Chapter Summaries

As the Great Han Royal Military Academy stirred debate and excitement across the army, Lü Bu worried that Zhang Liao was beating him in the vote for Vice Academy President. After Chen Gong urged him to campaign, Lü Bu gathered the soldiers and promised to teach them all his martial and battlefield skills if they voted for him.

• Liu Xie announced the Great Han Royal Military Academy, prompting civil officials to protest and soldiers to discuss the academy and vote for its Vice Academy President.
• Lü Bu saw that Zhang Liao had overtaken him in the vote and asked Chen Gong for help winning soldiers over.
• Chen Gong told Lü Bu to campaign by explaining what he would offer as Vice Academy President, rather than trying to buy votes.
• Lü Bu assembled the soldiers on the Drill Ground and promised to teach them his halberd technique and battlefield skills if they voted for him.

Lü Bu accepted that the Great Han Royal Military Academy needed a leader skilled in strategy and promised to teach his own abilities regardless of the vote. After returning to court, Sima Yi learned about the academy and its election for Vice Academy President, while the officials discussed the surprising support for Zhuge Liang and Guo Jia.

• A Commander of a Thousand explained that Lü Bu's martial skills were beyond ordinary soldiers, and the officers said they would rather learn strategy like Zhuge Liang.
• Lü Bu realized Zhang Liao was better suited to become Vice Academy President and let the officers vote freely, promising to teach anyone who wanted his skills.
• Sima Yi returned to court after recovering from scratches caused by his wife's suspicions, and Guo Jia and Jia Xu teased him about his absence.
• Sima Yi learned that Liu Xie had founded the Great Han Royal Military Academy and understood that it could strengthen the military faction.
• Jia Xu revealed that Zhuge Liang had more than eighteen hundred votes and Guo Jia had over four hundred, while Jia Xu complained about receiving only a little over a hundred.
• Sima Yi asked what the voting was for, and Guo Jia explained that the academy's Vice Academy President position remained vacant.

Sima Yi was crushed by Zhuge Liang’s lead in the Vice Academy President vote and resolved to win by secretly canvassing, while his votes later surged past Zhang Liao’s and drew Chen Gong’s suspicion. The chapter ended with Liu Xie catching the mischievous Liu Ying playing at being General Zhao.

• Jia Xu revealed that Zhuge Liang had five hundred more votes than Sima Yi, leaving Sima Yi devastated.
• Sima Yi decided to canvass for votes in private and vowed to win the Vice Academy President contest at any cost.
• Sima Yi’s vote total climbed to 4,682, passing Lü Bu and Zhang Liao, while Chen Gong suspected something was wrong with the count.
• Liu Ying played General Zhao in the Imperial Garden by riding a eunuch and striking him with a wooden stick.
• Liu Xie found Liu Ying playing and dryly challenged her to continue showing General Zhao’s bearing.

Liu Xie and Lü Lingqi disciplined Liu Ying after she bullied a eunuch, then comforted her and took her to play in the Imperial Garden. The family reunited there with Lü Bu, who happily welcomed his granddaughter.

• Liu Xie rebuked Liu Ying for striking a eunuch and brought her to Lü Lingqi and Zhen Mi.
• Lü Lingqi scolded Liu Ying for misusing her status, while Zhen Mi comforted her and Liu Xie explained why she should treat others well.
• Lü Lingqi warned Liu Ying not to repeat her behavior, and Liu Ying promised to behave.
• Liu Xie took the calmer Liu Ying to the Imperial Garden, where she admired a flower and said she did not want it picked and killed.
• Lü Bu arrived, and Liu Ying ran to greet her grandfather before he asked Lü Lingqi how she had been.

Liu Xie learned that Sima Yi had surged into first place in the vote for Vice Academy President and summoned him to the Palace. Sima Yi confessed to rigging the election, leaving his fate in Liu Xie's hands.

• Lü Bu told Liu Xie that Sima Yi had overtaken Wenyuan and Zhuge Liang in the Vice Academy President vote.
• Liu Xie suspected Sima Yi had tampered with the election and sent Gao Lan to summon him to the Palace.
• Sima Yi panicked at the summons and considered silencing witnesses before deciding to go.
• Liu Xie confronted Sima Yi about his suspiciously high vote count and warned him that deceiving Heaven was difficult.
• Sima Yi knelt and begged forgiveness, admitting that he had rigged the vote.

After Liu Xie caught Sima Yi cheating in the vote for Vice Academy President, he suppressed the evidence and gave Sima Yi a chance to repent. Sima Yi confessed to Zhuge Liang and reconciled with him, and the final vote made Zhang Liao the winner, with Lü Bu coming second.

• Liu Xie confronted Sima Yi with evidence that he had rigged votes, but held the matter back and warned him not to repeat the offense.
• Sima Yi encountered Zhuge Liang outside the palace, admitted that he had cheated, and accepted Zhuge Liang’s understanding and encouragement.
• Sima Yi and Zhuge Liang agreed to serve together while continuing to compete fairly, and Zhuge Liang entered the palace after Liu Xie summoned him.
• The final vote results put Zhang Liao first with 6,127 votes, Lü Bu second, and Sima Yi third; only a few people knew Sima Yi’s genuine tally was much lower.
• Lü Bu accepted Zhang Liao’s victory and returned home, shutting his doors to visitors before Zhang Liao could show off.

Nine years after the wars, Great Han had recovered and expanded its schools, while its military academy trained generals across four subjects. At a banquet celebrating the completion of public schools, Guo Jia raised the question of whether the Imperial Examination should begin, and Liu Xie turned to Zhuge Liang for advice.

• The Great Han Royal Military Academy trained students in military strategy and tactics, martial skills and equipment, formation coordination, and logistical management, with generals and advisers serving as instructors.
• Over nine years, peace, census reforms, and tax policies helped Great Han’s registered population and revenue grow as the realm recovered.
• Liu Xie announced at a banquet in Weiyang Palace that universities, secondary schools, and primary schools had been established throughout the commanderies and counties.
• Liu Xie praised Guo Jia for leading educational reform, and Guo Jia accepted the emperor’s wine despite his physician’s advice to drink less.
• Guo Jia asked whether the Imperial Examination should begin now that the public schools were complete, and Liu Xie asked Zhuge Liang for his opinion.

Liu Xie approved replacing the Recommendation System with Imperial Examinations, but Guo Jia collapsed after coughing blood at the celebration. Guo Jia survived the immediate crisis, though his condition was grave, and Zhuge Liang took charge of completing the reform.

• Zhuge Liang supported Guo Jia’s proposal for Imperial Examinations, and Liu Xie announced that the first Spring Examination would be held.
• Liu Xie and Guo Jia discussed Guo Jia retiring from the Grand Secretariat after the reform, but Guo Jia suddenly coughed up blood and collapsed.
• Hua Tuo and Zhang Zhongjing warned Liu Xie that Guo Jia’s health was extremely poor and that he must rest without exerting himself.
• After waking, Guo Jia urged Liu Xie to let Kongming continue the Imperial Examination reform, and Zhuge Liang promised to see it through.
• Guo Jia fell asleep again, while Liu Xie confirmed he was still breathing and left him to rest.

Liu Xie abolished the recommendation system and established a stricter imperial examination path, drawing scholars to Chang'an for the new Spring and Palace Examinations. As Ma Liang prepared for his graduation examination, he met the talented Imperial Academy student Deng Ai.

• Liu Xie convened court and announced that the imperial examination system would replace the recommendation system.
• The Imperial Court publicized the new Spring Examination and Palace Examination, including the Top Graduate honor and equivalent military examinations.
• Scholars across the realm flocked to Chang'an, filling its inns as they prepared for the examinations.
• Ma Su dismissed Ma Liang's warnings and left to enjoy Chang'an, while Ma Liang studied to restore the Ma Clan's reputation.
• Ma Liang picked up a book dropped by Deng Ai, and the two Imperial Academy students introduced themselves.

Ma Liang and Deng Ai encouraged each other as they prepared for the Imperial Academy’s graduation examination and hoped to reach the Palace Examination. In Weiyang Palace, Liu Jue impressed Liu Xie with his knowledge and ideas for governing, while Liu Xie later revealed that Guo Jia had at most three months to live.

• Ma Liang welcomed Deng Ai, who admitted he was anxious about the graduation examination, and the two pledged to meet at the summit.
• Liu Jue recited Mencius flawlessly, then answered Fei Yi’s questions about Han law and virtuous government to Liu Xie’s approval.
• Liu Xie granted Liu Jue seven days off after he passed the test.
• Lü Lingqi lamented that Liu Ying preferred martial arts to books, while Liu Xie said he was content to let her pursue what made her happy.
• Liu Xie told Lü Lingqi that Guo Jia’s illness was unlikely to improve and that Zhang believed he had at most three months left.

Liu Xie struggled with Guo Jia’s grave illness before the Palace Academy Doctors demanded to resign over Liu Ying’s misconduct. Liu Ying and Liu Xu were brought before Liu Xie, Lü Lingqi, and Zhen Mi, where Liu Xu admitted fault and Liu Ying took responsibility for the fight.

• Lü Lingqi tried to comfort Liu Xie as he feared Guo Jia’s illness might be beyond the help of renowned physicians.
• The Palace Academy Doctors asked Liu Xie to let them resign, saying Liu Ying had skipped lessons, fought other students, and injured ministers’ sons.
• Liu Xie ordered Gao Lan to bring Liu Ying and Liu Xu to the Pepper Chamber Hall, while the other students involved were sentenced to three days’ confinement.
• Liu Ying had beaten the noble boys after they insulted Liu Xu, who had accompanied her when she skipped lessons.
• Lü Lingqi ordered Liu Ying and Liu Xu to kneel, and Zhen Mi rebuked them for their behavior.
• Liu Xu apologized to Zhen Mi, and Liu Ying claimed that she alone had caused the trouble and asked the adults to blame her instead.

Liu Xie punished Liu Ying and Liu Xu for skipping lessons and fighting, then welcomed Lü Bu back from his campaign and urged the aging general to retire. Lü Bu revealed that he had met Zuo Ci, an occult practitioner who might be able to help the dying Guo Jia.

• Liu Ying defended beating students who had insulted Liu Xu, and Liu Xie punished both siblings with copying, apologies, and two months of confinement.
• Lü Lingqi asked when Lü Bu would return, and a eunuch reported that the victorious general had reached Chang'an.
• Liu Xie noticed Lü Bu's wounded arm and urged him to stop fighting, telling him that Guo Jia had only three months left to live.
• Lü Bu admitted that he felt his age and agreed he might need to retire, though he eagerly asked whether Liu Ying had won her fight.
• Lü Bu told Liu Xie that he had met Zuo Ci, who had stopped a charging horse with a gesture and might be able to treat Guo Jia.

Liu Xie summoned Zuo Ci to seek help for the gravely ill Guo Jia, and Zuo Ci demonstrated uncanny abilities as he entered the Palace. The chapter ended with Zuo Ci arriving before Liu Xie, who was surprised by the unremarkable appearance of the legendary immortal.

• Liu Xie learned from Lü Bu that Zuo Ci had joined his army and asked to meet the Daoist in hopes he could treat Guo Jia.
• Zuo Ci waited outside the Palace gate, where Imperial Guards failed to touch him despite standing within reach.
• Lü Bu arrived with Liu Xie's summons and escorted Zuo Ci into the Palace on foot.
• Liu Xie received Lü Bu and Zuo Ci in Wen Room Hall and was surprised that the famed immortal looked like an ordinary, shabby Daoist.

Zuo Ci gave Liu Xie a prescription that helped Guo Jia recover, then vanished after urging the emperor to perform the Feng and Shan sacrifices at Mount Tai. A few days later, Liu Xie visited the recovering Guo Jia and met Guo Jia’s wife and son.

• Liu Xie asked Zuo Ci to save Guo Jia, and Zuo Ci said he could extend Guo Jia’s life by at most three years.
• Zuo Ci told Liu Xie he had come to seek the Dao and urged him to perform the Feng and Shan sacrifices at Mount Tai.
• Zuo Ci handed Lü Bu a prescription for Guo Jia, then disappeared before Lü Bu could question him.
• Zhang Zhongjing and Hua Tuo used the prescription with the Golden Needle Technique, and Guo Jia’s condition improved after a few days.
• Liu Xie visited Guo Jia’s residence, where Jia Xu reported that Guo Jia had awakened but could not yet walk.
• Liu Xie met Guo Jia’s wife, née Dong, and son, Guo Yi.

Liu Xie visited the recovering Guo Jia, appointed Guo Yi as Liu Jue’s study companion, and told Guo Jia to retire from court work. He then asked Guo Jia and Jia Xu whether he should perform the Fengshan Sacrifice at Mount Tai, and they supported the plan while proposing that the Great Aristocratic Families fund it.

• Lady Dong and Guo Yi welcomed Liu Xie, who invited Guo Yi to enter the Palace Academy as Liu Jue’s study companion.
• Guo Jia came outside to greet Liu Xie despite his illness, and Liu Xie helped him into the residence.
• Guo Jia told Liu Xie he was recovering, while Jia Xu warned him not to overexert himself.
• Liu Xie told Guo Jia that the Imperial Examination System reform was complete and ordered him to rest at home.
• Liu Xie asked Guo Jia and Jia Xu for their opinions on performing the Fengshan Sacrifice at Mount Tai, explaining that he wanted to do it while his old friends were still alive.
• Guo Jia supported the sacrifice, and Jia Xu suggested asking the Great Aristocratic Families to contribute the funds.

Liu Xie announced an Eastern Inspection Tour to Mount Tai to perform the Fengshan Sacrifice, and the court and people enthusiastically supported the plan. As preparations began, five Grand Secretariat Academicians drew lots to decide who would remain in Chang'an, and Yang Xiu learned that he could go.

• Guo Jia insisted he would accompany Liu Xie to Mount Tai, while Jia Xu teased him and Liu Xie laughed at their quarrel.
• Cui Yan, Yang Xiu, Dong Zhong, and other clan representatives offered to fund Liu Xie's journey, and the court approved the Fengshan Sacrifice.
• The Great Han People's Gazette announced the journey, prompting people across the realm to celebrate and plan trips to Mount Tai.
• The court began organizing the route, procession, guards, supplies, and offerings, while officials faced the problem of who would oversee affairs in Chang'an.
• Sima Yi, Yang Xiu, Zhuge Liang, Lu Su, and Fa Zheng drew lots to decide who would stay behind, and Yang Xiu revealed a lot marked 'go.'

Liu Xie’s Eastern Inspection Tour reached Ye City, where he returned to the palace that had once held him as Yuan Shao’s puppet. He began revisiting the old palace with Liu Jue, Guo Jia, Jia Xu, and Zhang He.

• Sima Yi stayed in Chang’an after claiming all five bamboo lots said “go,” explaining that he wanted to oversee court affairs and prepare to become chief grand secretary.
• After three months of preparation, Liu Xie’s Eastern Inspection Tour set out for Mount Tai with Liu Jue, officials, and twenty thousand elite troops.
• During the journey, Liu Xie taught Liu Jue about farming, technology, and the Son of Heaven’s duty to improve people’s lives.
• The procession reached Ye City in late September, where Liu Xie and Guo Jia recalled their past under Yuan Shao.
• Liu Xie entered the Ye City palace with Liu Jue, Guo Jia, Jia Xu, and Zhang He, then asked Zhang He whether he remembered where they first met.

Liu Xie revisited the palace and Wei River, reflecting on his rise and mourning Ju Shou, while Yuan Xi paid respects to his family and affirmed his commitment to restoring the Yuan Clan under the Han. The eastern tour then reached Mount Tai, where Liu Xie prepared to begin the Fengshan Sacrifice.

• Liu Xie reminisced with Guo Jia and Jia Xu in the palace before visiting Ju Shou's grave and confessing that he was a false Son of Heaven who had brought peace to the Great Han.
• Yuan Xi brought his son Yuan Zhong to the Yuan Clan's graves, described how he had gathered and settled the surviving clansmen, and told Yuan Shao that he no longer hated him but did not regret his choices.
• Yuan Xi vowed to raise the Yuan Clan to new glory and teach Yuan Zhong loyalty to Liu Xie and the Imperial Court, then left with his son.
• After resting in Ye City, Liu Xie's eastern tour reached Mount Tai, where preparations for the Fengshan Sacrifice were complete and crowds had gathered to watch.
• Kong Rong announced that it was nearly time, and Liu Xie set out before dawn with his trusted ministers and Crown Prince Liu Jue to climb Mount Tai for the Sealing Heaven-Sacrifice Rite.

Liu Xie completed the Fengshan Sacrifice on Mount Tai, proclaiming Great Han’s restoration and praying for its future prosperity. Though his ministers hailed him and the ceremony ended, he wondered whether he had reached his destination and concluded that the other shore still lay far away.

• Liu Xie led his ministers up Mount Tai’s stone steps, and they reached Jade Emperor Summit at sunrise despite the civil officials’ exhaustion.
• Liu Xie placed the Jade Register beneath the Fengshan Altar and performed the Heaven-Worship Rite, praising Great Han’s restoration and praying for peace and prosperity.
• The ministers knelt as musicians and dancers accompanied the rites, then shouted blessings for Liu Xie and Great Han.
• Liu Xie reflected on his rise and questioned whether he had reached the other shore; after the ceremony, he smiled at the sky and descended from the altar, recognizing that the other shore remained far away.