Historical Context: Sun Quan Camp

Finally, the long-awaited appearance of Sun Quan!

Sun Quan is the ruler of Eastern Wu. He is a descendant of Sun Tze, the author of The Art of War. He was thrust into a leadership role after the death of his father and older brother. As a young ruler, he entrusted many matters to his faithful advisors. One story has it that he created a duplicate of his imperial seal so that one of his advisors could issue edicts on his behalf. This was not a sign of his incompetency; rather, it demonstrates his intelligence of choosing the right officials to handle different matters.

{1} 

Zhou Yu is an advisor to Sun Quan. His most famous battle was the Battle of the Red Cliffs, where he formulated the plan to destroy Cao Cao’s vastly superior forces. He was a vital figure in ensuring the survival of Eastern Wu. Despite his great talents, he was a humble man and remained loyal to Sun Quan and Eastern Wu. However, in Romance of the Three Kingdoms, he is depicted as beneath Zhuge Liang in both intelligence and character, prompting him to utter “既生瑜, 何生亮?”

Interesting Note: Zhou Yu and Sun Quan’s older brother married the Two Kiu sisters. Zhou Yu’s wife was the younger one, known as “Little Kiu” (小喬).

 



{2} {3}

Cheung Chiu is another adviser to Sun Quan. In ruling the state, Sun Quan would consult Zhou Yu on foreign matters and Cheung Chiu in domestic matters. Cheung Chiu was not afraid to criticize the wrongdoings of his lord. But it is because of this quality that he was never named chancellor of the state, as he is unwillingly to compromise.



{4}

Lo Suk (Lu Su) is a strategist. He was important in establishing and maintaining the Liu-Suen alliance. His grand plan for Eastern Wu had the same foresight as Zhuge Liang, in that it predicted the division of China into three states. Both plans saw Cao Cao as the biggest threat, so Zhuge Liang and Lo Suk persuaded their lords to ally with each other in the Battle of the Red Cliffs. Later in, Lu Su’s diplomacy helped maintain the friendly relationship.



Lu Mung is a military general in the Sun Quan camp. He is brave and careful tactician in battle. For example, in the Battle of the Red Cliffs, he suggested blocking the enemy’s retreat route with giant logs. He easily defeated the retreating Cao army and gained control of the area. Lu Mung is perhaps most famous for his role in the downfall of Kwan Yu by invading Jing Province.

 

Historical Context: Cao Cao Camp

Cao Cao is the leader of Cao Wei. He is revered for his military brilliance, but feared for his cruelty. For example, he massacred thousands of civilians as revenge for his father’s death. He essentially held Emperor Xian, the last ruler of the Han Dynasty, hostage to secure his power. This move is called 挟天子以令诸侯. However, it is interesting to note that Cao Cao vowed to never personally take the throne and end the Han Dynasty, because it is not honourable as he was a servant of the Han imperial court. He had no objections to his son, Cao Pi, completing the task though. 

Sun Yuk is the top strategist serving Cao Cao. On many occasions, he advised Cao Cao of threats and opportunities to securing the northern territory. For example, it was he who suggested using Emperor Xian as a puppet ruler. However, he fell out with Cao Cao later on and died shortly afterwards, never living to see the official establishment of the Cao Wei state.

Interesting Note: When Cao Cao met Sun Yuk, he remarked “This is my Chi-fong” in reference to Cheung Leung, the famous strategist for Liu Bong (founder of the Han Dynasty). In The Conqueror’s Story, Ram Chiang plays Cheung Leung, and now he plays Sun Yuk. Cao Cao, indeed, finds a Cheung Leung!



Xiahou Dun is a military general under Cao Cao. It is speculated that he is related to Cao Cao, as some accounts say Cao Cao’s original family name is Xiahou. Xiahou Dun is most widely depicted with an eye patch, after he lost his eye in battle. He is more known for his lost battles than victories, such as the Battle of Bowang where he lost to Liu Bei and Zhuge Liang despite commanding a much larger force.



Sima Yi is a politican in the Cao Wei state. He fought Zhuge Liang in the latter's Northern Expeditions. In the fifth (and last) battle, he was famously scared away by a dead Zhuge Liang (死諸葛嚇走活仲達). Sima Yi seized power from the Cao clan and his grandson officially ended the Cao Wei state to begin the Jin Dynasty.

Check out other Histoical Context posts!

Related:
Sun Quan camp
Liu Bei camp

Pictures:  TVB.com

Witness Insecurity Review

Producer: Lau Ka Ho
Genre: Modern, police
Cast: Bosco Wong, Linda Chung, Paul Chun, Ram Chiang

Plot:

Bosco is a Witness Protection Unit (WPU) officer assigned to protect Linda, the daughter of a rich businessman (Paul Chun). Linda has depression but she slowly opens up as she falls in love with Bosco. Paul Chun conducts business in questionable ways and has something to hide about his past. He will stop at nothing to protect this secret…

Review:

Hurrah, a new police show! Wrong. It is a family drama disguised as a police drama. I should have gotten the hint because the producer is Lau Ka Ho, aka Mr. Family Drama specialist. Now someone correct me if I’m wrong: Promotional clips showed two witnesses being killed shortly before a trial – one run over by a car and one thrown off a building. I never saw these scenes, or anything resembling it, in the entire series. False advertising? Yeah. Like I said, this is hardly a police drama. If you signed up for one, just watch the first and last five episodes and skip everything in between.

Well, at least those wishing to see romantic sparks between Bosco and Linda can rejoice? Err… First of all, they were never officially together. Second, I’m not sure if they were even that in love with each other. Linda has been isolated all her life until Bosco appears and he bears resemblance to her dead elder brother. She’s just channeling her emotions for her brother towards Bosco. As for Bosco, he didn’t have feelings for her at the beginning. I’m not sure how he realizes he loves her all of a sudden. If these two were truly in love with each other, Bosco’s struggle between love and righteousness (of bringing her father to justice) would have been much more intriguing. But here, there was never wasn’t difficulty in choosing.

So failed police show and failed romance story. What’s good? Ram Chiang was definitely a highlight. He was hilarious every time he appeared. The investigation into Paul Chun’s past was also very interesting. They should have made that part longer. Maybe more people involved, more action of him trying to kill Bosco, or even how he tries to fight off the charges instead of meekly giving in to his conscience (because the shady businessman is not supposed to be like that). Just please don’t give me more Linda crying/agonzing scenes.

Linda has been in 5 recent series, so some people complained about being tired of seeing her. Yes, especially when she is crying all the time. Seriously, she needs a different role, like evil or something, and not always playing the weak girl. Bosco makes me laugh whenever he stands politely holding his hands in front of him. It makes him look like a servant instead of a respectable police officer.

The ending… watch it yourself, I don’t want to spoil it. Don’t understand how they would let him walk away like that. And there was no reason for them to do that either.

Recommendation: Time filler. 3/5




Check out an article about TVB Police Shows!

Historical Context: Battle of Jiangxia

Pierre Ngo as Sun Quan {1}

In episode 8 of Three Kingdoms RPG, there is mention about the death of Wong Jo, a general serving under Liu Biu (the governor of Jing Province). We don’t see any battle scenes, but this is actually reference to the Battle of Jiangxia (江夏之戰).

The Battle of Jiangxia was between Sun Quan’s forces and Wong Jo. Sun Quan desperately wanted to get avenge his father’s death at the hands of Wong Jo. He had previously launched an attack in the same vicinity, known as the Battle of Xiahou (夏口之戰), but it ended inconclusively.

The battle did not start off well for Wong Jo. He had sent one of his generals to scout the area, but coincidentally, one of Sun Quan’s generals was also surveying the area at the same time. Despite fighting with only a few dozen men , Sun Quan’s general killed Wong Jo’s general and captured his men.

Learning of this, Wong Jo quickly ordered two large ships to block the river. There was a standoff between Wong Jo and Sun Quan’s ships. But Sun Quan’s ships were suffering heavy damages because Wong Jo had men positioned atop the cliffs to launch rocks and arrows from above.

Seeing this, Sun Quan’s strategist, Zhou Yu, had a hundred brave soldiers put on heavy armour and charge through the barrage of rocks. They successfully destroyed the connection between Wong Jo’s two ships. Subsequently, another one of Wong Jo’s general was killed. Wong Jo's numerically superior army had lost to Sun Quan’s smaller force.

Wong Jo, who had been stationed in the city during the battle, was killed in his flee out of the city. Sun Quan finally succeeded in seeking revenge for his father and presented Wong Jo’s head at his father’s grave.

The Aftermath

Lau Kei was the eldest son of Liu Biu. Fearing that he was being plotted against by his brother Lau Chung and step-mother Lady Choi, he sought help from Zhuge Liang. However, Zhuge Liang didn’t seem to want to help him. So Lau Kei lured him to the attic and removed the ladder.  Safely away from prying ears, Zhuge Liang advises Lau Kei to take over Wong Jo’s position in Jiangxia. This becomes one of the 36 Stratagems, 上屋抽梯 (literally ascend to the roof, remove the ladder).

With the able general Wong Jo out of the picture and the pending death of Liu Biu, Jing Province will eventually fall to Cao Cao.

Jack Wu (second from left) plays Lau Kei. 

Check out other Historical Context posts!