Map of the Kingdom's Warfare.

Summary

The chapter describes a tense moment before a battle between the Tang and Sui armies at the Fushui River. As dawn approaches, the Tang army prepares to cross the river using wooden rafts, while the Sui archers await on the opposite bank. The Tang's strategy involves a diversion at the narrowest point of the river while a smaller group crosses at the widest point to seize Gōuyuè Island. However, the Sui army, anticipating this move, has already occupied the island with a small force. As the Tang soldiers attempt to cross, they are met with a barrage of crossbow fire, resulting in heavy casualties. Despite this setback, Li Xiao Gong orders a larger contingent to cross, and the battle intensifies as the Tang soldiers push forward. Shi Huai Yi, a prominent Tang general, leads the charge onto the island, but the Sui soldiers retreat just as the Tang forces arrive. The chapter ends with the Tang army celebrating their capture of Gōuyuè Island, setting the stage for the next phase of the battle.

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