Recaps

After Sima Shi’s death, Cao Mao sought to strengthen his rule while rebellions devastated Great Wei and exposed a plot to destroy the great clans. Sima Zhao took command of the suppression campaign, while Lu Yu withdrew from court and Cao Mao continued building support for the Imperial Clan.

• Lu Yu resigned, but court maneuvering led him to become Director of the Secretariat before Sima Shi died and Sima Zhao withdrew from office.
• Cao Mao appointed Ji Kang and Ma Long as Central Army commandants, pursued reforms for the Imperial Clan, and planned an East Hall Banquet to promote open debate.
• Rebellions spread across Great Wei as regional forces attacked powerful clans, and officials blamed the Imperial Secretariat for the upheaval.
• Cao Mao rejected Zhong Hui’s proposal to ally with the Sima faction, declaring that his goal was a flourishing age where ordinary people lived safely and had enough to eat.
• Cao Mao and Empress Dowager Guo appointed Sima Zhao General of the Guards and Zheng Chong Supervisor of the Secretariat after ministers blocked their path during an urgent court meeting.
• Sima Zhao accepted command of the campaign and issued orders to regional officials and generals to suppress the rebellions.
• Lu Yu concluded that Sima Shi had arranged the destruction of his clan and decided to return home with Lu Qin, who refused Zhang Hua’s offer to serve Cao Mao.
• Cao Mao assigned Wei Shu to serve under the Commandant of the Guards, and Wei Shu recommended Hua Yi for a Yellow Gate post.

Cao Mao and his allies countered the ministers’ attempts to isolate him by securing palace protection, rallying scholars, and drawing officials away from Wang Xiang. Wang Xiang then joined Sima Fu in secretly planning against Cao Mao, while Jiang Wei’s threatened invasion and Wang Yuan’s growing rebel force remained unresolved.

• Cao Mao secured Wang Yuanji’s help in approaching Sima Zhao and brought Cao Yu and Xiahou Xian into court to strengthen the Imperial Clan.
• Zhong Hui persuaded Yang Hu to prevent Cao Mao’s removal from the palace and enlisted Ji Kang to expose the ministers’ plans among the scholars.
• Zhong Yu defended Zhong Hui against the ministers, while Ma Long secured his soldiers’ loyalty and refused Sima Zhao’s rewards.
• Guo Huai died as Chen Tai and Sima Wang prepared to defend against Jiang Wei, while Wang Yuan struggled to feed his growing rebel army.
• Cao Mao rewarded remonstrance at the East Hall banquet, and Sima Yan publicly condemned Sima Fu’s proposed treatment of the emperor and Empress Dowager.
• Wang Xiang sought control of the Imperial Secretariat, but Zhong Yu accused him of arranging rebellions and Cao Mao drew several of his allies away.
• Cao Mao obtained Empress Dowager Guo’s agreement to spring sacrifices, recruited He Shao, and accepted Wang Jing’s advice against rash action.
• Wang Xiang allied with Sima Fu against Cao Mao, while Wang Yuan ordered his men to raid a weakly defended wealthy family for grain.

Cao Mao defeated the ministers’ attempt to seize control, then purged their faction and began rebuilding the court and military around his own loyalists. He sought to secure the Sima family’s submission while the ministers debated how to regain influence before the East Hall Banquet.

• Cao Mao sealed the palace, arrested Gao Dan, and mobilized Yang Hu and loyal officers as the ministers moved to isolate him.
• Cao Mao outmaneuvered the ministers with Zhong Hui and Xiahou Xian’s support, then confronted Gao Rou and dismissed or punished the leading conspirators.
• Cao Mao reshaped the court, appointing Hua Biao and Xun Yi to key posts and ordering investigations and arrests of the rebels’ associates.
• Cao Mao released Sima Gan, rewarded his supporters, and began seeking the outer generals’ backing, while privately breaking down in grief.
• Zhong Hui obtained Gao Rou’s confession and used it to pressure ministers, while Cao Mao gathered further intelligence and support from Xin Chang and Cui Zan.
• Mouqiu Dian, Wen Yang, and Liu Lu arrived in Luoyang, where Cao Mao appointed Mouqiu Dian Chief Imperial Censor, Wen Yang commander of a new cavalry force, and Liu Lu his attendant.
• Cao Mao met Wang Yuanji and Sima Yan at the Grand General’s Residence, offered terms to the Sima family, and asked Sima Yan to serve as Marquis Wu and join his future campaign against Shu.
• Cui Zan urged caution over court appointments, but Xun Yi rejected the ministers’ interference and said he would address the emperor directly.

Cao Mao strengthened his hold over the court and army while using a banquet dispute to expose and divide his opponents. As he prepared to confront Sima Zhao, Empress Dowager Guo found that her former allies would no longer act against the emperor.

• Cao Mao welcomed Wang Su to Luoyang and used his accusation against Wang Xiang to challenge the Great Clans’ control over classical interpretation.
• Cao Mao rewarded the Central Army’s soldiers and improved their morale, while Xiahou Xian objected to his use of material incentives.
• At the East Hall Banquet, Lü Xun accused Chen Qian of conspiracy, and Cao Mao ordered Chen Qian’s dismissal and the arrest of his clansmen as ministers pleaded for restraint.
• Wang Su accused Wang Xiang of stealing his scholarship, and their dispute over the Supreme Mystery Classic divided senior ministers from young scholars.
• Sima Zhao used a staged clash between He Zeng’s and Chen Ben’s troops to remove them from command without provoking open hostility.
• Cao Mao secured Lu Qin’s return as Minister of Agriculture, recruited Du Yu as an adviser, and planned with Zhong Hui to capture Sima Zhao while securing the armies.
• As Jiang Wei invaded Yongliang and Sima Zhao advanced toward Luoyang, Cao Mao refused to send reinforcements until he dealt with Sima Zhao and arranged positions for Empress Dowager Guo’s relatives.
• Guo Li, Guo Zhi, and Guo Jian rejected Empress Dowager Guo’s offer to restore them to office, and Xun Yi, Cui Zan, and Guo Zhang refused her summons.