Chapter Summaries

Over ten years, Luo Yu endured martial, agricultural, and political training that taught him the hardships of the people and the principles behind Luo State’s rule. After becoming Crown Prince, he accepted responsibility for protecting the ruling house and set his sights on resolving the problem of Qi State.

• Luo Yu and Xishi discussed his ambition to become the greatest hero under heaven as his decade of training approached its end.
• Masked warriors trained Luo Yu in combat, while an old farmer taught him about peasant life and loyalty to Luo State.
• Luo Yu explained to Luo Yan that benevolent rule won the people’s support, and Luo Yan urged him to cherish the people.
• Luo Yu completed his ten years of hardship, reaching the limits of his innate potential in every stat.
• Luo Yan told Luo Yu that he would soon be invested as Crown Prince, and Luo Yu accepted the duty of commanding the shadows to shield the ruling house.
• Luo Yu decided to summon strategists and resolve the problem of Qi State.

Sun Wu sought Luo State’s support for Wu State’s planned war against Chu State, and Luo Yu refused to break the Truce Alliance but offered to connect Wu with Hanyang’s Ji states. Sun Wu marched toward Hanyang while Luo Yu prepared to travel to Qi State.

• Sun Wu arrived in Luo State bearing the swords Gan Jiang and Mo Ye as gifts for Luo Yu and Xishi.
• Sun Wu asked Luo State to support Wu State’s campaign to restore the Han-Yang Ji States, invoking kinship and old grievances against Chu State.
• Luo Yu refused to send troops because Luo State was bound to Chu State by the Truce Alliance, but offered to witness a friendly covenant between Wu State and Ying State of Ying.
• Luo Yu agreed to let Wu State draw on Luo State’s network of Hanyang allies, with the understanding that Wu would restore the Ji states rather than absorb all conquered territory.
• Sun Wu returned to Wu State and led its army toward Hanyang, while Luo Yu sent observers to follow the war and set out for Qi State.

Luo Yu traveled to Qi State to address the ministerial clans’ growing threat to its ruling house and discovered that Tian Chang had persuaded Duke Lü Jing to question Qi’s five-hundred-year alliance with Luo. Luo Yu warned Lü Jing that Qi’s powerful state did not mean its ruling house was secure, leaving the duke shaken by the comparison to Zheng State.

• Luo Yu arrived in Linzi and noticed that Lü Jing’s friendly attitude toward him concealed a new distance between Qi State and Luo State.
• Tian Chang argued that Qi’s need to expand would eventually make Luo its enemy, and Lü Jing and the other ministers accepted his case.
• Luo Yu learned that Tian Chang had turned Lü Jing against the alliance and decided he could act against Tian Chang without qualms.
• Luo Yu told Lü Jing he had come to save Qi’s ruling house from destruction, but Lü Jing dismissed the warning by boasting of Qi’s strength.
• Luo Yu asked whether Qi State’s power also secured its ruling house and cited Zheng State’s ruling family’s past dependence on outside help, freezing Lü Jing’s smile.

Luo Yu persuaded Lü Jing that Tian Chang was maneuvering Qi State into conflict with Luo State to weaken Qi’s ruling house. Lü Jing agreed to Luo Yu’s plan to restore the Lü Clan’s authority, and the two reaffirmed their alliance.

• Luo Yu told Lü Jing that the Tian Clan’s growing power threatened Qi State’s ruling house.
• Luo Yu argued that Tian Chang wanted Qi to attack Luo State so the high ministers could weaken Lü Jing and seize more power.
• Luo Yu warned Lü Jing that Qi’s ministers might betray its army as they had abandoned the An Clan, and Lü Jing begged him for help.
• Luo Yu and Lü Jing worked through a strategy to restore the ruling house’s authority, with Lü Jing pledging Qi State’s support.
• Lü Jing and Luo Yu swore to uphold the Son of Heaven of Zhou and preserve the alliance between Qi and Luo.

Luo Yu’s plan turned Qi State’s ministers against one another by provoking Lü Jing to mobilize against Yan State, while Luo Yu secretly marched his army toward Yan by way of the Taihang Mountains. As Qi’s forces headed out and Luo Yu’s troops advanced in secret, he also began planning a later campaign against the Zhongshan tribe.

• After Luo Yu left Qi State, Princess Qi Jiang returned with visible injuries and accused Wu Gou, the Marquis of Yan, of humiliating her.
• Lü Jing became furious and ordered a nationwide mobilization against Yan State; Tian Chang and several ministers supported the attack, while others urged caution.
• Lü Jing recognized the ministers’ divided reactions as Luo Yu had predicted and grew wary of their disregard for his authority.
• Qi State’s armies assembled and marched out, while several hundred Dare-to-Fight Warriors entered Linzi disguised as a merchant caravan to help secure the city and gather evidence.
• Luo Yu led Luo State’s army on a secret route through Wei State and the Taihang Mountains toward Yan State, ordering detailed maps of the region for a future campaign against Zhongshan.

Luo Yu and the Marquis of Yan used Qi State’s leaked plans to ambush Tian Chang, while Lü Jing’s ducal army closed the trap. Tian Chang was defeated and killed, and the chapter ended with a later account of his death blaming Luo’s support rather than the Mandate of Heaven.

• Wu Gou received Luo Yu’s intelligence on Qi State’s troop routes and ordered Yan State’s army to ambush Tian Chang’s forces.
• Tian Chang’s army entered the mountain hollow, where Yan troops attacked it with falling boulders and blocked its escape.
• Luo Yu led Luo State’s armored troops against Tian Chang’s flank, and Lü Jing’s ducal army arrived behind the trapped forces.
• The allied armies overwhelmed Tian Chang’s troops, and Wu Gou declared that Yan State was helping Lü Jing suppress a rebellion.
• Duke Yi killed Tian Chang in Yan, and Tian Chang said Luo’s support—not the Mandate of Heaven—had secured the Jiang line’s victory.

After the Tian Clan's defeat, rulers and ministers across the states feared that Luo State and Qi State would punish those connected to the rebellion. Chen State's Grandee Chen Pi persuaded the Marquis of Chen to submit to Chu State and offer to attack Ying State of Ying in exchange for protection, leaving Chen State preparing to switch allegiance.

• Lü Jing declared that Tian Chang's accomplices and the ministers who had helped him should also be executed.
• Zheng State's ministerial clans arranged for the Marquis of Zheng to die in a hunting accident, and his one-year-old son became Marquis.
• The Marquis of Chen and his ministers feared Qi State and Luo State would attack Chen State because of its ties to the Tian Clan.
• Chen Pi proposed that Chen State become a dependency of Chu State to secure its protection.
• Chen Pi advised Chen State to offer to attack Ying State of Ying while Chu State was fighting Wu State.
• The Marquis of Chen and his ministers accepted Chen Pi's plan and decided to turn to Chu State.

Xiang Ci took command as Wu State advanced on Yingdu, arranging the royal family's escape and leading Chu State's defense. Qingji killed him when Yingdu fell, while Sun Wu reported that Chu State's nobles had escaped and that Wu had little time before reinforcements arrived.

• Sun Wu advised Qingji to abandon the stalled Hanyang campaign and advance through the Xinyang Corridor toward Yingdu.
• After Wu State routed Chu's last elite force at Xinyang, Xiang Ci urged the Queen Mother and young King of Chu to flee to Qin State and volunteered to lead the rearguard.
• The Queen Mother appointed Xiang Ci Lingyin, and he organized the nobles' evacuation before deploying the remaining forces to defend the Jianghan region.
• Xiang Ci resisted Sun Wu's advance, but Wu's army broke through Yingdu after the departing nobles took many elite soldiers with them.
• Qingji killed Xiang Ci when he refused to surrender, and Sun Wu noted that Chu's nobles had escaped and that Wu needed to act quickly before reinforcements came.

At the assembly convened by Chong'er, the Son of Heaven and Luo Yu elevated him to duke and rallied the Central Plains lords behind the Zhou royal house. Chong'er then called on the states to attack Zhongshan, leaving Qin and Chu’s envoys wary of Zhou’s enduring influence.

• Luo Yu, Duke Lü Jing of Qi, and Marquis Wu Gou of Yan arrived at the assembly, where Chong'er and Luo Yu quickly became friendly.
• Envoys from Qin, Chu, and Wu exchanged insults over their gifts and rivalries until Luo Yu warned them to respect Chong'er as host.
• The Son of Heaven and Luo Yu performed sacrifices, announced Heaven’s decree elevating Chong'er to duke, and secured the lords’ approval.
• The Qin and Chu envoys recognized the strength of the Zhou royal house as the Central Plains lords pledged to unite against the Yi and Di.
• Luo Yu urged Chong'er to punish Zhongshan for proclaiming its own lord, and Chong'er ordered the states to send elite troops into the Taihang Mountains.

After Wu State defeated Chu State and captured Ying, Qin State joined Chu State in a counterattack, but the Central Plains alliance intervened and forced a settlement. Chu State ceded territory to Wu State, while its leaders vowed to recover the lost lands and Wu State prepared to consolidate its gains.

• Jin State’s ministers urged Chong'er to honor the Truce Alliance instead of attacking the weakened Chu State, while Qin State’s ruler agreed to help Chu recover its lands.
• Qingji and Sun Wu recognized that the Qin-Chu forces intended to wear down Wu State and prepared to retreat when Luo State’s mediation army arrived.
• Prince Qian pursued the retreating Wu army to the Ying River, where the Central Plains alliance confronted the Qin-Chu forces under the Son of Heaven’s royal standard.
• Luo Yu proposed a boundary along the Ying River and Dabie Mountains, and Qin State and Chu State accepted the settlement despite Chu State losing a large tract of territory.
• Qingji thanked Chong'er, Luo Yu, and Lü Jing for their support, while Chu State’s leaders vowed revenge and Wu State prepared to absorb its new lands and fight again.

Ji Zhao sent Luo Yu his protection before falling into slumber, while Luo Yan and Confucius reflected on benevolent rule as the old rulers passed away. Luo Yan died beloved by his people, and Confucius later died after affirming the Sage King's way, leaving Luo Yu and his disciples to carry their teachings forward.

• Ji Zhao saw Zhou State's fortunes rising, sent fortune to Luo Yu, and returned to slumber as his peach-blossom world dissolved.
• Luo Yan praised Luo Yu's diplomacy and warned him to preserve stability as old rulers died; Luo Yu sensed Ji Zhao's protection.
• After Zhongshan fell, Duke Wen of Jin and Duke Lü Jing of Qi died, leaving Qingji as the sole surviving Ji-Jiang ruler from the Ying River agreement.
• Luo Yu learned that Luo Yan had collapsed and returned to find his father near death; Luo Yan asked after his people and urged him to remember that the benevolent were invincible.
• Luo Yan died in winter, and the people of Zhao City sang hymns to the Sage King as they mourned their benevolent ruler.
• Confucius revised his books, taught that the Sage King's way strengthened both state and people, and died after telling Luo Yu that he now understood Lord Boyang.

Luo Yu maintained the alliance among Jin, Qi, and Wu while the surrounding states pursued their own strategies. As Chu turned toward marriage diplomacy and Qin focused on developing its territory, the realm remained at peace under Luo Yu’s influence.

• Duke Shuang of Jin rejected his ministers’ warnings at first but agreed to pay tribute to the Zhou court and notify Qi, Luo, and Wu of an alliance.
• Lü Qie’s efforts to govern Qi failed as its ministers practiced nonviolent noncooperation, and he joined them in a life of pleasure.
• Luo Yu’s diplomacy kept Jin, Qi, and Wu aligned with Luo State, while Jin and Wu contained Chu and Qi supported Yan.
• Prince Qian of Qin persuaded Qin’s ruler to develop Guanzhong, recruit Luo State’s scholars, and wait for the Ji-Jiang Alliance to weaken.
• Xiang Zi advised the King of Chu to seek marriage ties with Jin and Qi rather than attack Luo State, and Chu changed its strategy accordingly.

Luo Yu died after passing the Luo Clan’s leadership and Luo State’s rule to Luo Jin, while urging Ji Lingjun to guide her brother. Xishi died beside him, and Ji Zhao received a large Fortune Point reward and the unique Mystic-Tier Item Divine Phoenix.

• Ji Zhao appeared to Luo Yu as a sliver of consciousness and reassured him about the Luo Clan’s future.
• Luo Yu gave the Inheritance Ring to Luo Jin and asked Ji Lingjun to help her brother govern.
• Luo Yu died, and Xishi died while leaning against him.
• Ji Zhao’s system credited Luo Yu with preserving Zhou State’s Mandate of Heaven and granted Fortune Points and the unique Mystic-Tier Item Divine Phoenix.

Lady Zheng’s pregnancy and beauty triggered a chain of scandals between Zheng State and Chen State, ending with Chen Crown Prince Hu killing the child and Zheng Crown Prince Chan vowing to rescue Xi. The chapter leaves Chan consumed by hatred for Chen State.

• Prince Chang caught Crown Prince Chan and Lady Zheng together, then told the Marquis of Zheng about their affair to avenge his loss of Xi.
• Lady Zheng persuaded the Marquis of Zheng to spare Crown Prince Chan and marry her to Chen Crown Prince Hu, but the Marquis of Chen seized her for himself.
• Chen Crown Prince Hu killed the Marquis of Chen in a coup and took Lady Zheng into his palace.
• Chen Hu learned that Lady Zheng’s child was not his, killed the infant, and spared her because of her beauty.
• Zheng Crown Prince Chan grieved over the child’s death and vowed not to leave Xi in Chen State.

Zheng attacked Chen after Marquis Zheng died, and Song joined Chen’s side, prompting Luo Zhi to seek guidance from Ji Lingjun. Ji Lingjun warned him of the wider crisis, then died after a final meeting with Ji Zhao, whose Hall of Heroes appeared as the Zhou State’s fate came into question.

• Marquis Zheng died after hearing a song insulting him, and Zheng Chan persuaded Minister Guo to avenge him by declaring war on Chen.
• Chen sent Grandee Lianqiao to seek Song’s help, and Song committed a hundred thousand troops to defend Chen against Zheng.
• Luo Zhi consulted Ji Lingjun, who explained how the conflict fit into a broader danger among the states and told him she would die in three days.
• Ji Lingjun sang before the Sage King’s statue, where Ji Zhao awakened and comforted her before she died.
• Ji Lingjun entered the Hall of Heroes, the system increased Luo Yu’s Planning reward, and Luo’s principal-line daughters became eligible for Ancestors’ Blessing.
• Ji Zhao saw the newly appeared Hall of Heroes and resolved that the Zhou State should fall while defending its Altars of State.

As Zheng State’s invasion of Chen State faltered before Song State’s intervention, Zheng Chan’s ministers devised a plan to enlist the Royal House by offering bribes and territory. Meanwhile, Luo State sought Qi State’s support, and the armies of Zheng and the Song-Chen alliance prepared for battle near Lucheng.

• Luo Zhi investigated other states’ troop and supply movements and contacted Qi State to revive the Ji-Jiang Alliance.
• After Zheng State captured Wanqiu and drove Chen’s army toward Lucheng, Song State entered Chen territory with a large force, leaving Zheng Chan unable to retreat.
• Zheng Chan’s ministers rejected seeking help from Luo State and proposed bribing the Son of Heaven with wealth, goods, and three cities in exchange for Royal House troops.
• Zheng Chan sent envoys to Luoyi as Zheng’s army faced the Song-Chen alliance, while Song State’s envoy failed to persuade him to withdraw from Chen.
• The Marquis of Chen protested Zheng Chan’s demand for all of Chen’s land, and the Duke of Song promised to defeat Zheng; Qi’s nobles also reported Song’s movements to Linzi.

The Zheng State Envoy persuaded Ji Bai to intervene against Song State, despite Luo Qing's warning that the Royal Domain lacked the strength to fight. Luo State then tried to stop the conflict, but Qi State's lower-ranking nobles launched their own campaign against Song, leaving the Duke of Qi and the Luo State Envoy unable to control events.

• The Zheng State Envoy offered Ji Bai treasures and the prospect of three cities in exchange for troops, and Ji Bai agreed to issue Song State a ceasefire order.
• Luo Qing urged Ji Bai to reject Zheng State's request and leave the matter to Luo State, but Ji Bai insisted on intervening as Son of Heaven.
• When Luo Zhi learned Ji Bai planned to lead troops, he condemned the decision, and Luo State sent another delegation to Qi State to stop the war.
• Xue Yuan staged evidence of a Song State ambush in Xuecheng, rallied the local soldiers, and sent armies from Qi State's border into Song State.
• A group of 134 grandees and Prime Scholars submitted a blood petition to the Duke of Qi, demanding that Qi State mobilize troops against Song State.

Qi State mobilized for war against Song State as Luo State considered how to preserve the Ji-Jiang Alliance and avoid a wider conflict. Meanwhile, Song and Chen refused the Zhou Son of Heaven’s order to withdraw, setting the stage for a major confrontation with Zheng and the Royal House.

• The Duke of Qi agreed to the Prime Scholars’ demands, and Qi State quickly assembled more than a hundred thousand soldiers.
• Luo Zhi and his ministers weighed Qi State’s new political forces and discussed partitioning Song State and Chen State while considering the risks posed by Wu, Chu, and Qin.
• Marquis of Zheng Chan’s army retreated into Zheng State after repeated defeats by Song State, while the High Minister Clans finally joined the fighting in earnest.
• Ji Bai arrived with the Zhou army and ordered Song and Chen to withdraw, but the Duke of Song hesitated and Marquis of Chen Hu urged him to resist.
• The Duke of Song accepted Marquis of Chen Hu’s counsel, and Song and Chen assembled over a hundred thousand troops as Zheng and the Royal House formed their own forces.
• Marquis of Zheng Chan denounced Song and Chen for defying the Royal Mandate, and Ji Bai declared that Song State deserved death.

Chu State’s ruler and ministers decided to march into the Central Plains amid the war between Zheng and Chen, claiming they would remonstrate with the Son of Heaven and aid their vassal. The chapter left Chu’s forces preparing to advance north, with the King of Chu leading a vast army toward Zheng State.

• A minister from Chen State appealed to the King of Chu for troops, blaming Zheng State and recounting scandalous accusations against its ruling house.
• The King of Chu condemned Zheng State, and Xiang Cheng urged him to use the conflict to justify Chu’s advance into the Central Plains.
• The King of Chu worried that Jin, Luo, Qi, and Wu might oppose Chu’s campaign, but Xiang Cheng argued that Qin State would draw Jin’s forces westward.
• The King of Chu ordered Chu State to mobilize, assigning two hundred thousand troops to himself for Zheng State, two hundred thousand to the Minister of War for Wu State, and one hundred thousand to the Senior General to guard Nanyang.
• Chu’s people assembled to march north, returning to the Central Plains with confidence that they could create a legend for Chu State.

Chu prepared a major war against Wu, prompting the Marquis of Wu to recall troops from the campaign against Song. Meanwhile, the coalition attack on Song and Chen faltered as Wu and Qi fought over plunder, while the Duke of Song planned to break through Zhou and Zheng’s forces.

• Chu sent missions to Qin, Jin, and Zheng as it mobilized at least two hundred thousand troops, and the Wu Chancellor urged the Marquis of Wu to focus on defending against Chu.
• The Marquis of Wu ordered Grandee Wu Qing to remain in Song and recalled fifty thousand troops to guard against Chu.
• The Duke of Song decided to attack the armies of the Son of Heaven of Zhou and Marquis of Zheng Chan, then escape south and join Chu.
• Ji Bai persuaded Marquis of Zheng Chan to attack Song’s main army, while Luo Zhi’s forces captured three Song cities amid fierce resistance and brutality.
• Qi and Wu soldiers fought over loot in the captured city of Xiao, causing more deaths than the assault and deepening hostility between the two states.