After Song Jiang joins Liangshan, he secretly struggles for power with Chao Gai. At Zengtou City, Chao Gai is wounded by an arrow fired by Hua Rong at Song Jiang’s direction. He fakes his death and hides behind the scenes. Song Jiang becomes acting chief of the stronghold and pushes hard for amnesty. After being tricked into joining Liangshan, Lu Junyi sees the corruption of the imperial court through the persuasion of Wu Song and Lu Zhishen, and sides with Chao Gai. The anti-amnesty faction gains the upper hand and decides to overthrow the Great Song.
Seeking amnesty, Song Jiang secretly releases Gao Qiu and passes him intelligence, causing Liangshan to suffer heavy losses. Chao Gai uncovers the traitor and has Song Jiang tried and executed. United as one, the Liangshan army vows to march north. Lu Junyi takes command, defeats the imperial forces again and again, captures Bianjing, and takes Emperor Huizong prisoner. They then campaign south against Fang La, winning a costly victory and pacifying Jiangnan.
Chao Gai ascends the throne and establishes the Great Liang. Taking advantage of the Central Plains’ exhaustion, the Liao invade south. Chao Gai personally leads an expedition and crushes the Liao army, forcing the Liao to submit. The realm is unified, the people recover, and a golden age begins. The book ends with Chao Gai looking back from atop the city wall, leaving posterity to judge his achievements and failings.
