Chapter Summaries

Cao Mao summoned the Bamboo Grove gentlemen and announced that Wang Learning would become Great Wei’s official learning, appointing Ji Kang and Ruan Ji to oversee its study. He ordered Liu Ling and Ruan Xian to stop gathering scholars and threatened to bar the clans and associates of those who remained in seclusion from office, then commanded that the policy be carried out.

• Cao Mao met Ji Kang, Ruan Ji, Shan Tao, Xiang Xiu, Liu Ling, and Ruan Xian after Wang Rong’s arrest and the others’ changing allegiances.
• Ji Kang explained how Wang Learning connected the patterns of nature to governing, and Cao Mao appointed him to lead the official study of Wang Learning.
• Cao Mao ordered Ruan Ji to join Ji Kang in overseeing Wang Learning, while telling Liu Ling and Ruan Xian to live privately and stop gathering or influencing scholars.
• Cao Mao declared Wang Learning official learning and threatened to bar the descendants, clansmen, and close associates of men who retired into seclusion from entering office.
• Liu Ling compared the threatened restrictions to the Partisan Prohibitions, while Ruan Ji objected that the punishment was excessive.
• Cao Mao defended the policy as necessary for Great Wei’s strength and ordered his decision carried out.

Cao Mao’s Official Learning reforms reshaped scholarship in Luoyang while Pei Xiu and Zhuge Xu oversaw the relocation and resettlement of the Qiang and Hu. As Tufa Shujineng arrived in Luoyang, he asked Yang Zong to let him study at the Imperial Academy.

• Cao Mao promoted Wang Learning, appointed Ji Kang as its public representative, and personally attended lectures and debates.
• Pei Xiu inspected the resettlement of Qiang and Hu families in Chang'an and discussed language barriers, local hostility, and corruption with Zhuge Xu.
• Zhuge Xu explained that he had secured noble titles and estates for cooperating Qiang and Hu leaders, including Shu Jinen, whom he chose not to kill.
• Tufa Shujineng traveled to Luoyang with other tribal chieftains and told Yang Zong that he had surrendered to protect his people and accept Great Wei’s offer of equal treatment.
• Tufa Shujineng asked Yang Zong to let him study at the Imperial Academy instead of seeking an office or noble title.

Cao Mao allowed Shu Jinen to attend the Imperial Academy, believing that future enemies could become valuable allies under changed circumstances. Zhong Hui taught Shamohan how to centralize and stabilize the Xianbei state, hoping peaceful governance would secure Great Wei’s frontier and eventually make the Xianbei easier to absorb.

• Yang Zong praised Shu Jinen to Cao Mao and worried that he and Shamohan might become threats, but Cao Mao said he would not punish them for future deeds and permitted Shu Jinen to attend the Imperial Academy.
• Cao Mao laughed when he heard that Zhong Hui was teaching Shamohan important matters.
• At Zhong Hui’s residence, Zhong Hui urged Shamohan to replace the Xianbei tribal structure with commanderies, counties, and an Imperial Secretariat modeled on Great Wei.
• Shamohan asked why Zhong Hui cared about Xianbei affairs, and Zhong Hui explained that a stable Xianbei state would help prevent conflict along the frontier.
• Shamohan listened to Zhong Hui’s advice throughout the day and began asking actively about governing his country.
• After Shamohan left, Zhong Hui reflected that helping the Xianbei form a settled regime would make them easier for Great Wei to conquer and govern, and he eagerly imagined earning lasting renown.

After repelling Wei’s invasion, Lu Kang returned to Jianye expecting punishment for acting without the court’s authorization, but Sun Xiu instead appointed him to command much of Jingnan. Lu Kai then told Lu Kang that he intended to leave the Wu Kingdom.

• The Wei army withdrew from Jingnan, and Lu Kang returned to Jianye while officials escorted bound commoners toward the capital.
• Zhang Bu confronted Lu Kang with the Central Army and demanded that he admit his guilt for acting without authorization; Lu Kang complied.
• Sun Xiu welcomed Lu Kang, praised his victory, and appointed him General Who Guards the Army and Governor of Yi Province, alarming Zhang Bu.
• Lu Kang declined to celebrate his promotion and warned Lu Kai that commanding Jingnan would make his life difficult.
• Lu Kai told Lu Kang that he intended to leave the Wu Kingdom.

Lu Kai fled Wu for Wei to protect Lu Kang from the court’s suspicion, while Lu Kang stayed behind and did not report his cousin’s plan. After Hu Zun welcomed Lu Kai’s surrender and the news reached Jianye, Zhang Bu came to take Lu Kang to the imperial palace.

• Lu Kai told Lu Kang that Wu’s court and emperor were failing, and said he would flee to Wei to spare Lu Kang from being trapped as Military Governor.
• Lu Kai urged Lu Kang to report that he had refused to join a rebellion, then left; Lu Kang chose to sleep instead of informing the emperor.
• Lu Kai and his entourage traveled by boat toward Qingxu, where Hu Zun’s fleet intercepted them and escorted Lu Kai aboard.
• Hu Zun welcomed Lu Kai’s surrender, feasted him, and ordered his army to return as news of the defection spread among the Wei people.
• After Jianye learned Lu Kai had fled, Zhang Bu confronted Lu Kang and ordered him to come to the imperial palace; Lu Kang calmly went with the guards.

Lu Kang confronted Sun Xiu over the Wu Kingdom’s failures, and Sun Xiu agreed to rely on him to restrain the court and powerful nobles. In Luoyang, Cao Mao learned that Lu Kai had come to submit and ordered him welcomed with the highest honors.

• Sun Xiu demanded that Lu Kang explain why Lu Kai had fled, and Lu Kang repeated his cousin’s criticisms of the court and its treatment of the people and soldiers.
• Sun Xiu defended his own conduct, then admitted fault and entrusted Lu Kang with important military and court affairs, asking him to protect Sun Xiu’s son if he died.
• In Luoyang, Cao Mao sparred with Luo Xian and easily evaded his attacks, while Luo Xian decided to keep serving him for now.
• Yang Zong reported that Lu Kai had come to submit, and Cao Mao ordered the news spread and Lu Kai received with the highest honors.
• Cao Mao summoned Zhong Hui to discuss Lu Kai’s arrival.

Zhong Hui reported on his efforts to guide Tuoba Liwei and discussed Wu Kingdom’s changing position with Cao Mao. After learning that Lu Kang had won the emperor’s favor and might become Grand Marshal, Zhong Hui turned against him and proposed a new strategy to pressure and divide Wu Kingdom.

• Cao Mao gave Zhong Hui another poem praising him, and Zhong Hui eagerly thanked him.
• Zhong Hui told Cao Mao that he had bypassed Shamohan and corresponded directly with Tuoba Liwei, who was adopting Great Wei’s policies and seeking Zhong Hui’s advice.
• Cao Mao told Zhong Hui that Lu Kai had come to submit and that Lu Kang had been promoted after repelling Wang Ji and Wen Qin.
• Zhong Hui’s admiration for Lu Kang soured when he learned Lu Kang was younger and might become Grand Marshal, and he dismissed Lu Kang’s achievements.
• Zhong Hui proposed pressuring Wu Kingdom, dividing its ministers, and winning over its great clans, then left to write up his strategy.

In Chengdu, Zhuge Dan prepared to leave Zhang Hua in charge of the troubled Shu lands and dealt harshly with local Great Clan leaders who tried to exploit Zhang Hua’s intervention. Meanwhile, Cao Mao welcomed Lu Kai to Luoyang and immediately asked whether he could correspond with Lu Kang.

• Zhuge Dan warned Zhang Hua that benevolence needed to be matched with firmness and said he would leave him ten thousand soldiers to govern the Shu lands.
• Zhuge Dan arrested the Shu Great Clan leaders for trying to incite resistance and threaten officials, while Zhang Hua considered the difficulties of governing the region.
• Cao Mao and his ministers greeted Lu Kai outside the city, where he also saw Liu Shan, Huchuquan, and Shamohan.
• Cao Mao praised his ministers and generals to Lu Kai, then invited him to a banquet at the palace.
• Cao Mao asked Lu Kai whether he could correspond with his cousin Lu Kang, saying he wanted to befriend the renowned scholar.

Cao Mao welcomed Lu Kai to Wei and appointed him General Who Conquers Wu, then privately sought his advice on defeating Wu. Lu Kai revealed Sun Xiu’s poor health and the political factions plotting against one another, giving Cao Mao an opportunity to exploit Wu’s internal turmoil.

• Cao Mao praised Lu Kai as a righteous man who had submitted to protect Jiangdong’s people, then appointed him General Who Conquers Wu and granted him titles and honors.
• In private, Cao Mao asked Lu Kai how Wei could defeat Wu, and Lu Kai said he had not handled military affairs but described the kingdom’s political situation.
• Lu Kai told Cao Mao that Sun Xiu was gravely ill, Zhang Bu and Puyang Xing planned to control a young ruler, and the great clans were preparing to remove them.
• Cao Mao saw Wu’s infighting as a chance to seize Jingnan and questioned Lu Kai about Wu’s generals before sending him back to his residence.
• Yang Zong advised Cao Mao to keep watch on Lu Kai, but Cao Mao dismissed the concern and discussed how to reward Hu Zun without yet making him Grand General.

Yang Hu worried about the growing Xianbei tribes and strengthened his army in Youzhou. Wen Yang arrived seeking permission to investigate the tribes and, after invoking Zhong Hui’s advice, won approval to visit the Duan and Murong tribes.

• Yang Hu assessed the Xianbei threat and reviewed how he had dismissed weak and idle soldiers to build an elite force of more than thirty thousand.
• Wen Yang arrived at Yang Hu’s frontier garrison after leaving his duties in Bing Province, where he had beaten officials who obstructed resettlement reforms.
• Yang Hu explained that Wen Yang should have balanced punishment with the need to keep the resettlement work moving.
• Wen Yang asked to investigate the Xianbei tribes in person, but Yang Hu initially rejected his plan as too dangerous.
• Wen Yang repeated Zhong Hui’s argument that Great Wei should approach the Xianbei openly, and Yang Hu permitted him to visit the Duan and Murong tribes.

Wen Yang traveled to Liaoxi to meet the Duan Tribe and learned that the region’s counties had been left desolate by years of neglect. He discovered that the Duan Tribe was a settled alliance of refugees, then arrived at its city and met its deferential chieftain, Duan Qizhen.

• Wen Yang reached a nearly deserted county, where the Gongsun County Magistrate explained that war, flight, and the court’s failure to provide relief had left the region impoverished.
• The Gongsun County Magistrate told Wen Yang that the Duan Tribe had grown into a regional alliance of displaced people, including Han people, with more than thirty thousand households and forty to fifty thousand soldiers.
• Wen Yang promised the county magistrate that His Majesty would not ignore the region, then set out for the Duan Tribe’s city.
• Zhou Cheng identified himself as a man of Liaoxi and led Wen Yang toward the city after Wen Yang announced his name and rank.
• Duan Qizhen welcomed Wen Yang, escorted him into the city, and asked what instructions he had for the tribe.

Wen Yang learned that the Duan Tribe wanted to join Great Wei and heard of Murong Shegui’s growing ambition and attacks on them. He traveled to Liaodong with Duan Qizhen to confront the Murong, then shot Murong Tuyuhun when the young man approached him arrogantly.

• Wen Yang tested the Duan nobles by saying the Xiongnu had joined Great Wei, and Duan Qizhen eagerly asked how his tribe could do the same.
• Duan Qizhen explained that the Murong had bullied the Duan Tribe and described Murong Shegui’s ambition to rule all the Xianbei.
• Wen Yang promised to report the Duan Tribe’s request to the emperor and declared that he would confront Murong Shegui.
• Duan Qizhen accompanied Wen Yang from Liaoxi to Liaodong, where Murong forces guarded the checkpoints and sent Murong Tuyuhun to negotiate.
• Wen Yang shot Murong Tuyuhun from his horse before he could speak, stirring an uproar among the Murong cavalry.

Wen Yang’s cavalry defeated a Murong force sent to intercept him, and he refused to retreat despite Duan Qizhen’s warnings. Duan proposed a surprise strike on the Murong royal city, and Wen Yang agreed to attack.

• Duan Qizhen feared Wen Yang had provoked the Murong Tribe by killing a rider who failed to dismount and bow.
• When Murong cavalry charged, Wen Yang led his riders in two charges that routed more than a thousand enemies and killed their commanders.
• Wen Yang dismissed Duan Qizhen’s suggestion to escape, declaring that he had come to deal with the Murong Tribe and would attack them.
• Duan Qizhen warned that the Murong Tribe would seek an explanation, block their retreat, and gather its forces.
• Duan Qizhen proposed striking the Murong royal city before its defenders returned, and Wen Yang agreed.

Murong Muyan learned that Murong Shegui had provoked a Wei general and urged him to recall his troops and seek forgiveness. When Murong Nai revealed that Wen Yang was advancing with elite cavalry, he advised Muyan to prepare to plead for mercy, prompting his father to question how he knew so much.

• Murong Muyan confronted Murong Shegui over his attack on a Wei general, but Shegui defended his actions and complained that the Murong had received no rewards from Great Wei.
• Muyan warned Shegui to recall his troops and beg forgiveness, but Shegui refused and said he would face the general himself.
• Murong Nai reported that Wen Yang's force of just over five hundred elite soldiers had defeated their troops and was advancing toward the city.
• Shegui hurried off to confront Wen Yang despite Muyan's attempt to stop him.
• Murong Nai told Muyan that Wen Yang commanded the Tiger and Leopard Cavalry and urged his father to plead for mercy before Shegui was defeated.
• Muyan praised Murong Nai's advice, then asked how he knew the enemy's identity and strength so precisely.

Murong Nai confessed that a scholar named Wang had advised him, and Murong Muyan set out to stop his elder son from being killed. Meanwhile, Wen Yang defeated Murong Shegui’s forces and captured him, but a young man arrived and urged the general to wait.

• Murong Nai told Murong Muyan that Wang had advised him on the realm’s affairs and on seeking his elder brother’s position.
• Murong Muyan decided to go out himself to prevent Murong Shegui from dying, and Murong Nai left to prepare.
• Murong Shegui led his guards out of the city, met Wen Yang’s cavalry, and ordered an attack after reinforcements appeared.
• Wen Yang broke through Shegui’s cavalry, routed the Xianbei forces, and pursued Shegui as he fled toward the city.
• Duan Qizhen captured Shegui, and Wen Yang ordered that he be beheaded for the Duan Tribe’s military merit.
• A young man arrived in a carriage and called for Wen Yang to wait, then carried a man out of the carriage.

Wen Yang brought Murong Shegui and the injured former chieftain Murong Muyan to Xiangping, where Governor Hu Qi discussed the Murong Tribe’s unrest and a mysterious scholar advising Murong Nai. Intrigued by the scholar’s role in the conflict, Wen Yang went with Murong Nai to meet him.

• Wen Yang spared Murong Muyan because of his past service, detained Murong Shegui, and escorted them to Xiangping.
• Hu Qi met Wen Yang, condemned Shegui’s attack, and explained that he had been unable to control the Murong Tribe’s larger army.
• Hu Qi told Wen Yang that an unknown scholar was advising Murong Nai and might be influencing the struggle for power in the tribe.
• Hu Qi summoned Murong Nai and questioned him about the scholar, and Murong Nai said the man was a renowned scholar from Qingxu.
• Wen Yang chose to visit Murong Nai’s tent and meet the scholar himself.

Wen Yang sought out a strategist among the Xianbei and recruited Duan Qizhen into Great Wei, only to discover that the scholar was his old acquaintance Liu Lu, secretly expanding the Office of Affairs into Liaodong. Wen Yang and Liu Lu discussed the Xianbei situation, leaving their plans for the Murong and Duan Tribes to be addressed next.

• Wen Yang told Duan Qizhen he wanted a strategist to assist him and explained that he preferred to remain a fighting general rather than become a commander like Han Xin or Peng Yue.
• Duan Qizhen encouraged Wen Yang to postpone becoming a commander, and Wen Yang offered to bring Duan Qizhen and his people into Great Wei with Duan serving as his commandant.
• Duan Qizhen accepted Wen Yang's offer and promised to name a future grandson after him.
• Wen Yang returned to the Murong Tribe's city with Murong Nai and Duan Qizhen, then barged into a study to meet the scholar Murong Nai had identified.
• Wen Yang recognized the scholar as Liu Lu, who revealed that he had come to expand the Office of Affairs into Liaodong and monitor the Xianbei.
• Wen Yang and Liu Lu exchanged news and began discussing the current situation of the Murong and Duan Tribes.

Cao Mao learned that ministers wanted to take over his civilizing initiative so great clans could profit from Hu people as slaves and dependents. Yang Zong urged him to be less burdened by caution, then volunteered to investigate and punish the clans in Yongliang.

• Wang Yuan told Cao Mao that several high-ranking ministers planned to propose relocating Hu people to the Central Plains for the great clans to manage for their own benefit.
• Cao Mao ordered Wang Yuan to monitor the ministers and identify others who supported their scheme.
• Yang Zong urged Cao Mao to regain the boldness of his youth, and Cao Mao explained that threats within and beyond the realm still kept him cautious.
• Yang Zong warned that local great clans might already be profiting from taking Hu people as household slaves, possibly in Yongliang and other regions.
• Yang Zong volunteered to investigate Yongliang, and Cao Mao ordered him to make the clans regret exploiting the civilizing initiative.

Cao Mao confronted Xun Yi over his plans to profit from the effort to civilize the Hu people, explaining that he sought to unite them into one people rather than enslave them. After warning Xun Yi that he could have been executed for obstructing the policy, Cao Mao made him identify the Great Clans involved.

• Xun Yi arrived at his residence, where palace guards had sealed the gates and Cao Mao was waiting for him.
• Cao Mao questioned Xun Yi about meeting Wang Yuan and asked him to explain his proposal for the civilizing effort.
• Xun Yi argued that involving the Great Clans would speed the effort, but Cao Mao accused him of seeking slaves, labor, property, and farmland rather than integration.
• Cao Mao explained that he wanted to eliminate foreign enemies by bringing everyone together under one culture, and challenged Xun Yi to consider the realm's future.
• Cao Mao warned Xun Yi that he would have been arrested and executed if he had bought slaves and obstructed the policy.
• Xun Yi named the Xiping Guo Clan, the Xin Clan of Didao, the Western City Yan Clan, and the Tianshui Jiang Clan as participants.

Wen Yang prepared to visit the Tuoba Tribe despite Hu Qi’s warnings, while Yang Hu sent Zu Wu to reinforce him. In Luoyang, Cao Mao learned of Wen Yang’s actions and then heard that Lady Zheng was pregnant.

• Wen Yang warned Murong Nai not to trust Liu Lu, then left after agreeing to assist Liu Lu’s plans involving the Murong and Tuoba tribes.
• Wen Yang insisted on visiting the Tuoba Tribe, and Hu Qi agreed after Duan Qizhen offered to accompany him with elite troops.
• Yang Hu ordered Zu Wu to find Wen Yang and hand over the remaining Tiger and Leopard Cavalry, then sent a report to Luoyang.
• Cao Mao received Liu Lu’s letter about events in Youzhou and wondered why Yang Hu had let Wen Yang act freely.
• Old Eunuch Xu and the Director of Imperial Physicians told Cao Mao that Lady Zheng was pregnant, leaving him stunned.