Recaps

Great Liang conquered Zhennan, renamed it Southern Liang, and began integrating it through roads, administration, and commercial development. Lin Yi also strengthened his intelligence network and warned Princess Anne that Bill III faced an assassination plot, while foreign tensions and Great Liang’s reach continued to grow.

• Zhang Liao’s Red-Coat Cannons battered Zhennan’s walls, and Zan Rihong arranged Nan Yu’s death before surrendering the city to Great Liang.
• Zan Rihong gave Great Liang a register of Zhennan’s factions in exchange for his family’s safety, and Great Liang arrested opponents as Li Ru reported the captured wealth.
• Lin Yi renamed Zhennan Southern Liang, planned the Southwest Great Road, appointed the retired emperor Grand Commander and Zhang Juzheng chief administrator, and sent Zhang Bao’s Edification Corps to the region.
• Lin Yi welcomed Li Si and Dun Ruo, appointed Li Si vice director of the Central Secretariat and Dun Ruo commander of the Hundred Riders, and gave Zhao Gao new technologies for Ma Jun and others to study.
• Zhang Zizai explained that he had come to serve Lin Yi because the emperor destroyed the Jackal Kingdom, and Cao Cao later summoned clan leaders and major silkworm breeders to the palace.
• Lin Yi warned Princess Anne that the Great West Empire and Ashina Tiandu planned to assassinate Bill III, and Anne sent her father a warning letter by messenger pigeon.
• Lin Yi learned that Gan Ning had encountered ships from the Land of the Far West and ordered Wang Yue to investigate its people, colonies, and strength.
• Lin Yi offered Southern Liang’s market to the great clans and merchants in exchange for half the profits, and they accepted while agreeing to contribute toward the empire-wide feast.

Ashina Tiandu killed Bill III and seized Frostwest's throne, while Lin Rusong withheld rescue and prepared an invasion in Bill III's name. Lin Yi expanded Great Liang's institutions, secured Anne's support against the usurper, and discovered Cao Cao's predicament during an incognito visit to the Heavenly Fragrance Pavilion.

• Lin Yi enlisted merchants and aristocratic clans to develop Southern Liang under court control, and Mi Zhu reported contributions exceeding fifty million strings of cash.
• Ashina Tiandu advanced his coup after Xiuli exposed Bill III's counterplot, stormed the palace, and ordered Bill III taken away to be killed before assuming the throne as Bill IV.
• Lin Rusong withheld Bill III's rescue to justify invading Frostwest and ordered Xue Rengui to finish conquering the remaining western nations before harassing Frostwest and Great West.
• Abaddon spread accusations of Bill IV's patricide, while Lin Yi ordered Huo Qubing to attack the border between the Great West Empire and the Frostwest Empire.
• Lin Yi selected talented examination candidates regardless of their origins and commissioned Xun Yu and Chen Qun to arrange regular assemblies of local representatives.
• Lin Yi informed Anne of Bill III's death and promised revenge, while Anne accepted Great Liang's intervention and concluded that Frostwest's people would fare better under its rule.
• Lin Yi visited the Heavenly Fragrance Pavilion in disguise, encountered the Net agent Qinglin, and promised better benefits and rewards for the agents.
• Lin Yi found Cao Cao seeking help from Guo Jia, Li Yu, and Xu Chu after aristocratic families had set him up with Lu Yafu's concubine and planned to impeach him.

Lin Yi held the palace examination, appointed its leading candidates, and welcomed new talent and troops into Great Liang. As Frostwest prepared for war and Great Tang expanded, Lin Yi’s hidden move revealed that a Great Han army had entered the conflict.

• Lin Yi ordered Guo Jia and Li Yu to train the examination candidates in governing and his principles of rule.
• Zhang Wanhao and the clan leaders agreed to punish relatives involved in the plot against Cao Cao, divide their households, share profits with Lin Yi, and seek marriage alliances with the imperial family.
• Lin Yi tested the leading candidates, and Huang Longsi warned that powerful regional governors threatened the empire before proposing ways to limit their military authority.
• Zhang Zizai described a sea route to the Great West Empire and proposed taking over its colony, while Lin Yi ranked Huang first, Zhang second, and Zhang Fengfan third and assigned them posts.
• Lin Yi appointed Huang Longsi to head the new Court of Judicial Review, sent the candidates to train at the Imperial Academy, and welcomed Guo Xin, Tian Feng, and Wang Xuance into Great Liang’s service.
• After public reports of Ashina Tiandu’s coup and Frostwest’s plans against Great Liang stirred anger, Cha’er killed Abucha and agreed to carry Princess Anne’s proclamation home with Wang Xuance accompanying him.
• Ashina Tiandu ordered Frostwest to expand its army, seek ties with Great Tang, send gifts to Great Liang, and strengthen its borders, while Xue Rengui reported Great Tang’s conquests to Lin Rusong.
• Jia Xu revealed that Lin Yi had already sent a fierce general to divide Frostwest from the Great West Empire, and Great Liang’s leaders learned that a Great Han army had appeared.

Huo Qubing’s campaign drove deep into Frostwest while Xue Rengui and Lin Yi prepared Great Tang and Great Liang for war. The arc ended with Frostwest’s ruler seeking time through a hostage and false peace offer as Lin Yi turned his attention toward the western powers.

• Jia Xu spread accusations against Ashina Tiandu while Xue Rengui accepted Frostwest’s gifts and agreed to an alliance without promising military aid.
• Huo Qubing used the surrendered Black Skull Army to attack Frostwest, then bypassed the Great Jade River and led the Feathered Forest Army toward Tiele City.
• Huo Qubing defeated Frostwest forces, captured commanders, and advanced toward the capital as Aksu gathered troops to stop him.
• Xue Rengui placed Sang Mo under house arrest and led Great Tang’s army into Frostwest, while Princess Anne’s declaration challenged Bill IV’s legitimacy.
• Lin Yi ordered a million troops to punish Frostwest and agreed to hold a palace selection after his ministers pressed him to produce heirs.
• Ashina Tiandu sent his son Ashina Mafa and an envoy to seek peace, but Lin Yi exposed Frostwest’s plan to attack Great Liang and rejected the offer.
• Lin Yi ordered Zhou Yu to investigate the western colonies and navy, while Guo Jia reported that Abaddon was maneuvering against Adolf and Ashina Tiandu was abandoning Aksu to face Huo Qubing.