Chapter Summaries

Huan Wen returned to Jiankang seeking a princely title, but his worsening illness forced him to summon his relatives and Chen Caozhi to Gushu. As Huan Wen lay critically ill, Huan Mi, Huan Xi, and Huan Ji plotted over succession and turned toward killing Chen Caozhi and seizing power.

• Gu Kaizhi agreed to travel south with Chen Zongzhi after he arrived in Ye City, and Chen Caozhi entrusted him with gifts and letters for his family.
• Huan Wen entered Jiankang with a large armed escort, but Xie An calmly confronted him and Huan Wen ordered his guards away.
• Huan Wen fell gravely ill after returning to Gushu, while the court delayed issuing the edict granting him the title of King of Chu.
• Chen Caozhi received Huan Wen's urgent summons and rode south with eight hundred light cavalry as Huan Mi and Huan Xi hurried to Gushu.
• Huan Wen insisted on waiting for Huan Chong before discussing his final arrangements, and Huan Ji claimed that Huan Wen intended to make the young Huan Xuan his heir.
• Huan Mi and Huan Xi plotted to confine Huan Xuan and Li Jingshu's younger sister, force Huan Chong to support Huan Xi, and kill Chen Caozhi; Huan Mi proposed marching on Jiankang and overthrowing Jin.

Huan Wen died after Huan Xi and Huan Ji plotted to seize power and confined Li Jingshu and Huan Xuan, while Huan Chong and Chen Caozhi entered Gushu and took control. Huan Chong secured Huan Xuan’s succession, and Fu Jian accepted Wang Meng’s counsel to wait rather than invade Jin during its mourning.

• Huan Wen questioned Huan Xi about Li Jingshu and Huan Xuan, then died alone after his attendants abandoned him and he fell beside his bed.
• Huan Xi and Huan Ji prepared to kill Chen Caozhi and Huan Chong, but Liu Laozhi and Zhu Xu’s forces arrested them in Gushu.
• Huan Chong mourned Huan Wen, punished the conspirators, and named Huan Xuan Duke Huan’s Heir Apparent.
• Chen Caozhi offered to educate Huan Xuan and traveled toward Jiankang with Sima Daofu and Wang Tanzhi.
• Fu Jian considered invading Jin, but Wang Meng advised him to wait for political upheaval, and Fu Jian later learned that Huan Chong had secured control.

Chen Caozhi returned to Jiankang and reunited with Murong Qinchen and their son, Zhongyu. At court, he helped Emperor Sima Yu settle major policies and received a promotion, then offered Xi Chao a post in Ji Province.

• Murong Qinchen rode out with Zhongyu to welcome Chen Caozhi, and the family reunited on the road near New Pavilion.
• Emperor Sima Yu consulted his ministers about naming an heir, rebuilding Taiji Hall, and making high-level appointments.
• Chen Caozhi supported repairing Taiji Hall before resuming palace construction in Luoyang, and Sima Yu approved the proposal.
• Sima Yao was favored as crown prince, while Chen Caozhi was promoted to General of the Vanguard, Kaifu Yitong Sansi, and Bearer of the Credentials of Authority.
• Wang Tanzhi became Director of the Imperial Secretariat, strengthening the Wang and Xie clans as Xi Chao lost influence at court.
• Xi Chao visited Chen Caozhi, and Chen offered him a position in Ji Province, which Xi Chao accepted.

Chen Caozhi visited Dong'an Temple, where Zhi Fahan showed him an exquisite block-printed Diamond Sutra and he suggested improvements to the printing process. After Wang Chen and Wang Gong clashed with Sanu'er at the temple, Chen Caozhi challenged them to a debate with their future commitment to metaphysics at stake.

• Zhi Fahan brought Chen Caozhi to Dong'an Temple and revealed a finely printed Diamond Sutra made from blocks carved by Wu Maoxian.
• Chen Caozhi examined the printing work and suggested using separately carved characters that could be replaced when damaged.
• Wang Chen and Wang Gong argued with Sanu'er after she whipped Wang Chen for peeking at Murong Qinchen and Little Zhongyu in the Buddhist hall.
• Chen Caozhi offered to debate Wang Chen and Wang Gong, wagering that the losers would abandon metaphysical conversation and devote themselves to Confucian learning.

Chen Caozhi defeated Wang Chen and Wang Gong in debate at Dong'an Temple, then learned that Fu Jian had renewed peace with the Eastern Jin. He returned to Qiantang by canal with Murong Qinchen and little Zhongyu, where local officials and notables welcomed him and he encountered Sun Tai.

• Chen Caozhi challenged Wang Chen and Wang Gong to give up Daoist Metaphysics if they lost a debate, and Wang Chen reluctantly agreed.
• Chen Caozhi answered Wang Gong’s questions about Qu Yuan and refuted Wang Chen’s arguments, leaving both young men speechless and dejected.
• Wang Gong asked Chen Caozhi to compare Zhi Daolin with his grandfather Wang Meng, and Chen Caozhi praised Wang Meng while noting that Zhi Daolin had left writings behind.
• Chen Caozhi returned to Jiankang and learned that Fu Jian had sent Xi Bao to offer sacrifices to Huan Wen and renew peace with Emperor Sima Yu.
• After the Dragon Boat Festival, Chen Caozhi traveled with Murong Qinchen and little Zhongyu to Qiantang by the newly completed canal route.
• Chen Caozhi’s party landed at Qiantang on the twenty-fifth day of the fifth month, where Feng Mengxiong and local notables welcomed him and he saw Sun Tai.

Chen Caozhi persuaded Du Zigong to lead a court-backed reform of the Way of the Celestial Masters, hoping to prevent future rebellions. He returned to Chen Family Cove, reunited with his family, and discussed suitable marriages for Ding Youwei’s children.

• Chen Caozhi recognized Sun En as a future source of turmoil but decided he could not punish the boy for events that had not happened.
• Chen Caozhi visited Du Zigong and persuaded him to become Grand Libationer, reform the Way of the Celestial Masters, and travel to Jiankang for an audience with the emperor.
• Du Zigong told Sun Tai of the appointment and assured him that Chen Caozhi had no hidden purpose.
• Chen Caozhi crossed the river to Chen Family Cove, where his family welcomed him and his children complained that he had been away for many tomorrows.
• Chen Caozhi told Ding Youwei that Wang Yuanlin would visit and suggested him as a match for Run’er.

Chen Caozhi discussed Zongzhi’s marriage and chose a match from the Wu Commandery Zhang Clan rather than Wang Fahui of the Taiyuan Wang Clan. He inspected the Chen Clan’s shipyard, canal, and harbor with Xie Daoyun, while planning for his family’s future and acknowledging that he could only strive to preserve peace in his own time.

• Ding Youwei asked Chen Caozhi to arrange Zongzhi’s marriage, and Chen Caozhi rejected Wang Fahui as an unsuitable match before choosing a young lady from the Wu Commandery Zhang Clan.
• Chen Caozhi agreed to propose on Zongzhi’s behalf when he returned to Jiankang in July, with a wedding planned for the end of the year.
• Chen Caozhi took his family on a pleasure boat across Mingsheng Lake, where he discussed the children’s studies and invited Lu Weiwei to accompany him to Hebei.
• Chen Caozhi inspected the Chen Clan shipyard and saw a large seagoing vessel being built with watertight compartments.
• Chen Caozhi traveled through the new canal to the Qiantang River and inspected the harbor construction with Xie Daoyun.

Chen Caozhi established his northern administration, expanded Ji Province’s military preparations, and settled his niece Run’er’s marriage to Wang Xun. In Ye City, Murong Qinchen learned that Murong Chong had married in Fuyu and remained worried about him, while refusing to leave Chen Caozhi’s household.

• Chen Caozhi and Wang Xun provisionally arranged Wang Xun’s marriage to Run’er, and their wedding date was set for the following year.
• Chen Caozhi traveled north with his family, appointed Zongzhi and Fan Ning to posts in his administration, and received approval to establish a Celestial Masters headquarters under Du Zigong.
• Chen Caozhi reached Ye City, accepted gifts from Fu Jian, and ordered troop expansion and the requisition of twenty thousand warhorses for Ji Province.
• Mu Wan and Jin Yan arrived in Ye City with gifts from Murong Chong for Little Zhongyu and told Murong Qinchen that Murong Chong had become Fuyu’s prince consort.
• Mu Wan suggested that Murong Qinchen go to Murong Chong, but Sanu'er said Chen Caozhi treated her well, and Murong Qinchen did not leave.

Chen Caozhi strengthened Ji Province through land reforms, defeated Dai, and secured the family’s future, while Liu Yu entered his life as a young man he chose to save. The chapter ended with Chen Caozhi meeting the divorced Sima Daofu, who had become a nun and insisted they marry in another life.

• Ran Sheng visited Chen Caozhi and accepted his plan to keep the Tuoba Clan from advancing south while leaving Fuyu alone for the time being.
• Chen Caozhi and Xi Chao enacted land-tax and equal-field reforms in Ji Province despite resistance from powerful clans, and the policies increased registered households and tax revenue.
• Chen Caozhi rescued Liu Yu from Diao Clan retainers who accused him of gambling debts, paying his debt and telling him to live honestly.
• Chen Caozhi learned that Xie Daoyun had borne a son, and Zongzhi and Run'er each married their betrothed in Jiankang.
• Chen Caozhi led Jin forces in a successful campaign against Dai, drove Tuoba Shiyijian north of the desert, and fortified Yunzhong.
• At Wujiang Temple, Chen Caozhi encountered Sima Daofu, who revealed that she had become a nun after her father refused her request to marry him and asked him to marry her in their next life.