Chapter Five, The Young Girl and the Romance of the Three Kingdoms
Warm wine to slay Hua Xiong
Zuo Xiao smiled slightly, took a bite of ice cream, and said: "But the stories told in 'Romance of the Three Kingdoms' should not be taken seriously. Just consider it as reading a novel; finding it interesting is enough"
... ...
I have heard of it
It turns out that "Romance of the Three Kingdoms" is not history! The young girl let out a sound of surprise, inevitably feeling a bit disappointed: "So the story about quenching thirst by thinking of plums in the textbook isn't true either?"
Hmm," the girl nodded, unable to hide her disappointment, "but I have searched many places and still haven't found anything
Zuo Xiao You Wei Nai smiled and said: "The Romance of the Three Kingdoms mentions eighteen warlords, but historically, there were not that many. However, this is not important; what matters is that one of the warlords mentioned in the novel is Gongsun Zan, the governor of Beiping. Gongsun Zan was a classmate of Liu Bei, which you can understand as being like elementary school classmates. At that time, Liu Bei was just hanging around with Gongsun Zan, but in history, Gongsun Zan did not participate in the warlords' campaign against Dong Zhuo. This indirectly proves that Liu Bei did not participate in this campaign either." At that time, Liu Bei was just hanging around with Gongsun Zan, but in history, Gongsun Zan did not participate in the warlords' campaign against Dong Zhuo. This indirectly proves that Liu Bei did not participate in this campaign either.
I see! The young girl could hardly conceal her disappointment
There are very few vernacular versions. Old Sun said: "Without a comparison to the original text, it is difficult to understand the meaning of the original. Only those without much knowledge would read such versions... Little girl, I am not referring to you.
Seeing the girl with a face full of disappointment, Zuo Xiaoyou took a copy of the original "Romance of the Three Kingdoms" from the bookshelf and handed it to her, saying, "If you want to learn more about the content of the "Romance of the Three Kingdoms," I can explain it to you."
The Three Heroes Battle Lü Bu
Ah? The young girl was astonished: "Is it all fake?"
Isn't this too imprecise
In simple terms, "Romance of the Three Kingdoms" is a historical novel that features real people and events; however, the detailed plot is largely fabricated and should not be regarded as historical fact
Zuo Xiao You coughed lightly and said: "Because the phrase 'to quench thirst by imagining plums' originates from the literary records of the Song Dynasty, I cannot be certain whether this event truly occurred in history. However, since there are literary records, we shall consider it to be true for the time being"
Indeed, "The Romance of the Three Kingdoms" narrates the story of the three factions of Wei, Shu, and Wu from their establishment to their eventual fate, with Liu Bei, the founder of the Shu faction, serving as the leader of this group
Consider this: if there were no "Romance of the Three Kingdoms," who would pay attention to this period of history? Who would care about the figures that emerged from this era? Take yourself as an example; if you had not read a small segment of the story in "Romance of the Three Kingdoms," would you have any interest in learning about this historical period?
"How could the battle of the three heroes against Lü Bu be fake?" The young girl seemed quite concerned about this issue, her tone a bit agitated
It cannot be said to be entirely fabricated; it has borrowed to some extent from historical facts.
I cannot say for certain about this. Left Xiao and Right Wei smiled slightly: This story originates from Liu Yiqing's "Shishuo Xinyu: False Deception" from the Southern Dynasties, Song Dynasty. The content is roughly as follows: During a military campaign by Wei Wu, they lost their way and the entire army was thirsty. Therefore, an order was given: 'Ahead there is a large plum grove, abundant in sweet and sour fruits that can quench thirst.' Upon hearing this, the soldiers' mouths all watered, and they were able to reach the source ahead.
Thank you. Left small, right smile.
So you want to buy a vernacular version, is that right? Left Xiao You smiled and said
Hmm. Left and right stopped, sighed: "Unfortunately, all of this is fake"
Indeed not
The girl appears to be around fourteen or fifteen years old, standing just over 1.5 meters tall. Her budding beauty is beginning to blossom, with her hair all gathered at the back of her head, revealing a full forehead and relatively delicate features
Luo Guanzhong, the author of the novel "Romance of the Three Kingdoms," is clearly a literati. He naturally preferred a ruler like Liu Bei, which is why "Romance of the Three Kingdoms" is entirely a novel that venerates Liu and disparages Cao. If you think about it carefully, if Liu Bei's faction were truly as formidable as depicted in the novel, they would have unified the Three Kingdoms long ago, and would not have been defeated by Wei and Jin, leading to their demise in the second generation.
I will keep an eye on it for you! Lao Sun said: "But this kind of book sells too slowly, so I cannot guarantee it."
The girl wrinkled her nose: "Alright! Although the story is false, the characters are all real."
Oh, I see. The young girl suddenly realized and then eagerly asked, "Since this event has occurred in history, why wasn't there a battle between the Three Heroes and Lü Bu?"
The young girl thought for a moment and nodded: "Well then! Let us consider that this story has indeed occurred in history."
Zuo Xiao and You Xiaoxiao did not defend Cao Cao and continued, "After Cao Cao escaped back to his hometown in Chenliu, he spent all his family wealth to recruit soldiers and raise an army, while simultaneously calling upon the heroes of the world to join forces against Dong Zhuo. Subsequently, the feudal lords convened at Suanzhao, and this event is referred to as the Feudal Lords' Campaign against Dong. The battle of the Three Heroes against Lü Bu occurred during the course of this campaign against Dong."
The young girl shook her head honestly
The young girl blinked her eyes, seemingly filled with a hint of admiration: "What you said is truly wonderful"
... ...
"Do not take history too seriously; if you do, you will lose." Zuo Xiaoyou shook his head and said, "The general outline of history may be correct, but no one can clearly articulate the detailed content. When it comes to science, we must be pragmatic and realistic, but when it comes to history, it is sufficient to be approximately correct."
The Liu Bei Group? I have heard about the girl in front, but I became interested in the latter part of that sentence
"Do you like this kind of book?" asked Zuo Xiao, looking at the girl from left to right.
Hehe... Left Xiao pointed at the original version of "Romance of the Three Kingdoms" in the girl's hand and said: "You can take a look at the content inside. How many factions of warlords are there in total that rose against Dong Zhuo?"
What historical period is known as the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms? asked the young girl
Oh, the Liu Bei group is the Shu Kingdom established by Liu Bei! The young girl fully understood, her tone filled with deep disappointment: "I didn't expect that so many legendary stories were all fabricated."
The young girl rolled her eyes back and asked, "So can I still buy the vernacular version here in the future?"
Borrowing the East Wind
The young girl finally understood the charm of Zuo Xiaoyou's wit, and couldn't help but chuckle, her eyes curving beautifully.
Don't get me wrong," said Zuo Xiaoyou, shrugging his shoulders and making a face, "I'm not a good person.
I have heard of it
I will ask you a few questions. "Zuo Xiaoyou looked into the girl's eyes and said: 'Have you heard of the Oath of the Peach Garden?"
Liu Bei was able to rise from a humble background as a mat weaver and sandal seller to become the founding emperor of a nation. He had the support of the Five Tiger Generals, namely Zhang, Zhao, Ma, and Huang, as well as strategists like Zhuge Liang and Pang Tong. Notably, his three visits to the thatched cottage to invite Zhuge Liang out of retirement and the establishment of the Shu Han dynasty make him the most ideal monarch in the hearts of scholars throughout the world
I don't know. The young girl shook her head; she was not familiar with the Romance of the Three Kingdoms. Many of the stories were hearsay, and she only knew a few fragments. However, how they all connect together? That was unclear to her
"It is all false," said Zuo Xiaoyou with certainty. "In history, these events never occurred... Oh, the oath of brotherhood among Liu, Guan, and Zhang is true, but whether there was a Peach Garden is unknown."
After explaining the meaning of this classical Chinese text, the young girl suddenly realized: "It's quite similar to what is mentioned in our textbook!"
It is originally a story, of course, it is quite similar
The young girl was taken aback, with a hint of caution: "You ... ... "
Hahaha ... ...
After a pause, seeing that the young girl had calmed down, Zuo Xiaoyou continued, "Do you know the historical context in which the battle of the three heroes against Lü Bu took place?"
In an ice cream shop, Left Xiao You and the young girl sat facing each other, enjoying ice cream while Left Xiao You explained the background of "Romance of the Three Kingdoms" to the girl
Overcoming five passes and slaying six generals
"What contribution can a book make?" the girl asked, puzzled
... ...
So this sentence came from here! The young girl was astonished and indignantly said: "Cao Cao is truly a villain"
You see, as Xiao Youdao said: "Even you, a middle school student, do not know this, let alone those uncultured people. Therefore, the Romance of the Three Kingdoms still holds value, as it at least allows people to understand this period of history"
Hahaha... Old Sun laughed heartily, choking on his saliva, and coughed a bit: "You really are not a good person, are you?"
This incident occurred against the backdrop of the lords' campaign against Dong Zhuo. Zuo Xiaoyou explained: At that time, Cao Cao's assassination attempt on Dong Zhuo had failed, and he fled all the way back to his hometown. At this point, Zuo Xiaoyou interjected another event: During his escape, Cao Cao encountered the family of Lü Boshe, which led to the tragic mistake of Cao Cao killing Lü Boshe's family, and he uttered the famous saying: 'I would rather betray the world than let the world betray me'.
Oh
This is it. Left Xiaoyou smiled and said: "If it were not for the Romance of the Three Kingdoms, this period of history would be as neglected as the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms."
But I did not understand
The skin does not appear fair; rather, it has a slightly darker tone. This is likely due to frequent sun exposure, but it does not detract from the youthful charm of the girl; instead, it adds a touch more of healthy vitality.
"I really like it!" said the young girl, "Recently, there was an excerpt from 'Romance of the Three Kingdoms' in our textbook that I enjoyed very much. I wanted to learn more about it, but I visited several bookstores and found only the classical Chinese version of 'Romance of the Three Kingdoms,' which I cannot understand at all."
Oh dear! Young lady, you have come at an unfortunate time; the vernacular edition of "Romance of the Three Kingdoms" has just sold out a few days ago" Old Sun replied with great regret
No," the girl shook her head, "I will look at it myself
When discussing "Romance of the Three Kingdoms," we must first understand what kind of book it is. At the same time, we should recognize that "Romance of the Three Kingdoms" is not a historical account, but rather a popularized novel based on historical events that occurred during this period.
I have heard of it
Taking a step back, even if Liu, Guan, and Zhang had truly participated, given their humble status, it would have been impossible for them to have the opportunity to achieve any notable accomplishments. The so-called "Three Heroes Battling Lü Bu" is merely a fabricated tale by Luo Guanzhong to embellish the Liu Bei faction.
I will look at this later. The young girl put "Romance of the Three Kingdoms" into her backpack and smiled at Zuo Xiaoyou, saying: "Brother Zuo, can you tell me how many warlords there are in total?"
I have heard of it as well the young girl nodded
Zuo Xiaoyou glared at him and said: "Isn't it just a matter of haggling a bit with you! Is this how you retaliate against me?"
Is "Romance of the Three Kingdoms" really that fake? The young girl is very curious
"What do you want to buy this book for?" Zuo Xiaoyou was a bit curious, as it is mostly men who read "Romance of the Three Kingdoms," with very few women interested in it. Zuo Xiaoyou speculated, "Is it for someone else?"
Currently, Hong Kong is under British rule, with a relatively advanced level of science and education. The most important aspect of science and education is rigor. The response from Zuo Xiaoyou did not satisfy the young girl.
"Do not be agitated," said Zuo Xiaoyou with a smile. "Did I not tell you before? 'Romance of the Three Kingdoms' is a historical novel, not a factual history. Most of the stories within are fabricated, yet they are crafted so brilliantly that many people believe these events actually occurred in history"
I have heard of it. The young girl nodded: "Liu Bei, Guan Yu, and Zhang Fei, the Oath of the Peach Garden."