There is a historical account on the Three Kingdoms period at Kongming.net.
Readers say the biographies in this account are more accurate. We agree. But the biographies cannot explain fully the events during Three Kingdoms. As the result, readers for many centuries have embraced the
novel approach of ROTK, because fictional elements and conversations in the book not only can put things together like a puzzle, but they also enhance the overall story.
Since the readers will encounter many debates on the biases when you read the novel, we give you some details here about ROTK. Do the authors bias against Wei? You can find out in subsequent chapters.
Traditionally, the Mao Zonggang
edition, which we are currently reading, wants the readers to believe Shu is legitimate and Wei is not. Mao even went to great length to tell the readers how to interpret events using Confucian morality system, before chapter 1 begins. In this system, filial to your prince is considered good, and oppressing your prince, for whatever reason, is bad. Due to his clear stance, the Mao edition of ROTK was warmly received and popularized by government officials and learnt people during 17th century. As the result, the Mao edition overtook other more history-oriented versions of Three Kingdoms.
Mao style, of course, clashes with modern readers, who are freer in their interpretation. The modern readers, strong believers in reforms and Darwism, hate it when they see their heroes get judged by imperial values. Furthermore, many readers come to read ROTK after playing video games, and so they have developed certain affection toward certain leaders in terms of indices like intelligence, strategy, leadership, etc. They do not use legitimacy to view the world; they are only concerned about winning and survival. Some readers even suggest that we should not view things as good or evil, but should judge whether an action is reasonable or paranoid. In this light, Mao''s effort to cast Wei and Wu into illegitimacy (or lack of virtues) is no longer convincing.
ut what did Mao do in attempting to influence the readers? According to the Afterword of Moss Roberts, Mao edited the novel written by Luo Guanzhong and annotated by Li Zhi (the TS edition): "Mao changed, added, and deleted sometimes whole scenes, sometimes only a few words or phrases... Mao''s tendency to remove lines in praise of Cao Cao''s advisers and
commanders... should be mentioned. According to one scholar, the TS''s thirty-four verses in praise of Cao Cao''s advisers and commanders were reduced to six by Mao Zonggang..."
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