Chapter Summaries

Ji Zhen and Ji Hai realized the Yang Family’s strength and the importance of its wine and tea, so Ji Hai set out to seek Yang Zhengshan’s guidance. As Da Rong’s collapse deepened, Emperor Jianxing proposed inviting Yang Zhengshan back as a desperate remedy.

• Ji Zhen and Ji Hai speculated that dozens of Yang Family retainers and guards had become Innate Martial Artists through years of following Yang Zhengshan and consuming his wine and tea.
• Ji Zhen decided the Hengdao Sect’s future depended on the Yang Family and sent Ji Hai to Chongshan Town to request an audience with the Marquis.
• The Da Rong court continued to crumble as bandit forces grew, the Imperial Guard weakened, and the Imperial Merchant Bureau, Martial Temple, and Martial Arts Pavilion fell into corruption.
• Chen Wansong questioned Emperor Jianxing about whether he had any way to save the court, and Chen Zhaojun answered that they should invite Yang Zhengshan back.

Chen Zhaojun decided to summon Yang Zhengshan to save Da Rong from collapse, while Yang Mingzhao returned to Shenmu Island and faced punishment for founding the Taiping Army. The chapter ended with Yang Zhengshan having Yang Mingzhao beaten as his family watched, while Yang Wanqi failed to recognize her father.

• Chen Zhaojun agreed to invite Yang Zhengshan back after Chen Wansong urged him to put the survival of Da Rong above his fears of Yang Zhengshan taking control of the Imperial Court.
• Chen Mingxi set out to summon Yang Zhengshan, while Yang Mingzhao arrived at Shenmu Island and worried that his father would punish him.
• Yang Mingzhao asked Li Chang to bring Lady Zhu and the children to plead for him, but Yang Zhengshan ordered Wang Lei and the others to beat him with ironwood planks.
• Yang Mingzhi and the family watched Yang Mingzhao being beaten, and Yang Mingzhi revealed that he had helped treat his injuries after Yang Zhengshan's anger passed.
• Lady Zhu greeted Yang Zhengshan and Yu Qingyi, while Yang Wanqi did not recognize Yang Mingzhao as her father.

Yang Mingzhao returned home after leading a rebellion, endured a beating from Yang Zhengshan, and admitted he wanted to become emperor to relieve the people's suffering. Yang Zhengshan told him to consult Yang Chengye, while preparations and political pressures continued in Chongshan Town.

• Yang Chengan told Qi'er that Yang Mingzhao was outside being beaten, and Lady Zhu eventually pleaded with Yang Zhengshan to stop the punishment.
• Yang Mingzhao reunited with Qi'er, Yang Chengan, and Lady Zhu before Yang Zhengshan summoned him to the study.
• Yang Mingzhao said he had rebelled because he could not bear the common people's suffering and declared that he wanted to become emperor.
• Yang Zhengshan told Yang Mingzhao to discuss the throne with Yang Chengye, explaining that only one of them could rule Da Rong, and revealed that he had already sent Yang Chengye a letter.
• Yang Zhengshan had the Yang Family Trading Firm gather intelligence and buy supplies as Chongshan Town faced pressure from supporting Zhou Lan's Beiyuan Town with surplus grain.

Yang Chengye learned that grain shortages and political upheaval threatened Chongshan Town, then received Yang Zhengshan’s summons to travel to Shenmu Island. There, Yang Zhengshan welcomed Chen Mingxi and took in Chen Zhaoxuan’s daughter, Chen Yan, who agreed to stay with him.

• Yang Chengye and Niu Zhuang discussed Chongshan Town’s dwindling grain reserves, limited funds, and the difficulty of buying grain amid regional unrest.
• Yang Chengye received Yang Zhengshan’s letter, told Lady Yu they would spend the New Year on Shenmu Island, and hurriedly arranged to leave Chongshan Town.
• Chen Mingxi arrived on Shenmu Island with Chen Yan and met Yang Zhengshan, who welcomed them and brought Chen Yan to his home.
• Yang Zhengshan learned that Chen Yan had received little care in the Capital and asked whether she would stay on Shenmu Island.
• Chen Yan agreed to stay with Yang Zhengshan, and Fang An felt relieved.

Yang Zhengshan settled Chen Yan on Shenmu Island and discussed the Yang Family’s plans for Da Rong with Yu Qingyi. After Chen Mingxi realized Yang Zhengshan was unlikely to return, An Yuxing arrived, and Yang Zhengshan introduced him to Thousand Cup Drunk, a wine that purified true qi.

• Yang Zhengshan arranged for Chen Yan to enter the Yang Family household records, receive a monthly allowance, and attend the island school next year.
• Yang Zhengshan and Yu Qingyi harvested Dragon Bone Fruits and discussed Chen Mingxi, Chen Yan, and their plan to make Yang Chengye emperor instead of Yang Mingzhao.
• Chen Mingxi observed Shenmu Island’s prosperity and military strength, then concluded that Yang Zhengshan would be difficult to persuade to return to Da Rong.
• After Yang Zhengshan avoided meeting Chen Mingxi for several days, she lowered her posture and requested an audience with him.
• An Yuxing arrived on Shenmu Island, and Yang Zhengshan served him Thousand Cup Drunk, which An Yuxing discovered could purify true qi.

Yang Zhengshan told An Yuxing that the Yang Family had founded the Dajing Dynasty and rejected Chen Mingxi’s request to return to Da Rong. An Yuxing stayed on Shenmu Island, where he discovered the island’s exceptional young martial artists and went to inspect the naval force’s drill ground.

• Yang Zhengshan and An Yuxing discussed the Yang Family’s plans, and An Yuxing accepted that Yang Chengye might establish a dynasty.
• An Yuxing revealed that Jian Chengfeng had joined Prince of Great Liang and taken more than forty Three-Yellow Plums with him.
• Yang Zhengshan told Chen Mingxi he was no longer Da Rong’s subject and disclosed that the Yang Family had established the Dajing Dynasty.
• Chen Mingxi abandoned her request for Yang Zhengshan to return to Da Rong and left without mentioning Chen Yan.
• An Yuxing stayed on Shenmu Island, was impressed by Yang Chengmou and Wang Mingzhe’s cultivation, and went with Yang Chengmou to the Shenmu Naval Force’s drill ground.

An Yuxing learned that Yang Zhengshan’s wine had helped the Yang Family’s young martial artists advance, and he regretted drinking the wine meant for his descendants. Yang Chengye returned to Shenmu Island and reunited with his family, where Yang Zhengshan told him he intended to make him emperor of Da Rong; Yang Chengye refused.

• Yang Chengmou explained that the Ten-Thousand-Year Banyan’s roots and bark supplied materials for strong bows, while An Yuxing questioned the Yang Family’s unusually rapid cultivation progress.
• Yang Chengmou revealed that Yang Zhengshan’s wine strengthened ordinary martial artists and helped the Yang Family’s young people cultivate.
• An Yuxing realized he had drunk the wine sent for his descendants, then left to move the An Family to Shenmu Island.
• Yang Chengye arrived on Shenmu Island and reunited with Lady Yu, Yang Ruohan, his children, and the rest of the Yang Family.
• Yang Zhengshan told Yang Chengye he intended for him to become emperor of Da Rong, but Yang Chengye said he did not want the throne.

Yang Zhengshan and Yu Qingyi prepared medicinal soup to support Yang Chengye as he began planning to contend for Da Rong. Yang Chengye recruited young talents and secured Yang Mingzhao’s promise to help take Bashu and watch two border towns.

• Yang Zhengshan told Yang Chengye he would not force him to take the throne if he could persuade Yang Mingzhao to become the founding emperor, and Yang Chengye accepted that he would have to prepare his son to succeed him.
• Yang Zhengshan and Yu Qingyi boiled and bottled spirit spring medicinal soup so Yang Chengye could use it to train an elite force.
• Yang Chengye asked Yang Mingzhao to help him, and Yang Mingzhao agreed to take Bashu and watch Anxi Town and Wusi Town while Yang Chengye sought the Qu Family’s support against Yunling Town.
• Yang Chengye outlined a plan to draw allied families and forces into his campaign and reward them with hereditary titles in the new dynasty.
• Yang Chengye visited families on Shenmu Island and recruited nearly twenty young talents to join his circle.

Yang Zhengshan left Shenmu Island with Yu Qingyi to visit Xuan Zhen and persuade Zhou Lan and Liang Chu to support Yang Chengye, whom he considered blocked by Da Rong’s strongest figure. Meanwhile, the Yang Family arranged supplies and weapons for war, and Yang Zhengshan reached Songhe Prefecture on his way to Wuzhen Dao Palace.

• Yang Zhengshan told Yu Qingyi that Xuan Zhen was Yang Chengye’s greatest obstacle and said they should also visit Zhou Lan and Liang Chu to persuade them to abandon Da Rong.
• Yang Zhengshan gave Yang Chengye ten million taels of silver, and the Yang Family Trading Firm began buying grain and other supplies for his forces.
• Yang Minghao met Zhu Yanshan on Dihuo Island and ordered a large stock of weapons and armor, agreeing to exchange three thousand jars of Yang Family wine for them.
• Yang Zhengshan and Yu Qingyi arrived at Songhe Prefecture and set out toward Wuzhen Dao Palace, while the Yang Family Trading Firm’s fleet continued its business.

Yang Zhengshan and Yu Qingyi traveled by ship through Jiangnan and encountered the Xinjiang Commandery Prince Mansion blocking the river. When its forces ignored Yang Zhengshan’s token and attacked, he destroyed their warship and confronted the mansion’s men, leaving them facing his next move.

• Yang Zhengshan observed Jiangnan’s prosperity alongside the poverty and hardship of its tenant farmers.
• A ship captain told Yang Zhengshan that the Xinjiang Commandery Prince Mansion had blocked the river, but feared defying its vessels.
• Yang Zhengshan gave the captain his Marquis of Jing'an token and ordered him to sail through, promising to avenge him if the mansion retaliated.
• The mansion’s warship aimed its crossbows at Yang Zhengshan’s ship despite the token, so Yang Zhengshan struck it with a palm and sent its crew into the river.
• At the mansion’s dock, Yang Zhengshan flicked his token toward a splendidly dressed man, while four martial artists moved to protect him.

Yang Zhengshan revealed his identity to the Xinjiang Commandery Prince Mansion, then exchanged Dao Intent insights with Xuan Zhen and Yu Qingyi at Wuzhen Dao Palace. As Yang Zhengshan and Yu Qingyi headed for the Capital, Chen Hengchang advanced into Jiangnan and the Prince of Great Liang began expanding into Longnan.

• Yang Zhengshan killed a Half-Step Innate Realm martial artist who blocked his token, identified himself to the Third Young Master of Xinjiang Commandery Prince Mansion, and warned him not to obstruct him again.
• Yang Zhengshan explained to Yu Qingyi that Chen Hengchang would likely win over Xinjiang Commandery Prince Mansion to secure Jiangnan, while the Yang Family would eventually purge Jiangnan’s powerful clans.
• At Wuzhen Dao Palace, Xuan Zhen demonstrated his wind Dao Intent, Yang Zhengshan displayed his thunder Dao Intent, and Yu Qingyi grew a Green Dragon Vine into a rooted cover on the cliff.
• Yang Zhengshan, Yu Qingyi, and Xuan Zhen exchanged insights for three days before Wuzhen Dao Palace closed its gates for ten years.
• Yang Zhengshan and Yu Qingyi rode toward the Capital so Yang Zhengshan could meet Liang Chu, while Chen Hengchang entered Jiangnan with little resistance and the Prince of Great Liang began taking Longnan.

Yang Zhengshan and Yu Qingyi returned secretly to the capital and overheard two black-robed men negotiating for help opening the city gates in exchange for a fief. The next morning, Yang Yunxue learned that her parents had arrived in secret and hurried to meet them.

• Yang Zhengshan and Yu Qingyi entered the capital at night and stayed in the deserted Jing'an Marquis Mansion.
• Yang Zhengshan and Yu Qingyi overheard two black-robed men agree that one would help rebels open the capital gates in exchange for a fief in Southern Frontier Town.
• Yang Zhengshan suspected that the fief-seeking conspirator was Wang He and believed the other men might serve Prince of Great Liang or Chen Hengchang.
• Yang Yunxue taught Liang Mingzhu to write in Yingxue Courtyard when Xiafeng told her that Yang Zhengshan and Yu Qingyi had arrived secretly.
• Yang Yunxue dismissed the others and hurried to meet her parents, suspecting Yang Zhengshan had returned for an important purpose.

Yang Zhengshan told Yang Yunxue that the Yang Family would support Yang Chengye in claiming Da Rong and persuaded Liang Shengze to help protect the Yang Family’s relatives if the capital fell. He and Yu Qingyi then secretly settled in Chongshan Pass to support Yang Chengye as the Yang Family began sending supplies and guards to Chongshan Town.

• Yang Zhengshan reunited with Yang Yunxue and told her that Yang Chengye would seek the throne, asking her to look after their relatives in the capital.
• Yang Yunxue said that Liang Jinyan had reached the Innate Realm and offered to persuade Liang Shengze, but Yang Zhengshan chose to meet him himself.
• Yang Zhengshan persuaded Liang Shengze to side with the Yang Family, and Liang Shengze agreed to protect the Yang Family’s relatives and help them leave the capital if it fell.
• Yang Zhengshan and Yu Qingyi left the capital and secretly settled in Chongshan Pass without revealing themselves to Yang Chengye.
• Yang Zhengshan quietly added Spirit Spring Water to wells around the pass while the Yang Family sent supplies, martial artists, Li Chang, and Wang Lei to support Yang Chengye.

Prince of Great Liang expanded his power across the southwest and, in the sixth year of Jianxing, founded Great Liang and declared himself Emperor Tianwu. Yang Zhengshan and Yu Qingyi learned of his declaration from urgent military dispatches in Chongshan Pass, as Emperor Tianwu announced his intention to march east and destroy Rong.

• Chen Hengchang took Jiangnan with little resistance while Prince of Great Liang expanded through Longnan and Shanhe Province by drawing in bandits.
• Yang Zhao’s Taiping Army sought refuge with Prince of Great Liang, followed by other Bashu and Longxi forces, though Yang Zhao retained control of his own territory.
• Yang Zhao, the Nine Heavens King, and the Black Tiger King defeated Ma He and divided Bashu, while the southwest frontier families held their territories independently.
• Chen Hengchang turned toward Fuhai Province, and Prince of Great Liang’s growing strength forced the armies of Suzhou Town and Longbei Town to withdraw as Zhou Lan consolidated her defenses.
• Yang Chengye secretly prepared the Yang Family’s plans while Yang Zhengshan and Yu Qingyi stayed in Chongshan Pass and left southern affairs to him.
• Prince of Great Liang declared himself Emperor Tianwu of Great Liang in Hanzhong Prefecture, then proclaimed his intent to raise three hundred thousand troops and destroy Rong.

Zhou Lan confronted Yang Chengye about Chongshan Town’s refusal to send troops and supplies, then learned that the Yang Family intended to compete for the throne. She accepted the plan, arranged to protect her relatives, and returned to Longyuan as Great Liang’s army neared Da Rong’s Capital.

• Yang Chengye told Niu Zhuang that he would not yet send troops after the Prince of Great Liang proclaimed himself emperor.
• Zhou Lan arrived at Chongshan Pass and angrily demanded to know why Yang Chengye had withheld troops and grain from her.
• Yang Chengye revealed that he intended to contend for the realm, and Zhou Lan demanded to speak with Yang Zhengshan.
• Yang Zhengshan met Zhou Lan, and she proposed a match between her grand-niece and his grandson before agreeing to move her relatives to safety.
• Zhou Lan returned to Longyuan after Yang Chengye agreed to stop restricting her grain and fodder supplies.
• Great Liang’s army approached Da Rong’s Capital, where chaos had already broken out.

As the Great Liang Army approached the capital, Emperor Jianxing prepared to lead Da Rong’s remaining troops in a final defense while Chen Wansong arranged for the imperial bloodline to survive. Powerful families fled the city, and the chapter ended with Marquis Haining Li Feihe surveying the besieging army from the walls.

• Emperor Jianxing accepted Chen Wansong’s admonition and left Fengxian Hall to lead Da Rong’s last forces in defending the capital.
• Chen Wansong learned that Mingxi had escaped by ship, while Chen Zhongshu departed the capital to return to the Imperial Mausoleum.
• Zhou Mao and Zhou Xu prepared to leave for Shenmu Island after Zhou Tianci ordered the Zhou Family to evacuate, and the Liang Family, Wang Family, and Xue Family also withdrew from the capital.
• Three hundred thousand Great Liang Army troops arrived outside Capital City, where the demoralized Imperial Personal Guard prepared for a siege.
• Li Feihe watched the Great Liang Army establish its camp outside Guang'an Gate and assessed the threat to the capital.

The Great Liang Army surrounded Capital City while Emperor Tianwu relied on veteran Innate Martial Artists and inside allies to prepare a swift assault. In Jiangnan, Chen Hengchang’s supporters anticipated a coming war with Great Liang and urged him to recruit the Yang Family of Chongshan Town despite his old grudge against Yang Zhengshan.

• Li Feihe doubted whether the Li Family could hold Capital City after seeing the strength of the Great Liang Army.
• Emperor Tianwu and his commanders camped outside Capital City, and Zhang Luan assured him that allies inside the city were ready to help.
• Jian Chengfeng, Yang Jiushi, Li Zhen, and Zhang Luan stood among the Innate Martial Artists supporting Emperor Tianwu.
• Chen Hengchang’s council agreed that Great Liang would likely take Capital City and soon attack Jiangnan, so they began preparing for war.
• Ji Feiyu urged Chen Hengchang to recruit the Yang Family of Chongshan Town for its hundred thousand troops, but Chen Hengchang struggled with his hatred of Yang Zhengshan.

With the Capital under siege, Yang Chengye revealed his plans for Chongshan Town to enter the conflict and issued orders to mobilize troops across the region. The chapter left the Yang Family and Chongshan Town poised to march south, while Luo Feiyu prepared to rally Songzhou’s officials.

• Chen Hengchang agreed to approach the Yang, Qu, and Guo Families, and Ji Feiyu took charge of sending an envoy to Chongshan Town because he distrusted Lü Hua’s ties to Yang Zhengshan.
• Yang Chengye gathered Chongshan Town’s officials and commanders, declared that they would enter the upheaval, and presented Yang Zhengshan’s old private seal as his Great General’s Seal.
• Yang Chengye ordered forces to guard the northern border, assemble the Yang Family Army at Chongshan Pass, and move troops toward Dongsheng Prefecture, Yongping Prefecture, and Jizhou.
• Yang Chengye ordered the North Sea Naval Force to blockade the East Sea and Ru River waterways and directed the Zhenbiao Five Battalions to prepare to march south.
• Luo Feiyu received Yang Chengye’s transfer order in Songzhou City, laughed at the long-awaited call to action, and summoned the chief officials to deliberate.

Cui Chengwu prepared South Route's Dingliao Guard Reinforcement Battalion for war as Chongshan Town mobilized its forces and population. Lin Daniu left his family to report to the prefectural city with the supply-escort troops, while his father feared the campaign would take another family member.

• Cui Chengwu mustered his 7,500 soldiers, rallied them to face the coming war, and ordered them to prepare their weapons and equipment.
• Yang Chengye's orders set Chongshan Town's troops, garrisons, and communities preparing to support the expedition.
• Lin Daniu heard that Shuiquan Fortress's soldiers had to report to the prefectural garrison battalion to escort grain and military supplies.
• Lin Daniu told Old Man Lin he was marching with the army, and his father hurried to check on Lin Daniu's uncle in the Reinforcement Battalion.
• Lin Daniu remembered that his grandfather had died fighting under Yang Zhengshan, then left for the prefectural city despite his family's worry.

Yang Chengye prepared to march south, and Lu Wenyuan and Lin Zhan began mobilizing officials, students, clan members, and supplies to support him. The chapter left Lin Zhan gathering Pingyuan officials and arranging provisions for the campaign.

• Lu Wenyuan accepted Yang Chengye’s request to oversee affairs at Chongshan Pass and decided to leave in three days with his students.
• Lu Miaoshu visited Yang Minghui, who agreed to send Yang Clan youths to Chongshan Town alongside Lu Wenyuan’s party.
• Yang Minghui pledged the Yang Clan’s full support after Lu Miaowen confirmed that Yang Chengye intended to seize the realm.
• Lin Zhan received Yang Chengye’s letter and ordered Jizhou to prepare its granaries for shipments of provisions and fodder.
• Lin Zhan summoned the chief officials of the yamen to prepare for Yang Chengye’s campaign against the Prince of Great Liang.