Three Kingdoms Volume 13

From the time Bei Liu swore to defend his nation, he has learned to rely on a handful of people to help him survive. But as his power grows, so do the number of people who surround him?some by choice and some by arrangement. Bei Liu is wary of new allies, but he will soon learn that sometimes people are a whole lot more valuable than they seem.

Three armies. Thousands of ships. Millions of soldiers. Decades of war come to a head when Bei Liu and Quan Sun form a tentative alliance to do battle against Cao Cao at Red Cliffs. The all-or-nothing outcome means that the victor will have the upper hand in the struggle for the throne. But it also means that a single miscalculation can have devastating consequences.

Bei Liu was homeless and nearly powerless when he took a risk and asked Liang ZhuGe to be his senior military strategist. But the gamble has more than paid off. Liang ZhuGe has already changed the balance of power between the three kingdoms, and he will soon prove that some battles can be won without weapons.

"Containing the last 60 chapters of this epic Chinese work, ably translated by Brewitt-Taylor. In this second volume, we learn more of the rise of Jin, the fates of Cao Cao, Liu Bei and Sun Quan, and how the near-century of strife caused by the fall of Han came to a close."--Back cover.

“A material epic with an astonishing fidelity to history."—New York Times Book Review Three Kingdoms tells the story of the fateful last reign of the Han dynasty (206 B.C.–A.D. 220), when the Chinese empire was divided into three warring kingdoms. Writing some twelve hundred years later, the Ming author Luo Guanzhong drew on histories, dramas, and poems portraying the crisis to fashion a sophisticated, compelling narrative that has become the Chinese national epic. This abridged edition captures the novel's intimate and unsparing view of how power is wielded, how diplomacy is conducted, and how wars are planned and fought. As important for Chinese culture as the Homeric epics have been for the West, this Ming dynasty masterpiece continues to be widely influential in China, Korea, Japan, and Vietnam and remains a great work of world literature.

Bei Liu has chosen to challenge Cao Cao for the role of the most powerful man in China. But on the eve of battle, Bei Liu?s ally, Shao Yuan, fails to support him, and Bei Liu must run for his life. This leaves Yu Guan alone to fend for himself against Cao Cao, who is keen to have a man of his courage and honor on his side. Can Cao Cao convince Yu Guan to change allegiance? Can Yu Guan serve two masters? What will happen when a decision is made?

Six years ago, Bei Liu was told of a plan that would allow him to one day win control of China and restore greatness to his beloved homeland. Now he is within reach of his goal, but he will discover that the closer he gets, the longer his list of adversaries, for nothing binds people together quite like a common enemy.

Bei Liu continues to grow stronger, yet he refuses to listen to his advisors when they urge him to set aside morality and do what needs to be done to save the nation. But the path to power does not follow a high road, and soon Bei Liu will confront betrayal that will tear more than one life apart.