Recaps

Chen Caozhi secured gifts from Cai Feng, marriage ties with the Su and Wei clans, and thousands of soldiers for the North Mansion Army. After the army grew to nearly sixty thousand and began training, an imperial edict summoned him to the capital to receive his general’s title before his wedding.

• Cai Feng gave Chen Caozhi a hundred ancestral scrolls and the Jiaowei Qin, and Chen Caozhi later finalized his marriage to Su Qi’s family at Su Family Fort.
• Chen Caozhi persuaded Wei Qian to join the North Mansion Army with two thousand private soldiers, then traveled east with Wei Qian, Liu Laozhi, and other clan forces.
• At Hefei, Yuan Zhen welcomed Chen Caozhi’s force and offered support for Huan Wen’s proposed northern expedition.
• Chen Caozhi arrived in Guangling with clan forces, where Huan Wen praised his success and recommended generalships for Chen Caozhi and the other commanders.
• Huan Xi and Huan Shixiu recruited additional clan retinues, bringing the North Mansion Army to fifty-five thousand infantry, while Huan Wen arranged support for its supplies and equipment.
• The North Mansion Army completed its organization, began training with Chen Caozhi’s Crescent Moon Formation, and received an imperial summons for its commanders to travel to the capital for their seals and ribbons.

Chen Caozhi returned to Jiankang after organizing the North Mansion Army and visited his family before going to see Xie Daoyun. He found her recovered from her illness, and their reunion ended with her warmly receiving his concern.

• Chen Caozhi arrived in Jiankang with Huan Shixiu, Tian Luo, Cai Guang, and more than two hundred people after helping organize the North Mansion Army.
• Chen Caozhi reunited with Chen Xian, Ding Youwei, Run'er, and Xiao Chan, who noticed how much traveling had darkened and thinned him.
• Chen Caozhi brought gifts from the Chenliu Cai Clan, including a Jiaowei Qin for Xie Daoyun, and joked with Run'er about whether he favored one fiancée over the other.
• Chen Caozhi visited Xie An and Xie Wan, reported on persuading the Five Great Displaced People Clan Retinues, and then went to see Xie Daoyun.
• Chen Caozhi found Xie Daoyun healthy again, checked her pulse, and reassured her that Heaven had fulfilled their wishes.

Chen Caozhi reunited with Xie Daoyun and Lu Weiwei, then reported on the Beifu Army to Emperor Sima Yu and handled political and clan affairs in Jiankang. He agreed to return to Jingkou by the end of the ninth month and helped Cai Guang learn that the Chenliu Cai Clan remained listed among the gentry.

• Chen Caozhi gave Xie Daoyun the Jiaowei Qin and discussed their future residence in the Chen Clan's Eastern Garden.
• Chen Caozhi visited Lu Na's household, gave Lu Weiwei five scrolls of Cai Yong's calligraphy, and agreed to leave her the West Tower.
• Chen Caozhi reported that he had recruited and organized sixty thousand Beifu troops, and Emperor Sima Yu planned to reward the Northern Headquarters generals.
• Xi Chao urged Chen Caozhi to return to Jingkou promptly, and Chen Caozhi promised to be back by the end of the ninth month.
• Chen Caozhi invited Huan Shixiu and the Northern Headquarters generals to a banquet, then accompanied Cai Guang to consult Jia Bizhi about the Cai Clan's status.
• Jia Bizhi confirmed that the Chenliu Cai Clan remained in the gentry registers, and Chen Caozhi encouraged Cai Guang to begin its revival through official service.

As preparations gathered for Chen Caozhi’s wedding to the Lu and Xie ladies, guests and envoys from across the Three Kingdoms converged on Jiankang. Chen Caozhi discovered that Murong Chong had come with the Yan delegation to judge the beauty of the Lu Clan bride, leaving him concerned that the young prince might disrupt the ceremony.

• Chen Caozhi hosted the Northern Headquarters commanders after receiving his imperial sword, and Huan Shixiu later secured leave from Huan Xi for them to attend the wedding.
• Xie Daoyun played “Flowing Water” for Chen Caozhi and Run'er, then taught Run'er the qin.
• Chen Caozhi’s relatives and guests from the Chen, Qiantang, Kuaiji, Xie, and Wei clans arrived in Jiankang for the wedding.
• Xi Bao arrived from Di Qin with wedding gifts, and Murong Ling led a Yan delegation to Jiankang to attend the ceremony.
• Chen Caozhi recognized Murong Chong among Murong Ling’s attendants and warned Murong Ling that his wedding must proceed without incident.

Lu Weiwei and Xie Daoyun married Chen Caozhi in an unprecedented ceremony presided over by Empress Dowager Chu, then rode together through Jiankang in a lavish bridal procession. The procession reached the Lu Residence, where Lu Weiwei’s enormous dowry prompted Lady Xie Liu Dan to worry that Xie Daoyun would rank below her, but Xie An reassured her.

• Empress Dowager Chu summoned Lu Weiwei and Xie Daoyun to Chongde Palace and granted them patents appointing them Chen Caozhi’s Left and Right Wives.
• Chen Caozhi performed the Shared Prisoner Feast and Héjǐn rites with Lu Weiwei and Xie Daoyun before Empress Dowager Chu, and the two brides left the palace together in a ceremonial carriage.
• As the bridal procession traveled through Jiankang, Ran Sheng stopped Murong Chong from pressing closer to the brides, and Murong Chong angrily vowed in Xianbei that he would someday raze Jiankang.
• The procession reached Hengtang, where Lu Weiwei’s eighty carts of dowry goods and household staff joined it, impressing the crowds.
• Lady Xie Liu Dan worried that the Lu Clan’s larger dowry would make Xie Daoyun rank below Lu Weiwei, but Xie An said wealth would not determine their positions in Chen Caozhi’s household.

Chen Caozhi celebrated his wedding to Lu Weiwei and Xie Daoyun at the lavish Chen Residence, then learned that Murong Ke’s illness had worsened. After making his way through the wedding feast, he entered the inner courtyard and faced servants from both brides’ households competing to lead him to their towers.

• Chen Caozhi welcomed Lu Weiwei and Xie Daoyun into the Chen Residence, where they paid respects to the Chen elders and received their respective eastern and western Double-Corridor Towers.
• The Lu and Xie households presented lavish dowries, and Chen Caozhi toasted guests across the thirty-six banquet tents while Ran Sheng and Shen Chiqian secretly served him honey water.
• Murong Ling told Chen Caozhi that Murong Ke’s wasting-thirst had worsened and asked him for a remedy; Chen Caozhi promised to consider it, then told Ran Sheng that Murong Ke’s survival would obstruct their northern expedition.
• Chen Caozhi’s friends joked that he would have trouble choosing between his two brides, while their servants gathered in the inner courtyard to compete for his visit.
• Chen Caozhi entered the inner courtyard, gave wedding money to the Chen children, and saw the Lu and Xie servants waiting to claim him.

On his wedding night, Chen Caozhi faced the choice of which tower to visit after marrying Lu Weiwei and Xie Daoyun. Both wives set him difficult puzzles, and when he failed to solve either one, he left for his own bedchamber as Run'er sought Ding Youwei's help.

• Chen Caozhi asked Lu Weiwei and Xie Daoyun to decide which tower he should visit, but both told him to choose for himself.
• Run'er proposed that the wives set questions for Chen Caozhi, and Lu Weiwei sent him the Nine Linked Rings to disentangle within a quarter of an hour.
• Chen Caozhi admitted he could not solve the Nine Linked Rings, and Xie Daoyun then sent him a counting puzzle requiring a clear solution method.
• Chen Caozhi also failed to answer Xie Daoyun's puzzle and left for his Library Tower to sleep.
• Run'er hurried to tell Ding Youwei that Chen Caozhi's wedding night had gone wrong, and Ding Youwei rushed to mediate.

After Chen Caozhi withdrew to the Library Tower on his wedding night, Ding Youwei reconciled him with Lu Weiwei and Xie Daoyun and sent them to join him. The three completed the wedding rites together, and Chen Caozhi moved to guide his two shy brides as their wedding night began.

• Lu Weiwei and Xie Daoyun regretted that Chen Caozhi had gone to the Library Tower after both women had refused to receive him.
• Ding Youwei admonished the two brides and led them to the Library Tower to welcome Chen Caozhi back.
• Ding Youwei left Xiao Chan with a promise to settle her matter with Chen Caozhi after they returned to Chen Family Cove.
• Chen Caozhi, Lu Weiwei, and Xie Daoyun exchanged bows, shared wedding wine, and completed the bridal rites with their maids' help.
• Chen Caozhi drew closer to his two blushing wives and told them to set aside their reserve and let him arrange things.

After their wedding, Chen Caozhi and his two wives completed the family rites and began their journey to Qiantang, while Chen Caozhi also cultivated ties with Murong Ling over the Prince of Taiyuan’s illness. Murong Ke died recommending Murong Chui to rule Yan, but the court denied Murong Chui the Grand Marshal post, leaving the Murong clan facing a crisis.

• At dawn, Xie Daoyun and Lu Weiwei woke beside Chen Caozhi, then joined him in paying respects to the Chen elders and Ding Youwei.
• Chen Caozhi, Lu Weiwei, and Xie Daoyun visited the Lu and Xie residences before returning to the Chen Residence that night.
• Three days after the wedding, Chen Caozhi departed for Qiantang with Lu Weiwei and Xie Daoyun to perform the ancestral rites.
• Chen Caozhi advised Murong Ling to stop Murong Ke’s Five-Stone Powder and cultivated a relationship with him before their journeys north.
• Murong Ke died after urging Murong Wei to entrust Yan’s government to Murong Chui, but the empress dowager and Murong Ping appointed Murong Zang Grand Marshal instead.
• Murong Chui returned disappointed with a lesser appointment, as the Xianbei Murong Clan’s crisis began.

Chen Caozhi returned to Chen Family Cove with Lu Weiwei and Xie Daoyun, honored his parents, and welcomed his wives into the Chen Clan. With their approval and Ding Youwei’s arrangements, he took Xiao Chan as his concubine before leaving for Jingkou with military affairs awaiting him.

• Chen Caozhi and his family traveled through Wu Commandery, where he visited Lu Shi and continued to Qiantang by way of the newly acquired Xitang Manor.
• Chen Caozhi discussed crop yields and plans to investigate land reclamation with Xie An and Lu Na before returning to Chen Family Cove on the fifth day of the ninth month.
• Chen Caozhi, Lu Weiwei, and Xie Daoyun paid respects at Chen Su and Lady Li’s graves, and Lu and Xie were entered into the Chen Clan genealogy.
• Ding Youwei arranged for Xiao Chan to become Chen Caozhi’s concubine, and Xiao Chan paid respects to the Chen elders and the two wives before spending the night with him.
• Chen Caozhi departed for Jingkou on the tenth day of the ninth month, while Lu Weiwei and Xie Daoyun saw him off and planned to return to Jiankang after the New Year.

Huan Wen’s council planned to exploit the conflict between Murong Chui and Yan’s ruling house, while Chen Caozhi warned that Murong Chui must not be underestimated. After helping set the scheme in motion, Chen visited Gu Kaizhi and watched him paint the Illustration of the Rhapsody on the Luo River Goddess, where Cao Zhi’s face took on Chen’s likeness.

• Huan Wen gathered his commanders and advisers at Gushu to plan the Northern Expedition after Murong Ke’s death.
• Chen Caozhi warned Huan Wen about Murong Chui’s military ability and proposed provoking Yan’s rulers into turning against him with a deliberately suspicious surrender letter.
• Huan Shixiu explained how the flawed letter could make Murong Chui believe Yan’s rulers meant to condemn him, and Huan Wen approved the plan.
• Huan Wen left the council after learning that Li Jingshu had borne him a son, and Huan Xi departed soon afterward.
• Chen Caozhi visited Gu Kaizhi and watched him paint the Luo River Goddess; Gu briefly tried to capture Chen’s melancholy expression in the painting.
• Duan Si agreed to write the letter against Murong Chui, and Chen later returned to see Gu Kaizhi paint Cao Zhi with Chen’s likeness.

Duan Si sent Duan Tao to Ye City with a surrender letter while the Jin forces prepared the Northern Expedition and Huan Wen reviewed the North Mansion Army. The chapter ended with Chen Caozhi learning that Lu Weiwei was pregnant and hoping to visit his family for the New Year.

• Duan Tao left for Ye City carrying Duan Si’s letter after he and Duan Wu tearfully parted at Gushu.
• Huan Shixiu outlined a Northern Expedition strategy at Huan Wen’s council, while Huan Xi later visited Li Jingshu and questioned whether the newborn Huan Xuan resembled him.
• Duan Si and Ran Sheng led the new heavy cavalry force south to Guangling, where Chen Caozhi trained the North Mansion Army in preparation for war.
• Huan Wen watched the army maneuver in heavy snow and considered how to manage Chen Caozhi’s authority after the Northern Expedition.
• Chen Caozhi received letters and gifts from his family and learned from Banli that Lu Weiwei was pregnant.
• Chen Caozhi wrote to Lu Weiwei and Xie Daoyun and said he might return to Qiantang for the New Year.

After returning from military service through heavy snow, Chen Caozhi reunited with Lu Weiwei, Xie Daoyun, and his family at Chen Family Cove just before New Year’s Eve. His wives warmed his chilblained hands as they rode home together.

• Huan Wen dismissed the Two Huai generals to their manors for the winter and ordered them to assemble at Huaiyin in spring.
• Huan Xi granted Chen Caozhi and his companions leave for the New Year, and Chen Caozhi traveled south through snow toward Qiantang.
• Huang Xiaotong released Reaching the Sky and Whirling Upward to fly ahead and signal Chen Caozhi’s return to his family.
• Run'er spotted the white eagles, and Lu Weiwei and Xie Daoyun set out with their household to meet Chen Caozhi at Maple Forest Ferry.
• Chen Caozhi reunited with Lu Weiwei and Xie Daoyun, learned of Lu Weiwei’s pregnancy, and rode with them toward Chen Family Cove.
• Lu Weiwei and Xie Daoyun warmed Chen Caozhi’s hands and tended to his chilblains as they talked on the journey home.

Chen Caozhi learned that Xiao Chan was pregnant, reunited with Xie Daoyun, and left for Jingkou with her before the Northern Expedition. At Jingkou, news of growing discord in Yan and preparations for the campaign left the army on the brink of war.

• Chen Caozhi learned of Xiao Chan's pregnancy, and the Chen family celebrated the news; that night, he visited Xie Daoyun and they shared an intimate reunion.
• Xie Daoyun told Chen Caozhi she wanted to travel with him toward the capital to visit her sick uncle, and he agreed to bring her as far as Jinling.
• Chen Caozhi said farewell to the pregnant Lu Weiwei and Xiao Chan at Maple Forest Ferry, then traveled north with Ran Sheng and Shen Chiqian.
• At the Jinling Gu manor, Zhang Tongyun proposed a future marriage between her child and Lu Weiwei's, and Chen Caozhi agreed before leaving Xie Daoyun to return to Jiankang with Gu Kaizhi and his wife.
• Chen Caozhi's party reached Jingkou, where Xie Yan reported that Xie Wan was gravely ill; meanwhile, Duan Tao's deception stirred suspicion against Murong Chui and deepened Yan's internal strife.
• Huan Wen summoned the Northern Headquarters leaders to Jiankang to meet the emperor, swear their campaign oath, and prepare to march.

Huan Wen launched a massive northern expedition while the Jin court hoped Chen Caozhi could prevent Huan Wen from turning military success into a bid for the throne. As Yan officials moved against Murong Chui, he fled south with his followers and reached besieged Yingchuan, where Gao Rou prepared to hold out for Jin’s advancing army.

• Emperor Sima Yu authorized Huan Wen to command the northern expedition, and Huan Wen led a force of more than a hundred thousand troops north.
• Chen Caozhi examined Xie Wan and confirmed that his stomach illness was incurable, while Lu Na and Zhang Wenwan celebrated Lu Weiwei’s pregnancy and planned a visit to Qiantang.
• Murong Chui rejected Murong Kai’s urging to strike first against Murong Ping and Murong Zang, then followed Murong Ling’s advice to flee Yan rather than fight his kin.
• After Murong Zang’s orders caused most of Murong Chui’s soldiers to desert, Murong Chui sacrificed a white horse and swore an oath with his remaining followers before heading toward Luoyang.
• Shen Jin refused to admit Murong Chui into Luoyang but directed him toward Yingchuan; Murong Chen abandoned his pursuit, allowing Murong Chui to reach the city.
• Murong De and Murong Zhu surrounded Yingchuan with twenty thousand troops, while Gao Rou prepared to defend the city until Huan Wen’s forces arrived.

Huan Wen launched Jin’s Northern Expedition after Murong Chui defected, while Chen Caozhi’s force captured Peixian with the Jin army’s heavy cavalry. As Huan Xi’s army advanced on Huangxu, Zhao Hong offered to turn against Yan, and Chen Caozhi persuaded Huan Xi to attack before reinforcements arrived.

• Huan Wen received Gao Rou’s report that Murong Chui had defected and divided his forces to relieve Yingchuan and advance toward Yan’s territory.
• Chen Caozhi and Huan Shixiu attacked Peixian, where Duan Si and Ran Sheng’s heavy cavalry defeated Murong Zhong’s breakout and captured him.
• Murong Wei appointed Murong Li to command Yan’s defense, but Murong Li refused Murong Zhu’s request to relieve Peixian and held Huangxu and Junyi instead.
• Zhao Hong secretly sent a soldier to Chen Caozhi with an offer to assist the Jin army in taking Huangxu.
• Chen Caozhi convinced Huan Xi that Zhao Hong’s offer was genuine, and Huan Xi led thirty thousand troops on a forced march toward Huangxu.

The Jin army captured Huangxu and Junyi through Zhao Hong’s defection, while Xiluo Teng’s heavy cavalry defeated a Jin force at Changshe. Huan Wen then sought Murong Chui’s advice on confronting Xiluo Teng, who Murong Chui said could only be defeated by force.

• Murong Ping and Yang Wu rejected Le Song’s proposal to seek Qin’s aid, and Murong Wei ordered Murong Zang to assemble two hundred thousand troops while Xiluo Teng reinforced Murong Li.
• Chen Caozhi and Xie Xuan devised a plan to draw Murong Li away from Huangxu, and Zhao Hong turned his three thousand troops over to the Jin army.
• Zhao Hong helped the Jin seize Huangxu, and the Jin army defeated Murong Li’s cavalry and captured Junyi after Zhao Hong tricked its gate commander.
• Xiluo Teng led five thousand heavy cavalry and Murong Zhu’s infantry to Changshe, where he killed Li Shu and routed his troops.
• Huan Wen sent forces to attack Xuchang and Luyang, then asked Murong Chui whether he could persuade Xiluo Teng to surrender; Murong Chui said Xiluo Teng had to be beaten by force.

Huan Wen maneuvered his forces to isolate and defeat the Yan armies in Henan, while Xiluo Teng led reinforcements toward besieged Xingyang. After Deng Xia fell in battle, the Beifu Army ambushed Xiluo Teng at the Ancient Great Wall and routed his cavalry, though Xiluo Teng escaped north with Ran Sheng in pursuit.

• Huan Wen ordered Huan Xi to advance on Xingyang and sent Xie Xuan's fleet to block Yan crossings of the Yellow River.
• Deng Xia charged Xiluo Teng's cavalry at the Deer-Shooting Terrace, but Xiluo Teng killed him and drove the Jin troops into a defensive retreat.
• Xiluo Teng, Murong Zhu, and Fu Yan left Xuchang to reinforce Xingyang after Murong De reported the city was under pressure.
• Huan Shiqian ambushed the Yan column near Ancestor Mountain, inflicting casualties on Murong Zhu's and Fu Yan's infantry as Xiluo Teng's cavalry broke through.
• Chen Caozhi's forces trapped Xiluo Teng's chain-linked cavalry in pits at the Ancient Great Wall and repeatedly attacked the Yan troops with crossbows and ambushes.
• Duan Si and Ran Sheng's Jin cavalry defeated Xiluo Teng's weakened force, and Ran Sheng pursued him as he fled north.

Ran Sheng killed Xiluo Teng in the battle south of Xingyang and was appointed to command the Northern Headquarters heavy cavalry. After Xu Fan surrendered, Chen Caozhi urged Huan Wen to press the Northern Expedition, but Huan Wen chose to secure Henan and wait, leaving Chen Caozhi afraid the chance would be lost.

• Ran Sheng pursued Xiluo Teng, fought him at Red-Haired Ridge, and killed him after his eyes turned crimson and his strength surged.
• The Jin army annihilated Xiluo Teng’s force, captured its supplies, and promoted Ran Sheng to Sixth Rank Cavalry Commander; Duan Si was too badly wounded to continue commanding.
• Chen Caozhi opposed Huan Xi’s plan to storm Xingyang and urged the Jin army to cross the Yellow River and strike toward Ye City.
• Xu Fan surrendered Gaoping to Huan Wen, who welcomed him and confirmed Ran Sheng’s promotion after the battle.
• Huan Wen rejected Chen Caozhi’s proposal to lure Murong Zang’s army into an ambush and chose to secure Henan and wait for a better opportunity.

After Qin agreed to aid Yan, Chen Caozhi persuaded Huan Wen to send him to Luoyang and prepare a strike against Yan. Chen then ambushed the Qin relief army near Lü Mountain, defeating it and capturing Xin'an, while Deng Qiang escaped with a handful of troops.

• After Wang Meng advised Fu Jian to aid Yan and exploit Huan Wen’s ambitions, Qin sent troops toward Luoyang and threatened Jingxiang.
• Chen Caozhi warned Huan Wen that Qin would intervene, then secured command of eighteen thousand Beifu troops to reinforce Luoyang.
• Chen Caozhi proposed crossing the river to attack Yan after defeating Qin, and reassured Huan Wen of his loyalty and frank counsel.
• Chen Caozhi led his forces to Luoyang, then arranged an ambush near Azure Dragon Mountain and Lü Mountain as Qin’s army advanced.
• Ran Sheng’s heavy cavalry and the Jin troops attacked Gou Chi and Deng Qiang’s army from front and rear, killing Gou Chi and routing the Qin forces.
• The Jin Army captured Xin'an and its military supplies, while Deng Qiang fled toward Mianchi with just over three thousand survivors.

Wang Meng anticipated Chen Caozhi’s Yellow River crossing and sent Yan forces to intercept him at Wen County. Chen Caozhi crossed in a storm with a small force, became trapped on the northern bank, and fought Murong Miao’s far larger army from a Crescent Moon Formation.

• Wang Meng learned that Chen Caozhi had defeated Gou Chi and Deng Qiang, guessed he would cross the Yellow River, and urged Murong Zang to concentrate forces at Wen County.
• Chen Caozhi and Xie Xuan chose to cross at night despite the oppressive heat and approaching storm, while Chen Caozhi and Xie Xuan spoke of family and hoped to survive the campaign.
• Chen Caozhi crossed with Ran Sheng’s heavy cavalry, but the storm scattered the fleet and left five thousand soldiers on the southern bank; scouts soon spotted Yan troops to the east.
• Chen Caozhi arranged two hundred war wagons into a Crescent Moon Formation and rallied his fewer than five thousand troops after scouts reported at least five thousand Yan cavalry approaching.
• Murong Miao led ten thousand cavalry and advancing infantry in an assault; Chen Caozhi’s crossbowmen and wagon defenses repelled the first attacks, and Murong Miao then focused his heavy cavalry on the formation’s southeastern side.

Chen Caozhi helped the Jin Army defeat Yan at Wen County and then advised Huan Wen to advance cautiously, giving Yan time to regroup. After Murong Ping gathered a new army, the Jin burned its baggage and routed it, leaving Ye City under threat.

• Ran Sheng led six hundred heavy cavalry out of Chen Caozhi’s Crescent Moon Formation, helping turn the Yan Army’s attack into a rout; Murong Miao and Li Gui were killed, and fewer than five hundred Yan horsemen escaped to Wen County.
• Chen Caozhi entered Wen County and sent word of the victory to Henan, while Huan Wen crossed the river with fifty thousand troops and advanced toward Ye City.
• Chen Caozhi advised Huan Wen to pause at Fangtou so Murong Wei would not flee to Dragon City, and Murong Ping assembled two hundred thousand Yan troops for another battle.
• Chen Caozhi spread news of Murong Ping’s profiteering among the Yan soldiers, undermining their will to fight; Murong Ping refused to distribute his wealth among them.
• Tan Xuan burned Murong Ping’s baggage train, and Huan Xi and Chen Caozhi attacked across the Zhang River, routing the Yan army and driving Murong Ping back to Ye City.
• Huan Wen’s sixty thousand Jin troops advanced to Ye City, while Murong Wei and his ministers faced a siege and hoped Yan armies at Neihuang and Xindu would come to their aid.

After the Jin army captured Ye City, Ran Sheng and Su Qi pursued the fleeing Lord of Yan Murong Wei and captured him near the Taihang Mountains. Murong Chong escaped with some of his Rouge Warriors, while Mu Ningmeng and the women of the left company sacrificed themselves to delay the Jin pursuit.

• Yu Wei opened Ye City's north gate to the Jin army, and Murong Wei fled east with several officials, leaving his family behind.
• Mountain bandits killed Murong Zang, Meng Gao, and Ai Lang as Murong Wei fled; Ran Sheng and Su Qi later caught Murong Wei and took him back to Ye City.
• Murong Chong and his hundred Rouge Warriors tried to escape across the Zhang River, but Jin troops blocked their route and pursued them.
• Mu Ningmeng sent the right company north with Murong Chong and led the left company in distracting the Jin troops by pretending to surrender.
• Mu Ningmeng and the left company rode east, then killed themselves with silverfish knives as the Jin cavalry closed in.

After Ye City fell, Empress Dowager Kezuhun, Empress Junior Kezuhun, and Princess Qinghe Murong Qinchen fled to Longgang Temple, but Huan Xi tracked them to their refuge. Huan Xi ordered the retreat seized after Murong Qinchen rejected his offer to protect her people in exchange for yielding to him.

• Kezuhun Yi led the empress dowager, Empress Junior Kezuhun, and Murong Qinchen out of Ye Palace to seek shelter at Longgang Temple on E'e Mountain.
• Huan Xi searched Ye Palace, learned the women had fled with Kezuhun Yi, and discovered from a Palace Eunuch that they were at Longgang Temple.
• Huan Xi brought soldiers to the temple, searched its buildings, and then found the women in cottages at the Bamboo Grove Retreat.
• Murong Qinchen emerged and asked whether Chen Caozhi had come, then challenged Huan Xi about his intentions toward the women.
• Huan Xi privately offered to keep the Xianbei safe if Murong Qinchen yielded to him, but she refused and said she feared death no more.
• Huan Xi ordered his soldiers to tear down the Bamboo Grove Retreat and take everyone inside back to Ye City.

Chen Caozhi intervened when Huan Xi tried to seize the Yan empress dowager and Princess Qinghe, escorting them safely from Longgang Temple. After Huan Xi demanded Princess Qinghe as a concubine, Chen Caozhi humiliated him by making him confront his scarred reflection, leaving Huan Xi consumed by suspicion and ambition.

• Chen Caozhi learned that Huan Xi had gone to Longgang Temple to capture the Yan empress dowager and Princess Qinghe, so he led the generals there.
• Chen Caozhi stopped Huan Xi's soldiers from binding the Yan royals and insisted they be allowed to surrender safely.
• Huan Xi told Chen Caozhi to deliver Princess Qinghe to his quarters, and Chen Caozhi led him to Heavenfall Spring instead.
• Chen Caozhi made Huan Xi see his scarred face reflected in the water and remarked that his impaired appearance could hinder his public standing.
• Chen Caozhi escorted the Yan empress dowager and Princess Qinghe down the mountain, while Princess Qinghe accused him of betraying his oath.
• Huan Xi remained at the spring, fearing his father might replace him and resolving to claim Princess Qinghe, deal with Chen Caozhi, and seize the realm.