Recaps

Li Sansi rallied his troops to defend Little Pine Mountain, but Lin Yi refused to send reinforcements, forcing Li Sansi to rely on his own army and prepare an escape route. Tuoba Yu judged that Li Sansi had grown cautious and planned to exploit the coming reorganization of his defenses.

• Li Sansi restored his soldiers’ morale by arguing that Tuoba Yu’s army had suffered comparable losses, then assigned He Zudao and Li Yunqing to reorganize Little Pine Mountain’s defenses.
• Li Yunqing warned that wealthy merchants were fleeing Ningchuan Commandery, and Li Sansi ordered men to block their escape at Raging Waves Bridge.
• Wei Tong reported that Lin Yi had refused to send troops, so Li Sansi resolved to fight Tuoba Yu with the forces he had left.
• After Wei Tong left, Li Sansi told Li Yunqing to build a hidden pontoon bridge in case they needed to retreat.
• Tuoba Yu, Evil Bodhisattva, and Xiao Shan discussed Li Sansi’s decline, and Tuoba Yu planned to strike when the defenders reorganized their lines.

Tuoba Yu received an imperial order to reinforce Mountain and River Pass, forcing him to abandon plans for an easy victory at Little Pine Mountain and prepare to attack Ningchuan Commandery. In the capital, Li Anlan learned that Li Sansi had fallen behind against Tuoba Yu and angrily questioned his generalship.

• Evil Bodhisattva and Yelü Dashan urged Tuoba Yu to defeat Li Sansi at Little Pine Mountain and plunder Ningchuan Commandery.
• Tuoba Yu learned that Lin Yi had shut Xiliang Commandery's gates and realized Lin Yi benefited from the Northern Barbarians weakening Li Sansi.
• Tuoba Yu received an order from His Majesty to reinforce Mountain and River Pass, and Yelü Dashan proposed attacking through Ningchuan Commandery and into Great Ning's heartland.
• Tuoba Yu decided to fight despite the enormous distance and the danger of sending his force deep into enemy territory.
• Wei Tong reported Li Sansi's disadvantage to Li Anlan, who condemned the Prince of Beining Commandery for his poor performance.

Li Anlan learned that Li Sansi was struggling against Tuoba Yu and ordered ten thousand imperial guards sent to reinforce him. After Wei Tong revealed Lin Yi’s cement and its extraordinary strength, Li Anlan ordered Wei Tong to obtain some for the imperial court.

• Li Anlan rejected replacing Li Sansi and ordered ten thousand imperial guards sent to reinforce the Prince of Beining Commandery.
• Wei Tong reported that Lin Yi would not attack Tuoba Yu because Xiliang Commandery had suffered heavy losses and lacked reinforcements.
• Wei Tong revealed that the Wafting Fragrance Pavilion had been exposed and described Lin Yi’s extensive changes to Xiliang Commandery, including its tall walls.
• Wei Tong showed Li Anlan a cement fragment, which survived an inkstone strike, while the inkstone broke.
• Li Anlan ordered Wei Tong to obtain cement from Lin Yi and told him to pay for it if necessary.

Lin Yi learned that Wang Yining secretly owned the Wafting Fragrance Pavilion and left the matter to his father while monitoring the desperate battle at Little Pine Mountain. As Tuoba Yu’s forces overwhelmed Li Sansi, the prince ordered his son to retreat, sent Lin Yi a plea to protect Great Ning, and took his own life.

• Wang Yue reported that former Grand Preceptor Wang Yining was behind the Wafting Fragrance Pavilion, and Lin Yi decided to inform his father rather than intervene.
• Wang Yue told Lin Yi that Li Sansi had been driven back at Little Pine Mountain and had suffered heavy losses, but Lin Yi refused to send help because Li Anlan stood behind him.
• Tuoba Yu’s forces broke through Li Sansi’s defenses and advanced toward the summit, leaving Li Sansi with only battered troops and no hope of holding the mountain.
• Li Sansi ordered Li Yunqing to retreat with He Zudao and defend the Song Tao River, then gave He Zudao a letter asking Lin Yi to stop the foreign tribes from ravaging Great Ning.
• Li Sansi stayed behind to cover the retreat and slit his own throat as Tuoba Yu’s forces closed in.

Li Sansi died after buying time for Li Yunqing to escape, and Lin Yi received Gongsun Zan and thirty thousand White Horse Volunteers as a system reward. Tuoba Yu prepared to cross the Song Tao River but suspected Great Ning had lowered its water by damming the river upstream.

• Li Yunqing realized Li Sansi had stayed behind partly to take responsibility for the defeat, then resolved to overthrow Emperor Li Anlan and ordered He Zudao to deliver his respect for his father's final choice to Lin Yi.
• Tuoba Yu mourned Li Sansi briefly, then ordered his army to prepare to cross the Song Tao River before Great Ning's reinforcements arrived.
• Tuoba Yu noticed the river was unusually low and suspected Great Ning had dammed it upstream to flood his forces.
• Lin Yi received Gongsun Zan and thirty thousand White Horse Volunteers, along with ordinary rewards for residents of Xiliang Commandery.
• Lin Yi checked the White Horse Volunteers' details and learned that Yan Gang led the thirty thousand top-tier light cavalry, who specialized in mounted archery and served him.

Lin Yi inspected the newly opened road through Heavenly Pillar Peak, a hidden route built to carry his army into Northern Region Barbarian territory. As the group reached its secluded exit, a messenger from the Net arrived with an urgent report.

• Lin Yi learned that Yan Gang led the White Horse Volunteers and discovered that Zhao Yun served with Tian Kai and Liu Bei instead.
• Ma Chao announced that the passage through Heavenly Pillar Peak was open, and Lin Yi ordered Wang Yue to summon Jia Xu and Zhang Liao while keeping Bai Zizai and Yi Yun away.
• Lin Yi and his commanders inspected the road and praised its construction, then set out across it to test whether it could carry an army.
• After four hours, Lin Yi reached the secluded exit overlooking an open plain, where Ma Chao explained that the location concealed their movements.
• Wang Yue told Lin Yi that the hurried rider approaching behind them was someone from the Net.

Lin Yi learned that Li Sansi had died covering the retreat and recognized that his letter gave Northern Liang a pretext to intervene against Tuoba Yu in Ningchuan Commandery. As Lin Yi prepared to march, he told Bai Zizai and Yi Yun that he would recruit fifty thousand soldiers to aid Great Ning.

• Wang Yue reported that Li Sansi had killed himself to avoid capture and that Li Yunqing and He Zudao had escaped to the southern bank, where they faced Tuoba Yu.
• Lin Yi read Li Sansi’s letter inviting him to save Ningchuan Commandery, and Jia Xu explained that it gave Lin Yi an excuse to intervene there.
• Lin Yi ordered Chen Qun to arrange supplies and declared that Northern Liang would cut off Tuoba Yu’s Ziwu Road; he told Zhang Liao to stand by.
• Bai Zizai and Yi Yun searched for Lin Yi after learning he had gone into the mountains, then confronted him about Li Sansi’s defeat and death.
• Lin Yi said Xiliang Commandery lacked the strength to fight after its losses, but declared that he would recruit another fifty thousand soldiers to help Great Ning.

Lin Yi’s commanders discussed expanding Xiliang’s army and seizing Ziwu Road, while He Zudao and Li Yunqing faced Tuoba Yu across the Song Tao River. The upstream impoundment was destroyed, sending a devastating surge toward Ningchuan Commandery’s defenders.

• Bai Zizai offered to negotiate another fifty thousand authorized troops from Great Ning, and Lin Yi reluctantly left the matter to him.
• Yi Yun urged Lin Yi to seize Ziwu Road while Tuoba Yu attacked Ningchuan Commandery, but Lin Yi said he had already arranged for someone to deal with it.
• He Zudao prepared the Song Tao River’s defenses and warned that Tuoba Yu might inspect the upstream impoundment as his soldiers built pontoon bridges.
• Li Yunqing vowed revenge on Tuoba Yu for driving his father to take his own life, while He Zudao urged him to survive the attack first.
• He Zudao realized the river was rising because the upstream impoundment had been destroyed, and a powerful surge swept downstream, carrying away logs and Great Ning soldiers.

Tuoba Yu’s Northern Barbarians broke through He Zudao’s defenses and routed Li Yunqing’s forces, leaving the heir locked outside Ningchuan Commandery’s gates. Tuoba Yu then stormed and sacked the city, while Li Yunqing remained pursued and on the run.

• Tuoba Yu’s men destroyed the upstream dam, then crossed the drained river and overwhelmed He Zudao’s demoralized troops.
• He Zudao ordered Li Yunqing’s guards to take the heir away, charged Tuoba Yu’s men, and died fighting.
• Yan Sifang refused to open Ningchuan Commandery’s gates to Li Yunqing, who fled as the Northern Barbarians pursued him.
• Tuoba Yu ordered his men to kill Li Yunqing and led the rest to attack Ningchuan Commandery.
• The Northern Barbarians used siege crossbows to collapse the city wall, entered Ningchuan Commandery, and slaughtered and plundered its people.

The Princess Consort of Beining and Wang Sitao organized Ping'an City’s defenses as Tuoba Yu’s forces ravaged Ningchuan Commandery. Tuoba Yu planned to seize the city before Great Ning’s reinforcements arrived, while weighing the danger of Lin Yi cutting off his retreat.

• The Princess Consort of Beining urged Ping'an City’s defenders to hold out for reinforcements expected that night, and Wang Sitao was ordered to find the heir and speed their arrival.
• Wang Sitao threatened a man who blamed the Prince of Beining for his defeat, but the Princess Consort of Beining stopped him from escalating the dispute.
• Tuoba Yu celebrated the riches and captives his army had taken, while Yelü Dashan and the others discussed the wealth still in Ping'an City.
• Tuoba Yu warned his commanders that Lin Yi and Great Ning’s reinforcements posed serious dangers, and Evil Bodhisattva urged them to request support and take the whole commandery quickly.
• Yelü Dashan proposed using captured Ningchuan commoners as cannon fodder to exhaust Ping'an City’s defenders’ arrows.

After learning that Tuoba Yu had invaded Ningchuan Commandery, Lin Yi ordered Xiliang’s forces to seize Tuoba Yu’s base, Little Pine Mountain, and Ningchuan Commandery. He introduced Gongsun Zan as a new ally and sent him to support Zhang Liao’s campaign while guarding against Tuoba Yu’s cavalry.

• Wang Yue reported that Tuoba Yu had killed He Zudao and invaded Ningchuan Commandery, leaving more than twenty thousand casualties.
• Lin Yi summoned his commanders and ordered Ma Chao to lead one hundred thousand cavalry against Tuoba Yu’s base and establish a foothold there.
• Lin Yi sent Zhang Liao with fifty thousand troops to take Little Pine Mountain and watch for a chance to seize Ningchuan Commandery.
• Jia Xu warned Lin Yi that deploying all his forces could leave Raging Waves Bridge vulnerable, but Lin Yi assured him that a new ally would guard it.
• Gongsun Zan arrived with thirty thousand White Horse Volunteers, and Lin Yi assigned them to support Zhang Liao and counter Tuoba Yu’s cavalry.

Lin Yi’s newly revealed army swept through the Northern Region Barbarians’ defenses at Little Pine Mountain. Cha'er realized the position could not hold and sent a warning to Tuoba Yu as the attackers advanced.

• Bai Zizai and Yi Yun were astonished by the size of Lin Yi’s forces, and Lin Yi claimed a hero had come to help him.
• Zhang Liao’s army broke through the first four defensive lines at Little Pine Mountain in less than two hours.
• Jia Xu explained that the defenders were stalling to alert Tuoba Yu, and Zhang Liao sent the Formation-Breaking Camp forward.
• Cha'er saw that his five thousand men could not stop the advance and feared Tuoba Yu would be trapped in Ningchuan Commandery.
• Zhou Cang led the armored Formation-Breaking Camp through a barrage of arrows, which could not pierce their armor.
• Cha'er sent a trusted subordinate to warn Tuoba Yu about Lin Yi and ordered the remaining defenders to attack with rocks.

Zhang Liao’s forces used catapults and explosive charges to rout the Northern Region barbarians defending Little Pine Mountain. Jia Xu then ordered Zhang Liao to block Tuoba Yu’s retreat and wait until he took Ping’an City, while revealing that Tuoba Yu had been promised the title of King Divine Eagle.

• Zhou Cang complained to Zhang Liao and Jia Xu after a rock struck him, and Jia Xu told him to throw rocks back.
• Zhang Liao ordered catapults to bombard Little Pine Mountain, but the defenders continued fighting.
• Zhang Liao had Chen Pi hurl explosive charges at the defenders, killing Cha’er and terrifying the remaining Northern Region soldiers into fleeing toward Ziwu Road.
• Zhang Liao stopped Zhou Cang from pursuing the fleeing soldiers and said Ma Chao’s cavalry would intercept them.
• Jia Xu ordered his men to secure Little Pine Mountain and told Zhang Liao to cross the river and block Tuoba Yu’s retreat until Tuoba Yu took Ping’an City.
• Jia Xu explained that Tuoba Yu had to attack Great Ning because the Northern Barbarian king had promised him the title of King Divine Eagle.

After Zhang Liao’s victory at Little Pine Mountain, Lin Yi prepared to move into Ningchuan Commandery while concealing his broader ambitions from Bai Zizai and Yi Yun. Refugees in Xiliang argued over Lin Yi’s actions and fought, while Lin Yi revealed he intended to profit from their wealth once Xiliang’s economy had grown.

• A victory messenger reported that Zhang Liao had killed five thousand enemy troops and captured Little Pine Mountain, and Lin Yi praised him before discussing the advance into Ningchuan Commandery.
• Bai Zizai asked whether Lin Yi would seize Ningchuan Commandery, and Lin Yi said he was only going to rescue its people.
• Lin Yi revealed that Tuoba Wanli had offered to make Tuoba Yu a king in exchange for easing pressure on Mountain and River Pass, prompting Bai Zizai and Yi Yun to recognize the opportunity this created.
• News of the victory spread through Xiliang, where refugees argued over whether Lin Yi had abandoned Ningchuan and a crowd from Xiliang beat a refugee who had fled the commandery.
• Wang Yue condemned the refugees for criticizing Lin Yi, but Lin Yi said he would let their money support Xiliang’s economy before settling accounts with them.

Tuoba Wanli learned that Tuoba Yu had advanced into Ningchuan Commandery and ordered him named the Martial Divine Minor Titled King, with the promise of a fief if he rendered great service. He then decided to send support, fearing Lin Yi might try to seize Ningchuan’s wealth.

• Tuoba Wanli rejected his sons’ suggestions to abandon Mountain and River Pass, relying instead on Tuoba Yu’s raid to create an opportunity.
• A messenger reported that Tuoba Yu had taken Little Pine Mountain and was attacking Ping'an City in Ningchuan Commandery.
• Tuoba Wanli read a battle report praising Tuoba Yu’s victories and ordered him granted the title Martial Divine Minor Titled King, ten thousand taels of gold, one hundred beauties, and a possible fief.
• Tuoba Qingfeng warned that Lin Yi might covet Ningchuan’s riches, and Tuoba Wanli agreed that they needed to guard against him.

Ning Kun learned that Tuoba Yu had overrun Ningchuan Commandery and chose to keep his forces at Mountain and River Pass rather than fall for Tuoba Wanli’s plan to divide them. In the capital, Li Anlan ordered a hundred thousand imperial guards to stop Tuoba Yu, then learned that Jiang Li had raised a southern rebellion as well.

• Tuoba Wanli sent Tuoba Qingsong with fifty thousand troops to meet Tuoba Yu and guard the money.
• Ning Kun blamed Li Sansi’s defeat on his focus on defense and political maneuvering, but refused to send troops away from Mountain and River Pass.
• Li Anlan raged over Li Sansi’s army being wiped out and Ningchuan Commandery falling, then ordered a hundred thousand imperial guards mobilized against Tuoba Yu.
• Tan Cheng reported that Jiang Li had raised a hundred thousand troops against the Prince of Shu, leaving Li Anlan furious about unrest in the south.

With rebellions and invasion threatening the Great Ning Dynasty, Li Anlan learned that Lin Yi had trapped Tuoba Yu in Ningchuan Commandery with troops from the mysterious White Horse Tribe. Facing another northern threat and reluctant to let Lin Yi expand unchecked, Li Anlan created Xiliang Province, appointed Lin Yi its inspector, and ordered him to rescue Ningchuan.

• Tan Cheng reported that the Prince of Shu had imposed unauthorized taxes, prompting Li Anlan to suspect his uncle might be preparing to rebel.
• Qin Li volunteered to investigate the southern crisis, and Li Anlan authorized him to command an army of one hundred thousand while deciding to lead a northern campaign himself.
• A messenger announced that Lin Yi had used fifty thousand borrowed troops, including thirty thousand White Horse Tribe cavalry led by Gongsun Zan, to cut off Tuoba Yu at Little Pine Mountain.
• Li Anlan received word that Tuoba Wanli's fifty-thousand-strong army was advancing toward Youning Commandery.
• Li Anlan elevated Xiliang Commandery to a province, appointed Lin Yi Inspector of Xiliang Province, and ordered him to attack Tuoba Yu and save Ningchuan Commandery.

Lin Yi used his new appointment as inspector of Xiliang to justify taking Ningchuan Commandery and ordered Zhang Liao and Gongsun Zan to attack. Meanwhile, Tuoba Yu received the title of Divine Martial Lesser King and the right to choose his own territory.

• The imperial edict elevated Xiliang Commandery into Xiliang Province and appointed Lin Yi inspector with authority over its administration.
• Lin Yi and his advisers discussed Li Anlan’s attempt to limit his power and agreed that Ningchuan Commandery should become part of Xiliang Province.
• Lin Yi ordered Zhang Liao and Gongsun Zan to strike Ningchuan Commandery, then set out with his companions to claim it in person.
• Tuoba Yu received a decree naming him Divine Martial Lesser King and granting him territory of his choice, while Yelü Dashan praised his rise.

After Little Pine Mountain fell, Tuoba Yu rallied his allies to take the fight into Youning and Great Wasteland Commanderies, hoping to force the enemy away from Mountain and River Pass. He replenished his depleted army by coercing captives into joining, but a huge cavalry force arrived as his troops prepared to march.

• Tuoba Yu reassured Yelü Dashan and drew him closer, while Xiao Shan worried that Tuoba Yu's ambition could threaten royal power.
• Tuoba Yu rejected occupying Ningchuan Commandery or crossing the Great Ning River and proposed invading Youning and Great Wasteland Commanderies to force enemy reinforcements away from Mountain and River Pass.
• Yelü Dashan warned that their forces had fallen below twenty thousand, so Tuoba Yu pressured the captives to join by reminding them they had helped seize Ping'an City and could face punishment from their emperor.
• Tuoba Yu assigned the captives to Yelü Dashan, raising their strength to fifty thousand, and said the remaining people could serve as cannon fodder.
• A massive cavalry force shook the ground, and Tuoba Yu estimated it had at least fifty thousand men.

Lin Yi used his overwhelming military display and an imperial edict naming him inspector of Xiliang Province to force Tuoba Yu’s Northern Barbarian army to retreat from Ningchuan Commandery. He ordered Gongsun Zan to pursue them and sent Zhang Liao to occupy the commandery and fortify the Great Ning River.

• A Northern Barbarian soldier reported that Lin Yi’s forces had captured several cities, and Tuoba Yu and his commanders found Ningchuan Commandery’s walls reduced to rubble.
• Lin Yi met Tuoba Yu, presented the imperial edict granting him authority over Ningchuan Commandery, and ordered the Northern Barbarians to leave.
• Tuoba Yu decided to withdraw, judging that fighting Lin Yi’s army would risk heavy losses, and planned to attack Youning Commandery instead.
• Lin Yi ordered Gongsun Zan and the White Horse Volunteers to cut off the retreating army and seize its valuables and supplies.
• Lin Yi ordered Zhang Liao to take control of Ningchuan Commandery and establish defenses along the Great Ning River.

Lin Yi drove Tuoba Yu’s troops from Ningchuan Commandery and took control of it, then distributed recovered money to the commoners. The people hailed him as their savior, while the Princess Consort of Beining thanked him and reflected on her husband’s defeat.

• Lin Yi’s troops entered Ping'an City after Tuoba Yu retreated under the pressure of their superior numbers and weapons.
• Lin Yi apologized to Ningchuan Commandery’s commoners for arriving late, and they rejoiced that the enemy had been driven back.
• Zhang Huizu learned that Ningchuan Commandery would belong to Xiliang Province and that Lin Yi would distribute recovered money to the commoners.
• Zhang Huizu received money for his family, knelt, and cried out, “Long live the heir!”
• The Princess Consort of Beining thanked Lin Yi for returning some of the stolen money, and Lin Yi expressed regret that he had not saved her husband’s commandery sooner.

After the Princess Consort of Beining withdrew from Ningchuan Commandery, Lin Yi received major system rewards, including Cai Yan, Chen Dao, and elite troops. He ordered Chen Dao to work with Gongsun Zan to secure the commandery and block Li Anlan’s advance.

• The Princess Consort of Beining accepted Lin Yi’s rule over Ningchuan Commandery and departed for the imperial capital.
• The system rewarded Lin Yi with Cai Yan after the Princess Consort voluntarily withdrew, then granted him fifty thousand White Feather Soldiers and Chen Dao for capturing a top-tier commandery.
• The system also gave Lin Yi ten thousand Tiger and Leopard Cavalry, the bow and crossbow maker Gong Yuliang, crop seeds, and other supplies.
• Lin Yi summoned Cai Yan and Chen Dao, who pledged their service to him.
• Lin Yi ordered Chen Dao to join Gongsun Zan in securing Ningchuan Commandery and preventing Li Anlan from marching north.

Lin Yi assigned Cai Yan to run a newspaper to shape public opinion while ordering Chen Dao and Gongsun Zan to contain Tuoba Yu’s retreat. Tuoba Yu’s forces remained under pursuit by Lin Yi’s white-horse cavalry as they fled toward the border.

• Chen Dao offered to handle the conflict with Li Anlan and Gongsun Zan, while Lin Yi ordered defenses against Tuoba Yu’s possible return.
• Lin Yi asked Cai Yan to run a newspaper using woodblock printing, explaining that it would give commoners hope and win their support.
• Wang Yue reported that Tuoba Yu had taken more than forty thousand men and a large amount of supplies and money; Lin Yi ordered Gongsun Zan to intercept the supplies.
• At the border, Tuoba Yu struggled to escape Lin Yi’s white-horse cavalry, which harried his slower force with arrows.
• Evil Bodhisattva cursed the pursuers, while Yelü Dashan concluded that Lin Yi’s large light-cavalry force showed he had great ambitions.

Tuoba Yu and Tuoba Qingsong joined forces with 110,000 troops to confront Lin Yi’s pursuing cavalry, while Tuoba Qingsong grew suspicious that the enemy might be leading them into an ambush. The chapter ended with Tuoba Yu warning that Lin Yi had about 80,000 men and urging the army to drive them away rather than get bogged down fighting.

• Tuoba Yu learned that Tuoba Qingsong had arrived with 50,000 reinforcements and hurried to join him.
• Tuoba Qingsong greeted Tuoba Yu and learned from Yelü Dashan that Lin Yi’s 30,000 light cavalry had been harassing their retreat.
• Tuoba Qingsong ordered the combined forces to attack Lin Yi’s cavalry, while some troops stayed behind to guard the supplies.
• Gongsun Zan’s cavalry fled as Tuoba Yu and Tuoba Qingsong pursued them, and the Northern Barbarians’ morale rose.
• Tuoba Qingsong halted the pursuit to guard against an ambush, and Tuoba Yu said Lin Yi had about 80,000 men and should be driven away without a drawn-out fight.

Tuoba Qingsong ordered his eighty thousand troops to attack Lin Yi’s thirty thousand White Horse Volunteers to secure the grain supplies. From nearby Youning Commandery, Zhang Ci recognized that Lin Yi’s forces were fighting the barbarians and welcomed them as allies.

• Tuoba Qingsong rejected Tuoba Yu’s suggestion to escort the supplies away and insisted they had to defeat Lin Yi’s force first.
• Tuoba Qingsong spotted a grasslander among Gongsun Zan’s White Horse Volunteers, and Tuoba Yu explained their supposed origin as the White Horse Tribe.
• Tuoba Qingsong threatened to destroy the White Horse Tribe, then ordered eighty thousand troops to charge the thirty thousand White Horse Volunteers while leaving thirty thousand men to guard the grain.
• Zhang Ci watched the battle from Youning Commandery with five thousand soldiers and considered helping the force attacking the Northern Barbarians.
• After learning the cavalry belonged to Lin Yi, Zhang Ci declared him an ally and praised his boldness.