Recaps

Cao Mao captured Sima Zhao and brought the Hebei armies under his control, then began reshaping the court and preparing to address the threats facing the realm. The stretch ends with Liu Lu investigating the mountain rebels and Cao Mao receiving evidence of corruption among the ministers.

• Chen Qian exposed how officials in the Inspector of the Capital’s office existed only on paper, while Lu Qin challenged Cui Zan’s claims about military expenses.
• Cao Mao left Luoyang in secret to support Zhong Hui’s plan, and Wen Yang captured Sima Zhao during an attack on his camp.
• Cao Mao took control of the Hebei armies, spared Sima Zhao, and returned to Luoyang with him under guard.
• Cao Mao reassigned military commanders and summoned Deng Ai, while his court debated an attack on Shu and the choice of an empress.
• Chen Tai outmaneuvered Jiang Wei’s army near Didao by feigning a relief attack and sending his main forces around the northern route.
• Cao Mao received Deng Ai’s pledge to defeat Jiang Wei and explained his plan to expand the Imperial Secretariat into six ministries.
• Liu Lu infiltrated Guo Ze’s mountain bandits and promised to remain beside him as Cao Mao’s plans developed.
• Sima Yan and Sima You reunited with Sima Zhao, while Xun Xu gave Cao Mao a list of ministers implicated in plots, delayed relief, and embezzlement.

Cao Mao strengthened his court and launched reforms while Deng Ai defeated Jiang Wei and captured Zhang Yi. The arc left Wei celebrating its victory as Cao Mao prepared to reshape its officials and military.

• Cao Mao appointed Xun Xu to lead a new disaster-relief department, then appointed Deng Ai to campaign against Jiang Wei.
• Deng Ai ambushed and defeated Jiang Wei’s retreating army, capturing Zhang Yi alive while Jiang Wei escaped.
• Cao Mao welcomed Zhuge Dan to Luoyang and appointed him Grand Commandant, while Sima Yan’s investigation of the Grand Granary ended in a fire.
• Cao Mao maneuvered against ministers opposing his appointments, approved Zhong Hui’s standards for evaluating officials, and recruited Ma Jun to develop useful inventions.
• Cao Mao ordered Guo Zhang arrested after he led resistance at court, while news of Deng Ai’s victory overwhelmed the controversy.
• Cao Mao welcomed Chen Tai and the returning commanders, examined the captive Zhang Yi, and publicly praised Ma Jun’s contributions.
• Zhong Hui pressed Cao Mao to investigate local officials and proposed a new inspection team while his rules for appointments and dismissals kept Xun Yi overwhelmed.

Cao Mao pushed administrative, military, and educational reforms while confronting ministers and powerful clans resisting his rule. The arc ended with new officials and inventions advancing his plans, even as the great clans remained a threat to Great Wei.

• Cao Mao ordered provincial inspections and secured the generals’ cooperation, while Zheng Xiaotong’s investigation exposed how local officials in Fengqiu treated injustice as normal.
• Cao Mao promoted Ma Jun’s inventions at a scholars’ banquet, appointed Chen Tai to the Imperial Secretariat, and began plans to reform corrupt officials and the Zhongzheng System.
• Wang Chang presented policies for improving governance, and Cao Mao and the senior ministers agreed to introduce standardized administration, schools, and examinations.
• Jiang Wei was pardoned by Liu Shan after Shu Han’s defeat and warned that Cao’s growing strength could leave Shu Han unable to survive three years.
• Cao Mao confined Wang Xiang after receiving his confession, but Wang Xiang refused to help suppress the great clans and was later killed in an assassination plot that Cao Mao used to reshape the court.
• Liu Lu recruited Wang Yuan to organize a Water Bandit Organization against bandits and great clans, while Cao Mao investigated Guo Pei and welcomed Huangfu Mi’s scholarship.
• Cao Yan gave up his claim to the Tiger and Leopard Cavalry after Wen Yang showed him the troops’ training, while Yang Hu restored order in Hebei and escorted distrustful imperial princes to the court.
• Ma Jun demonstrated printing, Cao Mao praised work on a practical governance manual, and Cao Mao learned that Shi Bao and Hu Fen were approaching Sili as he remained wary of the great clans.

Cao Mao crushed Sun Yu’s rebellion, brought Cao Fang back to Luoyang, and strengthened his control of the court and military. After discovering the Censorate’s corruption, he launched a sweeping investigation that threatened powerful clans.

• Cao Mao rebuked Shi Bao over Qingzhou’s corruption, while Hu Zun ordered his generals to support inspectors and punish anyone who obstructed them.
• Cao Mao debated the merits of the Four Hao and the Three Outstanding Figures, then promoted printing books and reforms to local assessments and education.
• Zang Ai and Sun Yu rebelled to protect Qingzhou’s powerful clans, but Hu Zun’s forces defeated them and captured Cao Fang as other provinces responded to the uprising.
• Cao Mao welcomed Hu Zun and Cao Fang to Luoyang, spared Cao Fang, and appointed Hu Zun to command Qingzhou and Xuzhou.
• Cao Mao reorganized the court while Guanqiu Jian defeated Wu forces in Huainan and killed Liu Zan.
• After hearing ordinary people’s accounts of abuse and corruption, Cao Mao investigated the Censorate, punished Mouqiu Dian, and ordered Zhong Hui to investigate officials throughout the realm.
• Zhong Hui recruited Zuo Xi to the Ministry of Justice, while Cao Mao ordered Wang Rong investigated and then arrested after charges of corruption were confirmed.