Chapter Summaries

Lin Yi tested the Divine Arm Bow against a pig wearing Gao Shun's heavy armor and confirmed its tremendous penetrating power. The Xiliang leaders recognized its battlefield potential, though Ma Chao noted that its weight made it unsuitable for cavalry.

• Lin Yi ordered Gao Shun to put his heavy armor on a pig and sent Qu Yi to catch one, prompting the two generals to tease each other.
• Qu Yi brought a large pig from the military camp to the Heavenly Craft Workshop, where several Xiliang leaders had gathered.
• Lin Yi shot the running, armored pig with the Divine Arm Bow, severely wounding it with the first shot and killing it with a second aimed at a vital spot.
• Gao Shun examined the pig and found that the bolt had penetrated nine inches through the heavy armor.
• Qu Yi praised the weapon's potential, while Ma Chao lamented that its immense draw weight made it impractical for the Xiliang Iron Cavalry.

Lin Yi ordered an expedition against the Jushi Kingdom and the Shachi Kingdom, both to punish their attacks and to obtain more warhorses, while avoiding a broader conquest that could provoke the Frostwest Empire. He assigned Bai Zizai's Asura Army to lead, with Gongsun Zan and Qu Yi supporting it, and sent Divine Arm Crossbows for field testing before the troops departed the next day.

• Gao Shun and Qu Yi both requested Divine Arm Crossbows for their forces, and Lin Yi decided to equip Qu Yi's Vanguard Dare-to-Die Warriors first for combat testing.
• Lin Yi named the Jushi Kingdom and the Shachi Kingdom as targets and assigned Bai Zizai's Asura Army to lead, with thirty thousand White Horse Volunteers and twenty thousand Vanguard Dare-to-Die Warriors supporting it.
• Gongsun Zan proposed conquering the Western Regions, but Lin Yi explained that many kingdoms were vassals of the powerful Frostwest Empire and a full invasion could bring three empires against Northern Liang.
• Lin Yi revealed that the two kingdoms had abundant warhorses, making their conquest valuable despite the shortage of horses across his expanding armies.
• Lin Yi ordered Gong Yuliang to provide five thousand Divine Arm Crossbows by morning and told Gongsun Zan and Qu Yi to bring trusted troops alongside recruits for training.
• Jia Xu volunteered to join the expedition, and Lin Yi approved, telling him to observe the Western Regions and bring back useful technology.

Lin Yi sent fifty thousand troops on a punitive expedition against the Jushi Kingdom and Shachi Kingdom after Xiliang merchants were attacked, while Wei Tong suspected Lin Yi wanted their horses and camels. Wei Tong tried to warn Great Ning, but the Net beat his messenger and Lin Yi’s forces blockaded the Great Ning River, trapping the Great Ning Guard in Ningchuan Commandery.

• Fifty thousand troops departed from Ningchuan Commandery, and residents learned from the newspaper that Lin Yi was sending them against the Jushi Kingdom and Shachi Kingdom after Xiliang merchants were attacked.
• Wei Tong told his subordinate that Lin Yi was likely after the two countries’ warhorses and ordered him to send an urgent warning to Great Ning.
• Wei Tong’s subordinate returned beaten and identified the Net as his attackers.
• A Great Ning Guard member reported that Lin Yi’s forces had blockaded the Great Ning River and were allowing entry but not exit because they had discovered an assassin.

Wei Tong realized Lin Yi had sealed off the Great Ning River and was controlling which intelligence the Great Ning Guard could send. At an inn, Wang Zitao and Zhang Jinyi feared Lin Yi’s power and worried that the Wang Clan could be destroyed if they angered him.

• Wei Tong learned that Lin Yi had deliberately let the Great Ning Guard operate under surveillance and was blocking their intelligence from leaving.
• A guard suggested using the Wang Clan to send a letter, and Wei Tong decided to contact them at a nearby inn.
• Wang Zitao failed to enter the Prince of Xiliang’s residence and complained that Lin Yi had ignored their supposed friendship and detained his sister.
• Zhang Jinyi warned Wang Zitao that Lin Yi was unlikely to harm the young lady while the Wang Clan remained useful, but could destroy them if provoked.
• Wang Zitao and Zhang Jinyi judged Lin Yi’s forces more formidable than rumors suggested and rejected a guard’s idea of seeking help from the emperor.
• The group remembered that Lin Yi had killed Chancellor Ran Zijin and feared that the Wang Clan would meet the same fate if they acted rashly.

Wang Zitao refused the Great Ning Guard’s request to carry news of Lin Yi’s plans, realizing the Wang Clan had to choose a side. In Great Ning, the crown prince ordered Wang Zijin and her relatives killed, while Li Anlan and Li Ruyu suspected Lin Rusong was maneuvering to seize influence over the Wang Clan of Central Shu.

• A Great Ning guardsman asked Wang Zitao to relay news of Lin Yi’s planned moves against the Jushi Kingdom and the Shachi Kingdom, but Wang Zitao refused and accused the Wang Clan of being dragged into danger.
• Wang Zitao told his men to inform his father that the Wang Clan had to choose a side before it was destroyed.
• After learning that the Wang Clan might marry Wang Zijin to Lin Yi, Li Qiankun ordered his men to kill Wang Zijin and the Wang Clan’s people.
• Li Ruyu told Li Anlan that Li Qiankun would likely attack Wang Yining and Wang Zijin to avoid being humiliated.
• Li Anlan and Li Ruyu concluded that Lin Rusong was using his son’s proposed marriage to pursue the Wang Clan of Central Shu, which belonged to Li Zhengdao.

Li Anlan sought Li Ruyu’s support against the Prince of Shu and discussed Lin Yi’s threat to Great Ning. Li Anlan decided to ask the Prince of Min to help defend the border, while Li Ruyu warned him to stay wary of Lin Yi.

• Li Anlan asked Li Ruyu how to respond to the Prince of Shu recruiting soldiers, and Li Ruyu said he would reason with him but kill him if he refused.
• Li Ruyu warned Li Anlan that Lin Yi and the Lin Clan posed a greater danger than the Prince of Shu, citing a report of a hundred thousand troops stationed near Ningchuan Commandery.
• Li Ruyu explained that Tuoba Yu’s forces had entered Great Wasteland Commandery and could threaten Great Ning’s rear through Youning Commandery and the Fishtail Mountain Range.
• Li Anlan decided to write to the Prince of Min and ask him to act against the threat, and Li Ruyu agreed while warning him not to push the prince too hard.
• Li Ruyu cautioned Li Anlan that Lin Yi’s sudden change in behavior was significant, and Li Anlan promised to keep watch on him.

Emperor Li Anlan ordered Liu Ziyi to establish Shadow and investigate Lin Yi and his subordinates in Xiliang. In Northern Liang, Lin Rusong learned that Lin Yi commanded an army of over a hundred and fifty thousand, with Ma Chao and other forces still unaccounted for.

• Li Ruyu warned Li Anlan that Lin Yi had risen rapidly and could become a threat to the Great Ning Dynasty.
• Li Anlan questioned Liu Ziyi about the seven great legions and Xun Yu, and Liu Ziyi blamed Wei Tong for the lack of intelligence.
• Li Anlan appointed Liu Ziyi to lead Shadow and ordered him to investigate Lin Yi and try to recruit his subordinates.
• Lin Rusong reviewed reports of Lin Yi's large army and realized the figures did not include Ma Chao or Lin Yi's other hidden forces.
• Lin Rusong told Wang Ziwen that he would be glad if Lin Yi surpassed him, but he needed time to help Lin Yi cripple Li Anlan.

Lin Rusong learned that his son had ordered Bai Zizai to attack the Jushi Kingdom and the Shachi Kingdom, and he rode to the border to investigate. Bai Zizai entered Northern Liang with Yi Yun after Xu Zhong confirmed the order was on its way, while the strategist Jia Xu and the rest of the troops were still expected.

• Lin Rusong told Wang Ziwen that he would cripple Great Ning to help his son if the need arose.
• A messenger reported that Bai Zizai had entered Northern Liang with fifty thousand Asura Army troops, and Lin Rusong read Bai Zizai's letter explaining the heir's orders to attack the Jushi Kingdom and the Shachi Kingdom.
• Lin Rusong and Wang Ziwen rode to the border, where they found Bai Zizai arguing with Xu Zhong.
• Xu Zhong asked Bai Zizai to show the heir's orders, but Yi Yun explained that they were still with Jia Xu.
• Bai Zizai left his army at the border and entered Northern Liang with Yi Yun after Xu Zhong let them pass, warning Xu Zhong that Jia Xu would soon arrive.

Xu Zhong learned that Bai Zizai planned to destroy the Jushi and Shachi kingdoms as part of the heir’s larger campaign against the Northern Barbarians. Lin Rusong and Wang Ziwen questioned Bai’s boldness, while Bai remained confident that the heir’s forces could overcome their enemies.

• Xu Zhong asked Bai Zizai about the heir’s plans, and Bai revealed that his troops would attack the Jushi and Shachi kingdoms for their warhorses.
• Xu Zhong realized that the heir’s greater target was the Northern Region Barbarians and pledged to repay Bai for letting him in on the campaign.
• Lin Rusong arrived and warned Bai that attacking the two kingdoms could provoke Li Anlan, who stood behind them.
• Bai announced that he had joined the heir, prompting Wang Ziwen to realize that Bai had defected.
• Lin Rusong and Wang Ziwen explained why Northern Liang had kept a low profile against Li Anlan’s much larger army.
• Bai insisted that no one could stop his mission, privately drawing confidence from the heir’s claim that three hundred thousand troops would attack the Northern Barbarians.

The White Horse Volunteers and Vanguard Dare-to-Die Warriors arrived, and the onlookers learned that Lin Yi was using the campaign against the Jushi Kingdom and Shachi Kingdom to train recruits. Jia Xu revealed that Lin Yi planned to wipe out the Northern Barbarians with three hundred thousand troops, leaving Lin Rusong stunned by his son’s ambition.

• Bai Zizai identified the arriving White Horse Volunteers and Vanguard Dare-to-Die Warriors as two of Lin Yi’s elite armies.
• Xu Zhong noticed that many soldiers in the orderly-looking forces were inexperienced, and Bai Zizai confirmed that Lin Yi was training recruits by sending a hundred thousand troops against the Jushi Kingdom and Shachi Kingdom.
• Lin Rusong questioned Bai Zizai about Lin Yi’s plans for the Northern Barbarians, but Bai Zizai evaded his questions.
• Jia Xu arrived, greeted Lin Rusong, and presented Lin Yi’s signed order to destroy the Jushi Kingdom and Shachi Kingdom.
• Jia Xu told Lin Rusong and his trusted confidants that Lin Yi planned to wipe out the Northern Barbarians with three hundred thousand troops.
• Lin Rusong swore in shock at the size of Lin Yi’s intended army.

Jia Xu revealed that Lin Yi had raised an army of three hundred thousand and captured Ziwu Road, prompting Lin Rusong to plan a spring campaign against the Northern Barbarians. A messenger then reported that Li Anlan had betrothed Princess Shenle to Lin Yi, and Lin Rusong ordered Northern Liang to raise another hundred thousand troops.

• Jia Xu told Wang Ziwen and Lin Rusong that Lin Yi's three hundred thousand troops did not include the fifty-thousand-strong Asura Army, and that Ma Chao had already taken Ziwu Road.
• Lin Rusong and Jia Xu agreed to attack the Northern Barbarians at the start of spring, while Wang Ziwen urged them to keep the plan secret.
• Lin Rusong ordered Xu Zhong to purge spies from Northern Liang and train one hundred thousand elite cavalry to support Lin Yi.
• Jia Xu revealed that Wang Zijin was working as a maid in Lin Yi's residence and that Lin Yi had threatened to destroy the Wang Clan of Central Shu.
• A messenger reported that Li Anlan had betrothed Princess Shenle to Lin Yi, and Lin Rusong laughed and ordered Northern Liang to raise another hundred thousand troops.

Lin Yi’s hundred million strings of cash accelerated Xiliang’s growth, spurring new industries and shipbuilding while helping him establish the Brocade Sail Navy under the cover of civilian expansion. He visited the docks after learning that Wuning Commandery had joined the fishing boom and found a vast fleet gathering on the Great Ning River.

• Xun Yu praised the rapid changes in Xiliang, while Chen Qun and Gan Ning described how subsidy registrations and tax-free ocean fishing had overwhelmed their workloads.
• Lin Yi explained that the ocean plan supported future colonization and let him introduce the Brocade Sail Navy among civilian vessels.
• Wang Yue told Lin Yi that people in Wuning Commandery had begun deep-sea fishing too, and Lin Yi decided to inspect the docks rather than have Gan Ning sink their boats.
• Lin Yi and his companions rode to the docks, where they saw more than a hundred boats packed across the Great Ning River.
• Mi Zhu explained that Gan Ning had returned from a recent sea voyage with a shipload of fish, prompting others to join the fishing boom.

Lin Yi used the returning fishing ships to attract people to ocean fishing, revealing that the new industry would help build a hidden naval base while still bringing Xiliang taxes and fees. He then ordered He Jin to promote pig farming in the military camps so the soldiers would have enough meat.

• Mi Zhu pointed out Gan Ning’s returning tower ships, whose enormous fish hauls excited the people gathered at the docks.
• He Jin admitted that the profits made him want to fish, while Gongsun Zan warned that Xiliang would lose out if it collected no taxes.
• Xun Yu guessed that Lin Yi was using ocean fishing to secretly strengthen the navy, and Lin Yi described his plan to establish Sea Liang Island.
• Lin Yi explained that selling fish would be taxed and that fishermen would pay fees for protection from Xiliang warships.
• Lin Yi ordered He Jin to promote pig farming in the military camps so soldiers could eat meat and stay strong.

Lin Yi discussed the profits from sea fishing with his advisors before welcoming Gan Ning and hearing that the fleet had returned with a huge catch. The group considered the potential of the fishing industry, and Lin Yi left Chen Qun to draft regulations to prevent overfishing.

• Wang Yue worried that merchants might stop using Lin Yi’s tax-exemption scheme, but Mi Zhu and Xun Yu argued that profits would keep them participating.
• Lin Yi pointed out that his tower ships would earn far more from fishing than merchants’ small boats, and Chen Qun realized their lord would still take the lion’s share.
• Gan Ning reported that Great Ning’s ports had tried to obstruct the fleet but backed down when faced with its ships and weapons.
• Gan Ning said his ten tower ships and twenty warships had brought back at least a hundred thousand jin of fish.
• Xun Yu suggested focusing on fishing near the sea, while Lin Yi warned that excessive catches could deplete the fish population.
• Chen Qun proposed sea-fishing laws to protect young fish and preserve supplies, and Lin Yi assigned him to handle the regulations.

Lin Yi and Gan Ning discussed solving the problems of keeping fish fresh and improving fishing nets after the voyage. A red-silk-draped warship arrived carrying Princess Shenle, and Lin Yi ordered it welcomed so he could learn why she had come.

• Gan Ning described his voyage and explained that poor preservation and weak fishing nets had caused serious losses.
• Lin Yi ordered the shipyard to build an icehouse aboard copied tower ships and told Gan Ning to find fishermen to improve the nets.
• Lin Yi and Wang Yue suspected that Great Ning had discovered and dealt with the Net's agents after a warship arrived without warning.
• Gan Ning ordered his men to protect Lin Yi and aim the shipboard ballistae at the approaching warship.
• A palace maid announced that Princess Shenle was aboard, and Lin Yi told Gan Ning to let her dock.
• The people at the docks discussed Princess Shenle's talents and wondered why she had so few attendants.

Princess Shenle arrived in Xiliang and insisted Lin Yi receive her in person before she disembarked. After asking whether he would protect his own woman, she declared she would marry him and entered the carriage, leaving Lin Yi and his companions baffled.

• Lin Yi suspected Li Anlan had sent Princess Shenle to spy on him, and Wang Yue dispersed the harbor crowd.
• Xiao He told Lin Yi that Shenle would not leave the ship unless he came to receive her.
• Shenle descended in a wedding gown with her maids and dowry, then asked Lin Yi whether he would protect his own woman.
• Lin Yi said he would protect her if she were his woman but noted he had not agreed to marry her.
• Shenle declared that she would marry Lin Yi, veiled herself, and climbed into the carriage, while Lin Yi and his companions wondered at her haste.

Princess Shenle decided to side with Lin Yi rather than serve as a tool for her father, the emperor, and killed the people accompanying her who might threaten her new husband. As her carriage continued toward Lin Yi’s residence, she accepted that he might distrust her but resolved not to regret her choice.

• Lin Yi ordered Wang Yue to take Princess Shenle and her procession to the west wing and kill anyone who acted suspiciously.
• Princess Shenle told Xiao He that she had chosen Lin Yi because she believed he would protect her, while helping her father would leave her a powerless widow.
• Princess Shenle revealed that she had made the palace attendants drink poisoned wine, and they collapsed and died.
• Xiao He realized she had also drunk the wine and that Princess Shenle knew she had been reporting to the emperor.
• Princess Shenle explained that she could not let Xiao He near Lin Yi to harm him, and Xiao He spat blood and died.
• Princess Shenle put her bridal veil back on and continued toward Lin Yi, accepting that he might distrust her.

Princess Shenle poisoned her own attendants after discovering they were spies, while Lin Yi accepted her choice but ordered Haitang to search her for any remaining poison. Meanwhile, Wei Tong learned that Chen Dao planned to hold him and his men as bargaining chips after Great Ning attacked Xiliang’s Net.

• Wang Yue told Lin Yi that Princess Shenle had ordered her maid to poison the eunuchs, and Lin Yi saw Xiao He dead in the carriage.
• Princess Shenle said she had chosen Lin Yi over her imperial father and asked him to protect her; Lin Yi accepted her as his woman but ordered Haitang to bathe and inspect her for poison.
• Lin Yi arranged a replacement carriage for Princess Shenle and had the bodies removed before returning to the residence.
• Wei Tong watched from a restaurant, blamed Lin Yi for the violence, and decided he would seek revenge against Wang Yue and Wang Zitao.
• Chen Dao confronted Wei Tong and said he would hold Wei Tong and his men as bargaining chips because Great Ning had attacked Xiliang’s Net.
• Wei Tong realized that Great Ning had moved against Lin Yi’s intelligence network and feared that he and his men would be lost in the conflict.

Lin Yi divided the ocean catch among the army, Northern Liang, and people in hardship, while setting limits on long-term subsidies. After learning Li Anlan had arrested members of the Net, he ordered an investigation and prepared Xiliang to respond firmly, leaving Wang Yue and Chen Dao to carry out his orders.

• Lin Yi assigned the largest share of Gan Ning’s catch to the army, another share to Northern Liang, and the remainder to people in need.
• Lin Yi told his subordinates to keep subsidies limited and gradually reduce support for those able to work.
• Lin Yi ordered Wang Yue to investigate Li Anlan’s arrest of Net members and deal with the situation.
• Lin Yi said Li Anlan would pay if he had killed Lin Yi’s people, and ordered Chen Dao to hold Wei Tong for a possible exchange or retaliation.
• Lin Yi directed Chen Dao, Gongsun Zan, and Gan Ning to strengthen Ningchuan Commandery’s defenses and sink any Great Ning warships that crossed without cause.

Lin Yi revealed his Ocean Plan to establish a secret Xiliang presence across the sea and assigned Gan Ning and Xun Yu to carry it out. After they left, Lin Yi burned the proposal and received system rewards for ocean exploration, island occupation, and winning over merchants.

• Lin Yi left the merchant registrations to Mi Zhu and Chen Qun, told Gongsun Zan to continue training the troops, and kept Gan Ning and Xun Yu behind.
• Lin Yi showed Gan Ning and Xun Yu the Ocean Plan to occupy islands and build secret island bases as a new strategic foothold against Great Ning.
• Gan Ning agreed to lead the island occupations, while Xun Yu took responsibility for assigning personnel and keeping the operation secret.
• Lin Yi cautioned Gan Ning not to fail at the critical moment, then watched the two men leave and burned the proposal.
• Lin Yi opened his system and received rewards including naval troops, warships, island residents, fishing boats, and fishing and ice-making technologies.