Chapter Summaries

After Yuan Shao’s death, Bai Xiaowen secured Emperor Liu Xie’s edict appointing him Grand Marshal and Governor of Jizhou, with authority over the Four Provinces of Hebei. With Gao Gan’s support and Jizhou’s officials rewarded, Bai Xiaowen set out for Ye City to claim control of the region.

• Xun Yu and Dong Zhao urged Bai Xiaowen to use the Emperor’s authority to enter Jizhou and pacify it.
• Gao Gan pledged his support, and Bai Xiaowen ordered Guo Yuan to lead ten thousand Bingzhou troops east while Gao Gan guarded Bingzhou.
• Bai Xiaowen persuaded Emperor Liu Xie to appoint him Grand Marshal and Governor of Jizhou, Qingzhou, Youzhou, and Bingzhou.
• Bai Xiaowen secured promotions and titles for officials across the provinces, including Gao Gan, Yuan Tan, and Yuan Shang.
• Bai Xiaowen led the Youzhou Army and the imperial carriage east, passing through Huguan Pass and Lucheng into Jizhou’s Wei Commandery.

Bai Xiaowen raced to secure Jizhou after Yuan Shao’s death, learning that Ye City had already fallen under his control and that Yuan Shang and Yuan Tan were advancing toward it. He entered Ye City, received the imperial appointment as Grand Marshal and governor of Jizhou, and rewarded Tian Feng as the struggle among Yuan Shao’s sons intensified.

• Bai Xiaowen learned that Yuan Shang had claimed Yuan Shao’s succession and was marching on Ye City with General Jiang Yiqu and a large army.
• A Winged Cavalry messenger reported that Qiao Rui had freed Tian Feng, rallied Ye City behind him, and confined Shen Pei.
• Bai Xiaowen learned that Yuan Tan had declared himself Grand General and was leading Qingzhou troops west toward Ye City.
• Bai Xiaowen used Meng De’s New Book’s Speed Is Paramount in War strategy to hurry his army to Ye City, where Qiao Rui opened the gates.
• Emperor Liu Xie’s envoy appointed Bai Xiaowen Grand Marshal and governor of Jizhou, and Jizhou’s officials received rewards and titles.
• Bai Xiaowen petitioned the emperor to honor Tian Feng and ordered one hundred yi of gold given to the Tian Clan.

Bai Xiaowen secured Ye City as the new capital, reassured Lady Liu that he would spare his brothers, and learned that Yuan Shang was marching on the city with Jiang Yiqu’s army. Yuan Xiaowen then went alone to meet Yuan Shang, who was persuaded to consider capturing him at a banquet.

• Bai Xiaowen moved the emperor into Ye City, renamed it Ye Capital, and planned to use the Grand General's Residence as a temporary imperial palace.
• Lady Liu urged Bai Xiaowen to protect Yuan Xi and Yuan Shang, and he promised not to harm them if they accepted the court's appointments and did not divide Hebei.
• Qiao Rui reported that Yuan Shang and Jiang Yiqu were approaching with a hundred-thousand-strong army, and Bai Xiaowen said he had a plan and left with Li Shuyi.
• A messenger told Yuan Shang that Yuan Xi had already taken Ye City after his cavalry arrived ahead of the emperor and placed Shen Pei under house arrest.
• Yuan Xi arrived alone under the pretext of preserving brotherly affection, and Feng Ji urged Yuan Shang to seize him at a Hongmen Banquet.
• Yuan Shang agreed that he could capture Yuan Xi and promised himself he would treat him well after taking Jizhou.

Bai Xiaowen reassured Zhen Mi that he would enter Yuan Shang’s camp to prevent civil war, then arrived with an imperial edict and accepted Yuan Shang’s invitation to a banquet. Yuan Shang’s guards and Feng Ji’s precautions revealed their suspicion as Bai Xiaowen entered the camp unarmed.

• Jiang Yiqu privately disapproved of Yuan Shang and Feng Ji’s scheme against Yuan Xi and lamented how different the brothers were.
• Zhen Mi praised Bai Xiaowen for restoring Jizhou’s security, and Bai Xiaowen told her he would visit Yuan Shang’s camp to persuade him to lay down his arms.
• Bai Xiaowen arrived at Yuan Shang’s camp with a few attendants and presented an imperial edict read by Dong Zhao, which granted titles to Yuan Shang and other officers.
• Yuan Shang greeted Bai Xiaowen and invited him to a banquet, while Ma Yan and Zhang Yi positioned guards behind his party.
• Yuan Shang’s officers asked Bai Xiaowen and his attendants to surrender their weapons, and Feng Ji directed Li Shuyi and Han Xu to dine in a side tent.

At the banquet, Li Shuyi revealed Yuan Shang’s and Feng Ji’s schemes to the Guandu generals and showed how Bai Xiaowen had protected Zhang He and Gao Lan. Convinced that Bai Xiaowen was the rightful leader, the generals resolved to go to him at once and offer their allegiance.

• Bai Xiaowen entered the main command tent alone, while Li Shuyi and Han Xu joined the Guandu generals in the side tent.
• Li Shuyi told Zhang He and the others that the Emperor had appointed Bai Xiaowen Grand Marshal, a decree Yuan Shang had concealed from them.
• Li Shuyi revealed that Ju Shou was imprisoned in the Liyang camp for opposing Yuan Shang’s attempt to seize power.
• Li Shuyi showed Zhang He a letter exposing Guo Tu’s plot to trick Zhang He and Gao Lan into rebellion, and the generals accepted that Bai Xiaowen had protected them.
• Gao Lan urged the generals to serve Bai Xiaowen, and Zhang He agreed, warning that they should go to him immediately before Yuan Shang’s banquet turned dangerous.

Bai Xiaowen faced Yuan Shang’s attempt to seize the Grand Marshal’s authority while secretly arranging to win over Zhang He and the Guandu generals. When Yuan Shang ordered his arrest, Bai Xiaowen’s presence froze the guards and generals, and Zhang He and Gao Lan arrived outside with forty-three other generals.

• Bai Xiaowen guided Li Shuyi through the Team Channel as she worked to persuade Zhang He to submit.
• Yuan Shang offered to take on the Grand Marshal’s burden, then claimed the Son of Heaven could not decide who inherited the Yuan family’s lands.
• Yuan Shang summoned Lü Kuang, Lü Xiang, Zhang Yi, and Ma Yan and ordered them to seize Bai Xiaowen.
• Bai Xiaowen’s Mental Force Field of Intimidation stunned the four generals and immobilized the five hundred personal guards, leaving none willing to attack him.
• A guard reported that Zhang He, Gao Lan, and forty-three other generals had brought their personal guards and were waiting outside to see the Grand Marshal.

Bai Xiaowen turned Yuan Shang’s claim of inheriting the Grand Marshal’s position against him and won the support of the Guandu generals. The generals arrested Yuan Shang and Feng Ji, acclaimed Bai Xiaowen as their lord, and heard the imperial decree granting them rewards.

• Zhang He, Gao Lan, and the Guandu generals arrived to pay respects to Bai Xiaowen, while Yuan Shang and Feng Ji tried to resist their advance.
• Bai Xiaowen persuaded Second Lü, Zhang Yi, Ma Yan, and the other generals in Yuan Shang’s tent to surrender, then admitted Zhang He, Gao Lan, Han Meng, and forty-three officers.
• Bai Xiaowen questioned Yuan Shang about the forged final command, and Yuan Shang could not explain how he had obtained it.
• Jiang Yiqu accused Yuan Shang of forging the command, then knelt before Bai Xiaowen and asked for punishment.
• Jiang Yiqu captured Yuan Shang, Gao Lan seized Feng Ji, and the generals escorted Bai Xiaowen to the main seat and paid homage to him.
• Dong Zhao read the imperial decree granting titles and rewards to the generals, who rejoiced at the news.

Bai Xiaowen reorganized his newly submitted generals, pardoned Lü Kuang, Lü Xiang, Zhang Yi, and Ma Yan, and arranged for Ju Shou’s rescue. He condemned Yuan Shang and Feng Ji, but ordered Yuan Shang taken to Ye Capital to answer to their mother, leaving Feng Ji’s fate unresolved.

• Han Meng urged Bai Xiaowen to execute Lü Kuang, Lü Xiang, Zhang Yi, and Ma Yan, but Bai Xiaowen pardoned them and ordered them to earn merit in battle.
• Zhang He and Gao Lan asked Bai Xiaowen to rescue Ju Shou, and Jiang Yiqu offered to send trusted men to retrieve him from Liyang.
• Bai Xiaowen inspected Zhang He’s Formation Shift and Gao Lan’s Power Slash, assessing their strengths as commanders and fighters.
• Bai Xiaowen denounced Yuan Shang for falsely transmitting their father’s decree and ordered Li Shuyi to take him to Ye Capital to confess to their mother.
• Bai Xiaowen accused Feng Ji of treachery and declared that he deserved death.

Bai Xiaowen executed Feng Ji, secured the Guandu generals’ support, and confronted Yuan Shang over his crimes. He left the chapter planning to bring Yuan Tan back to Ye Capital with Lady Liu’s letter and a promise of an official appointment.

• Bai Xiaowen ordered Feng Ji executed after rejecting his accusation that the Grand Marshal could not tolerate dissent.
• Gao Lan called for Guo Tu’s arrest, but Zhang He urged Bai Xiaowen to decide whether to fight Yuan Tan or seek peace, and Bai Xiaowen said he already had a plan for Guo Tu.
• Bai Xiaowen brought Yuan Shang before Lady Liu, who pleaded for her son’s life, and promised to spare him while imposing a punishment.
• Bai Xiaowen decided Yuan Shang would remain by his side under close guard, stripping him of any chance to regain military authority.
• Bai Xiaowen asked Lady Liu to write Yuan Tan a letter urging him to come to Ye Capital, and promised to petition the Emperor to grant him a high office.

Bai Xiaowen arranged to bring Yuan Tan to Ye Capital and enlisted Ju Shou to help with a plan involving Kong Rong. In Julu, Yuan Tan debated whether to trust Bai Xiaowen’s promise of the grand marshal title or retreat to Qingzhou, and decided to wait for the imperial decree while watching for an attack.

• Bai Xiaowen sent Lady Liu’s letter and one of his own to Yuan Tan, inviting him to Ye Capital while delaying the official appointment.
• Ju Shou arrived in Ye Capital, accepted Bai Xiaowen as his lord, and recommended recruiting Kong Rong to assist with Bai Xiaowen’s plan.
• Yuan Tan learned that Yuan Shang’s army had surrendered to Yuan Xi and that Feng Ji had been executed, leaving him fearful of Yuan Xi’s growing power.
• Yuan Tan received letters from Lady Liu and Bai Xiaowen, and Bai Xiaowen promised to petition the emperor to make Yuan Tan grand marshal.
• Guo Tu warned Yuan Tan that the promise could be a trap and advised him to remain in Julu until the decree arrived, while Wang Xiu cautioned that Yuan Xi might surround them.

Cao Cao struggled to restore his position in Xudu while seeking a cure for his poisoned sons. Zhang Zhongjing saved the four young men, but Cao Cao kept him from leaving so he could write his medical text in Xudu.

• Yuan Tan followed Guo Tu's advice, sent a courteous letter to Ye Capital, and said he would wait for the Grand Marshal's appointment decree before paying his respects.
• Cao Cao found the palace and Chancellor's Residence emptied, learned his four sons were poisoned, and sent Zhang Liao and Xu Chu with Guo Jia to fetch Zhang Ji from Qiao Commandery.
• An assassin attacked the party on their return, but escaped mysteriously after Guo Jia noticed him; Guo Jia advised Cao Cao that the assassin would cause no further harm.
• Zhang Zhongjing identified the poison as a living creature and drew red worms from Cao Pi, Cao Zhi, Cao Zhang, and Cao Chong with a foul medicinal soup, waking all four.
• Cao Cao offered Zhang Zhongjing quiet rooms so he could write, then ordered Xu Chu and the Tiger Guards to escort him to a guesthouse and prevent him from leaving.

Cao Cao celebrated the return of his four sons, then used a concealed hand-writing scheme with Guo Jia and Xi Zhicai to exchange suspicions and discuss possible threats. Richard learned that Cao Cao had kept his strategists behind, while Abota warned him to prepare for an attack and abandon the main quest if necessary.

• Cao Cao held a banquet after his four sons were recovered, then asked Guo Jia and Xi Zhicai to teach him divination.
• Guo Jia proposed that the three conceal their hands in their sleeves and write messages in one another’s palms.
• Cao Cao, Guo Jia, and Xi Zhicai secretly exchanged warnings about Xiong, an outsider, Liu Ye, and the trustworthiness of Xudu.
• Guo Jia demonstrated the Dayan Divination Method with chopsticks while continuing to write messages in Cao Cao’s palm.
• Richard complained that Marvin’s attempt to assassinate the physician had failed, and Abota warned that Cao Cao might target them.
• Maturin reported that Cao Cao appeared to be learning divination, but Abota urged Richard to prepare to submit the main quest and attack the Cao Army if necessary.

Cao Cao’s council adopted Guo Jia’s plan to trade the Three Dependencies for supplies and set Ma Teng and Zhang Lu against each other while the Cao forces moved against the Yuan Clan. Cao Xiong joined Xiahou Dun’s vanguard to attack Liyang, eager to avenge his brothers.

• Liu Ye and Cheng Yu urged Cao Cao to conserve supplies and guard against threats, while Xi Zhicai argued that the Yuan brothers’ expected infighting offered a chance to advance.
• Guo Jia proposed trading the Three Dependencies to Ma Teng and Zhang Lu for grain and soldiers, then using their rivalry to secure time to defeat the Yuan Clan.
• Cao Cao approved the plan, and Cheng Yu suggested first securing Zhang Lu’s grain and making sure Zhang Lu held Chang’an before Ma Teng arrived.
• Cao Cao ordered Xiahou Dun to lead the vanguard against Liyang, with Cao Xiong, Zhang Liao, Xu Chu, and Xu Huang as deputy generals.
• Cao Xiong accepted Cao Cao’s warning to obey Xiahou Dun’s orders, and Cao Cao said his sons would prove themselves during the campaign.

Yuan Tan learned that Qingzhou had fallen to Ju Shou and Kong Rong after traitors opened its gates, then heard that Yuan Xi was marching on Julu with one hundred thousand troops. He rejected Yuan Xi’s offer to surrender and preserve his marquisate, leaving himself facing an imminent siege.

• Cao Xiong and Abota accepted their roles as deputy generals in the campaign against Hebei, while Xiahou Dun gathered troops and supplies for the advance.
• Yuan Tan summoned his officials after the Son of Heaven’s promised edict failed to arrive, and Guo Tu urged him to prepare for a trap.
• An envoy reported that Zong Bao and Sun Shao had opened Qingzhou’s gates to Ju Shou’s forces, and that Kong Rong’s presence and the court’s decree had prompted the commanderies to surrender.
• A scout reported that Yuan Xi was approaching Julu with one hundred thousand troops after capturing and releasing Yuan Tan’s messengers.
• The scout delivered Yuan Xi’s offer to let Yuan Tan keep his marquisate if he surrendered, but Yuan Tan angrily refused.

Yuan Tan rejected surrender and chose to hold Julu City while waiting for Cao Cao to attack Yuan Xi. Xin Pi secretly offered to open the gates, allowing Bai Xiaowen to take the city, capture Yuan Tan, and gain thousands of surrendered soldiers.

• Xin Pi urged Yuan Tan to surrender, but Yuan Tan nearly had him executed before Wang Xiu intervened.
• Guo Tu persuaded Yuan Tan to defend Julu City and wait for events to change, and Yuan Tan ordered his troops to reject any talk of surrender.
• Bai Xiaowen encircled Julu City, then received a letter in which Xin Pi offered to open the western gate at the fourth watch.
• Li Shuyi led the vanguard through the opened gate, and Bai Xiaowen's army poured into the city without meeting resistance.
• Bai Xiaowen ordered Jiao Chu to protect the Tian Clan residence and offered safety to those who surrendered; Li Shuyi captured Yuan Tan alive, and Julu fell by dawn.

After defeating Yuan Tan, Bai Xiaowen reconciled with him while keeping him under close watch, then became the Yuan Clan Faction’s sole leader and gained authority to set a national policy that could trigger a Grand Unification Main Quest. Back in Ye Capital, he convened the faction’s senior leaders and began staffing his Grand Marshal’s Office and taking control of key court positions.

• Bai Xiaowen forgave Yuan Tan, restored his title as General of the Vanguard, and resolved to keep him and Yuan Shang with the army without real command.
• Bai Xiaowen rewarded the Julu Tian Clan and received notice that he had become the Yuan Clan Faction’s sole leader, qualifying him to pursue Plane Unification and gaining the Formulate National Policy authority.
• The Spirit Realm Rules explained the Grand Unification Main Quest and declared Bai Xiaowen’s Heshuo prestige quest completed, giving him 12 days, 4 hours, 51 minutes, and 57 seconds of Free Exploration Time.
• Bai Xiaowen convened the Yuan Clan Faction’s first senior military council in Ye Capital and appointed Dong Zhao, Shen Pei, Tian Yu, Sima Yi, and others to the Grand Marshal’s Office.
• Bai Xiaowen appointed Xun Yu Minister of the Imperial Household, Director of the Secretariat, and deputy governor of Jizhou.

Bai Xiaowen reorganized the court and gained powerful bonuses from Xun Yu, Tian Feng, and Ju Shou, while the Emperor and Fu Wan feared his control. He learned that Hebei’s Livability was low and that Xun Yu would need to manage Jizhou for seven days to improve it, then turned to triggering the Grand Unification Main Quest.

• Bai Xiaowen abolished the Chancellor position, restored the Three Excellencies, and appointed Tian Feng, Gao Gan, and Fu Wan to those posts.
• The Emperor grew bitter over Bai Xiaowen’s dominance, while Fu Wan urged him not to challenge Bai Xiaowen.
• Xun Yu, Tian Feng, and Ju Shou’s monarch skills granted Bai Xiaowen a total of 57 attribute points and additional bonuses.
• Bai Xiaowen unlocked Livability and discovered that the four provinces of Hebei were suffering from devastated livelihoods.
• Bai Xiaowen learned that Xun Yu had to handle Jizhou’s affairs for seven days before his Peaceful Prosperity skill could raise its Livability.
• Bai Xiaowen decided to seek a way to trigger the first Grand Unification Main Quest and earn a month of Free Exploration Time.

Bai Xiaowen’s advisers debated a northern campaign until an urgent letter revealed that Cao Cao’s army was attacking Hebei. Bai Xiaowen triggered Grand Unification Main Quest 1 by declaring that he would defeat Cao Cao, then mobilized elite troops for Liyang.

• Bai Xiaowen proposed eliminating Zhang Yan and subduing the northern tribes, but his advisers disagreed over whether to campaign north or focus on Cao Cao.
• Jiang Yiqu’s urgent letter reported that Xiahou Dun was leading a Cao Army offensive with Zhang Liao, Xu Chu, Xu Huang, and Cao Xiong as deputies.
• Bai Xiaowen concluded that Cao Cao had found a way to supply his army and declared that he would defeat him, triggering Grand Unification Main Quest 1.
• Bai Xiaowen ordered troops from Youzhou and Bingzhou home to defend their cities, kept the Qingzhou Soldiers in Jizhou, and told Jiang Yiqu to fortify Liyang and avoid battle.
• Bai Xiaowen led thirty thousand elite troops toward Liyang and sent more spies into Henan and nearby regions to investigate Cao Cao’s supplies.

After Liyang fell and Jiang Yiqu died defending it, Bai Xiaowen organized a response to Cao Xiong’s advance on Fanyang and Xiahou Dun’s threat to Anyang. He sent Qiao Rui to help defend Wei County and hunt Divine Court infiltrators, while he continued marching to confront Xiahou Dun.

• Cao Xiong captured Liyang after infiltrators opened its gates, and Jiang Yiqu died fighting while ensuring the army’s provisions were burned.
• Bai Xiaowen mourned Jiang Yiqu, granted him posthumous honors, and arranged for Liyang’s routed troops to be reorganized under Tian Yu.
• Bai Xiaowen learned that Cao Xiong was advancing on Fanyang while Xiahou Dun moved toward Anyang, and he ordered Tian Yu to defend Wei County.
• Bai Xiaowen told Qiao Rui to investigate Divine Court Awakened Ones in Wei County and sent Murong Ping to support her and Tian Yu.
• Bai Xiaowen doubted that Xiahou Dun would attack Anyang and continued marching, hoping to destroy the vanguard before Cao Cao’s main force arrived.

Bai Xiaowen defended Anyang against Cao Cao’s invasion, relying on strong fortifications and the enemy’s strained supply lines rather than rushing to retake Liyang. Cao Cao demanded the emperor and Jizhou, then attacked Anyang, where his army suffered heavy losses.

• Bai Xiaowen inspected Anyang’s officers for Divine Court infiltrators and decided to hold the city with thirty thousand troops while Tian Yu and Murong Ping reorganized forces for Wei County.
• Bai Xiaowen and Tian Feng agreed to let Cao Cao’s large army exhaust its supplies before seeking an opportunity to strike.
• Bai Xiaowen fortified Anyang and stationed Zhang He and Gao Lan with ten thousand elite troops in a camp west of the city.
• Cao Cao arrived at Anyang and demanded that Bai Xiaowen return the emperor and surrender Jizhou; Bai Xiaowen rejected his accusations and recited the Proclamation Against Cao.
• Cao Cao ordered an assault, but Anyang’s defenders repelled the attacks, leaving the Cao Army with more than three thousand dead and Bai Xiaowen’s forces with only a few hundred losses.