Recaps

Luo Xiao shattered the feudal lords’ coalition and defeated the Han Court’s main army near Gong County. As the Taiping Army paused before Luoyang, Luo Kong fled west with the imperial children and Cai Yan, leaving the court to face panic and political upheaval.

• Yuan Shao led the feudal lords against the Taiping Army, but Luo Xiao ambushed and routed their forces at Xingyang, then defeated the coalition’s greatest warriors and declared his intent to march on Luoyang.
• Luo Chuan and Luo Kong withdrew east to protect their families, while Luo Xiao let them pass and prepared to confront the Han Court’s main army.
• At Gong County, Luo Xiao killed Pan Feng and Han Fu, defeated the Han cavalry and Lü Bu, then fought six renowned generals without being overcome.
• Luo Kong refused Luo Xiao’s offer to return west and fought for Han, while Liu Bei urged Gongsun Zan to preserve his forces if the court lost.
• Lü Bu and Zhang Liao withdrew, the allied lords fled, and Luo Xiao broke through Huangfu Song’s defenses, killed him, and destroyed the Han army’s grand banner.
• Luo Kong returned to Luoyang and took Liu Bian, Liu Xie, Tang Ji, and Cai Yan toward Chang’an, leaving the emperor and ministers behind.
• Luoyang descended into panic and disorder, and the emperor appointed Dong Zhuo to command Sili and granted him broad authority despite Cai Yong’s warning.

Zhang Jue destroyed the Han court’s Mandate of Heaven, and the Taiping Army divided as Luo Xiao died after completing his mission. Dong Zhuo, Yuan Shao, and the Luo Clan then moved to control Luoyang, where Liu Bian was enthroned and Diao Chan agreed to travel to Zhao City.

• Luo Xiao led the Taiping Army into Luoyang, deposed Emperor Ling, and proclaimed the Great Peace before offering the emperor’s head to Supreme Heaven.
• Luo Xiao revealed that breaking the Han Dynasty’s Mandate of Heaven had cost him his life, gave the Canal Commanders instructions for what to do after his death, and died as the sky darkened.
• Empress He gained the Taiping Army’s support in Luoyang, while the Canal Commanders chose separate paths and Yuan Shao began preparing to move on the city.
• Luo Zhang welcomed Jia Xu and Cai Yan to Zhao City, learned from Jia Xu that Dong Zhuo would seize power, and received Luo Xiao’s letter urging the clan to protect Diao Chan.
• Dong Zhuo marched toward Luoyang with Liu Bian, rejected the court’s demand that he withdraw, and attacked after the officials refused to open the gates.
• Yuan Shao joined the Luo Clan’s forces on the way to Luoyang, prompting Dong Zhuo to seize the palace as the city’s defenders withdrew.
• Dong Zhuo, Yuan Shao, and the other powers agreed to enthrone Liu Bian and depose Liu He, and Luo Shu congratulated the new emperor on behalf of Duke Zhao’s State.
• Luo Shu invited Diao Chan to Zhao City, where she could choose a husband later, and she agreed to go with the Luo Clan Scions.

After Luo Kong sacrificed himself to kill Dong Zhuo, the Han court collapsed into competing appointments and alliances. Luo Chu began building Jiangdong’s power while Yuan Shao and Gongsun Zan moved toward war.

• Luo Shu left Luoyang as Luo Kong stayed loyal to Liu Bian, while Yuan Shao and Xun Chen sought ties to the Luo Clan.
• Cao Cao returned to Qiao Commandery to rebuild his forces, and Liu Bei defeated Huang’s clan in Qingzhou and gained local support.
• Luo Chu traveled to Xuzhou, where Mi Zhu agreed to match Mi Zhen with Luo Qi, then visited Marquis Ying's Residence with Luo Kong’s letter introducing Liu Bei.
• Luo Kong agreed to help Xun You assassinate Dong Zhuo, but Li Ru poisoned Liu Bian and Empress Dowager He, and Luo Kong killed Hua Xiong and Li Ru before fleeing with Tang Ji.
• Luo Kong invoked heavenly punishment and killed Dong Zhuo, then disappeared as his heart transformed into jade, and Yuan Shao and Cao Cao retook Luoyang but Li Jue and Guo Si abducted Liu Xie.
• Luo Shu mediated a truce between Yuan Shao and Gongsun Zan, while Luo Chu met Qiao Wei in Jiangdong and considered how to unite its clans against regional warlords.
• Li Jue and Guo Si issued an Imperial Edict distributing titles among the warlords, prompting rival alliances and preparations for war across the realm.
• Luo Chu proposed a Jiangdong alliance and recruited talent, drawing Zhang Zhao, Zhang Hong, and Zhou Yu toward his cause as Sun Jian prepared to attack Wu Commandery.
• Yuan Shao and Gongsun Zan’s forces clashed, and Gongsun Zan ordered an attack after Yuan Shao provoked him with accusations about his past.

Liu Bei lost ground to Cao Cao and Yuan Shao while Luo Chu expanded Jiangdong’s reach into Jiangxia and the Luo Clan helped bring down Li Jue and Guo Si. The arc ended with the lords summoned to Zhao City to discuss the affairs of All Xia as Luo Zhang prepared rules for their assembly.

• Gongsun Zan’s White Horse Volunteer Cavalry was destroyed by Yuan Shao’s forces and Lü Bu’s cavalry at Jie Bridge, leaving Gongsun Zan confined to Youzhou.
• Liu Bei retreated from Qingzhou toward Xuzhou, evacuating civilians and artisans while Guan Yu was captured by Cao Cao and temporarily stayed with him.
• Liu Bei arrived in Xuzhou, where Mi Zhu welcomed him, and Mi Zhen proposed a merchants’ association that Liu Bei authorized her to establish.
• Ma Teng and Han Sui rose against Li Jue and Guo Si after Jia Xu’s maneuvers, and Luo Shu’s Dare-to-Fight Warriors helped defeat them as Liu Xie fled east.
• Cao Cao received Liu Xie and persuaded him to remain near Xingyang, while Cao Cao’s advisers planned a campaign against Yuan Shu.
• Huang Zhong killed Sun Jian, and a flood devastated Sun Jian’s army before Sun Ce and the survivors joined Luo Chu in Jiangdong.
• Luo Chu brokered a covenant with Liu Biao and Yuan Shu that gave Jiangdong control of Jiangxia and ended the First All Xia War.
• Luo Zhang and Luo Shu discussed rules to limit the harm of war, while Yuan Shao and Cao Cao accepted invitations to Zhao City, Gongsun Zan rejected one, and Liu Bei traveled without Luo Qi.