The young Sima Yi seems to be a timid and cautious scholar, but Cao Cao, a warlord perceives him as insightful and ambitious man. As Sima Yi is forced to serve as an official of Cao Cao and his fate is tied to the Cao family ever since. In the fierce succession struggle, he helps Cao Pi, Cao’s second son, pass every test by the father and earning Cao Pi the throne in the end. He then dedicates himself to assisting Cao Pi, now the 1st emperor of the Wei State, to roll out many effective policies to set up a new political order, such as supporting the scholarly class and restraining the imperial clan from power abuse. Cao Pi becomes a benevolent ruler and his reign sees stability and prosperity of the state.
