Map of the Kingdom's Warfare.

Summary

The chapter describes Zhang Xuan's response to the deteriorating situation in Chang'an after the Northern Sui's conquest of Wuyuan County. Upon receiving alarming news from Military Strategist Fang Xuan Ling about Li Yuan's refusal to honor previous agreements and the collapse of negotiations in Hetao, Zhang Xuan contemplates a military strategy. He decides to send troops to Diaoyin County to seize iron mines and break the encirclement against Song Jin Gang, rather than issue proclamations. Meanwhile, the Tang army, led by General Xi Shi Ling, is on high alert at the iron mine in Diaoyin County as they prepare for a potential attack from the Northern Sui forces, who are advancing rapidly. The chapter ends with chaos erupting at the mine as the Sui cavalry arrives.

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