Recaps

Sun Xiu questioned Zhang Bu and Puyang Xing after dismissing them from their posts, then heard Wei Miao’s assessment that Wu could not defeat Guanqiu Jian and must focus on delaying the Wei advance. He entrusted Wei Miao with the navy and ordered him to defend Wu’s positions by any means.

• Zhang Bu and Puyang Xing pleaded with Sun Xiu over their dismissals, and Sun Xiu explained that Lu Kai doubted Zhang Bu’s judgment and battle experience.
• Zhang Bu and Puyang Xing left the palace, and Zhang Bu warned Puyang Xing to stay home while rebellions continued across the realm.
• Sun Xiu summoned Wei Miao, Shi Shuo, Wu Yan, and Liu Ping to discuss the coming war with Guanqiu Jian.
• Wei Miao told Sun Xiu that Wu could not defeat the Wei army and should hold its advantageous terrain while slowing the enemy on multiple fronts.
• Sun Xiu appointed Wei Miao to command the navy and ordered him to defend Wu’s positions using any strategy or means.

Guanqiu Jian and Tang Zi led Wei’s navy down the Yangtze toward Jianye, where Tang Zi’s fast-boat tactics defeated Wu’s vanguard. Wu Yan delayed the advance for twenty-seven days before surrendering to Tang Zi.

• Guanqiu Jian entrusted Tang Zi with command of the fleet and backed his changing naval formations as Wei advanced toward Wu.
• Tang Zi drew Wu’s scouting vessels into an attack by Wei’s fast boats and defeated the Wu vanguard in a major river battle.
• Wei Miao assigned Wu Yan to intercept the Wei fleet while he remained behind to oversee defensive preparations.
• Wu Yan fought a running battle against Tang Zi’s fast boats, holding the Wei advance for half a month as his fleet suffered heavy losses.
• After twenty-seven days of fighting, Wu Yan surrendered with only three warships remaining and was brought before Tang Zi.

Wu Yan’s attempted attack on Tang Zi ended in his death, while Wen Qin’s advance into Jiaozhi deepened Wu’s crisis. In Yuzhang, Lu Kang persuaded Shi Ji and Ding Feng to launch bold attacks on Wei’s positions, leaving Shi Ji hopeful that Lu Kang could save Wu despite his doubts about the court.

• Wu Yan lunged at Tang Zi after Zhang Te delivered the Grand General’s warning, but Zhang Te cut off his arm and killed him.
• Guanqiu Jian learned that Wu Yan’s surrender had disrupted the Wei army’s plans, and he lamented the loss of a loyal Wu officer.
• Wen Qin led the Expeditionary Army into Jiaozhi, where Lü Xing welcomed him and Wu forces scattered.
• Shi Ji, Ding Feng, and Lu Kang met in Yuzhang and discussed their defeats against Wei.
• Lu Kang proposed attacking Xiakou and Jiangling to force Wang Ji and Wen Qin to defend their vital positions, and Shi Ji and Ding Feng agreed to support him.
• Lu Kang assigned Shi Ji to hold the passes, Ding Feng to engage Wang Ji, and himself to attack the Wei army’s rear; Shi Ji later predicted the court would tolerate Lu Kang.

Lu Kang launched an offensive to restore Wu’s morale as Wei forces continued advancing, while officials in Jianye argued over the naval defeats and blamed one another. Sun Xiu defended the fallen commanders, but Lu Kai warned Zhang Bu not to underestimate Wei as the chapter ended with Zhang correcting him over the names of the late 𬘭 and the late Jun.

• Lu Kang persuaded two veteran generals to support a naval strike toward Xiakou and Jiangling, and Ding Feng attacked Wang Ji’s main army as Lu Kang crossed the river toward Jiangbei.
• Zhang Bu blamed Wu Yan, Wei Miao, and the commanders who had recommended them for the naval defeats, hoping to take command himself.
• Lu Kai rebuked Zhang Bu for smearing the generals and weakening Wu’s morale, and Sun Xiu ordered posthumous honors for the fallen commanders.
• Sun Xiu affirmed that Wu’s defensive strategy had succeeded and urged the ministers to cooperate.
• Lu Kai warned Zhang Bu that Wei’s navy was strong and that former Wu officers, including Tang Zi, now fought for Wei.
• Zhang Bu reminded Lu Kai that Sun Xiu required the names to be spoken as “the late 𬘭” and “the late Jun,” and Lu Kai left with his smile fading.

Cao Mao’s court reviewed the Imperial Secretariat’s work, including the abolition of military agriculture and the resettlement of Qiang, Hu, and Xiongnu people as Great Wei subjects. After the assembly, He Zeng warned Cao Mao that great clans were placing relatives in Shu, and Cao Mao told him to handle the matter himself.

• Lu Zhi defended abolishing the military agriculture agencies, arguing that their officials obstructed farming and enriched themselves, and the court approved the policy.
• Pei Xiu and Zhuge Xu dispersed 230,000 Qiang and Hu across commanderies, registered them as ordinary subjects, and sent their former chieftains to Luoyang for official posts and titles.
• The Ministry of Rites reported that similar resettlement was underway among the Xiongnu, while the other ministries presented their recent achievements.
• After the assembly, He Zeng told Cao Mao that great clans were sending sons and younger relatives to Shu to claim farmland and properties and exploit weaknesses in the Ministry of Personnel.
• Cao Mao told He Zeng to deal with the appointments himself without seeking imperial approval.

Cao Mao planned a family banquet and instructed Zheng Xian to build ties with the Imperial Clan’s wives and daughters, then visited Empress Dowager Guo about Guo Tong’s request for a post in Shu. He agreed to send Guo Tong to serve as a governor in Nanzhong and told the Empress Dowager to summon him with the good news.

• Zheng Xian offered Cao Mao a new lower garment and told him she had arranged the family banquet.
• Cao Mao instructed Zheng Xian to correspond with the families of the Imperial Clan and ministers, and to ask Sima Yue for help.
• Zheng Xian told Cao Mao that Guo Tong had sent the Empress Dowager a letter and gifts while seeking an appointment in Shu.
• Cao Mao visited Empress Dowager Guo, who recommended that he employ Guo Tong in Shu.
• Cao Mao agreed to appoint Guo Tong as a governor in Nanzhong and asked Empress Dowager Guo to summon him.

Guo Tong sought Empress Dowager Guo’s help to obtain an official post, expecting a prestigious appointment, but she assigned him to govern remote commanderies in Nanzhong. He left Zhaoyang Hall realizing that his attempt to secure office might have doomed him.

• Guo Tong went to Zhaoyang Hall after Empress Dowager Guo summoned him, hoping she would help him enter government without taking an examination.
• Guo Tong praised his late father’s wishes and wept, moving Empress Dowager Guo to approve his request to serve the country.
• Empress Dowager Guo offered Guo Tong the post of Governor of Yunnan Commandery, and he realized the appointment was a dangerous posting far from Shu’s prosperous regions.
• Guo Tong protested that he lacked the ability to govern Yunnan, but Empress Dowager Guo changed the appointment to Governor of Yongchang Commandery instead.
• Empress Dowager Guo had Guo Tong escorted out, and he slapped himself for asking her to find him an official post.

After Guo Tong became Governor of Yongchang, Wang Su’s young pupils faced pressure to take their studies seriously. Liu Yuan excelled while Cao Qi and Guo Ping struggled, and Sima You privately wondered whether Liu Yuan would one day threaten the Central Plains.

• Guo Tong left for Nanzhong as Governor of Yongchang, becoming a laughingstock and a warning to Luoyang’s aristocratic scions.
• Huangfu Mi examined Wang Su and warned that Wang Su’s inability to feel pain was a serious sign, but Wang Su dismissed his concerns.
• Wang Su’s pupils visited him, and Liu Yuan stood out for his diligence while Cao Qi and Guo Ping eagerly planned to go out.
• Kong Chao questioned the pupils about their studies, and Liu Yuan and Sima You answered well while Cao Qi and Guo Ping failed.
• Kong Chao reprimanded the pupils and threatened to report them to His Majesty if they did not improve, prompting them to plan to study harder.
• After Liu Yuan quietly left, Sima You said he might become a great threat to the Central Plains.

Huo Yi took command of Nanzhong under Great Wei and prepared to aid Jiaozhou, while Lu Kang’s concentrated counterattacks forced Wang Ji to retreat from some of his gains. The war remained unsettled as Wei’s forces grew exhausted and Wu’s leaders pressed their offensive.

• Huo Yi entered Dianchi County, where he told local officials and tribal leaders that Shu had fallen and that Cao Mao had appointed him Military Governor of Nanzhong.
• Huo Yi announced that he could appoint local officials himself and urged them to help develop Nanzhong, then said he would lead troops to aid Jiaozhou.
• Wen Qin and Lü Xing wondered why Wu had withdrawn its forces from Jiaozhou, and Wen Qin ordered scouts to investigate Jingnan and asked when Huo Yi would arrive.
• Lu Kang redirected Wu’s forces to attack Wang Ji while sailing warships toward Jiangling, prompting Wang Ji to pull back and defend the riverbank.
• Shi Ji recovered territory as Wen Qin continued advancing in Jiaozhou, and the Wei army showed signs of exhaustion while Jianye’s leaders grew increasingly desperate.

Zhang Bu accused Lu Kang of rebellion after he marched out, but Sun Xiu defended the general and warned Zhang Bu not to undermine the army. As the fighting in the south subsided without a decisive victory, Cao Mao arranged studies for the young men around him and resolved to make Wang Learning the court’s official doctrine while Wang Su was still alive.

• Zhang Bu hurried to Jianye and urged Sun Xiu to send someone to arrest Lu Kang for marching out without court approval.
• Sun Xiu rejected Zhang Bu’s accusation, warned him against sowing discord, and sent him away after a prolonged coughing fit.
• Lu Kang regained parts of Jingnan as Wei’s advance slowed, while Wang Ji began withdrawing and the fighting between Wei and Wu quieted.
• Cao Mao visited the ailing Wang Su and learned that Sima You and Liu Yuan were the strongest students among the boys studying with him.
• Cao Mao sent Guo Ping to study military strategy under Chen Qian and directed Cao Qi to attend the Imperial Academy and make friends.
• Cao Mao resolved to establish Wang Learning as the court’s official doctrine and to deal with the scholars of the Bamboo Grove.

Cao Mao summoned the Bamboo Grove gentlemen and announced that Wang Learning would become Great Wei’s official learning, appointing Ji Kang and Ruan Ji to oversee its study. He ordered Liu Ling and Ruan Xian to stop gathering scholars and threatened to bar the clans and associates of those who remained in seclusion from office, then commanded that the policy be carried out.

• Cao Mao met Ji Kang, Ruan Ji, Shan Tao, Xiang Xiu, Liu Ling, and Ruan Xian after Wang Rong’s arrest and the others’ changing allegiances.
• Ji Kang explained how Wang Learning connected the patterns of nature to governing, and Cao Mao appointed him to lead the official study of Wang Learning.
• Cao Mao ordered Ruan Ji to join Ji Kang in overseeing Wang Learning, while telling Liu Ling and Ruan Xian to live privately and stop gathering or influencing scholars.
• Cao Mao declared Wang Learning official learning and threatened to bar the descendants, clansmen, and close associates of men who retired into seclusion from entering office.
• Liu Ling compared the threatened restrictions to the Partisan Prohibitions, while Ruan Ji objected that the punishment was excessive.
• Cao Mao defended the policy as necessary for Great Wei’s strength and ordered his decision carried out.

Cao Mao’s Official Learning reforms reshaped scholarship in Luoyang while Pei Xiu and Zhuge Xu oversaw the relocation and resettlement of the Qiang and Hu. As Tufa Shujineng arrived in Luoyang, he asked Yang Zong to let him study at the Imperial Academy.

• Cao Mao promoted Wang Learning, appointed Ji Kang as its public representative, and personally attended lectures and debates.
• Pei Xiu inspected the resettlement of Qiang and Hu families in Chang'an and discussed language barriers, local hostility, and corruption with Zhuge Xu.
• Zhuge Xu explained that he had secured noble titles and estates for cooperating Qiang and Hu leaders, including Shu Jinen, whom he chose not to kill.
• Tufa Shujineng traveled to Luoyang with other tribal chieftains and told Yang Zong that he had surrendered to protect his people and accept Great Wei’s offer of equal treatment.
• Tufa Shujineng asked Yang Zong to let him study at the Imperial Academy instead of seeking an office or noble title.

Cao Mao allowed Shu Jinen to attend the Imperial Academy, believing that future enemies could become valuable allies under changed circumstances. Zhong Hui taught Shamohan how to centralize and stabilize the Xianbei state, hoping peaceful governance would secure Great Wei’s frontier and eventually make the Xianbei easier to absorb.

• Yang Zong praised Shu Jinen to Cao Mao and worried that he and Shamohan might become threats, but Cao Mao said he would not punish them for future deeds and permitted Shu Jinen to attend the Imperial Academy.
• Cao Mao laughed when he heard that Zhong Hui was teaching Shamohan important matters.
• At Zhong Hui’s residence, Zhong Hui urged Shamohan to replace the Xianbei tribal structure with commanderies, counties, and an Imperial Secretariat modeled on Great Wei.
• Shamohan asked why Zhong Hui cared about Xianbei affairs, and Zhong Hui explained that a stable Xianbei state would help prevent conflict along the frontier.
• Shamohan listened to Zhong Hui’s advice throughout the day and began asking actively about governing his country.
• After Shamohan left, Zhong Hui reflected that helping the Xianbei form a settled regime would make them easier for Great Wei to conquer and govern, and he eagerly imagined earning lasting renown.

After repelling Wei’s invasion, Lu Kang returned to Jianye expecting punishment for acting without the court’s authorization, but Sun Xiu instead appointed him to command much of Jingnan. Lu Kai then told Lu Kang that he intended to leave the Wu Kingdom.

• The Wei army withdrew from Jingnan, and Lu Kang returned to Jianye while officials escorted bound commoners toward the capital.
• Zhang Bu confronted Lu Kang with the Central Army and demanded that he admit his guilt for acting without authorization; Lu Kang complied.
• Sun Xiu welcomed Lu Kang, praised his victory, and appointed him General Who Guards the Army and Governor of Yi Province, alarming Zhang Bu.
• Lu Kang declined to celebrate his promotion and warned Lu Kai that commanding Jingnan would make his life difficult.
• Lu Kai told Lu Kang that he intended to leave the Wu Kingdom.

Lu Kai fled Wu for Wei to protect Lu Kang from the court’s suspicion, while Lu Kang stayed behind and did not report his cousin’s plan. After Hu Zun welcomed Lu Kai’s surrender and the news reached Jianye, Zhang Bu came to take Lu Kang to the imperial palace.

• Lu Kai told Lu Kang that Wu’s court and emperor were failing, and said he would flee to Wei to spare Lu Kang from being trapped as Military Governor.
• Lu Kai urged Lu Kang to report that he had refused to join a rebellion, then left; Lu Kang chose to sleep instead of informing the emperor.
• Lu Kai and his entourage traveled by boat toward Qingxu, where Hu Zun’s fleet intercepted them and escorted Lu Kai aboard.
• Hu Zun welcomed Lu Kai’s surrender, feasted him, and ordered his army to return as news of the defection spread among the Wei people.
• After Jianye learned Lu Kai had fled, Zhang Bu confronted Lu Kang and ordered him to come to the imperial palace; Lu Kang calmly went with the guards.

Lu Kang confronted Sun Xiu over the Wu Kingdom’s failures, and Sun Xiu agreed to rely on him to restrain the court and powerful nobles. In Luoyang, Cao Mao learned that Lu Kai had come to submit and ordered him welcomed with the highest honors.

• Sun Xiu demanded that Lu Kang explain why Lu Kai had fled, and Lu Kang repeated his cousin’s criticisms of the court and its treatment of the people and soldiers.
• Sun Xiu defended his own conduct, then admitted fault and entrusted Lu Kang with important military and court affairs, asking him to protect Sun Xiu’s son if he died.
• In Luoyang, Cao Mao sparred with Luo Xian and easily evaded his attacks, while Luo Xian decided to keep serving him for now.
• Yang Zong reported that Lu Kai had come to submit, and Cao Mao ordered the news spread and Lu Kai received with the highest honors.
• Cao Mao summoned Zhong Hui to discuss Lu Kai’s arrival.

Zhong Hui reported on his efforts to guide Tuoba Liwei and discussed Wu Kingdom’s changing position with Cao Mao. After learning that Lu Kang had won the emperor’s favor and might become Grand Marshal, Zhong Hui turned against him and proposed a new strategy to pressure and divide Wu Kingdom.

• Cao Mao gave Zhong Hui another poem praising him, and Zhong Hui eagerly thanked him.
• Zhong Hui told Cao Mao that he had bypassed Shamohan and corresponded directly with Tuoba Liwei, who was adopting Great Wei’s policies and seeking Zhong Hui’s advice.
• Cao Mao told Zhong Hui that Lu Kai had come to submit and that Lu Kang had been promoted after repelling Wang Ji and Wen Qin.
• Zhong Hui’s admiration for Lu Kang soured when he learned Lu Kang was younger and might become Grand Marshal, and he dismissed Lu Kang’s achievements.
• Zhong Hui proposed pressuring Wu Kingdom, dividing its ministers, and winning over its great clans, then left to write up his strategy.

In Chengdu, Zhuge Dan prepared to leave Zhang Hua in charge of the troubled Shu lands and dealt harshly with local Great Clan leaders who tried to exploit Zhang Hua’s intervention. Meanwhile, Cao Mao welcomed Lu Kai to Luoyang and immediately asked whether he could correspond with Lu Kang.

• Zhuge Dan warned Zhang Hua that benevolence needed to be matched with firmness and said he would leave him ten thousand soldiers to govern the Shu lands.
• Zhuge Dan arrested the Shu Great Clan leaders for trying to incite resistance and threaten officials, while Zhang Hua considered the difficulties of governing the region.
• Cao Mao and his ministers greeted Lu Kai outside the city, where he also saw Liu Shan, Huchuquan, and Shamohan.
• Cao Mao praised his ministers and generals to Lu Kai, then invited him to a banquet at the palace.
• Cao Mao asked Lu Kai whether he could correspond with his cousin Lu Kang, saying he wanted to befriend the renowned scholar.

Cao Mao welcomed Lu Kai to Wei and appointed him General Who Conquers Wu, then privately sought his advice on defeating Wu. Lu Kai revealed Sun Xiu’s poor health and the political factions plotting against one another, giving Cao Mao an opportunity to exploit Wu’s internal turmoil.

• Cao Mao praised Lu Kai as a righteous man who had submitted to protect Jiangdong’s people, then appointed him General Who Conquers Wu and granted him titles and honors.
• In private, Cao Mao asked Lu Kai how Wei could defeat Wu, and Lu Kai said he had not handled military affairs but described the kingdom’s political situation.
• Lu Kai told Cao Mao that Sun Xiu was gravely ill, Zhang Bu and Puyang Xing planned to control a young ruler, and the great clans were preparing to remove them.
• Cao Mao saw Wu’s infighting as a chance to seize Jingnan and questioned Lu Kai about Wu’s generals before sending him back to his residence.
• Yang Zong advised Cao Mao to keep watch on Lu Kai, but Cao Mao dismissed the concern and discussed how to reward Hu Zun without yet making him Grand General.

Yang Hu worried about the growing Xianbei tribes and strengthened his army in Youzhou. Wen Yang arrived seeking permission to investigate the tribes and, after invoking Zhong Hui’s advice, won approval to visit the Duan and Murong tribes.

• Yang Hu assessed the Xianbei threat and reviewed how he had dismissed weak and idle soldiers to build an elite force of more than thirty thousand.
• Wen Yang arrived at Yang Hu’s frontier garrison after leaving his duties in Bing Province, where he had beaten officials who obstructed resettlement reforms.
• Yang Hu explained that Wen Yang should have balanced punishment with the need to keep the resettlement work moving.
• Wen Yang asked to investigate the Xianbei tribes in person, but Yang Hu initially rejected his plan as too dangerous.
• Wen Yang repeated Zhong Hui’s argument that Great Wei should approach the Xianbei openly, and Yang Hu permitted him to visit the Duan and Murong tribes.

Wen Yang traveled to Liaoxi to meet the Duan Tribe and learned that the region’s counties had been left desolate by years of neglect. He discovered that the Duan Tribe was a settled alliance of refugees, then arrived at its city and met its deferential chieftain, Duan Qizhen.

• Wen Yang reached a nearly deserted county, where the Gongsun County Magistrate explained that war, flight, and the court’s failure to provide relief had left the region impoverished.
• The Gongsun County Magistrate told Wen Yang that the Duan Tribe had grown into a regional alliance of displaced people, including Han people, with more than thirty thousand households and forty to fifty thousand soldiers.
• Wen Yang promised the county magistrate that His Majesty would not ignore the region, then set out for the Duan Tribe’s city.
• Zhou Cheng identified himself as a man of Liaoxi and led Wen Yang toward the city after Wen Yang announced his name and rank.
• Duan Qizhen welcomed Wen Yang, escorted him into the city, and asked what instructions he had for the tribe.

Wen Yang learned that the Duan Tribe wanted to join Great Wei and heard of Murong Shegui’s growing ambition and attacks on them. He traveled to Liaodong with Duan Qizhen to confront the Murong, then shot Murong Tuyuhun when the young man approached him arrogantly.

• Wen Yang tested the Duan nobles by saying the Xiongnu had joined Great Wei, and Duan Qizhen eagerly asked how his tribe could do the same.
• Duan Qizhen explained that the Murong had bullied the Duan Tribe and described Murong Shegui’s ambition to rule all the Xianbei.
• Wen Yang promised to report the Duan Tribe’s request to the emperor and declared that he would confront Murong Shegui.
• Duan Qizhen accompanied Wen Yang from Liaoxi to Liaodong, where Murong forces guarded the checkpoints and sent Murong Tuyuhun to negotiate.
• Wen Yang shot Murong Tuyuhun from his horse before he could speak, stirring an uproar among the Murong cavalry.

Wen Yang’s cavalry defeated a Murong force sent to intercept him, and he refused to retreat despite Duan Qizhen’s warnings. Duan proposed a surprise strike on the Murong royal city, and Wen Yang agreed to attack.

• Duan Qizhen feared Wen Yang had provoked the Murong Tribe by killing a rider who failed to dismount and bow.
• When Murong cavalry charged, Wen Yang led his riders in two charges that routed more than a thousand enemies and killed their commanders.
• Wen Yang dismissed Duan Qizhen’s suggestion to escape, declaring that he had come to deal with the Murong Tribe and would attack them.
• Duan Qizhen warned that the Murong Tribe would seek an explanation, block their retreat, and gather its forces.
• Duan Qizhen proposed striking the Murong royal city before its defenders returned, and Wen Yang agreed.

Murong Muyan learned that Murong Shegui had provoked a Wei general and urged him to recall his troops and seek forgiveness. When Murong Nai revealed that Wen Yang was advancing with elite cavalry, he advised Muyan to prepare to plead for mercy, prompting his father to question how he knew so much.

• Murong Muyan confronted Murong Shegui over his attack on a Wei general, but Shegui defended his actions and complained that the Murong had received no rewards from Great Wei.
• Muyan warned Shegui to recall his troops and beg forgiveness, but Shegui refused and said he would face the general himself.
• Murong Nai reported that Wen Yang's force of just over five hundred elite soldiers had defeated their troops and was advancing toward the city.
• Shegui hurried off to confront Wen Yang despite Muyan's attempt to stop him.
• Murong Nai told Muyan that Wen Yang commanded the Tiger and Leopard Cavalry and urged his father to plead for mercy before Shegui was defeated.
• Muyan praised Murong Nai's advice, then asked how he knew the enemy's identity and strength so precisely.

Murong Nai confessed that a scholar named Wang had advised him, and Murong Muyan set out to stop his elder son from being killed. Meanwhile, Wen Yang defeated Murong Shegui’s forces and captured him, but a young man arrived and urged the general to wait.

• Murong Nai told Murong Muyan that Wang had advised him on the realm’s affairs and on seeking his elder brother’s position.
• Murong Muyan decided to go out himself to prevent Murong Shegui from dying, and Murong Nai left to prepare.
• Murong Shegui led his guards out of the city, met Wen Yang’s cavalry, and ordered an attack after reinforcements appeared.
• Wen Yang broke through Shegui’s cavalry, routed the Xianbei forces, and pursued Shegui as he fled toward the city.
• Duan Qizhen captured Shegui, and Wen Yang ordered that he be beheaded for the Duan Tribe’s military merit.
• A young man arrived in a carriage and called for Wen Yang to wait, then carried a man out of the carriage.