Chapter 1

At noon, Zhonglang originally planned to write another chapter, but a few comments in the book review section caught his attention. One of the comments, titled "Is this still a Romance of the Three Kingdoms novel?" particularly caught his eye, causing him to ponder for a long time.

After thinking for several hours, Huben Zhonglang wrote the first author's note since the upload of *Xiaoqi*.

Zhonglang reflected deeply for a long time, thinking about many things. Looking back at thousands of years of history, he had many insights.

In the Three Kingdoms, the most beloved generals, such as Zhao Yun, Dian Wei, and Xu Chu, were all commoners with extraordinary martial arts skills, loyal and righteous, and their promises were worth a thousand pieces of gold.

But how vast is the world? Are these the only loyal and brave generals?

Li Jue and Guo Si supported Dong Zhuo to dominate the court and intimidate the world. The various warlords watched Dong Zhuo move west to Chang'an but were too afraid to advance. Logically, Li Jue, Guo Si, and the other Liang generals should have been more famous than Zhao Yun, Dian Wei, and others, but in reality, this was not the case.

Why is this so?

The Southern Barbarian Shamo Ke shot and killed Gan Ning; the young general Ma Zhong from Jiangdong shot and injured Huang Zhong, leading to his death; he also suggested using a horse-tripping rope to capture Guan Yu, causing the martial saint Guan Yu to fall. However, they were merely obscure generals, far from being comparable to the famous figures of the Three Kingdoms.

Why is this so? Were their achievements not significant?

Wutubone, the ruler of the Southern Barbarian Wuguo Kingdom in Shu, was twelve feet tall, had scales on his body, was impervious to blades, and ate venomous snakes and fierce beasts raw. He commanded tens of thousands of troops. But he only appeared a few times before being destroyed by Zhuge Liang.

How could such a fierce person die so easily? Why not let him compete with martial saints like Guan Yu, Zhang Fei, and Zhao Yun to see who is the greatest?

However, Wutubone died, and he died quickly, appearing for a short time before being eliminated, so many people didn't even notice such a fierce person in the novel.

But he had to die; if he didn't, how could Zhuge Liang's greatness be highlighted?

By this logic, how many other obscure generals were there in the Three Kingdoms era? Even Luo Guanzhong probably couldn't say for sure. However, he only needed to establish the generals who aligned with the will of the feudal rulers and were acceptable to people in feudal society. As for the others, their lives and deaths were not worth mentioning.

Thus, generals like Guan Yu, Zhang Fei, and Zhao Yun became famous in the novel, not only for their extraordinary martial arts skills and loyal and righteous character but also because they aligned with the ideological will of the feudal rulers and the ethical morals of the time.

Because of this, they could exist in novels and unofficial histories. Generals who did not align with the feudal society's ideology would die early, become stepping stones for others, or not leave any name at all.

Looking at history, it is always surprisingly similar. Novels in that era had to align with the will of the rulers; otherwise, they would be difficult to preserve and could even bring disaster to the author.

In *Romance of the Three Kingdoms*, Liu Bei is the protagonist, Cao Cao is the hero, and Sun Quan of Jiangdong is just a supporting character. By the end of the novel, as Shu Han weakened, Sun Quan's forces in Jiangdong gradually became the true supporting characters, getting more screen time. The Sima family, who unified the Three Kingdoms, initially played a dishonorable role but became the legitimate rulers at the end of the novel.

What does this all mean?

...

In the grand drama *Chu Han*, after Emperor Gaozu of Han, Liu Bang, seized the empire, he said meaningfully, "The most inspiring words I've ever heard were Chen Sheng's 'Are kings and generals born to their roles?'"

Confucius's *Analects* established the ruling position of the feudal dynasty, allowing Confucian thought to be passed down for a thousand years, continuing to this day. Chen Sheng's cry in a desperate situation also spread for a thousand years and continues to inspire countless people.

"Are kings and generals born to their roles?"

This phrase indirectly influenced the historical changes of over two thousand years of feudal society, with an impact so great and profound that it is immeasurable.

Since then, countless ambitious people have followed in Chen Sheng's footsteps, proving his famous words through their actions.

At the end of the Han dynasty, the Three Kingdoms vied for power; the Five Barbarians invaded China, and seventeen states coexisted.

During the Sui and Tang dynasties, Empress Wu Zetian ruled; the Zhao family replaced the Zhou dynasty, and brothers fought for the imperial throne. The Mongol cavalry established the capital.

Zhu Yuanzhang, a beggar, became emperor; Li Zicheng rose, and the Qing army entered the pass, with Empress Dowager Xiaozhuang sacrificing herself to protect the imperial throne.

Wu Sangui's anger for a beauty made him a traitor, a name that lasted for a hundred years.

Empress Dowager Cixi ruled, and Sun Yat-sen established the Republic. Chiang Kai-shek seized power, and the Red Army rose in the Xiang River, fighting across the country, sweeping the land, and establishing the People's Republic of China, creating a prosperous era!

Looking through history, "Are kings and generals born to their roles?" has always been a central theme, like a shadow, persisting even in modern times.

These emperors and generals, with their diverse backgrounds, make it easy to imagine that the Three Kingdoms were not limited to the generals described by Luo Guanzhong.

Look at the number of generals in modern wars. Chiang Kai-shek commanded eight million troops, and there must have been tens of thousands of generals. After the founding of the People's Republic of China, there were thousands of marshals and generals, and many more who held both military and political positions but did not receive the rank of marshal. This does not include the lower-ranking officers.

Even though the population was much smaller during the Three Kingdoms period, could there have been only a hundred or so famous generals in the millions of troops described in the novel?

When modern people write stories about the Three Kingdoms, they change the main characters, their identities, and their environments, yet they still rigidly use the generals described by Luo Guanzhong. Is this normal?

If we write the stirring history of the Three Kingdoms with fictional plots, and simply change the names of the main characters while using the same characters and plots from the novel, is such a novel worth reading? Aren't we just translating classical Chinese into modern Chinese, changing the names, and reprinting it? Why go through all this trouble?

...

As modern youth, we are bold in trying new things, keeping up with the times, and not being confined by conventions or formalities. We are willing to try various things that interest us.

In the past, celebrities had good looks and were presented on stage, each with a polished appearance and fashionable clothing.

But now, we can accept grassroots celebrities, even if they are not beautiful, a bit rustic, or have flaws. We don't mind, and we can accept them as long as they have real talent, genuine performances, and are not fake or pretentious. We can accept them because they are like people around us. In them, we see authenticity and simplicity, and we feel they are real people, not actors and actresses packaged and scripted by their agents.

"Are kings and generals born to their roles?"

This ancient saying, passed down for a thousand years, remains relevant in the new era, reenacting various new and exciting stories. Perhaps the rulers dislike this phrase the most, but we ordinary people still believe in it.

Because this phrase embodies our ideals and aspirations, and it is filled with our relentless efforts and indomitable spirit.

How far our dreams reach, that's how far we can go; "Are kings and generals born to their roles?"

...

In *Xiaoqi*, Zhonglang has made every effort to portray the characters, making them full and vivid, presenting them realistically before you. They are not just names but living, breathing individuals with their own ambitions and pursuits in a chaotic era.

Because Zhonglang firmly believes that no one is born a failure, and many people are very talented. It just depends on whether they have the opportunity to showcase their talents and whether they can find a stage to fully express themselves.

We can accept all kinds of scenes and atmospheres in fantasy and martial arts novels, and we can also accept more innovative storylines within the framework of history. Otherwise, why would we still read about the Three Kingdoms?

A novel is a new and exciting world. In our free time, we can read it to pass the time and gain more insights, enriching our experiences and making our lives more fulfilling.

It is not real history or unofficial history; it is a spiritual need that guides our boundless imagination, making us more comprehensive in our thinking, braver in the face of difficulties, stronger in emotional setbacks, and more courageous in facing life, moving forward bravely.

That's all.

Huben Zhonglang — October 23, 2013

Previous Page AD Start

Previous Page AD End