Chapter Summaries

Lü Lingqi, Fa Zheng, and Guo Nüwang opposed Fu Wan’s plan to send Empress Fu to Ma Chao as a hostage, while Jia Xu arrived and confirmed that Ma Chao’s demand was a test of Chang’an’s strength. The court rejected the hostage proposal for the moment, but Ma Chao’s siege still threatened the city.

• Lü Lingqi and the court officials rejected Fu Wan’s plan, and Fa Zheng argued that accepting Ma Chao’s demand would reveal Chang’an’s weakness.
• Fu Wan appealed to the safety of Chang’an’s people, and Empress Fu agreed to leave the city as a hostage.
• Guo Nüwang offered to impersonate Empress Fu and go in her place, leaving Fu Wan unable to justify sending the Empress.
• Lü Lingqi offered to go instead and kill Ma Chao, but Guo Nüwang continued pressing Fu Wan to accept her proposal.
• Jia Xu arrived despite his injury, confirmed Fa Zheng’s judgment that Ma Chao was testing Chang’an’s strength, and left Fu Wan’s scheme without support.

Jia Xu revealed that the Royal Army would reach Chang'an by the next afternoon and proposed using Ma Chao’s demanded handover to ambush him. Guo Nüwang agreed to impersonate the Empress, while Ma Chao grew suspicious after hearing the court had accepted his terms.

• Jia Xu showed the officials a report stating that the Royal Army was less than a hundred li from Chang'an and said they must keep Ma Chao there until it arrived.
• Jia Xu proposed hiding Ten-Shot Repeating Crossbows among the handover carts, killing Ma Chao, and sending Chang'an’s defenders out to fight; Yang Biao, Cui Yan, and the other officials supported the plan.
• Jia Xu asked Guo Nüwang to impersonate the Empress, and she agreed to march out with the army.
• Ma Chao’s camp learned that Chang'an had agreed to hand over the Empress and a thousand cartloads by the Wei River the next afternoon, with three thousand available after a delay.
• The tribal chiefs urged Ma Chao to attack Chang'an, but he silenced them and wondered why the court had agreed so readily to his demand.

Ma Chao arranged to exchange the Empress for grain and valuables, while Liu Xie’s reinforcements hurried toward Chang’an. At the Wei River, Ma Chao swore to withdraw after the exchange, but hidden crossbows ambushed his delegation and devastated his troops.

• Ma Chao ordered the Qiang forces to prepare to attack Chang’an after the Empress and supplies were handed over.
• Liu Xie’s army approached Chang’an, and Liu Xie refused to stay behind while Zhao Yun led the exhausted troops onward.
• Ma Teng, Ma Xiu, Ma Tie, and Pang De brought the Empress and carts of supplies to meet Ma Chao at the Wei River.
• Ma Teng demanded an oath, and Ma Chao swore to withdraw if the Empress and supplies were handed over.
• Ma Chao spotted a crossbow bolt hidden among the carts and threw himself from his horse as Ten-Shot Repeating Crossbows fired into his troops, killing or wounding more than half of the thousand men.

Ma Chao escaped Pang De and Ma Teng’s ambush, but the Han forces attacked his army outside Chang'an and Liu Xie arrived with reinforcements. With his retreat cut off, Ma Chao chose to confront Zhao Yun, who had charged toward him.

• Ma Chao fled from Pang De, Ma Teng, Ma Xiu, and Ma Tie after surviving the arrow ambush, while the Chang'an garrison attacked the Qiang army.
• Yuan Xi and Gao Lan led the Chang'an garrison against the enemy, and Pang De and Ma Teng joined them in the fighting.
• Ma Chao sent the slave soldiers forward to wear down the Han troops as Yuan Xi and Gao Lan fought to hold out for reinforcements.
• Liu Xie arrived with the Han army, ordered the attack, and sent Zhao Yun after Ma Chao while Gao Shun moved to block the enemy’s retreat.
• Ma Chao recognized Zhao Yun, realized he could not escape the encirclement, and led his troops to meet him in battle.

Liu Xie’s reinforcements arrived at Chang’an, where Zhao Yun defeated and killed Ma Chao, ending the battle. Afterward, Liu Xie praised Zhao Yun and ordered physicians to treat the wounded generals, especially Gao Lan.

• Liu Xie’s reinforcements reached Chang’an, lifting the defenders’ spirits as Jia Xu collapsed from exhaustion.
• Zhao Yun fought Ma Chao, grew stronger after Ma Chao mocked him, and severed Ma Chao’s left arm.
• Zhao Yun killed Ma Chao and raised his corpse on his spear, breaking the enemy army’s morale.
• Zhao Yun presented Ma Chao’s head to Liu Xie, who praised Zhao Yun for his victory.
• The battle ended, and the wounded generals greeted Liu Xie; he checked Gao Lan’s injuries and ordered Yang Xiu and Chen Gong to summon court physicians.

Liu Xie returned to Chang'an after the defenders repelled Ma Chao, praised those who protected the city, and rushed to Jia Xu's bedside when he learned the adviser was wounded. After personally tending Jia Xu, Liu Xie rode back to the palace, where Lü Lingqi and Guo Nüwang welcomed his arrival.

• Liu Xie thanked Gao Lan and the other defenders, and assured Ma Teng that Ma Chao's crimes would not implicate the Ma Family.
• Yuan Xi told Liu Xie that Jia Xu had been wounded, so Liu Xie immediately rode into Chang'an to see him.
• Hua Tuo and Zhang Zhongjing assured Liu Xie that Jia Xu was not in serious danger, and Liu Xie sucked the clotted blood from Jia Xu's wound.
• Liu Xie left Jia Xu in the physicians' care and led the court officials back toward the palace.
• Lü Lingqi and Guo Nüwang prepared to defend the palace until they saw Liu Xie arrive beneath the Dragon Banners.

After Liu Xie returned to Chang'an and reunited with Lü Lingqi and Guo Nüwang, he dealt with the aftermath of the siege and welcomed the recovering Jia Xu back to court. Jia Xu began explaining the rumors about Fu Wan and Empress Fu, leaving Liu Xie seeking the truth.

• Liu Xie reunited with Lü Lingqi and Guo Nüwang at the palace and reassured Lü Lingqi that Ying'er was safe in Xiangyang.
• The people of Chang'an celebrated Ma Chao's death and praised Yuan Xi, Gao Lan, Jia Xu, Zhao Yun, and the other defenders.
• Liu Xie rejected the court's proposed compensation for commoners killed or wounded defending Chang'an and ordered the memorial reconsidered.
• Liu Xie learned that Jia Xu's condition had improved, then received him in the Xuan Room after he returned to the palace.
• Jia Xu thanked Liu Xie for saving his life, and Liu Xie asked him about Fu Wan's request to retire and rumors concerning Empress Fu.
• Jia Xu reacted with surprise when Liu Xie asked what was happening with Fu Wan and Empress Fu.

Liu Xie learned that Fu Wan had tried to send Empress Fu out as a hostage, and Jia Xu secretly arranged Fu Wan’s assassination after the Son of Heaven let him retire. At Jiangxia, Zhuge Liang and Zhou Yu chose to confront Cao Cao’s relief fleet rather than retreat.

• Jia Xu told Liu Xie how Fu Wan had urged the court to surrender Empress Fu as a hostage, and how Noble Lady Lü and Jia Xu had stopped the plan.
• Liu Xie allowed Fu Wan to retire, learned that Guo Nüwang had helped thwart the scheme, and planned to promote her to Noble Lady.
• Jia Xu ordered his men to kill Fu Wan on his journey home and make it look like horse bandits had attacked him.
• Zhuge Liang learned that Cao Cao’s army was sailing toward Jiangxia with several hundred warships to lift the siege.
• Lu Su suggested retreating, but Zhou Yu and Zhuge Liang decided to hold the Yangtze River and fight Cao Cao’s fleet.

After learning that Chang’an had been relieved, Zhuge Liang ordered an immediate assault on Jiangxia instead of continuing to delay Cao Cao. Cao Ren faced the Han Army’s attack with dwindling supplies and vowed to defend the city until reinforcements arrived.

• Zhou Yu offered to intercept Cao Cao, and Zhuge Liang proposed delaying the enemy until Jiangxia’s scarce provisions ran out.
• Lü Bu brought news that the emperor’s forces had routed the rebels besieging Chang’an and that Zhao Yun had killed Ma Chao.
• Zhuge Liang changed course and ordered Lü Bu to muster the army and attack Jiangxia within two hours.
• Cao Ren discussed the uncertain arrival of Cao Cao’s reinforcements with Xiahou Yuan and struggled to eat as the city’s supplies dwindled.
• A fifty-thousand-strong Han Army advanced on Jiangxia, and Cao Ren ordered his troops to defend the city to the death.
• Lü Bu led the assault outside Jiangxia and roared for his troops to attack.

Lü Bu led the Han Army’s assault on Jiangxia City and killed Xiahou Yuan and Cao Ren, securing the city’s fall. Meanwhile, Cao Cao’s relief force sailed toward Jiangxia as he learned Ma Chao had yet to capture Chang’an and was warned not to rely on him.

• Lü Bu charged onto Jiangxia City’s walls, and Cao Ren and Xiahou Yuan joined forces to fight him.
• Lü Bu kicked Cao Ren aside, then killed Xiahou Yuan with his halberd.
• Lü Bu executed the badly wounded Cao Ren and led Han soldiers into Jiangxia City after they took most of the walls.
• Aboard a warship bound for Jiangxia, Cao Cao asked Xun You for news of Ma Chao’s campaign against Chang’an.
• Xun You reported that Ma Chao had entered Yong Province but had not taken Chang’an, and Cheng Yu urged Cao Cao to focus on relieving Jiangxia and reclaiming Jing Province.

Cao Cao learned that Lü Bu had taken Jiangxia and killed Cao Ren and Xiahou Yuan, then chose to await the Han Army at Wulin and fight rather than retreat. At Red Cliffs, Zhuge Liang withdrew to the southern bank instead of engaging Cao Cao’s prepared forces, prompting Lü Bu to demand an explanation.

• Xu Chu reported that Lü Bu had captured Jiangxia and killed Cao Ren and Xiahou Yuan, and that the Han Army was sailing upstream to attack.
• Cao Cao grieved for the two commanders and vowed revenge against Lü Bu despite Cheng Yu and Xun You urging him to withdraw.
• Cao Zhen urged Cao Cao to fight for his uncles, and Cao Cao ordered the army to camp at Wulin and await a decisive battle.
• Zhuge Liang brought the Han Army to Red Cliffs but withdrew to the southern bank, judging Cao Cao’s orderly army and his own fatigued, outnumbered troops unsuitable for immediate battle.
• Lü Bu confronted Zhuge Liang over avoiding combat, and Zhuge Liang explained that the withdrawal prevented the Han Army from fighting at a disadvantage.

Zhuge Liang and Zhou Yu devised a fire attack to defeat Cao Cao’s navy, using a feigned quarrel and Zhou Yu’s apparent surrender to lower Cao Cao’s guard. Zhou Yu agreed to endure a staged flogging to make the deception convincing, and the plan was set in motion.

• Lü Bu complained about the cautious strategy, but Lu Su reassured him that he would have a chance to fight.
• Zhuge Liang and Zhou Yu independently proposed a fire attack against Cao Cao’s tightly packed warships.
• Zhou Yu offered to lead a band of death warriors to burn the fleet, but Zhuge Liang proposed a less dangerous plan based on feigned surrender.
• Zhuge Liang explained that Zhou Yu would secretly release Xu Huang, then offer to defect and send ten fire-laden ships toward Cao Cao’s camp.
• Zhou Yu agreed to the plan and accepted that Zhuge Liang would order him flogged to make their staged quarrel convincing.

Xu Huang refused Zhuge Liang’s offer to surrender, and Zhuge Liang prepared to execute him after the army’s planned assault on Cao Cao. Zhou Yu challenged the sudden change in strategy, angered Zhuge Liang, and narrowly escaped execution after Lu Su and the other generals pleaded for him.

• Han soldiers beat Xu Huang and dragged him from prison to Zhuge Liang’s tent.
• Zhuge Liang offered Xu Huang pardon and restoration of his noble rank if he surrendered, but Xu Huang refused and insulted Liu Xie’s court.
• Lü Bu tried to kill Xu Huang, but Zhuge Liang stopped him and said Xu Huang would be executed before the army’s assault in three days.
• Zhou Yu questioned the decision to attack Cao Cao, and Zhuge Liang berated him as a surrendered general.
• Zhou Yu argued with Zhuge Liang and admitted he had surrendered because Sun Quan was captured, prompting Zhuge Liang to order his execution.
• Lu Su and the other generals pleaded for Zhou Yu, who apologized; Zhuge Liang spared his life but ordered one hundred military-rod strokes.

Lu Su staged a defection to help Xu Huang escape the Han Army camp and gain his trust. Xu Huang left prison with Lu Su and reached a hidden boat in the reeds, unaware that the escape was part of a stratagem to deceive Cao Cao.

• Zhuge Liang punished Zhou Yu in front of Xu Huang, then ordered Xu Huang imprisoned and scheduled for execution.
• Lu Su and Zhuge Liang treated Zhou Yu’s wounds and relied on Lu Su to carry out the next step of their plan.
• Lu Su visited Xu Huang in prison and claimed that he and Zhou Yu wanted to defect to Cao Cao.
• Xu Huang agreed to recommend them to Cao Cao and insisted that Lu Su accompany him out of the camp.
• Lu Su disguised Xu Huang as a soldier, and they slipped past the returning jailers and reached a hidden boat in the reeds.

Lu Su accompanied Xu Huang to Cao Cao's camp, claiming he wanted to defect, but Cao Cao suspected him of spying and ordered him executed. Lu Su explained that he and Zhou Yu had been mistreated by Zhuge Liang, leaving Cao Cao to reconsider his judgment.

• Zhuge Liang and Lü Bu watched Xu Huang and Lu Su cross the river, and Zhuge Liang worried that Lu Su was putting himself in danger.
• Cao Cao told Xu Chu he was delaying an attack because defeat could destroy his army, though he could not easily retreat after boasting of victory.
• Yue Jin reported that Xu Huang had returned with Lu Su, who claimed he wished to join Cao Cao, and Cao Cao hurried to meet them.
• Xu Huang apologized for losing Xiangyang, and Cao Cao welcomed him before Lu Su offered his service.
• Cao Cao ordered Lu Su bound and beheaded, suspecting his defection was a ploy to spy on the Cao Army.
• Lu Su said Zhuge Liang had humiliated Zhou Yu and that he had come seeking a place with Cao Cao; Cao Cao paused and looked to Xu Huang for confirmation.

Cao Cao weighed Lu Su’s claim that he and Zhou Yu intended to surrender, then accepted Lu Su’s explanation after mistaking Zhou Yu’s letter for a trap. The chapter ended with Cao Cao asking Xun Yu, Xun You, and Cheng Yu whether the surrender was genuine, while Cheng Yu warned that Zhuge Liang might have staged the apparent defection.

• Xu Huang confirmed that he had witnessed Zhou Yu being beaten and heard the Han Army’s plans, persuading Cao Cao that his account was credible.
• Lu Su presented Zhou Yu’s letter, which described his hatred of the Imperial Court and offered eight thousand troops, supplies, and ships to Cao Cao.
• Cao Cao ordered Lu Su executed, claiming the letter was false because it named no surrender date, but Lu Su explained that secret betrayals could not be scheduled.
• Cao Cao accepted Lu Su’s explanation, apologized, and promised to treat him and Zhou Yu generously if they joined him.
• After Lu Su left, Xun Yu said Zhou Yu’s defection was plausible, while Cheng Yu warned that Zhuge Liang might have staged the incident to deceive Cao Cao.

Lu Su returned from Cao Cao’s camp after convincing him to believe Zhou Yu’s false surrender, setting the stage for a fire attack. Zhou Yu then realized the northwest wind could send their fire ships back toward their own forces, leaving Zhuge Liang and Lu Su facing a serious obstacle.

• Cao Cao agreed to let Lu Su return to coordinate Zhou Yu’s supposed surrender and prepared to receive the troops, while Cheng Yu urged caution.
• Lu Su returned to the Han Army camp and told Zhuge Liang that Cao Cao had believed their false-surrender scheme.
• Zhuge Liang and Lu Su visited the wounded Zhou Yu, who learned that Cao Cao had been deceived and that the fire attack was planned for the following night.
• A gust of wind made Zhou Yu notice the flag outside his tent, and he cried out “Wind!” before fainting.
• Zhuge Liang explained to Lu Su that the northwest wind could drive their fire ships back toward their own lines.

Zhuge Liang planned to perform rites at the Seven Stars Altar to summon an east wind for his fire attack against Cao Cao, despite Sima Yi's disbelief. After reinforcements joined the Han Army, Sima Yi challenged Zhuge Liang to either prove he could borrow the wind or resign as military advisor, and Zhuge Liang accepted.

• Zhuge Liang told Lu Su he could borrow an east wind and ordered him to build the Seven Stars Altar beside the river.
• Chen Gong and Zhao Yun arrived with ten thousand troops, while Sima Yi and Zhang Liao came from Yi Province to reinforce the Han Army.
• Lü Bu welcomed Zhao Yun, traded taunts with Zhang Liao, and explained Zhuge Liang's fire-attack plan and altar rites to the newcomers.
• Sima Yi condemned Zhuge Liang's plan to summon the wind, but Zhuge Liang said the fire attack could spare Han soldiers and insisted he would succeed.
• Sima Yi wagered that he would become Zhuge Liang's student if the wind came, but demanded Zhuge Liang resign if it did not; Zhuge Liang accepted and set the rites for two days later.
• Chen Gong questioned Sima Yi's aggressive challenge after Zhuge Liang and the others left.

Zhuge Liang staged a ritual to appear to borrow an east wind, which arrived as predicted and boosted the army’s confidence before its attack on the Cao Army. He revealed that he had forecast the wind rather than summoned it, and Sima Yi accepted a draw in their wager.

• Sima Yi dismissed Chen Gong’s concern and said he wanted to teach Zhuge Liang a lesson by winning their wager.
• Zhuge Liang performed a sword ritual at the Seven Stars Altar while officers and soldiers watched, and Sima Yi grew skeptical as the evening passed without a change in the wind.
• A strong southeasterly wind began blowing, astonishing Sima Yi and the assembled generals, and Zhuge Liang urged them to use it against the Cao Army.
• Sima Yi prepared to honor his loss, but Zhuge Liang stopped him and explained that he had predicted the wind and staged the ritual to raise morale.
• Chen Gong proposed calling the wager a draw, and Sima Yi accepted.

Zhuge Liang’s forces launched a fire-boat attack on Cao Cao’s navy after tricking him into expecting Lu Su and Zhou Yu to defect. The burning ships set the Cao fleet ablaze as Zhuge Liang ordered the Han Army to advance and crush Cao.

• Zhuge Liang returned to camp with Chen Gong after Lu Su and Sima Yi left, and Chen Gong questioned whether he had summoned the east wind.
• Cao Cao waited for Lu Su and Zhou Yu’s supposed defection, then ordered his troops to welcome boats flying Azure Dragon Tusk Banners.
• Cao Cao dismissed Xun You’s concerns about the southeasterly wind and believed the approaching boats carried surrendering troops.
• Yue Jin realized the boats were not slowing down, but the Han soldiers ignited their cargo and sent the burning vessels toward the Cao fleet.
• Cao Cao recognized Zhou Yu and Lu Su’s deception and ordered the fleet to scatter and prepare for battle.
• Zhuge Liang ordered Zhao Yun and the others to advance and crush Cao as Sima Yi watched him in silence.