By Andrew Zhang I
I. The Triple Invitation
Young man, in a plain white robe, Zhuge Liang, the sage with his crane-feathered fan. A one-room cottage cradled by trees gathers books and dried leaves– a thatched roof deflects the frequent downpours amidst the spired mountains of Shandong. On a white horse– a king, Liu Bei, the peasant-fugitive king at the front door is alone in supplication. The sage tells him his quest is hopeless–but he returns thrice, to invite to his side Zhuge Liang, Wo Long the sleeping dragon. Young man, he comes down the precarious alpine path to make a nation. The dragon wakes up.
II. At the Mumen Trail
A crane-feathered fan lashes a burning forest with blistering gale, makes a furnace out of the mountain pass–a scattered army scrambles and proclaims “There is a dragon!” Who else can play with fire?
III. Zhou Yu’s Frustration
A dragon? A slippery bastard, that’s what he is, waving the damn sword around at those red cliffs. “Sorcerer”–the commoners whisper as the southeasterly wind blows and flames leap across a chained armada. And as we watch the spectacle, he recedes into the distance, waving from his straw boat.
IV. The Empty Fort
Above the open city gates alone– Wo Long gives a concert for the massed enemy. They listen, and tremble. Each note of the guqin resonates. An army retreats from an empty fort.
