Secrets of the Three Kingdoms, Part Two

In the final years of the Eastern Han, the emperor ascended the throne as a child. The unchecked power of the imperial in-laws and the eunuchs' interference in government together brought the collapse of ritual and order, plunging the realm into chaos. The common people rose in revolt, and the warlords carved up the land. Over the long struggle that followed, three heroes gradually emerged: Cao Cao, Liu Bei, and Sun Quan. Yet a person may be destined for eight feet, but can hardly hope for ten. Heaven let the three rise above their rivals, only to confine them to defending their own territories once they had established their power. All three dreamed of ruling the realm, yet could only lament their fate. The truth of history may never be known. Perhaps, from the scattered words and small details left behind by those who came before, we can glimpse that bewildering, turbulent age.