A Prisoner Exchange

Chapters 71-73

We start this week with Cao Cao. First, he visits with a wealthy woman at “Indigo Field.” She was once captured and violated by the northern tribes. While there, she gave birth to two children and wrote “Eighteen Tunes for Foreign Flute” (p. 1275). We learn that Cao Cao is the one who ransomed her, putting a sentimental view on the villain. Later, we see a prisoner exchange between Cao Cao and Xuande. It’s a fun scene: the prisoners are “dressed in ordinary clothes. At the sound of the drums, the prisoners dashed across the field to their own sides.” (p. 1279). Eventually, Cao Cao loses a bunch of battles and is forced to make a major retreat. One of his advisors, who had long bothered Cao Cao with his interpretations of Cao Cao’s most cryptic orders, is executed.

This gives space for Xuande to finally become king. His letter to the Emperor about accepting the crown is quoted in full. It seems like a real document from the period, since its tone is not consistent with the character of our story otherwise. It sounds more like a warlord than the noble we expect from Liu Bei.

We end with Lord Guan, who must fend off an alliance between Sun Quan and Cao Cao. So far, he is doing well. But it looks like he could have avoided the whole thing if he had accepted a marriage proposal for his daughter. This is quoted on the flavor text on the Magic card for Zhuge Jin. We are getting the sense that Lord Guan is not making his best decisions these days (although so far, he has been victorious).