Chapter Summaries

Yang Feng transmigrated into the late Eastern Han as a slave sold by Liu Bei, Guan Yu, and Zhang Fei to Yuan Shu. Just as he planned to escape in spring and join Cao Cao, a vast heavenly screen appeared and announced a revelation about Great Xia’s greatest emperor.

• Yang Feng awakened bound among the slaves and realized he had transmigrated to the Eastern Han after Liu Bei, Guan Yu, and Zhang Fei sold him to Yuan Shu.
• Yuan Shu chose Yang Feng to stay by his side and attend to his brush and ink.
• Yang Feng resolved to endure the winter, escape when spring came, and seek service under Cao Cao.
• A massive screen appeared across the sky, displaying the words, "[Revealed-The Greatest Emperor of All Time in Great Xia's History!]"

Yang Feng watched Yuan Shu, Cao Cao, and Yuan Shao each claim that the heavenly screen’s title of greatest emperor of all time belonged to him. The screen began its reveal by stating that the emperor it would introduce lived during the late Eastern Han.

• Yang Feng privately chose Cao Cao as the greatest emperor and dismissed Yuan Shu’s claim after Yuan Shu boasted of proclaiming himself emperor and possessing the Heirloom Seal of the Realm.
• Cao Cao’s advisers Guo Jia and Cheng Yu praised him as the rightful choice, and Cao Cao welcomed their confidence.
• Yuan Shao’s advisers Guo Tu and Shen Pei declared him the heavenly choice, and Yuan Shao vowed to unite the Central Plains and claim the title.
• The heavenly screen replaced its original message with a line stating that the greatest emperor it would introduce lived during the late Eastern Han.

The heavenly screen revealed that an emperor for the ages had risen among the Yellow Turban rebels, prompting Cao Cao, Yuan Shao, Liu Bei, and Yuan Shu to each suspect the title was meant for them. It then recounted the upheaval in Luoyang after Emperor Ling’s death and ended with a tyrant arriving as the realm plunged toward chaos.

• The heavenly screen announced that the emperor for the ages had been among the Yellow Turban rebels, stunning observers across the land.
• Cao Cao, Yuan Shao, and Liu Bei each recalled their own involvement in suppressing the Yellow Turbans and wondered if the announcement referred to them.
• Yang Feng flattered Yuan Shu by claiming the heavenly screen described his rise, and Yuan Shu and his ministers celebrated the supposed prophecy.
• The heavenly screen described He Jin’s death, Yuan Shao and Yuan Shu’s forces killing the eunuchs, and Emperor Shao and the Prince of Chenliu fleeing.
• The heavenly screen announced that a tyrant had arrived in Luoyang and that the realm was about to fall into great chaos.

The heavenly screen revealed how Dong Zhuo seized power, the coalition against him faltered, and Wang Yun used Diaochan to turn Lü Bu against him. As Dong Zhuo’s death left the identity of the “one emperor for the ages” uncertain, Lü Bu realized he had been manipulated and burned with humiliation and rage.

• Cao Cao, Liu Bei, Yuan Shao, Emperor Xian of Han, and Yang Feng reacted to the prediction of a coming age of warlords and each considered what it meant for them.
• The heavenly screen showed Dong Zhuo deposing Emperor Shao, installing Liu Xie, and winning Lü Bu’s loyalty with the Red Hare Horse, after which Lü Bu killed Ding Yuan.
• The screen described Yuan Shao leading the Guandong Coalition, whose members mostly hesitated while Cao Cao and Sun Jian fought in earnest, before Dong Zhuo burned Luoyang and moved Emperor Xian to Chang'an.
• The screen said the unknown emperor was among the coalition’s armies but had not yet become famous, prompting the lords to search for his identity.
• The screen revealed that Wang Yun used Diaochan to drive a wedge between Dong Zhuo and Lü Bu, leading to Dong Zhuo’s death.
• Lü Bu realized Diaochan and Wang Yun had used him as a pawn, and he was overwhelmed by humiliation and rage.

The sky screen revealed that Yuan Shu had proclaimed himself emperor in Shouchun, prompting the other warlords to condemn him and prepare to attack. Yuan Shu celebrated the supposed heavenly endorsement while Yang Feng secretly planned to flee, and Yuan Shao vowed to kill his younger brother.

• The sky screen recounted Emperor Xian's exile, Cao Cao's rise, and the lords' campaigns before revealing Yuan Shu's proclamation of the Zhong dynasty.
• Cao Cao laughed at Yuan Shu's claim and ordered preparations to march against him, while Liu Bei and Lü Bu also denounced him.
• Yuan Shu celebrated the sky screen's words as Heaven's mandate, and Yang Feng publicly praised him while privately fearing Shouchun would become a target.
• Yuan Shao raged that Yuan Shu had disgraced the family and ordered that he be killed.

The heavenly screen revealed how Yuan Shu’s reign would collapse in betrayal, defeat, and death, prompting Yuan Shu to lash out at suspected traitors. Yang Feng persuaded him to treat the revelation as a warning and keep watching, leaving Yuan Shu momentarily willing to wait.

• The heavenly screen predicted that Sun Ce would break away with Zhou Yu, Lu Su, and other Jiangdong talents, while Lü Bu, Chen Lan, and Lei Bo would betray Yuan Shu and allied forces would defeat him.
• The screen foretold Yuan Shu’s flight, starvation, and death after he failed to find even honey water, then declared that the true greatest emperor would rise after his death.
• Yuan Shu rejected the prophecy as a lie, canceled the marriage alliance with Lü Bu, and ordered Sun Ce arrested and Chen Lan and Lei Bo executed.
• Yang Feng stepped forward and argued that the prophecy gave Yuan Shu a chance to prepare and change his fate rather than respond with rash violence.
• Yuan Shu accepted Yang Feng’s suggestion to stay calm and continue watching the heavenly screen.

The heavenly screen revealed that after Yuan Shu’s defeat, his slave Yang Feng gathered the remnants of his forces and fled west to Yizhou, where the future greatest emperor finally regained his freedom. The revelation left the warlords and their advisers questioning who would rise to power, while Yuan Shu raged and his generals began to lose faith in him.

• Lü Bu laughed at Yuan Shu’s downfall, while Chen Gong wondered who the greatest emperor would be.
• Liu Bei urged Zhang Fei not to speculate about Heaven’s mandate, and Yuan Shao dismissed Yuan Shu’s fate as inevitable.
• The screen said Yuan Shu’s defeated generals mostly surrendered to Cao Cao, prompting Yuan Shu to rage at the thought that Cao Cao might be the future emperor.
• Yang Feng noticed Ji Ling, Zhang Xun, and Qiao Rui quietly considering their options as Cao Cao celebrated the screen’s revelations.
• The screen revealed that Yang Feng gathered Yuan Shu’s remnants, fled to Yizhou, and finally regained his freedom after years of enduring and building strength.

Yang Feng learned that the sky screen had named him the future emperor for the ages, alarming Yuan Shu and the warlords across the realm. Yan Xiang moved to protect him, while Cao Cao and Liu Bei recognized Yang Feng from earlier encounters but doubted his destiny.

• Yang Feng panicked after the sky screen identified him as a future emperor and pleaded with Yuan Shu that it had made a mistake.
• Yuan Shu considered killing Yang Feng but hesitated, while Yan Xiang urged him to dismiss the sky screen’s claim and secretly considered replacing Yuan Shu if the prediction proved true.
• The officials followed Yan Xiang in supporting Yang Feng’s claim that the screen might have confused him with someone else.
• Cao Cao, Yuan Shao, Liu Biao, and other rulers reacted with disbelief, but Cao Cao judged Yang Feng’s survival and escape plans evidence of unusual patience and skill.
• Liu Bei, Guan Yu, and Zhang Fei recognized Yang Feng from their earlier campaigns, and Zhang Fei dismissed him as a lazy glutton who could not become an emperor.

A sky screen revealed Yang Feng’s past as a slave to Liu Bei and later Yuan Shu, along with his planned escape and eventual rise to power in Yizhou. Yuan Shu learned that Yang Feng had intended to leave and accused him of betrayal.

• The sky screen identified Yang Feng as an insignificant slave who had accompanied Liu Bei, Guan Yu, and Zhang Fei during the Yellow Turban Rebellion and the campaign against Dong Zhuo.
• The sky screen said Liu Bei, Guan Yu, and Zhang Fei had sold Yang Feng to Yuan Shu, who kept him by his side because of a private predilection.
• The sky screen revealed that Yang Feng planned to flee Yuan Shu, was caught and beaten, then won greater favor through his eloquence and was kept under close watch.
• The sky screen said that after Yuan Shu’s defeat and death, Yang Feng would lead some of his former generals to Yizhou and begin his rise to supremacy.
• Yang Feng realized the sky screen had exposed his secret plans, while Yuan Shu struck his desk and angrily accused him of planning to betray him.

Yang Feng escaped Yuan Shu’s fury when Yan Xiang ordered Ji Ling to seize the emperor and demand why he was rebelling. Although officials urged Yang Feng to take the throne, he rejected the offer and reaffirmed his loyalty to Yuan Shu; then the Heavenly Screen began displaying new words.

• Yang Feng knelt and insisted that he had no desire to become emperor, pleading with Yuan Shu to trust his loyalty.
• Yan Xiang ordered Ji Ling to draw his sword and hold it to Yuan Shu’s neck, accusing the emperor of rebellion.
• Yan Xiang, Ji Ling, and many officials called on Yang Feng to ascend the throne, believing the Heavenly Screen foretold his rise.
• Yang Feng realized that Yuan Shu’s rule shielded him from danger, so he refused the throne and ordered Ji Ling to put away his sword.
• Ji Ling sheathed his sword, leaving Yuan Shu shaken, and the Heavenly Screen began to glow with new words.

The heavenly screen revealed that Yang Feng would go to Yizhou, serve Liu Zhang, and survive repeated attempts to poison him, leaving Yang Feng unwilling to follow that path but ready to retaliate if Liu Zhang attacked him. Cao Cao’s advisers reassured him about Yuan Shao, while Yuan Shao celebrated his northern dominance and dismissed Yang Feng’s foretold rise.

• The heavenly screen showed the realm divided among Yuan Shao, Cao Cao, Sun Ce, Liu Biao, Liu Bei, Han Sui, Ma Teng, and Zhang Lu.
• The screen revealed that Yang Feng would pledge himself to Liu Zhang in Yizhou, endure repeated poisoning attempts, and begin a contest with him.
• Yang Feng rejected the idea of serving Liu Zhang, though he resolved to strike back if Liu Zhang tried to kill him.
• In Xuchang, Guo Jia and Cao Cao’s other advisers argued that Yuan Shao was indecisive and would eventually be defeated, while Liu Xie grieved over the Han lands seized by warlords.
• In Ye City, Yuan Shao celebrated controlling four northern provinces, and his advisers flattered him as he dismissed Yang Feng’s foretold future.

After the Heavenly Screen announced that its revelations would continue tomorrow, Yang Feng faced the danger of being trapped in Yuan Shu’s court and accepted Yan Xiang’s offer of shelter for the night. The screen vanished, leaving factions across the Three Kingdoms to react and Yang Feng waiting for the next revelation to secure support.

• Liu Zhang mocked Yang Feng as an unworthy lowborn and rejected the screen’s praise of him.
• Liu Bei, Guan Yu, and Zhang Fei worried about their lack of a foothold, while Zhang Fei vowed not to fear Yuan Shao or Cao Cao.
• The Heavenly Screen announced that its revelations were finished for the day and that Yang Feng’s story and Liu Zhang would continue tomorrow, then vanished.
• Yang Feng realized that the court’s officials were watching him and that leaving Shouchun could be dangerous, so he planned to survive the night and await further revelations.
• Yang Feng suggested that Yuan Shu retire, and Yuan Shu gladly dismissed him from the hall.
• Yan Xiang invited Yang Feng to his residence, and Yang Feng accepted, understanding the offer as a pledge of protection and allegiance.

After the heavenly screen vanished before showing Yang Feng’s battle with Liu Zhang, rival leaders dismissed its claims while Emperor Xian hoped Liu Zhang could disprove its prophecy. In Shouchun, Yang Feng enjoyed Yan Xiang’s hospitality and planned to survive until the screen resumed its broadcast.

• Yuan Shao raged at the heavenly screen’s abrupt end, then accepted Feng Ji and Guo Tu’s flattery that Yang Feng was an unworthy slave and Liu Zhang would defeat him.
• Cao Cao and his advisers speculated about Yang Feng’s chances, while Liu Xie hoped Liu Zhang’s victory would prove the screen’s predictions could be overturned.
• Liu Bei, Guan Yu, and Zhang Fei concluded that the screen’s claims about Yang Feng were a joke and expected him to become a laughingstock.
• Yan Xiang served Yang Feng fine wine and food, treating him with respect as he gambled his own fortune and life on Yang Feng’s future.
• Yang Feng enjoyed the meal, recognized Yan Xiang’s allegiance as his first gain, and hoped to survive until the screen continued broadcasting and revealed more of his deeds.

Yuan Shu panicked as his authority crumbled, but was abducted from his palace while Yang Feng rested at Yan Xiang's residence. Yan Xiang and Ji Ling met at Shouchun's gate with Yuan Shu captured and the city's forces under their control, then set out to invite their new lord.

• Yuan Shu resolved to kill Yang Feng and Yan Xiang, but doubted whether Ji Ling still obeyed him.
• Shadowy assailants seized Yuan Shu in his darkened palace and carried him away in a sack.
• Yan Xiang settled Yang Feng in a guest room and then left with a yellow blanket.
• Yan Xiang met Ji Ling at Shouchun's city gate, where Yuan Shu was bound and the city's forces were under their control.
• Yan Xiang ordered his guards to come with him to invite their lord.

Yang Feng was taken from Yan Xiang’s residence to Yuan Shu’s imperial hall, where Yan Xiang and the officials demanded that he become emperor. Yang Feng rejected the proclamation, but Yan Xiang and Ji Ling urged him to accept for the sake of Huainan’s people.

• Yang Feng drank with four maids and wondered why Yan Xiang had risked his position to protect him.
• Two household guards led Yang Feng, still drunk, to Yuan Shu’s imperial audience hall and seated him on the dragon throne.
• Yan Xiang had a dragon robe placed on Yang Feng and called on him to ascend the throne as emperor.
• Ji Ling and the military and civil officials knelt and called for Yang Feng to become emperor.
• Yang Feng refused, suspecting the officials wanted a puppet, but Ji Ling and Yan Xiang pleaded with him to save the people of Huainan and Shouchun.

Yang Feng was forced toward the throne as Yan Xiang and Ji Ling staged Yuan Shu’s downfall and demanded that he become emperor. After Ji Ling executed Yuan Shu, Yang Feng accepted the throne and called his new advisers forward to discuss what came next.

• Yan Xiang had soldiers bring the bound Yuan Shu into the hall, where Yuan Shu begged Yang Feng for mercy.
• Yang Feng accidentally referred to himself as “Us,” and Yan Xiang interpreted the word as a signal to execute Yuan Shu.
• Ji Ling beheaded Yuan Shu and declared that the former emperor had been eliminated.
• Ji Ling and the assembled officials urged Yang Feng to ascend the throne and restore the realm.
• Yang Feng accepted the throne, told the officials to rise, and summoned Yan Xiang and Ji Ling to discuss the next steps.

After killing Yuan Shu, Yang Feng rejected an immediate proclamation as emperor and planned to present himself to Cao Cao as a loyal Han subject. He settled into Yuan Shu’s palace, while Yan Xiang quietly asked Ji Ling to meet him for an urgent discussion.

• Yan Xiang and Ji Ling urged Yang Feng to ascend the throne, but Yang Feng warned that proclaiming himself emperor would give Cao Cao a pretext to attack Huainan.
• Yang Feng proposed sending Yuan Shu’s head and a memorial to Xu Capital, claiming they had executed Yuan Shu for usurping the imperial title and remained loyal to Han.
• Yan Xiang and Ji Ling praised the plan, then accepted assignments to draft the memorial and strengthen Shouchun’s defenses.
• Yang Feng moved into Yuan Shu’s bedchamber and summoned two palace maids, believing he could safely enjoy his position without claiming the throne.
• After leaving the palace, Yan Xiang took Ji Ling aside and asked him to come to his residence for an urgent private discussion.

Yan Xiang persuaded Ji Ling to help force Yang Feng toward the throne, and the realm's rulers awaited the sky screen's return. Unaware of their scheme, Yang Feng went to the gate tower at Yan Xiang's invitation.

• Yan Xiang told Ji Ling that Yang Feng's subjects must act as villains and place him on the throne, and Ji Ling agreed to follow his plan.
• Cao Cao, Lü Bu, Yuan Shao, Liu Biao, and Liu Bei watched the sky in anticipation of the screen appearing again.
• Liu Zhang panicked over the possibility that the screen would reveal his defeat by Yang Feng, while Li Yan and Ma Liang tried to reassure him.
• Yang Feng woke to a life of luxury and dismissed thoughts of ruling the realm in favor of enjoying his new status.
• An attendant told Yang Feng that Yan Xiang had prepared something at the gate tower, and Yang Feng went there to see it.

Yang Feng was unexpectedly pressured by Yan Xiang, Ji Ling, the Huainan army, and the people of Shouchun into taking the throne after Yuan Shu was killed. He proclaimed the Great Yang Empire, entered Yuan Shu’s palace as emperor, and news of his accession spread across the land.

• Yan Xiang declared Yuan Shu a rebel slain by Yang Feng and called on Yang Feng to ascend the throne, while Ji Ling and the Huainan troops knelt in support.
• Yan Xiang’s attendants dressed Yang Feng in an imperial robe and dragon crown as soldiers and townspeople joined the cries for him to rule.
• After Yan Xiang urged him to accept, Yang Feng decided refusing would alienate his supporters and agreed to become emperor.
• Yang Feng proclaimed the Great Yang Empire and promised good governance and peace beneath heaven.
• Yang Feng entered Yuan Shu’s palace with Yan Xiang and Ji Ling, and news of his accession spread throughout the land.

Cao Cao and Yuan Shao learned that Yang Feng had killed Yuan Shu and proclaimed himself emperor, then chose to focus on the mysterious Heavenly Screen rather than attack immediately. The news left Liu Zhang in Yizhou more terrified than either lord, but his reaction was not yet revealed.

• A scout reported to Cao Cao and Liu Xie that Yang Feng had killed Yuan Shu and proclaimed the Great Yang Empire in Shouchun.
• Liu Xie lamented the Han dynasty’s decline, and Cao Cao silenced him with an angry shout.
• Guo Jia advised Cao Cao that Yang Feng would become every lord’s target and urged him to watch for the Heavenly Screen.
• Cao Cao ordered his army to remain on alert while he waited to see how events unfolded.
• Yuan Shao raged over Yuan Shu’s death, but Tian Feng and the other advisers persuaded him to wait for the Heavenly Screen.
• Liu Zhang in Yizhou was revealed as the most terrified person under heaven.