Chapter Summaries

Luo Ci and Luo Yan discussed Qin's letter and Chong'er's rule in Jin, where Chong'er excluded the Ducal Clan and empowered hereditary ministers. Luo Yan warned that Jin's system would eventually cause its ruin, as the chapter ended with a historical judgment that Chong'er would rise and fall by the same policy.

• Luo Yan read Qin's letter, which praised Luo State's history, urged it to trust Jin's rise, and promised Qin would keep the Western Rong from crossing its territory.
• Luo Ci recognized Qin's promise as a delaying tactic but welcomed the possibility that Qin would focus on the Western Rong instead of advancing east.
• Luo Yan recalled urging Chong'er to appoint Ducal Clan members among Jin's Six Ministers, but Chong'er refused, citing Jin's history of succession struggles and the ministers' greater ability.
• Chong'er empowered hereditary ministerial clans, allowed them to take Ducal Clan lands, and publicly rebuked the Ducal Clan for lacking virtue and talent.
• Luo Yan warned Luo Ci that Jin's ministerial system would eventually bring the state's downfall, and a closing historical account recalled Duke Xiang of Luo predicting that Chong'er would rise and fall by the same policy.

Ji Tai became consumed by his desire for beauty, and Feng Ji schemed to bring Prince Shu’s wife Yi Jiang into the palace. After Yi Jiang revealed the abuse to Prince Shu, he resolved to kill Ji Tai, leaving the Royal House on the brink of a violent succession crisis.

• Ji Tai complained that the women sent to him were unattractive, so Feng Ji promised to find him a peerless beauty in exchange for a reward.
• Feng Ji told Prince Shu that Ji Tai would make him Crown Prince if he led an army against the Yi-Luo Rong, then sent him out with troops already prepared.
• After Prince Shu left Luoyi, Feng Ji summoned Yi Jiang to the palace and tricked her into believing that she could secure her husband's return by dancing for Ji Tai.
• Ji Tai took Yi Jiang and granted Feng Ji a city as his fief, while Yi Jiang endured the abuse in silence until Prince Shu returned months later.
• After Yi Jiang told Prince Shu what had happened, he denounced Ji Tai and resolved to kill him, claiming that Heaven would support the execution of a tyrant.

Prince Shu avenged Yi Jiang by killing Ji Tai, then fled Luoyi and gained Chong’er’s support to return as king of Zhou. After restoring Prince Shu to the throne, Chong’er received Henei, Yangfan, the rank of Regional Earl, and the Nine Bestowments, rapidly advancing Jin’s claim to hegemony.

• Yi Jiang told Prince Shu that she was pregnant with Ji Tai’s child, and the couple swore to kill Ji Tai together.
• Ji Tai visited Prince Shu’s residence, where Prince Shu stabbed him to death and ambush archers killed his guards; Prince Shu then fled Luoyi with Yi Jiang.
• Chong’er’s Jin army encountered Prince Shu, and Chong’er initially ordered him seized for regicide before accepting his account that Ji Tai had been a tyrant.
• Chong’er swore an alliance with Prince Shu and escorted him back to Luoyi, where Prince Shu executed Feng Ji and Ji Tai’s favored ministers, condemned Ji Tai, and claimed the Zhou throne.
• Prince Shu granted Chong’er Henei, Yangfan, the rank of Regional Earl, and the Nine Bestowments in gratitude for Jin’s aid.

Jin’s campaign against Chu collapsed after Qin cut its supply lines and the Jin Ducal Clan rebelled, trapping Chong’er far from home. Chong’er begged Luo State for help, admitted his failures, and Luo State’s mobilization prompted the other states to muster as well.

• Luo Ci warned that Chong’er’s ambition and Jin’s growing dominance would bring disaster, while Luo Yan criticized Jin’s attempt to dominate All Xia.
• Chong’er insulted Chu in a letter and demanded land and submission, so the King of Chu rallied his people to defend Chu.
• The Count of Qin agreed to aid Chu, and Ying Nuo led Qin troops along a hidden route to attack Jin’s supply lines.
• Chong’er ordered a retreat, but Qin and Chu harried Jin’s army while the Jin Ducal Clan rebelled and barred Chong’er from returning home.
• Wei Qing urged Chong’er to seek Luo State’s aid, and Chong’er knelt in the rain before Luo Ci’s residence to ask forgiveness and request troops.
• Luo Yan rebuked Chong’er for relying on force and losing allies, then Luo State sent its army to the front and other states began mustering.

After the Battle of Yi-Luo, Luo Yan mediated a truce between Jin, Qin, and Chu, securing territorial concessions and a pact to end hostilities. Chong'er returned to Jin with Luo’s support, defeated the rebellious Ducal Clan, and vowed to uphold the alliance.

• Luo Yan arrived with the Luo State army, and Chong'er mourned the Jin soldiers killed beside the Ying River before resolving to lead his people home.
• Luo Yan persuaded the King of Chu and Ying Nuo to negotiate, and Qin and Chu agreed to withdraw in exchange for Jin ceding territory.
• Luo Yan witnessed the three states’ truce alliance, which pledged peace, support for the Son of Heaven, and joint campaigns against foreign tribes.
• Chong'er led the Jin army back toward Yi City, and Prince Yang rejected surrender as the rebels faced the returning army.
• Chong'er’s forces crushed the Ducal Clan rebellion and reached Yi City, where Chong'er promised Luo Yan he would honor the alliance.

Luo Yan met the Royal House archivist Li Er, whose writings had impressed the ruling house of Luo State, and offered him the Sage King's secret text, Way of Heaven. Li Er read it and asked whether Heaven had feelings, leaving Luo Yan stunned by his conviction that the Sage King remained present.

• Luo Ci told Luo Yan that Chong'er had awakened after his setback and that Jin State would help secure the Zhou State's Mandate of Heaven.
• Luo Yan praised Li Er's writings on beauty, ugliness, good, and evil, and Luo Ci urged him to recruit Li Er with the Sage King's Way of Heaven.
• Luo Yan visited Li Er in the Royal House archives and presented him with the restricted text, which Li Er read with astonishment.
• Li Er described how the Sage King's deeds contradicted principles he had believed universal, then asked Luo Yan to resolve his doubts.
• Li Er asked whether Heaven had feelings, and Luo Yan was stunned by the question.

Ji Zhao met Li Er, answered his questions about Heaven and the Dao, and dispelled his doubts, inspiring him to complete the Dao De Jing. Li Er became the Libationer of Luo State’s Academy, where his teachings won over students and his reputation spread to other states.

• Ji Zhao awakened after sensing Li Er’s closeness to the Dao and explained the Dao De Jing through Luo Yan, resolving Li Er’s doubts about the Sage King and the principles of Heaven.
• Luo Yan invited Li Er to serve as the Academy’s Libationer and gave him access to Luo State’s Repository of Classics, where Li Er studied for three months.
• Luo Ci read Li Er’s Dao De Jing and praised it as a work that explained the principles of all things.
• Luo Yan introduced Li Er to the Academy’s students as a sage, and Li Er answered their questions about virtue and how sages should act.
• When a student asked whether he understood every principle, Li Er admitted he could not explain the Sage King, and the day’s debates spread his reputation across the surrounding states.

Luo Qingyi and the other three scions asked Luo Ci for copies of Li Er’s teachings so they could preserve books and wisdom for their descendants. Luo Ci agreed to let them record the Academy’s debates, while he and Luo Yan worried that the states’ growing turmoil would soon bring more powerful doctrines into the open.

• Luo Yan told Luo Ci about the stir Li Er had caused, and Luo Ci explained how the Academy protected scholars who challenged established ideas.
• Luo Qingyi, Fu Jie, Kang Yun, and Yu Lin asked Luo Ci for books and permission to preserve Li Er’s teachings for their families.
• Luo Ci agreed to grant them books and let their scribes record the wisdom of scholars who came to the Academy.
• Luo Ci urged the four to have their descendants study and create teachings of their own to strengthen their clans and support the ruling house.
• After the four left, Luo Yan asked whether the harvest needed to be hastened, and Luo Ci warned that more great worthies would emerge amid the turmoil.
• Luo Yan argued that the Way of the Hegemon’s Art should remain hidden, but both men feared it would spread after the Way of the King.

During a truce among the great states, Luo State’s Academy drew scholars and delegations seeking the sage’s instruction and talented men. Luo Ci warned Luo Yan that the truce could become a time for preparing for war as rulers flocked to Luo, and the arrivals continued.

• Xiang Cheng persuaded the King of Chu to send a prince to Luo, recruit worthy scholars, and send Chu scholars to the Academy, then secured authority to choose the delegation.
• Guided by Xuan Mi, Qin State sent a lavish delegation led by a prince to Zhao City, and Luo Ci and Luo Yan read the courteous state letters from Qin and Chu.
• Luo Ci told Luo Yan that Qi and Jin would likely follow Qin and Chu, and warned that his father would soon meet the Sage King, leaving him with a heavy burden.
• Luo Qingyi and Luo Fujie discussed the many state delegations and the danger that might follow Crown Prince Qingji of Wu to Luo State.
• Qi’s delegation arrived first, followed by Qin and Chu’s princes, while scholars from across the world continued gathering at Luo State’s Academy.

Kong Qiu left Qu State after clashing with Cao Dafu over ritual abuses and traveled among the states, where rulers respected his learning but would not employ him. After reading Lord Boyang’s writings, he returned to Luo State to meet Li Er and continue developing his teachings.

• Kong Qiu left the Luo State Academy for Qu State, where the Lord appointed him chancellor to restore the Way of the King.
• Kong Qiu denounced Cao Dafu for using ritual vessels and music reserved for feudal lords, then resigned and began traveling among the states with his disciples.
• Kong Qiu read scattered writings by Lord Boyang and decided to return to the Luo State Academy to discuss their differences in person.
• Kong Qiu met the exiled Crown Prince Qingji and advised him to seek support in Luo State for reclaiming his throne.
• Kong Qiu and Qingji reached Zhao City, where Luo Yan welcomed Kong Qiu back and agreed to support Qingji and arrange a meeting with Li Er.

Kong Qiu met Li Er in Luo State's Repository of Classics and questioned his ideas about governing amid the realm's collapse. Their debate left Kong Qiu with a new way to uphold his convictions, while the Luo Clan recorded their exchange and Ji Zhao's Fortune Points rose rapidly.

• Luo Yan introduced Kong Qiu to Li Er, and Kong Qiu asked whether governing through non-action could work while the realm was falling into disorder.
• Li Er challenged Kong Qiu's effort to restore ancient rites and governance, arguing that the Rites of Zhou could not be restored and that benevolence alone could not bring order.
• Kong Qiu defended his commitment to benevolence and righteousness, and Li Er recognized that Kong Qiu had already attained his own Way.
• Kong Qiu realized that affirming his Way did not require killing those who opposed it, and that he could instead learn from and help perfect another's Way.
• Li Er and Kong Qiu exchanged ideas amicably as Luo Yan's trained recorders documented their conversation.
• The Luo Clan accelerated its effort to harvest wisdom, and Ji Zhao's Fortune Points began rising at a rate comparable to when Luo Su and Luo Xiu were alive.

Sun Wu and Qingji secured Luo State’s support for Qingji’s return to Wu State, and their army quickly took the Xu-Huai region. After Yao Li tried to assassinate Qingji aboard their ship, the soldiers killed him, and Qingji vowed to destroy Helü.

• Sun Wu presented his military treatise to Luo Yan and agreed to help Qingji reclaim his position in Wu State in exchange for troops and secrecy.
• Luo Yan lent Qingji ten thousand soldiers, and Qingji departed with Sun Wu after Confucius warned him that Helü might use assassins.
• Qingji’s army defeated the garrisons in the Xu-Huai region, which Sun Wu attributed to the soldiers’ lack of will and Qingji’s reputation.
• Yao Li tried to stab Qingji, but Qingji dodged the attack and had him seized.
• Yao Li admitted that he had sacrificed his family and maimed himself to gain Qingji’s trust; Qingji ordered the soldiers to kill him and hide his body, then vowed to defeat Helü.

Qingji’s army besieged Gusu while Sun Wu used siege tactics and promises of leniency to weaken its defenders from within. As Helü sought help from Yue, Goujian and Counsellor Wen plotted to deceive him and seize all five border cities.

• Qingji’s forces swelled to eighty thousand as Wu nobles and soldiers joined him, and he besieged Gusu under Sun Wu’s command.
• Sun Wu bombarded the city, left one wall open to encourage surrender, and advised Qingji to wear down the defenders before attacking the gates.
• Helü forced the city’s people to defend him with threats and rewards, while disaffected nobles and State People considered opening the gates to Qingji.
• Bidan persuaded Helü to offer Yue five border cities and other riches in exchange for military aid.
• Goujian agreed to Counsellor Wen’s plan to take some cities, feign withdrawal, and then seize the rest while attacking Wu’s soldiers.

Qingji and Sun Wu’s army exploited a rebellion within the Wu Capital to break through its defenses and seize the city from Helü. Qingji’s forces surrounded Helü in the Royal Palace, where Qingji ordered them to capture or kill him before he could destroy the palace’s records and stores.

• Sun Wu’s forces launched a full assault as rebels inside the Wu Capital caused disorder, and his soldiers urged the defenders to surrender.
• Helü killed Minister Bidan after accusing him of helping Goujian deceive him, and the defenders and townspeople fled as the gates were opened to Qingji’s army.
• Qingji entered the city with Sun Wu, saw the suffering Helü’s rule had inflicted on the people, and vowed that Heaven had punished the tyrant.
• Qingji’s army stormed the Royal Palace, fought Helü’s guards, and pursued Helü into a hall beside the Repository of Classics and storerooms.
• Qingji realized Helü might destroy the palace’s treasures and ordered his soldiers to charge in and capture or kill him.

Luo Ci and Luo Yan agreed to support Qingji’s Wu State as a new ally for defending the Zhou Royal House, and arranged for the Son of Heaven to elevate Wu’s ruler from count to marquis. The chapter ended with Gaozu explaining that Zhou’s rule had depended on its Ji-surnamed allies and fell when those states weakened or changed.

• Luo Yan read Qingji’s letter renouncing Helü’s royal title and pledging to guard the southeast and defend the Royal House.
• Luo Ci argued that Wu State could help shelter Zhou as Qi State grew unstable, and ordered Luo Yan to secure royal recognition and authority for Qingji.
• Luo Yan arranged for Wu State to pay tribute, and Qingji praised Sun Wu for his political strategy.
• The Son of Heaven invested Wu State with a marquisate and broad authority to campaign south of the Huai River, stirring the other states.
• Gaozu told his ministers that Zhou had ruled through its Ji-surnamed allies and had fallen as those allies declined or changed.

Qingji’s forces crushed Yue’s defenses and besieged Kuaiji, leaving Goujian desperate to save Yue State. Goujian entrusted Counsellor Wen with seeking surrender by offering Xishi and the treasured sword Zhanlu to Qingji.

• Qingji learned that Yue had massacred Wu soldiers in a mountain hollow, then ordered Sun Wu to seize footholds and mobilized Wu for war.
• Goujian and his ministers chose to resist Wu, and Goujian summoned Yue’s people to defend Kuaiji.
• Sun Wu’s army defeated Yue’s forces and reached Kuaiji, where relentless assaults overwhelmed the defenders.
• Goujian considered surrender as Kuaiji neared collapse, and Counsellor Wen proposed taking the blame and offering Xishi and Zhanlu to Qingji.
• Goujian entrusted Yue State’s survival and his own life to Counsellor Wen.

Wenzhong offered Yue State’s surrender to Qingji, who rejected its restoration but promised to preserve the sacrifices to King Yu and make Goujian Lord of Kuaiji under Wu’s control. Goujian surrendered, Wu and Yue were united, and Qingji sent Xishi and treasures to Luo State while preparing Wu to recover and eventually confront Chu State.

• Wenzhong came to Qingji’s camp and offered treasures, Xishi, and Yue State’s submission in exchange for preserving its altars and Goujian’s life.
• Sun Wu drew his sword against Xishi, warning that her beauty could bring down Wu State, but Qingji said he would send her to Luo State.
• Qingji rejected Wenzhong’s appeal to preserve Yue State, instead offering to enfeoff Goujian as Lord of Kuaiji and requiring Yue’s ruling families to relocate to Wu’s capital.
• Qingji told Sun Wu that Wu needed to avoid provoking Yue’s people and unite the states before recovering its strength to face Chu State.
• Goujian led Yue’s nobles out of Kuaiji, accepted vassal status under Wu, and was made Lord of Kuaiji.
• Wu officials eroded Yue’s foundations under Wu rule, Goujian abandoned hopes of restoring his state, and Wu’s envoys departed for Luo State with Xishi and treasures.

After Xishi arrived in Luo State, Prince Yu met her and immediately declared that Heaven had sent her to be his wife. Luo Yan agreed to their betrothal, leaving their wedding until after Yu’s two elder brothers married.

• Ji Zhao received a system message saying Xishi could enhance the Luo Clan’s beauty and charm through marriage.
• Luo Ci and Luo Yan discussed how to arrange Xishi’s marriage, and Luo Yan proposed choosing one of his eligible sons.
• Prince Yu returned from traveling and claimed that no man or woman he had met was more beautiful than he was.
• Confucius praised Qingji after news spread that he had defeated Yue State and established supremacy over the southeast.
• Xishi arrived in Luo State, where people marveled at her beauty and spread rumors about the mysterious beauty in Wu State’s delegation.
• Prince Yu met Xishi, declared her his future wife, and led her to meet Luo Yan, who settled their betrothal.

Ji Zhao’s system update revealed new talents among the Luo descendants, especially Luo Yu’s exceptional eloquence and charisma, while Luo Ci urged Luo Yan to prepare Luo Yu to lead the clan. Ji Zhao resolved to protect the Zhou State without actively helping it, and Luo Ci sought Lord Zhongni’s help for one final undertaking.

• Ji Zhao reviewed the expanded attributes and found that Luo Yu had 92 eloquence and 97 charisma, while Luo Ci had scholarship of 89.
• Ji Zhao considered Luo Yu a promising future ruler and concluded that the system’s expanded viewing range could help the Luo Clan broaden its future paths.
• Near death, Luo Ci told Luo Yan that Luo Yu might break the clan’s constraints and should be cultivated as a possible heir.
• Ji Zhao sent Luo Ci a peach blossom petal carrying praise, and Luo Ci rejoiced that his ancestor recognized his service to the Zhou Royal House.
• Luo Ci asked Luo Yan to invite Lord Zhongni so he could undertake one final great act for the Luo Clan’s legacy.

Luo Ci entrusted Confucius with continuing the Spring and Autumn Annals of Luo Palace, and Confucius began compiling it while teaching his disciples. The Academy’s debates gave rise to the early Confucian and Legalist schools, while Laozi completed his Way and died.

• Luo Ci asked Confucius to write Spring and Autumn Annals of Luo Palace: Venerate the King, continuing Duke Ming’s history, and Confucius accepted the charge.
• Luo Ci died in winter, and the Son of Heaven of Zhou posthumously named him Duke Xiao of Luo; Luo Yan succeeded him without naming a Crown Prince.
• Confucius began compiling the history and teaching doctrines based on Duke Ming’s work, as scholars across the states applied their learning to political affairs.
• Academy scholars developed the Way of the Hegemon, prompting Confucius to criticize it and Luo Yan to collect its theories and search for flaws.
• The Academy’s debates grew fierce, and Laozi completed his writing, declared his Way complete, and died.