Chinese Lore Podcast

Armed with their 10-step plan, Ximen Qing and Mrs. Wang undertake Operation Seduction.

While Wu Song is away, someone keeps hovering around his brother's house, hoping to get a bit of something hot and steamy (no, not Wu Dalang's buns).

Wu Song's happy reunion with his brother hits a snag when his brother's wife is a bit too happy to see him.

Wu Song throws caution to the wind and goes big-game hunting with his fist.

Despite the best efforts of the Yuncheng County justice system, Song Jiang somehow slips through the hands of the law.

Does a multitude of wrongs make a right? We find out this week as an adulterer stands up to a crooked justice system as the authorities try to cover up for one of their own, who runs afoul of the law after being blackmailed by his cheating mistress.

An evening that starts with Song Jiang being offered a big bag of gold goes horribly awry.

As our bandit friends herald the dawn of a new age of prosperity, we check in with their acquaintance back in Yuncheng County.

The last time Lin Chong vented, he cut off three heads. How many will he chop off this time?

Somebody forgot to explain to our heroes that "Lend me your ears" is only a figure of speech.

Which member of the Yuncheng County legal system is NOT trying to help Chao Gai escape? Raise your hand. Anyone? Anyone?

A tip from his no-good brother puts a down-on-his-luck investigator on the scent of Chao Gai and company.

If you can’t beat them, join them. Yang Zhi embarks on his life outside the law with a little dine-and-dash action.

Yang Zhi's approach to convoy duty: Try to rest before I tell you? That's a whipping. Try to get on the road before I tell you? That's a whipping. Look at me funny? That's a whipping. Complain about the excessive whippings? That's definitely a whipping.

Wu Yong reels in some eager helpers for Chao Gai's planned heist.

Chao Gai sends a confidant to a fishing village in search of a few good men with no compunctions about theft.

Our story shifts to rural village life, which apparently includes receiving uninvited visitors from near and far, some of whom hit you up for food and wine in the middle of the night while others come bearing presents, of a sort.

A quick look at currencies, income, and living expenses during the Northern Song.

It slices. It dices. It probably shouldn't be sold on a busy street in the capital. But wait, there's more!

Lin Chong really wants to join the bandits on Liangshan, but the initiation is murder.

Meet the new Lin Chong, stabber of hearts, remover of heads, and burner of old men’s beards.

A look at the growth of Buddhism during the Northern Song and the religion's relationship with the imperial government.

Just as Lin Chong starts to settle into his new life at the penal colony, his past pays him a visit.

I recently collaborated with the YouTube channel Invicta History on three videos about Three Kingdoms warlords. The videos were sponsored by Creative Assembly as part of the promotion for its new game Total War: Three Kingdoms. My role in the project was to provide research and record the narration for the videos. We covered Dong Zhuo, Cao Cao, and Liu Bei. It was a fun project. All three videos are out now, so have a look.

Lin Chong finds out first-hand that cash really does rule everything around you, especially when you’re caught up in the ancient Chinese legal system.

Back in February, I took part in a podcast conversation on the Invicta History YouTube channel with the host, Julien, and Peter Stewart, a writer from the team producing the coming “Total War: Three Kingdoms” game. We chatted for more than an hour, geeking out over the history of the Three Kingdoms period, the novel based on it, and how all of that is handled in the game. It was a fun conversation, and it was interesting for me to hear how the team worked to capture the essence of the story in the game. Have a listen.

Shady backroom deals, morally flexible guards, and a stretch of dodgy woods: Things are not looking good for Lin Chong.

Lin Chong buys a shiny new toy, and then discovers he got sold out.

We see how the "throw Lu Zhishen into a fecal pond" plan turns out, and then watch as he turns pest removal into a Strongest Man event.

A couple duels, a few corpses, and a big fire. Just another day on Lu Zhishen’s trip to the capital.

Lu Zhishen unexpectedly runs into an old friend. Well, a friend. More of a passing acquaintance, really. What do you call someone you don't mind stealing from?

Lu Zhishen meets an old man in need and offers to use his monk training to help the guy out. Wait, what monk training?

Lu Zhishen's new monastic family comes to the sobering realization that they just accepted a hard-drinking, mean-punching, latrine-spurning public-health menace into their midst.

On the lam after committing murder, Lu Da first runs into an old friend, and then runs into religion.

Shi Jin makes a new friend, and we explore the question on everyone’s mind: Exactly what DO you do with minced pork fat?

Shi Jin and the bandits from the nearby mountains make it a Mid-Autumn Festival to remember.

A quick look at the ancient Chinese game of football that allowed Gao Qiu to break into government service.

Wang Jin turns a one-night farm stay into a nice little gig by knocking his host’s son on his butt.

How do you rise up to be the future ruler's right-hand man? Certainly not through brilliance or hard work.

The capital is facing a crisis, and the only hope is basically the 12th-century Chinese equivalent of Anakin Skywalker from "The Phantom Menace." Ugh.

An overview of the podcast and an introduction to the Water Margin, aka Outlaws of the Marsh, one of China’s great classic literary works.

A reflection on this four-year ride, and a glimpse of things to come.

A rapid-fire look at a bunch of supporting players in the novel.

One hundred and fifty-three episodes later, we have finally reached the “long divided, must unite” part of the novel.

A look at what they ate and drank during the Three Kingdoms era.

While their respective states are sizing each other up for conquest, the Jin and Wu commanders at the borders are getting along famously.

Sure I just lost my kingdom, but look at all the fun stuff they have in the Wei capital!

We look at the architect of the Sima clan's rise to power.

Everyone has a hidden agenda, except maybe for the guy suspected of hatching an insurrection. (Note: Special guest narrator this week)

A Shu commander tries to live up to his father's legacy, while a Shu prince refuses to follow his father's example.