Chapter Summaries

Liu Xie secretly sent Liu Bei to Yi Province to prevent Yuan Shao from taking it, and urged him to replace Liu Zhang and preserve the Han Dynasty. Jia Xu then pushed Yuan Xi to recognize that Yuan Shao favored Yuan Tan and Yuan Shang for the succession, and agreed to help Yuan Xi compete on the condition that he show no mercy.

• Liu Bei warned Liu Xie that Yuan Shao would use Gao Gan’s campaign against Zhang Lu to seize Yi Province.
• Liu Xie ordered Liu Bei to lead elite troops to Yi Province, replace Liu Zhang if necessary, and uphold the Han Dynasty.
• Yuan Xi brought Jia Xu ten merfolk pearls to thank him for helping secure the future governorship of You Province.
• Jia Xu told Yuan Xi that Yuan Shao had excluded him from the succession and implied that Yuan Shang would inherit Ji Province.
• Yuan Xi begged Jia Xu to help him claim the succession, and Jia Xu agreed on the condition that he never show mercy to rivals.

Yuan Xi agreed to scheme with Jia Xu for the Heir's Position, while Guo Jia convinced Yuan Shang that he needed to compete ruthlessly with Yuan Xi. At court, Yuan Shao's allies backed Gao Gan to lead the campaign against Zhang Lu, while Liu Bei and Lü Bu challenged his claim.

• Yuan Xi agreed to Jia Xu's plan to pursue the Heir's Position, and Jia Xu led him to discuss their next steps.
• Guo Jia warned Yuan Shang that Yuan Xi was becoming the likely heir and urged him to compete without regard for brotherly affection.
• Yuan Shang gave in to Guo Jia's pressure and promised to follow his advice, while Guo Jia privately dismissed Yuan Shang as unworthy.
• At the court assembly, Gao Gan requested ten thousand troops to suppress Zhang Lu's rebellion in Yi Province, and Liu Bei argued that four thousand under his command would suffice.
• Gao Gan mocked Liu Bei's proposal, and Lü Bu offered to lend Liu Bei troops.

At court, Yuan Shao forced Liu Xie to choose Gao Gan to suppress Zhang Lu’s rebellion in Yi Province, prompting Liu Bei to plan to go there himself while Lü Bu focused on Yang Province. Back in the palace, Liu Xie learned the Zhen Clan was advancing his steel-making plans and secretly aiding Lü Bu, then refused Zhen Mi’s suggestion that he visit Da Qiao and Xiao Qiao.

• Liu Zhang supported Liu Bei’s bid to quell the rebellion, but Yuan Shao pressured Liu Xie into appointing Gao Gan instead.
• Lü Bu vowed to strengthen his army and defeat Sun Ce, while Liu Bei said he would secretly lead troops to Yi Province.
• Liu Xie told Zhen Mi he felt powerless, and she encouraged him by saying he could cast off his shackles in the future.
• Zhen Mi reported that the Zhen Clan’s craftsmen had improved their weapons with Liu Xie’s Cast Steel Method and expected to deliver new equipment to Lü Bu within three months.
• Zhen Mi explained that the Mi Family would transport and sell the Zhen Clan’s goods to conceal its support for Lü Bu from Yuan Shao.
• Zhen Mi suggested Liu Xie visit Da Qiao and Xiao Qiao, but he refused, claiming his heart belonged to her and he had no time for other women.

Liu Xie visited the Qiao sisters with Zhen Mi, who asserted her standing as his principal consort. Later, Jia Xu reported that Xu You wanted to defect from Yuan Shao, and Liu Xie authorized him to recruit Xu You, with orders to kill him if the attempt failed.

• Zhen Mi urged Liu Xie to visit Da Qiao and Xiao Qiao, and he agreed to go with her to Bixia Palace.
• Liu Xie met the Qiao sisters and admired their beauty while Zhen Mi welcomed them and promised to help them settle into the palace.
• Zhang He summoned Liu Xie to meet Jia Xu and Guo Jia in the Xuan Room.
• Jia Xu reported that Xu You was disillusioned with Yuan Shao and hoped Jia Xu would join him in defecting to Cao Cao.
• Liu Xie authorized Jia Xu to try to recruit Xu You into his own service, and Jia Xu agreed to kill Xu You if he could not be won over.

Liu Xie revealed that he had secretly sent Liu Bei to Yi Province to counter Yuan Shao’s ambitions, impressing Guo Jia and Jia Xu with his growing strategic ability. Jia Xu then confronted Xu You with a recruitment offer for the emperor, claiming Liu Xie had concealed his strength and was preparing to restore the Han Dynasty.

• Guo Jia and Jia Xu warned Liu Xie that Yuan Shao could use Gao Gan’s mission to seize Yi Province, and Liu Xie explained his secret plan to send Liu Bei there with four thousand elite troops.
• Guo Jia and Jia Xu praised Liu Xie’s foresight, while Liu Xie reflected on how his reading and experience had strengthened his judgment.
• Jia Xu visited Xu You, who explained why he wanted to join Cao Cao and revealed his plan to take the Imperial Seal to him.
• Jia Xu refused to join Cao Cao and declared that he served the Son of Heaven, then asked Xu You to pledge loyalty to Liu Xie.
• When Xu You challenged Jia Xu’s claim, Jia Xu said Liu Xie had been pretending to be Yuan Shao’s puppet and urged Xu You to help restore the Han Dynasty.
• Xu You recalled Liu Xie’s displays of imperial majesty and began to wonder whether the emperor had deceived Yuan Shao and everyone else.

Jia Xu revealed the Son of Heaven’s hidden network and persuaded Xu You to abandon Yuan Shao and serve Liu Xie. Xu You entered the palace and pledged to help restore the Han Dynasty, giving Liu Xie an influential ally inside Ye City.

• Xu You gave up trying to recruit Jia Xu for Cao Cao and dismissed the idea that the Son of Heaven could escape Yuan Shao’s control.
• Jia Xu described the Son of Heaven’s supporters, secret network, and control of the Imperial Guards, then explained why Liu Xie wanted Xu You’s talent and command of Ye City’s East Gate.
• Xu You decided that serving Liu Xie offered a better future than joining Cao Cao and agreed to become a Han loyalist.
• Jia Xu brought Xu You to the palace, where Liu Xie welcomed him and Xu You theatrically apologized for aiding Yuan Shao and pledged to serve the Han Dynasty.

Xu You strengthened Yuan Shao’s trust in him while secretly serving Liu Xie’s plans, and he proposed sending a trusted subordinate to defend Bing Province as Yuan Shao prepared to campaign against You Province. Yuan Xi and Yuan Shang competed for the assignment, and Yuan Shao’s advisers began revealing which son they favored.

• Xu You publicly accepted responsibility for his son’s embezzlement and reconciled with Yuan Shao, surprising Shen Pei and the other advisers.
• Xu You warned Yuan Shao that Bing Province might be vulnerable to a Xianbei invasion while Gao Gan campaigned against Zhang Lu.
• Yuan Xi and Yuan Shang both volunteered to defend Bing Province and argued over who was better suited to the task.
• Yuan Shao asked his advisers to recommend a candidate, and Guo Tu and Xin Ping backed Yuan Xi over Yuan Shang.

After Yuan Xi lost the chance to govern Bing Province and was publicly rebuked by Yuan Shao, Jia Xu urged him to seize the succession through a coup. Yuan Xi overcame his hesitation and asked Jia Xu what he should do.

• Yuan Shao appointed Yuan Shang acting Governor of Bing Province, and Yuan Xi angrily challenged his father before the court.
• Yuan Shao slapped Yuan Xi, ordered him out, and collapsed unconscious from rage.
• Jia Xu told Yuan Xi that Yuan Shao had already chosen Yuan Shang as his heir and that Yuan Xi had lost his claim to succeed.
• Jia Xu proposed that Yuan Xi kill Yuan Shao and key advisers, blame Yuan Shang, and take control of Ji Province.
• Yuan Xi accepted Jia Xu's proposal and asked what he should do.

Jia Xu persuaded Yuan Xi to lead a mutiny against Yuan Shao, while secretly arranging for Xu You and the Imperial Guards to seize control of Ye City afterward. As Yuan Xi prepared to act that night, Yuan Shao’s advisers waited anxiously for him to wake and wondered how he would punish his defiant son.

• Jia Xu convinced Yuan Xi to summon his private troops into Ye City and attack the Yuan Residence that night.
• Jia Xu told Xu You that Yuan Xi would kill Yuan Shao and the other advisers, after which Xu You would arrest Yuan Xi and Jia Xu would use the Son of Heaven’s edict to take control.
• Jia Xu obtained Liu Xie’s edict for Zhang He and Gao Lan to lead the Imperial Guards, and explained that he would seek refuge with Gongsun Zan if the plan failed.
• Liu Xie asked Jia Xu to use his Girdle Edict to secure Gongsun Zan’s loyalty and recruit Zhao Yun if he went to You Province.
• A physician assured Ju Shou, Shen Pei, Yuan Shang, and the others that Yuan Shao would recover, while the advisers discussed Yuan Xi’s defiance and how Yuan Shao might deal with him.

Yuan Xi led the Tiger Character Battalion in an uprising, entering Ye City through its West Gate and surrounding the Grand General’s residence. He accused Yuan Shang, Shen Pei, Tian Feng, and the others of being villains, while Shen Pei tried to persuade him to withdraw.

• Yuan Xi rallied five hundred Tiger Character Battalion soldiers and ordered them to begin the uprising.
• Yuan Xi persuaded the West Gate commander to open Ye City’s gate, and his troops entered.
• The West Gate commander reported Yuan Xi’s entry to Xu You, who welcomed the chance to help the Son of Heaven regain power and advance his own position.
• Yuan Xi’s troops surrounded the Grand General’s residence, and Yuan Xi arrived covered in blood after killing its guards.
• Yuan Xi accused Yuan Shang, Shen Pei, Tian Feng, and the others of being villains acting against Yuan Shao.
• Shen Pei urged Yuan Xi to withdraw his troops and offered him a chance to reconcile with the Grand General.

Yuan Xi attempted to seize the succession by force, but Yuan Shao awoke and confronted him. Yuan Xi struck his father unconscious and killed Yuan Shang, leaving the courtyard stunned and the succession crisis bloodier than ever.

• Yuan Xi bound Shen Pei and the other advisers, then approached Yuan Shao’s chamber with his sword, intending to kill him and blame Yuan Shang.
• Yuan Shao emerged, cowed Yuan Xi’s soldiers, and repeatedly struck Yuan Xi while condemning his rebellion and ambition.
• Yuan Xi stopped Yuan Shao’s next slap and accused him of favoring Yuan Shang and preparing him to inherit the Heir’s Position.
• Yuan Xi prevented the Tiger Character Battalion from laying down their weapons by claiming Yuan Shao had been deceived and that their families would be punished.
• Yuan Xi knocked Yuan Shao unconscious, then killed Yuan Shang with his sword.
• Feng Ji, Shen Pei, and the others reacted in shock and grief as Yuan Shang’s head fell in the courtyard.

Yuan Xi killed Yuan Shang and several advisers, then coerced Shen Pei and Tian Feng into supporting his claim to power while Yuan Shao lay unconscious. Ju Shou escaped the residence and rode to warn the city defenses, as Yuan Xi prepared to use Yuan Shao’s seal to command the Ji Province Army.

• Yuan Xi executed Yuan Shang, Feng Ji, Xin Ping, and Guo Tu after they refused or failed to name Yuan Shang’s alleged conspirators.
• Yuan Xi discovered that Ju Shou had escaped after killing two guards and stealing a horse.
• Tian Feng revealed that Ju Shou was likely heading to alert the city defense camp, and Yuan Xi threatened Yuan Shao’s life to force Tian Feng and Shen Pei to submit.
• Shen Pei advised Yuan Xi to govern Ye City while Yuan Shao remained unconscious, and Yuan Xi agreed to rely on him and Tian Feng.
• Yuan Xi went to find Yuan Shao’s seal so he could command the Ji Province Army in Yuan Shao’s name.
• Ju Shou rode through the city at night, fearing that Yuan Xi had attacked Yuan Shao’s residence and wondering what he intended to do.

Yuan Xi emerged from the Grand General’s Residence with the heads of Yuan Shang and three advisers, claiming that Yuan Shao had ordered him to take charge after being driven unconscious. Ju Shou demanded to see Yuan Shao, but Yuan Xi refused and said no one could approach him until the alleged plotters’ accomplices had been rooted out.

• Ju Shou sought reinforcements from the City Defense Army and tried to persuade Yan Liang to enter Ye City, but the gate officers refused to open the gates without Yuan Shao’s Golden Token.
• Xu You refused Ju Shou’s request to bring Yan Liang into the city and led his men toward the Grand General’s Residence, while Jia Xu, Guo Jia, Zhang He, and Gao Lan waited for news at the Imperial Guards’ camp.
• Xu You arrived at the residence and found it occupied by Yuan Xi’s Tiger Character Battalion, then saw Yuan Xi emerge with four severed heads.
• Yuan Xi identified the heads as Yuan Shang’s, Feng Ji’s, Guo Tu’s, and Xin Ping’s, and claimed he had killed them for plotting against Yuan Shao.
• Yuan Xi showed Ju Shou and Xu You a written order bearing Yuan Shao’s seals and said Yuan Shao was unconscious, forbidding anyone from seeing him during his investigation.
• Ju Shou demanded to verify Yuan Xi’s story with Yuan Shao, but Yuan Xi refused and named Shen Pei and Tian Feng as witnesses.

Yuan Xi seized control of Ye City after killing Yuan Shang and his supporters, but he kept Yuan Shao imprisoned, frustrating the plot devised by Liu Xie, Jia Xu, and Guo Jia. With Yan Liang marching toward the city and Yuan Xi refusing to harm his father, the conspirators considered how to salvage their plan.

• Tian Feng and Shen Pei confirmed Yuan Xi's account to Ju Shou, concealing that Yuan Xi had imprisoned Yuan Shao to protect him.
• Yuan Xi declared himself in charge of Ye City, ordered a lockdown, and sent a directive summoning Yan Liang's army to the city gates.
• Yan Liang received the directive and ordered his troops to march for Ye City.
• Xu You told Liu Xie, Jia Xu, and Guo Jia that Yuan Shao remained alive and that the Imperial Guards could not reach him before Yan Liang arrived.
• Jia Xu resolved to confront Yuan Xi and insist that Yuan Shao be killed, while Yuan Xi confined Tian Feng, Shen Pei, and Ju Shou to the residence and assured them he would spare Yuan Shao.

Yuan Xi imprisoned Yuan Shao after killing Yuan Shang and demanded that his father yield authority, while Yuan Shao refused and urged him to continue the campaign against You Province. The next morning, Yuan Xi prepared to seek the Grand Commandant post and brought Jia Xu’s involvement to light, provoking Ju Shou, Shen Pei, and Tian Feng.

• Yuan Xi told Yuan Shao that Yuan Shang was dead, defended the killing by citing Yuan Shao’s execution of Yuan Shu, and demanded that Yuan Shao hand over his position.
• Yuan Shao refused to yield, urged Yuan Xi to consult Ju Shou and send troops against You Province, and wept for Yuan Shang after Yuan Xi left.
• Yuan Xi announced that he would seek the Grand Commandant post from the Son of Heaven and ordered Ju Shou, Tian Feng, and Shen Pei to accompany him.
• Jia Xu arrived, and Yuan Xi thanked him for guiding the previous night’s actions, revealing his role to the three advisers.
• Shen Pei accused Jia Xu of manipulating Yuan Xi, Ju Shou condemned him, and Tian Feng charged at him.

Yuan Xi refused Jia Xu’s advice to kill Yuan Shao, choosing instead to imprison him and rule Ji Province in his name. Jia Xu abandoned Ye City for Gongsun Zan, while Liu Xie rejected Yuan Xi’s request for the Grand Commandant’s office and ordered him out.

• Jia Xu urged Yuan Xi to kill Yuan Shao and Ju Shou, Tian Feng, and Shen Pei, but Yuan Xi refused and promised Jia Xu a place at his side.
• Jia Xu left the Yuan Residence and fled Ye City toward the East Gate, intending to seek refuge with Gongsun Zan.
• Yuan Xi went to the palace with Ju Shou, Tian Feng, and Shen Pei, leaving the three advisers outside while he met Liu Xie.
• Yuan Xi asked Liu Xie to appoint him Grand Commandant, claiming that Yuan Shao had ordered him to oversee Ji Province.
• Liu Xie rebuked Yuan Xi, refused his request, and ordered him to leave.

Liu Xie rejected Yuan Xi’s request for an appointment and used Ju Shou’s summons to further his plan to exploit the conflict in the Yuan household. Ju Shou discovered Liu Xie’s ambition to become the true Son of Heaven, but left the palace unable to expose him as a pretender.

• Liu Xie refused to grant Yuan Xi an additional office, then summoned Ju Shou into the palace alone.
• Zhang He reported that Jia Xu had left Ye City, and Liu Xie anticipated that Jia Xu would persuade Gongsun Zan to attack Ji Province and draw Yan Liang’s army away.
• Ju Shou urged Liu Xie to arrest Yuan Xi and free Yuan Shao, but Liu Xie refused to trust his account and revealed that he intended to use the family crisis to consolidate power.
• Ju Shou realized Liu Xie planned to turn Yuan Xi into a pawn and threatened him with the tens of thousands of troops outside the city.
• Liu Xie denounced Ju Shou as a rebel and had him escorted from the palace, then summoned Guo Jia to plan how to deal with Yuan Xi.
• Yuan Xi confronted Ju Shou outside the palace and threatened him with a sword, but Shen Pei and Tian Feng persuaded him to let Ju Shou go; Ju Shou regretted having advised Yuan Shao to install a false Son of Heaven.

Yuan Xi failed to stop Jia Xu from escaping Ye City and tightened his control over the advisers and their families. Meanwhile, Xin Pi concluded that Yuan Xi had framed the executed officials and planned to expose him by spreading the truth through the city and appealing to the Son of Heaven.

• Yuan Xi learned that Jia Xu had escaped Ye City using Yuan Xi’s personal seal and ordered Jia Xu hunted throughout Ji Province.
• Yuan Xi restrained Shen Pei, Tian Feng, and the others, ordered their families brought to the Yuan Residence, and questioned Ju Shou about his audience with the Son of Heaven.
• Xin Pi told Feng Wei and Guo Kai that he believed Yuan Xi had killed their fathers and Yuan Shang to seize the succession and had placed Yuan Shao under house arrest.
• Feng Wei and Guo Kai wanted to seek revenge, but Xin Pi warned that the City Defense Army might include Yuan Xi’s agents and that they lacked evidence.
• Xin Pi urged Feng Wei and Guo Kai to spread the accusations throughout Ye City so the City Defense Army, Yan Liang, or the Son of Heaven would demand access to Yuan Shao.

Rumors that Yuan Xi killed Yuan Shang and imprisoned Yuan Shao spread through Ye City, and Liu Xie ordered Guo Jia to counter them by portraying Yuan Shao as a traitor holding the Son of Heaven hostage. Yuan Xi accused Ju Shou, Shen Pei, and Tian Feng of spreading the rumors, but they denied involvement and privately speculated about who was behind them.

• Feng Wei and Guo Kai secretly spread rumors that Yuan Xi killed his younger brother and imprisoned Yuan Shao, stirring public doubt and unrest among the City Defense Army.
• Liu Xie and Guo Jia decided to spread a counter-rumor that Yuan Shao was holding the Son of Heaven hostage, giving Yuan Xi a justification to confine his father and pressure him to execute Yuan Shao.
• Guo Jia agreed to spread Liu Xie's account discreetly and investigate who had started the rumors against Yuan Xi.
• Yuan Xi confronted Ju Shou, Shen Pei, and Tian Feng, accused them of leaking the truth, and threw a teacup that cut Ju Shou's face.
• After Yuan Xi left, Shen Pei asked Ju Shou whether Xun Chen, Xin Pi, or Xu You had spread the rumors.

Yuan Xi traced the rumors against him to Xin Pi, Feng Wei, and Guo Kai, then raided the Xin Residence and killed them and their families. In You Province, Gongsun Zan prepared to use the turmoil in Ye City to attack Ji Province, but Jia Xu arrived with a Girdle Edict.

• Ju Shou, Shen Pei, and Tian Feng hoped the City Defense Army would see through Yuan Xi's deception, but they had no way to contact it from their confinement.
• After identifying the Feng Family and Guo Family as the source of the rumors and linking Xin Pi to them, Yuan Xi led the Tiger Character Battalion to the Xin Residence.
• Xin Pi planned to seek an imperial edict to investigate Yuan Xi, but Yuan Xi arrived, killed Xin Pi, and ordered his soldiers to slaughter the Xin, Feng, and Guo families.
• The killings frightened Ye City's aristocratic clans, whose heads and elders gathered at the Xun Residence to consult Xun Chen.
• After receiving a report about Ye City's sealed gates and Yan Liang's army, Gongsun Zan summoned Jia Xu and welcomed him despite Gongsun Fan's concerns.
• Jia Xu entered Gongsun Zan's residence and presented a Girdle Edict, calling on Gongsun Zan to receive the imperial decree.