always be accompanied by feelings of heroism and loyalty, as if people have woven a huge web of corrupt human nature in their pursuit of power.
The Three Kingdoms period was not only a period of military and political confrontation, but also an era of cultural and ideological integration. It has left behind countless literary works, whether novels, dramas or movies, all of which vividly interpret this period of history. In this cultural soil, people reflect on that turbulent history: What is the most important thing in the game of power, and what will be the outcome of the struggle for power?
