The story begins after the Three Kingdoms, recounting Sima Yan's unification and the establishment of the Western Jin, followed by the events leading up to the Rebellion of the Eight Princes. In addition to the rulers and their ministers, it also describes how Li Xiong and Liu Yuan, leaders of two non-Han peoples, successively proclaimed themselves kings at the end.
The Eight Princes of the Western Jin were Liang, Wei, Lun, Jiong, Yi, Ying, Yong, and Yue. Their relationships to Emperor Wu of Jin were as follows: Wei, Yi, and Ying were his sons, and Wei and Yi were full brothers. Jiong was the emperor's nephew, the second son of Sima You, Prince Xian of Qi. Liang and Lun were sons of Sima Yi, Emperor Xuan of Jin. Yong was the grandson of Sima Fu, Emperor Xuan's third younger brother, and the son of Sima Gui, Prince Lie of Taiyuan. Yue was the grandson of Sima Kui, Emperor Xuan's fourth younger brother, and the eldest son of Sima Tai, Prince Wenxian of Gaomi.
