Chapter Summaries

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.

Huan Wen took control of Ye after the fall of Yan and captured Murong Wei, treating him with unexpected leniency. As Huan Xi’s resentment of Chen Caozhi deepened, Murong Wei and his mother debated whether Princess Qinghe should be given to Huan Xi or Chen Caozhi, unaware that she had overheard them.

• Huan Wen entered Ye, declined to occupy the palace, and made his residence in Murong Ping’s mansion before celebrating the conquest with his officers.
• Huan Wen praised Chen Caozhi at the banquet, then learned that Chen Yu had captured Murong Wei and ordered him brought to the mansion.
• Huan Wen admired Murong Wei’s explanation for fleeing, freed him, and allowed him to visit his mother before surrendering the next day.
• Huan Wen rebuked Huan Xi for his resentment toward Chen Caozhi and refused to grant his request for Princess Qinghe as a concubine; Huan Xi returned to his quarters consumed by hatred.
• Murong Wei reunited with Lady Kezuhun, and they discussed Phoenix’s disappearance and whether Princess Qinghe should be offered to Huan Xi or Chen Caozhi.
• Princess Qinghe Murong Qinchen arrived to visit Murong Wei and overheard the conversation about her marriage.

Princess Qinghe Murong Qinchen learned that her family planned to give her to Huan Xi and decided to flee Ye Palace with Sanu'er to find Phoenix. They hid in Chen Caozhi’s former bedroom, where he discovered them and knocked Sanu'er unconscious.

• Murong Qinchen grieved over the loss of her country and found that her three favorite heavenly maiden magnolias had withered.
• Sanu'er told Murong Qinchen about a hidden hole beneath the garden wall that Phoenix had used, and they escaped Bronze Sparrow Garden through it.
• Murong Qinchen and Sanu'er hid in a deserted courtyard when riders approached, then entered a room that had once been Chen Caozhi’s bedroom.
• Chen Caozhi entered the room and recognized a withered heavenly maiden magnolia branch from Bronze Sparrow Garden.
• Sanu'er attacked Chen Caozhi, but he struck her unconscious with a bronze vase after Murong Qinchen cried out for him not to be hurt.

Chen Caozhi captured Princess Qinghe Murong Qinchen and Sanu'er after their escape attempt, then learned the princess had fled rather than marry Huan Xi. Murong Qinchen openly stayed by Chen Caozhi as he met with the generals, while he promised to seek recognition for their service.

• Xie Xuan and Chen Caozhi discussed returning to Jiangdong and the political dangers that might follow Yan’s defeat, then agreed to support one another.
• Sanu'er woke beside Murong Qinchen and realized Chen Caozhi had spared them after knocking her unconscious.
• Chen Caozhi confronted the women and learned Murong Qinchen had fled because her family planned to marry her to Huan Xi; he told them to return to the palace.
• Tian Luo and the other generals arrived to ask Chen Caozhi for help securing official posts and recognition for their achievements.
• Murong Qinchen appeared before the generals, who teased Chen Caozhi about keeping her, and Chen Caozhi promised to advocate for their requests.

Chen Caozhi accepted Princess Qinghe Murong Qinchen’s Small Golden Knife and escorted her back to the palace as Yan formally surrendered to Jin. As Huan Wen’s armies advanced and captured Ye, Fu Jian followed Wang Meng’s advice to avoid an immediate clash with Jin and sent Wang Meng to campaign against Liangzhou.

• Chen Caozhi discovered that Princess Qinghe Murong Qinchen was awake and carrying a knife, and she gave him the Small Golden Knife after he promised to do his best to protect her.
• Chen Caozhi escorted Murong Qinchen and Sanu'er back to the palace, then returned to Ice Well Terrace and lay awake thinking about her.
• Murong Wei formally surrendered Yan to Jin, and Huan Wen ordered troops to pursue fleeing Yan princes and secure the surrender of key territories.
• Wang Meng advised Fu Jian to avoid attacking Jin and instead prepare a campaign against Zhang Tianxi of Liangzhou.
• After news arrived that Jin had routed Murong Ping and occupied Ye, Fu Jian dispatched Wang Meng and nine generals with sixty thousand troops against Liangzhou.

Huan Xi publicly accused Chen Caozhi of taking Princess Qinghe, but Huan Wen chose to arrange her marriage to Chen Caozhi and post him as Inspector of Ji Province in Ye City. Princess Qinghe declared that she wanted to marry Chen Caozhi, and her family decided to assess his ability and seek Huan Wen’s permission.

• Huan Xi confronted Chen Caozhi at the Shrine of Ximen Bao, but Huan Chong delayed the dispute until the expedition troops had departed.
• Huan Chong told Huan Wen that Princess Qinghe had willingly gone to Chen Caozhi, and Huan Wen learned that Huan Xi also wanted her.
• Huan Wen decided to bestow Princess Qinghe on Chen Caozhi and station him as Inspector of Ji Province in Ye City, while arranging appointments for the newly pacified territories.
• Huan Wen ordered Huan Xi to stop pursuing Princess Qinghe and sent him to accompany his uncle to Jiangdong, leaving Huan Xi resentful and eager to seize power.
• Princess Qinghe told her mother and Murong Wei that she wanted to marry Chen Caozhi, and they planned for Kezuhun Yi to visit him and seek Huan Wen’s permission.