Chapter Summaries

Gu Ji and the Gu clan were relocated from Jiangdong to frozen Lelang Commandery, where they faced harsh living conditions and the prospect of laboring for food. Gu Rong defied Gu Ji and chose to take a local assessment for office, hoping to support the clan and establish them on the frontier.

• Gu Rong asked Gu Ji whether they should have taken Great Wei’s imperial examination in Wu territory, but Gu Ji remained silent.
• After reaching Lelang Commandery, Gu Ji and the others received winter clothing and were assigned to a ruined temporary lodging.
• A township clerk told the clan they could earn grain through construction and land reclamation, while those unwilling to work would need to buy homes and farmland.
• Gu Rong argued that passing an official assessment could provide income and land for the clan, then left to ask the clerk about taking one.
• The clerk explained that local assessments qualified candidates for county and township posts, and Gu Rong decided to take the assessment.

After Tuoba Chuo defeated Goguryeo, Guanqiu Jian anticipated that he would absorb Goguryeo’s soldiers and prepared a campaign. When Wei forces invaded, Goguryeo’s nobles rebelled against the Tuoba, and Tuoba Chuo and the King of Goguryeo fled together under pursuit.

• Guo Chang visited Guanqiu Jian, who urged him to live up to his ancestor’s legacy; Zhang Te defended Guo Chang’s record.
• Cheng Ji reported that Tuoba Chuo had routed Goguryeo by luring its king into an ambush, and pressed Guanqiu Jian to march immediately.
• Guanqiu Jian prepared for war, predicting Tuoba Chuo would absorb Goguryeo’s forces; Tuoba Chuo distributed captured soldiers among his tribes and built mixed defenses.
• Gao Chiran and Goguryeo nobles secretly agreed to rebel and open the passes to Guanqiu Jian’s army.
• When Wen Yang and Cheng Ji reached the passes, Goguryeo troops turned on the Xianbei defenders, allowing Wei forces to break through.
• Guanqiu Jian advanced from five directions and routed Tuoba Chuo’s army; Tuoba Chuo fled alongside the King of Goguryeo as Wei cavalry pursued them.

Cao Mao received Tuoba Liwei at court, then used the assembly to threaten ministers over their opposition to the Rewarded Fields Edict and announce harsh punishments for the Yanzhou faction. After the ministers departed, Tuoba Liwei was left alone, still unsure what would happen to him.

• Tuoba Liwei arrived at Taiji Hall, greeted Cao Mao, and bowed after Shamohan explained his fatigue and age.
• Cao Mao praised the conquest of the Xianbei, then angrily warned ministers to obey the Rewarded Fields Edict and stop concealing land and tenant farmers.
• Cao Mao promised meritorious ministers appropriate rewards but ordered full taxes on excess farmland and threatened severe punishment for anyone obstructing his policies.
• Wei Shu read the verdicts against Yanzhou faction scholars and their clans, and Zhuge Dan declared that he had no objection.
• Cao Mao ended the Court Assembly, leaving the ministers shaken as they departed and Tuoba Liwei alone in the hall.

After Cao Mao released Tuoba Liwei, Shamohan urged his father to accept that the Tuoba Tribe could thrive by serving Great Wei under its civilization policy. Liwei entrusted the decision to his son, then visited Zhong Hui, who suggested the family might prosper in Great Wei through Shamohan’s scholarship and service.

• Cao Mao let Tuoba Liwei leave the palace without guards, and Liwei felt humiliated by the emperor’s indifference.
• Shamohan told Liwei that Great Wei’s growing strength came from Cao Mao’s rule and urged him to seek opportunity through the civilization policy.
• Liwei yielded control of the family’s future to Shamohan and allowed him to choose between bringing his younger brother home and serving Great Wei.
• Shamohan worked to raise his tribe’s standing in Luoyang, while Liwei remained at his residence until he went to visit Zhong Hui.
• Zhong Hui welcomed Liwei and explained that Cao Mao intended to unify the realm, then pointed to Shamohan’s prospects and his own Xiongnu disciple as examples of outsiders serving Great Wei.

Zhong Hui persuaded Tuoba Liwei that he could rebuild the Tuoba Tribe’s standing by serving Cao Mao, and Liwei accepted the emperor’s authority and received a hereditary marquis title. Cao Mao then visited Pei Xiu, heard his plans for regional education, and caught him hiding wine beneath his desk.

• Zhong Hui urged Tuoba Liwei to support Cao Mao and help integrate the Tuoba people into Great Wei.
• Tuoba Liwei asked to meet Cao Mao, offered to persuade his people and sons to submit, and was made the hereditary Marquis of Returning to Righteousness.
• Cao Mao sent Liwei to consult Pei Xiu, then went to Pei Xiu’s residence to check on his work.
• Pei Xiu presented a plan to send Imperial Academy students as teachers and appoint renowned scholars to local educational posts, and Cao Mao approved a trial.
• Cao Mao found a flask hidden beneath Pei Xiu’s desk and told him to bring wine and food.

Du Yu waited anxiously for Lu Zhi to report on the treasury, and learned that confiscated clan wealth had funded the hired laborers and waterworks. They discussed whether the northern great clans would also face relocation, with Du Yu believing that those who committed crimes would be moved and that the rewarded fields edict would push ministers to serve the court.

• Du Yu watched the canal works in Ji County and waited for Lu Zhi, worried that the treasury would not sustain next year's projects.
• Lu Zhi arrived and told Du Yu that confiscations from the Yanzhou Famous Scholars Case had greatly replenished the treasury.
• Lu Zhi explained that property from the relocated Wu clans was being used to fund hired laborers in Wu territory, and that rising tax revenue would further ease expenses.
• Lu Zhi asked whether the northern great clans would be spared relocation, and Du Yu said His Majesty would move those with evidence of wrongdoing.
• Du Yu argued that the rewarded fields edict would compel ministers and famous scholars to earn merit and assist His Majesty to protect themselves and their clans.

Wen Yang relentlessly pursued Tuoba Chuo and captured him after the King of Goguryeo blocked a valley, while Guanqiu Jian secured the Tuoba Tribe’s surrender and planned how Great Wei would hold the region. The chapter ended with Cheng Ji returning in victory.

• Lu Zhi accompanied Du Yu on inspections of construction sites and checked how relief funds and grain were being used.
• Wen Yang chased Tuoba Chuo until a blocked valley forced Tuoba Chuo and his remaining cavalry to surrender.
• Gao Chiran confronted Tuoba Chuo, who offered to help pursue the King of Goguryeo, but Wen Yang said another force was already after him.
• Guanqiu Jian accepted the Tuoba relatives’ surrender and outlined plans to hold nearby territory while destroying remote cities and passes.
• Guanqiu Jian questioned the young Tuoba men about their tribe’s past, and Cheng Ji returned in victory.

Cheng Ji captured Gao Yeonbul, and Guanqiu Jian decided to send the Goguryeo prisoners south rather than slaughter or scatter them in Youzhou. As the army prepared to return, Guanqiu Jian secretly ordered several influential Goguryeo prisoners killed to prevent future rebellion.

• Cheng Ji captured Gao Yeonbul in Sushen territory and brought him to Guanqiu Jian's encampment.
• Guanqiu Jian spared Gao Yeonbul and ordered him sent to Youzhou before being escorted to Luoyang.
• Wen Yang explained that Goguryeo's people were more closely bound to their kingdom than the Tuoba and argued that relocating them would provide labor and resources while reducing threats beyond Youzhou.
• Guanqiu Jian ordered Zhang Te to arrange the transfer of the Goguryeo prisoners to Jingzhou, Yangzhou, and nearby regions, rejecting Cheng Ji's suggestion to kill them.
• Guanqiu Jian and Zhang Te selected several loyal and capable Goguryeo prisoners for secret execution, while planning to reward less influential men.
• Guanqiu Jian led the army back after more than ten days.

Cheng Yi returned to Luoyang after decades in the Western Regions, fearing the emperor’s reputation for cruelty, but Zhang Wen showed him a prosperous city and described a court that punished corruption rather than minor offenses. Cheng Yi began to suspect that the reports he had heard about the emperor were misleading as he awaited an audience.

• Cheng Yi traveled toward Luoyang with Zhang Gui and reflected on the changes he saw along the road.
• Cheng Yi and Zhang Gui met Zhang Wen outside Luoyang, and Zhang Wen invited Cheng Yi to his residence before his audience with the emperor.
• Zhang Wen told Cheng Yi that officials and commoners lived more freely under the emperor as long as they obeyed the law.
• Cheng Yi entered crowded, lively Luoyang and saw a city unlike the one described in the reports he had received.
• At the Zhang Residence feast, Zhang Wen explained that the emperor was harsh toward corrupt officials and troublemaking young nobles, while Cheng Yi reconsidered what he had heard.

Cao Mao heard Cheng Yi explain how the Western Regions were governed and proposed creating a province centered at Dunhuang to improve administration. He summoned officials to prepare the plan, leaving Cheng Yi tasked with documenting the region and Zheng Mao ready to recommend administrators.

• Cao Mao welcomed Cheng Yi warmly and asked him to describe the Western Regions and its institutions.
• Cheng Yi explained that the distant Liangzhou authorities made it difficult to govern the Western Regions and respond to problems.
• Cao Mao proposed establishing a province at Dunhuang, making Gaochang a commandery and other settlements counties, while retaining the existing offices.
• Cao Mao ordered Cheng Yi to document the Western Regions' cities and circumstances before he made a final decision.
• Cao Mao summoned Yang Zong, Hua Yi, and Zheng Mao to discuss the province and identify capable officials to govern it.

Cao Mao appointed officials for Sha Province and its commanderies based on Zheng Mao’s recommendations. At the Imperial Academy, Xiahou He turned away former recluses seeking posts after the Rewarded Fields Edict ended their tax-free estates.

• Cao Mao asked Zheng Mao and Hua Yi to recommend officials for Sha Province and its commanderies, and Zheng Mao proposed Liu Song as Inspector.
• Zheng Mao recommended his eldest son Zheng Mo as Governor of Dunhuang, Deng Zhong as Commandant, and Liu Shi as Chief Clerk; Cao Mao approved all four appointments.
• Cao Mao praised Zheng Mao’s talent for recommending officials, while Hua Yi resolved to seek his guidance.
• Xiahou He refused Wu Gai’s request for a position at the Imperial Academy, saying friendship could not interfere with official business.
• Xiahou He reflected that famous scholars were seeking academy posts after the Rewarded Fields Edict forced them to pay taxes on their estates.

Xiahou He admitted Liu Xuan to the Imperial Academy, where Liu impressed students with his teaching of the Book of Songs. Cao Mao then directed Xiahou He to leave plans for expanding academic instruction to Zhong Yu and select suitable scholars for teaching posts.

• Sun Yan recommended his Xiongnu disciple Liu Xuan to Xiahou He, and Liu said he wanted to display his learning and gain an appointment.
• Xiahou He allowed Liu Xuan to teach the Book of Songs at the Imperial Academy while reserving judgment on his abilities.
• Liu Xuan delivered a lecture linking the Book of Songs to governance, impressing Shu Jinen, Cao Qi, and Liu Hong.
• Cao Qi left the Imperial Academy and hurried to the Imperial Palace after hearing students praise Liu Xuan.
• Cao Mao told Xiahou He that famous scholars could be appointed as local academic instruction officials, but that suitable candidates should be chosen carefully and Zhong Yu should handle the matter.

Cao Qi recommended Liu Xuan for official service, and Cao Mao discussed the Imperial Academy with him before learning that Zhang Wen had tried to enroll his young son, Zhang Gui. To protect Zhang Wen from ridicule, Cao Mao appointed Zhang Hua as Zhang Gui’s teacher, and Zhang Hua accepted the imperial order.

• Cao Qi recommended Liu Xuan and proposed a path for him to enter government service, which pleased Cao Mao.
• Cao Mao and Cao Qi discussed the Imperial Academy and learned that Zhang Wen had taken his young son, Zhang Gui, there to seek enrollment.
• Cao Mao arranged for Zhang Hua to teach Zhang Gui and told Zhang Wen to ensure the boy studied diligently.
• Cao Qi praised Cao Mao’s kindness, and Cao Mao advised him to make more friends.
• Zhang Wen brought Zhang Gui to Zhang Hua with Cao Mao’s letter, and Zhang Hua accepted Zhang Gui as his disciple.

Zhong Hui helped Cao Mao shape a new policy establishing Academic Officials to oversee education across Great Wei, then supervised its formal drafting. He brought the edict to the Imperial Secretariat and assembled ministry heads to begin implementing it.

• Zhong Hui attended Cao Mao’s court discussion and invited the ministers to share their views on establishing Academic Officials.
• Zhang Hua proposed adapting the Shu Kingdom’s education system, and Zhong Hui recommended commandery- and county-level posts with appointments tailored to local conditions.
• Cao Mao approved Zhong Hui’s approach, and Zhong Hui told Zhang Hua that their disciples might debate each other in the future.
• Zhong Hui directed Wei Guan and the Central Secretariat to draft the edict, praising Wei Guan’s work instead of reprimanding him.
• Zhong Hui carried the documents to the Imperial Secretariat, summoned the ministry heads, and announced that they would handle the education officials policy.

During a bitter winter, Cao Mao reviewed relief work, provincial recovery, population transfers, and education appointments while planning to bring the Shu great clans under control. He then visited Lu Kang with Wu dishes, and Lu Kang wept at the emperor’s unexpected respect.

• Cao Mao watched young Awen in Changqiu Hall before leaving to attend to his duties in the snow.
• Zhang Hua briefed Cao Mao on the Rewarded Fields Edict’s construction projects, disaster relief, population transfers, and education officials.
• Cao Mao discussed plans to relocate the great clans of Shu and gave Zhang Hua his winter coat to wear home.
• Cao Mao traveled through the snow to Lu Kang’s residence and presented him with Wu dishes from the imperial kitchen.
• Lu Kang prostrated himself in tears, and Cao Mao helped him up and said he had acted out of respect rather than expectation of repayment.

Cao Mao won Lu Kang’s allegiance and discussed his plans for governing Ping Province and relocating powerful clans in Shu. He returned to Zheng Xian, celebrated his new minister, and ended the night with her.

• Lu Kang pledged to serve Cao Mao, who appointed him to lead the Attendant Cavalry and promised him greater responsibilities.
• Lu Kang advised Cao Mao that he could have used Jiangdong’s rival clans to expose one another before relocating them, and cautioned him to secure Shu’s people’s loyalty before moving its great clans.
• Cao Mao explained his plan for Ping Province, where he had exchanged Hu and Wei populations and settled powerful clans from Jiangdong.
• Cao Mao returned to Zheng Xian, told her how he had won Lu Kang over, and praised the importance of finding capable ministers.
• Cao Mao joked with Zheng Xian about managing ministers like household members, then carried her to bed.

Lu Kang joined Cao Mao’s court as an attendant, and Gao Yeonbul arrived in Luoyang and submitted to the emperor. Cao Mao then announced a crackdown on Shu’s powerful clans, while Lu Kang sought Zhang Hua’s advice about conditions there.

• Lu Kang formally submitted to Cao Mao and became a Regular Attendant Cavalry.
• Gao Yeonbul arrived in Luoyang, submitted to Cao Mao, and received the title Marquis of Accepting Righteousness.
• Zhong Hui urged Cao Mao to punish Goguryeo harshly, but Cao Mao accepted Gao Yeonbul’s submission and seated him among the captives.
• Cao Mao accused Shu’s powerful clans of seizing land and resources, and declared that Deng Ai would put Shu in order.
• After the assembly, Lu Kang asked Zhang Hua to explain conditions in Shu, while Zhong Hui watched them with suspicion.

Zhang Hua introduced Lu Kang to Zhang Gui and the talented Zhang brothers, who helped Lu Kang understand conditions in Shu and the court’s plans. Meanwhile, Zhong Hui revealed that Sha Province had just been established and that Shu’s Great Clans would be relocated there.

• Zhang Hua hosted Lu Kang, and Zhang Gui explained that he honored his teacher as he honored his father.
• Zhang Hua summoned Zhang Zai and Zhang Xie, who told Lu Kang that Shu’s Great Clans had recovered while ordinary people remained impoverished.
• Zhang Hua explained that Deng Ai had postponed action against land annexation while he developed Shu and waited for tax exemptions to expire.
• Zhong Hui challenged Liu Yuan to work out where Shu’s powerful clans would be sent, then told him they would go to Sha Province.
• Zhong Hui explained that the court had established Yun Province and Sha Province, with Dunhuang as Sha Province’s seat, and planned to use Shu’s Great Clans to populate the frontier.

Liu Song and his officials arrived in Dunhuang and began preparing to govern the remote commandery. He ordered Liu Shi and Deng Zhong to head to the Western Regions, then revealed that tens of thousands of exiled Shu clan members and Ma Long’s troops would soon arrive.

• Liu Song’s party reached Dunhuang, where former Governor Yan Wen welcomed them and described the local population and resources.
• Liu Shi and Deng Zhong discussed how their fathers’ advice had shaped their experiences, while Zheng Mo wondered whether his father had arranged for them to serve together.
• Liu Song ordered Liu Shi and Deng Zhong to depart for the Western Regions and authorized them to use troops to stop any fighting.
• Liu Song told the officials that sixty or seventy thousand Shu clan members who had defied the rewarded fields edict would be exiled to Dunhuang.
• Liu Song instructed his officials to prepare to settle the exiles, accommodate Ma Long’s garrison, suppress nearby bandits, and keep the road from Loulan to Dunhuang clear.

Deng Ai and Mouqiu Dian enforced Cao Mao’s edict to investigate Shu’s great clans, with Mouqiu Dian arranging coordinated raids while Deng Ai rejected efforts to win over local elites. Searches uncovered illegal weapons and concealed land, prompting arrests and small rebellions across Ba-Shu.

• Deng Ai summoned officials in Yi Province and read them Cao Mao’s edict ordering action against lawbreaking great clans.
• Deng Ai threatened officials with punishment for defying the edict, while Mouqiu Dian explained that compliant clans would be spared and proposed simultaneous investigations.
• Mouqiu Dian persuaded the officials to remain at the residence and sent swift riders to notify inspectors in the other regions.
• Deng Ai left the gathering, disgusted by Mouqiu Dian’s efforts to cultivate ties with the officials and scholars.
• After three days of feasting, Mouqiu Dian launched coordinated searches with armored troops, and officials raided great-clan residences throughout Ba-Shu.
• The searches uncovered hidden weapons and concealed land, leading to arrests and small-scale rebellions that disappointed Deng Ai.