Chinese Lore Podcast

We dive into the differences between the fictional and real-life Zhang Fei and ask, "Who really whipped that corrupt bribe-seeking government official?"

How do you appease the angry souls of the damned? Feed them buns that look like human heads and tell them death is no escape from imperial subjugation, apparently.

After a couple more displays of over-the-top kindness, imperial subjugation is starting to look kind of decent after all for Meng Huo.

Zhuge Liang strolls into Meng Huo's house and makes himself at home.

Zhuge Liang's army marches deeper into the heart of darkness and forgets to read the part in the travel guide about bringing bottled water.

Zhuge Liang catches Meng Huo twice more with hardly any effort.

Zhuge Liang continues his campaign to win not only battles, but also barbarian hearts and minds.

Zhuge Liang barely breaks a sweat while cruising through level 1 of his Southwestern quest.

While Shu and Wu become best buds again, trouble pops up from the North and the Southwest.

An episode that starts with five armies bearing down on Shu somehow ends with nothing more than a showdown between pedants at a banquet.

A huge episode where we bid farewell to our favorite villain by delving into his real-life counterpart's life, career, and legacy.

Liu Bei gets sad, Cao Pi botches an invasion, and we read a poem by one of China's greatest poets.

The tide of battle -- and history -- turns in the span of one night.

In his most desperate hour, Sun Quan puts his faith in Lu Xun, but will his officers obey orders from a man they see as a pedant and a coward?

Liu Bei's team of old warhorses takes another hit, but two young stallions are waiting in the wings. This episode is brought to you by special guest Kaiser Kuo, host of the Sinica Podcast.

With Liu Bei bearing down on them, the Southlands try to tell him that they didn't really mean to kill Guan Yu; it was all a simple misunderstanding. We swear!

No, not him, too!! Another major character bites the dust.

You would think the end of a 400-year dynasty would have more action than this, but it's all just decrees, counter-decrees, speeches, humble brags, and an unusually strong gust of wind.

Cao Cao's third son finds out what passes for brotherly love in his family.

Cao Cao grapples with mortality and legacy.

We bid farewell to the Lord of the Beautiful Beard and talk about that time when Cao Cao stole the woman Guan Yu was going to steal from someone else.

Guan Yu's ghost finds inner peace ... and then starts killing and spooking people.

Defeated and leaking troops by the minute, Guan Yu makes a desperate dash for safety.

While Guan Yu is busy fighting Cao Cao's forces, Lü Meng and Dongwu try to catch him unawares.

After an arrow causes a festering wound, Guan Yu signs up for a bleeding-edge surgical operation.

With Guan Yu bearing down on a couple of his key cities, Cao Cao dispatches a general who pledges his life to victory and shows he means it.

We delve into the relationship between Cao Cao and his secretary Yang Xiu, a man with a keen understanding of his boss's mind ... and a death wish.

After punching Cao Cao in the mouth, Liu Bei tries his best to keep his men from declaring him king, to no avail.

We've made it to 100 episodes! So let's throw it open to some questions.

Cao Cao can't even get a good night's sleep as he tries to dislodge Liu Bei from the banks of the Han River.

Huang Zhong performs more heroic deeds, then Zhao Yun says to Cao Cao, "Hey, remember me?"

With the battle for Hanzhong in full swing, Liu Bei sends a senior citizen to chase off some rowdy kids.

You are a court official. Cao Cao just put down a coup, and now he's asking whether you helped put out the fire started by the rebels or just stayed home. What would you say?

We make virtually no progress in the narrative this week as we get tangled up in mysticism, superstition, and oh yeah, another conspiracy to overthrow Cao Cao.

After a general risks life and limb to save him, Sun Quan makes sure everyone appreciates the sacrifice.

Sun Quan tries to wrestle some territory away from Cao Cao, while at the same time playing peacemaker between two of his own officers.

Another foe bows to Cao Cao's might.

A long overdue farewell to Dongwu's military genius, who had the misfortune of being alive in the time of Zhuge Liang. Or at least, that's how the novel tells it.

Guan Yu brings a really big knife to a land dispute.

Liu Bei comes into some new possessions, and then tries to wiggle out of having to pay back his creditors in Dongwu.

Zhang Fei and Ma Chao collide in a battle for the ages.

I'm planning to make the 100th episode a Q&A session, so send in your questions to [email protected] by September 30, 2016.

Liu Zhang looks for outside help to deal with the last outside help he brought in, while we hit pause to catch up with Ma Chao and his misadventures.

Zhang Fei discovers that all you need to do to get the Riverlands' finest to switch sides is to say please.

Just as numerous omens portended, disaster strikes Liu Bei's campaign in the Riverlands.

Having passed the point of no return, Liu Bei goes a-conquerin' in the Riverlands.

Cao Cao gets a promotion, nine very nice pieces of swag, and a hint about Sun Quan's imperial destiny.

This week, overflowing brotherly affection is expressed through deception in the East and sword dances in the West.

Zhang Song and his friend decide that honor and ethics demand that they betray their master and give his land to Liu Bei.

Cao Cao’s latest victory triggers a chain reaction in the western reaches of empire.