Chu Song from Four Sides (四面楚歌)
Can you believe it? What Ranka did in Macross F 12 wasn’t so farfetched after all. There has been a case in history where songs had virtually disintegrated an entire army and eventually ended a long-drawn war.
For those of you who want the details and the drama, read here:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Gaixia
For the rest of you with little time, here’s a synopsis:
Xiang Yu, in pursuit to rescue his captured wife, was lured with his army deep into a canyon near Gaixia where “Ambush from Ten Sides” had awaited them. Unable to fight their way out of the trap, the troop’s morale sank like a rock.
Han Xin, the mastermind behind the trap, then decided to deflate what was left of Xiang Yu’s troop’s willingness to fight by launching “Chu Song from Four Sides” whereby captured soldiers were forced to sing their hometown folk songs at the skirt of Xiang Yu’s camp night after night—a tactic that turned many homesick soldiers to desert. Quickly, Xiang Yu’s original 100,000 strong were reduced to just 800.
During their final fateful run, Xiang Yu’s wife committed suicide, putting all the blame upon herself. Soon after, Xiang Yu committed suicide in the same way his wife did: a slit through the throat. Han Xin went on to establish the Han Dynasty, which lasted 426 years.
Ranka Lee Yuji (虞姬)
D-D-Does this mean Alto-hime and Ranka will too commit suicide? D:
@blissmo, oooo… Never thought of that. That would be beyond Macross epic.
@bakaneko:
Haha, that WOULD be cool, but I hope it’s an epic suicide
blissmo: Does it count as epic if it takes place in a supernatural way, like the ending for Macross Zero?
I fail as a Chink not knowing something epic like this took place.
@Haesslich, hmm… The Macross Zero reference does seem to ominously foreshadow that one of the two female leads will die. Just the thought of it, is unsettling enough already—I am warming up to both Sheryl and Ranka, damn it!
@Shin, so I’m more chin than shin? Sorry, couldn’t resist. lol.
@Haesslich:
You can suicide supernaturally? That’d be awesome, but I prefer it if they stab themselves.