Recaps

Luo Wuji and Huo Qubing shattered the Xiongnu’s power, while Han expanded its reach and prepared to advance into the Western Regions. After Liu Che’s death, a disastrous southwestern campaign left Liu Jin trying to rebuild the realm, but fresh accusations threatened his court.

• Luo Wuji and Huo Qubing defeated the White Sheep King, the King of Loufan, and the King of the Right Guli, then received high titles and fiefs from Liu Che.
• Luo Wuji presented Liu Che with a map of the Western Regions, and Liu Che planned new commanderies while ordering production of the Three Treasures of Horse Riding.
• Huo Qubing pursued Luo Jin Xiu, while Luo Wuji and his sister prepared the clan’s expansion and military support in the west.
• Luo Wuji led a major cavalry campaign through Xiongnu territory, captured King Xiutu and King Hunxie, and entered the Western Regions, where its people welcomed him as Lord Luo’s son.
• Luo Wuji and Huo Qubing pursued Chanyu Qilian, defeated his transformed demon form, and helped bring about the destruction of the Xiongnu main force.
• As he neared death, Liu Che appointed Luo Wuji Protector General of the Western Regions, Huo Qubing Protector General of Liaodong, and Wei Qing chief minister assisting the Crown Prince.
• After a catastrophic southwestern defeat, Liu Jin rejected calls for another immediate campaign and ordered ten years of recovery, reduced conscription, and a standing army, but nightmares and political conflict unsettled his rule.
• Luo Wuji warned Luo Sheng to watch Chang'an, and Liu Jin summoned the Chancellor after a young official accused him of embezzling supplies and withholding medicine during the Southern Kingdom campaign.

After Liu Dan took the throne, he launched wars in the southwest and Western Regions and expanded tax collection, stirring unrest across the realm. As Luo Sheng investigated the Great Han’s troubles, the Luo Clan weighed its standing, its future conflicts, and the cost of defending its principles.

• Liu Jin died after naming Liu Dan his successor, and Liu Dan took the throne before launching a campaign against the Southwestern Yi and Di.
• Liu Dan ordered Sang Hongyang to pursue tax evasion, and Sang Hongyang’s investigation led to King Dao of Jiaodong’s suicide and the creation of Jiaobei Commandery.
• Lü Ying persuaded Lu Chan to expel tax-evading merchants and sever trade ties to protect the Lü Clan’s standing.
• Luo Wuji established the Protectorate of the Western Regions, while Liu Dan’s army defeated the Southwestern Yi and Luo Sheng questioned the costs of further wars.
• Luo Wuji strengthened the Luo Clan’s position in Unshuang, and Luo Shi received a Heavenly Soldiers artifact and sought approval to campaign against Dayuan.
• Liu Dan approved the Dayuan campaign and expanded commercial and property tax collection, while Wang San killed tax clerks who threatened his family and set out for Chang'an.
• Luo Sheng confronted Governor Lou Huai about the Luo Clan’s estrangement from the Han, then resolved to investigate how society viewed the clan.
• The Luo Clan reviewed its standing and the rise of scholarly clans, while its members accepted the possibility of sacrifice rather than compromise and Ji Zhao planned to forge more divine artifacts.

Luo Shi’s victories in the Western Regions helped set the stage for the Jingnan Campaign, which toppled Liu Dan and placed Liu Bingyi on the throne. As the new emperor struggled to restore order and aid the people, Luo Wuji died and the Luo Clan reopened Zhao City, while Liu Xiang began reshaping Legalism.

• Luo Shi defeated Dayuan’s armies, besieged Dayuan City, and forced the kingdom to submit, while Liu Dan welcomed the Western Regions kingdoms and established a protectorate there.
• After Liu Dan executed opponents and refugees swelled East of the Passes, Han Lin and Lü Lu Chan persuaded Luo Wuji to help gather the feudal lords’ petition urging the emperor to address the crisis.
• Luo Si and Luo Shi joined the uprising against Liu Dan as defections spread across the empire, and the feudal lords captured Chang’an and deposed him.
• The Jingnan Feudal Lords chose Bingyi as emperor, and Liu Bingyi restored earlier laws, pardoned victims of Liu Dan’s reign, and married Empress Xu.
• Liu Bingyi ordered measures to restore agriculture and investigate abuses, then opened the Ever-Normal Granary after Wei Ping pleaded for grain for the East of the Passes.
• After reports of Hu cavalry near the Yin Mountains, Liu Bingyi prepared a limited campaign and strengthened Guanzhong and the Three Rivers region, leaving East of the Passes politically disadvantaged.
• Luo Wuji warned the Luo Clan about the future, died after speaking with Ji Zhao, and the clan announced that Zhao City would reopen to the world.
• Liu Xiang announced the reopening of Zhao City’s Sacred Hall and Luo Clan Academy, then led Legalist students away from Lord Chen’s school to renew their teachings.

Zhao City's reopening gathered the Hundred Schools as Liu Xun's court confronted rebellion, purged powerful factions, and promoted classical scholars. The investigation of an attack on Liu He exposed his involvement in a murder, while Sima Qian joined the Luo Clan in Zhao City to compile his history and questioned the absence of Yin Shang records.

• Luo Sheng reopened Zhao City's scholarly gathering, endorsed Liu Xiang's Criminal Law School, and demonstrated the Luo Clan's scholarship before the Hundred Schools.
• Luo Qing exposed the King of Wu's plot to turn Liu Xun against the Luo Clan and brought him to Chang'an after surviving an ambush with Huo Guang.
• Liu Xun ordered sweeping punishments for Liu Bi's rebellion, then spared Yuan Shen's falsely accused teacher and recalled the inspectors after Yuan Shen pleaded before his carriage.
• Liu Xun promoted classical studies despite Lü Ying's warnings, and Liu Xiang suppressed corrupt officials and powerful gentry with the Luo Clan's support.
• Liu Xun oversaw Great Han's recovery before an assassin gravely wounded Crown Prince Liu He.
• Liu Xiang uncovered Zhang Huai's revenge plot over his daughter's murder, and Liu Xun spared Zhang Huai and the assassin, executed those involved in the murder, and confined Liu He.
• Luo Qing recruited Sima Qian to compile his history in Zhao City with access to the Luo Clan's archives.
• Sima Qian gained Luo Sheng's approval and explored the Repository of Classics, where his question about its missing Yin Shang histories drew grave reactions from Luo Bai, Luo Qing, and Wang Wenjun.