Chapter Summaries

Kong Rong and Yang Xiu persuaded Taishi Ci to claim that an ancient record proved Goguryeo was Han territory, giving Liu Xie a pretext to order its conquest. As Huang Zhong prepared to march, Cui Lin’s delegation neared Goguryeo’s capital, where the king arranged a grand reception and displayed his guards.

• Kong Rong asked Taishi Ci to confirm a fabricated family record identifying Goguryeo as Han territory, and Taishi Ci reluctantly agreed.
• Liu Xie ordered Huang Zhong to attack and destroy Goguryeo, while the court officials welcomed the decree.
• Kong Rong reassured Taishi Ci that he had not altered recorded history, and Taishi Ci proposed writing down the invented account and engraving it on stone.
• The King of Goguryeo agreed to receive Cui Lin’s Han delegation with the highest honors after his ministers warned him of Han’s power.
• The King of Goguryeo led his ministers outside the capital and lined the road with five hundred Royal City Guards to impress the arriving delegation.

Cui Lin arrived in Goguryeo with a thousand Tiger Warriors Army soldiers and used their overwhelming military presence to force the King of Goguryeo to submit. After humiliating him outside the city, Cui Lin dragged him from his throne and placed the Golden Credential Staff in the seat of honor.

• The King of Goguryeo mistook Cui Lin’s approaching cavalry for an enemy attack, then welcomed him respectfully after seeing the Tiger Warriors Army’s strength.
• Cui Lin demanded that the King of Goguryeo kneel, and the king obeyed rather than risk provoking the Han soldiers.
• Cui Lin stepped on the king’s back to dismount, while the Tiger Warriors Army drew their swords to deter Goguryeo’s officers from intervening.
• The King of Goguryeo asked whether his troops could defeat the Han escort, but his ministers warned him against attacking and he swallowed his anger.
• At the palace, Cui Lin rebuked the King of Goguryeo for taking the throne, dragged him down, kicked him aside, and placed the Golden Credential Staff on the seat.

Cui Lin humiliated the King of Goguryeo while claiming Great Han wanted diplomatic relations, and the king endured it in hopes of gaining Han’s favor and technology. At the welcoming banquet, Cui Lin rejected the royal dancers as too ordinary, leaving the king to face another demand.

• Cui Lin kicked the King of Goguryeo from his throne, but the minister of internal affairs urged the king to endure the insult, and the king apologized to Cui Lin.
• Cui Lin announced that Great Han wanted diplomatic relations and trade, and the King of Goguryeo welcomed the prospect despite Cui Lin’s insults.
• The minister of internal affairs proposed a welcoming banquet, and the King of Goguryeo arranged for Cui Lin to sit at the place of honor.
• Cui Lin rejected the food and wine, then asked to see Goguryeo’s beautiful women.
• The King of Goguryeo summoned the royal dancers and offered them to Cui Lin, but Cui Lin called them ordinary and accused the king of slighting him.

Cui Lin deliberately provoked the King of Goguryeo by demanding the Empress Dowager join him after forcibly taking the Queen, hoping to be killed. The King ordered Cui Lin imprisoned and secretly planned to ambush and kill the Han troops outside the city as well.

• Cui Lin forcibly pulled the Queen to his seat and threatened the King of Goguryeo over diplomatic relations.
• The King of Goguryeo initially told the Queen to serve Cui Lin, but Cui Lin then demanded that the Empress Dowager join them.
• The King of Goguryeo flew into a rage, ordered his guards to seize Cui Lin, and had him sent to prison.
• The King of Goguryeo ordered the Royal City Guards to ambush the Han Army troops outside the city and kill them all.

The King of Goguryeo ordered an ambush for the Han envoy and his escort, but the Tiger Warriors Army saw through the plan and withdrew. After learning that the Han State had destroyed countries for killing its envoys, the King panicked and was advised to release the envoy, apologize, and submit as a vassal state.

• The King of Goguryeo rejected his ministers’ warnings and ordered the Minister of Military Affairs to assemble three thousand Royal City Guards and lure the Tiger Warriors Army into an ambush.
• The Minister of Military Affairs reported that the Han Army had killed the messenger, seized the Credential Staff, and withdrawn after detecting the trap.
• The King of Goguryeo ordered troops to pursue the Han Army, but the Minister of Military Affairs warned that Goguryeo’s forces could neither catch nor defeat them.
• The Minister of Internal Affairs told the King that the Han State had destroyed or nearly destroyed countries that killed its envoys and warned that attacking the Han troops could doom Goguryeo.
• The King of Goguryeo learned that the Han Army had already withdrawn, and the Minister of Internal Affairs advised him to return the envoy, apologize, and submit to the Han State.

The King of Goguryeo chose to submit to Great Han, but Huang Zhong’s army marched toward Goguryeo believing Cui Lin had been killed. The Minister of Internal Affairs intercepted the Han army with Cui Lin alive, leaving Huang Zhong surprised and the confrontation unresolved.

• The King of Goguryeo ordered the Minister of Internal Affairs to take responsibility for submitting to Great Han, and the minister brought Cui Lin out of prison to travel as an emissary.
• An imperial edict ordered Huang Zhong to invade Goguryeo, which it declared ancestral Huaxia territory, and Huang Zhong marched toward the kingdom.
• The Tiger Warriors Army told Huang Zhong that Cui Lin had entered Goguryeo’s royal city and failed to return, prompting Huang Zhong to vow to capture the king and destroy the kingdom.
• The Minister of Internal Affairs approached Huang Zhong’s army and said Goguryeo had come to offer submission and had not killed Cui Lin.
• The Minister of Internal Affairs had the bound Cui Lin brought before Huang Zhong, who recognized him and rejoiced that he was alive.

Cui Lin learned that Huang Zhong and Guo Jia had come to reclaim Goguryeo, whose officials chose to surrender the entire kingdom and join Great Han rather than resist. Back in Ye City, Liu Xie praised Yuan Xi’s collection of supplies and received news that Huang Zhong had taken Goguryeo without losing a soldier, then summoned the court to celebrate the victory.

• After being untied, Cui Lin confronted the Minister of Internal Affairs, and Guo Jia explained that Liu Xie had ordered Goguryeo reclaimed as former Huaxia territory.
• The Minister of Internal Affairs first offered vassal submission, then agreed to incorporate all of Goguryeo into Great Han when Guo Jia made clear that submission was insufficient.
• Guo Jia ordered the Minister of Internal Affairs to lead the Han forces to the royal capital, while Huang Zhong prepared to proceed.
• Liu Xie praised Yuan Xi for collecting money, grain, and supplies from Yan and Yu provinces, advised him to rest and care for his mother, and said he had arranged treatment from Imperial Physician Hua.
• Gao Lan delivered news that Huang Zhong and Guo Jia had reclaimed Goguryeo without casualties and were bringing its king to Ye City.
• Liu Xie ordered the court officials to assemble at Tai'an Hall to celebrate Huang Zhong’s victory and asked Yuan Xi to remain for the occasion.

Huang Zhong returned to Ye City with spoils from the Wuhuan and Goguryeo, and the king of Goguryeo was brought before Liu Xie. Liu Xie agreed to annex Goguryeo as a Han commandery while sparing its people, then paused to consider the fate of its royal house.

• Huang Zhong arrived in Ye City with the spoils of victory, drawing praise from the crowds, while Cui Lin lamented missing a chance to make his name in history.
• Guo Jia explained to Cui Lin why killing the king of Goguryeo without cause would have been a crime, and the king of Goguryeo expressed relief that he had surrendered instead of resisting.
• The king of Goguryeo was awed by Ye City's grandeur and entered the palace with Huang Zhong and the others for an audience with Liu Xie.
• The king of Goguryeo acknowledged Liu Xie as the supreme ruler and asked him to spare Goguryeo's people by incorporating their land into Great Han.
• Liu Xie declared that Goguryeo would become Great Han's one hundred and thirty-eighth commandery and spared its people, then paused before addressing the royal house.

After Goguryeo surrendered, Liu Xie spared its royal family, rewarded Huang Zhong for his victories, and began planning to expand the Imperial Court’s army before campaigning against Cao Cao and Ma Chao. He ordered Huang Zhong to command a rebuilt Wuhuan cavalry force and tasked Lü Bu and Zhang Liao with recruiting more troops, while Zhen Yi raised concerns about the cost.

• Liu Xie reduced the King of Goguryeo to Marquis, relocated the royal family to the Great Han, and accepted the King's Seal.
• Liu Xie praised Huang Zhong for subduing the Wuhuan and reclaiming Goguryeo, then appointed him Colonel of Archers and enfeoffed him as Marquis of Gang.
• Sima Yi and Zhuge Liang advised Liu Xie to expand the Imperial Court’s forces before taking on Cao Cao or Ma Chao.
• Liu Xie ordered Huang Zhong to incorporate the Wuhuan into the army and command their cavalry, and ordered Lü Bu and Zhang Liao to recruit at least twenty thousand additional troops each.
• Zhen Yi warned Liu Xie that the army’s expansion would require enormous quantities of weapons and equipment, and Liu Xie proposed using the spoils from the Wuhuan and Goguryeo campaigns.

Liu Xie brushed off court officials’ demands to expand the imperial harem, while Zhen Mi welcomed Noble Lady Fu and brought her to visit Lü Lingqi. Their visit ended with Lü Lingqi defeating four Imperial Guards in a sparring match.

• Dong Zhong urged Liu Xie to expand the imperial harem so he could produce an heir, and Liu Xie blamed the lack of selected consorts on Empress Fu before dismissing court.
• Zhen Mi finished sketching Noble Lady Fu and offered to teach her the technique, and the two agreed to treat each other as sisters.
• Noble Lady Fu said she did not know why no new consorts had entered the palace, while Zhen Mi suspected Empress Fu was protecting her own position.
• Zhen Mi led Noble Lady Fu to Ziyun Palace to meet Lü Lingqi, where they found her sparring with four Royal Palace Imperial Guards.
• Lü Lingqi defeated all four guards, then modestly said they had not used their full strength.

Lü Lingqi fainted after martial practice, and Hua Tuo discovered that she was pregnant with Liu Xie's first heir. After waking, she learned the news and anxiously asked whether the child was safe.

• Lü Lingqi collapsed after practicing martial arts with four Imperial Guards, and Zhen Mi and Noble Lady Fu rushed to help her.
• Gao Lan told Liu Xie that Lü Lingqi had fainted, and Liu Xie hurried to Ziyun Palace.
• Hua Tuo examined Lü Lingqi and revealed that overexertion had disturbed her pregnancy, stunning Liu Xie and the others.
• Liu Xie ordered Hua Tuo to safeguard Lü Lingqi and the child, then informed Gao Lan to notify the court officials.
• Lü Lingqi woke, learned she was pregnant, and asked Liu Xie whether the child was all right.

After Lü Lingqi’s pregnancy was confirmed, Liu Xie reassured her and then comforted the jealous Zhen Mi, who worried that Lü Lingqi might bear his eldest legitimate son and prompt the court to demand an heir be named. The chapter ended with Da Qiao and Xiao Qiao visiting Lü Lingqi and reminding her of the precautions she needed to follow.

• Liu Xie told the pregnant Lü Lingqi that her child was safe and ordered her to stop practicing martial arts and rest.
• Zhen Mi saw Liu Xie embracing Lü Lingqi and left Ziyun Palace in distress.
• Liu Xie found Zhen Mi in the Imperial Garden’s Waterside Pavilion and explained that he did not blame her for not conceiving.
• Zhen Mi admitted she wanted to bear Liu Xie a child and worried that Lü Lingqi’s son might become the eldest legitimate son and lead ministers to demand an heir be named.
• A eunuch reported that Duke Wen had entered the palace, and Da Qiao and Xiao Qiao later reminded Lü Lingqi to follow Hua Tuo’s pregnancy precautions.

Lü Lingqi’s pregnancy delighted Lü Bu, who fainted after learning he would become a grandfather and then recovered under Hua Tuo’s care. Liu Xie privately summoned Guo and Jia after announcing a celebration, while Lü Bu confidently imagined his unborn grandson would become the future heir.

• Da Qiao questioned Lü Lingqi about how she had conceived, embarrassing her and prompting Xiao Qiao to scold her sister.
• Lü Bu rushed to Ziyun Palace, confirmed Lü Lingqi’s pregnancy, and fainted from joy at the news.
• Liu Xie summoned Hua Tuo, who revived Lü Bu with acupuncture after diagnosing a faint caused by overwhelming excitement.
• Liu Xie announced that officials would be informed and a banquet held, then privately ordered that Censor-in-Chief Guo and Zhongshu Jia be summoned.
• Lü Bu praised Lü Lingqi and declared that her child would be a son and Great Han’s future heir, while she said she only hoped the child would be born safely.

Liu Xie learned that Lü Lingqi was pregnant and worried about how the child would affect the imperial court and the struggle for the Empress's position. Guo Jia advised expanding the imperial harem, while Jia Xu concealed a more sinister idea; the chapter ended with Jia Xu helping a palace maid who accidentally scattered memorials.

• Lü Bu warned Lü Lingqi that court officials might scheme against her and her unborn child, then left to visit Zhang Liao.
• Liu Xie told Guo Jia and Jia Xu that Lü Lingqi was pregnant and asked how to manage the resulting political balance.
• Jia Xu and Guo Jia congratulated Liu Xie, and Guo Jia proposed expanding the imperial harem so that more consorts might bear heirs.
• Liu Xie asked Jia Xu about Cao Cao, and Jia Xu reported that Cao Cao had allied with Liu Cong and assembled a large force near their border.
• After leaving the palace, Jia Xu said he would have the Embroidered-Clothes Envoys seek suitable common-born women, then picked up memorials after a palace maid dropped them.

Liu Bei’s forces celebrated their victories in Yi Province, but Pang Tong warned that Swordland’s terrain and Yan Yan’s defenses made a direct assault nearly impossible. Xu Shu proposed sowing rumors that Yan Yan planned to defect and sending troops toward Shu Commandery to make Liu Zhang recall him, leaving Swordland open.

• Liu Bei praised his officers for conquering more than half of Yi Province, while Guan Yu and Zhang Fei vowed to capture Liu Zhang in Chengdu.
• Pang Tong rebuked Guan Yu and Zhang Fei for assuming victory was certain, and Liu Bei agreed that they should not underestimate Liu Zhang.
• Pang Tong explained that Yan Yan defended Swordland’s narrow, perilous passes with twenty thousand troops, making a frontal attack extremely difficult.
• Zhang Fei offered to attack Swordland, but Liu Bei stopped him and asked Pang Tong and Xu Shu for a strategy.
• Xu Shu proposed spreading rumors that Yan Yan intended to defect and sending troops toward Shu Commandery so Liu Zhang would recall Yan Yan from Swordland.
• Liu Bei praised Pang Tong and Xu Shu’s plan, and Zhang Fei sat back down without arguing.

Liu Zhang reeled from Liu Bei’s advances and the Imperial Court’s decree stripping him of his office, then considered allying with Liu Cong and Cao Cao. After hearing that Liu Bei’s troops had reached Shu Commandery and rumors claimed Yan Yan had defected, Liu Zhang ordered Yan Yan back to Chengdu, leaving Swordland’s defense uncertain.

• Liu Bei secretly spread word of Yan Yan’s defection and sent Wei Yan with about three thousand troops around Eastern Guanghan Commandery toward Shu Commandery.
• Liu Zhang cursed Liu Bei over his losses and the Imperial Court’s decree, while Huang Quan, Wang Lian, and Liu Ba tried to calm him.
• Liu Zhang asked whether he should support the Pretender Emperor in exchange for help from Liu Cong and Cao Cao, and Liu Ba warned that doing so would confirm his status as a rebel.
• Wu Lan reported that Liu Bei’s troops had reached Shu Commandery and that rumors said Yan Yan had defected, but Huang Quan insisted the story was a ploy.
• Liu Zhang ordered Liu Ba to write Liu Cong and ask for aid, then commanded Yan Yan to return to Chengdu and Pang Xi to replace him at Swordland.
• Huang Quan urged Liu Zhang not to recall Yan Yan, but Liu Zhang insisted that Yan Yan could clear himself by obeying the order.

Yan Yan refused to surrender command of Swordland after Pang Xi arrived with an order summoning him to Chengdu amid rumors that he had defected to Liu Bei. He kept the army’s support and chose to defend Swordland, accepting that he would face punishment afterward.

• Deng Xian returned to Swordland and blamed himself for losing Guang'an County, but Yan Yan reassured him that the army could hold the pass.
• Pang Xi arrived with an order summoning Yan Yan to Chengdu and appointing himself to take over Swordland’s defenses.
• Pang Xi told Yan Yan that enemy troops had been spotted near Shu Commandery and rumors accused Yan Yan of secretly defecting to Liu Bei.
• Yan Yan refused to hand over the Military Tally, arguing that Liu Bei had spread the rumors to draw him away from Swordland.
• Pang Xi ordered the generals and soldiers to seize Yan Yan, but they ignored him and remained loyal to Yan Yan.
• Yan Yan declared that a field commander could refuse orders that risked losing a battle, then returned to the tent with the generals and accepted that he would answer for his decision later.

Emperor Xian of Han remained confined in Xiangyang while Cao Cao secretly prepared to take Jing Province and visited him to demand his help. The emperor panicked when Cao Cao ordered him to raise troops against Liu Cong and Cai Mao.

• Pang Xi left Yan Yan's camp and sent a furious report to Chengdu accusing him of insubordination.
• Emperor Xian of Han grieved over his confinement and fell asleep in his residence.
• Cao Cao appeared before the emperor, who was delighted to see him and insisted Cai Mao had murdered Liu Biao.
• Cao Cao revealed that his alliance with Liu Cong was a ploy to prepare for taking Jing Province, and that he had planted people inside the emperor's residence.
• Cao Cao told Emperor Xian of Han to raise troops and kill Liu Cong and Cai Mao, leaving the frightened emperor speechless.

Cao Cao persuaded Emperor Xian of Han to attack Liu Cong and Cai Mao at the Mid-Autumn Banquet, while Liu Zhang ordered Yan Yan back from Swordland and sent Pang Xi to arrest him after Yan Yan ignored repeated commands. The chapter left Yan Yan facing Pang Xi’s armed guards, still insisting that defending Swordland was his duty.

• Emperor Xian of Han agreed to Cao Cao’s plan to attack Liu Cong and Cai Mao at the banquet, asking for sturdy armor, elite guards, and a fast carriage.
• Cao Cao read Cao Ren’s letter reporting that Huang Zhong had destroyed the Wuhuan and recovered Goguryeo, and resolved that taking Jing Province could not be delayed.
• Liu Zhang ordered Military Falcons to summon Yan Yan back to Chengdu and told Pang Xi to escort him under guard if he refused.
• Yan Yan ignored twelve Golden Tokens, explaining to Deng Xian that he would not abandon Swordland while Liu Bei’s army was mobilizing.
• Pang Xi surrounded Yan Yan’s tent with armed guards and ordered him to surrender his military tally and submit to arrest.

Yan Yan surrendered command of Swordland to Pang Xi rather than risk being branded a traitor, then departed for Chengdu before dawn. Liu Bei learned that Yan Yan had left De County and questioned his scout to confirm the report.

• Pang Xi confronted Yan Yan with Liu Zhang’s order to return to Chengdu, while Deng Xian and the garrison soldiers defended Yan Yan.
• Pang Xi pressured Yan Yan to choose between obeying the order and being branded disloyal; Yan Yan removed his armor, surrendered his sword, and knelt in obedience.
• Yan Yan handed Pang Xi the military tally and completed the transfer of military affairs before setting out for Chengdu before dawn.
• Two of Liu Bei’s scouts saw Yan Yan leave De County with an escort and reported the sighting to Liu Bei.
• Liu Bei, roused from sleep, asked the scout whether he was certain Yan Yan had left.