Tales of the Western and Eastern Han Dynasties

Liu Bang and Liu Bei were four hundred years apart. Were they really one family? The scene where Emperor Xian of Han was forced by Cao Pi to “abdicate” had Wang Mang already done it once before. Do you believe it?

This book bridges The Romance of the Eastern and Western Han Dynasties and Romance of the Three Kingdoms, telling the story of three generations from beginning to end. It starts in the year Qin Shi Huang died. Liu Bang was still a street loafer, and he chopped down a white snake blocking his way. Who could have guessed this kid would one day become emperor? Then come the showdown between Chu and Han, Lü Zhi turning Lady Qi into a “human swine,” Emperor Wu of Han chasing the Xiongnu across the grasslands, and Wang Mang stepping in to usurp the throne. The late Eastern Han is even livelier: Dong Zhuo enters the capital and sets it ablaze, Cao Cao and Yuan Shao drown their sorrows, and Liu Bei is still selling straw sandals. All those familiar faces from the Three Kingdoms sprang from this mess.

Don't worry, all the stuffy classical language is gone. Zhang Liang is as refined as a teahouse storyteller, while Fan Kuai is as rough as a butcher chopping meat at the market. Battles are all “slash!” and “boom!”, with armies clashing in a great uproar. All those fussy phrases have been replaced with warm, lively everyday speech.

Open this book and let's start from the beginning. This transmigration tale will have you laughing as you make sense of all the excitement of those centuries.