Total War: THREE KINGDOMS – Cao Cao In-Engine Trailer

Total War: THREE KINGDOMS is the first Total War game to take inspiration from a romanticised version of History. Influenced by Luo Guanzhong’s 14th century historical epic ‘Romance of the Three Kingdoms’, it follows the dramatic lives and deeds of near-mythical warlords and their retainers in 2nd to 3rd century China as they try to unite the country under their rule and forge the next great dynasty. Revealed in this first in-game cinematic is one such leader with designs on being the one true ruler of China, the cunning strategic mastermind, Cao Cao. Bringing grand speeches, breath-taking siege battles and legendary duels to Total War: THREE KINGDOMS, Cao Cao will no doubt be the leader of choice for players who enjoy a “divide and conquer” approach.

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Video type: Cinematic Trailer

[unifieddynasty]

Cao Cao really is a master bamboozler in this game. He's bamboozled me twice already, as an AI-controlled faction no less. First he counter-ambushed my ambush. Then he signed a military access pact with me only to dissolve it as soon as my troops reach the middle part of his territory, leaving me stranded and at risk of having war declared upon me.

[cochan]

0:16 the song is written by CaoCao himself!!!
关东有义士，兴兵讨群凶。
初期会盟津，乃心在咸阳。
军合力不齐，踌躇而雁行。
势利使人争，嗣还自相戕。
淮南弟称号，刻玺于北方。
铠甲生虮虱，万姓以死亡。
白骨露于野，千里无鸡鸣。
生民百遗一，念之断人肠。
East to the Hangu Pass some heroes had risen
In rebellion against Dong Zhuo and his gang.
They rallied at the outset, claiming
To stand up for the ousted reign of Han.
the men had come together, but not their minds.
Troops were deployed, but the factions,
Waiting and wavering like wild geese wandering,
Vied with each other for safety.
Internal strife soon killed the union —
In the south one brother has assumed the throne,
In the north the other has an imperial seal ready,
While armour and surcoats lie bloody and wormy.
Wars raging, people are dying,
Ungathered bones strew the wilderness — for
Thousands of miles, not a rooster to be heard —
One huнdredth of the populace may have ever survived.
What a heartbreaking disaster!

[loganbagley]

I love how the board game is an analogy for the actual struggle and relationship between Cao Cao and Yuan Shao, followed by the entrance of Liu Bei at the end of the trailer, foreshadowing Cao Cao's campaigns in the south. This trailer is truly beautiful in narrative, graphics, and theme. Definitely one of the best video game trailers that I have ever seen.

[noname]

2:06 This is a harsh way to mock your opponent when playing Go.

Cao Cao places one stone next to another in the only empty corner of the board. Its him saying the stones placed early are more than enough to hold back Yuan Shao's designs. savage

[JemRau]

"Impressive cousin! You truly are the one that will conquer this land." - Xiahou Dun

[benjaminlee]

Yuan Shao has an antenna on his head, that's HuaWei 5G right there

[lumberjack]

I saw people asking about if Cao Cao really said "I would rather betray the world than let the world betray me". The thing is a little complicated, First you need to know three books: the first the "Records of the three kingdoms(三国志)“, second is "Annotations to Records of the Three Kingdoms(三国志注)", and the third one is "Romance of the three kingdoms(三国演义)".

The first one, Records, is written by a man Chen Shou(陈寿) once served as a officer in kingdom Shu(蜀), and after Shu was conquered by Wei(魏) and after Wei being replaced by Jin(晋), he served as a officer for Jin too, and at last after decades Jin conquered Wu(吴) and united China, he started to write the Records, his work is considered as the most first hand records of the history of three kingdoms since he lived at that age, and by what most he said should be true

Since Chen Shou was very cautious on his work, his book is concise and sometimes lack the details, after about a hundred years, the empire pointed another officer named Pei Songzhi(裴松之) to write an annotation to records of the three kingdoms, He collected other books and records about three kingdoms which were considered as not so trusty, and added those part he thought it is interesting or lacked or different from records from the Records. This book is also important since it records and preserved many records from other books which no longer exist today.

And after about hundreds years, since the three kingdoms is a age about heroes, loyalty and betray, its not surprise that the stories and tales about three kingdoms became famous, people liked it, the storytellers told it and even made novels and operas about it. and after a thousand years, a man named Luo Guanzhong(罗贯中), based on the Records and other tales and novels, wrote his own novel called "Romance of the three kingdoms(三国演义)", the original name is 三国志通俗演义, which literally means romance of records of three kingdoms. This book received a great succeed and became the most famous book about the three kingdoms, and most people know the three kingdoms from the Romance, almost all the videos, games, movies are based on the Romance.

So, back to the story, did Cao Cao literally said "I would rather betray the world than let the world betray me"? No, this words from this trailer is from the Romance and never mention in the Records. In the Romance, Cao tried to assassinate Dong Zhuo(董卓), which is the ultimate bad guy in this trailer, but failed, and ran away from the capital with a handful trusty servant to his home, on the road he came across a old friend Lu Boshe(吕伯奢)'s house, and Lu asked them to sit and later he go away, Cao heard a knife sharping sound and suspect Lu is going to betray him, so he rushed and killed all Lu's family, but find out it was a mistake, they were actually gonna to kill a pig for Cao. Cao ran away with his servant but meet Lu outside, and Lu said I bought some wines for us, why you leave so fast? and ask Cao to stay, but instead Cao killed Lu, his servant cant understanding that and ask, killing his family was a mistake, and know you killed him on purpose, why? And Cao says, if he get home and find out we killed his family, he must brings people to kill me, and said the famous words "I would rather betray the world than let the world betray me". If you think about the details of this story, cant be true since when killing a pig it will scream so loud and there is no way Cao cant hear that, and Lu, as the master of a big family he has no way to go out to buy some alcohol himself.

BUT! There is a similar words mention in the Annotation. In the Annotation, story about after Cao disobey Dong Zhuo's appointment, on the way to home he meet and killed Lu Boshe's family when he pass through has three version according to three different books, and the details are not totally consist with each other, this three books are no longer exist today. The first one said when Caoarrived Lu wasn't home, but Lu's sons and others tried to kill Cao Cao for his money and horses, and Cao killed some of them. Second records said Lu wasn't home but all his 5 sons were, they prepare to entertain Cao but Cao suspected and think they are gonna to killed him for Dong Zhuo, so he killed 8 people and ran away at night. And the last one, it said Cao heard the sounds the noise of making foods, he thought they are going to kill him, so he killed them at night, and after find out the mistake, he sadly said "Rather I betray a man than a man betray me".

So, this is the whole story about it, since Cao was a cunning and suspicious man according to the Romance, and this word suit the image of this Cao Cao well, so it became famous. But did Cao really said something like that, we will never know, probably, it's not record in the most trusted historical books, but some other resource mentioned the similar stories, and even the details are different, it may actually happened. What do you believe?

[HeirofCarthage]

You heard him say banish Chaos! Chaos warriors confirmed in 3k!

Great trailer! Looks amazing. Can't wait to get hands on.

[bardcaretaker]

"I'd rather betray the fans, then have the fans betray me" - CA 2021

[hawaiianperson]

Probably the 50th time I've rewatched this trailer, anyone else?

Edit: 7 months later and I am now around 500

[KingsandGenerals]

I wonder how similar it will be to Warhammer, in terms of the generals and heroes. What I mean is - will there be legendary immortal generals/heroes who can take on multiple units. EDIT. My question was answered in the replies, so I am reposting it here: "They are doing both and have linked an article in their twitter: there will be two modes - one classic TW with general bodyguard units, and one Romance of the Three Kingdoms style." Ian Chua and Aidan Mattys, thank you!
Also, from GraceCA on the TotalWar Reddit: "Total War: THREE KINGDOMS will be based on the romanticised history by default, but there'll also be a Classic Mode option before you start a campaign that makes the experience closer in execution to past Total War historical titles." Thanks, Cody Bonds!

[DMIINTR]

history book of USA: civil war; independence day.
history book of China: Game of Thrones on steroids !!!

[toomuchbwapbwap]

Love how you can easily identify Xiaohou Dun. He’s a great character.

[jezza]

For I would rather betray the world than have the world betray me. 宁教我负天下人, 休教天下负我. Love that iconic line, been hyped for this for ages :)

[Ealsante]

I love the little detail where all the enraged officers, upon seeing Cao Cao walk through their ranks, immediately stop and bow to him. Even after he's been dragged through hell, he's still a natural leader.

[neokim]

For I would rather betray the world, than have the world betray me.
宁教我负天下人，休教天下人负我！

[lordvoldemort]

Cao Cao is, for me, undoubtedly one of the greatest of the generals at the end of the Han dynasty. I cannot wait for this. Ready for some more intense action.

[qus.]

The part where Cao Cao called for support during battle but was denied is based on an actual historical incident. Where the Guandong coalition refused to do anything and move against Dong Zhuo for several months. Each warlord only thinking about themselves fearing that if they lose too many troops they won't be able to reap the rewards if Dong Zhuo loses.

Cao Cao being the absolute chad rode out alone with only 5, 000 of his soldiers against 25, 000 of Dong Zhuo's. He got absolutely mauled and nearly lost his life. Cao Hong gave up his own horse and acted as rear guard to help Cao Cao escape.

Instead of praising Cao Cao, the warlords not only did nothing but felt vindicated in their inaction and made jest of Cao Cao. It is worth mentioning that clan annihilation was a thing during this time. So Cao Cao had no financial backing from his father only indirect help such as pointing Cao Cao to men that could help him.

So Cao Cao could have lost everything but still did what he did to try to shake those cowards into attacking but failed.

Cao Cao time and time again showed bravery, courage and decisive action compared to the other warlords of the era. Liu Bei is unfortunately always portrayed in a very meek mild way due to the novel but Liu Bei was the only really that ever made Cao Cao personally take control of the army in order to deal with him. Liu Bei was no fool.

[yang]

An interesting story about the one-eyed general who appeared in 1:42 of the video, named Xiahou Dun. In a chase, when the enemy general counterattacks, Dun‘s left eye was shot by an arrow. He stretched his hand and pulled the arrow, but pulled the eyeball out together. He roaring: "the flesh given by parents cannot be discarded", and eat the eyeballs, continue to fight, and finally kill the enemy general. He is one of the ancient generals I like very much. (σ´∀`)σ

[joahnaut]

As a Dynasty Warriors/Total War fan, this has been the best thing ever.