* Zhou Yu, the eternal ButtMonkey of Zhuge Liang's schemes, dies from agitation after one humiliation too many from the superior strategist, leaving us with his last words:
--> ''[[RageAgainstTheHeavens God, since you made Zhou Yu]], [[AlwaysSomeoneBetter why did you also create Zhuge Liang]]?''[[note]]This gave rise to a Chinese expression, "Yu-Liang complex" （瑜亮情结）, describing the vicious competition between two persons who are similar in almost every facet and are forced to co-operate[[/note]]
* Starting from the chapter when [[spoiler: Guan Yu is killed]], Liu Bei and his kingdom of Shu hit a major setback that potentially dooms the bright future of reunification. Furthermore, at that time, a majority of the characters, regardless of which kingdom he or she serves or belongs, died of old age or during the battle. The sudden events could not help but to make the readers cry over their deaths.
** In fact, a main reason why the story is tragic is because as the story come closer to the end or even during the climax, some unfamilar characters replace those who we had known in the beginning of the story. It is as if the author is trying to remind the reader that: 1. no matter how much he can fantasise the plot, the history itself is cold and brutal. 2.No one can live forever, and what the future generation can recall of you are your actions and deeds. As audience watch the show come to an end, they realize the only witnesses of the story are themselves.
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