Recaps

Hu Xiaotian captured the Eastern Luo Granary and used the victory to strengthen his position as Great Yong and Great Kang pursued competing diplomatic strategies. He refused to submit to Great Yong, defended Yu Tianxing, and agreed to send grain to the Imperial Court, while peace talks between the empires failed.

• Hu Xiaotian’s forces captured Eastern Luo Granary, and Chang Fanqi took Qin Yangming hostage before surrendering the granary and entering Hu Xiaotian’s service.
• Great Yong’s court debated its response as Xue Lingjun traveled to meet Hu Xiaotian and Li Chenzhou went to the Kang Capital to negotiate peace.
• Xue Lingjun tried to persuade Hu Xiaotian to join Great Yong, but he refused and maintained his loyalty to Great Kang.
• Li Chenzhou offered Long Xuan'en grain and peace in exchange for the return of Eastern Luo Granary and Eastern Liang Commandery, but Great Kang’s ministers disputed the proposal and Long Xuan'en postponed a decision.
• Xue Lingjun threatened Yu Tianxing’s family to recruit him, but Hu Xiaotian confronted her and defended Yu’s loyalty and family.
• After Great Kang rejected Li Chenzhou’s proposal, Zhuge Guanqi advised Hu Xiaotian to send three hundred thousand shi of grain to the Imperial Court, and Hu agreed.
• Li Chenzhou told Jian Rongxin that Great Kang had rejected the peace talks but that war would not break out immediately.

Hu Xiaotian thwarted Jiang Zhengyang’s attempt to seize imperial grain, brought White Spring City and its troops under his influence, and navigated the court’s orders while expanding his alliances. The stretch ended with Hu back in Eastern Liang Commandery for New Year’s Eve, arranging a possible match between Chang Fanqi and Yang Yingqiong.

• Xue Lingjun stayed in Eastern Liang after recognizing the value of Hu Xiaotian’s grain offer, and Hu proposed returning Qin Yangming and the other prisoners in exchange for borrowing the Eastern Luo Granary and receiving Yu Tianxing’s family.
• Li Chenzhou reunited with Wen Chenghuan, while Hu Xiaotian and Zhan Peng rescued the wounded Li Chang'an and buried the Snow Eagle that had died protecting him.
• Hu Xiaotian intercepted Jiang Zhengyang’s grain fleet at Cloud Marsh, burning and sinking its ships before capturing Jiang Zhengyang.
• Xiong Tianba defeated Zu Dacheng’s forces at Tongyuan Bridge, and Zhuge Guanqi persuaded Zu Dacheng’s soldiers to join Hu Xiaotian after Zuo Xingjian fled White Spring City.
• Zuo Xingjian confessed his lies to Hu Xiaotian and pledged loyalty, while Hu supplied White Spring City and ordered him to gather intelligence on Cloud Marsh and the River Pirates.
• Long Xuan'en ordered Hu Xiaotian to send grain to the Capital City and appointed Su Yuchi to garrison Yunyang, but Hu planned to feign serious illness and arranged for Li Yongfu to ship the grain to Haizhou.
• Hu Xiaotian flew to Eastern Liang Commandery with Xia Changming and returned for New Year’s Eve, where he arranged for Chang Fanqi to meet Yang Yingqiong.

Hu Xiaotian sailed to Python Jiao Island to rescue captured sailors, where a hurricane, pirates, and Tang Jingyu’s attack disrupted his plans. After joining forces with Yan Tianlu, Hu Xiaotian prepared to help him reclaim the island and free the prisoners.

• Hu Xiaotian rejected the pirates’ ransom demand, tested his Heaven-Shaking Thunder cannons, and sailed for Python Jiao Island with his fleet.
• A hurricane wrecked or scattered much of the fleet, while Hu Xiaotian was separated from Xia Changming and landed alone on the island.
• Hu Xiaotian infiltrated the pirates’ camp, fought Luo Qianfu over the captive Flying Owls, and escaped discovery by returning to his original appearance.
• Hu Xiaotian escorted Yan Boguang and Yan Nujiao through the Crystal Palace, where Tang Jingyu attacked them and abducted Yan Boguang.
• Yan Tianlu confronted Tang Jingyu, who escaped with the gray-clad archer’s help after Qin Dongluo was killed and Lu Qingyuan was wounded.
• Hu Xiaotian rescued Yan Nujiao from the crystal maze, and they reunited with Yan Tianlu, who revealed that Lu Qingyuan and others had betrayed him.
• Hu Xiaotian and Yan Tianlu agreed to work together to reclaim Python Jiao Island and rescue Hu Zhongyang and the captured Great Kang Navy sailors.
• Hu Xiaotian disguised Yan Tianlu and Yan Nujiao, then watched Luo Qianfu install Lu Qingyuan as island lord before revealing his identity to Yan Tianlu.

Hu Xiaotian and Yan Tianlu outmaneuvered Long Xuan'en’s attempt to turn them against each other, secured Yan Xuanming’s pardon, and forged an alliance. As turmoil spread through the Bohai Kingdom and threatened Xue Shengjing’s interests, Hu Xiaotian traveled there to investigate, arriving in Sea-Viewing City under the guise of a jewelry merchant.

• Hu Xiaotian freed Hu Zhongyang and joined Yan Tianlu in retaking Python Jiao Island, where they defeated Luo Qianfu and exposed Lu Qingyuan’s treachery.
• Yan Tianlu agreed to help rescue Hu Xiaotian’s stranded warships in exchange for help saving Yan Xuanming, while Qiqi intervened to secure Yan Xuanming’s release.
• Hu Xiaotian returned to Eastern Liang Commandery, revealed himself to Su Yuchi, and secured a pact with him as Qiqi confronted Long Xuan'en over the danger of provoking Python Jiao Island.
• Long Xuan'en pardoned Yan Xuanming and restored his post, while Yan Tianlu rejected Yang Yuanqing’s demand that he kill Hu Xiaotian and had Yang captured.
• As Bohai officials arrested Yuan Tianzhao and sealed Xue Shengjing’s Treasure-Gathering Studio, Xue asked Hu Xiaotian for help, and Hu agreed to investigate the upheaval.
• Hu Xiaotian offered Yan Xuanming a government post in Wuxing Commandery, then decided to travel to Bohai after Zhuge Guanqi warned that Great Yong and Bohai might be conspiring against Python Jiao Island.
• Hu Xiaotian and Xia Changming flew to Sea-Viewing City, posed as jewel merchants, and Hu bought jewelry from Liu Zhiyang and Gu Jiayuan while listening for news of Yuan Tianzhao.