Chapter Summaries

Zhang Hua accepted the Empress Dowager’s edict appointing him Gentleman of the Yellow Gate, refusing Lu Qin’s offer to steer him toward the Imperial Secretariat. Lu Qin then revealed that Lu Yu sought to become Director of the Secretariat, while Zhang Hua warned him not to move too hastily against the gravely ill Grand General.

• Zhang Hua went to the Grand Minister of Ceremonies’ Residence despite the court turmoil, inspected the ritual paraphernalia, and continued reading after officials had left.
• A eunuch delivered the Empress Dowager’s edict appointing Zhang Hua Gentleman of the Yellow Gate, and Zhang Hua accepted it.
• Lu Qin visited Zhang Hua and offered to recommend him for a position in the Imperial Secretariat, but Zhang Hua refused to reconsider the edict.
• Lu Qin told Zhang Hua that Lu Yu wanted the court to appoint a new Director of the Secretariat, and Zhang Hua cautioned him against acting hastily while the Grand General was ill.

Sima Shi confronted Sima Fu over the ministers’ challenge, and Sima Fu openly condemned Sima Shi’s rule before leaving with three Sima relatives. After ordering Zhong Hui to release Mouqiu Dian and arrange a meeting with the emperor, Sima Shi ordered Sima Zhao to seal Luoyang, leaving his younger brother in charge as he collapsed to rest.

• Sima Shi accused Sima Fu of undermining him, while Sima Zhao and the other aides turned against Sima Fu.
• Sima Fu defended the ministers’ proposals, criticized Sima Shi’s killings, and warned that the Sima clan would not follow him; Sima Shi let him leave.
• Sima Fu departed with Sima Quan, Sima Sui, and Sima Mu, and Sima Shi dismissed the remaining aides.
• Sima Shi told Zhong Hui to release Mouqiu Dian and let him speak privately with the emperor.
• Sima Shi ordered Sima Zhao to impose martial law and seal off Luoyang, then entrusted him with affairs while he rested.

Cao Mao saw Sima Hui and Sima Che dismissed from court, then welcomed Gao Dan and two newly arrived officials, Zhang Hua and Wei Shu, into his confidence. He praised Zhang Hua as his Marquis of Liu and Wei Shu as his Marquis of Zan, and began discussing the court with them.

• Cao Mao bade farewell to Sima Hui and Sima Che after the Empress Dowager dismissed them from office.
• Gao Dan punched Sima Che and had the guards beat and drive him out of Taiji Hall, then offered to serve Cao Mao.
• Cao Mao suspected Gao Dan was approaching him at Gao Rou’s direction as Gao Rou and Lu Yu competed for influence.
• Cao Mao eagerly welcomed Zhang Hua and Wei Shu, bringing them into the Western Hall.
• Cao Mao named Zhang Hua his Marquis of Liu and Wei Shu his Marquis of Zan, then entertained them and shared incisive assessments of the court officials.

Zhong Hui released Mouqiu Dian from the Grand General’s Residence and told him that the Sima family was divided and sought peace with his father, though Mouqiu Dian doubted him. Zhong Hui then met Cao Mao and accused the emperor of committing a grave wrong against the state.

• Mouqiu Dian told Zhong Hui he would rather die than betray his father, and Zhong Hui stopped him from taking his own life.
• Zhong Hui explained that Sima Shi was gravely ill and the Sima family wanted peace with Mouqiu Dian’s father, but Mouqiu Dian did not believe him.
• Zhong Hui released Mouqiu Dian and allowed him to go anywhere in Luoyang; Mouqiu Dian left the residence wondering whether the news was true.
• Cao Mao summoned Zhong Hui to an audience after Zhang Hua advised him to hear what the trusted official had to say.
• Zhong Hui entered the hall, and after Cao Mao greeted him warmly, Zhong Hui told the emperor he had committed a grave wrong against the state.

Zhong Hui accused Cao Mao of engineering the crisis at court and warned that the proposed policies would ruin Great Wei. He offered to serve the emperor, who accepted but refused to let him act against the Grand General, leaving Zhong Hui’s plans uncertain.

• Zhong Hui dismissed Zhang Hua and Wei Shu as flatterers, and they traded insults before Cao Mao called for order.
• Zhong Hui claimed Cao Mao had secretly provoked Wang Xiang and drawn the ministers into a confrontation with the Grand General.
• Zhong Hui warned Cao Mao that the New Zhongzheng System, tax policies, and lack of criminal law would impoverish the people and bring about Great Wei’s collapse.
• Cao Mao asked why Zhong Hui had come to him and refused to authorize action against the Empress Dowager, whom he called his mother.
• Zhong Hui offered to assist Cao Mao and uphold the realm, and Cao Mao accepted his service.
• When Zhong Hui began asking about the Grand General, Cao Mao said they should let the factions fight while they attended to their own affairs, freezing Zhong Hui’s smile.

Cao Mao weighed Zhong Hui’s offer and used Wang Xiang’s complaint about Gao Dan to intensify the rivalry between Gao Rou and Lu Yu. After hearing that Sima Shi was gravely ill and Sima Fu had distanced himself from Sima Zhao, Cao Mao went to warn the Empress Dowager about the dangers around her.

• Cao Mao rejected the idea of joining forces with Sima Shi and decided to let the court factions struggle while he pursued his own plans.
• Wang Xiang told Cao Mao that Gao Dan had obstructed his entry to the palace, then warned him about Gao Rou’s ambitions and reported tensions among the Sima family.
• Wang Xiang said Sima Shi was gravely ill, Sima Fu had left the Grand General’s Residence, and Lu Yu planned to ally with him against Gao Rou.
• Cao Mao summoned Gao Dan, accused Gao Rou of trying to isolate the emperor and Empress Dowager, and threatened not to tolerate a repeat.
• Cao Mao sent Gao Dan away and headed to Zhaoyang Hall, intending to remind the Empress Dowager of the dangers surrounding her.

Cao Mao steered Empress Dowager Guo against Gao Rou’s attempt to keep him away from Zhaoyang Hall, leaving Gao Rou confused and under her suspicion. At the Guo Residence, Guo Jian blamed Guo Li and Guo Zhi for the family’s downfall, and Guo Li collapsed.

• Cao Mao warned Eunuch Guo not to accept money from the Palace Commandant’s people and then visited Empress Dowager Guo.
• Cao Mao praised Gao Rou for appointing his son as Palace Commandant and warned Empress Dowager Guo that General Xuande and his allies might try to win her over.
• Gao Rou told Empress Dowager Guo that Cao Mao should focus on his studies and then claimed Wang Xiang had deceived him.
• Empress Dowager Guo learned that Gao Rou had driven Cao Mao away and angrily dismissed him.
• At the Guo Residence, Guo Jian confronted Guo Li and Guo Zhi over their mistreatment of Empress Dowager Guo and their alliance with Sima Shi.
• Guo Li turned pale, bled from the corner of his mouth, and fell headfirst to the floor.

In Jianye, Sun Jun considered whether Wu Kingdom should supply grain to Guanqiu Jian as he resisted Sima Shi, while Sun Liang watched powerless from the throne. Lu Kang supported helping Guanqiu Jian, but Zhou Chu proposed attacking Huainan with Sima Shi and was rebuked, leaving Lu Kang to urge patience and caution.

• Guanqiu Jian's envoy asked Wu Kingdom for grain, arguing that aid would help weaken Sima Shi and protect Wu from his advance.
• Sun Jun challenged the envoy to explain why Wu should help, then asked Lu Kang for his opinion after the envoy left.
• Lu Kang advised Sun Jun to provide grain so Wei's civil war would weaken Cao Wei and potentially let Wu gain an opportunity in Huainan.
• Zhou Chu opposed giving Guanqiu Jian aid and proposed joining Sima Shi to attack Huainan, but Sun Jun dismissed his proposal and ended court.
• Lu Kang followed Zhou Chu and explained that Sima Shi would not cooperate against Cao Wei, warning that he would become Wu Kingdom's greatest enemy.

Cao Mao received the Guo Family, heard Guo Li seek forgiveness, and promised to ask the Empress Dowager to grant the family an audience. Gao Rou learned that the Guo Family had approached the emperor and worried about Lu Yu’s growing influence, while planning to keep Cao Mao away from court affairs.

• Guo Zhi praised Cao Mao and pledged the Guo Family’s loyalty, while Guo Li asked forgiveness for his past conduct.
• Cao Mao told Guo Li to seek pardon from the Empress Dowager and agreed to plead for the family; he then privately reassured Guo Jian that he would seek an audience for him.
• Gao Dan reported the Guo Family’s visit to Gao Rou, who worried that they might regain favor with the Empress Dowager through Cao Mao.
• Gao Rou rebuked Gao Dan for disrespecting Cao Mao and ordered him not to speak that way again.
• Gao Rou resolved to keep Cao Mao occupied with his studies and considered how to block Lu Yu from taking control of the Imperial Secretariat.

Lu Yu tried to restrain the ministers from escalating their struggle with Sima Shi, while Lu Qin warned that Sima Shi might be working with the emperor. Lu Yu decided to seek Sima Fu’s help in breaking the deadlock.

• Lu Yu reassured the ministers that Sima Zhao would not dare mistreat them and proposed appointing Wang Guan, Ren Kai, and Wang Hun to take control of the Central Army.
• Wang Xiang reported that Gao Dan had barred him from seeing the emperor, prompting the ministers to suspect Gao Rou was trying to seize power; Wang Xiang agreed to meet the Empress Dowager.
• Lu Qin told Lu Yu that Zhang Hua had been unusually busy and suggested the emperor might be conspiring with Sima Shi.
• Lu Yu agreed the emperor’s edicts could complicate their position but decided not to block contact between them, reasoning that Sima Shi was nearing death and wanted to protect his clan.
• Lu Yu concluded that Sima Fu could help end the standoff and set out to visit him.

Mouqiu Dian met Cao Mao in the palace, pledged his support, and shared a private banquet with him. The next day, Gao Rou urged Empress Dowager Guo to restrict the emperor’s contact with ministers, while Eunuch Guo listened nearby.

• Mouqiu Dian entered the palace with Zhang Hua and met Cao Mao for the first time, where the two expressed concern for each other and discussed the threats facing the court.
• Mouqiu Dian promised Cao Mao that he and his father would protect him, then joined him for a private banquet and shared his hopes for the future.
• After Cao Mao got drunk and fell asleep, Mouqiu Dian ordered eunuchs to guard the Western Hall and prevent anyone from entering until the emperor woke.
• The next day, Gao Rou told Empress Dowager Guo that Zhong Hui had supposedly approached Cao Mao to ally against the ministers, and urged her to keep suspicious men away from the emperor.
• Empress Dowager Guo reconsidered after Gao Rou warned that Cao Mao’s edicts could threaten her authority, while Eunuch Guo listened at the doorway.

Cao Mao learned that Gao Rou had moved against the eunuchs and used the court's infighting to strengthen his own network of allies and military influence. He then summoned Empress Sima Yue and announced that they would visit her family and her gravely ill father.

• Old Eunuch Xu told Cao Mao that Gao Rou had urged the Empress Dowager to distance herself from the eunuchs, prompting Eunuch Guo to seek Cao Mao's support.
• Zhang Hua explained that Gao Rou's attack had unfolded as planned, while Wei Shu reported that Jiao Bo had rallied allies and Li Zhao had become Commandant of the Garrison Cavalry.
• Cao Mao considered recruiting Ma Long, Wang Jing, and Chen Qian as he continued building his own power amid the struggle between the great families and the Sima Family.
• Cao Mao summoned Empress Sima Yue and told her they would visit their child and her gravely ill father; she agreed after first asking to inform the Empress Dowager.

Cao Mao persuaded Empress Dowager Guo to let him visit Sima Zhao’s residence and assess the Sima family’s intentions for himself. After arriving under heavy guard, he warmly greeted Sima Zhao and met his subordinate officials, recognizing Du Yu as the person he had been seeking.

• Cao Mao greeted Eunuch Guo respectfully and entered Zhaoyang Hall to speak with Empress Dowager Guo.
• Cao Mao persuaded Empress Dowager Guo that Gao Rou was isolating her and that Sima Zhao’s forces surrounding Luoyang posed a danger.
• Cao Mao told Empress Dowager Guo he would visit Sima Zhao’s residence, and she reluctantly agreed after he promised to be careful.
• Cao Mao instructed Zhang Hua and Wei Shu to remain outside the residence as his fallback, then left the Imperial Palace with Sima Yue.
• Sima Zhao welcomed Cao Mao at the residence, and Cao Mao greeted him warmly before asking to meet his subordinate officials.
• Du Yu introduced himself to Cao Mao, who recognized him as the person he had been looking for.

Cao Mao visited the gravely ill Sima Shi and discussed the court’s conflict with Gao Rou and Lu Yu. Sima Shi proposed appointing Wang Xiang Director of the Secretariat to divide his opponents, while Cao Mao refused an alliance and urged Sima Shi to entrust his campaign to him.

• Cao Mao praised Du Yu and warmly greeted Sima Zhao, then entered the Grand General’s Residence with Sima Zhao and Sima Yan.
• Cao Mao met Sima Shi alone, and Sima Shi recognized that his conspicuous visit would make others believe they were joining forces.
• Sima Shi said Lu Yu was easier to defeat than Gao Rou and proposed appointing Wang Xiang Director of the Secretariat to split the ministers.
• Cao Mao warned that Wang Xiang might yield the position to Sima Zhao, which could reunite the great families against the Sima Family.
• Sima Shi invited Cao Mao to ally with him against the great clans, but Cao Mao said he feared Sima Shi and rejected the offer.
• Cao Mao argued that the great families threatened the realm’s future and asked Sima Shi to treat him as a son and entrust him with the great undertaking.

Cao Mao visited the ailing Sima Shi and brazenly asked to inherit his political power, then went to Yang Huiyu’s quarters and sought to bring Guo Ping to the Imperial Palace. The chapter ended with Yang Huiyu allowing the plan in principle, though Sima Shi’s approval was still needed.

• Cao Mao urged Sima Shi to entrust him with the Sima Family’s power, but Sima Shi ordered him to leave.
• Cao Mao warned Sima Shi that Gao Rou was moving against him, then told Sima Zhao and Sima Yan that the ministers were fighting over the Grand General’s position.
• Cao Mao explained the court struggle to Sima Yan and urged him not to interfere with Sima Shi’s efforts.
• Cao Mao met Yang Huiyu, Sima Yue, Sima You, and Guo Ping, then asked to take Guo Ping to live in the Imperial Palace.
• Yang Huiyu said Sima Shi would need to approve Guo Ping’s departure, while Sima Yan endorsed the idea and promised to help build the child’s reputation.

Cao Mao sought to bring Sima Zhao’s allies and family under his influence, while Sima Shi urged his brother to appease the emperor and retain control of the Imperial Secretariat. Gao Rou dismissed the danger posed by Cao Mao and Lu Yu, then ordered rumors spread to undermine Lu Yu.

• Sima Shi told Sima Zhao that Cao Mao wanted to control the Sima Family and advised him to yield the Grand General position if necessary while keeping the Imperial Secretariat.
• Cao Mao asked Sima Zhao to bring Sima Yue’s son Ping into the palace and requested Du Yu and Yang as attendants and tutors; Sima Zhao delayed giving up Du Yu but agreed to send Ping.
• Gao Jun told Gao Rou that Cao Mao had met Sima Shi and taken Ping to the palace, but Gao Rou insisted his own power made him a match for the emperor.
• Gao Rou dismissed Gao Jun’s warning that Lu Yu could join forces with Sima Fu and advance new policies, then ordered rumors spread that Lu Yu had colluded with the Sima Family for the Director of the Secretariat post.

Cao Mao persuaded Empress Dowager Guo to build her own military power by appointing trusted men to command four battalions of the Central Army. As he considered how to take control of the army amid the ministers’ rivalry, he decided Ma Long could provide the military expertise his allies lacked.

• Cao Mao told Empress Dowager Guo that Sima Zhao had readily let Sima Yue and Guo Ping leave with him, and concluded that the Sima Family no longer posed a threat.
• Cao Mao explained that Sima Zhao and the court ministers were competing for military authority, and urged Empress Dowager Guo to create a force under her direct command.
• Cao Mao recommended Jiao Bo, Li Zhao, Ji Kang, and Lü An to command four battalions of the Central Army, with orders to replace aristocratic officers with capable soldiers.
• Cao Mao offered to handle the reorganization himself, and Empress Dowager Guo trusted him to act on her behalf.
• Cao Mao reviewed Sima Zhao’s and Lu Yu’s competing appointments in the Central Army and recognized that his chosen commanders lacked experience.
• Cao Mao settled on Ma Long as the military expert who could help him take control of the Central Army.

Cao Mao and Zhang Hua concluded that Sima Shi had already begun a counterattack by seeking support from regional generals, and they planned to rely on Zhong Hui and Ma Long to strengthen their position. Lu Yu visited Sima Fu, who refused to oppose his nephews for now and intended to wait until the Great Clans needed him.

• Cao Mao told Zhang Hua and Wei Shu about his meeting with Sima Shi, and Zhang Hua listed powerful officials Cao Mao might win over by inheriting Sima Shi's mantle.
• Zhang Hua proposed that Sima Shi might offer the Grand General's post to regional generals to gain control of the Imperial Secretariat, and Cao Mao realized Sima Shi might already have sent envoys to recruit them.
• Cao Mao planned to enlist Zhong Hui to handle court affairs and wait for Ma Long to help consolidate the Central Army.
• Rumors spread that Lu Yu had betrayed the ministers for the post of Director of the Secretariat, but Lu Yu dismissed them and went to visit Sima Fu.
• Sima Fu told Lu Yu he would not move against his nephews yet and planned to leave public life until the Great Clans needed someone to stand against Sima Shi.

Lu Yu and Sima Fu secretly agreed to confront Gao Rou, each believing the arrangement would advance his own plans. Meanwhile, Cao Mao asked Zhong Hui how to take over Sima Shi’s power base, and Zhong Hui offered to handle it while warning Cao Mao to stay out of the court struggle.

• Lu Yu assured Sima Fu that he could protect the Sima Family and told him Gao Rou was trying to seize power through the Empress Dowager.
• Sima Fu realized Sima Shi might eliminate Gao Rou and imagined using the resulting turmoil to lead the ministers, while Lu Yu planned to make Sima Fu restrain Gao Rou and secure Lu Yu’s own rise.
• Sima Fu agreed to work with Lu Yu against Gao Rou, and the two discussed court affairs while concealing their separate ambitions.
• Cao Mao summoned Zhong Hui and said he wanted to inherit Sima Shi’s power base.
• Zhong Hui called Cao Mao’s plan crude but offered to take charge, saying Sima Zhao, Sima You, and the two ladies were key to the matter.
• Zhong Hui warned Cao Mao that he had missed the chance to ally with Sima Shi and should avoid the court struggle while seeking to annex his power.

Hua Biao returned to Luoyang amid the upheaval and learned that Sima Shi had fallen and the Empress Dowager had risen to power. After realizing he had repeatedly backed the wrong side, he went straight to Cao Mao and pledged his allegiance, and Cao Mao promised him a place among the honored ministers if their great undertaking succeeded.

• Hua Biao reached Luoyang and found its gates under heavy guard, but Hua Yi defied the officers and escorted his father into the city.
• Hua Yi told Hua Biao about the Sima Family’s loss of power, Lu Yu’s rise, and the Empress Dowager’s rule.
• Hua Biao revealed that he had refused Guanqiu Jian’s offer to oppose Sima Shi, then decided to report to the Imperial Palace rather than visit Lu Yu.
• Hua Biao told Cao Mao that Guanqiu Jian had refused the summons to court and declared his loyalty to the emperor.
• Cao Mao welcomed Hua Biao’s pledge and promised that he would be honored among the Merit-Ranking Ministers if their undertaking succeeded.