Chapter Summaries

Chen Qian uncovered rampant corruption and fake appointments in the Inspector of the Capital’s office, then hurried to Taiji Hall. There, Lu Qin challenged Cui Zan’s claims about military expenses, while Cao Mao noted the evidence of embezzlement; Chen Qian arrived requesting an audience.

• Chen Qian questioned a child listed as a twenty-year-old Secretariat Clerk, and Xun Yu admitted the child’s age did not match his appearance.
• Xun Yu told Chen Qian that another Secretariat Clerk, Chen Chu, had no records and had never been seen.
• Chen Qian ordered the arrested officials kept under guard and left for Taiji Hall after learning that dozens of clerks and assistant registrars in the Inspector of the Capital’s office had been dealt with.
• Cui Zan argued that increasing soldiers’ compensation would exhaust Great Wei’s reserves, but Lu Qin challenged his figures and suggested redirecting rewards into regular pay.
• Cui Zan backed down under Lu Qin’s questioning, and Cao Mao decided to keep the matter in mind rather than pursue it immediately.
• Chen Qian arrived at Taiji Hall and requested an audience with Cao Mao.

Cao Mao learned from Chen Qian that corruption had hollowed out the Inspector of the Capital’s office and rejected his proposal to expose the officials at court, while plans proceeded to capture Sima Zhao. Empress Dowager Guo then complained about being slighted, and Cao Mao challenged her by threatening to relinquish the throne, leaving her shaken and speechless.

• Cao Mao assigned Lu Qin to work with Cui Zan, then shared a meal with Chen Qian and heard about the Inspector of the Capital’s office, where most listed officials did no work.
• Chen Qian proposed using his arrests as evidence against the ministers, but Cao Mao warned that they would accuse him of framing the innocent and said he would spill blood to make them reconsider.
• Zhang Hua told Cao Mao that Zhong Hui had set out to capture Sima Zhao, accompanied by Lord Wang and General Wen, with Commandant Ma supporting them from the rear.
• Empress Dowager Guo came to Taiji Hall and told Cao Mao that Guo Li, Guo Zhi, another Guo relative, and three secretariat ministers had disrespected her.
• Cao Mao said he could not arrest anyone without evidence, then threatened to return to Yuan City and leave the realm’s affairs to Empress Dowager Guo.
• Empress Dowager Guo seized Cao Mao’s hand and asked how he could give away the throne, and he asked whether he had still not done enough.

Cao Mao reassured Empress Dowager Guo, confronted the Guo Family, and secured her renewed support. Meanwhile, Zhong Hui’s men brought He Zeng and Chen Ben toward Luoyang, where Chen Ben was to help oppose Sima Zhao’s rebellion and He Zeng remained unaware of the plan.

• Cao Mao persuaded Empress Dowager Guo not to send him away and summoned the three members of the Guo Family to answer for their conduct.
• Cao Mao ordered the Guo Family members to apologize, and Empress Dowager Guo realized her authority depended on remaining beside the emperor.
• He Zeng received what appeared to be a warning from his son and left Ye City with men secretly sent to escort him toward Luoyang.
• Zhong Hui met He Zeng and Chen Ben, then told Chen Ben to prepare to command the army in Hebei or testify against Sima Zhao if the plan failed.
• He Zeng asked what rebellion Zhong Hui meant, and Zhong Hui began explaining the court’s situation as they traveled toward Luoyang.

Sima Zhao dismissed the reluctance of his potential allies and convinced himself that a surprise advance on Luoyang would secure his victory. Cheng Cui fed him fabricated intelligence while secretly working against him, and Sima Zhao ended the chapter imagining how he would punish Cao Mao.

• Sima Zhao reflected on Hu Zun's conditional support and Wang Chang's claim that illness prevented him from sending troops, then abandoned plans to approach Zhuge Dan.
• Sima Zhao rejected Sima Shi's advice to reconcile with Cao Mao and the ministers, insisting that he would seize Luoyang by force.
• Sima Zhao learned that Yang Zong was intoxicated and summoned Cheng Cui instead.
• Cheng Cui presented fabricated reports portraying the Central Army as weak and its defenses as poorly arranged, and Sima Zhao believed them.
• Cheng Cui recalled that Sima Zhao had endangered his younger brother by placing him beside the emperor, prompting the brothers to contact Cao Mao.
• Sima Zhao imagined taking control of the court and making Cao Mao suffer.

Cao Mao left Luoyang in secret to join Zhong Hui’s operation against Sima Zhao in Henei, despite Zhang Hua’s worries about the danger. On the journey, Cao Mao appointed the conflicted Yang Hu General Who Guards the North, entrusting him with command in Hebei and responsibility for frontier affairs.

• Cao Mao ordered Man Changwu to guard Taiji Hall and conceal his whereabouts before leaving the palace for Wen County.
• Cao Mao departed Luoyang under cover of darkness with Yang Hu, Zhang Hua, and Cheng Ji to support Zhong Hui’s plan to seize Zhou County.
• Zhang Hua warned Cao Mao that leaving Luoyang endangered both the emperor and the court, while Cheng Ji said he had distracted the ministers with false information.
• Yang Hu reported to Cao Mao during the journey, and Cao Mao told him he would no longer serve as General Who Guards and Protects.
• Cao Mao appointed Yang Hu General Who Guards the North and explained that he trusted him to command armies and manage the frontier Hu People.

Cao Mao secured Yang Hu’s support for confronting Sima Zhao, while his court maneuvered over a plan to establish official interpretations of the classics. Wang Su’s case against Wang Xiang escalated into a clash between the Minister of Justice and the Censorate, leaving Wang Su increasingly convinced the emperor was forcing his own allies to fight.

• Cao Mao asked Yang Hu to help him remove Sima Zhao and promised to make him General Who Guards the North, and Yang Hu pledged his loyalty.
• At the Imperial Secretariat, the ministers realized the emperor’s plan to establish official interpretations of the classics threatened their control over scholarship.
• Zheng Chong refused to lead the opposition, and Cui Zan went to Taiji Hall to seek the emperor’s approval before acting.
• Chen Qian supported Wang Su’s case against Wang Xiang, but Wang Xiang evaded arrest by challenging the Court of the Commandant of Justice’s authority before the Censorate.
• Wang Su demanded to know what Cao Mao intended, while Chen Qian proposed confronting the Censorate and continuing the case.

Sima Zhao’s uneasy night ended with Yin Damu’s rebellion erupting in his camp, but Wen Yang led his cavalry through the chaos and captured Sima Zhao. Cheng Cui was left stunned as Sima Zhao called Wen Yang “not human,” and Wen Yang demanded to know what Cheng Cui had called him.

• Sima Zhao patrolled his camp, discovered suspicious figures, and exposed Yin Damu’s attempted rebellion.
• Yin Damu’s men clashed with Sima Zhao’s personal guards as the camp descended into chaos.
• Cheng Cui realized Yin Damu’s plot had been exposed and worried about the attack’s failure.
• Wen Yang rallied his cavalry to repay the emperor and charged into Sima Zhao’s camp despite Cheng Cui’s objections.
• Wen Yang returned bloodied with Sima Zhao captured and demanded that Cheng Cui repeat what he had called him.

Wen Yang captured Sima Zhao alive during a cavalry charge, allowing Cao Mao’s forces to take control of Wen County and subdue the rebel encampment. Sima Zhao was brought before Cao Mao’s men, where Cheng Ji confronted him and demanded that he remember his name.

• Wen Yang broke through the Hebei battalions, seized Sima Zhao, and carried him back to Cheng Cui’s forces.
• Cheng Cui sent Sima Zhao to Wen County, while Wen Yang stayed behind to keep the disorderly troops from advancing.
• Yin Damu arrived, learned that Sima Zhao was already being escorted away, and divided up duties with Cheng Cui and Wen Yang.
• Cao Mao received news that Sima Zhao had been captured alive, asked about casualties, and ordered Zhang Hua to record military merits honestly.
• Ma Long’s troops took custody of Sima Zhao at Wen County, and Cheng Ji introduced himself as a fierce general under Cao Mao.

Cao Mao captured Sima Zhao and revealed that he had already defeated the ministers at court, then rewarded Cheng Cui for helping secure victory. Meanwhile, Zhong Hui and Chen Ben went to bring the Yewang County army under the emperor’s command, where the guards surrounded them.

• Cheng Ji dragged Sima Zhao into the county office, where Cao Mao revealed that he had defeated the ministers and taken Gao Rou and the others into custody.
• Cao Mao spared Sima Zhao and ordered Zhang Hua to arrange for him to rest before he met his relatives the next day.
• Cheng Cui recounted Wen Yang’s daring charge, and Cao Mao promoted Cheng Cui to marquis and praised his cavalry skills.
• Cao Mao asked Yang Hu to prepare Ma Xiaoxing for the journey to the main camp and decided to wait for news from Zhong Hui until noon the next day.
• Zhong Hui presented Chen Ben with an imperial edict and accompanied him to the army camp in Yewang County to win over its troops.
• The camp guards surrounded Zhong Hui and Chen Ben, and Chen Ben demanded that the commandants come to see him.

Chen Ben and He Zeng brought their troops under control for Cao Mao, who then arrived at Zhou County and received the surrender of Sima Zhao’s forces. Cao Mao absolved Yin Damu of his past betrayal, rewarded Wen Yang for capturing Sima Zhao, and promised the soldiers a feast and rewards.

• Chen Ben reclaimed command at Yewang, while Zhong Hui reflected on the excessive power held by regional generals.
• He Zeng and Pei Xiu used the emperor’s edict to bring the Hebei troops at Huai County under control, while Yin Damu stabilized Sima Zhao’s main camp after Wen Yang’s raid.
• Cao Mao traveled openly to Zhou County, where Yin Damu, Wen Yang, and the officers welcomed him and presented the captured generals.
• Cao Mao forgave Yin Damu for his past role in plotting the Grand General’s death, declaring that his service against the rebels had left him without guilt.
• Cao Mao promoted Wen Yang to General of the Tiger Cavalry and Marquis of the Interior for capturing Sima Zhao.
• Cao Mao promised the soldiers a feast and rewards, explaining that he had borrowed the supplies from his relatives in Wen County.

Cao Mao rewarded the army and discussed military reforms and appointments with Ma Long before traveling through several counties to secure their submission. He reached Yewang with Zhong Hui, where Sima Zhao and the Hebei army nominally submitted, though Cao Mao still needed to make appointments to secure their loyalty.

• Cao Mao rewarded Sima Zhao’s former troops with goods taken from the Sima Family, while Ma Long’s soldiers spread news of the Central Army’s improved treatment.
• Ma Long urged Cao Mao to reform the whole army and proposed appointing Zhuge Dan Grand Commandant and Guanqiu Jian to guard the west, but Cao Mao worried about treating General Wuqiu unfairly.
• Cao Mao decided to appoint General Wuqiu General of Chariots and Cavalry, raise his rank, and have him guard Chang’an.
• Cao Mao visited He Zeng in Huai County, promised to keep him nearby, and distributed rewards before continuing toward Chen Ben.
• Zhong Hui caught up with Cao Mao and reported that Yewang had submitted; Cao Mao told him Zhou County and Huai County had already submitted as well.
• Cao Mao reached Yewang, where Sima Zhao and the Hebei army nominally submitted to him.

Cao Mao forced Sima Zhao to submit, then promised to keep him as General of the Guards and use his help governing the realm. Returning to Luoyang, Cao Mao publicly presented the defeated Sima Zhao as a hero, leaving the ministers stunned and Xun Yi convinced they had allied.

• Cao Mao threatened to kill Sima Zhao and exterminate his clan until Sima Zhao confessed his guilt and bowed.
• Cao Mao spared Sima Zhao, kept him as General of the Guards, and promised him a residence in Luoyang.
• Pei Xiu warned Chen Ben and He Zeng as the officials and commanders followed Cao Mao toward Luoyang.
• The ministers learned that Cao Mao was returning and gathered outside Luoyang's Main Gate, while Wang Su stayed away.
• Cao Mao arrived with Sima Zhao, called him a hero for his service in Hebei, and told the ministers to congratulate him.
• Xun Yi concluded that Cao Mao and Sima Zhao had joined forces.

Cao Mao convened court after defeating Sima Zhao, appointed officials, and ordered an investigation into a plot against the Minister of Justice. He proposed leading an offensive against Jiang Wei but faced broad opposition, while Pei Xiu revealed that his family had already been chosen to provide Cao Mao’s future wife.

• Cao Mao rewarded the army and appointed He Zeng, Chen Ben, and Yang Hu to new posts, then ordered Xun Yi to prepare a list of candidates for vacant offices.
• Chen Qian reported that Lü Xun and Feng Zhan had conspired to frame the Minister of Justice, and Cao Mao assigned Zheng Chong to resolve the case.
• Cao Mao proposed going to Chang'an to attack Jiang Wei, but nearly all the civil officials opposed an offensive, so he ended the assembly without securing approval.
• Guo Zhang asked Pei Xiu to support marrying a girl from his clan to Cao Mao, and Pei Xiu told him that a candidate from Pei Xiu’s family had already been chosen.
• Pei Xiu watched Guo Zhang leave and resolved to inform Cao Mao about the marriage matter.

Cao Mao returned Sima Zhao to Luoyang after defeating his army and placed him under close guard, while assuring Empress Dowager Guo that the realm was settling. Sima Zhao realized he was effectively confined and discovered that his supervisor, Li Chu, was the grandson of Li Feng, whose family Sima Shi had destroyed.

• Cao Mao told Empress Dowager Guo that Sima Zhao had admitted his mistakes and that the armies in Hebei were now under Cao Mao's control.
• Cao Mao explained that Yang Hu would command the Hebei armies and Yin Damu would take over the Palace Guards, then asked Empress Dowager Guo to arrange his adoption ceremony.
• Zhang Hua escorted Sima Zhao to a residence guarded by five hundred armored soldiers and warned him to remember Cao Mao's favor and behave wisely.
• Sima Zhao asked the officials supervising him to summon his younger brother, but they refused and told him to rest under their watch.
• Sima Zhao asked Li Chu about his family, and Li Chu revealed that he was Li Tao's son, Li Feng's grandson, and Elder Princess Qi's son.

Cao Mao used Sima Zhao’s captivity to issue orders in the General of the Guards’ name and draw Sima Shi’s former allies to court. He also questioned Wei Guan about a future campaign against Shu, and Wei Guan advised waiting a year to prepare.

• Cao Mao asked Hua Biao and Chen Ben to issue joint imperial and General of the Guards’ orders summoning Deng Ai and Wang Ji to Luoyang.
• Cao Mao added Hu Fen to the summons, intending to use Sima Zhao’s authority to command the Sima Family’s former subordinates.
• Cao Mao praised Wei Guan’s work in the Central Secretariat and promised to record his merit.
• Cao Mao asked Wei Guan how to respond to Jiang Wei’s incursions, and Wei Guan recommended reassuring regional officials and organizing the armies before attacking Shu in a year.

Pei Xiu warned Cao Mao against letting a great clan gain influence through the empress’s position and recommended choosing a woman from a weak family. At Sima Zhao’s residence, Sima Gan revealed that purported orders in his brother’s name had been issued without Sima Zhao’s consent, and Sima Zhao collapsed after Li Chu confronted him.

• Pei Xiu told Cao Mao that Guo Zhang wanted a woman of his family to become empress and advised choosing someone from a humble, politically weak family instead.
• Pei Xiu suggested Zheng Xiaotong’s granddaughter or the Director of the Secretariat’s daughter, and Cao Mao said he would discuss the matter with Duke Zheng.
• Sima Gan reunited with Sima Zhao under Li Chu’s watch and reported that their clansmen had been stripped of offices and titles while Sima Jun remained in service.
• Sima Gan told Sima Zhao that the family had received orders to return home and let Anshi lead, but Sima Zhao denied issuing them.
• Li Chu challenged Sima Zhao over issuing imperial edicts without the emperor’s consent, and Sima Zhao collapsed before waking in bed with the imperial physicians.

Cao Mao urged the disgraced Yang Zong to stop retreating from public life and announced plans to dismiss officials who lacked practical ability. Zhong Hui then tried to arrange Zheng Xiaotong’s granddaughter’s marriage to Cao Mao and use the proposal to identify ministers who supported him.

• Cao Mao reminded Yang Zong of his past doubts, urged him to serve again, and had Zhang Hua escort him out when he would not commit.
• Cao Mao told Zhang Hua that he would investigate officials and dismiss those who relied on empty reputations, while Zhang Hua warned him not to act too soon.
• Cao Mao said he knew who was suited to carry out the purge, leaving Zhang Hua concerned about his plans.
• Zhong Hui told Zheng Xiaotong to send his granddaughter to the Empress Dowager so she could be betrothed to Cao Mao and asked Zheng to identify ministers who approached him.
• Zheng Xiaotong objected to Zhong Hui’s presumptuous proposal and ordered his attendants to show him out.

Jiang Wei’s Shu forces launched a costly assault on Didao, while Sima Wang held back much of Wei’s strength to wear them down. Chen Tai then arrived with a small cavalry force and used fires and drums to make Jiang Wei fear an approaching army, leaving the Shu camp unsettled as Chen Tai prepared to cut off its retreat.

• Jiang Wei’s army attacked Didao from three sides, but Sima Wang’s defenders repeatedly repelled the assaults and inflicted heavy casualties.
• Zhang Yi urged Jiang Wei to stop storming the city and warned that Sima Wang was luring the Shu forces into a trap, but Jiang Wei refused to change his plan.
• Chen Tai rode out with roughly three thousand cavalry before his full army could assemble, aiming to relieve Sima Wang and exploit Jiang Wei’s focus on Didao.
• After reaching the mountains southeast of Didao, Chen Tai lit numerous fires and beat drums, prompting Sima Wang to make noise from inside the city as well.
• Jiang Wei halted the assault, ordered scouts to investigate the southern route, and prepared for possible ambushes.
• Chen Tai anticipated Jiang Wei’s response and ordered his main forces to move secretly by the northern route and cut off the Shu army’s retreat.

Empress Dowager Guo met Zheng Xiaotong and his granddaughter Zheng Xian, whom court ministers had proposed as Cao Mao’s bride, but she objected to the match. After meeting Cao Mao, Zheng Xian became intrigued by him, while Cao Mao decided to bring her into the Inner Palace and postpone choosing an empress.

• Empress Dowager Guo questioned Zheng Xiaotong about the proposed betrothal, and he said the ministers had approached him about it.
• Zheng Xiaotong defended Zheng Xian after Empress Dowager Guo criticized her, then left with her before the Empress Dowager could decide on the match.
• Zheng Xian said she did not want to become empress, but she was stunned by Cao Mao when she encountered him on his way to Zhaoyang Hall.
• Cao Mao reassured Zheng Xiaotong about Zhong Shiji’s conduct, and Zheng Xian wondered why Cao Mao had not looked at her.
• Empress Dowager Guo told Cao Mao that Zheng Xian was unsuitable, but Cao Mao proposed bringing Zheng Xian into the Inner Palace and delaying the empress’s appointment until the day after tomorrow.

Cao Mao used the sacrifice to establish that the Empress Dowager and Emperor Ming, not Sima Shi, had authorized his accession and the King of Qi’s deposition. After meeting his new consort Zheng Xian, he left her feeling distant, but she resolved to win his trust and bring him companionship.

• Wang Su delivered Cao Mao’s account at the sacrifice, attributing the King of Qi’s deposition and Cao Mao’s accession to the Empress Dowager and Emperor Ming rather than Sima Shi.
• Cao Mao led the offerings to Emperor Ming and Emperor Wen, then returned exhausted while the Empress Dowager celebrated her role in the ceremony.
• Cao Mao met Zheng Xian and instructed her about the Empress Dowager and Sima Yue, leaving Zheng Xian disappointed by his formal distance.
• Sima Yue welcomed Zheng Xian and explained that Cao Mao struggled to grow close to people because of his lonely upbringing and many responsibilities.
• Zheng Xian vowed to change Cao Mao’s loneliness, asked what food he liked, and set out to learn how to make the delicacies of Yuan City.