Map of the Kingdom's Warfare.

Summary

The chapter describes the siege of Xiangyang City, which is fortified by high walls and a wide moat. The Sui army, led by Yang Shi Lin, successfully defends the city against a fierce assault from twenty thousand Zheng troops. The Zheng army suffers heavy losses due to thorny poison needles scattered by the Sui the night before, causing panic and retreat among their ranks. As the Zheng army attempts to regroup and strategize, they face further setbacks from the Sui's powerful large yellow crossbows. Despite initial failures, the Zheng commander Wang Ren Ze rallies his troops for a concentrated attack on the southern city, promising wealth and rewards. Meanwhile, reinforcements from the Sui army arrive, bolstering their defenses. The Tang army, positioned nearby, learns of the Sui's presence in Xiangyang and realizes their situation is dire as they can no longer establish a foothold in Jingzhou.

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