On The Popular Romance Of The History Of The Three Kingdoms’ Outstanding Persons

Groups of warlords emerged after Yellow Turban rebellion and Dong Zhuo’sreign of terror in the turbulent years near the end of Eastern Han Dynasty.Theycheatedeach other and mutually fought, and eventually formed the three states of Cao Wei,Shu Han, and Eastern Wu. The warlords were capricious and launched fierce strugglesfor interests among groups. What status the Popular Romance of the Records of theThree Kingdoms describes and the social backgrouds of the end of Yuan Dynasty butbeginning of Ming Dynasty when the novel took shape both had multiple socialpatterns, which was mostly similar to The Warring States Period. Hence，by the ThreeKingdoms era at the end of Han Dynasty, strategic thoughts again came to life, what’smore presented a splendid sight. People then had been heavily covered in the shadowof strategic thoughts on the view of values, way of thinking and code of conduct. Andin return it left its obvious trace in the novel. In the romance, strategic persons becamechanged into outstanding ones, who were flexible about current affairs. They had allthe characteristics of strategic persons, ambition, pursuit for fame and wealth,flexibility and instability etc. Turbulent years advocated strategy. Outstanding personscould fully play their talents and devote themselves in a positive attitude to thesociety.This article is to explore the strategic feelings and its cultural backgroud. Froma new view, that is the view of “outstanding persons” in the romance, it employs thestrategic theory. That is a way to take the circumstances into consideration of theirroads to success. Zhong Hui and Zhu Geke both failed to succeed, because theylacked the pressure of growing_up, generous and rich though. In the same situationCao Pi, who was cautious, conquered Cao Zhi, who was capricious. However, CaoCao and Si Mayi in adverse situation made great accomplishments by obtaining thedominant positions. Sun Quan, who had forbear and flexible character, took the job ata critical moment, while he was self-righteous and suspicion fatuous in old age. It was the environment that made so. We could see it from the way in which outstandingpersons chose masters to serve and took advantage of others. Yuan Shao and Yuan Shuloosed for they had talents but unable to use, which indicated it hard to know people.Chen Gong、Tian Feng and Ju Shou loosed in having defined themselves by theiradherence to Confucian values, lack of flexibility. One mode once formed, hard to bechanged. Cao Cao knew people and to allocating due responsibility, however, usedpolitical trickery. For instance, Xun YU was employed by Cao Cao when believed,deserted when doubted, and he employed Jia Xu when there was any need. So CaoCao could knew talents, but unable to make their abilities to full play, except treatingGuo Jia. That Sun Quan appointed people by abilities attracted Zhang Hong todevoted himself completely. So did Liu Bei. Hence Pang Tong realized his dreamafter experiencing hard obstacles; Long-aggrieved Fa Zheng finally served the wisemonarch. From the aspect on dealing with the relationship between Shu Han andEastern Wu, we can see a absolute difference about outstanding persons of tacticalkind and strategic kind. Shortsighted Zhou Yu threw the helve after the hatchet, for heimprisoned Liu Bei and seized Southern Province. Lv Meng and Lu Xun, whopersisted in striving for Jingzhou, killed Guan Yu by a dark attack at all costs, whichbroke the united front of Shu Han and Eastern Wu. However headstrong and defiantGuan Yu also broke the united strategic principle. The unity coalition came to adisastrous defeat between two fires. They were so_called tacticians, who could onlysucceed in one period or a region. They were shortsighted, Lu Su, one person who hadcudgeled his brains and were farsighted and prudent was otherwise. He had beenalways persisting united strategy and principle, what was more, he remaind anddeveloped the relationship between Shu Han and Eastern Wu. He was a greatstrategist. So did ruthless Liu Ye, who saw clearly the relation of Wu and Shu andwere good at playing plots. As the NO.1leading role, Zhu Geliang, also a deifiedfigure, undoubtedly became the soul of the whole book. Zhu Geliang, whose feat isnoteworthy and successful and is respected by descendents, is a model of able andvirtuous personages, an incarnation of wisdom and distinguished strategist through hiswhole life.