Chapter Summaries

After Yuan Shao defeated Gongsun Zan, the Luo Clan weighed how to protect its interests and prepare for the Han’s uncertain future. Liu Ye then advised Liu Bei to plan for defeat, retreat to Xuzhou if necessary, and seek closer support from Marquis Ying.

• Lü Bu joined Yuan Shao after Gongsun Zan fled, and the allies planned to recover Jizhou before turning toward Yanzhou and Qingzhou.
• Luo Zhang and Luo Shu discussed backing Yuan Shao, preparing for Luo Chuan’s support of Liu Bei, and recalling clansmen if their positions became unsafe.
• Cao Cao learned of Yuan Shao’s victory and urged him to attack Qingzhou so they could defeat Liu Bei together.
• Liu Bei’s officers considered withdrawing as their allies’ defeats left them facing Yuan Shao and Cao Cao’s combined forces.
• Liu Ye arrived in Liu Bei’s camp and advised him to consider how to limit his losses, retreat to Xuzhou if defeated, and seek Marquis Ying’s help.

Liu Ye advised Liu Bei to abandon northern Qingzhou, save its people and artisans, and retreat to Mount Tai while preparing to deter Cao Cao and exploit the future conflict between Cao Cao and Yuan Shao. Cao Cao recognized that Liu Bei’s withdrawal and defiant letter concealed a larger strategy, and ordered his army to pursue.

• Liu Ye explained that Yuan Shao posed the greater long-term threat and urged Liu Bei to withdraw his main forces to Mount Tai, yielding northern Qingzhou while preserving his strength.
• Liu Bei ordered Zhao Yun to evacuate artisans and willing civilians from northern Qingzhou, sent Guan Yu back with the main army, and assigned Zhang Fei to cover the retreat.
• Liu Ye argued that Cao Cao would eventually need allies against Yuan Shao, and that Liu Bei could benefit by holding Mount Tai and forcing Cao Cao to treat him as a formidable opponent.
• Liu Bei sent Cao Cao a letter declaring that he would defend Mount Tai to the death, leaving Cao Cao uneasy despite initially mocking the threat.
• Cao Cao’s strategists suspected Liu Bei was trying to provoke conflict and disrupt the alliance with Yuan Shao, and Cao Cao ordered his army to pursue Liu Bei.

Liu Bei's army fled Cao Cao's pursuit while Zhang Fei harassed the pursuers and Guan Yu was surrounded by Cao Cao's forces. Cao Cao spared Guan Yu and let him write to Liu Bei, while Liu Bei continued toward Qingzhou, fearing his sworn brother had been lost.

• Liu Bei withdrew with his army and entrusted Zhang Fei with delaying Cao Cao's pursuit, while Zhao Yun led troops away toward Qingzhou.
• Zhang Fei challenged Cao Cao's generals at Fuyang Pavilion, fought off several attackers, and repeatedly harassed the pursuing army as he retreated.
• Guan Yu rode to rescue an encircled infantry legion, where Cao Zhen and other Cao generals drew him into battle and Cao Cao's main force surrounded him.
• Cao Cao urged Guan Yu to surrender, but Guan Yu refused; Xun Yu advised Cao Cao to spare him and preserve the possibility of a future alliance with Liu Bei.
• Guan Yu agreed to remain with Cao Cao temporarily and asked permission to write Liu Bei a letter, while Liu Bei learned Guan Yu was alive and continued his withdrawal toward Qingzhou.

Liu Bei arrived at Luo Qi’s refuge as Yuan Shao’s forces invaded Qingzhou, and Luo Qi urged him to evacuate his wife and prepare for the province’s fall. Zhao Yun held off the Hebei Army at the river crossing, unhorsing Zhang He and challenging him and Gao Lan as Liu Bei’s people and resources withdrew.

• Liu Bei reunited with Luo Qi, who warned that the Two Lü would leave Qingzhou and urged him to evacuate his wife from Mount Tai Commandery.
• Liu Bei’s forces relocated artisans, commoners, and other people from northern Qingzhou, while Lü Shen and the Lü Clan helped move people and resources.
• Yuan Shao sent Shen Pei, Zhang He, and Gao Lan south to invade Qingzhou while Liu Bei fought Cao Cao elsewhere.
• Zhao Yun ambushed the Hebei Army as it crossed the Great River, killing its leader with an arrow and throwing its first troops into disarray.
• Zhang He challenged Zhao Yun and was knocked from his horse with one thrust; Gao Lan rescued him, and the two generals advanced together against Zhao Yun.

Lü Shen left Linzi to join Liu Bei, while Luo Chuan explained why Marquis Ying's Marquisate would remain behind as the Han's fortunes faded. Zhao Yun fought through Yuan Shao's forces, and Liu Bei's group set out for Xuzhou with a plan to build strength there.

• Zhao Yun led his troops through more than ten thousand Hebei soldiers, defeating Zhang He and Gao Lan before Shen Pei ordered a full attack.
• Lü Shen told Lü Lu he would follow Liu Bei, then left Linzi with supplies and instructed Zhao Yun to abandon northern Qingzhou.
• Luo Qi advised Liu Bei to enter Xuzhou, rely on Qingzhou's terrain to resist Yuan Shao, and seek support from the Mi Clan.
• Luo Chuan recounted Marquis Ying's three-hundred-year bond with the Han and said he would remain behind rather than leave with Liu Bei.
• Zhao Yun joined Liu Bei after collecting Lady Lü, and Liu Bei's party departed for Xuzhou while Lü Shen returned to garrison Mount Tai Commandery.

Luo Qi and Liu Bei entered Xuzhou to a grand welcome organized by Mi Zhu, who pledged Xuzhou’s support and prepared a banquet. Luo Qi left Liu Bei and Mi Zhu to talk and went to see his fiancée, Mi Zhen, ending by teasing her with a question about where she was.

• Mi Zhu gathered his family and prepared to welcome Luo Qi, telling Mi Zhen that their wedding would likely take place in Xuzhou.
• Liu Bei entered Xuzhou with his elite troops and received a large welcome from the local gentry, arranged through Mi Zhu’s efforts and Luo Qi’s earlier connections.
• Mi Zhu welcomed Liu Bei and pledged to lead Xuzhou’s people in supporting him, while Liu Bei praised Mi Zhu’s sincerity.
• Luo Qi excused himself from the banquet and went to the rear courtyard to see Mi Zhen.
• Mi Zhen sensed someone watching her, turned toward the courtyard entrance, and saw Luo Qi asking where his fiancée was.

Luo Qi reunited with his fiancée Mi Zhen in Xuzhou, where she proposed a merchants’ association to strengthen commerce and protect local businesses. Liu Bei approved her plan, leaving Mi Zhen with authority to organize the province’s merchants.

• Luo Qi found Mi Zhen and praised her natural beauty before helping her dress and make up.
• Mi Zhen told Luo Qi she wanted to establish a merchants’ association so merchants could exchange goods, support one another, and reduce commercial risks.
• Luo Qi presented Mi Zhen’s proposal to Liu Bei, who was impressed by her economic insight.
• Liu Bei appointed Mi Zhu Administrative Assistant and promised a provincial decree allowing Mi Zhen to gather Xuzhou’s wealthy merchants and eminent men.
• Mi Zhen discussed economic affairs with Liu Bei, who praised her counsel and authorized her plan.

After Li Jue and Guo Si slaughtered a Luo Clan caravan, Luo Shu led the Dare-to-Fight Warriors to Hedong while Jia Xu maneuvered Ma Teng and Han Sui toward war with the culprits. In Chang'an, Li Jue heard that Guo Si’s servants had exposed their crime and turned against his supposed ally.

• Luo Shu told Luo Zhang that mounted bandits had killed all 372 people in a Luo Clan caravan, and Luo Zhang ordered him to investigate in Guanzhong without revealing the Temple Army.
• Luo Shu led 3,000 Dare-to-Fight Warriors into Hedong Commandery, where he waited across the Great River from Guanzhong as the caravan’s slaughter drew attention across the realm.
• Jia Xu warned Luo Zhang that Ma Teng and Han Sui were likely to move against Li Jue and Guo Si, then discreetly sent Ma Teng information that the two men planned to frame him and Han Sui.
• Ma Teng and Han Sui agreed to march on Guanzhong and raised a campaign against Li Jue and Guo Si, accusing them of holding the emperor hostage and abusing the people.
• Li Jue learned that Guo Si’s servants were spreading news that Li Jue had arranged the caravan massacre, and he emerged from hiding with murderous intent toward Guo Si.

Ma Teng and Han Sui raised an army in Liangzhou as Li Jue and Guo Si fought for control of Chang'an. Li Jue struck Emperor Liu Xie and killed Wang Cheng, while Ma Teng and Han Sui recognized the division among their enemies as a chance to advance.

• Ma Teng and Han Sui swore an oath at Guzang and gathered Liangzhou forces and Guanzhong exiles, including Fa Zheng, to fight Li Jue and Guo Si.
• Li Jue and Guo Si turned against each other in Chang'an after their rivalry over power and rank grew beyond repair.
• Li Jue accused Guo Si of treason before Liu Xie and struck the emperor when he noticed Liu Xie smiling.
• Wang Cheng condemned Li Jue, who killed him and ordered the execution of his entire family.
• The ministers lamented the emperor’s humiliation as bells rang through the palace and Chang'an remained engulfed in fighting.
• Ma Teng and Han Sui heard that Li Jue and Guo Si were at war and that Li Jue had attacked Liu Xie, and they saw an opportunity to act.

Luo Shu’s compass revealed a terrible omen as Ma Teng and Han Sui marched into Guanzhong against Li Jue and Guo Si. Facing the new threat, Li Jue and Guo Si reconciled, but their blood oath faltered, and Ma Teng and Han Sui prepared to use their attack to seize Guanzhong.

• Luo Shu read a brief red flash on his compass as an ill omen, then wondered what future it foretold.
• Li Jue chased the defeated Guo Si through Guanzhong until word arrived that Ma Teng and Han Sui were advancing with Liangzhou’s army.
• Guo Si urged Li Jue to set aside their feud and unite against Ma Teng and Han Sui, and Li Jue agreed.
• Li Jue and Guo Si swore brotherhood from a guarded distance, but the wind extinguished their sandalwood incense and unsettled them.
• Ma Teng and Han Sui confronted Li Jue and Guo Si, denouncing them for humiliating the emperor and disgracing Liangzhou.
• Guo Si let slip that he and Li Jue had attacked the Luo Clan, giving Han Sui and Ma Teng further cause to press their campaign.

Fa Zheng persuaded Ma Teng and Han Sui to keep fighting Li Jue and Guo Si by promising that the Luo Clan’s Three Thousand Dare-to-Fight Warriors would arrive. The warriors crossed the Wei River and appeared at the battlefield, where Luo Shu prepared to lead them against the Western Liang Iron Cavalry.

• Fa Zheng invoked Guanzhong’s history and promised Ma Teng and Han Sui that the Dare-to-Fight Warriors would arrive within seven days to help defeat Li Jue and Guo Si.
• Ma Teng and Han Sui resumed their assault on Li Jue and Guo Si, despite struggling to overcome the Western Liang Iron Cavalry.
• Luo Shu led the Dare-to-Fight Warriors across the Great River and toward the Wei River, honoring the Sage King as they entered Guanzhong.
• The Dare-to-Fight Warriors donned red robes and black armor bearing gilded phoenix patterns, then crossed the Wei River toward the battlefield.
• The Dare-to-Fight Warriors arrived at the battlefield, and Luo Shu prepared to send them against the Western Liang Iron Cavalry.

Luo Shu led the Luo Clan’s fully armored Dare-to-Fight Warriors against Li Jue and Guo Si outside Chang'an, while Ma Teng and Han Sui joined the fight. The Western Liang Iron Cavalry was routed, and the chapter ended with Li Jue and Guo Si surrounded as Luo Shu ordered their execution.

• Luo Shu presented the Sage King's Divine Scepter and condemned Li Jue and Guo Si for their crimes.
• Luo Shu led three thousand Dare-to-Fight Warriors in a charge that broke through the Western Liang Iron Cavalry’s lines.
• Fa Zheng urged Ma Teng and Han Sui to join the assault, and they mobilized their troops against Li Jue and Guo Si.
• Ma Chao fought through the Western Liang army and cut off Li Jue and Guo Si’s escape.
• Luo Shu ordered the execution, and the Dare-to-Fight Warriors surrounded the two generals as their cavalry scattered.

After Li Jue and Guo Si lost control of Guanzhong, Emperor Liu Xie fled east with the court officials while Luo Shu warned Ma Teng and Han Sui that failing to find the emperor would leave Guanzhong’s future uncertain. Cao Cao’s forces intercepted Liu Xie, and Cao Cao received the emperor in Yanzhou.

• Luo Shu praised Guanzhong’s kingly aura and warned Ma Teng and Han Sui that Cao Cao and other lords could use the emperor’s authority against them.
• After Ma Teng and Han Sui failed to find Liu Xie, they left to pursue their own affairs, while Luo Shu led the Dare-to-Fight Warriors toward the Sage King's Mausoleum.
• Liu Xie and the exhausted court officials fled east from Guanzhong, hoping to reach the Three Rivers region and find a route back to Luoyang.
• Xun Yu persuaded Cao Cao that possessing the emperor would provide Han titles and ritual authority to attract talent and compete with Liu Xuande.
• Xiahou Yuan’s cavalry found Liu Xie in Henan, and Cao Cao arrived with a large force to receive the emperor in Yanzhou.

Cao Cao welcomed Liu Xie to Xingyang, received a powerful appointment, and gathered his advisers to plan how to use the emperor’s legitimacy against Yuan Shao. As Cao Cao settled on attacking Yuan Shu, Yuan Shu cut off Sun Jian’s supplies, forcing Sun Jian to seek a way out through Jiangxia.

• Liu Xie asked to return to Luoyang, but Xun Yu persuaded him to remain in Xingyang because the ruined city was unsafe.
• Cao Cao told his advisers that he had welcomed the emperor to uphold the Han and command the disloyal, while Guo Jia proposed alliances with Liu Bei and the Yan State and expansion into the Three Rivers and Yuzhou.
• Cao Cao’s advisers agreed that their army should attack Yuan Shu, who was already pressured by Liu Biao and threatened by Sun Jian’s growing independence.
• Yuan Shu ordered that Sun Jian’s army receive no more provisions, and Sun Jian condemned Yuan Shu for endangering his troops.
• Sun Jian persuaded his generals to lure Liu Biao’s forces into an ambush, then rode out with elite troops to scout Jiangxia.

Luo Chu joined Zhou Yu and Lu Su in Jiangxia as Jiangdong prepared to seize the commandery amid the conflict between Yuan Shu, Liu Biao, and Sun Jian. After Lu Su challenged Luo Chu to clarify Jiangdong’s future, Zhou Yu marched against Jiangxia, where Sun Jian unknowingly entered a trap laid by Liu Biao’s forces.

• Luo Chu left Xiao Qiao in Gusu and sailed upstream with Zhou Yu and Jiangdong’s generals toward Jiangxia.
• Lu Su explained that Yuan Shu and Liu Biao had weakened each other and urged Jiangdong to seize Jiangxia, which Luo Chu ordered Zhou Yu to attack.
• Lu Su questioned Luo Chu about his plans for Jiangdong and awaited his answer after Luo Chu’s planned return to Zhao City.
• Luo Chu warned Zhou Yu that Jiangxia would involve both Sun Jian and Liu Biao’s forces, and Zhou Yu vowed to take the commandery.
• Yuan Shu gave Liu Biao detailed intelligence on Sun Jian’s army and cut off Sun Jian’s retreat while Sun Jian unknowingly scouted near his encampment.

Huang Zhong killed Sun Jian with an arrow, and Kuai Yue destroyed Sun Jian’s army with a flood on the Han River. Sun Ce and a handful of survivors escaped, entered Jiangxia, and faced Luo Chu’s Jiangdong fleet, which offered them a chance to join Jiangdong.

• Huang Zhong shot and killed Sun Jian, and Kuai Yue ordered Jingzhou’s forces to attack Sun Jian’s disoriented army.
• Sun Ce took command after Huang Gai backed him, but Huang Zhong lured Sun Jian’s forces deeper while Kuai Yue breached an embankment during a storm.
• Sun Ce realized the Jingzhou army had escaped because a flood was coming, and he, Sun Ben, Huang Gai, and a few hundred elite troops fled as the torrent destroyed their camp.
• Sun Ce vowed revenge against Liu Biao, Cai Mao, Kuai Yue, and Huang Zhong, while Huang Gai urged the survivors to find shelter and guard against illness.
• Luo Chu entered Jiangxia after the flood swept away Sun Jian’s army and many of Yuan Shu’s troops; Sun Ce suggested seeking Yuan Shu’s protection.
• Luo Chu’s fleet approached Sun Ce and the survivors, and Zhou Tai called out to ask whether they would meet Young Master Chu.

Luo Chu secured Jiangxia for Jiangdong and brokered an armistice between Liu Biao and Yuan Shu, ending the southern theater of the First All Xia War. The agreement left Jiangdong free to consider its next advance, with Lu Su identifying Xuzhou as the remaining strategic target.

• Sun Ben and Sun Ce joined Jiangdong, while Zhou Yu restrained Sun Ce from attacking Kuai Yue and Huang Zhong.
• Lu Su challenged Kuai Yue over Jiangxia, and Luo Chu proposed that Jingzhou withdraw and let Jiangdong retain the commandery; Kuai Yue pulled his forces upstream.
• Liu Biao and Yuan Shu met Luo Chu, argued over the proposed terms, and signed a covenant that recognized Jiangdong's control of Jiangxia and required the exchange of prisoners.
• Luo Chu explained to Lu Su and Zhou Yu that the covenant publicly discouraged others from exploiting the truce, and Lu Su concluded that Xuzhou was Jiangdong's remaining target.
• The Jiangxia Alliance marked the end of the three-year-and-five-month First All Xia War, though the account noted that smaller wars followed.

Ji Zhao discussed the war and the feudal lords with Ji Lingjun, while Luo Shu and Luo Zhang used the Book of Man to assess Liu Bei, Yuan Shao, and Cao Cao. Their results revealed serious flaws shared by the three leading contenders, prompting them to broaden their search for potential rulers.

• Ji Zhao told Ji Lingjun that the current war was less brutal than the ancient conflict and said the Luo Clan should handle mortal affairs unless it needed his help.
• Ji Zhao sensed a flash of purple light over the Grasslands but could not find its source.
• Luo Shu reported to Luo Zhang that Ma and Han controlled Guanzhong and Liangzhou and might threaten the lands east of the passes.
• Luo Zhang used the Book of Man to assess Liu Bei, Yuan Shao, and Cao Cao, whose portraits and descriptions exposed flaws that could hinder their ambitions.
• Luo Shu urged Luo Zhang to assess other rulers and overlooked figures, so Luo Zhang prepared to examine the ruler of the Yan State with help from the Annals.

Luo Zhang and Luo Shu examined the rulers of Yan State and Central Xia, along with Ma Teng and Han Sui, then resolved to establish rules that would protect ordinary people from the feudal lords’ wars. Jia Xu warned that rules without the power to enforce them would be harmful, but after hearing the Luo Clan’s convictions and proposals, he agreed to help prepare them for an assembly of alliance.

• Luo Zhang used the Book of Man to assess Yan Lin, Li Chang, Ma Teng, and Han Sui, while Luo Shu discussed how their traits and positions might shape the struggle for All Under Heaven.
• Luo Zhang proposed making former unwritten conventions into explicit rules so that wars would not draw ordinary people into their conflicts, and Luo Shu brought Jia Xu to advise them.
• Jia Xu judged that Yuan Shao, Cao Cao, and Liu Bei were the likeliest contenders, then warned Luo Zhang and Luo Shu not to announce rules they could not enforce.
• Luo Zhang and Luo Shu declared that the Sage King’s divine spirit supported the Luo Clan, and they explained their proposed rules to Jia Xu.
• Jia Xu agreed that the proposals could succeed if the feudal lords did not feel overly constrained, and Luo Zhang planned an assembly of alliance once Luo Shu and Jia Xu finalized the provisions.

Yuan Shao, Gongsun Zan, Cao Cao, and Liu Bei weighed Zhao City's invitation to a gathering of the feudal lords, with each responding according to his circumstances. Yuan Shao and Liu Bei prepared to go, while Cao Cao arranged a campaign against Yuan Shu in his absence and Luo Qi stayed behind to guard Xuzhou.

• Yuan Shao accepted Zhao City's invitation, assigned Jizhou's affairs to his officials, and decided to bring Zhen Mi after Madam Liu described a phoenix manifestation around her.
• Gongsun Zan rejected the invitation and beat Zhao City's envoy, while Liu Yu declared that he would attend, worsening tensions between the two lords of Youzhou.
• Cao Cao consulted Xun Yu, then appointed Xiahou Dun to lead the campaign against Yuan Shu while Cao Cao traveled to Zhao City.
• Luo Qi declined to accompany Liu Bei, choosing to remain in Xuzhou and guard it, but arranged for his wife and children to travel with Liu Bei and the Luo Clan members.
• Duke Zhao's decree called the feudal lords to meet in Zhao City on the thirteenth day of the ninth month to discuss the affairs of All Xia.