Chapter Summaries

The Great Wei Literary Palace debated how to counter Xu Qingxiao’s popular Great Wei Gazette, and Yan Lei organized support for a rival publication while accusing Xu of imitation. Chen Zhengru, Wang Xinzhi, and several Grand Confucians refused to participate, and the chapter ended as the four ministers erupted after hearing what had happened.

• The Female Emperor told Li Guangxiao that the Great Wei Literary Palace might suppress Xu Qingxiao’s Gazette, and she vowed to support Xu if a dispute arose.
• Yan Lei presented the Gazette to the Grand Confucians, called it an imitation of the Literary Palace’s Proclamation Notices, and proposed a rival paper called the Great Wei Literary Sage News.
• Yan Lei cited the Gazette’s enormous sales to persuade the Grand Confucians that a rival publication could influence commoners and raise their own standing.
• Chen Zhengru and Wang Xinzhi condemned Yan Lei’s proposal, then left the meeting with Chen Xin, Zhou Min, and several other Grand Confucians.
• Yan Lei secured the remaining Grand Confucians’ support, became chief editor of the rival paper, and received Scholar Peng’s instructions to target commoners and privately spread claims about the Female Emperor favoring Xu.
• Chen Zhengru and Wang Xinzhi reported the meeting at the Ministry of Revenue, where the four ministers erupted in anger.

Xu Qingxiao and the court pushed back against the Great Wei Literary Palace’s accusations, and the Female Emperor allowed both newspapers to continue under restrictions. The Literary Palace then launched its paper with an insult aimed at Xu Qingxiao, setting the Capital ablaze as the newspaper rivalry began.

• Chen Zhengru told the ministers that Yan Lei was likely a pawn in Scholar Peng’s plan to test public reaction, then went to consult Xu Qingxiao.
• After learning the Literary Palace’s plans, Xu Qingxiao asked Chen Zhengru to demand content limits, price restrictions, and court review of both newspapers’ national-affairs coverage.
• At court, the Female Emperor rejected the Literary Palace’s plagiarism accusation and allowed Xu Qingxiao to keep the name Great Wei Gazette; Zhang Ning accepted Chen Zhengru’s three proposed restrictions.
• Xu Qingxiao discovered that his Immortal Dao cultivation had reached the ninth rank.
• The Great Wei Literary Palace released its first newspaper under the name Great Wei New Sage Report, whose headline, “An arrogant child,” provoked an uproar in the Capital.

The Great Wei Literary Palace’s first issue sold out after Zhang Ning’s article mocked Xu Qingxiao, earning popular will that could restore Yan Lei’s rank and advance Zhang Ning. Xu Qingxiao responded in the second Great Wei Gazette with a headline widely understood as a direct insult to Scholar Peng, while the Literary Palace’s auspicious clouds stalled just short of their goal.

• Citizens and scholars bought 1.5 million copies of the Great Wei Literary Sage News, whose headline and Zhang Ning’s allegory insulted Xu Qingxiao.
• Auspicious clouds formed above the Great Wei Literary Palace, and Scholar Peng announced that the people’s approval might restore Yan Lei’s Grand Confucian rank and help Zhang Ning become a Heaven-and-Earth Grand Confucian.
• Xu Qingxiao dismissed the article’s insults, then resolved to strike back personally when Zhang Ruhui told him the Literary Palace had gained popular will.
• The Female Emperor discussed reports of foreign aid to the northern barbarians with Li Guangxiao and ordered secret preparations while continuing to investigate.
• Yan Lei and Zhang Ning selected more articles mocking Xu Qingxiao as the Capital awaited the second Great Wei Gazette.
• The second Great Wei Gazette appeared with the headline “The dove usurps the magpie's nest; old, yet still not dead,” which readers took as an insult to Scholar Peng, and the auspicious clouds above the Literary Palace slowed.

Xu Qingxiao’s Great Wei Gazette mocked the Great Wei Literary Palace’s Grand Confucians and condemned their control over young scholars, prompting Song Ming and hundreds of students to destroy their illuminated wills and leave the Palace. As the Sage’s statue shook and the Popular Will Clouds dispersed, Xu Qingxiao announced that he had mastered the School of the Mind and opened its academy.

• Xu Qingxiao published “The Cuckoo Usurps the Magpie's Nest; Old Yet Refusing to Die,” satirizing the Great Wei Literary Palace’s Grand Confucians and their suppression of talented young scholars.
• Song Ming read the Gazette and, after Yan Lei humiliated a young student and tossed his essay aside, challenged Yan Lei and denounced the Literary Palace.
• Song Ming declared that he would destroy his illuminated will and leave, and Sun Lai and hundreds of other Confucian Students joined him.
• The students’ collective defiance stirred resentment throughout the Literary Palace, the Sage’s statue shook, and the Popular Will Clouds began to disperse.
• Xu Qingxiao announced that he had mastered the School of the Mind and opened the doors of its academy.

Xu Qingxiao intervened as Song Ming and other students rebelled against Yan Lei, then confronted Scholar Peng’s efforts to discredit them. He invoked Sage Intent to force Yan Lei to answer three questions, and Yan Lei admitted to plagiarizing Xu Qingxiao’s gazette and deliberately targeting him before the crucial question about Cheng Lidong’s unorthodox art remained unanswered.

• Xu Qingxiao’s call to accept disciples at Shouren Academy inspired students to leave the Great Wei Literary Palace, while Grand Confucians condemned Yan Lei for driving them away.
• Song Ming confronted Yan Lei, who accused him of conspiring with Xu Qingxiao, and Scholar Peng questioned Song Ming before offering to restore the students’ Confucian Ranks if they repented.
• Xu Qingxiao entered the Great Wei Literary Palace with Capital Troops, ordered Yan Lei slapped for insulting him, and rebuked Scholar Peng for defending Yan Lei.
• Xu Qingxiao invoked Sage Intent to question Yan Lei, who admitted that the Great Wei Literary Sage News had copied Xu Qingxiao’s gazette and that he had deliberately targeted Xu Qingxiao.
• Xu Qingxiao asked whether Yan Lei had taught Cheng Lidong his unorthodox art, leaving Yan Lei and the gathered scholars facing the answer that could trigger a crisis for the Great Wei Literary Palace.

Xu Qingxiao forced the Great Wei Literary Palace to punish Yan Lei and accept demands that weakened its rival newspaper, then left with new students for Shouren Academy. After months of relative calm, Scholar Peng and Prince Huaining secretly conspired against Great Wei, and twelve foreign nations submitted memorials impeaching Xu Qingxiao.

• Xu Qingxiao invoked Sage Intent to question Yan Lei, but Scholar Peng intervened with a Half-Saint's Imperial Edict and stripped Yan Lei of his Confucian Heart, Literary Bone, and sanity before he could answer whether he had taught Cheng Lidong an Unorthodox Art.
• Xu Qingxiao confronted Scholar Peng over the Literary Palace's double standards and forced him to agree to limit the rival paper to one issue a month, require Zhang Ning to apologize, and rename the publication without the words “Literary Sage” or “Great Wei.”
• Xu Qingxiao left the Literary Palace with Song Ming and other students, while Scholar Peng renamed the rival newspaper the Great Wei Confucian Gazette and appointed Chen Xin as its lead writer.
• Over the following months, Shouren Academy and the Great Wei Gazette expanded, while Xu Qingxiao worked on the Waterwheel Project and distribution; in November, he wondered why no one had opposed him for two months.
• Scholar Peng met secretly with Prince Huaining and plotted with foreign races, vassal kings, the Tuxie Dynasty, and the Chuyuan Dynasty against Great Wei, identifying Xu Qingxiao as a target to eliminate.
• Twelve foreign nations jointly submitted memorials impeaching Xu Qingxiao.

The Twelve Foreign Races demanded Xu Qingxiao’s dismissal, and the Female Emperor and ministers suspected the petition was a probe for a larger attempt to break away from Great Wei. They chose to delay a response and avoid war, but Chen Zhengru discovered that the common people already knew about the petition.

• The Female Emperor received coordinated memorials from the Twelve Foreign Races demanding Xu Qingxiao’s dismissal and summoned the ministers of the Six Ministries.
• Xu Qingxiao reviewed plans for the Great Wei Gazette, waterwheels, the national treasury, his cultivation, and Shouren Academy while wondering why his political rivals had left him undisturbed.
• Chen Zhengru told the ministers that the foreign races might be testing Great Wei’s response to a possible secession, and he cited signs of northern preparations and foreign intelligence-gathering.
• Zhou Yan urged the court to fight, but Chen Zhengru warned that any conflict could become total war; the Female Emperor approved delaying a decision and ordered the matter kept secret.
• After the ministers left, Chen Zhengru headed to Shouren Academy to warn Xu Qingxiao, then froze when he heard commoners discussing the petition and realized the news had leaked.

The Twelve Foreign Races’ impeachment of Xu Qingxiao sparked public outrage, while Scholar Peng used the Great Wei Confucian Gazette to pressure the court and advance a hidden plan with Prince Huaining. Xu Qingxiao prepared to turn the crisis against the foreign states, and the chapter ended as the military faction gathered for a tense court session.

• Chen Zhengru confronted Chen Xin about the Great Wei Confucian Gazette publishing the foreign races’ impeachment, then learned Scholar Peng had ordered the change.
• Xu Qingxiao told Chen Zhengru that the Twelve Foreign Races were testing Great Wei’s limits and proposed destroying them, while Chen Zhengru urged stalling for time.
• Xu Qingxiao gave Chen Zhengru the words “Army of Benevolence” and later sent the Duke of An a message telling him to “Act from your heart.”
• The Female Emperor avoided addressing the impeachment for half a month, while public anger grew and the Great Wei Confucian Gazette accused the court of cowardice.
• Scholar Peng and Prince Huaining discussed how the Gazette’s attack would force the court to respond and help their plan, with Scholar Peng insisting Xu Qingxiao was only a scapegoat.
• The Duke of An prepared to raise the matter at court, and the military faction assembled outside the palace for the next day’s session.

The Female Emperor answered the Twelve Foreign Races’ impeachment of Xu Qingxiao by refusing to dismiss him and demanding Edicts of Self-Blame, while Xu Qingxiao agreed to try to prevent war after Chen Zhengru pleaded with him. The foreign nations escalated their threat, and the chapter ended with Xu Qingxiao summoned to the palace as Great Wei awaited his response.

• Duke of An urged the Female Emperor to defend Great Wei’s dignity, and she ordered the Twelve Foreign Races to issue Edicts of Self-Blame while declaring Xu Qingxiao would not be dismissed.
• Xu Qingxiao instructed Li Shouming to collect hostile remarks by foreign residents and publish them in the Great Wei Gazette, while Chen Zhengru warned him that war could devastate Great Wei.
• Chen Zhengru knelt before Xu Qingxiao and recounted the horrors of the Jingcheng Humiliation, persuading Xu Qingxiao to try to dissuade the court from war.
• The Sulong King revealed to the foreign envoys that their impeachment was meant to provoke Great Wei into war, with the Barbarian King and Great Wei’s rebellious vassal kings involved in a larger scheme.
• A hundred and twenty-one foreign nations, including five of the Ten Kingdoms, demanded Xu Qingxiao’s dismissal and threatened to secede; the Female Emperor then summoned Xu Qingxiao to the palace.

Xu Qingxiao learned that the Foreign Races, Vassal Kings, and Great Wei Literary Palace had been plotting against Great Wei, while the Female Emperor revealed the hidden history behind the Northern Expeditions and entrusted him with the nation’s military and political authority. After issuing repeated warnings to the defiant nations, Xu Qingxiao declared war on every nation.

• Xu Qingxiao read 107 Memorials detailing the Vassal Kings’ and foreign nations’ collusion with Great Wei’s enemies, along with the Great Wei Literary Palace’s secret dealings.
• The Female Emperor explained that Great Wei’s First Rank martial artists were occupied suppressing a demonic immortal corpse and revealed that the Great Wei Literary Palace was Great Wei’s true enemy.
• The Female Emperor gave Xu Qingxiao four military tallies and the Great Wei Dragon Tally, appointed him Regent Minister, and charged him with leading the coming war and attaining sagehood.
• The Female Emperor issued Imperial Edicts promoting Xu Qingxiao and demanding that 121 nations send Commandery Princes to Great Wei with Edicts of Self-Blame; after the nations refused, Xu Qingxiao sent three warnings and waited for their final response.
• The nations rejected Xu Qingxiao’s demands and continued to insist that he be removed from office, so Xu Qingxiao ordered Great Wei’s Six Ministries, lords, and generals to declare war on every nation.

Xu Qingxiao declared war on the foreign nations and organized Great Wei’s defenses and three armies. The Marquis of Xinwu reached the Fan Kingdom’s border, where Xu’s urgent order called for a surprise attack that night.

• Xu Qingxiao declared war, and Great Wei’s ministers began wartime preparations as the Six Ministries and military officials gathered in the Hall of Literary Splendor.
• Xu Qingxiao used the Dragon Tally to order domestic security measures, supply preparations, defenses around the Capital, and the mobilization of three armies against the foreign nations.
• The King of Sulong rallied the foreign envoys, who promised troops and supplies to support the Fan Kingdom and delay Great Wei’s advance.
• The Marquis of Xinwu led three hundred thousand troops to within two hundred li of the Fan Kingdom, while its ruler and Chancellor considered delaying negotiations.
• Xu Qingxiao sent the Marquis of Xinwu an urgent letter ordering a surprise attack on the Fan Kingdom at Zi Hour and commanding his army to kill those who resisted.

Xu Qingxiao ordered the Marquis of Xinwu to launch a surprise attack on the Fan Kingdom, whose capital fell after a bloody siege and whose king surrendered. The Marquis reported fifty thousand enemy casualties and fifty thousand Great Wei casualties, then sent the decision on whether to accept the surrender to Xu Qingxiao, who received the victory report at court and frowned.

• The Marquis of Xinwu burned Xu Qingxiao's orders, gathered his officers, and told them to prepare a night attack on the Fan Kingdom.
• The centurions told Great Wei's soldiers they would share the Fan Kingdom's treasure, and the three hundred thousand troops advanced toward the capital at Zi Hour.
• The Marquis of Xinwu led the attack on three city gates, and Great Wei's troops broke through the eastern gate after two hours of brutal fighting.
• The Fan Kingdom's king ordered his army to surrender, while the Marquis of Xinwu secured the city and ordered Fan commanders' acupoints sealed.
• The Marquis of Xinwu reported fifty thousand enemy casualties and sent an urgent message to Xu Qingxiao to decide whether to accept the surrender.
• The Duke of An questioned Xu Qingxiao's plan at court, then a victory report announced that the Fan Kingdom had surrendered and Xu Qingxiao frowned.

After the Fan Kingdom offered to surrender, Xu Qingxiao left the decision to the three hundred thousand Great Wei troops and secretly ordered the Marquis of Xinwu to kill. The Marquis massacred the prisoners and the Fan Kingdom’s ruling family, and the news left Prince Huaining stunned in the capital.

• In the Hall of Literary Splendor, Great Wei’s officials argued over whether to accept the Fan Kingdom’s surrender, and Xu Qingxiao said the soldiers would decide.
• Xu Qingxiao sent the Marquis of Xinwu a secret order to kill, while the Marquis publicly told the Fan ruler that Great Wei would likely accept surrender after considering the terms.
• At the city gates, the Marquis asked the assembled troops whether to accept surrender, and they unanimously refused.
• The Marquis ordered the execution of the 170,000 prisoners, the Fan Kingdom’s officials, and its ruling family, then authorized the army to seize the kingdom’s wealth.
• A survivor reported the massacre to Prince Huaining, who was shocked that Xu Qingxiao had dared to slaughter surrendered troops.

Xu Qingxiao declared the war a fight to defend Great Wei, won the Female Emperor’s authority to command the realm, and prepared to use the Literary Palace’s opposition as part of his plan. After answering critics with the words, “Whoever violates our Great Wei shall be slain, however far away they may be,” he moved to make his next move against the Literary Palace.

• Prince Huaining ordered news of Xu Qingxiao’s execution of surrendered troops sent to the Great Wei Literary Palace, where ministers were horrified until Xu admitted he had given the order and called for total war to defend Great Wei.
• The Female Emperor backed Xu Qingxiao’s plan, placed the realm under his command, and decreed that anyone who disobeyed him would be executed.
• Xu Qingxiao ordered the Second Army to attack Amuta and the Tuliang Tribe, while the Sulong King rallied the allied nations and planned an ambush against the Second Army.
• Xu Qingxiao refused to arrest the protesting Grand Confucians, saying they would be useful, and ordered the Fan Kingdom’s captured wealth used for military rewards and support for soldiers’ families and the wounded.
• Zhang Ning’s Confucian Gazette condemned Xu, and scholars and vassal kings joined the outcry; Xu answered in the Great Wei Gazette, “Whoever violates our Great Wei shall be slain, however far away they may be,” then summoned his attendants to act against the Literary Palace.

Xu Qingxiao ordered the suppression of the Great Wei Literary Palace and the arrest of scholars accused of fomenting unrest, while the Great Wei Gazette rallied public support for the war. As commoners turned on the protesting Confucian students, Chen Zhengru arrived at the Literary Palace with troops and demanded Scholar Peng and Zhang Ning surrender.

• Xu Qingxiao ordered the Eight Gates Capital Troops to arrest Scholar Peng, Zhang Ning, and the protesting Confucian students, while Chen Zhengru, Wang Xinzhi, and Zhang Jing volunteered to handle the Literary Palace.
• The Great Wei Gazette spread Xu Qingxiao’s call for unity, and people across Great Wei rallied behind the court and condemned the Literary Palace’s protests.
• In the Capital, Shouren Academy students followed Chen Xinghe toward the Great Wei Palace as tens of thousands of angry commoners gathered outside it.
• The Confucian students mistook the arriving commoners for supporters, but the crowd attacked them, while the Capital Troops protected the people and maintained order.
• Chen Zhengru, Wang Xinzhi, and Zhang Jing surrounded the Great Wei Literary Palace with troops, and Chen Zhengru called Scholar Peng and Zhang Ning traitors and threatened to kill anyone who resisted.

Chen Zhengru arrested Scholar Peng and Zhang Ning to suppress unrest, while Xu Qingxiao’s Second Army struggled against Amuta’s defenses and rejected Tang’s demands. After receiving Xu Qingxiao’s secret orders, the Marquis of Sheyang prepared a renewed assault and sent troops to pressure Tang, leaving the plan to conquer Tang within five days unexplained.

• Chen Zhengru ordered the Capital Troops to kill Zhang Ning, but Scholar Peng intervened and agreed to enter the Heavenly Prison with Zhang Ning.
• Chen Zhengru issued a proclamation against rumors and internal strife, then asked Xu Qingxiao to help contain the vassal kings.
• Xu Qingxiao ordered the Second Army to retreat after its first assault on Amuta failed, and the Marquis of Sheyang’s forces reported heavy casualties.
• Tang’s envoy Xu Mao offered surrender only if Great Wei let Tang secede, returned three mountain regions, and lent it one billion taels of silver; the Marquis of Sheyang rejected the demands.
• The Marquis of Sheyang opened Xu Qingxiao’s second letter and ordered three hundred thousand soldiers to attack Amuta, three hundred thousand to pressure Tang, and two hundred thousand to probe Tuliang.
• The next day, Great Wei’s army advanced against the three kingdoms, while Tang’s envoy went to the Sulong Kingdom to request aid.

The Sulong King and the Hundred Kingdoms planned to wear down Great Wei across a series of defensive barriers, while Xu Qingxiao’s forces launched a costly assault on Amuta. After the Qilin Army breached Amuta’s eastern gate but withdrew when its flanks came under attack, the Marquis of Sheyang ordered another all-out assault for the next day.

• The Sulong King explained the Hundred Kingdoms’ defensive plan to their envoys, and Xu Mao requested aid for Tang; the Sulong King agreed to send support from twenty-five kingdoms.
• The Sulong King privately told his ancestor that the war was progressing as planned, and his ancestor predicted Xu Qingxiao would suffer a major setback at Tang.
• The Marquis of Sheyang sent three hundred thousand Qilin Army troops toward Amuta, then ordered five hundred thousand to launch an all-out assault the next day.
• The Qilin Army breached Amuta’s eastern gate after two hours, but withdrew when Tang and Tuliang forces attacked its flanks; the battle left thirty thousand dead and fifty thousand severely wounded.
• The Marquis of Sheyang read the third letter and ordered every Qilin Army officer and soldier to assemble at Amuta for another all-out assault the next day.

Xu Qingxiao used an apparent assault on Amuta to arrange a surprise attack on Tang, winning over foreign reinforcements who opened the gates. The Qilin Army stormed Tang’s capital, and the Marquis of Sheyang learned Xu had arranged support inside the inner city as well.

• The Marquis of Sheyang and other commanders questioned Xu Qingxiao’s order to launch another all-out assault, while the King of Amuta demanded 300,000 Tang troops after hearing that 800,000 Qilin soldiers would attack the next day.
• Xu Qingxiao ordered the army to monitor Tang’s reinforcements, then planned to use white armbands to distinguish Qilin soldiers and allied forces while attacking Tang, Amuta, and Tuliang.
• After Tang sent 300,000 troops to Amuta, Xu Qingxiao ordered 400,000 soldiers to approach Tang and directed the allied troops to open the city gates at the appointed hour.
• The Ha Tribe, Zhang Kingdom, Peng Tribe, Waxi Tribe, and Red Dragon Tribe switched sides, opened Tang’s gates, and helped the Qilin Army overwhelm Tang’s defenders.
• The Marquis of Sheyang ordered the Qilin Army to seize Tang’s outer city, but a foreign warrior told him that Xu Qingxiao had arranged allies inside the inner city too.

The Marquis of Sheyang captured Tang’s outer city and helped the Qilin Army seize Tuliang and Amuta, while Xu Qingxiao’s schemes turned foreign allies and Tang’s tenth prince against their own kingdoms. Tang’s ruler rejected a surrender deal, then learned the tenth prince had opened the border gates to enemy troops and collapsed after coughing blood.

• The Marquis of Sheyang learned that Xu Qingxiao had recruited Li Dadan and the tenth prince to undermine Tang from within, then joined the assault on Tang’s outer city.
• The Qilin Army captured Tang’s outer city, conquered Tuliang, and took Amuta after reinforcements arrived and blocked the King of Amuta’s attempted retreat.
• The Marquis of Sheyang accepted the surrender of troops from seventeen nations only on the condition that they attack Tang’s capital, while Tang’s court argued over how to respond to the loss of the outer city.
• Xu Mao proposed surrendering with conditions, but the Marquis of Sheyang executed him and sent his head to Tang, prompting the King of Tang to order his troops to defend the borders.
• A report revealed that the tenth prince had colluded with Great Wei and opened the border gates to two hundred thousand foreign troops, causing the King of Tang to cough up blood and collapse.

Xu Qingxiao’s strategy brought down Tang, Amuta, and Tuliang, and the court learned that their captured wealth was staggering. The chapter ended with over a million prisoners of war awaiting Xu Qingxiao’s decision.

• The Tenth Prince opened Tang’s gates to Great Wei’s Qilin Army, and Tang’s king killed himself as the city fell.
• The Marquis of Sheyang secured Tang’s capital, appointed the Tenth Prince its new emperor, and ordered the captured treasure tallied.
• Xu Qingxiao explained to Great Wei’s court how he had won over smaller kingdoms and used their defections to break the three kingdoms’ defenses.
• The Sulong King and the allied envoys resolved to make their stand at the Chen Kingdom’s seventy-two prefectures.
• The court received tallies showing vast stores of silver, grain, weapons, horses, prisoners, and a medicine king herb from the three conquered kingdoms.
• A messenger asked Xu Qingxiao how to deal with the more than one million prisoners of war.