Recaps

Investigations into the rival emperors deepened suspicion in Xu County, while Liu Xie gained allegiance and prepared a trap in Ye City. Yuan Shao's troops advanced on false reports of an internal coup and fell into ambushes.

• Yang Xiu, Dong Xi, Fu De, and Chen Qun visited Ye City to investigate Liu Xie's identity, and Yang Xiu stayed to seek an audience.
• Chen Qun's report led Cao Cao to threaten the Son of Heaven and suspect Yang Biao of arranging an imperial switch.
• Liu Xie secured Cui Yan's service and ordered him to confirm false reports that Yuan Xi planned to ambush Zhang Liao.
• Cao Cao confronted Yang Biao, who injured himself rather than confess, and Liu Xie publicly rewarded Yang Biao for supposedly aiding his escape.
• Fu Wan sought Xun Yu's help against Cao Cao, then denounced Cao Cao and the Son of Heaven at court after Xun Yu refused him.
• Liu Ai verified the Son of Heaven's identity in private but chose to support Liu Xie in Ye City and told Cao Cao that Yang Biao had arranged the switch.
• Yuan Shao sent troops to seize Ye City and kill Yuan Xi, while Jia Xu persuaded Gongsun Zan to attack Hejian.
• Cui Lin lured Chunyu Qiong into an archery ambush, and Zhang He attacked Han Meng after Yuan Xi drew him toward the Southern Suburbs Military Camp.

Liu Xie defeated Yuan Shao's forces around Ye City and secured Ju Shou's surrender appeal before Ju Shou killed himself. Yuan Shao then destroyed Gongsun Zan's army, while Liu Xie gained Zhao Yun and sought new allies against Yuan Shao amid the dispute over the true Son of Heaven.

• Zhang He, Gao Lan, Huang Zhong, and Zhang Liao defeated Yuan Shao's forces around Ye City, killed Han Meng, and captured Ju Shou.
• Liu Xie revealed his schemes against Yuan Shao to Ju Shou, who wrote a surrender appeal and killed himself after Liu Xie promised to care for his family.
• Liu Xie ordered the occupation of Qu Liang and Guantao, then sent Zhang Liao to recover Guangping and Yangping Commanderies.
• Yuan Shao rejected Ju Shou's surrender appeal and learned from Liu Xie's letter that Liu Xie was the rightful Han emperor.
• Emperor Xian of Han allied with Dong Cheng, stripped Yang Biao and Fu Wan of their offices and titles, and deposed Empress Fu.
• Zhao Yun's empty-city plan delayed Yuan Shao, but Yuan Shao defeated Gongsun Zan's attack, killed him, and took Yi City.
• Jia Xu brought Zhao Yun to Liu Xie, who welcomed them and posthumously honored Gongsun Zan as Marquis of Loyalty and Martyrdom.
• Liu Xie ordered Ma Teng and Han Sui to attack Bing Province and challenged Cao Cao to send Fu Wan, Yang Biao, and Empress Fu to Ye City.

Emperor Xian of Han fled Cao Cao’s control but was captured by Lü Bu and sent toward Ye City, while Liu Xie consolidated his court and prepared to challenge Yuan Shao. The arc left Liu Xie’s forces mobilizing against Qing Province as Yuan Tan learned of the coming campaign and considered how to counter it.

• Cao Cao rejected Xu You’s advice to support Liu Xie, seized Cui Lin, and deliberately let Emperor Xian of Han and Dong Cheng escape Xu County so he could claim they had taken the emperor hostage.
• Emperor Xian of Han fled to Shou County, where Lü Bu mistook him for the pretender, discovered the truth, and ordered him and Dong Cheng escorted to Ye City.
• Liu Xie allowed Empress Fu, Fu Wan, and Yang Biao to enter Ye City, but confined Empress Fu in Pepper Chamber Hall after she doubted that he was the true Son of Heaven.
• Yuan Shao marched on Ji County while Gongsun Xu held the city, and Zhang Yan’s Black Mountain Army raided Yuan Shao’s supply camp to disrupt the siege.
• Liu Xie secured pledges from Ma Teng and Han Sui, appointed Cui Yan and Zhao Yun to lead the Tiger Warriors Army, and gathered officials and allies for a campaign against Yuan Shao.
• Liu Xie rejected a proposal to hand Emperor Xian of Han to Yuan Tan and ordered Cao Xing to kill him, while Sima Yi proposed using the emperor as bait to draw Yuan Tan’s forces out.
• Liu Xie recruited Yuan Xi and Zhang Yan for the campaign, ordered Lü Bu to gather in Langya, and sent forces toward Qing Province.
• Yuan Xi reached Yuan Tan, warned him that Lü Bu planned to use Liu Xie to lead an attack on Qing Province, and proposed intercepting the Son of Heaven before he arrived.

Liu Xie recovered Qing Province after Emperor Xian escaped Cao Cao’s grasp and Yuan Tan died trying to protect him. The court then branded Yuan Shao a rebel and launched campaigns across Ji Province, leaving Yuan Shao facing Lü Bu’s advance and the loss of several commanderies.

• Yuan Xi deceived Yuan Tan into searching for the Pretender Emperor in Dongguan Commandery, while Liu Xie ordered Cao Xing to escort Emperor Xian to Ye City or kill him if escape became impossible.
• Cao Xing’s party was ambushed by Yuan Tan’s troops, and Cao Xing died after shooting an arrow that struck Yuan Tan in the eye as he tried to shield Emperor Xian.
• Emperor Xian ordered Dong Cheng executed, then abandoned his bid to rule Qing Province and returned toward Xu County as Lü Bu, Zhang Liao, and Kong Rong took control of the province.
• Cao Cao refused to let Emperor Xian enter Xu County and sent him toward Jing Province, where Liu Biao recognized him and promised support despite his advisers’ doubts.
• Liu Xie welcomed Lü Bu and his victorious commanders, appointed Lü Bu Grand Commandant, and later tasked Jia Xu with secretly rebuilding the investigative agency.
• Liu Xie rewarded Zhang Yan and the Black Mountain Army, securing their renewed loyalty, then declared Yuan Shao a rebel and assigned four armies to seize the remaining commanderies of Ji Province.
• Cui Lin helped Zhang He and Cui Yan take Qinghe without resistance, while Jia Xu’s stratagems brought Julu close to surrender and Guo Jia pressured Pingyuan to capitulate.
• Lü Bu seized Anping and routed Lü Xiang’s troops, while Cui Lin helped Zhang He and Gao Lan secure Qinghe, and Yuan Shao punished his retreating generals and wondered whether he could withstand Lü Bu.