CD Drama Collections Shin Sangoku Musou ~Gunsei Shoubu~

CD Drama Collections Shin Sangoku Musou ~Gunsei Shoubu~ (ＣＤドラマコレクションズ 真･三國無双 ～群星翔舞～) is a series of audio only Dynasty Warriors dramatizations, specifically based on the fourth title. Voice actors and music from this game are used for these events, which tend to roughly follow Romance of the Three Kingdoms rather than history.

Gunsei Shoubu, roughly translated as "Ascension of Countless Stars", is the continuation of ~Fuuen Ranbu~.

Cast
(in order of first appearance)


 * Yasunori Masutani - Narration
 * Yukimasa Kishino - Cao Cao
 * Tsuyoshi Takishita - Sima Yi, Zhang Liao's subordinate
 * Keiichiro Yamamoto - Xu Huang, Zhang Liao's subordinate
 * Hirofumi Tanaka - Zhang Liao
 * Hisayoshi Suganuma - Sun Quan
 * Hiroaki Miura - Gan Ning, Sun Quan's subordinate, Liu Bei's subordinate
 * Yukitoshi Hori - Lu Meng, Liu Bei's subordinate
 * Hideo Ishikawa - Zhou Tai
 * Masaya Onosaka - Sun Quan's subordinate, Zhao Yun, Zhuge Liang
 * Kenji Nojima - Lu Xun
 * Moriya Endo - Liu Bei
 * Emi Uwagawa - Sun Shang Xiang

STAND OR FALL ~Hefei I~
The narration roughly summarizes the events which occur after Chibi, stating that the Three Kingdoms were soon established. Cao Cao has invaded and conquered sections of Hanzhong. He eyes Liu Bei, who obtained control of Shu nearly the same time, yet pauses his troops. During a night meeting, Cao Cao asks Sima Yi his opinions regarding Liu Bei. From a technical standpoint, the strategist suggests attacking Liu Bei without delay. He not only has the formidable Zhuge Liang serving under him; he has a land for himself and people flocking to serve him. If Cao Cao were to flaunt his influence of Hanzhong over the newly conquered Shu, he could gain innumerable support and would be able to crush the then vulnerable Liu Bei.

Cao Cao concedes to Sima Yi's reasoning, but he cannot forget that his grievous defeat was caused by Wu. He deems them as the pillar he needs to topple in order to truly incapacitate Liu Bei. Xu Huang responds that his lord will need to claim Hefei if he wishes to target Wu, a position currently governed by Zhang Liao. Since he needs to keep his guard against Shu, Cao Cao cannot spare any additional troops for his general. He instructs Xu Huang to deliver a scroll he had written to Zhang Liao; the general may only open and read it the moment Wu attacks Hefei. A harsh wind blows at Hefei, an act of nature which Zhang Liao finds foreboding. The general senses that its source is from the south, blowing from Wu.

The narration kicks in to say that Cao Cao was right in his predictions. Zhuge Liang sends an envoy, instructing his lord's allies to attack Wei forces at Hefei. The plan is a pincer attack: Shu shall attack Wei from the front while Wu attacks Wei's flank. Sun Quan assembles Lu Meng, Gan Ning, Zhou Tai and other generals for a war council to discuss Zhuge Liang's offer. Though it is Liu Bei's plot, Sun Quan feels it is an appropriate time to attack the nearly defenseless Hefei in the name of Wu. His generals agree with him.

Lu Meng advises toppling the enemy troops at Han Castle –which is just south of Hefei– to make the assault even easier. He and Gan Ning are entrusted with besieging the castle. Zhang Liao rides with a few troops to reinforce it, but he ceases his march when his messenger reports the castle's fall. With the castle lost, he prioritizes a staunch defense at Hefei. During the boisterous victory banquet, Sun Quan congratulates his generals. Lu Meng urges his lord that speed is of the essence, so they plan to continue their march north the next day.

Back at Hefei Castle, Zhang Liao's subordinates are worried about the invading Wu forces. Their resources are limited and their defenses run thin. A messenger announces Xu Huang and Sima Yi's arrival, and they swiftly greet Zhang Liao. The general is surprised to hear his lord's perceptiveness when handed the scroll, confirming for his visitors that Wu has indeed attacked. Zhang Liao reports their army is 5,000; the enemy is approximately 100,000. Cao Cao has instructed him to face the enemy and protect the castle. The three allies confer that perhaps their lord is lost on what to do with his two foes. He has neither openly confronted Shu or Wei nor has he left from Hanzhong.

Zhang Liao figures that Cao Cao is likely waiting on the results of Hefei before finalizing his decision, betting the future of Wei on his actions. Honored to have been given such a crucial mission, the general swears on his life to guard his station. When Xu Huang inquires for his strategy, Zhang Liao states he will follow Cao Cao's instructions with the intents of targeting Sun Quan directly. Killing the source of their foe can secure their victory, regardless of an army's size. Impressed by his gull, his comrades offer their full support. Xu Huang chooses to assist the vanguard in the war front while Sima Yi plots for the plan to isolate Sun Quan.

HERE HE COMES! ~Hefei II~
Sun Quan orders his troops accordingly: Lu Meng and Gan Ning are to lead the vanguard towards Hefei Castle and Zhou Tai is to lead the rear unit to look for additional weaknesses in the enemy's defenses. He assigns himself the task of leading their mid battalion to follow and support the front lines. With their spirits high, the Wu army moves quickly into the center of Hefei. Gan Ning and Lu Meng are confident in their enemy's lack of numbers and proceed towards the castle. Once their troops have left their main camp, Sima Yi and his task force covertly cut the bridge leading towards it. If they need to retract their steps, the Wu army will be unable to cross the river without it.

As Sun Quan's battalion hurries towards the center of Hefei, Zhang Liao's unit ambush them. He instructs his men to cut down any who opposes them, urging them to do anything to kill Sun Quan. The Wu commander is unaware of what has happened until one of his messengers reports of Zhang Liao's appearance. He is taken off guard, wondering why the general had not stayed guard within Hefei Castle. Though his battalion is smaller in numbers, he orders his troops to stand firm and wait from aid from the front.

He underestimates Zhang Liao's ferociousness, who scares Sun Quan's soldiers with his zeal and approaches him before Gan Ning and Lu Meng can assist. As he tries to flee back to his headquarters, he discovers the cut bridge and is forced to halt. Zhang Liao, hot on his trail, catches up with him. He and his troops are saved when Zhou Tai's unit reinforces them. Zhou Tai urges his lord to escape while he duels Zhang Liao. As he hurries alone back towards the camp, Sun Quan edges his horse towards the broken bridge. He has faith his horse can make the jump and charges, crying to the heavens for its divine protection. When he lands safely on the other side, he is confident that heaven has yet to abandon him.

Since Sun Quan is out of his reach and the leaders of the vanguard have caught up to him, Zhang Liao decides to cut his losses. He brutally cuts a path through the Wu generals blocking his path, ordering his troops to retreat back to Hefei. The Wu generals accept their thorough defeat, begrudgingly complimenting the Wei general's prowess. The narration adds that his name and reputation sent chills through the people of Wu; the mere mention of his name could instantly silence a crying child.

Xu Huang and Sima Yi return to Hanzhong to report Zhang Liao's victory to Cao Cao. Sima Yi suspects they have bought time in the south, stating that Zhang Liao requests reinforcements to aid future attacks. Cao Cao again proposes the question of whether his strategist deems it wise to attack Shu or Wu. After seeing the threat of their southern enemies firsthand, Sima Yi echoes Cao Cao's earlier sentiments to target Wu since Shu is the lesser evil. Feeling confident in his judgment, Cao Cao entrusts Hanzhong's defenses with Xiahou Yuan and Zhang He. The rest of his troops are to accompany for his attack on Wu.

The southern wind continues to blow at Hefei. Zhang Liao remarks that reinforcements must come, as it the wars with the south are destined to continue. The ending narration concludes the track: stating that more battles will be waged in the formation of the Three Kingdoms.

DARK HORSE ~Yiling I~
On a stormy night, a dying Lu Meng is losing his battle with illness. Sun Quan and Lu Xun implore him to persevere, but he knows his time is near. In strained breathes, he entrusts his title as commander in chief to Lu Xun. After he perishes, the narration informs listeners that he is one of many lost in the era. Cao Cao had also lost his life due to illness and Cao Pi succeeds him. Guan Yu and Zhang Fei were lost in Shu's battles with Wu. Enraged due to his oath brother's deaths, Liu Bei raises an army to attack the south.

Zhao Yun pleads his lord to reconsider as they walk within the halls of Chengdu, imploring him to focus on Wei, their greatest threat at present. Liu Bei will not have it, insisting on his attack on Wu. Zhuge Liang agrees with Zhao Yun, as an attack on Wu would comply with Cao Pi's wishes. Liu Bei demands vengeance for his brothers, ordering his strategist to remain in charge of his army's rear. The narration explains the warlord leads an army of 700,000 to attack Wu, gradually cutting down Wu's stations in their charge.

When Liu Bei's forces near Yiling, Sun Quan decides to declare war on Shu before his men. Following the wishes of his departed general, he grants the responsibilities of leading the troops to Lu Xun. His announcement alarms his troops, as many are indignant that he would choose someone so young and inexperienced. Upon hearing their complaints, Sun Quan threatens to personally cut down any who would refuse Lu Xun's leadership. The youth thanks his lord for the title, swearing to stop Liu Bei's advance.

As he walks away from the ceremony, Sun Shang Xiang greets him. Lu Xun is confident in his new title, grateful to the late Lu Meng for recognizing his talents. He believes it is only natural for the troops to doubt him. Sun Shang Xiang names those who have fought for their home and have died (Zhou Yu, Lu Meng, and Gan Ning), yet she has faith in Lu Xun's future. He accepts her vote of confidence, informing the princess that he must soon convene with Zhou Tai's troops to counter Liu Bei's forces. When he attempts to voice his concern for her feelings, she hushes him, emphasizing that it is more important to fight for her home's protection. She asks him to do his best for Wu.

Liu Bei's subordinates learn of Lu Xun's promotion and report of the counteroffensive being led against their troops. They have nothing to offer on the youth's capabilities, an observation which offends their lord. He believes Sun Quan is insulting him by sending a rookie to stop him. Another elder subordinate offers a rumor that Lu Xun's strategies helped Lu Meng slay Guan Yu, which further infuriates their lord. The elder man remembers him being near Zhou Yu, suggesting that he may try to replicate his strategies. Liu Bei deems Lu Xun's head as an appropriate offering for Guan Yu's soul.

Meanwhile, at Zhou Tai's tent, Lu Xun asks the general of the condition of Liu Bei's troops. The quiet general replies that he is gradually breaking camp. Two Wu soldiers insist on attacking immediately, yet Lu Xun silences them. He urges a staunch defense and allows no provocation of Liu Bei's troops. The soldiers deem him cowardly in his judgment. When Lu Xun mentions the threat Sun Quan had made for questioning him, they smugly bite back that it doesn't apply since their lord isn't present. When they inquire for Zhou Tai's opinion, he simply asks Lu Xun if he has a plan. The youth's affirmative reply it takes for him to obey. The Wu soldiers concede to Zhou Tai's acceptance and hush themselves. Lu Xun repeats his orders for the troops to defend.