Chapter Summaries

Zhuge Liang refused Liu Qi’s repeated invitation to serve Liu Biao, warned him to be careful, and continued toward Ye City with Qingzhu and his companions. Liu Qi reported the encounter to Liu Biao, who reconsidered Zhuge Liang’s abilities after hearing the warning.

• Zhuge Liang explained that Qingzhu’s group was hurrying to prevent Liu Qi from catching up, while he wondered whether they had been sent by the Son of Heaven.
• Silver Needle showed Zhuge Liang the wool sweater beneath his clothes and explained that His Majesty’s garments had helped the court’s army fight through winter and capture Bing Province.
• Liu Qi caught up with the carriage, but Zhuge Liang declined his invitation to serve at the Provincial Governor’s Residence.
• Zhuge Liang warned Liu Qi that his conspicuous search had drawn too much attention and told him to be careful; Liu Qi accepted the refusal and rode away.
• Zhuge Liang and Qingzhu’s companions continued toward Ye City, while Liu Qi returned to Liu Biao and described Zhuge Liang’s warning.
• Liu Biao reconsidered his judgment and recognized that Zhuge Liang possessed unusual insight, though he had failed to recruit him.

Liu Biao’s secret search for new advisors alarmed Cai Mao and the other Jing Province ministers, who agreed to murder him and Liu Qi so Liu Cong could take power. Their poison-wine plan was set for a banquet honoring Emperor Xian of Han, where Liu Biao, Liu Qi, and Cai Mao had already gathered.

• Liu Biao dismissed Liu Qi after they failed to understand Zhuge Liang’s remark, then resolved to seek other talent in Jing Province.
• Cai Mao, Kuai Liang, Liu Xian, and Pang Ji discussed Liu Biao’s secret recruitment efforts and his distrust of them after their unauthorized alliance with Liu Zhang.
• Cai Mao urged the group to install Liu Cong as Jing Province’s new lord by killing Liu Biao, arguing that they could gain merit by acting in the Son of Heaven’s name.
• Kuai Liang, Pang Ji, and Liu Xian tacitly accepted Cai Mao’s plan to poison Liu Biao and Liu Qi at a banquet and disguise their deaths as sudden illness.
• Emperor Xian of Han indulged himself in Xiangyang, then went to Liu Biao’s banquet, where Liu Biao, Liu Qi, Cai Mao, and the others greeted him.

Cai Mao and Kuai Liang poisoned Liu Biao and Liu Qi, forced Emperor Xian of Han to legitimize Liu Cong as Jing Province’s governor, and ordered the household slaughtered. In Xu County, Cao Cao and Zhou Yu prepared their allied campaign to seize Xu Province and then target Qing Province.

• Emperor Xian of Han promoted Liu Biao to Grand Commandant and Duke of Chengwu at a banquet.
• Liu Biao and Liu Qi collapsed after drinking poisoned wine, while Cai Mao revealed that Emperor Xian of Han’s wine was safe.
• Kuai Liang explained that he and Cai Mao had acted to protect themselves, and Liu Biao and Liu Qi died from the poison.
• Cai Mao ordered Pang Ji to seal the residence and kill its household, then forced Emperor Xian of Han to issue an edict naming Liu Cong governor of Jing Province.
• Emperor Xian of Han returned to his quarters as soldiers massacred the residence’s servants, and he lamented his lost days in Xu County.
• In Xu County, Zhou Yu met Cao Cao to plan an allied attack on Xu Province and ask about Cao Cao’s troop deployments in Yan Province.

Cao Cao concealed his plan to abandon Yan Province and invade Jiangdong while Zhou Yu confirmed the supposed troop deployments. Meanwhile, Zhuge Liang traveled safely to Wei Commandery, where the sight of the court’s relief for displaced people impressed him as he approached Ye City.

• Zhou Yu met Cao Cao and Cao Ren to discuss taking Xu Province, then refused Cao Cao’s offer of a banquet and left Xu County.
• Xun You deduced that Zhou Yu had come to verify Cao Cao’s troop deployments, while Cao Ren revealed that Cao Cao’s main army was secretly stationed near Lujiang Commandery.
• Cao Cao disclosed that Yan Province was nearly empty and that he planned to invade Jiangdong after Sun Quan attacked Xu Province; Xun Yu warned that Sun Quan might retaliate.
• Cheng Yu endorsed Cao Cao’s plan and again proposed making dried meat from fallen soldiers, but Cao Cao stopped him.
• Qingzhu and the other Embroidered-Clothes Envoys escorted Zhuge Liang into Wei Commandery and apologized for their earlier treatment of him.
• Zhuge Liang saw the many displaced people receiving food and clothing from the court, admired the Son of Heaven’s benevolence, and heard children singing about him leading the spring plowing.

Zhuge Liang arrived in Ye City and learned more about Liu Xie, strengthening his resolve to serve the Han emperor. Liu Xie returned from inspecting the fields and greeted Zhuge Liang with great joy, leaving their first meeting about to begin.

• Zhuge Liang entered Ye City with Qingzhu, Wutong, and Silver Needle and was welcomed by Jia Xu at the palace gates.
• Jia Xu escorted Zhuge Liang to the Xuan Room and explained that Liu Xie had summoned him to employ his talents.
• Jia Xu introduced Zhuge Liang to Guo Jia and Sima Yi, and Sima Yi felt that Zhuge Liang was a rival.
• Liu Xie hurried into the Xuan Room in rain-soaked, mud-stained robes and asked for Zhuge Liang.
• Zhuge Liang recognized Liu Xie and bowed, introducing himself as a Nanyang Recluse.

Liu Xie warmly welcomed Zhuge Liang to Ye City and tested his judgment on a policy for reclaiming farmland. Impressed by Zhuge Liang’s proposal, Liu Xie appointed him Attendant Gentleman, leaving Sima Yi uneasy about his new rival.

• Liu Xie greeted Zhuge Liang with great enthusiasm, dismissed concerns about his muddy clothes, and treated him as a trusted confidant.
• Liu Xie described the Jian'an Plow’s success and proposed putting displaced people to work reclaiming farmland.
• Sima Yi suggested giving the people free plows and ownership of the land they reclaimed, but Zhuge Liang proposed lending them plows, oxen, and seeds in exchange for a portion of the land as government property.
• Liu Xie approved Zhuge Liang’s plan and ordered Guo Jia to implement it as soon as possible.
• Liu Xie appointed Zhuge Liang Attendant Gentleman so he could deliberate on government affairs, and Sima Yi felt bitter about Zhuge Liang’s rapid advancement.

Liu Xie welcomed Zhuge Liang into the court and allowed him to stay overnight in the palace, prompting Sima Yi to seek the same honor by volunteering to work late. As Zhuge Liang and Sima Yi reviewed memorials, Zhuge Liang explained that his careful approach came from the weight of the responsibility and his desire not to disappoint Liu Xie.

• Liu Xie offered Zhuge Liang a place to sleep in the palace, and Zhuge Liang accepted with gratitude.
• Sima Yi volunteered to work through the night, but Liu Xie praised his loyalty and gave him ginseng instead of inviting him to stay in the palace.
• After dinner, Liu Xie retired while Zhuge Liang and Sima Yi returned to the Xuan Room to review memorials.
• Sima Yi criticized Zhuge Liang for processing memorials too slowly, and Zhuge Liang apologized and asked for his guidance.
• Zhuge Liang told Sima Yi about his background and explained that he reviewed each memorial carefully because its decisions could affect countless people.

Zhuge Liang’s land reclamation policy drew an enthusiastic response, and Liu Xie assigned Zhuge Liang to help manage it. At court, Lü Bu reported that Sun Quan had massed troops on Xu Province’s border after Cao Cao withdrew from Yang Province, leaving Liu Xie to consider their intentions.

• Sima Yi declared Zhuge Liang his rival and vowed to surpass him, while Zhuge Liang remained confused by his words.
• Commoners rushed to reclaim land after Liu Xie’s policy offered tools, oxen, and seeds in exchange for twenty percent of the reclaimed farmland.
• Liu Xie ordered Zhen Yi to maintain order, and Zhuge Liang warned that people might reclaim more land than they could cultivate.
• Liu Xie appointed Zhuge Liang to assist Zhen Yi with managing reclamation, drawing the court’s attention to his rising influence.
• Lü Bu reported that Cao Cao had withdrawn from Yang Province and Sun Quan had stationed over forty thousand troops along Xu Province’s border.

Liu Xie and his ministers planned a two-army campaign against Cao Cao and Sun Quan after learning the two had made peace and were considering an alliance. The chapter ended with Liu Xie ordering Jia Xu to investigate whether Xu You had defected or been exposed.

• Lü Bu reported that Cao Cao and Sun Quan had secretly stopped fighting and were planning an alliance against the court.
• Sima Yi proposed dividing the court’s forces between campaigns against Cao Cao and Sun Quan, and Zhuge Liang supported his plan, arguing that Guandu should be the main focus against Cao Cao.
• Liu Xie ordered the army to march south, assigning Lü Bu to attack Cao Cao and Zhang Liao to campaign against Sun Quan while Zhang He guarded Bing Province.
• After the court assembly, Liu Xie asked Jia Xu to send someone into Xu County to investigate Xu You, from whom he had received no letters since winter began.

Liu Xie prepared for a southern campaign while monitoring the suspicious deaths of Liu Biao and Liu Qi and warning Liu Bei to retreat if he could not hold Yi Province. As Yuan Shao awaited execution, Yuan Xi agreed to let Madam Liu visit him one last time.

• Jia Xu reported that Liu Biao and Liu Qi had died at a banquet and that Liu Cong planned to send troops against Liu Bei; Liu Xie ordered spies to watch Jing Province and sent Liu Bei a warning to retreat if necessary.
• Liu Xie began preparing for the southern campaign, recalled Zhang Liao and thirty thousand troops from Bing Province, and left Sima Yi to manage the demanding logistics.
• Madam Liu brought Yuan Xi congee and asked to see Yuan Shao before his execution; after angrily rejecting her request, Yuan Xi relented and agreed to take her the next morning.
• Yuan Shao watched a bird fly from the window of the Northern Office dungeon as he awaited execution.

Yuan Shao rejected Madam Liu’s visit and food to protect her from being implicated, then secretly ate what she had brought and wept. Liu Xie permitted Yuan Xi to visit his father and ordered him to supervise Yuan Shao’s execution, which was scheduled for the army’s oath-taking ceremony; the chapter ended as Yuan Shao was brought before Liu Xie.

• Madam Liu visited Yuan Shao in the dungeon with his favorite dishes, but he accused her of seeking pity and struck her before driving her away.
• After Madam Liu left, Yuan Shao ate the food she had scattered on the floor and apologized through his tears, believing his cruelty would keep her safe.
• Yuan Xi asked Liu Xie’s forgiveness for arranging the visit, and Liu Xie revealed that he had authorized it.
• Liu Xie ordered Yuan Xi to supervise Yuan Shao’s execution as a sacrifice to the banners two days later.
• As Liu Xie prepared for the army’s oath-taking ceremony, Gao Lan announced that Yuan Shao had been brought outside the hall.

Liu Xie revealed to the condemned Yuan Shao that he had begun as an impostor but had used suspicion and political advantage to convince others he was the true Son of Heaven. He embraced his identity as the Mandate of Heaven Son and vowed to unite Great Han, leaving Yuan Shao shaken as his execution and the campaign south approached.

• Liu Xie had guards bring the shackled Yuan Shao to the Xuan Room before his army's southern campaign and planned execution.
• Yuan Shao said he regretted listening to Ju Shou and not killing Liu Xie when he had the chance.
• Liu Xie confessed that he had been a starving displaced man who agreed to impersonate the emperor, then sought to become the true Son of Heaven.
• Liu Xie explained that Yang Biao and the others accepted him because suspicion and self-interest made them favor believing he was genuine, while Empress Fu stayed silent to protect the Fu Shi.
• Yuan Shao realized Liu Xie might be telling the truth, and Liu Xie admitted he was the Pretender Emperor who had turned the falsehood into reality.
• Liu Xie declared that he would unite Great Han, end the age of war, and establish an era of peace.

Liu Xie sent the captive Yuan Shao through Ye City as he prepared to lead an expedition south, while Yuan Shao kept silent rather than risk his family’s lives. At the command platform, Liu Xie reviewed the assembled elite armies, whose display ended with the troops singing the Han Song.

• Liu Xie asked Yuan Shao whether he could reach the other shore, then ordered Gao Lan to take Yuan Shao to the Southern Suburbs for execution.
• Liu Xie rode through Ye City in armor as Yuan Shao was paraded in a prisoner cart, and Yuan Shao chose not to expose Liu Xie as a Pretender Emperor because he feared retaliation against Yuan Xi and Madam Liu.
• Liu Xie ascended the Command Platform as officials, soldiers, and commoners gathered for the army’s oath-taking ceremony.
• Lü Bu arrived with ten thousand Bing Province Iron Cavalry and led them in paying respects to Liu Xie.
• Gao Shun’s Dare-to-Die Battalion, Ju Yi’s Vanguard Camp, and Zhao Yun’s Tiger Warriors Army assembled before the Command Platform.
• The assembled armies sang the Han Song in unison.

Liu Xie staged a grand military assembly and appointed commanders to lead the campaign against Cao Cao and Sun Quan. He ordered Yuan Xi to execute Yuan Shao before the army, and Yuan Shao accepted his fate as Yuan Xi approached him with the Son of Heaven Sword.

• Liu Xie drew the Son of Heaven Sword before sixty thousand assembled troops and led them in a call to war against the rebels.
• Liu Xie appointed Zhang Liao commander of the Eastern Route Army and Lü Bu commander of the Western Route Army, then assigned the remaining generals.
• Liu Xie declared Cao Cao and Sun Quan rebels and ordered Yuan Shao brought before the army.
• Yuan Xi took the Son of Heaven Sword and walked toward Yuan Shao to execute him, while Madam Liu watched in grief.
• Yuan Shao glanced at Madam Liu, sighed, and accepted his fate, but his next action left Yuan Xi disbelieving.

Yuan Shao confessed treason and accepted execution, using his death to clear Yuan Xi’s name before Liu Xie marched south against Cao Cao and Sun Quan. Ma Chao considered attacking Bing Province while the court’s army was away, but Pang De persuaded him to wait, and Ma Chao turned to a letter from Ma Teng.

• Yuan Shao confessed his crimes, praised Yuan Xi, and urged Liu Xie to make his death an example against treason.
• At Liu Xie’s order, Yuan Xi executed Yuan Shao and presented the bloodstained Son of Heaven Sword to the emperor.
• Liu Xie ordered the army south to destroy Cao Cao and capture the Pretender Emperor, while Yuan Shao’s head was sent around the realm and the campaign was announced.
• Ma Chao saw the court army’s departure as a chance to attack Bing Province, but Pang De warned that its defenses and the political consequences made an invasion unwise.
• Ma Chao dismissed Pang De and picked up a letter from his father, Ma Teng.

Ma Chao rejected Ma Teng’s plea to submit to the Son of Heaven, while Cao Cao mourned Yuan Shao and argued with the imprisoned Xu You about surrender and the struggle for Jing Province. An Embroidered-Clothes Envoy reached Xu You with an imperial decree, but Xu Chu’s guards discovered him and surrounded them.

• Ma Chao dismissed Ma Teng’s letter, burned it, and resolved to build his own power and claim territory.
• Cao Cao told Xu You that Yuan Shao had been executed, and Xu You blamed Yuan Shao for the deaths of his wife and son.
• Xu You urged Cao Cao to surrender, but Cao Cao declared that he had plans of his own and intended to seize Jing Province.
• Wutong identified himself as an Embroidered-Clothes Envoy, showed Xu You the imperial decree, and offered to take him back to Ye City.
• Xu You refused to leave because Cao Cao’s Tiger Guards made escape too dangerous, but Xu Chu burst in with armed guards and surrounded him and Wutong.

Wutong’s infiltration of Cao Cao’s residence ended with his death, but the recovered imperial edict revealed the Embroidered-Clothes Envoys had returned and alarmed Cao Cao. Meanwhile, Lü Bu’s army reached the Yellow River, where Sima Yi suspected Cao Cao had concealed an ambush despite scouts finding no enemy troops across the river.

• Wutong escaped Xu Chu’s grasp but was killed by the Tiger Guards, who recovered the Son of Heaven’s Handwritten Edict from his body.
• Cao Cao discovered Wutong was an Embroidered-Clothes Envoy, ordered Xu You tortured, and strengthened security at his residence.
• Lü Bu’s army advanced toward Yan Province, and Sima Yi advised caution before crossing the Yellow River to take Dong Commandery.
• Lü Bu sent Wei Yue’s scouts to investigate the opposite bank and ordered the army to camp away from wooded hills.
• The scouts reported finding no Cao army or ambushes, but Sima Yi warned Lü Bu that Cao Cao might be hiding troops upstream and waiting for the crossing to begin.

Sima Yi repeatedly warned Lü Bu that Cao Cao’s forces had laid traps, but scouts found no ambush at White Horse Ferry, and Lü Bu crossed the Yellow River and marched to Puyang. When Lü Bu prepared to attack the apparently empty city, Sima Yi warned of hidden explosives, so Lü Bu ordered Gao Shun to capture someone and learn what was happening inside.

• Sima Yi ordered Wei Yue to expand reconnaissance across the Yellow River, but scouts found no trace of enemy troops after several days of searching.
• Lü Bu rejected Sima Yi’s continued warnings and ordered the Han Army to cross the river, which they did without resistance.
• Lü Bu led his army toward Puyang, reaching the outskirts in less than two days without encountering Cao Cao’s forces.
• Sima Yi urged Lü Bu not to attack Puyang because its open gates and empty walls might conceal an ambush and hidden explosives.
• Lü Bu ordered Gao Shun to capture a local and question him about the city, and Gao Shun returned with a white-haired old man.

Lü Bu’s army entered an empty Puyang after learning Cao Cao had withdrawn his forces and evacuated the population and supplies from Yan Province. Sima Yi urged Lü Bu to pursue Cao Cao toward Guandu, while Cao Cao’s staged evacuation continued toward Yu Province.

• The headman of Yellow Ox Village told Lü Bu that Cao Cao’s troops had taken the villagers and withdrawn from Puyang, prompting Lü Bu to march into the city.
• Lü Bu found Puyang’s granary empty and cursed Cao Cao for leaving him a city full of elderly and disabled residents but no supplies or enemy to defeat.
• Sima Yi concluded that Cao Cao was abandoning Yan Province and advised Lü Bu to pursue him toward Guandu.
• Lü Bu agreed, sent infantry to recover Yan Province’s major cities, and led five thousand Bing Province Iron Cavalry toward Guandu.
• Cao Cao continued withdrawing Yan Province’s people and supplies to Yu Province after the imperial army began its march south.

Cao Ren tried to hold Guandu while Cao Cao evacuated the people and supplies, then used the Eight Gates Golden Lock Formation to intercept Lü Bu. Lü Bu ignored Sima Yi’s warning and charged into the formation, leaving his fate uncertain.

• Cao Ren and Cao Zhen hurried the evacuation at Guandu after learning Lü Bu had taken Puyang, but scouts reported Lü Bu approaching with five thousand cavalry.
• Cao Ren refused Cao Zhen’s offer to intercept Lü Bu and took command himself, while ordering Cao Zhen to continue the evacuation.
• At Wuchao, Sima Yi confirmed Cao Cao was retreating and urged Lü Bu to attack Guandu before the evacuation finished.
• Lü Bu dismissed Sima Yi’s warning about Cao Cao’s unfamiliar formation and led four thousand armored cavalry into it.
• Cao Ren revealed that he had arranged the Eight Gates Golden Lock Formation as Lü Bu charged inside.