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eigwayne · 2 years

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Picked up Rebirth for You again. I know this show has bad reviews for being nonsensical so I’m not expecting much. And like, parts are okay, and parts are like, ugh that was just moronic.

Cutting for spoilers. Some good points at the end but I need to vent first:

Baoning was kind of okay at first but her petulance is getting old; I know Ju Jingyi isn’t famous for her acting skill but I saw Legend of White Snake, I know she can lift her chin and not pout, at least. And she wants to be free of the emperor but whenever she’s inconvenienced, she runs back to him to throw his weight around. No wonder he hasn’t backed off yet, he clearly thinks she values him. And she already knows she’s into Li Qian but she isn’t willing to speak up for herself or him at all? He’s got a small army and a father who can send more troops if he needs them, he’s clearly not a complete nobody. If she stopped lying to her grandma about it, grandma might be willing to look into him and support Baoning in getting him out of the Dowager Empress’s control.

Not a huge fan of how she’s leading Zhao Xiao on at the moment, either. I know he turns into the villain later so something is going to sour, but for now? He’s got a crush on a girl and she’s willing to marry him, so he’s stoked. He’s willing to fight for Baoning’s hand, even if it’s against the Emperor. He’s doing nothing wrong and doesn’t realize something’s wrong on her end. Because she didn’t tell him. She’s not into him, her grandma gave her an out, and she didn’t take it. Right now, she’s setting up her own unhappiness and taking him down with her, and I can’t feel sorry for her.

Also, not sure why the show is setting up the duel against an injured Zhao Xiao and the Yongqing prince (love rival #4, by the way, and we’re only on ep 9). Wouldn’t it have been better for Li Qian (who is not injured) to sub in for Zhao Xiao (who was recently STABBED)? The drama of one partner fighting for the other is superb, just look at Hao Du and Leyan in The Long Ballad. Instead they’re deflecting to Zhao Xiao, which takes a prime opportunity for Li Qian and gives it to someone else.

(Granted, it would make far more sense for Known Suitor Zhao Xiao to fight the duel, if he were at full strength. But he’s not, and they had an out and didn’t take it. This is like, the show of wasted opportunities. I thought I wasn’t watching Gundam Seed Destiny again but maybe I should check the headers.)

Plus sides? Li Qian hasn’t gotten to do that much but Joseph Zeng is performing him adequately and I do like him. His side-plot was set up as the main plot in the first ep, and while it is taking a backseat a bit, it’s still the driving force so far and is far more interesting than Baoning’s Reverse Harem Goes Wrong. Wang Zhuocheng is doing well too! He sometimes chews the scenery a bit in other shows (I loved him as Jiang Cheng but he was Acting instead of acting sometimes), but he’s been good so far and his puppy eyes at Baoning are Grade A. And Ju Jingyi’s stupidly dangly headpieces may be elaborate-in-the-wrong-way in this setting but they’re nice inspiration for First Age Tolkien elves, who are renowned for their sparklies~

#Currently Watching #tl;dr #this show is wasting it's potential like it's gundam seed destiny #baoning is bringing her love troubles on herself #so no pity for her #give baoning's hairpieces to finrod felagund!#wang zhuocheng serving a+ lovestruck looks~#li qian and zhao xiao should just run away together or something

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gege · 6 months

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Hiii, how are you? I hope you are doing ok! <3 sending love and hugs. I wanted to ask you... i think i remember something about tgcf having live action adaptation. Was that real or was just a dream i had or something? If it's real do you know if we will have it or what happened to the project? Idk if my mind made that up! sorry and thanks :)

Hiii Anon!

No, it's not some mad collective fever dream we all had, they really did film it (6 months of shooting between July 2021 and January 2022). Native title is 吉星高照 (Ji Xing Gao Zhao) English title is Eternal Faith.

If we ever get to see it is another matter, i probably don't need to say the main reason is because it's a danmei adaptation - it'll have a harder time passing the censors than the average cdrama. Since the popularity of other dangais it seems the censors have become stricter in any case. Job one is always going to be passing the censors.

While checking chinese websites and articles I did find several sources of a rumour that the site security punched a girl who was visiting the set. I can't vouch for the reliability of this but anything that can potentially attract criticism can delay a cdrama release further. Other criticisms include the casting of the male leads, how cheap the set design and costuming look, and a cancelled actress who may have to remain uncredited.

So it will need to satisfy the censors in order to be relased, as well as satisfy the general public and tgcf fans to be worth releasing and I'm not sure if it can do it all. If all goes well and it does ever pass censorship, we won't get a release date in advance. I don't know if you've ever experienced waiting for a cdrama release but you will not get much warning when it airs. It will likey drop with a couple days warning in form of internet rumours, or just completely out of the blue.

HAVING SAID THAT - another rumour is that a full costume bl drama like the untamed will be released internationally in Sept 2024, bypassing a Chinese release. It's just a rumour but it does make this webpage very interesting! But please remember everything above and not get too excited just yet 😂.

I'm gonna share some set photos just because 😍

Zhai Xiaowen as Xie Lian

Zhang Linghe as Hua Cheng/San Lang/Crimson Rain Sought Flower

Chang Huasen as Shi Qingxuan/Wind Master & Tian Xuning as He Xuan/Ming Yi/Earth Master

Vin Zheng as Nan Feng & Li Fancheng as Fu Yao (+ bonus Wind Master)

Liu Lingzi as Xuan Ji

Liu Jinyan as Ling Wen & Wang Yueyi as Female Wind Master

Xiao Kaizhong as Feng Xin/Nan Yang & Cai Yao as Mu Qing/Xuan Zhen

Bian Tianyang as Qi Rong/Prince Xiao Jing/Green Ghost

Lu Yuxiao as Yushi Hung/Rain Master. She played Shangguan Qian in My Journey to You, but as she was fairly unknown at the time of filming jxgz so there are no photos to be found of her as Rain Master 😩.

Anyway, let's all quietly try to will this into existence with physic powers etc.

Thanks for sending me an ask, have a lovely day anon!

(∩^o^)⊃━☆

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starcrossed591 · 5 months

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CDrama Year in Review 2023

I'm still very much a CDrama beginner--I just started watching them in the summer of 2022--but since this is the first year I got into them in earnest, I figured I might as well do a year in review a la @dangermousie (whose lists I have found incredibly helpful in deciding which CDramas I really, really need to go back and watch as part of my CDrama education--so thank you!). So, without further adieu, here is my ranking of 2023 CDramas, in order of least enjoyed to most enjoyed*.

(See also: KDrama Year in Review 2023)

*Disclaimer: *not* a measure of objective quality

10. Royal Rumours: This drama was not great? Meng Zi Yi and Jeremy Tsui were fun, but the story started out messy and got messier. For some reason I still finished it, I think because I had a lingering cold and it was all my brain could handle at the time *shrug*

9. Gone with the Rain: I actually really enjoyed this one! The pacing was inconsistent, but Zhang Nan was fun as the irreverent Mo Xi, and we love a grizzled general. Special shout to the teacher who was not actually evil, just a sad lesbian whose gf disappeared on her

8. Love You Seven Times: Intriguing concept, not a strong enough FL to carry it through. The reincarnation stuff really worked for me at first, especially in their first mortal tribulation (as people, not CGI animals), but I got tired of it pretty quickly. I admit, the gifs of Ding Yu Xi as a sexy cat demon *did* pull me back in, but not enough for me to actually finish the thing, alas

7. Destined/Chang Feng Du: Started out really strong, and then stalled out on me. I think I only got up to about episode 22 or so, after their epic desert crossing and new start in a new state--they lost all narrative momentum for me there. I stopped watching and then just...didn't start again. I do, however, remain a big Bai Jing Ting fan, and will be keeping on eye out for whatever he does next

6. Hidden Love: (Contemporary) Age gap romances are hit or miss for me, but Zhao Lu Si absolutely stole/carried the show for me in this one. Although more fun imo when the main couple are in the the will-they-won't-they phase than in the family melodrama after they get together, still the only contemporary CDrama to get me to give it a go this year--and I'm glad I did

5. My Journey to You: Featuring my favorite murder girlies Esther Yu as Yun Wei Shan and Lu Yu Xiao as Shanguan Qian! Gorgeous costumes and sets, sweeping cinematography, and plot that kept me on the edge of my seat. Full disclosure, I have not actually watched the last two episodes because I got busy and then saw weird chatter about them, so I have no comment on the allegedly weird ending

4. Till the End of the Moon: Look, I know the ending wasn't ideal, but for the majority of its run, this drama owned my entire soul. It also introduced me to Bai Lu as Li Su Su, who inspired my first actual tumblr post (that wasn't a reblog) because I was so obsessed with her. And everyone knows that Tantai Jin is the CDrama ML of the year. 10/10, no regrets at letting it take over my life (and the OST my Spotify) from April to May of this year

3. The Story of Kunning Palace: More Bai Lu is always a good thing, and she's extra fun here as the transmigrated former evil empress and totally-over-your-nonsense Xiang Xue Ning here. The reverse haremness of it all totally shows why Bai Lu is the chemistry queen, especially with the princess (Liu Xie Ning) and cranky, morally grey, would-fail-gym-class strategist Xie Wie (Zhang Ling He). So glad this drama made it out of the CDrama vault and didn't languish indefinitely in censorship hell

2. A Journey to Love: Finished this one two days ago as of this writing and am still not normal about it. Ren Ruyi (Liu Shi Shi) and Ning Yuan Zhou (Liu Yu Ning) lead an exceptionally strong ensemble cast in this wuxia that explores the complicated relationships between love, duty, loyalty, loneliness, and companionship. Ruyi and Yuan Zhou are far and away one of my fave OTPs of the year, but just as compelling are the relationships between friends/brothers/fellow assassins Yu Shisan, Yuan Lu (ugh my heart), Qian Zhou, and Sun Lang. This drama definitely has one of the strongest ensemble casts of the year. And the character growth of Yang Ying from little princess abandoned in the cold palace to who she becomes by the end will stick with me for a long time. Plus another 10/10 OST!

1. Lost You Forever S1: I'm not normally a reverse harem girl, but the longing, loss, and hard resolve portrayed to perfection by Yang Zi as Xiao Yao really did it for me here. This whole drama struck an emotional chord for me, and where TTEOTM consumed my soul, LYF took over my heart. Xiao Yao's relationships with her power hungry, overprotective cousin Cang Xuan; hot snake demon Xiang Liu/playboy archery shufu Feng Feng Bei; and perfectly devoted Tushan Jing are all equally compelling to me, and while I may know who she ends up with in the end, who I *think* she should be with changes based on who's on screen at any given time. And A'Nian, my favorite bratty princess who really just needs some strong parenting, holds a special place in my heart. I know we may never get S2, and even if we do, censorship means it probably won't be what the drama makers are capable of, but I'm so glad for this little piece of absolute perfection. And, again, a top notch OST!

Fave Drama: Lost You Forever, by just a hair over A Journey to Love. See above.

Least Fave Drama: Royal Rumours--truly why did I finish this, what was past me thinking

Biggest Disappointment: 2023 is also the year I read Dreamer in the Spring Boudoir, my very first CNovel! But then I didn't even bother checking out its adaptation, Romance of a Twin Flower, because it got rid of everything that made the novel such an addicting read, including a brilliant, strategic, ice cold FL and an ML who actually kind of sucked at the beginning, only to grow on you very, very slowly over time. I'm grateful that the chatter around the drama is what brought the novel to my attention, but other than that, hard pass.

Favorite Male Character: Lots of good ones this year, but I'm gonna go with Cang Xuan (Zhang Wan Yi) from Lost You Forever. The conflict he faces between getting enough power to protect the people he loves the most and that power making him incompatible with those loved ones is so compelling, and his yearning for Xiao Yao even when she's right in front of him is wrenching. Full disclosure, I also just really love the sound of his voice

Favorite Female Character: This could easily have gone to Li Susu (TTEOTM), Xiao Yao (LYF), or Ren Ruyi (AJTL), but I'm gonna go with Bai Lu's Xiang Xue Ning in The Story of Kunning Palace. Something I really loved about this character was just how jaded Xue Ning really was, even in her second go round at life. Yeah, she wants to make amends for the harm done in her previous rise to power, but that has hardly turned her into a good--or even pleasant--person. Instead, she's incredibly skeptical and still plays most things ice cold, especially with her family. As a bonus, we got plenty of Bai Lu's fantastic side eye as she basically had to do high school all over again when she gets called into the palace despite her very best efforts not to be.

Favorite Ship: Ren Ruyi and Yuan Zhao from A Journey to Love have got to be it. They balance each other out so well, and over the course of the drama, learn to communicate effectively with each other whenever they have a problem. They also recognize that not all problems can be solved by ~love~, which makes their relationship even more compelling when they decide to prioritize each other in a way that respects what the other wants from life.

Favorite Secondary Ship: Little princess Yang Ying and Yuan Lu absolutely broke stole my heart in A Journey to Love. Doomed love even more than the main OTP, these two's youthful romance was such much fun to watch, especially as they egged their respective mentors on in their own romance. Yang Ying's recognition that her first love did not have to be her only love is also something I always love to see, even as it broke my heart that (spoiler) she and Yuan Lu never really had a chance at an HEA. Their relationship really exemplified a key theme of this drama: that you should love the people you love while they're still with you because tomorrow is never promised.

Non-2023 Dramas that I Watched: Two non-2023 dramas I watched that deserve a special shout out are Love and Redemption and The Sword and the Brocade. Love and Redemption prepared me to really appreciate the big swings that Till the End of the Moon took, and The Sword and the Brocade went a little way to filling the Story of Ming Lan shaped hole in my heart. The Sword and the Brocade also had absolutely searing critique of the concubine system, even as it featured one of the most genuinely good-hearted FLs I've seen. Would recommend both!

Most Looking Forward To: Yes, I'm a sucker and the censors (not to mention the characters) will probably break my heart, but I'm still crossing my fingers that Lost You Forever S2 will live up to the promise of part one. See above: still a CDrama beginner, have not yet had all the optimism knocked out of me. Sue me.

#CDrama #year in review #Lost You Forever #A Journey to Love #The Story of Kunning Palace #My Journey to You #Hidden Love #Chang Feng Du #Destined CDrama #Till the End of the Moon #Love You Seven Times #Gone with the Rain #Ren Ruyi #Yang Ying #Yuan Lu #Bai Lu #Meta #CDrama Review

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rose-tinted-vision · 22 days

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WIP Wednesday

Mysterious lotus casebook (Fanghua)

“Curses dont exist, Fang Xiaobao, I’ll be fine.” Li Lianhua waves dismissively, taking a bite of the scallion pancake, “this pancake tastes like any other pancake.” “They use the freshest scallions, plucked from their own field, and it’s fried with the minimum amount of oil so- don’t try to change the subject!” Fang Xiaobao scowls, “are you sure you feel fine?” “Its placebo, don’t you think? As long as you don’t believe in luck, you won’t have bad luck. People’s so-called curses won’t work on you either.”

A journey to love/I am Nobody crossover (Qian Zhao & Xu San centric)

clarification that Xu San is basically Qian Zhao, who has been cursed with immortality

Xu Si still remembers the name that Xu San had introduced himself with when they first met. Sun Yuanzhou. He had searched it up in historical records, online, had pleaded with Er Zhuang to look into it only to turn up with nothing. It confirmed his suspicions that it was a fake identity, if nothing else. Just as Xu San was not his real name, Sun Yuanzhou was not either. He briefly wonders just how many identities his “San-ge” had cycled through, how many people he had sent off in his very long life.

Tiger and Crane (Wang Yuqian/Xiao Yunzi)

“have you made up your mind?” It was not the first time Xiao Yunzi had asked Yuqian the same question. He knows that his Prince was a flighty person, easily swayed and prone to acts of spontaneity. He could let most things slide– going along with the Prince’s pace was easier than trying to stop him– but there were certain things he had to draw the line at. Especially when it came to matters of the state. The first time he asked the question was when his Prince had voiced his wish to escape.

#mysterious lotus casebook #i am nobody #tiger and crane #rose writes #revisiting some old docs to dust them off #only to stumble across some stuff that made me go like ??? what is the meaning of this past me??#the ajtl x yrzx crossover is incredibly niche but im excited to write it all the same #once im done with all my fills #also t&c fandom??? also an incredibly niche audience but i enjoyed writing wangxiao or whatever their ship name is

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baifengxis · 2 years

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endless gifsets of cdrama ladies ★ [43/?]

ZHAO LUSI 赵露思 & WEI XIAO 魏笑 as CHEN QIAN QIAN & LIN QI THE ROMANCE OF TIGER AND ROSE 传闻中的陈芊芊 (2020)

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kdram-chjh · 3 months

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Cdrama: Till The End of The Moon (2023)

This duo 👏 #tilltheendofthemoon #长月烬明 #luoyunxi #leoluo #bailu #Shorts #cdrama #cdramas

Watch this video on Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/shorts/FN3yp-Z4XDE

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movielosophy · 2 years

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A Dream of Splendor ~ Okay, this is somehow...romantic

#haha #A Dream of Splendor #cdrama #A Dream of Splendor ep19 #liu yifei #liu yi fei #crystal liu #character: zhao pan'er #chen xiao #character: gu qian fan

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bean-in-dice · 6 months

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Journey to Love Thoughts

Ep 4

1. I can usually absorb information at a fast pace so I normally watch everything on 2x, but I can't even 1.5x this one. There's SO much happening every second! Not a single moment is wasted.

2. The Powerpuff Bois are VERY nice when they aren't doing the BANG entrance thing which just degrades the serious tone.

It always helps when the supporting actors are not complete newbies but have experience leading their own dramas, it really shows. I love the combined main character energy 😍

3. I love it even more when a show has a meimei character whom all the main lead geges want to protect

Like, she's living the dream

(Xiuxiu from DMBJ disagrees)

4. Our girl Chen Xiaoyun is killing it 😌

Ep 5

1. I know I'm being redundant but what a powerhouse cast. I love how Liu Shishi precisely controls her commanding presence just so to hold her above and mature above the rest and at the same time to be just another corner of their league. And her character behaves exactly like how you'd want a trained assassin/spy to, thank goodness. I also really really love Yang Ying, she's so REALISTIC for someone in her position but not annoying at all and so wholesomely attracts everyone's empathy. Qian Zhao with his deadpan humor and bombastic side eye, Shisan with his glorious Wen Kexing-ness... etc etc etc... it's not easy for a huge ensemble drama to give all the characters the spotlight they due and not tire out the audience!

2. Speaking of Alen Fang Yilun, I really want to see him as Zhang Qiling in a DMBJ adaptation now. His facial structure reminds me of Xiao Yuliang. He has enough experience playing both main leads and just as charismatic second main leads, he has enough commanding presence. Sharp gaze, fluid moves….

And he's such a funny lil guy lol

Ep 6

1. Ning ge and Ruyi jie making meimei understand what it means to be a nepo baby and feminism gotta be one of the most wholesome things I've ever seen in a while. That was immaculate.

2. Gaah this show is so good!!! How I wish the color palette, costuming, hair and screen scaling was complimentary to the vibe, it would've looked SO epic!

Ep 7

1. Thanks for that lil treat for gays 😌

2. Thanks for that BIG treat for lesbians too🤭

#journey to love #journey to Love spoilers #journey to Love ep 4 #journey to Love ep 5 #journey to Love ep 6 #journey to Love ep 7 #a journey to love

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shookethdev · 1 year

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a o e i i er ai ei ao ou an en ang eng ong i ia iao ie iu ian in iang ing iong u ua uo uai ui uan un uang ueng ü üe üan ün a o e er ai ao ou an en ang eng yi ya yao ye you yan yin yang ying yong wu wa wo wai wei wan wen wang weng yu yue yuan yun b ba bo bai bei bao ban ben bang beng bi biao bie bian bin bing bu p pa po pai pei pao pou pan pen pang peng pi piao pie pian pin ping pu m ma mo me mai mei mao mou man men mang meng mi miao mie miu mian min ming mu f fa fo fei fou fan fen fang feng fu d da de dai dei dao dou dan den dang deng dong di diao die diu dian ding du duo dui duan dun t ta te tai tei tao tou tan tang teng tong ti tiao tie tian ting tu tuo tui tuan tun n na ne nai nei nao nou nan nen nang neng nong ni niao nie niu nian nin niang ning nu nuo nuan nü nüe l la le lai lei lao lou lan lang leng long li lia liao lie liu lian lin liang ling lu luo luan lun lü lüe g ga ge gai gei gao gou gan gen gang geng gong gu gua guo guai gui guan gun guang k ka ke kai kei kao kou kan ken kang keng kong ku kua kuo kuai kui kuan kun kuang h ha he hai hei hao hou han hen hang heng hong hu hua huo huai hui huan hun huang z za ze zi zai zei zao zou zan zen zang zeng zong zu zuo zui zuan zun c ca ce ci cai cao cou can cen cang ceng cong cu cuo cui cuan cun s sa se si sai sao sou san sen sang seng song su suo sui suan sun zh zha zhe zhi zhai zhei zhao zhou zhan zhen zhang zheng zhong zhu zhua zhuo zhuai zhui zhuan zhun zhuang ch cha che chi chai chao chou chan chen chang cheng chong chu chua chuo chuai chui chuan chun chuang sh sha she shi shai shei shao shou shan shen shang sheng shu shua shuo shuai shui shuan shun shuang r re ri rao rou ran ren rang reng rong ru rua ruo rui ruan run j ji jia jiao jie jiu jian jin jiang jing jiong ju jue juan jun q qi qia qiao qie qiu qian qin qiang qing qiong qu que quan qun x xi xia xiao xie xiu xian xin xiang xing xiong xu xue xuan xun

NAKU 🫵

#anon #asks

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bookofjin · 11 months

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Three Families Divide Jin

This was intended to be a translation of the first part of the Tongjian jishi benmo通鑑紀事本末 ("Comprehensive Mirror Chronicling Affairs from Beginning to End") which is a rearrangement of the Zizhi Tongjian into topics rather than a strictly chronology done by Yuan Shu (1131-1205) . However I quickly realized that for this particular topic there is no rearrangement done, as the ZZTJ after starting the chronicle in 403 BC with the elevation of Wei, Zhan and Han immediately launches into an extended retrospective. So I guess it's actually just a translation of the beginning of the ZZTJ. I have reluctantly decided to skip Sima Guang's long commentary at the start, and after the death of the Elder of Zhi in the interest of actually completing anything. Note that "Han" here refer throughout to the Warring states era state of Han韓 rather than the later Han漢 empire.

Three Families Divide Jin

23rd Year of King Weilie of Zhou [403 BC], began to instruct Jin's great men Wei Si, Zhao Ji, and Han韓 Qian to be Marquises.

Earlier, Count Xuan of Zhi wanted to use Yao as heir. Zhi Guo said:

He is not as good as Xiao. That which people find worthy with Yao are five, that which he does not match up in is one. His beautiful temple-hair, his tallness and large size are admirable. That he shoots and drives with the strength of his feet is worthy. That his skill and craft are fully provided is worthy. That his artful writings are articulate and graceful is worthy. That he is strong, resolute, decisive and daring is worthy. It is like this, but he is extremely inhumane. In case he used his five worthy qualities to climb past people, but uses his inhumaneness to act against them, who would be able to treat with him? If in the end [you] install Yao, the Zhi lineage will surely be wiped out.

He did not listen. Zhi Guo separated from the family with the Grand Scribe, and became the Fu clan.

[Wei Zhao says: Count Xuan of Zhi was the Jin dignitary Xun Li's son, Shen. Yao was Count Xuan's son, [known as] the Elder of Zhi. His posthumous title was Count Xiang. Zhi Gao was a kinsman of the Zhi clan. Xiao was Count Xuan's common-born son.]

Among Count Jian of Zhao's sons, the elder was called Bolu and the younger Wuxu. He wanted to set up the heir, nu did not know who should be installed. He therefore wrote a speech with teachings and admonishing in two letters, and gave them to his two sons, saying:

Vigilantly familiarize yourself with it!

After three years, he asked about it. Bolu and not been able to study his speech. He demanded his letter, but he had already lost it. He asked Wuxu, he recited his speech with great practice. He demanded his letter, he produced it from within his sleeves and laid it before him. And so Count Jian considered Wuxu to be worthy, and installed him as heir.

Count Jian sent Yin Duo to be at Jinyang. He inquired, saying:

Use it as silk from a cocoon? Or use it as a protecting shield?

Count Jian said:

A protecting shield!

Yin Duo reduced the number of his households. Count Jian spoke to Wuxu, saying:

If the state of Jin has difficulties, regardless of Yin Duo being of little importance, and regardless of Jinyang being far away, be sure to use is as somewhere to return to.

[Hu Sansheng says: “To extract the people's vital bounty is like pulling a silk thread from a cocoon.”]

When Count Xuan of Zhi passed, Count Xiang of Zhi had the government. He feasted Count Kang of Han and Count Huan of Wei at Lantai. The Elder of Zhi made fun of Count Kang and insulted Duan Gui. Zhi Guo heard about it, and admonished, saying:

If a ruler does not prepare against difficulties, difficulties will surely arrive!

The Elder of Zhi said:

Difficulties will be due to me. I will not be in difficulties, who would dare to raise them up!

He replied, saying:

Not so. The Book of Xia has this: “One man makes three mistakes, will his enemies be made clear? The unseen must be planned for.” In all cases the Lordly Man is able to pay attention to small things, and for that reason he has no large worries. Now the ruler in a single feast then has shamed a lord of men and his minister. Again to not make preparations but say “they do not dare to raise up difficulties”, nothing then is impossible. If black flies, ants, wasps and scorpions are all able to injure a person, then how much more a lord and his minister.

He did not listen.

The Elder of Zhi requested land from Count Kang of Han. Count Kang intended not to give it. Duan Gui said:

The Elder of Zhi is fond of gains and is headstrong. If we do not give it, he will attack us. It is not as good as giving it. That one is accustomed to obtaining land, and will surely request it from other people. [If] other people will not give it, he will surely turn against them with troops. Afterwards we will obtain our escape from worries and wait for a reversal in affairs.

Count Kang said:

Good.

He sent messengers to bring a town of ten thousand families to the Elder of Zhi. The Elder of Zhi was pleased. Again he demanded land from Count Huan of Wei. Count Huan intended not to give it. Ren Zhang said:

What is the reason for not giving?

Count Huan said:

He has no reason to exhort land is the reason for not giving.

Ren Zhang said:

He has no reason to exhort land, the various great men will surely be afraid. Us giving him land, and the Elder of Zhi will surely be haughty. When that one is haughty, he will make light of his foes. When these are afraid, they will be affectionate with each other. Use troops of those affectionate with each other and wait for a person to make light of his foes, and the Zhi clan's lifespan will surely not be long. The Book of Zhou says: “If you want to defeat him, you must for the moment assist him. If you want to take from him, you must for the moment give to him. What the ruler [said] is not as good as giving it to him, and so make haughty the Elder of Zhi. Afterwards we can chose who to make contact with and make plans against the Zhi clan. What recourse is there in for us alone to be the Zhi clan's target!

Count Huan said:

Good.

Then he gave him a town of ten thousand families.

The Elder of Zhi also demanded the lands of Cai and Gaolang from Count Xiang of Zhao [i.e. Wuxu who had succeed his father, Count Jian.] Count Xiang did not give it. The Elder of Zhi was angry, and led the forces of Han and Wei to attack the Zhao clan. Count Xiang wanted to set out, and said:

Where can we flee?

His followers said:

Changzi is nearby, moreover the walls are thick and complete.

Count Xiang said:

The people exhausted their strength completing them. To also be wrecked and die defending them, who of them will be with us!

The followers said:

Handan's granaries and armouries are full

Count Xiang said:

[We] extracted the people's vital bounty to fill it. Also because of that to kill them, who of them will be with us! Those at Jinyang belonged to the Previous Ruler and were treated generously by Yin Duo. The people will surely be agreeable.

Therefore he fled to Jinyang.

The three families used the people of the state to besiege and flood him, that of the city walls which was not immersed measured three ban [3 ban = 6 chi]. They submerged stoves to produce frogs, and the people had no rebellious thoughts. The Elder of Zhi went to the water. Count Huan of Wei steered and Count Kang of Han was on his right side in the carriage. [A traditional chariot had a crew of three. The noble, the driver, and the bodyguard on the right.] The Elder of Zhi said:

I have now learned water can be used to destroy a person's state.

Count Huan elbowed Count Kang. Count Kang trod on the back of Count Huan's foot. By using the Fen River he could flood Anyi, and with the Jiang River he could flood Pingyang.

Xi Ci spoke to the Elder of Zhi, saying:

Han and Wei are certain to turn against you.

The Elder of Zhi said:

My Count, how can you know that?

Xi Ci said:

It is due to people's affairs [I] know it. In all cases troops from Han and Wei have been used to attack Zhao. When Zhao perishes, the difficulties are sure to reach Han and Wei. Now the pledge is to win against Zhao and then divide its land into three. The walls that are not immersed measures three ban. People and horses eat each other. The city will surrender within days, yet the two Counts have no joyful resolve, but have an anxious appearance. If they are not turning against you, then why?

Next day, the Elder of Zhi reported Xi Ci's words to the two Counts. The two Counts said:

This is a case of a slanderous person intending to be the Zhao clan's wandering persuader, making the ruler be suspicious of the two families and negligent in the attack on the Zhao clan. If not so, why in that case are the two families not profiting from morning to evening by dividing the fields of the Zhao clan, but intend to be in precarious difficulty in an affair with no possibility for success!

The two Counts went out. Xi Ci entered and said:

Why did my ruler report your subject's words to the two Counts?

The Elder of Zhi said:

Sir, how did you know that?

He replied, saying:

Your subject saw them looking at your subject in particular, and then scurried away, and [I] knew your subject had obtained their feelings.

The Elder of Bo did not make amends, and Xi Ci requested to be sent to Qi.

Count Xiang of Zhao sent Zhang Mengtan to furtively go out and see the two Counts. He said:

Your subject has heard that when the lips are gone, the teeth are cold. Now the Elder of Zhi leads Han and Wei to attack Zhao. When Zhao is destroyed, Han and Wei will be next.

The two Counts said:

In our hearts we know that it is so. [We] fear if the affair is not be carried out when the plan leaks, then the calamity would become extreme.

Zhang Mengtan said:

The plan goes out from the two Counts' mouths, and goes in your subject's ears. What is the harm!

The two Counts therefore furtively made a pledge with Zhang Mengtan, that on the appointed day they would dispatch [their forces]. Count Xiang sent people at night to kill the functionary who guarded the dikes, and then breach the water to flood into the Elder of Bo's army. The Elder of Bo's army put a stop to water but was in disorder. Han and Wei flanked and then struck them, Count Xiang commanded his solders to assault them in front. They greatly defeated the Elder of Bo's multitudes, and thereupon killed the Elder of Bo and entirely wiped out the members of the Zhi clan. Only Fu Guo survived.

The three families divided the fields of the Zhi clan. Count Xiang of Zhao lacquered the Elder of Zhi's head, and used it as a drinking vessel. The Elder of Bo's subject Yu Rang wished to get revenge on him. He therefore pretended to be a punished criminal, tucked a spoon-head dagger, and entered within Count Xiang's palace to plaster the lavatory. Count Xiang went to the lavatory, felt his heart race. He search it and captured Yu Rang. His left and right wished to kill him. Count Xiang said:

The Elder of Zhi died without descendants, and yet this person wishes to revenge him, truly a right-principled gentleman. I will respectfully release him, and that is all.

He therefore let him go. Yu Rang again lacquered his body to become leprous, and swallowed charcoal to become mute. He went to beg at the market, his wife did not recognize him. He went to see his friend. His friend recognized him, and he began sobbing at him, saying:

Due to Sir's talents, [if you were] to serve Zhao Meng as a subject, [you] would surely obtain affection and favour. Sir would then have what [you] wished to have, would that not be easy? Why then make yourself miserable like this? The search for vengeance, would not also be difficult!

Yu Rang said:

Then [I] would have given my pledge as a subject while also seeking to kill him, this is to have two hearts. Overall, what I am doing is extremely difficult, that is all. However, what I am doing perhaps might shame those in later generations Under Heaven who are subjects with two hearts in their breasts.

Count Xiang set out and Yu Rang hid under a bridge. Count Xiang arrived at the bridge, and his horse startled. He searched it and got Yu Rang, and consequently killed him.

Count Xiang, because Bolu had not been installed, although he had five sons, was not willing to set up an heir. He ennobled Bolu's son at Dai. He was called Lord Cheng of Dai and passed young. He installed his son Huan as the Zhao clan's heir. Count Xiang passed, and his younger brother, Count Huan, expelled Huan, and installed himself. After one year, he passed. The people of the Zhao clan said:

Count Huan's instalment was not Ruler Xiang's idea.

Therefore they together killed his son[s]. They then welcomed Huan# and installed him. This was Count Xian. Count Xian begot Ji, this was Marquis Lie. Wei Si was the grandson of Count Huan Wei, this was Marquis Wen. Count Kang of Han begot Count Wu. Count Wu begot Qian. This was Marquis Jing.

Marquis Wen of Wei used the Bu Zixia and Tian Zifang as teachers. Always when he passed by the cottage of Duangan Mu, he was certain to bow toward the front crossbar [on his chariot]. Many of the Four Regions' worthy gentlemen reverted to him. Marquis Wen was dranking wine with the crowd of subjects. They were having fun but then it was raining. He called for his carriage, wanting to go out into the wilderness. Left and right said:

Today we are drinking and having fun, and the sky is also raining. Why would my lord go?

Marquis Wen said:

I had an appointment to hunt with the gamekeeper. Though we are having fun, how could [I] not meet with someone at the appointed time.

Then he left and and put a stop to it himself.

Han [wanted] to borrow a force from Wei to attack Zhao. Marquis Wen said:

This Orphan and Zhao are brothers. [I] do not dare to hear the instruction.

Wei [wanted] to borrow a force from Wei to attack Han. Marquis Wen responded to them in the same way. The two states were both angry and left. Later they understood Marquis Wen was reconciling them, and both came to court in Wei. Wei hence was first to be great among the Three Wei. The various feudal princes were unable to contend whit them.

#ttsjbm01 #warring states era

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