Let's Play Destiny of an Emperor II #27 (Chapter 3) - Forced Rations

[@AzureIV]

That was the most intense fight so far. So many twists and turns.

[@Pheehelm]

So, what can I say about today's episode in relation to the novel? 4:04 Backing up what HCBailly says here: "Liu Zhong" is probably a translation error. The only Liu Zhong I can find died several hundred years before the Three Kingdoms era. Indeed he most likely means Liu Zong, Liu Biao's second son who usurped Jingzhou. As I wrote under Episode 25, he's supposed to be dead now. As for why they want him in charge of Jingzhou, Liu Zong is the son of Liu Biao's second wife and Cai Mao's sister Lady Cai. Putting him in charge of Jingzhou benefits the Cai clan. Actually that's another oddity: Cai Mao is talking about deposing his own nephew. That's pretty brutal even for this story. I don't know how his death would benefit Cai Mao, but presumably he expects to be awarded rule of Jingzhou after the Southland is conquered. I introduced Zhang Yun under Episode 23; he joined Cai Mao in surrendering to Cao Cao and becoming his naval commanders. Wen Ping is first mentioned as part of Cai Mao's plot to murder Liu Bei at a feast (see Episode 16 writeup), then later harries Liu Bei and his followers during their retreat from Cao Cao's forces (see last episode's writeup). I don't think the battle in today's episode is based on anything; in any case, Wen Ping sticks around for quite a while working for the Caos. I introduced Lu Gong under Episode 24. Now, as then, he's supposed to be long dead. I introduced Wang Can under Episode 23. By this point he's been made an honorary lord by Cao Cao. He survives a while after this. 16:57 Cai Mao (along with Zhang Yun) does not die in battle. His death is considerably more ignominious. Under Cao Cao's orders, Jiang Gan sneaks across the river into his childhood friend Zhou Yu's camp to convince him to surrender. Zhou Yu sees through the scheme and plants a forged letter for him to find. It purports to be from Cai Mao and Zhang Yun, promising to deliver Cao Cao's head to Zhou Yu. Jiang Gan brings the letter back to Cao Cao, who promptly executes them both, then a few seconds later figures out the trick. Yu Jin (first seen Episode 8) and Mao Jie (don't know if he's in this game) become the new naval commanders. _That's_ how you use a fake document to get someone killed, Cai Mao. Not by attributing seditious poetry to someone who doesn't write poetry. 17:03 This number is inflated a bit; Cao Cao actually only has about eight hundred thirty thousand men, but he rounds up so it sounds like he has a better damage multiplier. Somehow Zhuge Liang ends up estimating he has closer to one and a half million. Back in Episode 19 HCBailly asked where he was getting all these people, so here's Zhuge Liang's answer to that: "He had the Qingzhou army of two hundred thousand when he took charge of Yanzhou. When he vanquished Yuan Shao, he added another five or six hundred thousand to that. Recently he recruited another three or four hundred thousand from the north-central plains. And now he has gained two or three hundred thousand more from the conquest of Jingzhou. It adds up to no less than one and a half million."

[@Incidion]

I gotta say, this has gotta be some of the most interesting JRPG tactics I've ever seen for an NES game. The tactics certainly add a spice that wasn't present in a lot of turn-based fighting at the time. Only time I've ever really seen people that excited in NES days is encountering a metal slime. And that's less the fun of the fight itself and moreso the rewards.

[@CosmicRPG]

Finally the almighty character profile image change by HCBailly

[@ClausSakuragi]

It's Zhuge Liang this time instead of Zhao Yun. I expect tactics will get a good showing this LP since it's the Max INT man

[@raphaelfelix4795]

Cao Cao has a hundred of troops. Cao Cao has thounsand of troops. Cao Cao has a million of troops. Cao Cao has INFINITE TROOPS, RUN RUN RUN

[@PlusmaGun]

*RUN! RUN! CAO CAO HUNGER!*

[@Nekosage]

Moving forward to deal with the opposition! 2:08 - 2:12 - Kablooey! 16:55 - 17:07 - A million? Is that all? 🤪

[@Othaur]

I love how historically, Cao Cao would entirely blame himself for his failure at Chi Bi. Historically he may have been suffering from a non cancerous brain tumor as he was having frequent headaches at the and was ill. He rushed into the debacle ignoring his principle strategist Jia Xu. Zhou Yu claimed victory, but Cao Cao probably analyzed the aftermath correctly, Zhou Yu didn't really win the fight, Cao Cao essentially gave him the victory by heedlessly ignoring all the warning signs.

[@MrMatthias]

I'm actually really impressed that this game manages to capture some semblance of siege warfare, namely that it takes a lot of strategy and a looooot of time lol Not to say that it's boring - I'm seriously impressed!

[@retrogamerfan123]

I have to ask hcbailly does this game have a metal slime enemy that gives you a ton of exp usually RPGs do

[@DQMaster777]

:)