Chapter Summaries

Nan Yu hesitated to surrender Zhennan despite Great Liang’s overwhelming strength, while Zhang Liao prepared to force his decision with Red-Coat Cannons. After Nan Ke and Nan Yiming urged him to yield, Zhang Liao ordered a volley that destroyed part of the city wall and caused heavy casualties.

• Nan Yu refused to accept surrender readily, even as Zhennan’s people feared the consequences of resisting Great Liang.
• Zhang Liao ordered twenty Red-Coat Cannons brought forward, and Li Ru supported his plan to demonstrate Great Liang’s strength.
• Nan Ke pleaded with Zhang Liao for more time, then shouted at Nan Yu to surrender, while Nan Yiming also warned Nan Yu that the cannons would destroy the city.
• Nan Yu asked Zan Rihong whether Zhennan should surrender, but Zan Rihong placed the decision on the king and privately planned to submit to Great Liang.
• Zhang Liao ordered the cannons to fire, and their shells collapsed part of Zhennan’s wall, killing and wounding many defenders.

After Great Liang’s Red-Coat Cannons devastated Zhennan’s walls, Zan Rihong had Nan Yu killed and ordered Zhennan to surrender. Zhang Liao accepted the opening of the gates and led Great Liang’s forces toward the final cleanup of Zhennan.

• Great Liang’s Red-Coat Cannons devastated the battlements, terrifying Nan Yu, Zan Rihong, and the Zhennan soldiers.
• Zan Rihong ordered Nan Yu’s guard to stab and behead him, accusing the king of risking Zhennan’s people by resisting surrender.
• Zanrixiaosong obeyed Zan Rihong’s order, and Zhennan’s soldiers laid down their weapons as white flags rose above the walls.
• Zan Rihong announced Nan Yu’s death and declared his support for Great Liang, while Nan Ke fainted and Nan Yiming suspected Zan Rihong had ordered the killing.
• Li Ru, Guan Yu, Lü Bu, and Zhang Liao discussed Zan Rihong’s betrayal, and Zhang Liao led the troops toward Zhennan’s open gates.

Great Liang took Zhennan's capital, and Zan Rihong surrendered the city and his wealth to secure his family's survival. The victors counted a haul of nearly 150 million guan, while Meng Huo proposed raiding southwestern countries for more.

• Zan Rihong welcomed Zhang Liao and offered Great Liang his assets and a register of Zhennan's factions in exchange for his family's safety.
• Great Liang used Zan Rihong's information to arrest and kill people across the capital, while Nan Ke cursed him and Nan Yiming was stopped from attacking.
• Li Ru reported that the capital had yielded nearly 150 million guan in supplies, including vast riches from the palace and Zan Rihong.
• Qi Jiguang remarked that Nan Ke could have improved his weapons with the money, and Li Ru explained Zhennan had grown rich by plundering other countries.
• Meng Huo suggested to Sima Yi that they ask His Majesty for permission to raid small countries in the southwest.

After Zhennan fell, Zhang Liao and Sima Yi prepared to reorganize the conquered territory and extend Great Liang’s influence, while neighboring kings feared they would be next. News of the victory reached Great Liang, where the people celebrated and proclaimed the empire invincible.

• Sima Yi argued that Great Liang spread civilization rather than plundered, and Zhang Liao praised his judgment.
• Zhang Liao asked Li Ru to send the victory report and said he would meet Zhou Yu and handle the small kingdoms and other assigned business.
• The small kingdoms’ kings saw Zhennan’s flags change, feared Great Liang’s advance, and agreed to travel to the capital to seek terms.
• Li Ru’s report announced that Great Liang had captured Zhennan’s capital, killed roughly two million enemy troops, and destroyed the Zhennan Dynasty.
• People throughout Great Liang celebrated the victory, and a scholar praised the emperor’s past conquests before the crowd cheered that Great Liang was invincible.

Lin Yi celebrated Great Liang’s victory as officials gathered to learn how Zhennan’s forces had been defeated. Xun Yu explained that Zhennan’s new territory offered Great Liang a crucial gateway to the sea, leaving the court focused on its strategic potential.

• Lin Yi celebrated the people’s cheers of “Great Liang is invincible” and teased Cai Yan before heading to court.
• Cao Cao asked Xun Yu whether Great Liang had truly destroyed an enemy army of two million.
• Xun Yu confirmed the total exceeded two million, including regular troops, militia, hastily assembled forces, and civilian laborers.
• Jiang Wei and Gao Shun regretted missing the campaign, while Guo Jia celebrated Zhennan’s defeat as the removal of Great Liang’s last obstacle in the west.
• Xun Yu explained that Zhennan could open routes toward the Frostwest Empire and Great West Empire, and give Great Liang’s navy a new gateway to the sea.

Lin Yi planned to turn Zhennan into a forward base by building the Southwest Great Road and military bases. He ordered Li Bing to complete the road as quickly as possible, promising two million laborers and a route map.

• Xun Yu and Guo Jia explained that a western naval outlet could let Great Liang launch expeditions and threaten the Great West Empire from the sea.
• Cao Cao proposed building a million-strong navy, prompting Lin Yi to resolve not to let him control it.
• Lin Yi announced plans for the Southwest Great Road and military bases to connect Zhennan to Great Liang and secure the region.
• Li Bing estimated that the road would take three years, or one year with at least five hundred thousand laborers, explosives, and cement.
• Lin Yi assigned Li Bing two million laborers and a detailed route map, and Li Bing said the road could be finished within half a year.
• Lin Yi said the laborers would come from Zhennan, whose people would help build the road after Great Liang defeated the Nan Ke Regime.

Lin Yi and his ministers defended using Zhennan captives to build the Southwest Great Road, then renamed the conquered nation Southern Liang and established a grand commandery to govern it. After ministers warned that its vast authority could threaten Great Liang, Lin Yi named Zhennan’s retired emperor as its first Grand Commander and said a capable chief administrator would manage the territory.

• Zhang Juzheng argued that Zhennan’s defeated people were captives whose labor in exchange for food was a chance to survive, and the ministers agreed.
• Lin Yi praised Zhang Juzheng and ordered Li Bing to build the Southwest Great Road with two million laborers, increasing the number to three million if needed.
• Lin Yi renamed Zhennan Southern Liang, divided it into five commanderies, and established the Southern Liang Grand Commandery to govern the territory.
• Xun Yu, Wen Tianxiang, and the other ministers warned Lin Yi that the Grand Commandery’s military and administrative authority could become a threat to Great Liang.
• Lin Yi named Zhennan’s retired emperor as the first Grand Commander and said a capable chief administrator would handle the commandery’s affairs.

Lin Yi assigned Zhang Juzheng to administer Zhennan and carry out land reform, while ordering Zhang Bao and the Edification Corps to help secure the region. He declared that the southwest would be brought firmly under Great Liang’s control and announced a three-day national celebration.

• Lin Yi appointed Zhang Juzheng chief administrator of Zhennan and tasked him with distributing land to the common people.
• Zhang Juzheng accepted the appointment and vowed to serve Lin Yi until death.
• Lin Yi ordered Zhang Bao to take the Edification Corps to Zhennan and authorized him to expand his army by two hundred thousand.
• Zhang Jiao welcomed the assignment and promised to bring Zhennan under Great Liang’s influence through the Edification Corps.
• Xun Yu and the ministers praised Lin Yi’s plan to build roads, distribute land, and edify Zhennan’s people.
• Lin Yi promised the ministers future opportunities and declared three days of feasting across Great Liang.

Lin Yi approved a three-day feast across Great Liang to celebrate its victories, and Lu Yafu praised the emperor’s generosity as a clever way to unite the people and strengthen the nation. The feast was settled, and Lin Yi turned to planning rewards for the commanders and soldiers who had fought in the campaign.

• Lin Yi ordered a three-day feast for everyone in Great Liang, arguing that the empire could afford the expense.
• Lu Yafu explained how the feast could build cohesion, inspire a martial spirit, and stimulate the economy, then declared his wholehearted approval of Lin Yi.
• Xun Yu agreed with Lu Yafu that Great Liang’s people could look forward to an even better future.
• Lin Yi recognized that Lu Yafu had already begun supporting his ideas at the Imperial Academy, despite still resenting his past treatment by Li Anlan.
• Lin Yi planned rewards for the army, including military governorships for the principal commanders and recognition for Li Ru and the ordinary soldiers.

After Zhennan’s conquest, Lin Yi arranged rewards for the victorious soldiers and summoned the great clans and wealthy merchants. The system then granted him Li Si, Dun Ruo and the Black Ice Platform, a large Tubo army, steam-engine theory, and agricultural advances.

• Lin Yi ordered Xu Fan to verify the soldiers’ merits and double their feast provisions, then dismissed court.
• Lin Yi asked Cao Cao to notify the great clans and merchants that he would summon them the next day.
• Lin Yi opened the system and received Li Si, ten thousand Black Ice Platform members under Dun Ruo, and five hundred thousand Tubo troops.
• The system also awarded Lin Yi elementary steam-engine theory, improved soybean seeds, and soybean-oil extraction technology.
• Lin Yi considered using Dun Ruo and the Black Ice Platform to strengthen Great Liang’s intelligence work in the west.

Lin Yi reviewed the rewards and summoned Li Si and Dun Ruo to assign them positions in Great Liang. Li Si accepted a senior post in the Central Secretariat, while Dun Ruo cut his palm to prove he would accept any burden Lin Yi gave him.

• Lin Yi saw that improved soybean seeds and oil extraction technology could help ease Great Liang’s shortage of dietary fat.
• Lin Yi summoned Li Si and Dun Ruo, welcomed them, and praised their talents.
• Lin Yi appointed Li Si vice director of the Central Secretariat, and Li Si pledged to serve him faithfully.
• Lin Yi asked Dun Ruo whether he dared take on a heavy burden, and Dun Ruo cut his palm to show his resolve.
• Li Si jumped in front of Lin Yi when Dun Ruo drew his sword, then cursed after realizing Dun Ruo had wounded himself.

After Dun Ruo proved his resolve, Lin Yi appointed him commander of the Hundred Riders and put Zhao Gao in charge of settling him and Li Si. News of Great Liang’s victory in Zhennan then sent Yong’an into celebration and left foreign envoys fearing that their own countries would be targeted next.

• Dun Ruo cut himself to demonstrate his resolve, and Lin Yi named him commander of the Hundred Riders.
• Dun Ruo swore loyalty to Lin Yi and vowed to make the Net a weapon against the emperor’s enemies.
• Lin Yi ordered Zhao Gao to settle Li Si and Dun Ruo, and entrusted him with the steam engine theory and soybeans for Ma Jun and the others to study.
• Lin Yi went to the inner palace to study musical scores with Cai Yan.
• News of Great Liang’s victory in Zhennan spread through Yong’an, where commoners celebrated and restaurants offered victory promotions.
• Foreign envoys worried that their own lands might be next, and a seasoned envoy urged his country to report Great Liang’s military movements and popular reaction.

Zhang Zizai, the former Shuzhong bandit known for cursing Li Anlan, came to Yong'an City to take the Imperial Examination because the reigning emperor had avenged his family. After Wang Hui explained his past to the gathered scholars, Zhang dismissed the aristocratic clans and left.

• Zhang Zizai declared that the reigning emperor was worthy of his service, surprising the scholars who remembered his insults against Li Anlan.
• Wang Hui explained that Zhang had called himself the dry bones of Shuzhong after the Jackal Kingdom killed his family and Li Anlan refused to send troops.
• Zhang had become a bandit to fight the Jackal Kingdom, building a force of three thousand and killing more than five thousand of its people.
• Wang Hui said Zhang had rejected the Wang Clan of Central Shu for hiding from the enemy and had come to serve because the emperor destroyed the Jackal Kingdom.
• Zhang called the aristocratic clans rats and left.

Zhang Zizai insulted Wang Hui and the aristocratic clans, while Wang Hui and Liu Kun discussed how powerless the clans had become under the emperor. Cao Cao then summoned the aristocratic clans and major silkworm breeders to the palace, leaving Zhang Wanhao and the others dreading another demand from the emperor.

• Zhang Zizai called Wang Hui and the aristocratic clans jackals and walked away without looking back.
• Wang Hui refused to retaliate, explaining that challenging an examination candidate could draw the emperor's suspicion.
• Zhang Wanhao claimed his clan was now made up of major silkworm breeders rather than aristocratic clansmen, while Liu Kun and Wang Hui lamented their clans' weakened position.
• Cao Cao stopped Zhang Wanhao and announced that the emperor wanted him to bring the others to the palace for an audience the next day.
• Cao Cao told Zhang Wanhao, Wang Hui, and Liu Kun that the summons included both aristocratic clans and major silkworm breeders, and urged them to seize the opportunity.

The emperor announced a three-day nationwide feast at the court’s expense, and Cao Cao’s warning made Wang Hui and the other aristocratic families realize they would likely be asked to pay. Cao Cao explained that the families could afford the demands, but he was more concerned with preparing for Great Liang’s first Imperial Examination.

• The emperor announced that the court would cover three days of feasting for the people, delighting Yong'an City’s commoners and alarming Wang Hui, Liu Kun, and the other aristocrats.
• Wang Hui and the others decided to attend the palace the next day and asked Cao Cao to speak in their favor.
• Cao Cao promised to help, warned Wang Hui that the aristocratic families remained an eyesore to him, then left.
• Cao Cao told his guard that Zhang Wanhao’s silk business earned at least a million strings of cash each month, so the aristocrats could afford the emperor’s demands.
• Cao Cao rejected the guard’s suggestion to take money from the aristocrats without cause and turned his attention to preparing carefully for the first Imperial Examination.

Lin Yi recounted Great Liang’s crushing victory over Zhennan to Ma Ling’er and the women in the imperial garden. The story shifted to a new crisis in the West when Lin Yi learned that someone planned to assassinate Frostwest Emperor Bill III.

• Ma Ling’er questioned Lin Yi about the victory over Zhennan, and he teased her for being too curious.
• Cai Yan warned that an illiterate woman could not become an imperial consort, prompting Ma Ling’er to resolve to learn to read.
• Lin Yi stopped Ma Ling’er from considering violence and promised to arrange lessons, then explained how Great Liang had defeated Zhennan.
• Cai Yan and Princess Shenle marveled at how much Great Liang’s strength had grown.
• Yingge delivered urgent news from the West, and Lin Yi learned that Bill III was about to be assassinated.

Lin Yi learned that Abaddon and Ashina Tiandu planned to assassinate Bill III and unite the Western nations against Great Liang, but decided the potential gains were not worth intervening directly. He told Princess Anne about the threat, prompting her to urgently ask who wanted to kill her father.

• Lin Yi read intelligence about Ashina Tiandu’s plan to rally the Western nations against Great Liang and judged that Great Liang could defeat the alliance.
• Lin Yi concluded that the West’s resources offered too little benefit to justify interfering, but considered how Princess Anne might respond to the assassination plot against Bill III.
• Lin Yi told Princess Anne that someone planned to assassinate her father, Bill III.
• Cai Yan and Shenle recognized the plot as a sign of growing upheaval in the West, while Princess Anne gripped Lin Yi’s hand and demanded to know who was behind it.

Lin Yi told Princess Anne that the Great West Empire and Ashina Tiandu planned to assassinate her father, and promised to warn him by messenger pigeon. Shenle then suggested that Anne claim the Frostwest Empire’s throne, use Great Liang’s support to defeat Ashina Tiandu, and submit the empire to Great Liang.

• Lin Yi revealed that the Great West Empire and Ashina Tiandu were planning to kill Bill III, and Anne recognized her half brother as the Frostwest Empire’s likely conspirator.
• Shenle comforted Anne and encouraged her to rely on Lin Yi for help.
• Lin Yi promised to send Bill III a warning by messenger pigeon so he could prepare for the attacks.
• Anne offered to persuade her father to surrender the Frostwest Empire to Great Liang, but Shenle cautioned that Bill III lacked the authority to make the whole country submit.
• Shenle proposed that Anne use her right of succession to become the Frostwest Empire’s ruler, defeat Ashina Tiandu with Great Liang’s support, and then submit the empire.

Lin Yi rejected using Anne’s claim to the Frostwest throne, choosing to conquer the West without putting his family in danger. After Anne hurried off to warn her father, Ma Ling'er demanded that Lin Yi take responsibility for her and make her his little wife.

• Shenle suggested making Anne empress of Frostwest, but Lin Yi refused to use her and said he would conquer the empire by force.
• Anne was moved by Lin Yi’s concern and hurried away to write a warning letter to her father.
• Cai Yan praised Lin Yi for protecting Anne, and Lin Yi told the women that he considered them family.
• Ma Ling'er cried that her father had offered her to Lin Yi and demanded that he take responsibility by making her his little wife.
• Lin Yi teased Ma Ling'er about becoming Consort Ma, prompting Lü Qiling to spit out his food and laugh.

Lin Yi gave Ma Ling'er the title Consort Hui and sent an urgent letter to Frostwest for Anne's father, Bill III. The next morning, reports revealed Gan Ning had plundered a fleet from the Great West Empire and provoked its people with a boastful challenge.

• Lin Yi rejected the titles Consort Ma and Consort Ling, then named Ma Ling'er Consort Hui while Lü Qiling vowed to become a great general.
• Anne finished a letter to Frostwest, and Lin Yi had Yingge send it by the fastest pigeon in hopes of saving Bill III.
• Wang Yue brought Lin Yi reports about Great Liang's progress, the small southwestern states seeking submission, and Gan Ning's naval exploits.
• Lin Yi learned Gan Ning had taken valuables from a fleet belonging to the Great West Empire and challenged its people to fight him.