The storyline of Portal Three Kingdoms is set in the turbulent years in China towards the end of the Han dynasty and during the Three Kingdoms period in Chinese history, starting in 184 AD and ending with the reunification of the land in 280 AD.
Summary[ | ]
| “ | The Empire long divided must unite; long united, must divide. Thus it has ever been | ” |
So begins China's epic drama Three Kingdoms: A Historical Novel.[1] Written in the 15th Century and attributed to Luo Guanzhong, Three Kingdoms illuminates a pivotal 200-year stretch of Chinese history.
This tumultuous, gripping tale begins in 184 A.D., near the end of the Han Dynasty.[2] The Empire, threatened by corruption, regional warlords, and the Yellow Scarves revolt, was beginning to splinter into three rival kingdoms. To the north lay the Wei kingdom, led by the cunning, ruthless, and ingenious Cao Cao. As regent, he ruled by "protecting" the child Emperor and keeping him subservient to his demands. To the south lay the Wu kingdom, led by the wise Sun Quan. He fostered many talented advisors and generals, including the brilliant Zhou Yu. To the west lay the Shu kingdom, ruled by the noble and virtuous Liu Bei, a distant relative of the Emperor. Liu Bei was advised by a Taoist sage and master strategist, Kongming, who could predict an enemy's actions years in advance. Liu Bei's strength was also bolstered by his two oath-brothers, Zhang Fei and Guan Yu. Zhang Fei was the fiercest warrior in all of China, and Guan Yu is worshiped to this day as one of the true heroes of the realm.
Countless soldiers fought during this turbulent period of dynastic change. Over 800,000 died at the pivotal battle of Red Cliffs alone.
The real events and famous people of the Three Kingdoms period have fascinated millions for centuries and have formed the basis of countless plays, operas, and folk tales throughout Asia. The story also illuminates the nature of power, the importance of diplomacy, and the intricacies of war. To understand the Three Kingdoms' story is to begin to understand China.
Timeline[ | ]
- 184: The Yellow Scarves Rebellion starts, a peasant revolt against Emperor Ling of the Eastern Han dynasty.[3]
- The Peach Garden Oath sworn by Liu Bei, Guan Yu, and Zhang Fe to fight the Yellow Scarves.
- 189: Dong Zhou seizes power and places the eight year old Xian of Han on the throne.[4]
- Cao Cao attempts to assassinate Dong Zhou with a jeweled knife.
- 192: Lu Bu kills Dong Zhou. [5]
- 195: Cao Cao assumes "protection" of emperor Xian.[6]
- 198 / 199 Battle of Xiapi fought between the forces of Lü Bu against the allied armies of Cao Cao and Liu Bei.
- Lü Bu surrenders.
- 200: Cao Cao captures Guan Yu.
- Sun Quan succeeds Sun Ce.
- Cao Cao defeats Yuan Shao.
- 202: Battle of Xinye: Liu Bei defeats Cao Cao.
- 207: Liu Bei meets Kongming.
- 208: Battle of Red Cliffs, Cao Cao is defeated by Sun Quan and Liu Bei.
- 209: Liu Bei occupies Jingzhou.
- 210: Zhou Yu dies.
- 214: Liu Bei takes control of the Riverlands.
- 215: Cao Cao captures Hanzhong.
- 217: Cao Cao defeats Sun Quan at Hefei.
- Sun Quan defeats Cao Cao In the Battle of Ruxu.
- 219: Battle of Fancheng. Liu Bei's general Guan Yu attacks north.
- Sun Quan takes Jingzhou.
- 220: Guan Yu is executed by Sun Quan.
- 221: Liu Bei proclaims himself emperor and establishes the Shu kingdom.
- Zhang Fei is assassinated.
- 222: Lu Xun of Wu defeats Liu Bei at the Battle of Xiaoting. Wu declares formal independence.
- 223: Liu Bei dies.
- 225: Kongming defeats the southern barbarian Meng Huo.
- 228: Battle of Jieting. A decisive victory for Wei against the Shu.
- 234: Kongming dies.
- 249: Sima Yi takes control of Wei.
- 251: Sima Yi dies.
- 252: Sun Quan dies.
- 263: Deng Ai and Zhong Hui attack Shu. Shu surrenders to Wei.
- 280: Wu surrenders to Wei.
- Sima clan reunites the empire as the Jin Dynasty
Characters[ | ]
| Name | Alliance | Color | Role | Represented in: | Quoted or referenced in: |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Zhang Jue | 
|
Leader of the Yellow Turban Rebellion. | Yellow Scarves General , Yellow Scarves Troops | ||
| Dong Zhuo[7] |
|
Cruel and tyrannic warlord. Took power of the Han Dynasty. | Dong Zhou, the Tyrant | Lu Bu, Master-at-Arms, Ravaging Horde | |
| Lu Bu |
|
A nearly invincible warrior with shifting allegiances. He owned the famous horse Red Hare. | Lu Bu, Master-at-Arms | Riding Red Hare, Wei Ambush Force | |
| Diaochan |
|
One of the Four Beauties of ancient China. Lover of Lü Bu and causes him to betray and kill his foster father, Dong Zhuo. | Diaochan, Artful Beauty | ||
| Yuan Shao |
|
Rogue warlord. Enemy of Dong Zhuo and rival of Cao Cao. | Yuan Shao, the Indecisive | Desert Sandstorm, Relentless Assault, Stolen Grain, Yuan Shao's Infantry | |
| Liu Bei | Shu | 
|
Noble and virtuous warlord, founder of the Shu kingdom. | Liu Bei, Lord of Shu | Alert Shu Infantry, Flanking Troops, Lady Sun, Peach Garden Oath, Riding the Dilu Horse, Shu Cavalry, Shu Foot Soldiers, Vengeance, Zhao Zilong, Tiger General, Zodiac Goat, Zodiac Snake |
| Kongming | Shu |
|
Advisor to Liu Bei. Taoist sage and master strategist. | Kongming, "Sleeping Dragon" | Alert Shu Infantry, Borrowing 100,000 Arrows, Brilliant Plan, Empty City Ruse, Fire Ambush, Kongming's Contraptions, Meng Huo, Barbarian King, Shu Elite Infantry, Shu Foot Soldiers, Shu Soldier-Farmers, Zhou Yu, Chief Commander, Zodiac Goat, Zodiac Monkey, Zodiac Rooster, Zodiac Snake |
| Guan Yu | Shu |
|
Oath-brother of Liu Bei. One of his five Tiger Generals. | Guan Yu, Sainted Warrior | Guan Yu's 1,000-Li March, Peach Garden Oath, Poison Arrow, Vengeance, Wielding the Green Dragon, Zhuge Jin, Wu Strategist |
| Zhang Fei | Shu |
|
Oath-brother of Liu Bei. One of his five Tiger Generals. | Zhang Fei, Fierce Warrior | Peach Garden Oath, Shu Defender |
| Huang Zhong | Shu |
|
One of Liu Bei's five Tiger Generals. An elderly man. | Huang Zhong, Shu General | |
| Ma Chao | Shu |
|
A cruel warlord who became one of Liu Bei's five Tiger Generals. | Ma Chao, Western Warrior | Shu Cavalry, Wei Strike Force |
| Zhao Zilong | Shu |
|
A powerful warrior. One of Liu Bei's five Tiger Generals. | Zhao Zilong, Tiger General | |
| Pang Tong | Shu |
|
Advisor to Liu Bei. Mistakenly killed when he was riding the Emperor's horse, Dilu. | Pang Tong, "Young Phoenix" | Riding the Dilu Horse |
| Ma Su | Shu |
|
Arrogant general, who foolishly lost the city of Jieting to the Wei. | Shu Elite Infantry | |
| Yan Yan | Shu |
|
A defeated Riverlands general, who made an alliance with Zhang Fei. | Zhang Fei, Fierce Warrior | |
| Jiang Wei | Shu |
|
A prominent general, and protegé of Kongming. Famous for his Northern Expeditions. | Zodiac Dog | |
| Liu Shan | Shu |
|
Eldest son of Liu Bei. Second and last ruler of the Shu kingdom, reigning for 40 years. Later became Duke Anle. | Zhao Zilong, Tiger General, Zodiac Goat, Zodiac Tiger | |
| Lady Sun | Shu / Wu | 
|
Sister to Sun Quan and wife to Liu Bei. Divided loyalty. | Lady Sun | |
| Sun Ce | Wu |
|
Elder brother of Sun Quan. Assassinated while planning an attack on Cao cao. | Sun Ce, Young Conquerer | False Mourning, Poison Arrow |
| Zhou Yu | Wu |
|
Chief commander of the Wu against the Wei of Cao Cao. He died young. | Zhou Yu, Chief Commander | Blaze, Brilliant Plan, Counterintelligence, Deception, False Mourning, Lu Su, Wu Advisor, Pang Tong, "Young Phoenix", Poison Arrow, Wu Light Cavalry |
| Lu Su | Wu |
|
Served as an intermediary between the Wu and Shu kingdoms until Zhou Yu's death in 210 when he became Wu's supreme commander. | Zhuge Jin, Wu Strategist | |
| Zhuge Jin | Wu |
|
Served as an intermediary between the Wu and Shu kingdoms in 215. | Lu Su, Wu Advisor | Borrowing 100,000 Arrows, Burning Fields |
| Lu Xun | Wu |
|
General and statesman. Field commander of the Wu army in the Battle of Xiaoting. | Lu Xun, Scholar General | |
| Lu Meng | Wu |
|
Chief commander of the Wu against the Shu army of Guan Yu. | Lu Meng, Wu General | |
| Gan Ning | Wu |
|
Brave general who raided Cao Cao's camp of 400,000 men with only 100 cavalries in the second battle of Ruxu. Not a single man or horse was lost. | Wu Elite Cavalry | |
| Sun Hao | Wu |
|
Fourth and last emperor of Wu. Became marquess of Guiming after his surrender. | Zodiac Tiger | |
| Cao Cao | Wei | 
|
Penultimate Chancellor of the Eastern Han and founder of what was to become the state of Cao Wei and ultimately the Jin dynasty. Cruel and merciless warlord, but also a military genius. | Cao Cao, Lord of Wei | Ambition's Coast, Blaze, Cao Ren, Wei Commander, Coercion, Deception, Desert Sandstorm, Exhaustion, Fire Ambush, Ghostly Visit, Imperial Edict, Overwhelming Forces, Relentless Assault, Return to Battle, Shu Defender, Stolen Grain, Wei Ambush Force, Wei Elite Companions, Wei Strike Force, Wu Elite Cavalry, Xun Yu, Wei Advisor |
| Cao Ren | Wei |
|
Cao Cao's cousin, and his greatest general. A cunning strategist, but also Known throughout the three kingdoms as the fiercest of warriors. | Cao Ren, Wei Commander | Alert Shu Infantry, Wu Light Cavalry |
| Xiahou Dun | Wei |
|
A trusted general of Cao Cao, who lost an eye during the Battle of Xiapi | Xiahou Dun, the One-Eyed | Return to Battle |
| Zhang He | Wei |
|
General of Cao Cao. A resourceful and proficient military leader. | Zhang He, Wei General | |
| Zhang Liao | Wei |
|
Loyal and righteous general of Cao Cao. | Zhang Liao, Hero of Hefei | Wei Infantry |
| Xun Yu | Wei |
|
Advisor to Cao Cao. A splendid talent, admired of all men. | Xun Yu, Wei Advisor | |
| Deng Ai | Wei |
|
A very loyal general of Cao Cao. Noted for his arrogance and audacity, which led to his downfall and death. | Zodiac Pig | |
| Zhong Hui | Wei |
|
General who betrayed Deng Ai, and rebelled against the Wei. | Zodiac Pig | |
| Xian of Han | Wei |
|
Last emperor of the Eastern Han dynasty in China. Under control of Cao Cao. | Imperial Edict | |
| Cao Pi | Wei |
|
Son of Cao Cao. First emperor of Wei. | Zodiac Rat | |
| Cao Rui | Wei |
|
Second emperor of Wei. | Zodiac Rat | |
| Cao Fang | Wei |
|
Adopted son of Cao Rui. Third emperor of Wei. | Zodiac Rat | |
| Cao Mao | Wei |
|
Grandson of Cao Pi. Fourth emperor of Wei. | Zodiac Rat | |
| Cao Huan | Wei |
|
Grandson of Cao Cao. Fifth and last emperor of Wei. Later became Prince of Chenliu. | Zodiac Rat, Zodiac Tiger | |
| Sima Yi | Wei |
|
Ingenious general, government official, and regent of the state. He fought for four generations of the Cao family before his own grandson became emperor and united the three kingdoms. | Sima Yi, Wei Field Marshal | |
| Sima Yan | Wei |
|
Grandson of Sima Yi. First emperor of the Jin dynasty. | Zodiac Rat | |
| Hua Tuo | 
|
Famous Physician. Healed general Guan Yu, who was hit by a poisoned arrow in the eye. Arrested and imprisoned by Cao Cao for proposing to operate on his brain tumor by opening the skull. | Hua Tuo, Honored Physician | ||
| Meng Huo |
|
A southern barbarian tribal leader. | Meng Huo, Barbarian King | Lady Zhurong, Warrior Queen, Meng Huo's Horde | |
| Lady Zhurong |
|
Warrior, who claims descent from the Chinese fire deity Zhurong. Wife of Meng Huo. | Lady Zhurong, Warrior Queen | Meng Huo, Barbarian King | |
| King Mulu |
|
An ally of Meng Huo. He possessed magical powers and could change the weather and control wild beasts and direct them into battle. | Trained Cheetah | ||
| Zuo Ci |
|
Taoist mystic, who tried to convert Cao Cao. | Zuo Ci, the Mocking Sage | Taoist Mystic |
Notes and references[ | ]
- ↑ Wizards of the Coast (May, 1999). "The Portal Three Kingdoms Storybook". Wizards.com.
- ↑ Wizards of the Coast (May, 1999). "The Portal Three Kingdoms Story Summary". Wizards.com.
- ↑ Wizards of the Coast (May, 1999). "The Yellow Scarves Rebellion and the Peach Garden Oath". Wizards.com.
- ↑ Wizards of the Coast (May, 1999). "Dong Zhou Seizes Power". Wizards.com.
- ↑ Wizards of the Coast (May, 1999). "The Alliance against Dong Zhou". Wizards.com.
- ↑ Wizards of the Coast (May, 1999). "Cao Cao Consolidates Power in the North". Wizards.com.
- ↑ On the cards spelled both as Dong Zhuo and as Dong Zhou