Legends of Dynasty, THREE KINGDOMS Omnibus 1

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Vol. 2: When Wang Yun decides to fight back against the tyrannical rule of Dong Zhuo and Lv Bu, he astutely determines that a woman would be the most successful way of exploiting their respective vulnerabilities. Lv Bu, the legendary and much-feared warrior, would never believe that another person could have power over his emotions, and Dong Zhuo, the greedy zealot who has usurped the power of the emperor, cannot fathom the notion of there being someone or something he cannot possess. The two men are perhaps the most powerful in China, yet the very things that drove them to attain power also make them acutely susceptible to schemes like Wang Yun's.

Vol. 3: With Dong Zhuo gone and a weakened Emperor Xian in exile, a power vacuum has opened in the lands ruled by the Han Dynasty. Before long, Cao Cao, Yuan Shao, and Lv Bu are jockeying for position in the race to rule the nation. Provinces will change hands, allegiances will shift, and the law of the land will change in ways no one could have imagined. Cao Cao understands something that the others fail to grasp: Even though the Han Dynasty has little real power, the perception of imperial power among the people remains very strong, because at the end of the day everyone understands that they are subjects of the dynasty. That's what drives Cao Cao's decision to come to the aid of the exiled emperor: now that Cao Cao has amassed tremendous power and an enormous army, all he needs to become the most powerful man in China is the perception of authority.

Vol. 4: The struggle for control of the empire is in full swing, as former allies in the war against a tyrrant fight one another for control of various territories across the land. Who possesses the skill to prevail in battle? Will pride or patience determine the winner? And how does one define winning in an age when fidelity and honor are discarded in the ruthless pursuit of ambition?

Liu Bei and his sworn brothers pledged an oath to deliver the people of China from war, famine, and cruelty, yet the actions they've taken since their oath, although necessary for their survival, have done nothing but make the situation worse. This weighs heavily on Liu Bei's conscience, which is almost paralized with guilt by the end of the battle against Lv Bu. Meanwhile, Cao Cao stands triumphant in the newly conquered province of Xu when the first snowfall of the season occurs. He sees this as an omen of continued good fortune, but as he is slowly enveloped in a white shroud of snow, it's worth remembering that white is the color of death and mourning. The suggestion is that death will follow Cao Cao for sometime to come.

Vol. 5: As prime minister Cao Cao tightens his grip on the emperor and his people, Liu Bei is approached by many, including the emperor himself, who would like to see Cao Cao's reign ended. Oaths are sworn and pledges are written in blood, but spies are everywhere, and one false move will result in blood being spilled on more than just a page.

Three Kingdoms takes place in a world where the will of the heavens is not made clear to the characters, and this is interpreted to be either apathy ot absence. Some of the characters believe there are no gods, as when Cao Cao taunts Chen Gong by telling him that the heavens are deserted. At the same time, Emperor Xian, who as supreme ruler of the Dynasty is believed to be descended from the heavens, is one of the weakest characters in the story, and Liu Bei, one of the stories central heroes, has taken a blood oath not to uphold the will of the heavens, but to restore to the earthly realm of the Han Dynasty.