Recaps

Cao Mao led Wei to conquer Shu, then absorbed its officials and dealt with Deng Ai’s unauthorized actions. As Wei prepared for war with Wu, Liu Shan settled into his new life in Luoyang and Cao Mao continued reshaping the realm.

• Cao Mao launched a personal campaign against Shu as Deng Ai and other Wei commanders attacked from multiple fronts, while Jiang Wei gathered Qiang and Hu troops.
• Wei forces captured Hanzhong and broke Shu’s defenses, and Deng Ai bypassed Jiange through the mountains to reach Chengdu.
• Zhuge Zhan’s army was defeated, and Liu Shan surrendered Chengdu to Deng Ai despite Liu Chen’s plea to resist.
• Jiang Wei surrendered to Zhong Hui but secretly hoped to rescue Liu Shan, then refused Cao Mao’s offer of service and died after drinking poisoned wine.
• Cao Mao spared Deng Ai but stripped him of office and rank for making appointments and acting without imperial authority.
• Cao Mao welcomed Liu Shan and Shu’s ministers, assigned them titles and positions, and began reorganizing Shu’s territory and administration.
• Wei forces attacked Wu’s Jingnan region as Sun Xiu considered Lu Kang’s warnings, while Cao Mao returned to Luoyang and learned Sima Zhao had killed himself.
• Cao Mao rewarded the generals who conquered Shu, allowed Liu Shan to return to his fief, and asked Zhang Yi to choose whether to serve Wei.

Cao Mao expanded Wei’s control over Shu and the frontier while weighing Deng Ai’s warnings about the Xianbei and preparing a naval campaign against Wu. The stretch ended with Jiaozhi resisting Wu and Sun Xiu reorganizing his command as Wei’s fleet advanced toward Jianye.

• Yang Hu exposed Liu Meng’s alleged rebellion, and tribal commanders agreed to submit memorials seeking farmland, schooling, and other policies.
• Cao Mao dismantled the Sima Family’s standing, recruited Yang Zong, and sent Zhang Hua to oversee Ba-Shu while ordering relief for Shu’s people.
• Liu Yin took up his post in Hanzhong and persuaded the artisan Pu Yuan to serve Wei, while Cao Mao appointed Pu Yuan to the Ministry of Works.
• Pei Xiu and Zhuge Xu pressed Qiang and Hu chieftains to settle and accept Wei’s rule, as Wen Yang began resettling the Xiongnu and Tuoba Liwei sent Shamohan to Luoyang.
• Deng Ai urged Wei to prepare for the Xianbei and proposed striking Jianye, but Cao Mao prioritized the war with Wu and kept Deng Ai in the Ministry of War.
• Guanqiu Jian appointed Tang Zi to command the naval campaign, and Wei’s fleet left Huainan for Jianye as Sun Xiu prepared Wu’s navy.
• Wen Yang detained Shamohan briefly, then Zhong Hui escorted him to Luoyang, where Cao Mao received him and ordered officials to teach the Xianbei Wei’s governing system.
• Lü Xing rebelled in Jiaozhi after killing Sun Xu, and Sun Xiu removed Puyang Xing and appointed Wu Yan to lead Wu’s navy against Wei.

Cao Mao strengthened Wei’s rule while Wu’s military setbacks and court divisions drove Lu Kai to defect. As Wei prepared to exploit Wu’s weakness, Wen Yang’s mission to the Xianbei escalated into a campaign against the Murong, ending with Duan Qizhen capturing Murong Shegui.

• Sun Xiu appointed Wei Miao to command Wu’s navy, but Tang Zi’s fleet defeated Wu’s forces, and Wu Yan surrendered after a costly running battle.
• Lu Kang coordinated attacks that forced Wei’s armies to withdraw from Jingnan, while Zhang Bu blamed Wu’s commanders and Lu Kai defended them.
• Cao Mao promoted Wang Learning, oversaw the resettlement of Qiang and Hu people, and allowed Shu Jinen to study at the Imperial Academy.
• Lu Kang returned victorious to Jianye and received a promotion, while Lu Kai fled to Wei and Sun Xiu entrusted Lu Kang with important affairs.
• Cao Mao welcomed Lu Kai, appointed him General Who Conquers Wu, and learned that Sun Xiu was gravely ill and Wu’s ministers were divided.
• Yang Hu permitted Wen Yang to visit the Duan and Murong tribes, and Wen Yang learned that the Duan had become a powerful alliance of displaced people.
• Wen Yang killed Murong Tuyuhun during negotiations, defeated Murong cavalry, and joined Duan Qizhen in advancing on the Murong city.
• Wen Yang routed Murong Shegui’s forces, and Duan Qizhen captured Shegui as Wen Yang ordered his beheading, then a young man arrived and called for Wen Yang to wait.

Cao Mao exposed great clans exploiting relocated Hu people and began redirecting their power toward developing the south, while Yang Hu secured trade and contact with the Tuoba. Zhong Hui’s letters helped drive Wu to restart the Lake Fields project, despite Lu Kang and Shi Ji’s warnings, leaving Wu’s court divided and its people facing renewed labor demands.

• Wen Yang met Liu Lu in the Murong city and agreed to assist his plans, while Cao Mao learned that Lady Zheng was pregnant and ordered an investigation into great clans exploiting Hu people.
• Cao Mao appointed Deng Ai to restore agriculture in Shu and pledged support for developing Jingnan and Jiaozhou, while Wen Yang visited Tuoba Liwei and defeated Tuoba Wu in a public contest.
• Yang Hu negotiated trade and educational exchanges with Tuoba Liwei, then recalled Wen Yang and prepared to restore order in Liaodong and Liaoxi.
• Yang Zong and Ma Long uncovered the Guo Family’s abuses in Xiping and arrested implicated clans across Yongliang, while Cao Mao ordered convicted clans relocated to southern regions.
• Cao Mao questioned Pei Xiu over his ties to the great clans, and Pei Xiu later regained the emperor’s trust by proposing clear rules for cultural instruction and local administration.
• Zhong Hui provoked Sun Xiu with a letter and used a second letter to distance Lu Kang from Wu’s court, prompting Sun Xiu to rely on Zhang Bu and Puyang Xing and approve renewed Lake Fields construction.
• Lu Kang warned against restarting the project, and Shi Ji told Sun Xiu that renewed corvée would drive people to flee to Wei, but Wu’s court ordered construction to proceed and barred further objections.