Recaps

Ashley persuaded Ashina Tiandu that Great Liang’s arrows were running low, and the Frostwest emperor prepared a night attack. Nishu warned that Great Liang was watching from the sky and that the apparent weakness could be a trap, but Ashina Tiandu dismissed him and ordered him to rest.

• Ashley told Ashina Tiandu that Great Liang’s arrows would eventually run out, prompting the emperor to plan an attack once its ranged supplies were depleted.
• Ashina Tiandu ordered feints to exhaust Great Liang’s ammunition, and the Frostwest army repeatedly advanced and retreated until the incoming arrows dwindled.
• Ashina Tiandu celebrated the apparent decline in Great Liang’s attacks and accepted his generals’ praise.
• Nishu warned Ashina Tiandu that Great Liang’s people were watching from above and had likely spotted the Frostwest army’s strength.
• Ashina Tiandu told Nishu he would be careful, then had guards take the sick general away despite Nishu’s fear that the army was entering a trap.

Ashina Tiandu prepared Frostwest’s eight hundred thousand troops to attack Bai Zizai, while Bai Zizai vowed to meet them in battle. The chapter ended as Frostwest’s forces rallied and set out to crush Great Liang’s army at New City.

• Nishu warned Ashina Tiandu that Great Liang could be monitoring Frostwest’s deployments, but Ashina Tiandu dismissed his concerns and left him despairing.
• Bai Zizai received reports from the Net revealing Frostwest’s troop movements and planned assault, then vowed to defeat Ashina Tiandu’s army.
• Jia Xu encouraged Bai Zizai, who reflected that this battle might be his last chance to earn merit before his age and failing health ended his military career.
• As night fell, Ashina Tiandu summoned his generals and dismissed the scouts’ failure to find any Great Liang reinforcements as proof that no ambush awaited.
• Ashina Tiandu promised Frostwest’s soldiers land, women, and riches if they defeated Bai Zizai, and his troops answered with a rallying cry to attack.

Ashina Tiandu sent Frostwest soldiers to attack Bai Zizai’s camp, where explosions shattered their advance and Ma Chao’s cavalry struck from behind. As the Frostwest army routed, Ashina Tiandu saw figures aboard lantern-like objects in the sky.

• Ashina Tiandu promised gold, promotions, and titles to spur Frostwest soldiers into charging Bai Zizai’s camp.
• Frostwest soldiers reached the camp before hidden explosives detonated and devastated the front ranks.
• Asili began to order another attack, then heard cavalry approaching from behind and called for a retreat.
• Ma Chao led the Xiliang Iron Cavalry out from behind the camp and routed the Frostwest soldiers.
• Bai Zizai led the Asura Army into the pursuit as Frostwest troops fled toward the city.
• Ashina Tiandu saw figures moving aboard lantern-like objects across the night sky.

Ashina Tiandu’s Frostwest forces were ambushed by Ma Chao’s Xiliang Iron Cavalry as they tried to retreat toward the imperial city. With Bai Zizai’s cannons blasting the gates and Frostwest defenders shooting at their own fleeing soldiers, the chapter left more than a hundred thousand troops trapped outside.

• Ashina Tiandu saw figures in the sky and recognized the approaching Xiliang Iron Cavalry led by Ma Chao, realizing Great Liang had set a trap.
• Ashina Tiandu ordered the withdrawal gongs sounded and told his troops to retreat to the city, but panic caused soldiers to trample one another.
• Bai Zizai pursued the fleeing Frostwest troops and ordered his Red-Coat Cannons to blast the city gates, killing thousands near the walls.
• Ma Chao led the Xiliang Iron Cavalry in a frenzied charge, driving the survivors toward Frostwest’s city.
• Ashina Tiandu ordered the gates shut, and the gate officer commanded soldiers to shoot anyone approaching, turning Frostwest’s own troops into targets.

Frostwest’s defense collapsed as its soldiers were trapped outside the damaged gates, and Ashley and Xiaoniu turned against Ashina Tiandu. Ashina Tiandu discovered that his own officials and commanders had abandoned him, leaving the rebellion against him underway as Great Liang advanced.

• Frostwest’s defenders shot at their own soldiers outside the gates, while explosions damaged the gates and left them impossible to close.
• Ashina Tiandu ordered the gateway sealed with stones, but Ashley slapped him and began attacking him.
• Xiaoniu joined Ashley and denounced Ashina Tiandu for his failures and for turning Frostwest’s army against itself.
• Ashley declared that Frostwest should accept Great Liang’s rule, and Ashina Tiandu realized Ashley and Xiaoniu had defected.
• Kuli refused to support Ashina Tiandu, explaining that he had treated him as a source of money and threatened his wealth.
• Hu’er rejected Ashina Tiandu and blamed him for abandoning Hu’er’s brother.

Frostwest’s officials turned against Ashina Tiandu as Great Liang breached the city gate, and Ashley persuaded them to surrender. Wang Xuance revealed himself as Ashley’s contact, leaving Frostwest’s army under Great Liang’s control.

• Ashley denounced Ashina Tiandu and argued that Frostwest’s officials should serve Great Liang rather than risk their lives for the Ashina Clan.
• Great Liang blew up the city gate, and Hu’er urged Ashina Tiandu to sacrifice himself for the greater good.
• Ashina Tiandu ordered Zela to kill Hu’er, but Xiaoniu knocked the emperor unconscious with a hammer.
• Ashley told Zela that more than five hundred thousand Great Liang troops had entered the Great West Empire, and Zela dropped his weapon.
• Ashley ordered Frostwest’s army to surrender and asked Lord Wang to tell Ma Chao and Bai Zizai to show mercy.
• Wang Xuance stepped out of the crowd, revealing that Ashley had been acting on Great Liang’s side.

Wang Xuance secured the surrender of Frostwest New City, and Great Liang’s forces took control while capturing Ashina Tiandu. Jia Xu ordered the surrounding areas purged and Lin Yi’s Golden Dragon Flag raised over the palace, leaving Ashina Tiandu defeated and under guard.

• Wang Xuance promised Kuli and the others preferential treatment, then sent up a coded signal flare after they agreed to surrender.
• Jia Xu ordered the generals to stop fighting, and Frostwest soldiers laid down their weapons as Great Liang entered New City.
• Jia Xu and the others reached the palace, where Bai Zizai slapped and taunted the captured Ashina Tiandu.
• Jia Xu sent Bai Zizai to suppress the surrounding areas and told Ashina Tiandu to accept his defeat.
• Ma Chao raised Lin Yi’s Golden Dragon Flag above the palace, leaving Ashina Tiandu kneeling beneath it.

After Great Liang conquered Frostwest, Jia Xu announced that the territory would become Great Liang's and reassured its people. In the Xiling Corridor, A Long absorbed the surviving Frostwest forces into the Great West Empire and ordered a retreat toward its border as Great Liang's armies closed in.

• Jia Xu declared Frostwest part of Great Liang and promised that surrendered soldiers and commoners would be treated fairly if they cooperated.
• Ashina Tiandu passed out after hearing Jia Xu's announcement, while Nishu feared Great Liang would soon conquer the continent.
• A Long learned that New City had fallen and realized the Great West Empire was now exposed to Great Liang's forces.
• Asangni agreed to join the Great West Empire with the surviving Frostwest generals.
• A Long ordered his army to abandon supplies, retreat to the Great West entrance of the Xiling Corridor, and send for the Great West emperor.

After Frostwest’s defeat, Abaddon realized the Great West Empire could not face Great Liang alone and ordered measures to delay and weaken Lin Yi’s forces. The chapter left the empire preparing for invasion while Delin undertook a perilous assassination mission.

• Abaddon learned that Frostwest had been routed and that Great Liang had suffered few losses.
• Delin described Great Liang’s artillery and advanced weapons, convincing Abaddon that the Great West Empire could not stop them alone.
• Abaddon ordered Delin to seek peace talks to stall Great Liang and, if possible, arrange Lin Yi’s assassination.
• Abaddon told Sangdu to reinforce A Long and protect his million soldiers.
• Abaddon ordered the Great West Empire to raise more troops in preparation for Great Liang’s invasion.

After conquering Frostwest, Lin Yi received Li Mu, Zhao Kuo, four hundred thousand Zhao troops, a Black Dragon Banner, Xuanzang, and five hundred thousand loyal commoners. He and his advisers decided to introduce Buddhism in conquered territories rather than Great Liang itself, leaving Xuanzang to spread the faith there.

• Lin Yi learned that Frostwest had fallen and received Li Mu, Zhao Kuo, and four hundred thousand Zhao troops.
• Lin Yi inspected the Black Dragon Banner and welcomed its bonuses to combat strength, military deterrence, and loyalty.
• Lin Yi worried that Buddhism could hinder production and population growth, so he asked Tian Feng and the others how to handle Xuanzang's arrival.
• Zhang Jiao proposed using Buddhism in conquered regions such as Frostwest and Zhennan, where its drawbacks could help Great Liang govern.
• Zhang Jiao explained that Buddhism was originally the Dao, and Lin Yi approved the plan and left Xuanzang to spread his teachings in conquered territories.

Yingge announced that Great Liang had captured Frostwest’s new capital and Ashina Tiandu, prompting Lin Yi’s ministers to debate whether the surrendered Frostwest people could be trusted. Lin Yi ordered the Net to identify useful talent, directed Great Liang’s forces to destroy the Great West Empire, and commanded Gan Ning to blockade the sea against the Moses Empire.

• Yingge reported that Great Liang had captured Frostwest’s new capital and taken Ashina Tiandu alive.
• Lin Yi read the report and learned that Ashina Tiandu had been captured after trying to seize Bai Zizai, while Ashley’s forces turned against him.
• Chen Qun argued that the Frostwest people lacked loyalty and should not be employed, while Guo Jia said talented people could be loyal to strength.
• Lin Yi said the Net would screen for useful people and Jia Xu would dispose of the rest.
• Tian Feng reported that Abide Leier had vanished from the Net’s sight, and Lin Yi ordered Gan Ning to blockade the sea and the front lines to destroy the Great West Empire quickly.

Lin Yi learned that Great Liang had conquered Frostwest and planned to strike the isolated Great West Empire, while he told Anne the news and named the former Frostwest territory Anxi. The chapter ended with an urgent dispatch announcing Ashina Tiandu’s capture and Great Liang’s attack on the Great West Empire.

• Guo Jia argued that Frostwest’s million defecting troops would strain the Great West Empire’s supplies, and Great Liang’s ministers urged Lin Yi to destroy it.
• Lin Yi gave Li Si the Black Dragon Banner design to replace Great Liang’s national flag and ordered further investigation of the Xinma Empire.
• Lin Yi told Anne that Frostwest had been routed, Ashley had handed Ashina Tiandu over to Great Liang, and the remaining Frostwest troops had joined the Great West Empire.
• Lin Yi named the conquered Frostwest territory Anxi after Anne, and she accepted the name with delight.
• An urgent dispatch reached Yong’an City announcing Great Liang’s occupation of Frostwest, Ashina Tiandu’s capture, and its army’s attack on the Great West Empire.

After Great Liang swiftly conquered the Frostwest Empire, Princess Dada and Xinier grew alarmed by its power and decided to pursue an alliance. Abide William noticed their party and feared the Xinma Empire would side with Great Liang, but Meng Huo rebuffed his questions.

• Great Liang’s people celebrated the conquest of the Frostwest Empire, while merchants looked forward to expanding westward.
• Princess Dada and Xinier read the victory report and were shaken by Great Liang’s rapid victories and the sight of a captured Moses Empire official.
• Xinier urged Princess Dada to use every means necessary to secure an alliance with Great Liang, and she agreed to return to the palace with their trade drawings.
• Abide William recognized Princess Dada’s party as people from the Xinma Empire and asked his interpreter who they were.
• Meng Huo struck Abide William and told him that the identity of Princess Dada’s party was none of his concern.

Abide William considered the danger of Great Liang aligning with the Xinma Empire while Lin Yi weighed the empire’s diplomatic offers and naval needs. Lin Yi ordered a major expansion of warship construction and approved Xu You’s plan to enlist merchants to help fund it.

• Abide William accepted that he was a prisoner and judged that an alliance between Great Liang and the Xinma Empire could threaten the Moses Empire.
• Lin Yi and his advisers reviewed the Xinma Empire’s proposed trade goods, and Ma Jun and Cao Cao complained that it offered too little Black Gold Ore.
• Wen Tianxiang urged Lin Yi to pursue diplomacy and avoid making new enemies before dealing with the Moses Empire.
• Lin Yi ordered Great Liang to devote its efforts to building warships, but Mi Zhu warned that the expense could strain the empire’s other projects.
• Xu You proposed letting merchants invest in maritime ventures in exchange for a share of the profits, and Lin Yi approved the plan.

Lin Yi questioned Abide William about the Moses Empire’s invasion and secured intelligence in exchange for his life. He then negotiated with Princess Dada, asking for large quantities of cotton and Black Gold Steel.

• Lin Yi spotted cotton on the Xinma Empire’s gift list and decided to obtain it for keeping Great Liang’s people warm.
• Abide William arrived, and Meng Huo forced him to kneel before Lin Yi questioned him about the Moses Empire’s army.
• Lin Yi threatened to behead Abide William, who confessed that his nephew had lured him with promises of gold, silver, and beauties and then revealed nautical charts and information about the Moses Empire’s colonies and the Xinma Empire.
• Lin Yi summoned Princess Dada and asked whether the Xinma Empire could supply the plant he called cotton, which she knew as thread-drawing flower.
• Princess Dada agreed to provide thread-drawing flower, and Lin Yi told her that Great Liang also needed large quantities of Black Gold Steel.

Lin Yi rejected Princess Dada’s proposal to trade Black Gold Steel for gunpowder and demanded the Xinma Empire itself as payment. After asking to speak with him alone, Princess Dada undressed and said she wanted to try conquering him.

• Princess Dada and Xinier considered whether the Xinma Empire should trade Black Gold Steel to Great Liang for advanced weapons.
• Princess Dada offered Black Gold Steel in exchange for gunpowder, but Lin Yi said its value far exceeded the metal’s.
• Xinier asked whether gunpowder could be traded, and Lin Yi said the price was the Xinma Empire.
• Princess Dada asked to speak with Lin Yi alone, and he sent the others out of the palace.
• Princess Dada undressed and told Lin Yi she wanted to try conquering him.

Lin Yi accepted Princess Dada’s seductive offer while Abide William tried to secure his freedom by offering Great Liang an alliance with the Moses Empire. As Abide William feared Great Liang would side with Xinma, news of the Moses Empire’s defeat and its hesitation to retaliate showed the empire was under growing pressure.

• Princess Dada explained that Xinma princesses remained virgins until marriage and that a strong enough husband could make her the next Empress of Xinma.
• Lin Yi pulled Princess Dada into his arms, leaving Abide William waiting while the two held a private discussion.
• Abide William offered Meng Huo a fortune and an alliance with Great Liang in exchange for his freedom, but Meng Huo said he would have to wait until the next day to speak with Lin Yi.
• Abide William feared Princess Dada was using a beauty trap to secure Great Liang’s support against the Moses Empire and lamented that he could not try to persuade Lin Yi himself.
• The Moses Empire reeled from its crushing defeat at sea, and its leaders hesitated to retaliate while they investigated Great Liang’s strength.

Emperor Moshili Chaer and the Moses Empire’s leaders learned that Great Liang was close to unifying the East, fielded over four million powerful troops, and likely controlled the nearby sea. Abide Xisi demanded revenge for the loss of his three hundred thousand troops, but the council had yet to decide how to respond.

• Angry crowds filled Kunsi City as the Moses Empire’s leaders gathered to discuss Great Liang’s disruption of a shipping route and the empire’s setbacks.
• Moshili Chaer asked Ashan for intelligence on Great Liang, and Ashan reported that it had defeated nearly every eastern country and was close to unifying the continent.
• Ashan admitted that the Moses Empire knew little about Great Liang’s navy because its scouts had been attacked, and Chaer concluded that Great Liang likely controlled the sea.
• Ashan reported that Abide Leier had gone underground after an attack and claimed Great Liang had over four million troops and a weapon capable of destroying cities.
• Abide Xisi demanded that the Moses Empire avenge the loss of his three hundred thousand troops.

Emperor Chaer learned that Great Liang had conquered the Frostwest Empire and that the Xinma Empire was negotiating an alliance with it. He decided the Moses Empire would attack the Xinma Empire first to break the alliance before Great Liang could respond.

• Abide Xisi and another lord argued over the Abide Family’s lost army until Second Elder Yize silenced them.
• Yize and Amu urged Chaer to respond to Great Liang’s expansion rather than appear weak.
• Chaer received reports that Great Liang was attacking the Great West Empire and that the Xinma Empire was discussing an alliance with Great Liang.
• Abide Xisi and the other leaders warned that the alliance would threaten the Moses Empire and its territories.
• Chaer chose to destroy the Xinma Empire first, and Yize and the others agreed to the plan.

Emperor Char decided to attack the Xinma Empire despite Abide Xisi’s concern for his son and younger brother. In Great Liang, Lin Yi refused to trade gunpowder to Princess Dada but negotiated an exchange of other weapons and crops, leaving the two empires poised to share valuable resources.

• Emperor Char persuaded Abide Xisi to accept that the Moses Empire would abandon Abide William and Abide Leier, then began deploying forces against the Xinma Empire.
• Princess Dada asked Lin Yi for gunpowder, but he refused and offered her a repeating crossbow instead.
• Lin Yi agreed to provide Princess Dada with sweet potatoes and rice seeds, while rejecting her offer of a supposedly immortalizing mushroom.
• Lin Yi and Princess Dada agreed to exchange several hundred kinds of goods and crops to strengthen their respective continents.

At court, Lin Yi reviewed the trade with the Xinma Empire and received updates on Great Liang’s wars and rice harvest. Princess Dada decided to return home to prepare supplies and pursue the Xinma succession, seeking to become Lin Yi’s ally rather than remain in his harem.

• Lin Yi ordered Sun Shangxiang to locate the Xinma Empire and verify the Ocean Ring coordinates while she reported Great Liang’s advances against the Great West Empire.
• Xun Yu told Lin Yi that the rice harvest was approaching and could be exceptionally abundant.
• Xinier celebrated Princess Dada’s success in securing Great Liang’s support, but she worried about the risks of relying on such a powerful empire.
• Princess Dada ordered Xinier to prepare their return to the Xinma Empire and warn her mother that people from the Moses Empire had appeared in Great Liang.
• Princess Dada said she wanted to become a source of support for Lin Yi rather than a woman in his harem, and Xinier vowed to help her claim the Xinma succession.

Princess Dada and Xinier discovered Great Liang’s enormous rice harvest, which convinced her to secure high-yield rice and other goods for the Xinma Empire. She decided to return at once to prepare for trade, leaving open the prospect of another meeting with Lin Yi.

• Xinier told Princess Dada that Lin Yi’s support made her bid for the empress’s favor more likely to succeed.
• Princess Dada and Xinier found a golden rice field and marveled at its scale and yield.
• Farmers initially suspected the foreigners of trying to steal rice seeds, but relaxed after learning Princess Dada was from the Xinma Empire.
• An interpreter explained that Great Liang’s rice yielded three thousand jin per mu, leaving Princess Dada and Xinier astonished.
• Princess Dada decided to return immediately, prepare goods, and bring them to Great Liang to secure a trade for its high-yield crops.

Lin Yi and his ministers celebrated the extraordinary harvest of high-yield rice, which promised to end Great Liang’s grain shortages. Lin Yi credited the people who helped build the realm, then agreed to hold a feast across the empire and consider giving the Retired Emperor’s campaign a pause.

• Xun Yu and the ministers marveled at the rice harvest, and Mi Zhu reported that the best plot had yielded more than 4,500 jin per mu.
• Lin Yi reflected that the system’s supplies came from national heroes across time, including rice developed by a scientist surnamed Yuan.
• Lin Yi thanked his ministers for helping him improve the lives of Great Liang’s people, moving Xun Yu and the others.
• Lin Yi proposed a feast for the ministers, and Mi Zhu suggested celebrating across the empire so the common people could share in the joy.
• Lin Yi agreed to feast all under heaven and said they could check on the Retired Emperor’s campaign and let him take a break.

Xu You convinced Abide William that the Moses Empire had abandoned him, and Abide William traded the locations of its colonies for a chance to survive. Lin Yi accepted the charts and secured Abide William’s agreement to guide Great Liang to the colonies.

• Xu You told Abide William that the Moses Empire had not answered a message sent in his name and had likely abandoned him.
• Abide William agreed to reveal the coordinates of the Moses Empire’s colonies, and Xu You received the nautical charts he drew.
• Xu You brought Abide William and the charts to the palace and presented them to Lin Yi.
• Lin Yi asked whether Abide William would guide Great Liang to the colonies, and Abide William agreed after Xu You signaled him.
• Lin Yi praised Abide William’s decision and made clear that his survival depended on serving Great Liang.

Lin Yi accepted Abide William’s defection and began planning Great Liang’s expansion into the Moses Empire’s colonies under the banner of spreading civilization. As his officials mapped out resource, weapons, and medical preparations, Abide William realized how formidable Great Liang was and hoped his family could survive by serving it.

• Abide William pledged to serve Great Liang, then told Lin Yi that the colonies’ inhabitants had crude weapons and were no match for Great Liang.
• Lin Yi declared that Great Liang should enlighten the colonies with civilization, and Xu You praised Abide William for choosing the right side.
• Lin Yi summoned Zhao Gao to bring Xun Yu, Ma Jun, and the other officials to study the nautical chart and plan the colonial campaign.
• Mi Zhu called for the colonies’ resources, while Ma Jun requested ores and steel for weapons and cannons; Lin Yi ordered their needs recorded.
• Xun Yu recommended bringing physicians to address unfamiliar climates and diseases, and Guo Jia and the others added further preparations to the plan.
• Abide William worried that Great Liang’s unity and capable officials made it stronger than the Moses Empire, and resolved to prove himself to protect the Abide Family.