Several other major players are entering, including Dong Zhuo, who will soon be vilified. If that wasn’t enough, three brothers – Zhang Jue, Zhang Liang, and Zhang Bao – band together and launch the Yellow Turban Rebellion to dismantle the Han Empire. Emperor Liu Hong struggles to control things while running the nation. Meanwhile, the Han Empire has several parties to the Imperial Court demanding their respective book of flesh. China is collapsing, suffering from food shortages.
History side, Divine mandate takes place several years before the events of the base game. “Don’t be surprised if Dong Zhuo suddenly shows up to declare war on you or if the Bandits’ Zheng Ziang starts causing trouble years later.” Divine mandate is therefore an interesting expansion, being the biggest in the title to date while also introducing several new mechanics and systems to mix things up. However, that special something was missing to hold me on properly. This was further facilitated by a stellar presentation in the form of a watercolor aesthetic, excellent dubbing, and powerful music. The Romance of the Three Kingdoms history with its grand politics, complex narratives, and emerging narratives provided a unique twist above the proven combat. Total War: Three Kingdoms, at least for me personally, has been in an interesting situation since its release.