Steve, Jude, Gongjin and Drew unite to discuss what had gone wrong with the Han. As the novel descends into the civil war, we look at what had gone wrong in the longer term for the Han that had led to the kind of revolts that opens the novel. Finances, foreign policy, instability at court, decisions made in the last years of peace, while Gongjin talks of the impact of a changing climate adding strain upon the Han.

Jude's first time as editing so any feedback on how he can improve is welcome. Transcript

Timings:

Problems at Court: 01:37

Climate Change: 28:53

Foreign Affairs: 43:29

Last Years of Peace: 56:48

Goodbye: 67:37

Artwork by Zhaolie

Music is Sao Meo Orchestral Mix by Doug Maxwell/Zac Zinger

On Friday will be the closing episode of season 2, discussing the Han's decline with Steve, Jude, Gongjin and Drew reunited. Clips from eunuch discussions, military expenses and inconsistency, climate change, late reform while we discuss much more in the episode itself. So come join us for Friday's discussion.

Artwork by Zhaolie

Music is Sao Meo Orchestral Mix by Doug Maxwell/Zac Zinger

Steve and Jude joined are by Benjamin, known as Archlich on tumblr and also his three kingdom wordpress articles in The Classical Amateur. The episode is to discuss chapter 4 of the novel as the Han is now firmly in dangerous hands: Dong Zhuo’s use of power now he has the Empire in his grasp, treatment of the royal family including the formidable Dowager He and a poem from the once Emperor (from Yang Zhengyuan’s translations in Last Emperor) and how Cao Cao’s plots really put him off Steve’s guest list.

Transcript

Timings:

02:51 Dong Zhuo in control

20:41: What to do with an Emperor

31:05 Cao Cao Intervenes

51:33 End Phase

Artwork by Zhaolie

Music is Sao Meo Orchestral Mix by Doug Maxwell/Zac Zinger