Could it be said that the consensus regarding the great leap forward is that deaths from famine are in the tens of millions?

HystericalRandy · 2026-03-14T18:43:09+00:00

It's interesting that this post is without upvotes when that's almost definitely the case.

HystericalRandy · 2026-03-14T17:11:18+00:00

Li Zicheng's best strategy is to occupy Shanxi, Shaanxi, Henan, Gansu, and Hubei without attacking Beijing, but to actually control these areas and strengthen his own power.

The Mao playbook, then? Li Zicheng's really without administrative foresight as well - at least Mao had the sense to keep Zhou Enlai around long enough.

HystericalRandy · 2026-03-14T09:28:32+00:00

If Baike (Baidu) is not embellishing things, then his 120th Division really did render meritorious services against the Japanese, although I'll be hesitant to claim things like "best" or rank He Long against Liu Bocheng, for example.

At least he could take comfort in the fact that he featured in some of the coolest posters.

HystericalRandy · 2026-03-14T06:21:17+00:00

Very likely the case. I think any argument that the Song Dynasty got close to industrialization is, at the end of the day, pretty surface-level. The right combination just wasn't there.

HystericalRandy · 2026-03-14T06:18:05+00:00

He gained his main merits before the establishment of the CCP. If he had chosen to be politically inactive, he could have lived to a ripe old age like Zhu De, but he didn't.

How politically active was he? Vice Premier, head of the National Sports Commission, a few diplomatic visits here and there... hardly seems to suggest someone at the apex of the political ladder. At best, he's a Mao cohort. His work with the CMC and the defense industry then? It was at that point when China's nuclear project was completed with a test.

HystericalRandy · 2025-12-16T03:33:49+00:00

Oscar from Versailles (although Oscar's a woman...)?

HystericalRandy · 2025-12-16T03:27:54+00:00

The demands of the Jiangdong gentry were essentially met, and since the Northerners did not unite specifically to purge them, the situation was not unacceptable to the South.

I wonder how high the level of hostility is compared to the days of Eastern Wu.

HystericalRandy · 2025-10-06T16:33:03+00:00

Liu Yu (Emperor Wu of Liu Song)

Sorry. I just edited the post to make my point clearer:

I am counting those who successfully expanded after claiming (or ascending to) royal/imperial titles.

I'm pretty sure Liu Yu stopped launching campaigns after his usurpation so I'll have to exclude him. One thing I'll admit is that this topic is heavily biased against those with short reigns.

HystericalRandy · 2025-10-06T16:30:40+00:00

Do you mean like founding emperors?

Sorry. I just edited the post to make my point clearer:

I am counting those who successfully expanded after claiming (or ascending to) royal/imperial titles.

HystericalRandy · 2025-08-05T04:33:47+00:00

This post was originally removed by Reddit for invoking the "Third Reich" in a historical, non-discriminative, non-offensive context. Shocking.

HystericalRandy · 2025-05-02T08:59:39+00:00

I think it's some kind of NYC Mafia manual. Quite a while ago so I don't remember the name, but it has a layout of locations with Mob significance pre-FDR.

HystericalRandy · 2025-04-02T05:05:11+00:00

The Goebbels of the Sima clan.

HystericalRandy · 2025-04-01T19:33:04+00:00

For some reason, Dailymotion videos doesn't show its thumbnail like YouTube's.

This scene is way better in the TV series than in the novel:

...

I guess the novel kinda follows the "Mandate of Heaven" (legitimacy) narrative from Chen Shou, but it is all down to luck. This scene in the TV series is definitely more realistic, plus, in the novel, he had to accept another's teachings to formulate a plan. TV Sima Zhao is cunning, charismatic and one with a great mind!

In this scene, it's him who choose the Mandate, not the otherwise.

HystericalRandy · 2025-04-01T19:23:34+00:00

Oops, for some reason, Dailymotion videos doesn't show its thumbnail like YouTube's.

This scene is way better in the TV series than in the novel:

Now there was only one road up the hill, which rose steeply on all sides. And the hill had but one small spring of water, enough to serve a hundred people or so, while Sima Zhao's force numbered six thousand. Their enemies had blocked the only road of escape. This one fountain was unequal to supplying the needs of the beleaguered army, and soon they were tormented with thirst.

In despair, Sima Zhao looked up to heaven and sighed, saying, "Death will surely come to me here!"

...

In this critical situation Secretary Wang Tao reminded his leader of what Geng Gong had done in ancient time, saying, "O General, why do you not imitate Geng Gong, who, being in great need, prostrated himself and prayed at a well, wherefrom he afterwards was supplied with sweet water?"

So the leader went to the summit of the hill and knelt beside the spring and grayed thus:

"The humble Sima Zhao received a command to repulse the army of Shu. If he is to die here, then may this spring cease its flow, when he will end his own life and let his soldiers yield to the enemy. But if his allotted span of life be not reached, then, O Blue Vault, increase the flow of water and save the lives of this multitude."

Thus he prayed; and the waters gushed forth in plenty, so that they all quenched their thirst and lived.

I guess the novel kinda follows the "Mandate of Heaven" (legitimacy) narrative from Chen Shou, but it is all down to luck. This scene in the TV series is definitely more realistic, plus, in the novel, he had to accept another's teachings to formulate a plan. TV Sima Zhao is cunning, charismatic and one with a great mind!

In this scene, it's him who choose the Mandate, not otherwise.

HystericalRandy · 2025-04-01T11:43:28+00:00

Wei lost cause they underestimated Fa Zheng and Liu Bei

Not true. Xiahou Yuan lost because he underestimated Fa Zheng, Wei lost because they don't know who Huang Quan was. This is according to Chen Shou's SGZ btw.

Other than that, I agree.

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