Let's Play Destiny of an Emperor II #18 (Chapter 2) - Sweat Equity

[@Pheehelm]

So, what can I say about today's episode in relation to the novel? Arguably the game is slightly merciful, only making you visit Zhuge Liang's thatched cottage twice. Famously Liu Bei required three visits to actually meet him. (Also during his second trip, he mistakes just about everyone he meets for Zhuge Liang.) Zhuge Liang is asleep on his couch when Liu Bei finally sees him in person. He opts to wait for him to wake up, as in this game and the previous one. Have a quote from the novel: "Growing impatient, Guan Yu and Zhang Fei came into the chamber and found Liu Bei standing in attendance as before. Zhang Fei said angrily to Guan Yu, 'The insolence! Our brother standing in attendance, while he pretends to sleep peacefully on! Let me go out and torch the rear. We'll see whether that gets him up or not!'" And now, a quote from the endnotes of the Moss Roberts translation (actually attributed to a historical editor): "Zhuge Liang is a specialist in the military use of fire. For Zhang Fei to display his technique would have been a case of the novice trying to impress the master. A witty touch." Every once in a while HCBailly accidentally does something perfectly in line with the source material. If you check the LP of the first game, Episode 36, 5:06, you'll get an example of this. 4:57 Exaggerated displays of humility are fairly common practice in the novel. People who recommended Zhuge Liang to Liu Bei said he liked to equate himself to Guan Zhong and Yue Yi. Rather than delve into who those guys were, I'll just quote Guan Yu's reaction: "To my knowledge Guan Zhong and Yue Yi were outstanding figures of the Spring and Autumn and Warring States periods, men whose merit overarched the realm. Is it not presumptuous for Zhuge Liang to compare himself to them?" Liu Bei and Zhuge Liang both downplay their own merits in their first conversation, but I imagine it's ritualistic and performative rather than sincere. HCBailly mentioned "Bowang Po" a couple times this episode. To be honest, looking at every reference in the novel and the Wikipedia article on the upcoming battle, I'm not 100% clear what Bowang _is,_ but most likely a hill. Zhuge Liang splitting up Liu Bei's generals to ambush the enemy from different directions is accurate enough for an 8-bit Dragon Quest clone. His plan in the novel is a bit more elaborate than that. Also, Guan Yu and Zhang Fei are really not sold on Zhuge Liang at this point. They're not at all enthusiastic about his plan, and pretty much only go along with it so they can say afterwards it failed because it sucked and not because they didn't do their parts. It doesn't help that, rather than accompany Zhao Yun as he does here, Zhuge Liang stays behind in Xinye. As such, I choose to read their reactions as sarcastic. 8:18 Chen Deng didn't accompany Liu Bei nearly this far. The last time he's mentioned is around the time Liu Bei retreats to Yuan Shao. Cao Cao attacks Xuzhou, and Chen Deng surrenders it to him. (Actually it's possible the last time he's mentioned is during a description of the great physician Hua Tuo's accomplishments, but I can't find confirmation whether it's the same guy or another one with a similar name.) Incidentally, around this time Cao Cao diverts a river to create a lake for naval training, as part of his plans to invade the Southlands (currently under control of Sun Quan). He also establishes a guy named Sima Yi as his chief of the Bureau of Documents, but that's probably not important, forget I mentioned him.

[@raphaelfelix4795]

That's was a good question, if the house isn't in fire, let him sleep 😂😂😂😂😂

[@leohowell7678]

Sweet Caroline, good times never seemed so good!

[@leohowell7678]

Chapter 3: storm and calm, wait that’s star tropics, players!

[@PlusmaGun]

Once "the ration of fiery justice" is all done and dinner, give ChiTuMa to Zhang Fei, as he will stick with you all the way until after the Xiahou Yuan fight, which is long away from here.

[@Kehman86]

With very tired post nap eyes I read "the Nation of fiery juices"

[@dnocturn84]

9:22 That's a tiger

[@MrMatthias]

The "Inside a House" music gives me Breath of Fire I shop music vibes 🎵 Wow, this chapter sure was short

[@Lightgod87]

One of the composers for BoFI was Yasuaki Fujita, which is the composer for this game, so I wouldn't blame you if you thought some tracks had a similar vibe.

[@Nekosage]

Getting a new tactician! 4:25 - 4:30 - Wakey, wakey! 6:57 - 7:09 - Pfffftt.... 7:27 - 7:31 - Look at that intelligence!

[@sharkforce8147]

I feel like the 100k troops to maybe 5k or 6k troops disadvantage may be a *teensy* bit difficult to overcome.

[@SomeGuy712x]

(3:33) Just like with this situation in the first game, I wonder how anyone's supposed to figure this out on their own, especially with the added requirement of using the Check command instead of Talk?

[@DQMaster777]

:)

[@Azurus]

I'm surprised you didn't change your avatar to one of the characters in this game yet. Also wow, only 2 party members, they really like reducing your party in this title, huh?

[@AzureIV]

Hey HCBailly, if you don't do exactly what you did with Zhuge Liang, do you softlock the game?

[@HCBailly]

No, the game either kicks you out of the dialogue box or waits for another input to end it. Although, there is an unrelated soft lock opportunity in the next episode.

[@danielwhite2178]

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