Chapter Summaries

Pei Xiu and Zhuge Xu staged a confrontation to force the Hu-Qiang tribes to dissolve their chieftainships and register as ordinary households. After Pei Xiu identified the cooperative young Tufa tribesman Shu Jinen as a potential future threat, Zhuge Xu summoned him and learned that Shu Jinen hoped to study and rise to prominence.

• Pei Xiu announced that the White Mountain Qiang and Wuge Qiang chieftains would receive Cao surnames, noble titles, and opportunities for their descendants to study and serve as officials.
• Pei Xiu denounced the other assembled chieftains as captives and demanded that their tribes settle in county towns, accept local rule, and pay taxes and perform corvée labor.
• Shu Jinen declared that his tribe would obey the edict, and Zhuge Xu agreed to decide how to proceed after the guards escorted the chieftains out.
• Pei Xiu privately revealed that he and Zhuge Xu had staged their dispute to pressure the tribes into submission, then urged Zhuge Xu to kill Shu Jinen as a possible future threat.
• Zhuge Xu summoned Shu Jinen and learned that he wanted to study the classics in Luoyang and acquire the abilities to become a powerful minister and founder of a prominent family.

Pu Yuan arrived in Luoyang and received an honored welcome from Cao Mao, who appointed him to the Ministry of Works and gave him a residence. In Ye City, Yang Hu received Wen Yang and decided to teach the headstrong young general the administrative work required to command and govern.

• Du Yu welcomed Pu Yuan outside Luoyang and brought him into a lively discussion with Ma Jun about smelting and ironworking.
• Cao Mao praised Pu Yuan, appointed him a Gentleman in the Ministry of Works, and granted him a residence and grounds for his household.
• Li Zhuan reminded Pu Yuan that the Shu ruler had accepted Cao Mao's kindness, and Ma Jun invited him to inspect the improved blast furnace.
• Yang Hu read Cao Mao's letter praising Wen Yang's courage while warning that he was headstrong, then met the young general in Ye City.
• Wen Yang urged Yang Hu to send him into battle, but Yang Hu told him to rest before they went to Youzhou.
• Yang Hu decided to put Wen Yang in charge of helping the Southern Xiongnu migrate and settle, so he could learn the administrative duties of a commander.

Deng Ai laid out plans to redeploy forces in Shu and Liangzhou, then warned the Ministry of War that the Xianbei were becoming a serious threat by learning governance and winning their people’s support. Chen Qian rejected his warning, and the officials remained unconvinced as Deng Ai argued that the Xianbei could one day contend for the realm.

• Deng Ai recommended reducing garrisons in Shu, reinforcing key passes and Nanzhong, and shifting the Yongliang Army’s focus toward Liangzhou and securing roads to the Western Regions.
• Deng Ai assessed the war with Wu, predicting its commander would abandon Jingnan and establish a defensive line through Nan Commandery as Jiaozhi fell into revolt.
• Deng Ai warned the officials that the Duan and Tuoba Xianbei were developing military strength and governing skills, and urged them to break up the tribes and disperse their people.
• Chen Qian argued that the Xianbei were loyal and peaceful, but Deng Ai attributed their defeat of the Southern Xiongnu to the Tuoba chieftain’s benevolent governance and popular support.
• The officials dismissed Deng Ai’s warning that the Xianbei might contend for the realm, while Chen Qian decided to challenge him in debate.

Cao Mao kept Deng Ai in the Ministry of War while insisting that Wei focus first on conquering Wu. Wen Yang struggled to resettle the Xiongnu until he began seeking local advice, while Tuoba Liwei sent his son Shamohan to Great Wei to pursue peaceful relations and learn how to govern.

• Chen Qian asked Cao Mao to transfer Deng Ai because his arguments for an expedition against the Xianbei were persuading officials.
• Cao Mao said the Xianbei threat deserved attention but ordered Wei to prioritize pacifying Wu, and he allowed Deng Ai to remain in the Ministry of War.
• Wen Yang met four Xiongnu tribal commanders, who readily agreed to follow Great Wei’s civilizing policies.
• Wen Yang’s hasty resettlement orders caused disorder, so he sought the local Inspector’s advice and began learning to administer the relocation.
• Tuoba Liwei chose his son Shamohan to visit Great Wei, build peaceful relations, and study its governance and classics.

Guanqiu Jian accepted the imperial plan to threaten Jianye and put Tang Zi in charge of planning Wei’s naval campaign. As Wu struggled with renewed fighting in Jingzhou and rebellion in Jiaozhi, Wei’s navy left its defensive zone and advanced toward Jianye.

• Guanqiu Jian received the emperor’s edict and told his generals that the court proposed attacking Jianye to protect Jiaozhou.
• Tang Zi proposed a new naval formation and explained Wu’s river defenses and fleet deployments to Guanqiu Jian.
• Guanqiu Jian appointed Tang Zi military adviser and entrusted him with planning and commanding the campaign, promising to petition for his reward.
• Guanqiu Jian defended Tang Zi’s appointment when other generals warned that he might defect back to Wu.
• Wei’s warships gathered in Huainan and began patrolling along the shore while Wu focused on fighting in Jingzhou and Jiaozhou.
• As Lu Kang and Puyang Xing exchanged accusations over the Jiaozhi rebellion, Wei’s navy left its defensive zone and headed toward Jianye.

Cao Mao considered the Tuoba Xianbei’s offer of peaceful coexistence and ordered officials to welcome their envoy while monitoring surrendered Shu officials. In Jianye, Zhang Bu prepared to meet Wei’s navy on the water, leaving Sun Xiu worried that a defeat could shatter Wu’s morale.

• Yang Zong told Cao Mao that the Tuoba Xianbei planned to send Shamohan to Luoyang as an envoy and leave a hostage prince in exchange for peaceful coexistence.
• Cao Mao rejected provoking the Xianbei and ordered Yang Zong to oversee their envoy’s reception, then assigned Zhong Hui to handle the heir’s visit.
• Liu Lu reported that Zhang Tong kept urging Liu Shan to return to Shu, but Liu Shan refused; Cao Mao ordered continued scrutiny of Shu officials and intelligence-gathering in Shu and Wu.
• Zhang Bu told Sun Xiu that Wei’s navy had challenged Wu on the water and announced that he had assembled warships to fight them.
• Sun Xiu worried that a Wu naval defeat could destroy the kingdom’s morale, though Zhang Bu remained confident.

Wen Yang blocked the road to inspect the Xianbei cavalry escorting Shamohan, a chieftain’s son bound for Luoyang, and challenged the envoy over past Xianbei raids. Shamohan calmly defended his tribe’s conduct, leaving Wen Yang convinced that the Xianbei could become a serious enemy of Great Wei.

• Wen Yang recruited elite young Xiongnu nobles into his command and earned the Xiongnu’s support by defending them against officials.
• Wen Yang and Liu Mo blocked the road to examine the Xianbei cavalry escorting Shamohan to Luoyang.
• A Wei officer greeted Wen Yang, who ignored the greeting and questioned the escort’s strength.
• Shamohan introduced himself in fluent court tongue and argued that his tribe had restrained its people and come peacefully to pay court.
• Wen Yang recognized the Xianbei’s discipline and potential, and concluded that they were no ordinary barbarians.

Wen Yang kept Shamohan in Bing Province while testing the Tuoba Xianbei heir and his warriors, but Zhong Hui arrived and took charge of escorting Shamohan to Luoyang. Shamohan agreed to document his army’s strength and leadership for Great Wei as proof that his state qualified to form an alliance.

• Shamohan asked Wen Yang to let him go to Luoyang, but Wen Yang urged him to stay and later took him hunting with the Xianbei and Xiongnu warriors.
• Wen Yang explained that he had kept Shamohan in Bing Province for his safety, and Shamohan recognized that Great Wei was growing more ambitious and powerful.
• When Wen Yang and Shamohan returned to the residence, Zhong Hui arrived and reprimanded Wen Yang for probing Shamohan’s abilities through a hunt.
• Zhong Hui led Shamohan away and asked him to record the size and strength of his army and the circumstances of his generals for the emperor.
• Shamohan agreed to provide the information and asked what Zhong Hui intended to do with it.

Shamohan arrived in Luoyang seeking Great Wei’s investiture, while Zhong Hui pressed him about Xianbei affairs and urged him to consider becoming a vassal. Cao Mao chose to let the Xianbei learn Great Wei’s governing methods and assigned Zhong Hui to watch over Shamohan, then prepared to assess another capable Xianbei, Tufa Shujineng.

• Zhong Hui questioned Shamohan about the Tuoba Tribe and explained why Great Wei was relocating the Xiongnu and encouraging them to adopt farming and settled life.
• Zhong Hui urged Shamohan to make his tribe a hereditary vassal of Great Wei, but Shamohan silently rejected the idea of merging his people into the empire.
• Cao Mao received Shamohan in Taiji Hall, allowed him to stay in Luoyang, and deferred deciding on his investiture until the ministers had discussed it.
• Cao Mao rejected Zhong Hui’s suggestion to use Shamohan against the Xianbei immediately and instead ordered Zhong Hui to help the Xianbei learn Great Wei’s commandery-and-county system.
• Cao Mao told Yang Zong that he would summon Qiang and Hu chieftains willing to submit, and ordered him to assess Tufa Shujineng and kill him if he seemed disloyal.

Lü Xing killed Sun Xu and led Jiaozhi Commandery in rebellion against Wu, while Lu Kang struggled to contain the uprising and the advancing Wei forces amid delays and disputes at court. Sun Xiu accepted Lu Kang’s recommendations and reorganized Wu’s defense of Jianye as the threats converged.

• Lü Xing killed Sun Xu after the governor ordered him beaten, then rallied Jiaozhi Commandery to rebel and seek Wei’s support.
• Lü Xing’s forces lost their captured territory and held Longbian County against repeated Wu assaults while waiting for Wei reinforcements.
• Lu Kang warned that Jiaozhou was about to fall and blamed the court’s delays for Wu’s worsening position.
• Lu Kang ordered his deputy to urge Sun Xiu to remove Puyang Xing, keep Zhang Bu in Jianye, and send Wu Yan to lead the navy.
• Sun Xiu stripped Puyang Xing of office and rank, kept Zhang Bu in Jianye, and appointed Wu Yan to command the navy against Wei.

Sun Xiu questioned Zhang Bu and Puyang Xing after dismissing them from their posts, then heard Wei Miao’s assessment that Wu could not defeat Guanqiu Jian and must focus on delaying the Wei advance. He entrusted Wei Miao with the navy and ordered him to defend Wu’s positions by any means.

• Zhang Bu and Puyang Xing pleaded with Sun Xiu over their dismissals, and Sun Xiu explained that Lu Kai doubted Zhang Bu’s judgment and battle experience.
• Zhang Bu and Puyang Xing left the palace, and Zhang Bu warned Puyang Xing to stay home while rebellions continued across the realm.
• Sun Xiu summoned Wei Miao, Shi Shuo, Wu Yan, and Liu Ping to discuss the coming war with Guanqiu Jian.
• Wei Miao told Sun Xiu that Wu could not defeat the Wei army and should hold its advantageous terrain while slowing the enemy on multiple fronts.
• Sun Xiu appointed Wei Miao to command the navy and ordered him to defend Wu’s positions using any strategy or means.

Guanqiu Jian and Tang Zi led Wei’s navy down the Yangtze toward Jianye, where Tang Zi’s fast-boat tactics defeated Wu’s vanguard. Wu Yan delayed the advance for twenty-seven days before surrendering to Tang Zi.

• Guanqiu Jian entrusted Tang Zi with command of the fleet and backed his changing naval formations as Wei advanced toward Wu.
• Tang Zi drew Wu’s scouting vessels into an attack by Wei’s fast boats and defeated the Wu vanguard in a major river battle.
• Wei Miao assigned Wu Yan to intercept the Wei fleet while he remained behind to oversee defensive preparations.
• Wu Yan fought a running battle against Tang Zi’s fast boats, holding the Wei advance for half a month as his fleet suffered heavy losses.
• After twenty-seven days of fighting, Wu Yan surrendered with only three warships remaining and was brought before Tang Zi.

Wu Yan’s attempted attack on Tang Zi ended in his death, while Wen Qin’s advance into Jiaozhi deepened Wu’s crisis. In Yuzhang, Lu Kang persuaded Shi Ji and Ding Feng to launch bold attacks on Wei’s positions, leaving Shi Ji hopeful that Lu Kang could save Wu despite his doubts about the court.

• Wu Yan lunged at Tang Zi after Zhang Te delivered the Grand General’s warning, but Zhang Te cut off his arm and killed him.
• Guanqiu Jian learned that Wu Yan’s surrender had disrupted the Wei army’s plans, and he lamented the loss of a loyal Wu officer.
• Wen Qin led the Expeditionary Army into Jiaozhi, where Lü Xing welcomed him and Wu forces scattered.
• Shi Ji, Ding Feng, and Lu Kang met in Yuzhang and discussed their defeats against Wei.
• Lu Kang proposed attacking Xiakou and Jiangling to force Wang Ji and Wen Qin to defend their vital positions, and Shi Ji and Ding Feng agreed to support him.
• Lu Kang assigned Shi Ji to hold the passes, Ding Feng to engage Wang Ji, and himself to attack the Wei army’s rear; Shi Ji later predicted the court would tolerate Lu Kang.

Lu Kang launched an offensive to restore Wu’s morale as Wei forces continued advancing, while officials in Jianye argued over the naval defeats and blamed one another. Sun Xiu defended the fallen commanders, but Lu Kai warned Zhang Bu not to underestimate Wei as the chapter ended with Zhang correcting him over the names of the late 𬘭 and the late Jun.

• Lu Kang persuaded two veteran generals to support a naval strike toward Xiakou and Jiangling, and Ding Feng attacked Wang Ji’s main army as Lu Kang crossed the river toward Jiangbei.
• Zhang Bu blamed Wu Yan, Wei Miao, and the commanders who had recommended them for the naval defeats, hoping to take command himself.
• Lu Kai rebuked Zhang Bu for smearing the generals and weakening Wu’s morale, and Sun Xiu ordered posthumous honors for the fallen commanders.
• Sun Xiu affirmed that Wu’s defensive strategy had succeeded and urged the ministers to cooperate.
• Lu Kai warned Zhang Bu that Wei’s navy was strong and that former Wu officers, including Tang Zi, now fought for Wei.
• Zhang Bu reminded Lu Kai that Sun Xiu required the names to be spoken as “the late 𬘭” and “the late Jun,” and Lu Kai left with his smile fading.

Cao Mao’s court reviewed the Imperial Secretariat’s work, including the abolition of military agriculture and the resettlement of Qiang, Hu, and Xiongnu people as Great Wei subjects. After the assembly, He Zeng warned Cao Mao that great clans were placing relatives in Shu, and Cao Mao told him to handle the matter himself.

• Lu Zhi defended abolishing the military agriculture agencies, arguing that their officials obstructed farming and enriched themselves, and the court approved the policy.
• Pei Xiu and Zhuge Xu dispersed 230,000 Qiang and Hu across commanderies, registered them as ordinary subjects, and sent their former chieftains to Luoyang for official posts and titles.
• The Ministry of Rites reported that similar resettlement was underway among the Xiongnu, while the other ministries presented their recent achievements.
• After the assembly, He Zeng told Cao Mao that great clans were sending sons and younger relatives to Shu to claim farmland and properties and exploit weaknesses in the Ministry of Personnel.
• Cao Mao told He Zeng to deal with the appointments himself without seeking imperial approval.

Cao Mao planned a family banquet and instructed Zheng Xian to build ties with the Imperial Clan’s wives and daughters, then visited Empress Dowager Guo about Guo Tong’s request for a post in Shu. He agreed to send Guo Tong to serve as a governor in Nanzhong and told the Empress Dowager to summon him with the good news.

• Zheng Xian offered Cao Mao a new lower garment and told him she had arranged the family banquet.
• Cao Mao instructed Zheng Xian to correspond with the families of the Imperial Clan and ministers, and to ask Sima Yue for help.
• Zheng Xian told Cao Mao that Guo Tong had sent the Empress Dowager a letter and gifts while seeking an appointment in Shu.
• Cao Mao visited Empress Dowager Guo, who recommended that he employ Guo Tong in Shu.
• Cao Mao agreed to appoint Guo Tong as a governor in Nanzhong and asked Empress Dowager Guo to summon him.

Guo Tong sought Empress Dowager Guo’s help to obtain an official post, expecting a prestigious appointment, but she assigned him to govern remote commanderies in Nanzhong. He left Zhaoyang Hall realizing that his attempt to secure office might have doomed him.

• Guo Tong went to Zhaoyang Hall after Empress Dowager Guo summoned him, hoping she would help him enter government without taking an examination.
• Guo Tong praised his late father’s wishes and wept, moving Empress Dowager Guo to approve his request to serve the country.
• Empress Dowager Guo offered Guo Tong the post of Governor of Yunnan Commandery, and he realized the appointment was a dangerous posting far from Shu’s prosperous regions.
• Guo Tong protested that he lacked the ability to govern Yunnan, but Empress Dowager Guo changed the appointment to Governor of Yongchang Commandery instead.
• Empress Dowager Guo had Guo Tong escorted out, and he slapped himself for asking her to find him an official post.

After Guo Tong became Governor of Yongchang, Wang Su’s young pupils faced pressure to take their studies seriously. Liu Yuan excelled while Cao Qi and Guo Ping struggled, and Sima You privately wondered whether Liu Yuan would one day threaten the Central Plains.

• Guo Tong left for Nanzhong as Governor of Yongchang, becoming a laughingstock and a warning to Luoyang’s aristocratic scions.
• Huangfu Mi examined Wang Su and warned that Wang Su’s inability to feel pain was a serious sign, but Wang Su dismissed his concerns.
• Wang Su’s pupils visited him, and Liu Yuan stood out for his diligence while Cao Qi and Guo Ping eagerly planned to go out.
• Kong Chao questioned the pupils about their studies, and Liu Yuan and Sima You answered well while Cao Qi and Guo Ping failed.
• Kong Chao reprimanded the pupils and threatened to report them to His Majesty if they did not improve, prompting them to plan to study harder.
• After Liu Yuan quietly left, Sima You said he might become a great threat to the Central Plains.

Huo Yi took command of Nanzhong under Great Wei and prepared to aid Jiaozhou, while Lu Kang’s concentrated counterattacks forced Wang Ji to retreat from some of his gains. The war remained unsettled as Wei’s forces grew exhausted and Wu’s leaders pressed their offensive.

• Huo Yi entered Dianchi County, where he told local officials and tribal leaders that Shu had fallen and that Cao Mao had appointed him Military Governor of Nanzhong.
• Huo Yi announced that he could appoint local officials himself and urged them to help develop Nanzhong, then said he would lead troops to aid Jiaozhou.
• Wen Qin and Lü Xing wondered why Wu had withdrawn its forces from Jiaozhou, and Wen Qin ordered scouts to investigate Jingnan and asked when Huo Yi would arrive.
• Lu Kang redirected Wu’s forces to attack Wang Ji while sailing warships toward Jiangling, prompting Wang Ji to pull back and defend the riverbank.
• Shi Ji recovered territory as Wen Qin continued advancing in Jiaozhou, and the Wei army showed signs of exhaustion while Jianye’s leaders grew increasingly desperate.

Zhang Bu accused Lu Kang of rebellion after he marched out, but Sun Xiu defended the general and warned Zhang Bu not to undermine the army. As the fighting in the south subsided without a decisive victory, Cao Mao arranged studies for the young men around him and resolved to make Wang Learning the court’s official doctrine while Wang Su was still alive.

• Zhang Bu hurried to Jianye and urged Sun Xiu to send someone to arrest Lu Kang for marching out without court approval.
• Sun Xiu rejected Zhang Bu’s accusation, warned him against sowing discord, and sent him away after a prolonged coughing fit.
• Lu Kang regained parts of Jingnan as Wei’s advance slowed, while Wang Ji began withdrawing and the fighting between Wei and Wu quieted.
• Cao Mao visited the ailing Wang Su and learned that Sima You and Liu Yuan were the strongest students among the boys studying with him.
• Cao Mao sent Guo Ping to study military strategy under Chen Qian and directed Cao Qi to attend the Imperial Academy and make friends.
• Cao Mao resolved to establish Wang Learning as the court’s official doctrine and to deal with the scholars of the Bamboo Grove.