Leaves of Jujube Trees

Chapters 13-14

The Emperor is so miserable in these chapters that we sympathize with how he turns to Cao Cao. We see the Emperor fleeing from armies and find a town with no room for him at the inn. As his courtiers escape by tying silks together so they can lower themselves onto boats (a nice image). Then some of the courtiers have their fingers severed as they try to escape (another memorable image, if not as pleasant). Famine returns, this time “people were reduced to eating the leaves of jujube trees.” (p. 222, a quote from the Magic card flavor text). The men who had captured him turn on each other (I had guessed they would), and are eventually defeated so badly that they need to flee to the mountains. 

The Emperor is relieved when Cao Cao rescues him and takes control. The stars and the elements are on his side (we learn there are five elements: fire, water, earth, metal, and wood, p. 231). The astronomer tells him the good news that earth, the symbol of Wei, will replace fire, the symbol of Han. Cao Cao may not have the Imperial Seal that Sun Qian had earlier, but he believes he has some kind of mandate.

There is a brief story at the end where we finally see some weakness from the brothers of the Peach Garden Oath. Zhang Fei drinks too much! It’s a shame, he is the most fun of the three so far. It looks like it could be the seed of their eventual downfall. But we’ve still got a long way to go.