Chapter Summaries

After meeting Guo Jiwang, Wu Shuangren realized he needed a strategist and focused on securing the Zhang Clan’s land and wealth. The Zhang Clan surrendered its deeds and money in exchange for its members’ safety, leaving the clan stripped of its power.

• Guo Jiwang pretended to pass out after drinking with Wu Shuangren, then told Zhou Zhengqing that Wu Shuangren was proud and ambitious but had depth and self-restraint.
• On the ride back to Zhang Clan Village, Wu Shuangren decided he needed a strategist or team of advisers and wondered whether Guo Jiwang might fill that role.
• Wu Shuangren ordered Bai Jinhuan to investigate the Zhang Clan’s landholdings and sent Zhang Tong back with a demand for all the clan’s land deeds and three thousand taels of silver.
• Zhang Tong warned the Zhang Clan leaders that the county yamen would not protect them and that resisting Wu Shuangren could cost them their lives.
• The Zhang Clan delivered its land deeds and more than the demanded value in money, and Wu Shuangren accepted the payment and promised to keep the clan safe if it behaved.

Wu Shuangren recruited surrendered soldiers, planned a contest to choose new battalion commanders, and hired three blacksmiths to forge iron armor. The chapter ended as the first company match began at West River Market.

• Wu Shuangren released the captured Zhang Clan members and recruited more than three hundred surrendered soldiers into his militia.
• Wu Shuangren planned to expand his personal guard into a cavalry unit, add battalions, and select commanders through company-versus-company contests.
• Wu Shuangren learned that three generations of blacksmiths had secretly forged six sets of armor for the Zhang Clan, then hired them to make armor for him.
• Wu Shuangren returned to West River Market with his forces and began the grand contest to select battalion commanders.
• The first company of the second battalion and the second company of the fifth battalion formed up and began fighting with padded spears, shields, and wooden sabers.

Wu Dongrong uncovered Zhao Xian’s betrayal and dealt ruthlessly with his family, alarming Magistrate He Zhixu as the Wu Clan’s power grew. Meanwhile, Wu Shuangren selected the final battalion commander and began the militia competition’s three-company championship match, which ended in a tense standoff.

• Wu Dongrong interrogated Zhao Xian and learned he had stolen Liao Yu’s documents for a suspected Mist Hidden Temple agent, then decided Zhao Xian’s family had to be dealt with.
• Zhao Xian’s house burned that night, and Magistrate He Zhixu feared the Wu Clan’s growing power but could not bring himself to report it to the provincial capital.
• Wu Shuangren named Zhou Zhu the final battalion commander after Zhou’s company held out longer than the other defeated teams.
• The twelve winning companies competed through the afternoon, and three advanced to the final after fighting until evening.
• Wu Shuangren ordered the three exhausted companies into a free-for-all, and one commander proposed teaming up to eliminate Liao Dayong’s company first.

Wu Shuangren reorganized his militia, promoting Feng Ping and other proven leaders after Feng Ping’s squadron won the tournament. At Mist Hidden Temple, Ciwen learned that no records identified the First Rate woman who had killed Liaoming, leaving her origins uncertain.

• Feng Ping’s squadron broke Han Shan’s formation with a flank attack, then defeated Liao Dayong’s men to win the tournament.
• Wu Shuangren rewarded Feng Ping and announced that the militia would hold a grand tournament every three months.
• Wu Shuangren reorganized his forces into battalions, appointed Bai Jinhuan, Chen Tie, and Feng Ping as commanders, and promoted other officers.
• Wu Shuangren sent Chen Tie to garrison Zhang Clan Village, renamed it West Village, and ordered Feng Ping to enforce discipline among recruits.
• Ciwen learned that Mist Hidden Temple’s cavalry and warrior monks had suffered heavy losses, while Hong Zhanming reported that temple records revealed no First Rate woman matching Xu Nanzhi’s description.

Mount Liang’s envoys met with Ciwen to discuss an alliance against Wu Shuangren and Xu Nanzhi, while Ciwen used their visit to position Mist Hidden Temple for the coming conflict. After the envoys left, Ciwen explained to Hong Zhanming that he had prepared the temple for Mount Liang’s expansion into Yi Province.

• Zhigang and Liang An met Ciwen, learned that he had entered the First Rank, and heard that Xu Nanzhi had killed Liaoming.
• Hong Zhanming blamed Wu Shuangren for the deaths of Mist Hidden Temple’s monks, and Zhigang vowed to bring Mount Liang’s forces to avenge them.
• Ciwen agreed to continue Mist Hidden Temple’s alliance with Mount Liang but warned that Wu Shuangren’s growing strength had changed the situation in Yi Province.
• Zhigang and Liang An discussed whether Ciwen was sincere, and Liang An suspected that Ciwen had revealed his First Rank status to improve his bargaining position.
• Ciwen told Hong Zhanming that he had prepared Mist Hidden Temple for Mount Liang’s likely push into Yi Province and the larger conflict ahead.

Wu Shuangren oversaw rigorous military training and fought his personal guards to prepare them for battle, then tested his growing strength against Xu Yu. He believed his Internal Skill had reached Sixth Rank as Mount Liang’s uprising threatened the Wu Dynasty.

• Ciwen warned Hong Zhanming that Mount Liang had two First Rate messengers and ordered the Mist Hidden Temple to prepare while avoiding a clash for now.
• Mount Liang gathered tens of thousands of people and launched a rebellion, sending thirty thousand soldiers toward Rong Province City.
• Wu Shuangren trained the recruits and personal guards, defeating ten successive groups of guards in armored staff fights.
• Wu Shuangren sparred with Xu Yu, whose strength and Cloud Tiger Seven Kills had improved, but defeated him and offered advice.
• Wu Shuangren reassured Xu Yu that they were both improving and estimated that his Internal Skill had reached Sixth Rank.

Wu Shuangren received word that Mount Liang had captured Rong Province and ordered more informants to watch the roads into Yi Province. In Rong Province, Song Hai and Wu Yan planned their next moves while Lin Qian confronted Mount Liang men for abusing surrendered civilians, and Song Hai intervened as the dispute escalated.

• Wu Shuangren learned that Mount Liang had raised a rebellion, captured Rong Province City, and killed its prefect, so he ordered Luo Heng to expand surveillance along the routes into Yi Province.
• Song Hai and Wu Yan decided to march north to seize Ya Province and its mountain passes before turning toward Shu Province.
• Song Hai and Wu Yan discussed Wu Shuangren, Mist Hidden Temple, and a planned detachment led by Zhigang and Liang An to Yi Province.
• Lin Qian fought Li Lin after stopping Whirlwind Hall men from abusing a surrendered family, and another First Rate expert joined the fight against him.
• Song Hai halted the fighters and heard Lin Qian condemn Mount Liang's men for rape and plunder; Li Lin defended their actions, and Song Hai angrily rebuked him.

Song Hai punished Li Lin's men for breaking military law and sent Lin Qian to join the force bound for Yi Province. As Mount Liang advanced toward Yi Province, Wu Shuangren agreed to march there with Guo Jiwang to prevent Mount Liang and Mist Hidden Temple from taking the city.

• Song Hai ordered Li Lin to punish the men of Whirlwind Hall and reconciled with Lin Qian, who left persuaded by his words.
• Song Hai told Wu Yan to restore military discipline and decided to send Lin Qian with the force heading to Yi Province.
• After learning that Mount Liang had split its forces between Ya Province and Yi Province, Wu Shuangren went to West River County to consult Guo Jiwang.
• Guo Jiwang reasoned that Mist Hidden Temple might help Mount Liang seize Yi Prefecture City and urged Wu Shuangren to defend it.
• Wu Shuangren agreed to lead his troops to Yi Prefecture City after Guo Jiwang offered to accompany him.
• Guo Jiwang told the county officials he would leave for several days and warned that Mount Liang would next threaten Xi Province if Yi Province fell.

Guo Jiwang joined Wu Shuangren’s campaign to confront Mount Liang’s forces in Yi Province, and Wu Shuangren prepared his troops to march quickly toward Yi Prefecture City. The chapter ended with Guo Jiwang asking about Wu Shuangren’s remaining advantages and learning that Mist Hidden Temple had heavy infantry armor.

• Guo Jiwang persuaded Peng Yu to lend him fifty-two suits of leather armor and took Zhou Zhengqing with him to join Wu Shuangren.
• Wu Shuangren explained that Mount Liang had split its forces and declared that his army would march out rather than surrender or wait under siege.
• Bai Jinhuan and Chen Tie rallied the assembled officers and soldiers to fight for Bo County and their families.
• Guo Jiwang advised Wu Shuangren to send supplies by canal while the troops marched by road, and Wu Shuangren ordered boats loaded and reorganized his battalions.
• Wu Shuangren told Guo Jiwang that his storehouse held forty suits of heavy infantry armor and Mist Hidden Temple held sixty more.

Wu Shuangren marched his militia toward Yi Province to strike Mist Hidden Temple, stopping briefly in Bo County to collect supplies and reassure his family. As he prepared to leave, a yamen runner told him County Commandant Xu wanted to discuss an important matter.

• Wu Shuangren told Guo Jiwang about his weapons, guard, and confidence in defeating Mount Liang's experts, raising Guo's estimate of their chances to forty percent.
• Bai Jinhuan and Zhou Zhengqing departed by boat with supplies for Yi Province, while Wu Shuangren led more than 2,500 people on a forced march toward Bo County.
• Wu Dongrong and Liao Yu welcomed Wu Shuangren and his force outside Bo County, where he ordered the local militia to distribute provisions.
• Wu Shuangren refused the militiamen permission to visit their families and ordered the force to form up and leave within half an hour.
• A yamen runner stopped Wu Shuangren as he left his family home and relayed County Commandant Xu's request to meet about an important matter.

Wu Shuangren persuaded Xu Jing to join his force and supply it with armor as they marched to stop Mount Liang and the Mist Hidden Temple from taking Yi Prefecture City. Meanwhile, Bai Jinhuan’s ships reached Yi Province, where he kept his men on alert while Zhou Zhengqing traveled onward to the city.

• Xu Jing told Wu Shuangren that Mount Liang had rebelled and was advancing, and Wu revealed that its forces planned to join the Mist Hidden Temple in attacking Yi Prefecture City.
• Xu Jing agreed to march with Wu Shuangren, brought eleven mounted archers, and lent the militia all sixty-one suits of leather armor from the county storehouse.
• Wu Shuangren’s nearly three-thousand-man force departed with Xu Jing, while He Zhixu condemned Xu Jing and threatened to impeach him.
• Xu Jing managed the march through the summer heat, organizing water, rest, and precautions against heatstroke as Wu Shuangren observed and learned.
• Bai Jinhuan arrived at the Yi Province docks with three cargo ships, sent Zhou Zhengqing toward Yi Prefecture City under escort, and arranged to keep the ships there for three days.
• Bai Jinhuan stationed guards on the ships and stayed awake through the night, wary of the Mist Hidden Temple’s influence at the docks.

Bai Jinhuan and the militiamen guarding three cargo ships faced an attack by the He Family, who wanted their supplies and planned to hand the men over to Mist Hidden Temple. After the militia resisted the first assault, He Xingzhou ordered fire arrows to be launched at the ships.

• Bai Jinhuan learned from a Flying Feather Hall informant that the He Family was watching the ships because their guards had drawn attention by staying aboard.
• He Xingzhou discovered the ships were carrying people from West River Market and decided to seize their cargo and turn them over to Mist Hidden Temple.
• Bai Jinhuan spotted five or six hundred attackers approaching and ordered the militiamen to arm themselves.
• When the He Family’s men tried to board, Bai Jinhuan ordered a volley from the repeating crossbows that killed more than twenty attackers and drove the rest back.
• Bai Jinhuan refused to surrender, rallied his men to hold out for the regiment commander, and warned that burning the ships would destroy the cargo.
• He Xingzhou ordered archers to shoot fire arrows at the ships to weaken the defenders’ resolve.

Bai Jinhuan’s militia defended their three cargo boats from He Xingzhou’s attacks at Yi Province dock. After the He Family’s forces surrounded the boats, Bai Jinhuan led armored militiamen in a counterattack that threw the dock into chaos.

• Bai Jinhuan’s militiamen blocked the fire arrows and repelled He Xingzhou’s first boarding attempt, though several defenders were wounded by axes and arrows.
• He Xingzhou brought three cargo boats alongside Bai Jinhuan’s boats and sent household guards to attack from multiple directions, but the militia’s shield wall held.
• Bai Jinhuan ordered the infantry armor brought out and equipped himself and ten militiamen while the defenders continued to fight.
• Bai Jinhuan charged across a bamboo ladder in his iron armor, killing three guards and leading armored militiamen onto the dock.
• The armored militiamen overwhelmed the He Family’s guards, whose weapons could not penetrate their armor, and fighting engulfed the dock.

Wu Shuangren arrived at the Yi Province dock as Bai Jinhuan’s armored militia routed the He Family’s forces, and he captured He Xingzhou before the fleeing men could escape. After securing the dock, Wu Shuangren learned that his side had suffered light casualties and ordered the He Family’s armor stripped and the wounded cared for.

• The He Family guards and dockworkers fled from Bai Jinhuan’s twenty-one armored fighters, while He Xingzhou tried to retreat to He Family Town.
• Wu Shuangren charged into the dock with his personal guards, cut through He Xingzhou’s guards, captured He Xingzhou, and ordered the crowd to surrender.
• Bai Jinhuan reported that the supplies remained safe and that his armored militia had won the fight with few casualties.
• He Xingzhou admitted he had attacked the ships after learning they carried people from West River Market and fearing Mist Hidden Temple’s response.
• Wu Shuangren reviewed the casualties, learned one militiaman had died and several were seriously injured, and ordered the He Family’s leather armor collected and the wounded cared for.

Wu Shuangren led iron-armored guards to He Family Town, seized the He residence, and executed He Xingzhou and the family’s leaders in retaliation for the attack at the dock. After dealing with more He Family leaders among the surrendered men, he awaited the main force, whose arrival surprised Xu Jing with the sight of infantry armor.

• Wu Shuangren left Bai Jinhuan to guard the surrendered men and rode to He Family Town with thirty-eight iron-armored personal guards.
• Wu Shuangren’s guards overwhelmed the He residence’s household guards and gathered its residents in the courtyard.
• Wu Shuangren forced the residents to identify the He Family’s leaders, then executed He Xingzhou and eighteen other members of the family’s power center.
• Wu Shuangren returned to the dock and ordered seven more He Family leaders identified among the surrendered men and killed.
• Wu Shuangren’s men displayed twenty-seven heads as the main force arrived, and Xu Jing reacted with shock to the infantry armor.

Wu Shuangren and Guo Jiwang assessed the threat from Mist Hidden Temple and Mount Liang, while Guo Jiwang used a letter to urge Lu Hongjian to secure Yi Prefecture City's defenses. The chapter ended as Lu Hongjian prepared to act after Fan Yu refused to take the risk of striking first.

• Bai Jinhuan reported that the force had seized nine horses, eighty-seven suits of leather armor, and eleven powerful crossbows, which Wu Shuangren gave to the First Battalion.
• Guo Jiwang reasoned that Mist Hidden Temple probably had no divine arm crossbows and revealed that he had hoped its men would take the bait at the docks.
• Guo Jiwang told Wu Shuangren that Mount Liang's six thousand men were still at least two days from Yi Prefecture City and declared they would eliminate Mist Hidden Temple first.
• Song Qi told Lu Hongjian that Fan Yu considered it too risky to act, and Lu Hongjian warned that Fan Yu would bear responsibility if the city fell.
• Lu Hongjian recalled meeting Guo Jiwang years earlier and reread Guo's letter urging him to find a trusted ally and take control of the city defenses.

Lu Hongjian and Xu Dengyun seized control of Yi Prefecture City's defenses overnight, while Fan Yu failed to enter the city. Zhou Zhengqing escaped before dawn and reached Guo Jiwang and Wu Shuangren's advancing force with news that the plan had succeeded.

• Lu Hongjian sent Xu Dengyun a sealed guarantee and ordered Zhou Zhengqing to prepare to leave the city with news for Guo Jiwang.
• Xu Dengyun killed Captain Liu Yong, claimed Liu had plotted to surrender the city, and secured the south gate while Zhao Xiong and Xu Rang's household guards moved to take other defenses.
• Fan Yu rode to Yi Prefecture City with more than a hundred guards, but the men at the west and south gates refused to let him enter.
• Zhou Zhengqing escaped from the east gate in a basket and rode toward the Yi Province docks before dawn.
• Wu Shuangren's force set out from the docks with supplies and auxiliary troops, and Zhou Zhengqing met Guo Jiwang and reported that the city operation had succeeded.

Guo Jiwang’s plan forced Fan Yu to choose between the Mist Hidden Temple and Lu Hongjian after Yi Prefecture City’s defenses changed hands and Wu Shuangren’s main force arrived. Fan Yu joined Wu Shuangren against the Mist Hidden Temple, bringing trusted guards, armor, and crossbows, while the army prepared for battle.

• Zhou Zhengqing told Guo Jiwang that Deputy General Xu Dengyun had helped Lu Hongjian take control of Yi Prefecture City’s defenses, and he delivered Lu Hongjian’s letter for Fan Yu.
• Zhou Zhengqing delivered the letter to Fan Yu, who realized he had to choose a side but delayed his decision until Wu Shuangren’s main force arrived.
• Xu Jing arrived at dusk with several thousand orderly troops, convincing Fan Yu that he could not oppose Wu Shuangren’s army.
• Fan Yu agreed to fight the Mist Hidden Temple and sent his trusted personal guards, leather armor, and powerful crossbows out of the garrison.
• Wu Shuangren distributed the leather armor among his militiamen, raising the number of armored troops above a thousand, while Fan Yu kept the crossbows with his own guards.

Wu Shuangren led his forces to Mist Hidden Mountain and launched a nighttime assault on the warrior monks defending the compounds at its foot. After crossing the gate and cutting through the defenders, he had Xu Yu lift the heavy gate bar and open the compound for the troops.

• Wu Shuangren halted his army outside the compounds, then agreed with Guo Jiwang to attack that night before Mount Liang's forces could arrive.
• Militiamen cleared the barricades and horse pits while Fan Yu's mounted guards shot at the compound to distract its defenders.
• Wu Shuangren, Xu Yu, and thirty-eight guards charged the western gate as Xu Jing's troops staged a loud advance on the north side.
• Wu Shuangren used a spear to vault over the gate and fought off the warrior monks, killing several defenders while holding his ground.
• Xu Yu and three skilled guards joined Wu Shuangren inside the compound, and Xu Yu lifted the gate bar and opened the gates.

Wu Shuangren’s forces captured one Mist Hidden Temple manor, then found the enemy had withdrawn to Mist Hidden Mountain and discovered Mount Liang’s troops had split off a vanguard toward Yi Prefecture City. Guo Jiwang realized where Ciwen was, while monks in the city secretly began arming themselves in infantry armor.

• Wu Shuangren’s personal guards and Bai Jinhuan’s First Battalion stormed the manor, killed or captured its defenders, and found neither Ciwen nor the temple’s other experts.
• Guo Jiwang agreed to wait until morning before investigating the second manor, and the captured leaders could not say where Ciwen was.
• Xu Jing and Wu Shuangren saw the enemy retreating toward Mist Hidden Mountain and chose not to pursue; Xu Jing agreed to remain and help face Mount Liang’s approaching forces.
• The next morning, Wu Shuangren’s scouts found the second manor abandoned but stocked with grain, weapons, and arrows, and the main force took up positions at both manors.
• A Flying Feather Hall messenger reported that more than a hundred Mount Liang riders had split from the infantry and were likely near Yi Prefecture City; Guo Jiwang said he knew where Ciwen was.
• In a grain merchant’s storehouse in eastern Yi Prefecture City, dozens of bald monks secretly put on infantry armor as Boss Zhou arrived.