Loyalty
The theme of loyalty is central to Romance of the Three Kingdoms. Throughout the novel, relationships between rulers and their vassals, as well as their friends and family, are portrayed as loyal ones. The loyal subjects want nothing more than to help their rulers obtain more land and power. In the end, Liu Bei, Guan Yu, and Zhang Fei (the rulers of the land) are also loyal to each other. They forge alliances and contend with outside threats that threaten their lands and kingdoms. In contrast, the frequent betrayals that occur within and between the kingdoms highlight the unstable and treacherous nature of the era in which the novel is set. Naturally, when people betray each other, they are not loyal to each other, showing the power and importance of loyalty, which has as much of an impact on personal and political levels as betrayal and disloyalty.
War
War and military strategy is one of the most important themes in Romance of the Three Kingdoms. Throughout the novel, Guanzhong depicts countless invasions and, on a more granular level, battles. Most significantly, The Battle of Red Cliffs is depicted as the turning point. Scores are left dead; many others are left irreparably wounded or maimed. War has substantially negative, transformative effects on people and the country itself. That is certainly true in Romance of the Three Kingdoms, as China itself entered into a new era because of various wars.
Additionally, characters like Zhuge Liang and Zhou Yu are revered for their wisdom and strategic prowess in war. They are master strategists and are relied upon for quite a bit. It is because of their intelligence, foresight, and cunning that their armies win, not just sheer military strength. It is only because of them that their respective leaders win their battles, showing the importance of tactics and intelligence.
