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Ok, I admit that I've failed somewhere before. But anyway welcome. Just a brief intro on what you should expect here:
1. Football. Not gonna post much of that any soon since season is over. :S
2. Anime, Games, etc. Just abt anything conceivable under the Japanese radar barring anything and everything Rule 34. Now that's illegal. Period. -.-;
3. Music. Everything to do with it is listed under the tab.
5. Unacceptable humour: Anything and everything is fair game here. As long as I don't get rounded up by the ISA. -.-'

6.
The Known World=Fantasy world building in process. I: Used to be glossary, now devoted to random rambling; II: Character Concepts; III: Lore.
7. der Wolf=my Fictionpress account under the moniker Tsumujikaze no Soujutsu. A Ranger's Tale is hosted under this page. :)
8. New section now upped. Maybe I should also gun for upping A Ranger's Tale here since I do have this funny feeling that traffic coming to here is way more than whatever I'll get in FP.

Statement of intent: Everything said here is a figment of personal opinion, be it me or anybody commenting. I try to be responsible, but my parents=/=parents of the world.

@Druid of Luhn: Crap. Should have remembered far earlier to give you the credit for your CSS text box code. :(

A/N: But sadly, it seems that your CSS text box code has now been halved efficiency wise. :(

That most important note I should have added: Any images posted in this blog are NOT my own stuff. I got them from Google image search, I don't earn any shit by being a thief and liar. Those responsible for the pictures, rest assured that you all are great artists in your own regards. Sadly, we all know what limited space means in terms of posting.

Latest Note: Changed alignment for my page widgets due to my worry that I can't centre align the thing.

Note on A Ranger's Tale: In case any complaining fella wants to have a legal case with me, let this be known that A Ranger's Tale is rated M by default. I've upped the swearing and somewhat a bit on the dark/gritty factor. You all have been warned, let no little boy and girl enter the forbidden realm.

Latest on ART: A Ranger's Tale now starting to kick back in gear. But I really hate the insanely fluctuating climate here in S'pore.

P.S: Oh, and one more thing. Vid below is yet another ideal OP for A Ranger's Tale.

Wednesday 25 July 2012

Phase End: Updated


(景耀)三年秋九月,追谥故将军关羽、张飞、马超、庞统、黄忠。
四年春三月,追谥故将军赵云。
《后主传》

“云昔从先帝,功积既著。朕以幼冲,涉涂艰难,赖恃忠顺,济于危险。夫谥所以叙元勋也,外议云宜谥。”大将军姜维等议,以为云昔从先帝,劳绩既著,经营天下,遵奉法度,功效可书。当阳之役,义贯金石,忠以卫上,君念其赏,礼以厚下,臣忘其死。死者有知,足以不朽;生者感恩,足以殒身。 谨按谥法,柔贤慈惠曰顺,执事有班曰平,克定祸乱曰平,应谥云曰顺平侯。
《云别传》

七年卒,追谥顺平侯。
初,先主时,惟法正见谥;后主时,诸葛亮功德盖世,蒋琬、费祎荷国之重,亦见谥;陈祗宠待,特加殊奖,夏侯霸远来归国,故复得谥;于是关羽、张飞、马超、庞统、黄忠及云乃追谥,时论以为荣。
《赵云本传》

(Jingyao) Third year, Autumn, Ninth month: The late generals Guan Yu, Zhang Fei, Ma Chao, Pang Tong and Huang Zhong were given posthumous honours.
Fourth year, Spring, Third month: The late general Zhao Yun was honoured posthumously.
(Account of the Latter Lord)

"When Yun first followed the late Emperor, his accomplishments were exceptional. When I was in peril, my life was preserved due to his loyalty. Those honoured as such must earn their reputations, hence worthy to honour Yun upon counsel." The likes of Grand General Jiang Wei deemed Yun as loyal and capable, abiding to the laws, his very credentials made legit. During the Battle at Dangyang, his integrity was equal to gold and stone, his very loyalty in defending his lords. Gratitude and rewards are the only way to strengthen the vassals.If the dead knew of such, its no different from immortality. If the living are grateful, its enough for them to die for a cause. In accordance to the law of posthumous formality, Shun should be due to gentle virtues and benevolence; orderly manner of accomplishing duties request the word Ping as should the same for acts in pacifying woe and rebellion. Hence the title of Marquis of Shun Ping.
(Tales of Zhao Yun)

Deceased upon the seventh year (of Jianxing), posthumously honoured as the Marquis of Shun Ping.
At first during the First Lord's time, only Fa Zheng had the honour. During the Latter Lord's reign, Zhuge Liang was remembered for his contributions without peer, Jiang Wan and Fei Yi were honoured as well for their heavy duties towards the state. Chen Zhi was rewarded exceptionally as a favoured vassal while Xiahou Ba defected from afar, hence both were included. Upon Guan Yu, Zhang Fei, Ma Chao, Pang Tong, Huang Zhong and Zhao Yun being remembered as well, it was deemed as an exceptional honour granted.
(Original Account of Zhao Yun)

Analysis: Liu Shan=Anal. But pointless bashing aside, can we fault the fact that Zhao Yun ended up posthumous mode far later on? To set the record straight, the remaining five croaked far earlier than him. (Guan Yu: AD 219, Zhang Fei: AD 221, Ma Chao AD 222, Huang Zhong AD 220, Pang Tong AD 214; Zhao Yun AD 229) So yay for the trolls playing 2+2=5. They must be cursing Jiang Wei for good now even though he was a certified jerk on certain aspects. At least I won't feel that butt hurt upon seeing Shu Han being destroyed due to his problematic stubbornness. <.<


建兴元年,[为]中护军、征南将军,封永昌亭侯,迁镇东将军。
《赵云本传》

First year of Jianxing, [as] the Central Army Protector and the General who Conquers the South, Yun was conferred the Marquis of Yongchang and promoted to the General who Guards the East.
(Original Account of Zhao Yun)

Analysis: A lot of people have the misconception that Zhao Yun actually gained all his general ranks post Yi conquest during this period. This is actually an outright fallacy due to the sentence structure back then being totally different from the modern context. Note the brackets? Anyone who knows his/her stuff in historical text can tell you that there's a difference between [拜为] and [为]. The former would have indicated a specific time whereas the latter is just an ambiguous term along the comparisons of "I've eaten already" rather than "I've eaten at two o'clock already".

先主不听,遂东征,留云督江州。
《先主传》

The First Lord heeded not the advice as his mind to attack east was made up. Yun was stationed at Jiangzhou as the result.
(The First Lord's Account)

先是,益州郡杀太守正昂。。。乃以裔为益州太守,迳往至郡。。。于是遂送裔于权。。。裔自至吴数年。。。
《张裔传》

At the beginning, the Yizhou county killed its Grand Administrator Zheng Ang... Yi was appointed as the replacement as he made his way to the county... Hence Yi was sent to (Sun) Quan... Yi has remained in Wu for a few years...
(Account of Zhang Yi)

Analysis: Liu Bei wasn't an asshole for holing Zhao Yun up at Jiangzhou. In fact Jiangzhou and Yizhou county were very close to each other in proximity. Simply put, the debacle caused on Zhang Yi's end was down to it being the precursor of the Nanzhong Rebellion where he only ended up back in Shu Han during AD 223. (Remember the (in)famous Meng Huo and Zhu Rong? Yeah, I'm talking about that event.)

Update on the General titles: I should have done this far earlier. :( But anyway, allow me to express my views on Zhao Yun's actual boundaries of military. 

But before that, let me just say that apart from that one single post I'll highlight later on, the fallacy called Zhao Yun=bodyguard is actually something unwittingly created by Luo Guanzhong himself. Simply put, its stupid people using a fictional work to justify a fictional lie.

牙门将军
[General of the Standard]
This is Liu Bei's first time granting a General's title to anypne under his banner. Now a lot has been said on this being a personal guard's commander. Outright bullshit. Should we call Wei Yan the same thing as well since Liu Bei gave him the SAME title after the Battle of Yi Province? Now if you're to ask me, the significance of the Standard is this: Presence of the grand commander's AUTHORITY rather than HIMSELF. Now at times of war back then, this is very important because once your standard banner falls, its game over. Its an omen of morale so as to speak. Hence such a post was very likely to be one where defending the standard is your highest priority. At the same time, deployment of your troops while staying put at your post of duty for the sake of repelling any enemy closing in is extremely likely as well.

留营司马
[Camp Commandant]
This can be seen as a nerfed down version of the original rank of Commandant (司马). So what is the role of a Commandant? Very simple folks. Two k areas: Military logistics andadministration. Due to Liu Bei's situation back then, it's imperative that there had to be someone in charge of the internal security act. Simply put, such a post was intended as a Commandant within the scope of Liu Bei's five counties in the Jing province (荆州五郡). In a very real sense, this could be seen as Liu Bei's own excuse to rein in that Little Sun. Simply put, Zhao Yun's power might be on the par with the actual McCoy so as to speak, but it's only a by-product of Liu Bei's intention if you're to ask me.

偏将军
[Brigadier General]
At times of war, its outright necessary to split your forces. And this is what such a post is meant for. The commander in chief for your vital branch army. i.e. forces splitting off from the main army. (分军/偏军)The greatest evidence yet? The very fact that Zhao Yun assumed total command of the branch army during the Battle of Yi Province where he had to take down Jiangyang without any reinforcements.

翊军将军
[General of the Soaring Army]
As per mentioned far earlier, Liu Bei granted him the rights to administer advice. This might or might not have anything to do with the title of The General of the Soaring Army. Yet if there's anything to go by, such a post has NOTHING to do with being the chief of personal guards. Read: NO actual evidence. But yet:
 “云兵随忠取米。。。”
This is an excerpt from Tales of Zhao Yun, which was listed as part of Pei Songzhi's annotations for the actual records itself. Now allow me to say something about the military heirarchy during the feudal era. Simply put, overall leadership is absolute and individualistic in nature. Within any given battalion/army, there can only be ONE commander so as to speak. Hence, the fact that Huang Zhong was the commander is pretty much true. But that's only part of the story. No undermining of such a power, yet why is it that Zhao Yun had his own soldiers? Maybe we should take a look at how the actual wording pans out here:
The word [翊] is not just an indication of support [辅佐]. Above everything else, its actually a synonym with the term [翼] i.e. wings. Simply put, such a word is a statement of absolute/vital support so as to speak. Hence by the title [翊军将军], it means that Zhao Yun had a certain absolute military power so long as his role would never go beyond that of support at the frontlines. i.e. back-up/holding fort.

中护军
[Central Army Protector]
If we're to go by historical sources, this is actually an evolution of the original Army Protector i.e. [护军]. Such a post would consist of allocation of manpower in times of war. For this very upgraded title, its actually a post where:
1. Taking charge of the personal/imperial guards is concerned.
2. Allocation of military personnel within the boundaries of your own country. i.e. defensive purposes.
Hence, the additional [中], which implies the central military operations.


征南将军
[The General who Conquers the South]
镇东将军
[The General who Guards the East]
镇军将军
[The General who Guards the Army]

The first two are titles stating Zhao Yun's military power within Shu Han rather than during times of punitive expeditions. Simply put, his range of command actually covered BOTH the southern and eastern parts respectively. i.e. the army forces allocated in the relevant areas. (境内军权) The final one? Let's not think too much on this because it might just be playacting on Liu Shan's end. Or rather Zhuge Liang himself since he actually held absolute power during his lifetime.
猛将之烈实为翼
奔驰千里寻明君
白马不归公孙勇
忠义始终随枭雄
当阳铁石不为动
江阳险池均可得
汉水拒曹一身胆
箕谷军败避国难
厚重之歌宛如梦
常山之叹谁人解

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