Chapter Summaries

Cao Mao accepted Zhong Hui as an ally and tasked him with freeing the Imperial Clan, while Zhong Hui advised him on filling key court positions and managing the generals. Zhong Hui’s recommendations gave Cao Mao a plan for consolidating power after the Grand General’s death.

• Cao Mao accepted Zhong Hui’s offer to assist him in creating a golden age and said his next goal was to free the Imperial Clan.
• Zhong Hui proposed appointing Wei Shu to serve under the Commandant of the Guards before making him Minister of the Imperial Clan, and volunteered to take the post himself in the meantime.
• Zhong Hui advised Cao Mao to leave the Grand General position vacant, appoint Sima Zhao General of the Guards, and use the vacant post to keep provincial generals competing for favor.
• Zhong Hui recommended Zheng Chong as Director of the Secretariat and urged Cao Mao to retain Gao Rou, Hua Biao, and Zheng Xiaotong to balance the ministers.

Cao Mao moved to appoint allies while the ministers sought Gao Rou’s help after rebellions spread through Hebei and the Central Plains. Gao Rou refused to lead an army and urged them to call upon the General Who Conquers the West, shocking the assembled ministers.

• Zhong Hui went to find Zheng Mao to prepare to become Minister of the Imperial Clan, while Cao Mao planned to discuss appointments with the Empress Dowager the next day.
• Cao Mao summoned Sima You and asked him to tell his birth mother that Cao Mao wished to see her, then ordered him to help Guo Ping make larger wooden armor.
• Xun Yi and the ministers asked Gao Rou to become Director of the Secretariat after Lu Yu was blamed for unrest and supply disruptions across the provinces.
• Xun Yi reported that a hundred thousand rebels were sweeping through Hebei and that rebellions and army mutinies had also broken out in the Central Plains.
• Gao Rou refused to lead the campaign and suggested that the General Who Conquers the West command the regional forces instead.

Cao Mao brought Empress Dowager Guo to the court deliberation, where the ministers resisted their authority and debated how to suppress the rebellions. After Guo issued edicts appointing Sima Zhao General of the Guards and Zheng Chong Supervisor of the Secretariat, Cao Mao promised to make the ministers kneel and beg her forgiveness.

• Gao Rou presided over an urgent court deliberation as ministers debated how to quell rebellions breaking out across Great Wei.
• Xun Yi proposed appointing Sima Zhao to lead the campaign, drawing opposition from ministers wary of restoring the Sima Family's power.
• Cao Mao and Empress Dowager Guo entered the hall, but ministers knelt in front of them and blocked their path.
• Cao Mao challenged the ministers, and Empress Dowager Guo appointed Sima Zhao General of the Guards and Zheng Chong Supervisor of the Secretariat.
• After leaving the hall, Empress Dowager Guo lamented the ministers' betrayal, and Cao Mao promised to make them kneel and beg her forgiveness.

Sima Zhao accepted the Empress Dowager’s appointment as General of the Guards after Du Yu warned that refusing could cost him the position and weaken his influence. As Sima Zhao organized the response to the rebellions, Lu Yu realized Sima Shi had engineered the destruction of the Lu Family as a fallback plan.

• Xin Chang delivered the Empress Dowager’s edict summoning Sima Zhao to serve as General of the Guards, but Sima Zhao initially refused, citing his filial duties.
• Du Yu explained that the court’s circumstances had changed and urged Sima Zhao to accept the appointment before the ministers chose someone else.
• Sima Zhao agreed, went to the Imperial Secretariat, and asked Zheng Chong to let him take responsibility for suppressing the rebellions.
• Sima Zhao returned home, summoned his trusted aides, and sent orders to regional officials and generals to quell the uprisings while he prepared to lead the Central Army.
• At the Lu residence, Lu Yu lamented the slaughter of his clan and concluded that Sima Shi had arranged it as a fallback plan.

Lu Yu and Lu Qin decided to leave Luoyang after the Lu Family’s political downfall, but Zhang Hua offered Lu Qin a chance to serve Emperor Cao Mao. Lu Qin refused in order to stay with his father, while Cao Mao and Wei Shu considered how to strengthen the emperor’s court.

• Lu Yu told Lu Qin to resign and return with him to their hometown, and Lu Qin agreed to stand by his father.
• Zhang Hua visited Lu Qin and offered him a post serving Cao Mao, warning that the great clans might retaliate against the Lu Family.
• Lu Qin refused the offer, saying he would accompany Lu Yu home, then spoke with Zhang Hua about the classics.
• Cao Mao accepted Zhang Hua’s account of Lu Qin’s refusal and told him not to press the matter; he also assigned Wei Shu to serve under the Commandant of the Guards.
• Wei Shu recommended Hua Yi as a suitable Yellow Gate official, arguing that Cao Mao could gain a capable ally and the Hua family’s support.

The Imperial Secretariat’s ministers discussed reforming the court and proposed placing Cao Mao under tighter control by moving his studies to Xuanwu Hall. Wang Xiang warned Cao Mao about their plans, while Cao Mao believed his teacher wanted him to fight the ministers and clear a path for Wang Xiang’s advancement.

• The ministers discussed rebellion relief and Hebei’s recovery before Wang Xiang urged them to determine clan ranks under the Zhongzheng System.
• Gao Rou and Sima Fu proposed replacing Cao Mao’s attendants and having him study and live at Xuanwu Hall, while Zhong Yu suggested appointing new servants to the Empress Dowager.
• Zheng Chong halted the discussion, warning that the ministers should focus on provincial affairs and avoid provoking the Outer Army.
• Wang Xiang declined Xun Yi’s invitation and went to the East Hall to tell Cao Mao about the ministers’ plans.
• Cao Mao grew angry at the ministers’ scheme but then decided Wang Xiang wanted him to oppose them, and entrusted the matter to his teacher.

Cao Mao prepared to counter the ministers by recruiting new Yellow Gate Gentlemen and sought Wang Yuanji’s help in bringing Sima Zhao into his plans. Wang Yuanji heard that Zhong Shiji could become Minister of the Imperial Clan and that Xiahou Xian and Cao Yu would soon arrive in Luoyang.

• Cao Mao told Zhang Hua that the ministers were moving against him and urged him to relocate, but Zhang Hua chose to stay and recommended recruiting Sima Yan, Wang Xun, Hu Fen, He Shao, and Chen Zhi as Yellow Gate Gentlemen.
• Sima Yan brought Wang Yuanji and Sima You to the Imperial Palace, then dragged Cao Mao to Shiqian Hall to meet his mother.
• Cao Mao asked Wang Yuanji to persuade Sima Zhao to support appointing Zhong Shiji Minister of the Imperial Clan and to summon Wang Su back to court.
• Cao Mao argued that the ministers threatened both him and Sima Zhao, and said he had a plan that would give them trouble.
• Wang Yuanji agreed to relay Cao Mao’s message that Zhong Shiji could take the post and that Xiahou Xian and Cao Yu would soon arrive in Luoyang.

Zhong Hui brought Cao Yu and Xiahou Xian to Luoyang under the Empress Dowager’s edict, forcing his way past the city guards and palace officials. The two elderly men met the Empress Dowager and Cao Mao, while Zhong Hui antagonized Gao Dan outside Zhaoyang Hall.

• Cao Yu feared Sima Shi had summoned him and Xiahou Xian to kill them, but Xiahou Xian urged him to remain calm.
• Zhong Hui met the Prince of Yan and Xiahou Xian on the road and escorted them toward Luoyang under the Emperor’s edict.
• Xun Biao tried to block Zhong Hui’s convoy at the city gate, but Zhong Hui threatened him and led the party into Luoyang.
• Zhong Hui brought Cao Yu and Xiahou Xian into the Imperial Palace, where Wei Shu and Zhang Hua helped them reach Zhaoyang Hall.
• Gao Dan challenged their entry, but the Empress Dowager and Cao Mao welcomed Cao Yu and Xiahou Xian into Zhaoyang Hall.
• Zhong Hui mocked Gao Dan until Gao Dan grabbed his collar and the soldiers restrained him.

Cao Mao told Cao Yu and Xiahou Xian about the ministers’ growing control of the court, promised to loosen restrictions on the Imperial Clan, and asked them to join the Imperial Secretariat. Gao Rou learned that Cao Yu and Xiahou Xian had entered the palace and planned to bring the Outer Army under the ministers’ influence.

• Cao Mao blamed Cao Shuang for the Imperial Clan’s suffering and said princes would be allowed to live in their fiefs, hold office, correspond, conduct business, and recruit worthy men under chancellors’ oversight.
• Cao Mao said the Empress Dowager wanted Cao Yu and Xiahou Xian appointed as directors of the Imperial Secretariat, and Xiahou Xian urged Cao Yu to accept the challenge.
• Cao Yu agreed to assist Cao Mao, while Cao Mao judged Xiahou Xian more capable and considered how the Imperial Clan could help check the Great Clans in the provinces.
• The Empress Dowager welcomed Cao Yu and Xiahou Xian and asked about their families after Cao Mao handed the conversation over to her.
• Gao Dan told Gao Rou that Cao Yu and Xiahou Xian had entered the palace with Zhong Hui, and Gao Rou inferred that Cao Mao had joined forces with Sima Zhao.
• Gao Rou dismissed Cao Yu as timid and said the ministers could draw the Outer Army to their side before dealing with Zhong Hui and Sima Zhao.

Cao Mao and Empress Dowager Guo faced the ministers’ efforts to isolate them, while Cao Mao reassured her that they were still building influence. Zhong Hui outlined plans to win Yang Hu, return Imperial Clan members to their fiefs, and exploit a possible Shu offensive, leaving Cao Mao wondering whether Jiang Wei might someday be won over.

• Empress Dowager Guo gave Cao Yu and Xiahou Xian residences, then Cao Mao warned her that the ministers might move him to Black Tortoise Lodge and place her under watch.
• Cao Mao reassured Empress Dowager Guo that their growing network of supporters meant they were stronger than she feared.
• Zhong Hui accused Wang Xiang of seeking power and proposed drawing Yang Hu toward Cao Mao by summoning the Regular Attendants Cavalry to Taiji Hall.
• Zhong Hui said he would work with He Zeng to return Imperial Clan members in Hebei to their fiefs before the ministers could intervene.
• Zhong Hui predicted that Jiang Wei’s major Northern Expedition could overwhelm Great Wei’s defenses and expose the ministers’ inability to lead troops.
• Cao Mao asked whether he could win Jiang Wei over, and Zhong Hui replied that he could at least give him a dignified send-off.

At the Imperial Secretariat, ministers challenged the emperor’s meetings with the Regular Attendant Cavalry, while Wang Jing observed their conduct with contempt. Xin Chang tried to recruit Yang Hu to obstruct the attendants, but Yang Hu rejected his proposals and condemned the policies favoring great clans; after Xin Chang left, Yang Hu learned Zhong Hui had come to see him.

• The ministers welcomed Cao Yu, Xiahou Xian, and Wang Jing, though Wang Jing received a cool reception and Wang Xiang greeted him warmly.
• Sima Fu raised concerns about the emperor meeting the Regular Attendant Cavalry, and Xin Chang agreed to approach the General Who Guards and Protects; Xiahou Xian left in anger after the ministers ignored him.
• Xin Chang visited Yang Hu and urged him to stop the Regular Attendant Cavalry from seeing the emperor, offering rank and promotion in return.
• Yang Hu refused to obstruct the attendants and criticized clan-based rank determination and policies that shielded great officers from punishment.
• Xin Chang departed, and Yang Hu told Lady Xiahou that their paths had diverged; when a servant announced Zhong Hui’s arrival, Yang Hu realized the emperor’s summons to the attendants had been meant to bring Zhong Hui to him.

Zhong Hui persuaded Yang Hu to join his side and protect the emperor, then recruited Ji Kang to rally scholars against the ministers’ plans. The chapter ended with Zhong Hui eagerly advising Ji Kang on how to counter them.

• Zhong Hui confronted Yang Hu, criticized his indecision, and urged him to join his effort to assist the emperor.
• Yang Hu agreed to Zhong Hui’s proposal, and Zhong Hui instructed him to keep the imperial guards in the palace and block any attempt to move the emperor to Black Tortoise Lodge.
• Zhong Hui visited Ji Kang and explained that the ministers were isolating the emperor and intended to send him outside Luoyang.
• Ji Kang reacted angrily, and Zhong Hui urged him to use his scholarly influence and contacts to expose the ministers’ actions at the Imperial Academy.
• Ji Kang listened as Zhong Hui began advising him on how to contest public opinion and keep the ministers occupied.

Zhong Yu turned Sima Fu and Gao Rou away when they demanded that he restrain Zhong Hui, while Zhong Hui reported his recent campaign of disruption to Cao Mao in Taiji Hall. Cao Mao praised Zhong Hui’s effectiveness, leaving him poised to continue his work against the ministers.

• Sima Fu and Gao Rou confronted Zhong Yu over Zhong Hui’s actions, including his interference at court, the Imperial Academy, and the Central Army.
• Zhong Yu refused to discipline Zhong Hui, arguing that he had broken no law and that the ministers should confront him directly.
• Gao Rou warned that Zhong Hui’s actions could bring disaster on the Zhong Family, but Zhong Yu invoked Gao Rou’s reputation for benevolence and left both visitors speechless.
• After Sima Fu and Gao Rou left, Zhong Yu reflected that he had chosen Sima Zhao’s side and believed his brother could keep causing trouble without his help.
• Zhong Hui recounted his recent actions to Cao Mao, who praised his efficiency and treated him as an invaluable ally.

Zhong Hui laid out a plan for Cao Mao to exploit the ministers’ conflict over the Imperial Clan and the coming Shu invasion, while placing Deng Ai in command against Jiang Wei. As Cao Mao prepared to strengthen his allies, Gao Rou faced a public denunciation and vowed never to forgive Zhong Hui and the others he suspected of stirring it up.

• Zhong Hui told Cao Mao that the Imperial Clan would leave Hebei for their fiefs while the ministers watched him, then predicted a Shu attack would distract them and recommended appointing Deng Ai to defend against Jiang Wei.
• Zhang Hua admitted he had underestimated Zhong Hui, and Cao Mao instructed him to focus on preparing the East Hall Banquet.
• Cao Mao praised Cheng Ji for accepting gifts from curious officials and scholars while giving them only the information Cao Mao had taught him.
• Cao Mao warned Yang Hu that the Imperial Secretariat might replace him with Yang Xiao and told him to resist any order and guard against assassination.
• Scholars gathered outside Gao Rou’s residence to denounce him, but Gao Rou refused to arrest them and suspected Zhong Hui, Ruan Ji, Ji Kang, Shan Tao, and others were behind the articles attacking him.

Sima Fu and Xun Yi faced public outrage after essays exposed their conduct, while Wang Xiang emerged as a powerful political rival in the Imperial Secretariat. The ministers argued over the scholars, Ma Long’s control of the Central Army, and Zhong Hui, before Gao Rou threatened Zhong Yu and his allies rallied to his side.

• Sima Fu learned that three of the Lü Family Brothers’ essays had denounced him, and Xun Yi took him to the Imperial Secretariat to address the scholars’ unrest.
• Sima Fu and Xun Yi suspected Wang Xiang of leaking the ministers’ discussion, but Sima Fu argued that Wang Xiang was the best person to calm the scholars.
• Wang Xiang assured the ministers he would handle the Imperial Academy students and blamed Lü Xun, while Gao Rou accused Ma Long of taking control of three battalions.
• Chen Qian explained that Ma Long had won the soldiers’ loyalty through shared hardships, fair promotions, and strict discipline, leaving the ministers unsure how to remove him.
• Xiahou Xian and Cao Yu entered the meeting, and Xiahou Xian proposed elevating Zhong Hui to Minister over the Masses as the ministers complained about his absence.
• Gao Rou threatened Zhong Yu over the unrest, and Zhong Yu challenged him as ministers aligned with Sima Zhao rose to support Zhong Yu.

Ma Long restored discipline to the Central Army through relentless training, drawing Sima Zhao’s attention and an offer of advancement. Ma Long rejected Sima Zhao’s bid to win him over and hoped Deng Ai would come to the camp so they could serve the emperor together.

• Ma Long drilled the Central Army in basic formations and punished absent officers, driving parasites from the camp and winning the soldiers’ support.
• Sima Gan visited on Sima Zhao’s behalf to praise Ma Long and offer rewards and promotion, but Ma Long refused, saying he had not earned them.
• After Sima Gan left, Ma Long criticized the Central Army’s leadership, and Ji Kang arrived exhausted from training.
• Ji Kang warned Ma Long that Sima Zhao would never fully trust someone of his low birth, and Ma Long recalled how Deng Ai had fairly rewarded soldiers in Yanzhou.
• Ji Kang mentioned that Deng Ai might come to the Central Army, and Ma Long eagerly said he would urge him to help serve the emperor.

Wang Yuan and Guo Ze struggled to manage the thousands of rebels flocking to Wangwu Mountain, while Cao Mao considered their growing force as a potential ally. The chapter ended with Cheng Ji reporting that Guo Huai had died and asking whether Cao Mao would now send someone to Yongliang.

• Wang Yuan welcomed another group of more than two thousand rebels and promised their leader a generalship, prompting Guo Ze to worry that the mountain could not feed its rapidly growing army.
• Wang Yuan argued that refusing new recruits would destroy their reputation, and Guo Ze agreed to help manage the growing force while warning that the Imperial Court would attack.
• Facing a grain shortage, Wang Yuan planned to lead his men down the mountain and considered a surprise raid on the Great Clans' estates in Hedong or Henei.
• Cheng Ji told Cao Mao that the regional rebellions had mostly been suppressed and that the Hebei rebels were retreating into the mountains, where they might join Guo Ze.
• Cao Mao considered using Guo Ze's rebels as a source of support and thought about sending Liu Lu to establish contact.
• Cheng Ji reported that Guo Huai had died of illness and asked whether Cao Mao would now send someone to Yongliang.

After Guo Huai died, Chen Tai and Sima Wang prepared to defend Yongliang against Jiang Wei while fearing the court’s instability. In Luoyang, Cao Mao invited criticism of his rule and rewarded scholars who remonstrated, advancing his political aim as Sima Yan believed their performance had fooled everyone.

• Guo Huai died after nearly half a year bedridden, leaving Chen Tai and Sima Wang to mourn and face the threat of Jiang Wei’s invasion.
• Chen Tai and Sima Wang agreed to hold their positions, defend the front, and await reinforcements rather than divide their forces or venture out.
• Chen Tai worried that conflict within the Sima Family could bring down his own reputation and leave the Border Army without support.
• Cao Mao told the scholars at the East Hall banquet that anyone could criticize his faults without fear of punishment and offered ten jin of gold for remonstrance.
• Sima Yan criticized Cao Mao for failing to sacrifice to the ancestral emperor, and Cao Mao rewarded him with ten jin of gold.
• The scholars followed Sima Yan’s example and offered criticisms for rewards, while Sima Yan grinned, convinced they had been completely fooled.

Cao Mao used the East Hall Banquet to encourage frank remonstrance and praise those who challenged wrongdoing, while Sima Yan helped reinforce his arguments. Sima Yan then went to Sima Fu’s residence and publicly condemned his grandfather’s proposal to imprison the Empress Dowager and humiliate the emperor.

• Cao Mao invited celebrated scholars to speak freely about why the Former Han lost its virtue, and they blamed eunuchs, the sale of offices, and other causes.
• Cao Mao argued that rulers lost virtue by refusing remonstrance, cited Emperor Wu’s and Emperor Wen’s killings, and praised Xun Yu and Xun Rong for confronting Minister Xun.
• Cao Mao asked Sima Yan to invite Xun Yu and Xun Rong to the next banquet so he could reward them, then told Sima Yan his performance had been too deliberate.
• After leaving the palace, Sima Yan went to Sima Fu’s residence, where scholars were gathered outside protesting.
• Sima Yan demanded that Sima Fu correct his conduct, condemning his proposal to imprison the Empress Dowager and humiliate Cao Mao.

Wang Xiang gathered his allies and resolved to take charge of the Imperial Secretariat amid the political disorder after Sima Shi’s death. He recognized Cao Mao as both his prized pupil and a dangerous rival, then challenged him with an argument for shared rule, which Cao Mao accepted in principle but said was not yet practical.

• The ministers suspected that Hu Zun’s campaign in Xuzhou had targeted the Great Clans on Sima Zhao’s behalf, but they could not confront him without the support of generals outside the capital.
• Wang Xiang assembled Chen Qian, Zheng Mao, Wang Jing, Cui Zan, Wang Guan, and others, and declared that he would take charge of the failing Imperial Secretariat.
• Chen Qian, Cui Zan, and Wang Guan supported Wang Xiang, who then went to the Imperial Palace to meet Cao Mao.
• Wang Xiang reflected that Cao Mao had used Zhong Hui and political disorder to weaken the Sima Family and the ministers, and concluded that the two of them would eventually become enemies.
• During their lesson, Wang Xiang presented the view that dynasties fell because of foolish sovereigns and proposed that ministers share responsibility for governing; Cao Mao agreed with the argument but said it was not yet ready to be put into practice.