Putting Zhuge Liang in Situations

What? What house? that looks oddly familiar...

*lü zhi is the first empress in chinese history. following the death of her husband, she became defacto ruler by wrestling power from her son and grandsons. because women are not supposed to rule, she maintained plausible deniability of her involvement in state affairs by sitting behind a screen while in court, giving rise to the idiom “listening to politics behind the curtain.”

Become a eunuch, they say, it'll guarantee you a job, they say.

and thank you to everyone who gave me advice, i have decided not to use a racking for this one, bc my project is very small and i will only be putting light objects on it, but i will keep that in mind if i ever make a bigger bookshelf!

pretty proud of how shelf #2 turned out. it only took TWO HOURS to make! #myspeed #myimprovement

HOW IT STARTED VS HOW IT'S GOING!!!!!

“The shops and colonnades of the city agorá, or market, swarmed with a vivid, reeking confusion of human flesh haggling fran-tically, boasting loudly, arguing politics, or huddling in intense conversation. Alexandros slipped past country farmers goading balking donkeys burdened with produce like improbable hedgehogs. Fishwives called out their husbands' catches, and vendors spilled into avenues, each bellowing the superiority of his wares.

Bobbing up on his toes, Alexandros looked about. In the northwest wing, bright colors beckoned, and he elbowed his way through to where an unexpected pair of Persikoi merchants had set up a dazzling display of high-priced rugs and fragrant spices, sharp perfumes and fine cashmere.” —Dancing with the Lion by Jeanne Reames

The scene continues with a description of the hot summer heat, which I keenly felt today in 95 degree Fahrenheit (35 Celsius):

“The morning was already white and drunk with the summer heat that made men tor-pid. Pella's western wall bordered the meandering river that emptied into Loudias Lake.

To the north stood Mount Paiko, green with oak, beech, and silver pine, while south around the lake lay a reedy marsh. When he climbed up to the palace roof, he could see all the way to the Thermaikos Gulf, banded with river silt in blues and browns and yellows. It would be dotted now with fishing boats and great merchant galleys. On the far southwest horizon, mighty Olympos rose straight up just a few miles inland from the coast.”

And it all leads up with a meet-cute with Hephaistion in the palace!

“He turned to wave ... and promptly collided with somebody coming down the corri-dor. Their combined momentum spun them into a wall. "Oimoi!" the boy said, rubbing a shoulder. "Turn an eye to where your feet are taking you!" Disentangling himself, Alexandros looked up, saw who he'd collided with, and flushed so hot he thought his blood was boiling. Hephaistion.”

In this novel, Hephaistion is a huge “horse girl”, as was Alexander, and here he is, with his horse (left), and Alexander (right)

-The evaluation from the Tang dynasty historians (sorry, this was from Tang Taizong Li Shimin, who was really a fan of Zhuge Liang again) for Sima Yi were literally so harsh on him 😭:

和光同塵，與時舒卷，戢鱗潛翼，思屬風雲。飾忠于已詐之心，延安于將危之命。觀其雄略內斷，英猷外決，殄公孫於百日，擒孟達於盈旬，自以兵動若神，謀無再計矣。

"He blended in with the world, adapting to the changing times, concealing his ambitions while secretly plotting. He feigned loyalty to conceal his true intentions, and prolonged the precarious situation of his impending doom. Observing his decisive and brilliant strategies, he annihilated Gongsun Zan in a hundred days and captured Meng Da in ten days, making him believe that his military actions were divine and his plans were foolproof."

既而擁眾西舉，與諸葛相持。抑其甲兵，本無鬭志，遺其巾幗，方發憤心。杖節當門，雄圖頓屈，請戰千里，詐欲示威。且秦蜀之人，勇懦非敵，夷險之路，勞逸不同，以此爭功，其利可見。而返閉軍固壘，莫敢爭鋒，生怯實而未前，死疑虛而猶遁，良將之道，失在斯乎!

"Then, he led his troops westward to confront Zhuge Liang. His soldiers, lacking any will to fight, were emboldened only by (Zhuge Liang) sending them women clothes. He stood guard at the gate, his grand ambitions thwarted, and feigned a desire to fight a thousand miles away, a mere show of force. Moreover, the men of Qin and Shu were neither brave nor cowardly, and the paths were treacherous and arduous, the different between advantages and disadvantages for victory is clear. Yet, he retreated, fortifying his camp, none daring to challenge (Liang). He was cowardly and hesitant to advance (when Liang was alive), and even (with Liang already) dead, he remained hesitant and fearful. Is this really the mark of a good general?"

及明帝將終，棟梁是屬，受遺二主，佐命三朝，既承忍死之託，曾無殉生之報。天子在外，內起甲兵，陵土未乾，遽相誅戮，貞臣之體，寧若此乎！

When Emperor Ming was nearing his end, these pillars of the state were entrusted (to him). He served two emperors and three reigns, bearing the responsibility of enduring death, yet offering no reward in return. While the emperor was away, war broke out within the court; before the tomb was even dry, they were already slaughtering each other. Is this really the conduct of a loyal minister?

夫征討之策，豈東智而西愚？輔佐之心，何前忠而後亂？故晉明掩面，恥欺偽以成功；石勒肆言，笑姦回以定業。

Why did (his) strategy of conquest so wise in the east and foolish in the west? Why did the heart of (him) who assist (the court) so loyal at first and then treacherous later? Thus, (Emperor) Ming of Jin covered his face, ashamed of (ancestors) achieving success through deception; Shi Le spoke freely, laughing at the treacherous Hui for establishing his dynasty.

He’s a human fighter (battlemaster) and he’s become the luckiest character I’ve ever had the pleasure of playing as because no joke he’s been getting at least one nat 20 every combat encounter so far and even rolled 3 (technically 4) 20s in a row at some point.

I dunno why I genuinely didn’t expect him to be a beast already

THE BIIIIIIIIIG SURPRISE IS HERE!!!!!!