Chapter Summaries

Ashina Tiandu received Great West reinforcements, then learned that Huo Qubing had captured Tiele City and submitted to Great Liang. He rallied Frostwest’s forces with promises of a three-country counterattack, while Lin Rusong welcomed Huo Qubing and Xue Rengui into Great Liang’s service in the captured capital.

• Morandi arrived with nearly five hundred thousand Great West troops, and Ashina Tiandu rebuked him for the delay before accepting the reinforcements.
• A messenger reported that Huo Qubing had captured Tiele City, changed its banner, and submitted to Great Liang.
• Ashina Tiandu swore revenge on Huo Qubing, then promised Frostwest’s soldiers a counterattack alongside Great West and Moses and seven days of plunder.
• Frostwest’s soldiers regained their fighting spirit and shouted for victory over Great Liang.
• In Tiele City, Huo Qubing and Xue Rengui bowed to Lin Rusong and formally submitted to Great Liang, as the city’s people cheered.

Lin Rusong and the assembled commanders praised Huo Qubing for capturing Tiele City and throwing Frostwest into chaos, while Aksu reflected on Great Liang’s overwhelming military and intelligence advantages. Lin Rusong then ordered Aksu to lead the army in purging the north.

• Xue Rengui acknowledged Huo Qubing’s daring advance and said he could not match it.
• Lin Rusong, Bai Zizai, Wang Ziwen, and Xu Zhong praised Huo Qubing’s march through Frostwest to its capital.
• Li Ling watched Huo Qubing and resolved that he could prove himself by winning a comparable victory.
• Huo Qubing explained that he had aimed to abduct Ashina Tiandu, but the emperor fled south.
• Aksu realized Great Liang had deeply infiltrated Frostwest and that its defeat had been unavoidable.
• Lin Rusong ordered Aksu to lead the army in sweeping the northern part of Frostwest clean.

After Great Liang conquered half of Frostwest, Lin Rusong assigned Aksu, Ashina Xiuli, and Zhang Liang of the Edification Corps to pacify northern Frostwest and eliminate resistance. Once they set out, Lin Rusong warned Wang Ziwen that Ashina Tiandu’s flight to the Great West Empire’s border posed a continuing threat.

• Lin Rusong ordered Aksu to help secure northern Frostwest, and Aksu accepted the mission despite his misgivings.
• Lin Rusong appointed Ashina Xiuli and Zhang Liang as Aksu’s helpers, and Aksu recognized the danger of the Edification Corps’ role in reshaping conquered regions.
• Ashina Xiuli agreed to cooperate, and the three accepted Lin Rusong’s order to kill anyone who resisted before setting out to pacify Frostwest.
• Lin Rusong told Wang Ziwen that Ashina Tiandu was building a city near the Great West Empire’s border and that Great Liang could not let him gain an opportunity.

After Great Liang’s forces captured Frostwest’s capital, Lin Rusong ordered a measured pursuit to prevent the enemy from regrouping while scouts investigated the routes south. He then approved Wang Ziwen’s plan to proclaim Ashina Tiandu’s flight as his abdication and declare Great Liang the ruler of Frostwest, leaving its people under Great Liang’s laws and citizenship.

• Wang Ziwen reported that scouts were investigating the southern routes, and Lin Rusong ordered the armies to attack in turns without pursuing blindly.
• Wang Ziwen proposed publicly declaring Great Liang’s victory and claiming Ashina Tiandu had relinquished Frostwest’s regime by fleeing its capital.
• Xue Rengui, Lin Rusong, and Huo Qubing recognized that the proclamation would undermine Ashina Tiandu’s authority among Frostwest’s people.
• Lin Rusong approved Wang Ziwen’s task of establishing Great Liang’s legitimacy and taking charge of Frostwest.

Lin Rusong sealed a proclamation and Wang Ziwen arranged to distribute it among Tiele City’s frightened Frostwest commoners, who had been abandoned by their rulers and army. After a merchant read the notice, the crowd learned Great Liang would not kill them and that Frostwest’s future would belong to Great Liang.

• Lin Rusong stamped the proclamation with the imperial seal and instructed Wang Ziwen to arrange its distribution quickly.
• The people of Tiele City panicked when they realized Frostwest’s elites and army had fled, leaving them behind as Great Liang’s soldiers occupied the city.
• The commoners angrily condemned Ashina Tiandu and the powerful families for abandoning them, then feared they would be at Great Liang’s mercy.
• Great Liang soldiers posted notices around the city while the commoners watched warily.
• A merchant who could read Great Liang’s writing told the crowd that Great Liang would spare them and that Ashina Tiandu had betrayed the people, so Frostwest’s future would belong to Great Liang.

After a merchant told the people of Tiele City that Great Liang would spare them from becoming captives and slaves, they turned against Ashina Tiandu and welcomed Lin Yi’s rule. An undercover agent of Ashina Tiandu watched the people abandon hopes of restoring Frostwest, then Zhang Bao of Great Liang’s Way of Great Peace confronted him.

• The common people denounced Ashina Tiandu as a traitor and tore apart dolls bearing his name.
• A merchant warned that Frostwest’s defeat could make its people captives and slaves, but said Lin Yi had offered them a chance to become citizens of Great Liang.
• The people of Tiele City praised Lin Yi, looked forward to life under Great Liang, and some even prayed for Frostwest’s destruction.
• An undercover agent of Ashina Tiandu realized that the common people no longer supported their former emperor and worried he could not regain power.
• Zhang Bao of Great Liang’s Way of Great Peace put a hand on the undercover agent’s shoulder and introduced himself, startling the agent.

Zhang Bao stopped David, a covert operative serving Ashina Tiandu, and beat him unconscious before persuading Frostwest commoners that he had uncovered a plot to slaughter them and frame Great Liang. The commoners found proof of the scheme and turned against Ashina Tiandu, while one of them recognized David as the runaway emperor’s lackey.

• David distrusted Zhang Bao and tried to leave, but Zhang Bao pinned him in place and said he would deliver him.
• Zhang Bao punched and beat David until he was badly bruised, then knocked him unconscious.
• Zhang Bao told the commoners that David served Ashina Tiandu and planned to massacre them and frame Great Liang.
• The commoners searched David and found a Frostwest royal token and an order from Bill IV describing Ashina Tiandu’s plan to set Frostwest against Great Liang.
• The commoners grew furious at Ashina Tiandu, and one recognized David as the runaway emperor’s lackey who had bullied him.

Zhang Bao turned the commoners against David, then used apparent disasters and news of invading forces to convince them that the Way of Great Peace’s prophecies were coming true. The chapter left the people terrified and kneeling as Zhang Bao prepared to capitalize on the approaching human calamities.

• The commoners beat David to death, and Zhang Bao stopped them from attacking his corpse.
• Zhang Bao introduced the Way of Great Peace and blamed Bill IV for bringing heaven’s wrath upon Frostwest.
• Zhang Bao predicted natural disasters and war, warning that fewer than one in ten commoners would survive.
• The ground shook, the palace was destroyed, and the nearby river flowed backward, prompting the commoners to beg heaven for forgiveness.
• Messengers reported that troops from the Great West Empire and bandits from the Land of the Far West were approaching, and Zhang Bao declared that the human calamities had arrived.

Zhang Bao warned Frostwest’s people that Ashina Tiandu was bringing the Great West Empire and foreign troops into Frostwest, threatening to turn it into a six-nation battlefield. As Great Liang prepared to focus on defeating Ashina Tiandu, Lin Rusong rejected a proposal to attack the Great West Empire immediately.

• Zhang Bao divined that Ashina Tiandu planned to bring the Great West Empire and overseas troops into Frostwest, making it a battleground among six nations.
• Frostwest’s people feared the coming war, and Zhang Bao said the calamity could only be avoided by keeping the enemy outside the nation’s gates.
• A man in the crowd argued that Great Liang could protect Frostwest because it had already brought Great Han and Great Tang into submission.
• Zhang Bao planned to encourage Frostwest’s people to resist Ashina Tiandu and embrace Great Liang’s rule, then noticed that the Great West Empire and the Moses Empire were attacking together.
• Bai Zizai offered to lead the Northern Liang Army against the Great West Empire’s eight hundred thousand troops, but Lin Rusong ordered him to prioritize annihilating Ashina Tiandu.

Lin Rusong ordered an offensive against Ashina Tiandu after learning that the fugitive emperor was stirring up trouble, while Huo Qubing and Xue Rengui headed west to clear enemy remnants. News of Great Liang’s victories reached the capital, where the people celebrated and mocked Frostwest’s fleeing emperor.

• Zhang Bao told Lin Rusong that Ashina Tiandu’s scouts had been found, prompting Lin Rusong and his officers to order an attack on Ashina Tiandu.
• Wang Ziwen reported that Huo Qubing and Xue Rengui had turned back to clear enemy forces and might encounter Abide Leier’s Moses Empire troops.
• Lin Rusong resolved to defeat Ashina Tiandu and take in Abaddon's eight-hundred-thousand-strong army so he and Wang Ziwen could retire with honor.
• Victory messengers reported that Lin Rusong’s forces had routed Frostwest’s million-strong army, occupied its capital, and driven Bill IV to flee.
• The people of Great Liang celebrated the victory and mocked Bill IV as two passersby listened to their remarks.

Li Siyuan told Li Yifeng that he had submitted a memorial volunteering for the western battlefield to prove his loyalty to Great Liang and secure a future for his son. Li Yifeng warned him of the danger, but Li Siyuan remained determined to risk his life.

• Li Yifeng and Li Siyuan reflected on Great Liang’s conquests and acknowledged Emperor Lin Yi’s immense achievements.
• Li Siyuan told Li Yifeng that he had submitted a memorial to join the western battlefield and serve Great Liang.
• Li Yifeng warned that the emperor might suspect Li Siyuan’s motives, but Li Siyuan explained that he wanted to protect his son from their former imperial family’s legacy.
• Li Yifeng questioned whether Li Siyuan, who had never fought in a war, could survive the battlefield.
• Li Siyuan cited the Qihuo Army’s rise from a band of refugees and said his determination for his son would help him face war and death.
• Li Siyuan told Li Yifeng to have a son before judging his sense of responsibility.

Great Liang’s court celebrated its advance into Frostwest, and Yang Xiu composed a rhapsody praising Lin Yi before turning his praise toward the retired emperor. After reading a Net intelligence report, Lin Yi’s expression darkened, leaving the reason for his concern undisclosed.

• A Net operative ordered his subordinates to report Li Siyuan’s talk of campaigning west and continued monitoring him ahead of the empress’s birthday.
• Great Liang’s officials celebrated the fall of Frostwest’s capital as the empire’s forces advanced through the Northern Region.
• Yang Xiu recited a “Rhapsody on Zhenwu,” and Lin Yi redirected credit for the victory to the retired emperor and the frontline forces.
• Yang Xiu composed a “Rhapsody on the Retired Emperor,” which Lin Yi ordered placed on the next day’s newspaper front page.
• Lin Yi read the detailed battle report and then saw a Net intelligence report that made his expression darken.

Lin Yi learned that the Great West Empire and the Moses Empire had sent troops to support Frostwest and retaliate against Great Liang. He ordered Huo Qubing and Xue Rengui to strike the Great West Empire while Zhou Yu and Gan Ning dealt with Abide Leier’s forces and blocked the Moses reinforcements.

• Lin Yi received intelligence that the Great West Empire had sent eight hundred thousand troops into Frostwest and the Moses Empire had sent a hundred thousand to join them.
• Lin Yi ordered Zhang Liao to tell Huo Qubing and Xue Rengui to launch a lightning strike into the Great West Empire’s heartland.
• Guo Xin, Guan Yu, Zhang Fei, and Gongsun Zan requested permission to march west, but Lin Yi rejected their bids because their armies would take too long to arrive.
• Lin Yi assigned Zhou Yu and Gan Ning, backed by Lu Kang, to block the Moses Empire’s reinforcements and destroy Abide Leier’s hundred thousand troops.
• Lin Yi dismissed court after the ministers praised his plan and worried that the Great West Empire and Moses Empire had provoked his wrath.

Great Liang’s ministers prepared for a campaign against three countries, while Lin Yi learned why Princess Anne and Ashina Mafa had come to see him. He told Mafa the truth about his parents and assured him he could remain in Great Liang.

• Xun Yu reminded the ministers to give the emperor’s military orders their utmost attention, and Zhang Liao began issuing instructions as elite messenger pigeons carried them west.
• Li Si and Wen Tianxiang anticipated Great Liang’s expansion, and Wen Tianxiang remarked that it was better to strike others than always take a beating.
• Lin Yi encountered Ashina Mafa with Princess Anne and learned that Mafa had asked her to bring him so he could hear news of his mother.
• Lin Yi explained that Ashina Tiandu had cast aside Mafa’s mother and recently endangered Frostwest by inviting hostile powers into the country.
• Ashina Mafa resented his father and worried about his mother, while Princess Anne condemned Ashina Tiandu’s actions.
• Lin Yi told Mafa that he could stay in Great Liang and promised that the people of Frostwest would live on under Liang rule.

Princess Anne asked Lin Yi to keep Ashina Mafa in the imperial city for the rest of his life to protect him from being used against Great Liang. Lin Yi agreed to house him beside the Imperial Academy and ordered Zhao Gao to watch over him.

• Princess Anne chose lifelong confinement for Ashina Mafa, and he understood that she was trying to save his life.
• Lin Yi agreed to have a house built for Mafa beside the Imperial Academy and allowed Anne to visit him.
• Mafa kowtowed to Anne and Lin Yi and promised to remember their kindness, while Zhao Gao decided to keep him under close watch.
• Lin Yi ordered Zhao Gao to ensure Mafa was well cared for and threatened consequences if anything went wrong.
• Lin Yi told Anne he would visit her palace, and she blushed and questioned why he was not visiting Beauty Wei instead.

After Lin Yi refused to send Lü Qiling’s Flying Phoenix Camp on the western expedition yet promised her a future chance, she told him that envoys from the Xinma Empire had arrived from across the southern sea. Lin Yi ordered the visitors brought to the palace and sent Net to investigate the new empire, then left the harem to await their arrival.

• Lü Qiling complained that she was overworked and asked Lin Yi to let her Flying Phoenix Camp join the western expedition.
• Lin Yi warned that battle was dangerous but promised Lü Qiling a chance to act after she trained her soldiers further.
• Lü Qiling told Lin Yi that Xu Chu had reported visitors from overseas, from a country called the Xinma Empire.
• Lin Yi ordered the Court of Diplomatic Reception to bring the visitors to the palace and sent Net to investigate the empire and its location.
• After breakfast, Lin Yi left the harem and waited for news of the Xinma Empire.

Lin Yi learned that the Xinma Empire had come from the South Sea and suspected its visit was connected to the Moses Empire. Curious about their preparations, he went in disguise with Xuan Niao to inspect them in Yong'an City.

• Xuan Niao reported that the Xinma Empire came from a powerful maritime nation over a thousand kilometers away in the South Sea and had shown no hostility toward Great Liang.
• Xuan Niao relayed rumors linking the Xinma Empire to the Moses Empire, and Lin Yi guessed that they were likely rivals seeking Great Liang’s support.
• Lin Yi rejected the idea of a lasting alliance but said he might work with the Xinma Empire if they proved useful.
• After learning that the Xinma delegation was preparing gifts at the Court of Diplomatic Reception’s foreign affairs annex, Lin Yi ordered Xuan Niao to disguise him for an incognito inspection.
• Xuan Niao disguised Lin Yi as a young master and herself as a maid, and the two entered Yong'an City.

Lin Yi went to the Court of Diplomatic Reception with Xuan Niao to see visitors from the Xinma Empire, where he found Zhang Long and Zhao Hu making crude remarks about their amber eyes. Li Yifeng rebuked the brothers, and Lin Yi urged a fight before punching Zhao Hu.

• Lin Yi heard Zhao Hu nearby and went with Xuan Niao to the Court of Diplomatic Reception.
• Lin Yi found Zhang Long and Zhao Hu gawking at the Xinma Empire visitors and joined their conversation.
• Zhang Long and Zhao Hu made increasingly crude comments about the foreigners, including the women among them.
• Li Yifeng stepped in to explain that the visitors’ eye colors were natural and rebuked the brothers.
• Li Yifeng warned Lin Yi not to provoke Zhang Long and Zhao Hu, but Lin Yi urged a beating and punched Zhao Hu.

Lin Yi disguised himself and stopped Zhang Long and Zhao Hu from harassing women, then met the Xinma Empire’s delegation. Their leader revealed that the empire was ruled by an empress and that serious offenses against women could be punished by death, leaving Lin Yi curious about the newcomers’ origins and customs.

• Lin Yi punched Zhao Hu, and Zhang Long recognized Lin Yi’s voice and realized he was the emperor in disguise.
• Zhang Long apologized and warned Zhao Hu that Lin Yi was His Majesty, so the two men retreated.
• The commoners praised Lin Yi, who defended Great Liang’s laws protecting women and drew cheers for the emperor.
• As Lin Yi headed toward the Court of Diplomatic Reception, the Xinma delegation thanked him for driving away the lechers.
• The Xinma leader said that serious offenses against women could carry the death penalty because the empire was ruled by an empress.

Lin Yi and the Great Liang onlookers learned that the Xinma Empire was an island nation ruled by an empress, founded by women who had settled its uninhabited islands. Cao Cao eagerly befriended Xinier and offered to visit the empire, while Xinier realized he had made contact with a powerful Great Liang official.

• Xinier explained that the Xinma Empire consisted of more than twenty thousand islands and had grown from a family whose women founded a female-ruled society.
• Li Yifeng imagined founding a country with many wives, but Lin Yi warned him that the women might overpower him and turn him into a breeding machine.
• Cao Cao arrived, told Xinier he sympathized with his plight, and expressed enthusiasm about visiting the Xinma Empire.
• Cao Cao introduced himself as Great Liang's Minister of Rites, and Xinier recognized him as an influential official who could help the diplomatic mission.