Chinese Lore Podcast

The death of the queen proves to be just the start of the day's drama.

Hell hath no fury like a fox demon scorned.

The tension between court ministers and the king's new lover comes to a boil.

Daji makes quite the first impression on the king, much to his ministers' chagrin.

With the enemy at his gates, Su Hu decides to lay the blame where it belongs -- on the teenage daughter who has not even appeared in the story yet.

The upstart marquis Su Hu braces for the king’s wrath.

Our story opens with a lesson in governing 101: Do not ogle creation goddesses through poem.

A brief overview of the next novel I’m covering, a leading work in the genre of gods and demons fiction.

Wrapping up the Water Margin Podcast and revealing my next project.

Our heroes go their separate ways, and then gather again … sort of.

Song Jiang continues his journey back to the capital, but how many of his brothers are coming with him?

Fang La makes a desperate last stand against the Song forces.

With the end of the campaign within reach, Song Jiang’s forces converge on the rebels’ palace.

Eager to avenge more slain comrades, Song Jiang charges headlong into trouble.

Song Jiang suffers setbacks on land and water, but his enemy isn’t doing any better.

Song Jiang gets a heaven-sent opportunity, while the rebel emperor gets some help of his own.

Song Jiang gets another mixed bag of heartbreaks and victories.

One of the naval chieftains undertakes a dangerous nighttime mission.

A few of our heroes run into some guys who remind them of how they used to be.

Song Jiang encounters more victories and more losses as his army pushes south.

A fortuitous encounter on the river sets up a cunning plan by Song Jiang.

To occupy his gang’s minds with something other than rebellion, Song Jiang volunteers to go put down a rebellion.

Lu Zhishen revisits his old haunts, while Song Jiang waxes poetic about the most Confucian birds.

The Middle Kingdom overfloweth with Sinocentrism as Song Jiang and company bring to heel the barbarians who reside in the desolate desert outpost of [checks notes] Beijing.

On the brink of total victory, Song Jiang runs into a string of unexpected setbacks.

Song Jiang and the Liao commander’s son engage in a battle of the nerds.

A look at the who, what, where, why, and how of Song Dynasty travel.

Lu Junyi finds himself stuck between a rock and more rocks.

An envoy from the Liao tries to convince Song Jiang and his men to join the Great Resignation.

Despite a few hiccups, our heroes stay on the offensive against the Liao.

After their untimely run-in with an embezzling government representative, Song Jiang and company are under pressure to deliver some quick results in their opening battle against the Liao.

The bandits begin their new life as law-abiding subjects by selling off their loot.

The imperial court hopes the third time is the charm when it comes to making nice with the bandits.

Yan Qing offers a little eye candy to the emperor’s mistress in exchange for her help.

The bandits roll out the red carpet, and you won’t believe who’s coming to dinner.

Prospects of peace ride on the all-important question: Is that a comma or a period?

YOU SUNK MY BATTLESHIP! (And torched my fleet and killed my generals and burned my camp and …)

You just lost 60,000 men on your campaign? What are you going to tell the emperor? Wait … not telling him is actually an option?

The hawks at court get their way, as a huge imperial force descends on Liangshan.

A dive into the minutiae of monastic life.

We secretly replaced our heroes’ imperial wine with swamp water. Let’s see if they … oh crap they totally noticed!

After delivering justice on heaven’s behalf in his usual manner at the fair, Li Kui dabbles in a more comical delivery of justice at a nearby county.

Li Kui and Song Jiang wagered heads, and heads they shall have.

On his way home after spreading holiday cheers in the capital, Li Kui decides to do some good deeds for civilians.

Song Jiang goes to the capital to partake in the holiday festivities, and a little extracurricular activity.

Our heroes pray to heaven for a sign, and heaven answers in the most literal way possible.

Liangshan sets its sights on another town that was just minding its own business, but a local general gives the bandits a literal bloody nose.

From attacking innocent towns to abducting women whose family you just slaughtered, it’s another honor-filled adventure for the heroes of Liangshan.

The bandits and their despised foes parley for peace.

Our heroes get back to settling old scores and unfinished business.