Souten Kouro

The story draws from the Three Kingdoms era in China, focusing on Cao Cao, the last Chancellor of the Eastern Han Dynasty. Unlike many portrayals, Cao Cao is depicted in a favorable light, contrasting with his usual role as an antagonist in other adaptations. The narrative mainly follows the historical account in *Records of Three Kingdoms* by Chen Shou, rather than the fictional *Romance of the Three Kingdoms*. As a result, Liu Bei, typically the hero in the novel, plays a diminished and less favorable role. Some elements, however, come from the novel, such as characters like Diao Chan and weapons like Guan Yu's Green Dragon Crescent Blade. A central theme is Cao Cao's push to move away from traditional Confucian values and outdated systems, favoring practical solutions over idealism.