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Lady Bian is a Chinese name; the family name is Bian.

Lady Bian is a unique legendary Commander hero in Total War: Three Kingdoms. She is the spouse of Cao Cao and a member of his faction in 182, 190, 194 and 200.


General Information[]

Attributes[]

Main Article: Attributes (Total War: Three Kingdoms)

  • Expertise: 54
    • -7% construction cost (administered commandery)
    • +11 melee evasion
  • Resolve: 36
    • +5% general's health
    • +1k population growth (administered commandery)
  • Cunning: 50
    • +12% ammunition (own retinue)
    • +3 military supplies (own army)
  • Instinct: 41
    • +3% melee damage
    • -1% recruitment cost (this army)
  • Authority: 118
    • +6 unit morale (own retinue)


Background[]

Main Article: Background (Total War: Three Kingdoms)

Humble Matriarch

  • +10 cunning
  • +20 authority
  • +1 resilience

Focuses on Duty.


Unit Statistics[]

  • Morale: 55
  • Melee Toughness: 26
  • Ranged Toughness: 35
  • Melee Power: 5


  • Hit Points: 18k
  • Melee Charge Bonus: 116
  • Melee Attack Rate: 30
  • Base Melee Damage: 228
  • Armour-Piercing Melee Damage: 164
  • Base Melee Evasion: 11%
  • Base Armour: 55%
  • Ranged Block Chance: 15%
  • Speed: 126


Traits[]

Main Article: Traits (Total War: Three Kingdoms)

Dutiful

  • +8 authority
  • -50% desire for higher office
  • +10 satisfaction

Focuses on Duty.


Humble

  • +2 resolve
  • +6 authority
  • +No desire for higher offices
  • +10 satisfaction
  • Decreases ambition to gain independence as administrator

Commends Honour, Wary of Ambition, Loathes Vanity.


Distinguished

  • +6 instinct
  • +2 authority
  • Increases ambition to gain independence as administrator

Admires Attractiveness, Admires Refinement.


Skills[]

Main Article: Skill (Total War: Three Kingdoms)

Stone Bulwark

  • +4 resolve
  • +4 authority
  • Ability: Stone Bulwark


Clarity

  • +8 authority
  • -25% building upkeep (administered commanderies)
  • +50% campaign line-of-sight


Abilities[]

Main Article: Ability (Total War: Three Kingdoms)

Stone Bulwark (Active)

  • Can use if:
    • Not on Elephant
  • +100% ranged block chance
  • Unbreakable
  • Range: 75m
  • Duration: 30s
  • Cooldown: 120s


Ancillaries[]

Main Article: Ancillary (Total War: Three Kingdoms)

Jian

  • Base Melee Damage: 220
  • Armour-Piercing Melee Damage: 163
  • Melee Attack Rate: 30
  • +9 expertise


Lady Bian's Armour

  • Base Armour: 55
  • +18 authority
  • +15% ranged block chance
  • +30% speed


White Horse

  • Speed: 97
  • Mass: 1.5k
  • +2 authority


Guanxi[]

Main Article: Guanxi

Family

  • Cao Song (father-in-law)
  • Cao Ren (brother-in-law)
  • Cao Zhang (son)
  • Cao Zhi (son)
  • Cao Xiong (son)

Friends


Biography[]

Lady Bian was born in 159 in Qi commandery to a poor family. Lacking any wealth, Bian spent her early life as a courtesan in a brothel until Cao Cao, the son of Cao Song, took an interest in her when she was 20 years old, and she became his concubine. She gave birth to his heir Cao Pi in 187.

When Dong Zhuo defeated Cao Cao near Luoyang in 189 amongst other coalition members, a rumour was spread that Cao Cao had died during the battle. It was Lady Bian who convinced his army to stay together and stopped them from deserting. When Cao Cao returned, his army celebrated, and the warlord was impressed with how his concubine had handled herself.

In 197, Cao Cao's eldest son, Cao Ang, was killed in a surprise attack by Zhang Xiu. He had sacrificed himself so his father could live. He gave his horse to Cao Cao after arrows felled his steed. He didn't manage to avenge his son's death and made peace with Zhang Xiu. He later even went as far as to employ him as a general. This was the last straw for the already furious Lady Ding, the mother of Cao Ang. She left Cao Cao shortly after. When it was clear that Ding wouldn't come back, Cao Cao made Lady Bian his wife.

When Cao Cao became king of Wei in 216, Emperor Xian of the Han dynasty agreed to name her queen of Wei in 219. Her husband would die a year later in 220. Cao Pi, now the king of Wei, forced Emperor Xian to abdicate in 221, naming himself emperor of Wei. Lady Bian subsequently became the Empress Dowager of Wei. Her son would value her advice and often sought her out. Cao Pi died in 226, and his son, Cao Rui, intent on honouring his grandmother named Bian the Grand Empress Dowager of Wei in 227.

She died in 230 and was given a lavish funeral ceremony. She was buried next to her husband in Cao Cao's mausoleum.


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