The Advisors Alliance

The Advisors Alliance

Company type	Television drama series
Industry	Entertainment, Television
Founded	2017
Headquarters	China
Products	Television drama series

The Advisors Alliance is a Chinese television drama released in 2017, presented in two parts, that portrays the life of Sima Yi, a prominent official and military strategist during the late Eastern Han dynasty and the Three Kingdoms period. The series features Wu Xiubo in the lead role as Sima Yi, supported by actors including Liu Tao, Li Chen, Janine Chang, Tang Yixin, Yu Hewei, and Wang Luoyong. The initial segment was broadcast on Jiangsu TV and Anhui TV beginning 22 June 2017, while the second installment debuted on Youku on 8 December 2017.

Synopsis

The narrative follows Sima Yi's ascent from his early days serving under warlord Cao Cao, who wielded control over the central government and the nominal Emperor Xian near the close of the Eastern Han dynasty. Sima Yi becomes a key advisor to Cao Cao’s son, Cao Pi, assisting him in overcoming his brother Cao Zhi during their contest for succession. Following Cao Cao's passing, Cao Pi dethrones Emperor Xian, bringing an end to the Han dynasty and founding the state of Cao Wei. This portion of the story concludes toward the final years of Cao Pi’s rule.

The continuation tracks Sima Yi’s tenure under emperors Cao Pi, Cao Rui, and Cao Fang throughout the Three Kingdoms era. He leads Cao Wei’s military campaigns against rival states Shu Han and Eastern Wu, eventually rising to regent for Cao Fang. In his later period, Sima Yi orchestrates a coup against co-regent Cao Shuang, effectively becoming the dominant authority in Cao Wei. Approximately fifteen years posthumously, his grandson Sima Yan seizes control of Wei’s throne, founding the Jin dynasty (266–420).

Part 1

• Wu Xiubo as Sima Yi
• Liu Tao as Zhang Chunhua
• Li Chen as Cao Pi
• Yu Hewei as Cao Cao
• Tang Yixin as Guo Zhao (inspired by Guo Nüwang)
• Janine Chang as Bai Lingyun (based on Lady Bai)
• Zhai Tianlin as Yang Xiu
• Zhang Zhixi as Zhen Fu
• Wang Dong as Sima Fu
• Xiao Shunyao as Sima Shi
  • Lin Jingzhe portrays Sima Shi (child)
  • Rong Zishan plays Sima Shi (young)
• Tan Jianci as Sima Zhao
  • Mei Zihan as young Sima Zhao
• Zhang He as Cao Zhen
• Wang Jinsong as Xun Yu
• Lai Xi as Hou Ji
• Chu Quanzhong as Chen Qun
• Cao Lei as Guo Jia
• Lu Siyu as Ji Bu
• Wang Renjun as Cao Zhi
• Liu Lingzhi as Deng Ai
• Liu Yue as Zhong Hui
• Xu Huanshan as Hua Tuo
• Huang Junpeng as Xu Shu
• Ding Haifeng as Sun Quan
• Zhang Zhizhong as Sima Fang
• Li Youwei as Sima Lang
• Zhang Doudou as Xiahou Hui (wife of Sima Shi)
• Xu Min as Zhong Yao
• Lu Xingyu as Lu Xun
• Chen Zhihui as Cao Hong
• Luan Junwei as Ding Yi
• Lu Ling as Lady Bian (Empress Dowager Bian)
• Yang Meng as Xun You
• Liu Jian as Yang Biao
• Wang Li as Man Chong
• Yin Guohua as Shi Chun
• Wang Xiuqiang as Jia Kui
• Wang Zeqing as Cui Yan
• Lu Yanqi as Xiaoyuan
• Liu Yulin as Cheng Yu
• Du Xingqi as Cao Xiu
• Zhang Xingzhe as Xiahou Shang
• Yang Hanbin as Xiahou Dun
• Cheng Cheng as Xiahou Xuan
• Li Shengye as Xiahou Mao
• Li Long as Xu Chu
• Guo Mingyu as Cao Zhang
• Li Yuyang portraying Princess Qinghe
• Hou Tongjiang playing Uncle Fang
• Wang Zengqi cast as Wu Zhi
• Ren Yu in the role of Liu Zhen
• Wang Maolei portraying Liu Xie (Emperor Xian of Han)
• Tan Shasha playing Consort Dong
• Yu Shuxin cast as Elder Princess
• Wu Yuyu in the role of Younger Princess
• Wang Bozhao portraying Liu Bei
• Guo Jianuo playing Zhang He
• Zhao Xin cast as Ziye
• Wang Hucheng portraying Zhang Zhao (Eastern Wu)
• Zhao Yanmin playing Dong Cheng (Han dynasty)
• Li Zhenze cast as Xiaozhou
• Tianbao portraying Cao Chong
• Li Xiaolong in the role of Tian Liu
• Dalai Halihu playing Cao Biao
• Liu Guhao cast as Cui Shen
• Chang Jin portraying Cao Ren
• Zhang Jun in the role of Zhang Yin
• Lü Xinshun playing Zhan Qian
• Li Haiying cast as Zhou Tai
• Shen Xuewei portraying Guan Jun
• Zhang Yongmin in the role of Fa Jian
• Wei Yu cast as Xu Huang
• Liu Xu portraying Zhang Liao
• Cui Huaijie playing Li Zheng
• Yao Xinyan portraying Sima Lang's daughter
• Huang Yi appearing as young Cao Rui
• Zhao Yunzhuo cast in the role of Princess Dongxiang

Part 2

• Wu Xiubo portrays Sima Yi
• Wang Luoyong takes on the role of Zhuge Liang
• Liu Huan appears as Cao Rui
• Li Chen plays Cao Pi
• Liu Tao embodies Zhang Chunhua
• Janine Chang acts as Bai Lingyun
• Tang Yixin represents Guo Zhao (inspired by Guo Nüwang)
• Xiao Shunyao features as Sima Shi
• Tan Jianci portrays Sima Zhao
• Du Yiheng plays Cao Shuang
• Wang Dong appears as Sima Fu
• Lu Siyu acts as Ji Bu
• Xiao Rongsheng is cast as Zhao Yun
• Pu Tao plays Wang Yuanji
• Zhang He portrays Cao Zhen
• Lai Xi appears as Hou Ji
• Chu Quanzhong takes on the role of Chen Qun

...

Production

The project spanned five years with a production budget of 400 million yuan, predominantly allocated to set construction. Over 6,000 costumes were meticulously crafted. Wu Xiubo, the lead actor, also held the position of executive producer. Filming lasted 333 days, commencing on 13 February 2016 and concluding on 10 January 2017.

Critical response

The series received widespread acclaim for its storyline, visual presentation, and acting performances. The initial segment amassed six billion views on Youku, achieving a rating of 8.2/10 on Douban. Additionally, a mobile game adaptation was launched. Nevertheless, some critiques pointed out historical deviations and the use of contemporary dialogue that occasionally disrupted the period authenticity.

Ratings

... [table continues] ...

China Jiangsu TV / Anhui TV premiere ratings (CSM52)
Episodes	Broadcast date	Jiangsu TV			Anhui TV
		Ratings (%)	Audience share (%)	Rankings	Ratings (%)	Audience share (%)	Rankings
1-2	June 22, 2017	0.678	2.334	3	0.277	0.955	14
3-4	June 23, 2017	0.72	2.43	4	0.323	1.09	9
5-6	June 24, 2017	0.670	2.27	4	0.342	1.16	11
7	June 25, 2017	0.734	2.64	2	0.404	1.45	7
8-9	June 26, 2017	0.732	2.591	3	0.462	1.636	7
10-11	June 27, 2017	0.778	2.82	2	0.441	1.6	6
12-13	June 28, 2017	0.853	3.078	2	0.456	1.644	7
14-15	June 29, 2017	0.876	3.096	4	0.541	1.913	7
16-17	June 30, 2017	0.912	3.08	1	0.533	1.8	7
18-19	July 1, 2017	0.927	3.170	1	0.613	2.092

• The highest ratings are highlighted in red, while the lowest are indicated in blue

Awards and nominations

Award	Category	Nominated work	Result	Ref.
2nd Golden Guduo Media Awards	Best Network & Web Production	The Advisors Alliance	Template:Won
	Best Scriptwriter	Chang Jiang	Template:Won
	Best Actor (Web series)	Wu Xiubo	Template:Won
rowspan=2 |8th Macau International Television Festival	Best Actor	Wu Xiubo	Template:Nom
Best Supporting Actor	Yu Hewei	Template:Nom
rowspan=4 |31st Flying Apsaras Awards	Outstanding Television Series (Historical)	The Advisors Alliance	Template:Won
Outstanding Director	Zhang Yongxin	Template:Nom
Outstanding Screenwriter	Chang Jiang	Template:Nom
Outstanding Actor	Yu Hewei	Template:Nom
rowspan=7 |24th Shanghai Television Festival	Best Television Series	The Advisors Alliance	Template:Nom
Best Director	Zhang Yongxin	Template:Nom
Best Writer	Chang Jiang	Template:Nom
Best Actor	Wu Xiubo	Template:Nom
Best Supporting Actor	Yu Hewei	Template:Won
Best Cinematography	Zhang Wenjie	Template:Nom
Best Art Design	Han Zhong	Template:Won
rowspan=2 |29th China TV Golden Eagle Award	Best Actor	Yu Hewei	Template:Nom	rowspan=2|
Best Actress	Liu Tao	Template:Nom
rowspan=4 |24th Huading Awards	Best Director	Zhang Yongxin	Template:Nom	rowspan=4|
Best Screenwriter	Chang Jiang	Template:Nom
Best Actress	Liu Tao	Template:Nom
Best Supporting Actress	Janine Chang	Template:Won
rowspan=3 |5th Hengdian Film and TV Festival of China	Best Director	Zhang Yongxin	Template:Won	rowspan=3|
Best Actress	Liu Tao	Template:Won
Best Supporting Actor	Zhai Tianlin	Template:Won