Stars of Chaos: Sha Po Lang, Vol. 4

And the action continues! The siege of the capital might have ended, but now everyone has to deal with the fallout, as intrigue and betrayals come to the fore in the most interesting ways.

As always, Chang Geng and Gu Yun’s relationship is a main feature of this volume, but it almost takes a back seat to the extraordinary plot events occurring around them, most of which spring from actions either of them choose or do not choose to take. Other characters become prominent in their own way, with Shen Yi, Chen Qingxu, and Cao Chunhua all getting a chance to shine. These characters coming to the fore shows not just how expansive the plot has become, but also how Chang Geng and Gu Yun are not alone in their endeavors, and how they rely on their friends in all walks of life to help them achieve their goals.

And in Chang Geng’s case those goals are quite lofty: nothing less than the total transformation of Great Liang’s society, from top to bottom. Most of this has already been hinted at in the previous volume, but it is only on this volume that Chang Geng reveals the true scope of his goal - and, importantly, his primary motivation. While it’s true that his desire to change his country for the better comes from a genuine love for his people, there is another, more personal reason driving him forward that the reader has probably already guessed from previous volumes, but which only really gets articulated in this one.

Despite their individual prowess, though, Chang Geng and Gu Yun’s relationship does meet challenges in this novel. From the viciousness of court politics and the strictures imposed on both of them by society at large, there is also the danger of war, and their own individual, physical afflictions. Gu Yun is still trying to deal with the physical effects of the poison from his young adulthood, while Chang Geng has the wu’ergu to contend with. All of these things come into play in this volume, and create drama and friction between the two lovebirds even as they try to hold the country together. This is the kind of romantic story that I, personally, find most entertaining: when the development of the romance is integrated into a larger, overarching plot, while also having to deal with interpersonal turmoil.

One thing that did somewhat trouble me, though, and which has troubled me in previous volumes, is the way the Celestial Wolf Tribes are characterized. Most readers will likely see the parallels between the Celestial Wolf Tribes and the Mongolian peoples, and it’s quite clear that the author is not exactly painting them in the most flattering light. There is some nuance, but it is clear that some (state education-ingrained?) biases remain. All authors have biases, regardless of where they are born and how they are educated, but in this case, it is good for the reader to keep in mind who the author is and where she is from, and considering the kind of education she may have received regarding the native peoples of Mongolia.

Overall, though, this volume was just as fun to read as the previous ones. As the plot expands, more and more characters come to the forefront and get their time to shine, even as that same plots brings tension and turmoil to Chang Geng and Gu Yun’s relationship. Given the conclusion of this volume, though, it’s clear that all these events are the beginning of the end, and it is highly likely that the final volume will be explosive - and, hopefully, have a happy ending.