Zhang Xiu and Lu Bu challenged the bold。
But overtopping all Cao Cao the strong
Became first minister； and to his side；
Drew many able people。 He swayed the court；
Without； he held the nobles in his hand；
By force of arms he held the capital
Against all rivals。 Of imperial stock
Was born Liu Bei； who with sworn brothers twain
Made oath the dynasty should be restored。
These wandered homeless east and west for years；
A petty force。 But Destiny was kind
And led Liu Bei to Nanyang's rustic cot；
Where lay Sleeping Dragon； he who
Already that the empire must be rent。
Twice Liu Bei essayed in vain to see the sage
Once more he went？ And then his fortune turned。
Jingzhou fell to him； followed the River Lands；
A fitting base to build an empire on。
Alas！ He ruled there only three short years；
Then left his only son to Zhuge Liang's care。
Full nobly Zhuge Liang played protector's part；
Unceasing strove to win first place for Shu；
But Fate forbade； one night for aye his star
Went down behind the rampart of the hills。
Jiang Wei the strong inherited his task
And struggled on for years。
But Zhong Hui and Deng Ai
Attacked the Hans' last stronghold； and it fell。
Five sons of Cao Cao sat on the dragon throne；
And Sima Yan snatched the court from Cao Huang。
Before him bowed the kings of Shu and Wu；
Content to forfeit kingly power for life。
All down the ages rings the note of change；
For fate so rules it； none escapes its sway。
The three kingdoms have vanished as a dream；
The useless misery is ours to grieve。
THE END ＇e＇ *
＇e＇ The Three Kingdoms ended here； 60 years after the fall of Han。 Even though the novel ends with a union moment； the empire was actually on the verge of being divided for another 340 years； until Tang Dynasty emerged （AD 618）。 But those are other chapters in history： 〃When the last Han emperor abdicated in 220； each of the warlords proclaimed himself ruler； beginning what is known as the Three Kingdoms Period （220…265）。 The northern state； Wei； was the strongest； but before it had succeeded in unifying the realm； Sima Yan； a Wei general； led a successful coup in 265 and founded the Jin Dynasty。 By 280 he had reunited the north and south； but unity was only temporary； as the Jin princes began fighting among themselves。 The non…Chinese groups of the north seized the opportunity to attack； and by 317 the Jin had lost all control of North China。 For the next 250 years； North China was fractured and ruled by numerous non…Chinese dynasties； while the south was ruled by a sequence of four short…lived Chinese dynasties； all centered at present…day Nanjing ＇the city of Shidou； in Jianye＇。〃 （from Encarta Encyclopedia）。
Main Next to Chapter 121 》》