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Peach Garden Oath · Battle of Red Cliffs · Three Kingdoms Divide

Historical Timeline

190 AD222 AD222 AD

Major Battles

190

Battle of Hulao Pass

Coalition

A coalition of regional lords gathered to challenge the tyranny of chancellor Dong Zhuo, who had usurped power in the imperial court. The crucial standoff took place at the heavily fortified Hulao Pass near the capital, Luoyang.

"At Hulao Pass, the unparalleled warrior Lü Bu stood undefeated until Liu Bei, Guan Yu, and Zhang Fei rode out together, engaging him in the legendary 'Three Heroes fight Lü Bu' encounter."

198-199

Siege of Xiapi

Wei

Cao Cao besieged the city of Xiapi where the mighty but erratic warlord Lü Bu was holding out. After a lengthy siege, Cao Cao flooded the city by diverting the waters of the Si and Yi rivers.

"Isolated and besieged by rising waters, Lü Bu was eventually betrayed by his own exhausted subordinates while he slept, marking the tragic end of the era's greatest warrior."

200

Battle of Guandu

Wei

A decisive campaign between warlords Cao Cao and Yuan Shao. Despite being heavily outnumbered, Cao Cao held the line and secured a monumental victory that unified northern China under his banner.

"Acting on a defector's intel, Cao Cao personally led a daring night raid on Yuan Shao's main supply depot at Wuchao, burning the grain and shattering the enemy's morale."

208

Battle of Red Cliffs

Wu

The allied forces of Sun Quan and Liu Bei clashed with Cao Cao's massive invading fleet on the Yangtze River. The allies successfully employed a fire attack, dealing Cao Cao a devastating defeat that split the realm into three.

"Zhuge Liang mystically borrowed the eastern wind, while veteran Huang Gai executed a fake defection, sending fire ships crashing into Cao Cao's chained armada and painting the river red."

221-222

Battle of Yiling

Shu

Driven by vengeance for the death of his sworn brother Guan Yu, Liu Bei launched a massive invasion against Sun Quan's Wu forces. Wu commander Lu Xun maintained a defensive posture before executing a devastating counterattack.

"Exploiting Liu Bei's mistake of camping his vast army in dense forests along a massive frontline, Lu Xun unleashed a relentless fire attack that destroyed seventy miles of Shu camps."

Heroes of the Three Kingdoms

Three Kingdoms Games

Explore the era through interactive experiences

Total War: Three Kingdoms

Total War: Three Kingdoms

Grand Strategy + Real-Time Tactics
PCSteam

Combining deep empire-building with spectacular real-time battles, this critically acclaimed title brings the Three Kingdoms era to life with complex diplomacy, espionage, and character-driven narratives.

  • Deep Diplomacy System
  • Dual Romance & Records Modes
  • Character-driven Campaigns
Romance of the Three Kingdoms XIV

Romance of the Three Kingdoms XIV

Turn-Based Grand Strategy
PCPS4Switch

The legendary Koei Tecmo series returns to its roots. Manage your officers, expand your territory on a hex-based map, and unify China through intricate logistics and grand strategy.

  • Deep Officer Management
  • Hex-based Territory Control
  • Classic Koei Tecmo Strategy
Dynasty Warriors 9 Empires

Dynasty Warriors 9 Empires

Action + Strategy
PCPS4PS5Switch

Experience the ultimate power fantasy of the musou genre combined with tactical siege battles and political simulation as you conquer the land with iconic, larger-than-life warriors.

  • One-vs-Thousands Combat
  • Playable Iconic Warriors
  • Empires Conquest Mode
New Romance of the Three Kingdoms

New Romance of the Three Kingdoms

3D Multiplayer Strategy
iOSAndroid

A mobile adaptation focused on massive multiplayer strategy. Build alliances, wage coordinated warfare, and recruit legendary generals in an ongoing, persistent world.

  • Massive Multiplayer Battles
  • Alliance Warfare
  • General Recruitment System

About the Three Kingdoms

The Novel

Written by Luo Guanzhong in the 14th century, Romance of the Three Kingdoms is one of China's Four Great Classical Novels. It romanticizes and dramatizes the lives of feudal lords and their retainers, who tried to replace the dwindling Han dynasty or restore it.

The narrative spans the turbulent years from 169 AD to 280 AD. It explores themes of loyalty, betrayal, strategy, and the cyclical nature of history, famously opening with the line: 'The empire, long divided, must unite; long united, must divide.'

The History

The historical period began with the fall of the Eastern Han Dynasty, marked by intense power struggles between consort clans and eunuchs. This chaos allowed regional warlords like Dong Zhuo—who infamously sacked the capital Luoyang—and Cao Cao to seize control.

Following the decisive Battle of Red Cliffs in 208 AD, the realm fractured into three competing states. This era is defined by the Cao-Wei Empire (220–265, founded by Cao Pi), the Shu-Han Empire (221–263, founded by Liu Bei), and the Wu Empire (222–280, founded by Sun Quan).