Chapter Summaries

Cheng Ji told Cheng Cui that he had been ordered to help the General Who Conquers the West kill the emperor if the Grand General died. Cheng Cui feared the order would destroy their clan and decided they should wait, avoid harming the emperor, and see how events unfolded.

• Cheng Ji proudly showed Cheng Cui his new post as Director of Attendant Guards, and Cheng Cui berated him for giving up the chance to become Crown Prince's Palace Attendant.
• Cheng Ji revealed that the General Who Conquers the West had ordered him to help make the emperor die of grief if the gravely ill Grand General died.
• Cheng Cui beat Cheng Ji and warned that the Sima Family might use him and then abandon him, bringing ruin on their clan.
• Cheng Ji proposed refusing the order or killing himself, but Cheng Cui said either move could provoke the General Who Conquers the West.
• Cheng Cui told Cheng Ji to follow the order for now but never harm the emperor, and the brothers agreed to wait while the situation remained unsettled.

Cao Mao used Sima Fu’s visit to comfort him and dispel rumors about the emperor’s condition as an opportunity to urge him to replace Sima Shi as Grand General. Sima Fu refused to engage with the proposal and kept pressing Cao Mao to ease his favor toward Sima Fu’s sons.

• Sima Fu visited Cao Mao while Sima Shi remained unconscious after surgery and Sima Zhao struggled to manage the court.
• Cao Mao complained that Zhong Hui had killed Jia Chong before him, and Sima Fu promised to seek Zhong Hui’s punishment.
• Cao Mao decided that military authority, rather than reputation, was essential to protecting himself and considered how he might use divisions within the Sima Family.
• Sima Fu tactfully criticized the favor Cao Mao had shown Sima Wang and praised Sima Xun, hoping Cao Mao would stop burdening his son.
• Cao Mao told Sima Fu that he would support him as Grand General if Sima Shi were gone, warning that Sima Zhao and the General Who Conquers the West could ruin the Sima Family and the realm.
• Sima Fu ignored Cao Mao’s political pitch and returned to discussing Sima Xun, while Cao Mao accepted that Sima Fu might report his words to Sima Zhao.

Sima Fu discovered that Sima Zhao planned to involve Sima Wang in killing Cao Mao, and demanded that Sima Wang be sent away from the capital. Sima Zhao resisted because Sima Shi was gravely ill and he needed his family’s support, but Sima Fu insisted that Zichu’s departure was necessary for the Sima Family.

• Sima Wang told Sima Fu that Sima Zhao had ordered him to reorganize the palace troops and wait until the Imperial Guards had acted before killing them.
• Sima Fu hurried to Sima Zhao’s residence and confronted him about refusing Sima Wang’s request to leave the capital.
• Sima Zhao explained that Sima Shi remained unconscious after surgery, leaving him burdened with the realm’s affairs and fearing threats from Cao Mao and rival military leaders.
• Sima Zhao revealed that Cheng Ji was preparing to kill Cao Mao if Sima Shi died, after which Sima Wang would claim to avenge the emperor.
• Sima Fu rejected the plan as a danger to his son and insisted that Sima Zhao send Sima Wang away for the sake of the Sima Family.

Sima Fu persuaded Sima Zhao to give the Guo Family palace military authority and use them as scapegoats while sending Sima Shi to resist Jiang Wei. After Sima Shi briefly awoke and lost consciousness again, Zhong Hui urged Sima Zhao to conceal his condition, especially from Guanqiu Jian.

• Sima Fu challenged Sima Zhao's fear of the emperor and advised him to hand palace military authority to the Guo Family, making them bear the blame whatever happened.
• Sima Zhao accepted Sima Fu's advice and proposed sending Sima Shi to Yongliang to resist Jiang Wei's invasion.
• A frightened servant reported that Sima Shi had taken a turn, and Sima Zhao rushed to his bedside.
• Zhong Hui explained that Sima Shi had briefly awakened before losing consciousness again, while Sima Zhao wept beside him.
• Zhong Hui told Sima Zhao to keep Sima Shi's condition secret from everyone, especially Guanqiu Jian, and to carry on as usual.

Zhong Hui and Sima Zhao concealed Sima Shi’s condition while rumors that the Grand General was dying spread through Luoyang, drawing the ministers’ attention. Guo Jian seized control of palace troops and told Cao Mao that Sima Shi was near death, but Cao Mao suspected the rumor was a trap.

• Zhong Hui agreed to keep the General Who Conquers the West uninformed so Sima Shi could test his abilities and lure out potential enemies.
• Sima Zhao reassured inquiring ministers while secretly arranging for his trusted aides to take over important duties, fueling rumors about Sima Shi’s health.
• Sima Wang’s departure and the transfer of palace authority to the Guo Family made Luoyang’s ministers more convinced that Sima Shi was dying.
• Guo Jian entered Taiji Hall, claimed command of the imperial Palace troops on Sima Shi’s orders, and told Cao Mao that the Guo Family had regained power there.
• Cao Mao questioned Guo Jian’s claim that Sima Shi was dying and suspected that Zhong Hui and Sima Shi were using the rumor to lure their enemies out.

Cao Mao comforted Sima Yan and persuaded him to ask his father for permission to host the Seven Sages of the Bamboo Grove at a palace banquet, hoping to build his reputation. Sima Yan set off to make the request, while Cao Mao turned his attention to winning over Cheng Ji.

• Cao Mao listened as Guo Jian bragged about his influence, then encountered Sima Yan outside the Western Hall.
• Sima Yan told Cao Mao that the Grand General might not survive and described how worried his father had become.
• Cao Mao proposed that Sima Yan invite the Seven Sages of the Bamboo Grove to a banquet in Taiji Hall to build his standing among scholars.
• Sima Yan feared his father would punish him, but Cao Mao persuaded him that even a beating could improve his reputation.
• Sima Yan agreed to ask his father for permission and hurried away, while Cao Mao resolved to win over Cheng Ji.

Cao Mao learned how Zhong Hui’s personnel changes had repositioned several of his allies and used a sparring match to make Cheng Ji question the danger surrounding him. Cheng Ji told his brother Cheng Cui what Cao Mao had said, and Cheng Cui concluded that Sima Zhao had arranged Sima Wang’s removal to prepare Cao Mao’s assassination.

• Cao Mao learned that Yin Damu commanded three thousand Changshui cavalry, while Jiao Bo and Li Zhao had received new posts that strengthened his potential support.
• Cao Mao discussed Jia Chong’s fate and warned of the danger faced by those used as blades for powerful men, unsettling Cheng Ji and the palace eunuchs.
• Cao Mao urged Cheng Ji during a martial arts sparring match to leave the palace, hinting that Sima Wang’s removal and Guo Jian’s appointment were connected to a plan against him.
• Cheng Ji went to his brother Cheng Cui and repeated Cao Mao’s words.
• Cheng Cui concluded that Sima Zhao had arranged for Sima Wang to guard the palace so Cao Mao could be killed, and angrily accused Sima Zhao of betraying them.

Cheng Cui and Cheng Ji learned that the Sima family planned to use and then kill them, so they considered secretly backing Cao Mao and Guanqiu Jian. As Zhong Hui prepared to visit the General Who Conquers the West, Sima Yan defied Sima Zhao by announcing that he would bring renowned scholars to meet Cao Mao.

• Cheng Cui told Cheng Ji that Sima Shi and Sima Zhao intended to use them as scapegoats and have them killed, prompting the brothers to consider siding with Cao Mao and contacting Guanqiu Jian.
• Cheng Ji changed his manner toward Cao Mao and began training him enthusiastically after Cao Mao promised him a future high office.
• Sima Hui noticed that the Yellow Gates had been isolated and sent reports about Cao Mao's activities to Zhong Hui.
• Zhong Hui read the reports, judged Cao Mao to be unusually composed, and prepared to visit the General Who Conquers the West.
• Sima Yan told Sima Zhao that he intended to invite Ruan Ji and six other renowned scholars into the palace to meet Cao Mao, bracing himself for his father's anger.

Sima Yan persuaded Sima Zhao to let him invite renowned scholars to the imperial palace, with Zhong Hui supporting the plan. Zhong Hui then urged Sima Zhao to provoke Guanqiu Jian with an imperial appointment, but Sima Zhao refused to act without consulting his gravely ill brother and began suspecting Sima Shi had recovered.

• Sima Zhao gently warned Sima Yan against inviting scholars to the palace during the uncertain political situation, but Zhong Hui endorsed the idea and Sima Zhao consented.
• Sima Yan thanked Sima Zhao and Zhong Hui, then hurried off to invite the scholars.
• Zhong Hui urged Sima Zhao to summon Guanqiu Jian to Luoyang as one of the Three Excellencies, expecting him to rebel and be defeated by the larger Sima forces.
• Sima Zhao questioned Zhong Hui's motives and refused to issue the order without first consulting Sima Shi.
• After Zhong Hui left, Sima Zhao suspected his brother might have recovered and worried that Sima Shi had overheard his past complaints.

Sima Yan brought the Seven Sages of the Bamboo Grove to meet Cao Mao, who turned the gathering into a wine tasting and drew Sima Yan into their company. As the guests grew drunk, Ji Kang appeared to recognize Cao Mao’s signal, and an uninvited guest arrived while Sima Yan was confiding in the emperor.

• Sima Yan escorted the gathered men of letters into the palace, where Cao Mao welcomed them at the Western Hall.
• Ji Kang asked Cao Mao about “Sparrows in an Empty City,” and Cao Mao offered to drink with him and share poems.
• Cao Mao praised Sima Yan for arranging the meeting, and the guests acknowledged his efforts.
• Cao Mao asked the men to taste tribute wines, and Sima Yan joined their lively conversation.
• After the gathering grew drunk, Cao Mao squeezed Ji Kang’s hand, and Ji Kang seemed to understand and fell silent.
• Sima Yan told Cao Mao how lonely he had been and how grateful he was for their friendship when an uninvited guest arrived.

Zhong Hui attended Cao Mao’s banquet, delighted in a poem dedicated to him, and urged the emperor to stop resisting and resume his studies. After the banquet, Zhong Hui visited Wang Su’s residence, where Wang Kai welcomed him.

• Zhong Hui arrived at Cao Mao’s banquet and praised the gathering of worthy scholars.
• At Zhong Hui’s urging, Cao Mao recited a poem about loyal ministers and dedicated it to Zhong Hui, who happily accepted the praise.
• Zhong Hui held Cao Mao’s hand and advised him to accept Heaven’s mandate, study, and avoid distracting thoughts.
• Zhong Hui arranged carriages for the guests, then told Cao Mao he would find him a teacher and ordered Sima Hui to escort him back to rest.
• Zhong Hui left for Wang Su’s residence, where Wang Kai greeted him in lavish clothing.

Zhong Hui pressured Wang Su to take up a post in Yongliang, then dismissed his elder brother Zhong Yu’s concerns about the enemies he was making. Zhong Yu hurried to Sima Zhao’s residence, where Wang Su was already complaining to Sima Zhao and Wang Yuanji.

• Zhong Hui visited Wang Su and blamed him for neglecting Cao Mao, then proposed sending him to Yongliang to assist Inspector Chen.
• Zhong Hui returned home and faced Zhong Yu, who demanded to know why he had offended Wang Su, Hua Biao, and Jia Chong.
• Zhong Hui defended his actions and said he would one day rise above the ministers, while Zhong Yu warned that his conduct endangered the clan.
• Zhong Hui told Zhong Yu that Wang Su might complain to Sima Zhao, and Zhong Yu hurried to Sima Zhao’s residence.
• Wang Su complained to Sima Zhao while Wang Yuanji listened attentively.

Wang Su resisted the prospect of being sent to Liang and Yong, while Wang Yuanji advised Sima Zhao to restrain Zhong Hui. Zhong Yu warned Sima Zhao about his younger brother and recommended Zheng Chong as Cao Mao’s tutor, leaving Sima Zhao to consider another candidate.

• Wang Su told Sima Zhao he did not want to go to Yongliang, and Wang Yuanji urged Sima Zhao to keep Zhong Hui from gaining too much power.
• Sima Zhao reassured Wang Su that he could remain Grand Minister of Ceremonies, and Wang Yuanji later suggested her father retire and return home.
• Zhong Yu reported that men spreading rumors in Luoyang had ties to Guanqiu Jian and declared his opposition to Guanqiu Jian’s ambitions.
• Zhong Yu warned Sima Zhao that Zhong Hui was ambitious, and Sima Zhao promised not to implicate the rest of the Zhong Clan if he ever had to punish Zhong Hui.
• Sima Zhao asked Zhong Yu to recommend a tutor for Cao Mao, and Zhong Yu named Zheng Chong before Sima Zhao began considering another candidate.

Cao Mao persuaded four palace eunuchs to rally their fellows against Zhong Hui’s planned purges, seeing them as a way to build a network beyond the palace. He then met his newly appointed teacher, Wang Xiang, and recognized him as the patriarch of the future powerful Langya Wang Clan.

• Xu Sheng and three eunuchs warned Cao Mao that Sima Hui and Sima Che were spying on him and that Zhong Hui planned to replace them and slaughter their clans.
• Cao Mao acknowledged he could not undo the deaths of earlier eunuchs, but urged the four to unite the palace eunuchs and promised to protect them.
• Cao Mao realized the eunuchs could help him gather information and contact allies outside the palace while Sima Shi remained alive.
• Sima Hui told Cao Mao that his court-appointed teacher had arrived, and Cao Mao went to the East Hall to meet him.
• Wang Xiang greeted Cao Mao, who recognized him as the ancestor of the future Langya Wang Clan.

Cao Mao welcomed Wang Xiang as his new teacher, while privately recognizing the ambitious minister as a future threat. When Wang Xiang offered broad lessons on governing, Cao Mao proposed accelerating the rise of the great clans through an early form of the Nine-Rank system and tying clan rank to tax exemptions, leaving Wang Xiang speechless.

• Cao Mao greeted Wang Xiang enthusiastically, and Wang Xiang wept as he pledged to serve the emperor.
• Wang Xiang began teaching Cao Mao principles of governance, but Cao Mao found his advice vague and empty.
• Cao Mao asked how worthy ministers could be distinguished from petty men, and Wang Xiang answered that reputation was the measure.
• Cao Mao proposed ranking great clans and directly appointing their offspring, startling Wang Xiang.
• Cao Mao suggested exempting highly ranked clans from taxation, leaving Wang Xiang speechless again.

Cao Mao presented Wang Xiang with ambitious reforms and urged him to put them into practice. Wang Xiang offered to carry them out himself, and Cao Mao agreed, hoping the effort would unsettle the Sima Family.

• Wang Xiang grew excited by Cao Mao’s ideas, especially impartiality and tax exemptions, and regretted that the young emperor lacked power.
• Cao Mao proposed easing punishments, expanding official posts, and implementing reforms with the court’s help.
• Wang Xiang warned that the Grand General was ill and the time was unsuitable, then offered to undertake the policies in Cao Mao’s stead.
• Cao Mao accepted Wang Xiang’s offer and promised to support him if needed, while intending for the reforms to create trouble for the Sima Family.

Guanqiu Jian and Wen Qin discussed Cao Mao’s growing credibility, preparations to oppose Sima Shi, and the need to keep Zhuge Dan neutral while waiting for the right moment. Their plans were interrupted when a messenger reported that Guo Ze had raised troops under the emperor’s edict and called on them to join the campaign against Sima Shi.

• Wen Qin arrived with his seventeen-year-old son Wen Yang and teased Guanqiu Jian about his calligraphy and changed opinion of Cao Mao.
• Guanqiu Jian explained that Cao Mao’s letter and recent actions had persuaded him to delay his uprising preparations and support the young emperor.
• Wen Qin told Guanqiu Jian that his forces were ready, but Guanqiu Jian said they should wait until Sima Shi was weakened and plan for a swift victory.
• Guanqiu Jian proposed meeting Zhuge Dan and spreading rumors to keep him from siding firmly with Sima Shi, while Wen Qin boasted of Wen Yang’s martial skill.
• A messenger reported that Guo Ze had called for troops under the Son of Heaven’s edict to punish Sima Shi and had asked Guanqiu Jian and Wen Qin to join him.

Guo Ze proclaimed a rebellion against Sima Shi in Heyin County, but Wang Yuan judged his approach disastrous and seized command. Wang Yuan led the confused recruits toward the County Office, beginning a violent uprising.

• Guo Ze read an edict condemning Sima Shi to a disorganized crowd gathered by Wang Yuan.
• Wang Yuan realized Guo Ze had launched the rebellion without a practical plan, while recruits began slipping away.
• Wang Yuan urged Guo Ze to seize the County Office and offer tangible rewards, but Guo Ze refused to sanction plunder or coercion.
• Wang Yuan punched Guo Ze, had him tied up, and declared himself Grand General under imperial edict.
• Wang Yuan ordered the crowd to attack the County Office and seize the local magnates' grain, wealth, and women, and his followers killed several people who hesitated.

Wang Yuan’s hastily organized rebellion seized Heyin and spiraled into widespread looting and violence. When news reached Luoyang, Sima Zhao demanded the Guo family’s destruction, but Fu Gu persuaded him to blame Wang Yuan alone and send troops to suppress the revolt.

• Wang Yuan’s followers captured Heyin’s County Office, gates, and Armory, then attacked the city’s great clans and powerful families.
• Wang Yuan’s forces broke into four wealthy residences, distributed seized grain to townspeople, and grew by recruiting prisoners, government slaves, and penal laborers.
• Neighboring counties shut their gates and sent messengers to Luoyang after hearing of the rebellion.
• Sima Zhao ordered the Guo family exterminated, but Du Yu argued that Wang Yuan had likely forced Guo Ze into the rebellion.
• Fu Gu persuaded Sima Zhao to declare Wang Yuan the sole target and ordered him to send Yin Damu and elite Hu cavalry to suppress the revolt.

Sima Xun brought armed guards into Taiji Hall, where Cao Mao persuaded him to station them at the gates and learned that a rebellion had broken out in Heyin. Cao Mao feared Guo Ze was involved and left the chapter uneasy about his fate and Cheng Ji’s disturbing stare.

• Sima Xun led nearly a hundred armored guards toward Taiji Hall, and Man Changwu initially blocked his way before Cao Mao ordered him aside.
• Cao Mao confronted Sima Xun about bringing soldiers into the palace, then persuaded him to send the guards to protect Taiji Hall’s gates.
• Cao Mao privately asked Sima Xun what had happened outside Luoyang, and Sima Xun said rebels had risen in Heyin.
• Cao Mao feared Guo Ze was among the rebels and worried that he was in danger, while Sima Xun named Sima Ban and Yin Damu as the commanders sent to suppress them.
• Sima Xun relaxed as he spoke with Cao Mao, but noticed Cheng Ji staring at him with a savage grin.