Sangokushi v43

Onwards with volume 43. More deaths to come, sadly. The early 40s in this series are definitely quite heart-breaking for fans.

*VOLUME 43 NOW COMPLETE.

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I can imagine some people disliking Meng Da, thinking that he lacks "honour," but really, he's a pragmatist in an era where you needed to constantly evaluate your position to make sure your head wasn't lopped off the next day. You can bet even the idealist types like Liu Bei weren't all about "muh honour" in history, but could manage to play off those airs because their plots for power succeeded.

In the original novel, Meng Da writes Liu Bei a very elaborate letter, in which he likens himself to loyal servants of pre-Han times who resigned or were unfairly punished. Unfortunately, as with some of the more elaborate references to Chinese history, they are omitted from this manga.

Although Liu Bei regrets Liu Feng's death, the way it plays out in the original novel doesn't give much room for sympathy, as he had been preparing for his execution for some time. Even Zhuge Liang, who normally gives good advice, suggested that Liu Feng chase Meng Da into Xiangyang without any support, as it would be a win-win situation whether Liu Feng won or was defeated against Meng Da. Though the attack on Xiangyang was fictional, both the book and historical records seem to heavily imply that Liu Feng was executed simply to pave a smooth transition for Liu Bei's blood-related son, Liu Shan, and that Guan Yu's death was merely a convenient excuse.

This is one change that I think was unnecessary, especially considering it doesn't really play any further importance in later chapters.

This conversation is actually quite different from the one in the novel. In the novel, Zhuge Liang uses the Confucian doctrine of rectification of names to persuade Liu Bei, whereas in the manga, Zhuge Liang once again brings up sacrificing smaller good for the greater good. Still, there are similarities. As Liu Bei mentions in this chapter, disputing Cao Pi's usurpation of the throne by becoming emperor himself would, in sort, be a rectification of names (emperor, specifically).

Ugh, I hate how anti-climactic this is for such a feared general. Then again, dying in a blaze of glory isn't all that common for heroes in actual history. Many of them just get old and die of sickness like normal people. One such example would be Xiahou Dun, who passed away a little while ago in the story but whose death isn't actually mentioned in this manga.

Yes, unlike somebody...

And so ends the volume.

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Sangokushi c296-297:   Sendspace