Chapter Summaries

Emperor Li Anlan learned that Lin Yi had proposed attacking Tuoba Yu alongside the Prince of Beining Commandery and recognized the move as a calculated attempt to pressure him. He ordered the Prince of Beining Commandery to stay out of the conflict while Tuoba Yu prepared to move against Xiliang Commandery.

• Li Anlan reprimanded Wei Tong for appearing to overhear him and showed him Lin Yi’s memorial, which he called an act of blackmail.
• Wei Tong suggested stripping Lin Yi of his post, but Li Anlan noted that Lin Yi had left no written evidence and that punishing him could provoke Lin Rusong.
• Wei Tong reported that Tuoba Yu was assembling troops after Northern Liang withdrew forces from the eastern battlefield.
• Li Anlan ordered the Prince of Beining Commandery to handle the matter cautiously without violating the ceasefire treaty, leaving Lin Yi exposed to Tuoba Yu.
• Li Anlan dismissed Wei Tong’s concern about his reputation and declared that he did not care what others thought of him.

Li Anlan discussed Lin Yi’s preparations in Xiliang and declared that Northern Liang would be destroyed. Meanwhile, He Zudao reached the rapidly growing Xiliang City with supplies and met Mi Zhu, whom Lin Yi had sent to receive him.

• Wei Tong told Li Anlan that Lin Yi was repairing Dayu County and that Bai Zizai had assigned twenty thousand Asura Army soldiers to grow sweet potatoes and potatoes.
• Li Anlan concluded the crops were genuine and said they would belong to him after Northern Liang was destroyed, then gave Wei Tong a paper bearing the word “Death.”
• He Zudao arrived in Xiliang Commandery and was astonished by the vast city rising there, suspecting that the whole commandery had submitted to Lin Yi.
• Xiliang residents mistook He Zudao’s armed party for enemies until he explained that they had come to bring supplies.
• Mi Zhu presented his Xiliang Governor’s Office token and greeted He Zudao, who privately felt insulted that Lin Yi had sent him.

Mi Zhu completed the handover of supplies from the Prince of Beining Commandery, though the weapons and horses were poor quality, and brought He Zudao to meet Lin Yi. Lin Yi pressed He Zudao for an answer about joining forces against Tuoba Yu, while He Zudao probed whether Lin Yi was raising another fifty thousand troops.

• He Zudao presented supplies for fifty thousand troops, and his guard commander complained that the warhorses were unfit for battle.
• Mi Zhu recognized the supplies’ poor quality, completed the handover, and escorted He Zudao to the prefect’s residence.
• Lin Yi welcomed He Zudao and joked that he would gladly receive more deliveries of supplies.
• Lin Yi asked whether the Prince of Beining Commandery would join him against Tuoba Yu, but He Zudao said the prince would proceed cautiously and think it over.
• He Zudao asked whether Lin Yi intended to train another fifty thousand troops, citing the repairs to Xiliang City and the people who had joined him.

Lin Yi maneuvered He Zudao into retreating while preparing Xiliang Commandery for Tuoba Yu’s impending invasion. After learning Tuoba Yu might march south within half a month, Lin Yi ordered Dayu County’s walls completed in ten days.

• Lin Yi told He Zudao he was recruiting fifty thousand troops to defend Xiliang Commandery and had sent a memorial to Li Anlan requesting support.
• Mi Zhu revealed that Lin Yi’s memorial was traveling slowly on a poor horse, and Lin Yi said he would seek reinforcements from the Prince of Beining Commandery.
• He Zudao left in a hurry after Lin Yi’s remarks, while Lin Yi explained that the Net had uncovered He Zudao’s hostility toward his father.
• Wang Yue reported that Tuoba Yu was gathering troops and could march south within half a month.
• Lin Yi ordered Zhang Liao to prepare for battle and accelerated construction of Dayu County’s walls, aiming to finish them within ten days.

Lin Yi brought Wang Yue, Ma Chao, Jia Xu, and the others to Xiliang’s cement plant, confident that its reinforced cement and plentiful labor would let them build Dayu County’s walls in ten days. He then led them to a quarry to reveal another weapon, where they encountered a familiar figure.

• Lin Yi insisted that cement production and available workers would let him finish Dayu County’s walls within ten days, and Wang Yue went to summon Ma Chao and the others.
• Lin Yi led the group to the cement plant, where they saw its heavy smoke and the carts carrying cement to Xiliang City.
• Lin Yi explained that he had placed cement plants away from residents to limit pollution, and the group praised his consideration for the people.
• Lin Yi announced that Xiliang had another devastating weapon besides cement and took the group to a quarry.
• At the quarry, Lin Yi and the others saw a familiar figure approaching.

Zhou Cang and Pu Yuan revealed that they had invented explosives, demonstrating their power by blasting apart much of a mountainside. The generals proposed using explosives to block Ziwu Road and divide Tuoba Yu’s army, but Lin Yi warned that guards on both sides would make planting them difficult.

• Zhou Cang told Lin Yi and the others that he and Pu Yuan had successfully made explosives.
• Zhou Cang’s men sounded the retreat, and the gathered soldiers watched as the explosives split more than half the mountainside apart.
• Lin Yi declared explosives Xiliang Commandery’s trump card, and Ma Chao, Zhang Liao, Jia Xu, Chen Qun, and Wang Yue praised their power.
• Ma Chao suggested blowing up Great Yu Mountain, but Lin Yi said the explosives could not destroy its main peak and proposed blocking Ziwu Road instead.
• Zhang Liao and the others supported using explosives to split Tuoba Yu’s army, but Lin Yi pointed out that guards on both sides of Ziwu Road could prevent them from planting the charges.

Lin Yi and his commanders discussed the limits and potential uses of explosives as Zhang Liao requested time to study them and train his armored troops. Lin Yi visited Pu Yuan at the explosives workshop, where the absorbed craftsman apologized for failing to notice his arrival.

• Zhou Cang explained that explosives needed drilled holes to blast through rock, while Jia Xu warned that Tuoba Yu’s scouts would likely discover anyone trying to plant them on Great Yu Mountain.
• Zhang Liao proposed studying explosives and placing them along routes into Dayu County, and Lin Yi gave him three days before he had to take command against Tuoba Yu.
• Zhang Liao said he had formed an elite force of three thousand heavily armored soldiers, and Lin Yi approved his plans while asking him to train them well.
• Ma Chao suggested making explosives easy to throw at enemies, and Lin Yi assigned Pu Yuan to develop the idea, warning that dangerous work should not put Pu Yuan at risk.
• Zhou Cang told Lin Yi that Pu Yuan was overloaded with work, so Lin Yi and the others went to visit him at the guarded explosives workshop.
• Pu Yuan, absorbed in adjusting explosive mixtures, noticed Lin Yi only after a guard alerted him and apologized for not greeting his lord sooner.

Lin Yi eased Pu Yuan’s workload while encouraging his development of gunpowder and explosives, then focused his forces on completing the Great Yu Mountain defensive line ahead of Tuoba Yu’s attack. At White Garden, Bai Zizai and Yi Yun wondered about the smoke from Lin Yi’s projects, and Yi Yun asked whether his subordinate had any news.

• Lin Yi ordered Chen Qun to assign administrators to the steelworks and Heavenly Craft Workshop, and to provide restorative medicine for key officials and daily meat for ordinary soldiers.
• Pu Yuan told Lin Yi that he was close to developing fully developed gunpowder and explosives, and Lin Yi shared further ideas that inspired him to continue experimenting.
• Jia Xu praised the prospects for finishing the walls in ten days, while Wang Yue warned that Li Sansi had not moved to support Lin Yi.
• Lin Yi said he had never expected Li Sansi to help and ordered the Net to monitor events as they concentrated on building the Great Yu Mountain defensive line.
• Bai Zizai and Yi Yun discussed the smoke rising for three days and suspected it came from Lin Yi’s cement work, before Yi Yun asked his subordinate for news.

Yi Yun and Bai Zizai discussed Lin Yi’s rapidly rising walls and the Northern Liang Guard’s inability to learn what was happening at Dayu County. Tuoba Yu learned that the four-zhang walls would soon be complete and resolved that they had to be stopped, while the purpose of the mysterious cement remained unknown.

• A Northern Liang Guard scout told Yi Yun and Bai Zizai that the Net was blocking their investigation into the smoke and rumbling at Dayu County.
• Yi Yun sought Bai Zizai’s help to learn about cement, but Bai Zizai said Lin Yi would need it to fortify Dayu County against Tuoba Yu.
• Bai Zizai and Yi Yun concluded that Tuoba Yu was rushing to attack before Lin Yi finished the walls.
• Evil Bodhisattva reported that Lin Yi’s walls were nearly four zhang tall and would be finished by the end of the month.
• Tuoba Yu decided that he had to destroy the walls before their completion and asked Evil Bodhisattva about the smoke and cement at Dayu County.

Tuoba Yu prepared to attack Xiliang, while Li Sansi planned to wait for both sides to weaken before intervening. After He Zudao returned stripped of his clothes and robbed of his horse, Li Sansi grew alarmed at Lin Yi’s brazenness and feared he might become a threat to Great Ning.

• Tuoba Yu ordered his soldiers to assemble so they could attack Dayu County before Lin Yi finished building its walls, and Evil Bodhisattva warned that Li Sansi might strike from behind.
• Li Sansi and Li Yunqing discussed waiting for Tuoba Yu and Lin Yi to exhaust each other before moving in to seize Xiliang’s crops, but Li Sansi insisted they would call it reinforcing an ally.
• A guard reported that Lin Yi’s chief steward had taken He Zudao’s warhorse and detained several hundred soldiers after He Zudao refused to promise aid to Xiliang.
• He Zudao told Li Sansi that the steward had also stripped him of his clothes and armor, claiming Xiliang lacked supplies.
• He Zudao revealed that Lin Yi had also sent the emperor a memorial demanding supplies, prompting Li Sansi to fear Lin Yi had no reverence for the emperor.
• Li Yunqing asked whether Lin Yi might ally with the Northern Region Barbarians and break through Great Ning’s defensive line at Great Yu Mountain.

Li Sansi learned that Lin Yi had sent him a laundry club, recognized it as an insult, and resolved to prepare for Tuoba Yu’s attack. He planned to reach Little Pine Mountain first, while Li Yunqing decided to go along and see Lin Yi for himself.

• Li Sansi decided to personally guard Dayu Pass in case Lin Yi allied with Tuoba Yu and attacked Ningchuan Commandery.
• He Zudao brought Li Sansi an exquisite box that he said contained a treasure tool sent by Lin Yi.
• Li Yunqing recognized the iron object inside as a laundry club and told his father that Lin Yi was calling him a blockhead.
• Li Sansi flew into a rage, blamed Lin Yi for the insult and He Zudao’s robbery, and wondered whether Lin Yi would join forces with Tuoba Yu.
• Li Yunqing offered to accompany his father, and Li Sansi ordered his men to reach Little Pine Mountain and establish defenses before Tuoba Yu left the pass.

Li Sansi deployed troops to Little Pine Mountain as war with Tuoba Yu approached, while Lin Yi prepared Xiliang’s defenses and a secret route into the Northern Region. The chapter ended with General Bai summoning Lin Yi to the gate tower.

• Li Sansi chose to take twenty thousand troops north and station another thirty thousand at White Sand Beach, leaving thirty thousand at Little Pine Mountain.
• Li Sansi personally led his army toward Little Pine Mountain, alarming the people of Ningchuan Commandery.
• Lin Yi learned of Li Sansi’s deployment and discussed with Wang Yue, Jia Xu, Chen Qun, and Mi Zhu how Great Ning’s actions reflected its effort to weaken Xiliang.
• Wang Yue reported that Tuoba Yu had recalled his generals and might deploy within days, while the road over Heavenly Pillar Peak would take twelve more days to complete.
• Lin Yi ordered more workers onto the road project and told Chen Qun to ensure supplies reached Zhang Liao’s forces in Dayu County.
• A messenger reported that General Bai had invited Lin Yi to the gate tower for a talk.

Bai Zizai invited Lin Yi to Xiliang City’s gate tower, where he praised Lin Yi’s rapid construction of the city and warned him that Tuoba Yu had begun moving his forces. Bai Zizai offered the Asura Army to help defend against the coming attack, leaving Lin Yi curious whether the old master was truly willing to part with his troops.

• Lin Yi learned that Bai Zizai wanted to meet him atop the city gate tower and joked that the old master had heard the news of Tuoba Yu’s mobilization.
• Bai Zizai and his steward Bai Yun admired the newly built Xiliang City, and Bai Zizai declared that Lin Yi was fit to inherit Northern Liang.
• Lin Yi arrived and heard Bai Zizai praise his achievements, while Zhou Cang joined in the friendly exchange.
• Bai Zizai told Lin Yi that Tuoba Yu had begun moving his forces and warned that he would likely attack with overwhelming speed.
• Bai Zizai offered to send his Asura Army to help Lin Yi, and Lin Yi asked whether he could bear to part with them.

Lin Yi negotiated with Bai Zizai and Yi Yun over supplying cement to Northern Liang, refusing to give it away for free. He asked Northern Liang for people instead of troops, leaving Yi Yun to consider the request.

• Bai Zizai offered to bring thirty thousand Asura Army troops to help Lin Yi, but Lin Yi assured him that Tuoba Yu was no threat.
• Bai Zizai revealed that Lin Yi's father wanted cement, and Lin Yi insisted that even his father had to pay for it.
• Yi Yun emerged from hiding after Wang Yue nearly attacked him, then paid his respects to Lin Yi.
• Yi Yun explained that Lin Yi's father wanted cement to fortify Northern Liang's northeastern border, which faced several threats.
• Lin Yi rejected the idea of receiving more troops and asked for people of any age or status because Xiliang Commandery lacked population.

Lin Yi asked Yi Yun to arrange for civilians to relocate from Northern Liang to ease Xiliang Commandery’s labor and population shortages, rather than send more troops. Yi Yun offered Northern Liang’s support against Tuoba Yu, and Bai Zizai left Lin Yi the Asura Token, acknowledging his authority over the Asura Army.

• Lin Yi explained to Yi Yun that Xiliang Commandery needed people to support its development, and that he planned to relocate civilians from Northern Liang.
• Yi Yun agreed to report the arrangement to Lin Yi’s father, noting that the relocation would ease Northern Liang’s food pressure and bring access to cement.
• Lin Yi decided to keep the cement formula under his control and build a factory in Northern Liang instead of transporting finished cement from Xiliang.
• Yi Yun offered more than a thousand Northern Liang Guard soldiers for Lin Yi to deploy if needed against Tuoba Yu.
• Bai Zizai gave Lin Yi the Asura Token, and Wang Yue explained that it would let Lin Yi command the Asura Army.

Lin Yi learned that the Asura Army could support his campaign against Tuoba Yu, then received Tuoba Yu’s proposal to join forces against Great Ning. He pretended to accept the invitation while suspecting a trap, and sent men to track the messenger.

• Wang Yue praised Bai Zizai for committing fifty thousand Asura Army soldiers, while Lin Yi chose to let Zhang Liao buy Ma Chao time to open a route behind the enemy.
• A guard brought in a captured Red Eagle Guard, who revealed that he had entered Xiliang City willingly to deliver a letter.
• Lin Yi read Tuoba Yu’s letter inviting him to attack Great Ning and suspected the offer was meant to lower his guard.
• Lin Yi told the Red Eagle Guard he accepted Tuoba Yu’s invitation, then ordered Wang Yue to send men after the messenger.
• Wang Yue warned that an alliance could threaten Li Sansi’s forces, but Lin Yi said Tuoba Yu’s proposal was likely a trick.

Tuoba Yu decided to lead the Northern Barbarian army against Little Pine Mountain, despite Lin Yi’s secret offer to help destroy Li Sansi. Li Sansi learned that the cavalry was approaching and prepared to defend the mountain before nightfall.

• Lin Yi told Wang Yue that he might secretly aid Tuoba Yu if the Northern Barbarians attacked Little Pine Mountain.
• After hearing Lin Yi’s message, Tuoba Yu concluded that Lin Yi genuinely wanted to join him against Li Sansi but was avoiding written proof.
• Tuoba Yu ordered the Northern Barbarian army to march, leaving twenty thousand men to guard the camp while eighty thousand headed toward Ziwu Road.
• Li Sansi learned that Tuoba Yu’s cavalry was approaching Little Pine Mountain and ordered his forces to hold the position.
• Li Yunqing asked whether Lin Yi had colluded with Tuoba Yu, but Li Sansi said there was no evidence and insisted they defend the mountain.

Li Sansi and his allies worried that Lin Yi’s weak defense of Dayu County would let Tuoba Yu take Xiliang Commandery, so Li Sansi decided to investigate in disguise. As he and Li Yunqing crossed Raging Waves Bridge, Li Sansi began explaining who had built it.

• Song Zixi said he had prepared traps and chevaux-de-frise to defend Little Pine Mountain, but warned that Raging Waves Bridge remained a route into Xiliang Commandery.
• Li Sansi learned that Lin Yi had sent an unknown general and thirty thousand recruits to defend Dayu County, and decided to go there himself.
• Li Sansi ordered He Zudao to defend Little Pine Mountain with Song Zixi, while Li Yunqing volunteered to accompany him.
• Li Sansi and Li Yunqing disguised themselves as a father and son selling quack plasters, then headed toward Raging Waves Bridge.
• Li Yunqing trembled at the bridge’s violent current and asked who had built it, and Li Sansi said he knew the builder and that Li Yunqing did too.

Li Sansi and Li Yunqing crossed Raging Waves Bridge to enter Xiliang Commandery, where they were stopped by soldiers and the Net. After the Net exposed their forged travel permits, Li Sansi revealed his token and claimed he had come to discuss affairs of state with Lin Yi.

• Li Sansi told Li Yunqing that He Zudao had volunteered to build Raging Waves Bridge, earning his trust through courage and resolve.
• Li Sansi and Li Yunqing reached the bridge’s far end and tried to pass the guards by following merchants.
• A soldier checked Li Sansi’s travel permit and warned the pair that war was about to break out near Dayu County.
• Li Sansi explained that Lin Yi had introduced travel permits to restrict outsiders entering Xiliang Commandery.
• The Net confronted Li Sansi and Li Yunqing, revealing portraits that proved their permits belonged to other men.
• Li Sansi took out a token and told the Net operative that he had come to discuss affairs of state with Lin Yi.

Li Sansi and Li Yunqing were intercepted by the Net while approaching Dayu County, and Li Sansi concealed his son’s identity as a trusted aide. After Wang Yue escorted them toward the city, Li Sansi saw its formidable new walls, while Lin Yi and Jia Xu surveyed the surrounding battlefield from a hundred-foot watchtower.

• A Net operative recognized Li Sansi as the Prince of Beining Commandery, so Li Sansi struck Li Yunqing and introduced him as a trusted aide.
• Li Sansi asked to meet Lin Yi and claimed he needed to discuss Xiliang Commandery’s safety, then learned Lin Yi was in Dayu County.
• Wang Yue invited Li Sansi to Dayu County, gave him a horse, and left Li Yunqing to walk with the Net operatives.
• Li Sansi saw Dayu County’s completed walls and wondered how Lin Yi had built such formidable defenses so quickly.
• Lin Yi and Jia Xu discussed Li Sansi’s arrival, then surveyed the area from a hundred-foot watchtower on Pepper Flower Mountain.