Watch "The Road to Heaven" Episode 27 online, available in Chinese on Youku.

More than 2000 years ago, it was the late Eastern Han Dynasty of China, a period when heroes divided and ruled the land. In order to unify the world, three historical heroes destined by heaven were born: Cao Cao, the offspring of eunuchs; Liu Bei, who made a living by weaving straw shoes; and Sun Quan, the son of a general. The three of them established their own countries respectively: Wei, Shu, and Wu. This is the Three Kingdoms period that people talk about with great interest. The story takes Cao Cao, one of the most famous emperors in Chinese history, as the protagonist. He possessed unparalleled charisma and strategies beyond his time. The classic manga "The Road to Heaven" is based on "Records of the Three Kingdoms", narrating the magnificent life of Cao Cao from the age of five to sixty-six, focusing on his life journey. The rights and wrongs of Cao Cao are well interpreted in this manga. In general, "The Road to Heaven" is a rare and excellent manga based on the Three Kingdoms theme.

"The Records of the Three Kingdoms," which portrays numerous remarkable figures, not only captivates the hearts of the Chinese but also exerts charm far beyond its borders, including in Japan, the anime powerhouse. There have been multiple works based on the "Three Kingdoms" theme produced in Japan, but some overly parodic topics often attract attention while receiving widespread criticism. However, "The Road to Heaven," created by Lee Hak-Jin (writer, deceased in 1998) and Wang Xin-Tai (artist), serialized in Kodansha's "MORNING" from October 1994 to November 2005, follows a serious drama route with its unique perspective. It incorporates various traditional Chinese cultural thoughts such as Confucianism, Taoism, and Legalism, thus earning the admiration of many Three Kingdoms fans at home and abroad. This super masterpiece, which features Cao Cao as the protagonist, has been decided to be broadcast as a TV animation on Japanese television starting April 7, 2009.

Referred to as the "most vividly drawn Three Kingdoms comic," "The Road to Heaven" is a collaborative work by the Japanese national Lee Hak-Jin (plot) and Wang Xin-Tai (manga). It was serialized in "Weekly Morning" from October 1994 to November 2005, publishing a total of 36 volumes with over 1200 copies sold. Unfortunately, after Lee Hak-Jin passed away from liver cancer in 1998, the brilliance of the plot declined, but overall, it remains an excellent work.

This work will be adapted into a TV animation by the renowned animation production company MadHouse and aired in April. The chief director is Fujio芦田丰雄, who has worked on productions like "Fist of the North Star." Cao Cao, the cunning hero from one of China's Four Great Classical Novels, "Romance of the Three Kingdoms," which enjoys immense popularity in Japan, will be the protagonist of this work. The piece focuses on character portrayal and inner descriptions, allowing readers to understand the blood and tears behind every person crowned as a hero.

Two talented voice actors, Mamoru Miyano and Kioko Inoue, will jointly perform the role of the main character Cao Cao. Considering the setting and content of the work, it may not carve out a significant path amidst the overwhelming wave of new anime series in April, but it still possesses several viewing highlights — more than 200 characters appear, 3DCG dynamic technology is used to depict large-scale battle scenes, and some of the more bloody scenes in the original work will be toned down in the animation.