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More than 2000 years ago, it was the late Eastern Han Dynasty in China, a period of warlords dividing and ruling the country. In order to unify the world, three heroes destined by heaven were born: Cao Cao, the descendant of a eunuch; Liu Bei, who used to make straw shoes; and Sun Quan, the grandson of a general. They each established their own countries - Wei, Shu, and Wu respectively. This is the well-known Three Kingdoms period that people talk about with great interest. The story takes Cao Cao, a famous emperor in Chinese history, as the protagonist. He possessed unparalleled charisma and strategies beyond his time. The classic manga "Souten no Ha" (The Road to the Blue Sky) is based on the theme of "Records of the Three Kingdoms", narrating Cao Cao's life from five to sixty-six years old, a grand and tumultuous journey. The rights and wrongs of Cao Cao are well interpreted in this comic. In general, "Souten no Ha" is a rare masterpiece among the Three Kingdoms-themed comics.

The "Records of the Three Kingdoms", which portrays many charismatic figures, not only captivates the Chinese but also exerts its charm to neighboring countries, including Japan, a major anime nation. Japan has produced several works based on the "Three Kingdoms". However, some overly parodic themes have attracted attention while receiving widespread criticism. Nevertheless, "Souten no Ha", co-created by Li Xueren (writer, passed away in 1998) and Wang Xinta (artist), serialized in Kodansha's "MORNING" from October 1994 to November 2005, follows a serious drama route. It has its own unique perspective and integrates various traditional Chinese cultural thoughts such as Confucianism, Taoism, and Legalism, thus gaining followers among many fans of the Three Kingdoms both at home and abroad. This super production with Cao Cao as the protagonist is set to air its TV animation version on Japanese television starting April 7, 2009.

Referred to as "the most vividly drawn Three Kingdoms comic", "Souten no Ha" is a collaborative work by Japanese national Li Xueren (plot) and Wang Xinta (manga). It was serialized in "Weekly Morning" from October 1994 to November 2005, resulting in 36 volumes of individual editions, totaling 12 million copies sold. Regrettably, after Li Xueren passed away due to liver cancer in 1998, the brilliance of the plot did not match its former glory. However, overall, it remains an excellent work.

This work will be adapted into a TV animation by the renowned animation studio MadHouse for broadcast in April, with the chief director being Toyooka Toyomi, who has worked on "Fist of the North Star" and others. Cao Cao, one of the infamous villains in "Romance of the Three Kingdoms", one of China's Four Great Classical Novels, which enjoys immense popularity in Japan, will become the protagonist of this work. The work focuses on character portrayal and inner description, allowing readers to understand the blood and tears behind every hero.

Two popular voice actors, Mori Jun and Kikuji Inoue, will jointly play the role of the protagonist Cao Cao in this work. Considering the setting and content of the work, it may not be able to carve out a significant path amidst the overwhelming tide of new series in April, but it still possesses several highlights for viewing - more than 200 characters appear, using 3DCG dynamic technology to depict large-scale battle scenes, and some of the more bloody scenes in the original work will be toned down in the animation.