Map of the Kingdom's Warfare.

Summary

In this chapter, the Zhou Dynasty's army achieved a significant victory by capturing the city of Hedong and inflicting heavy losses on the Tang Dynasty, leading to a rapid shift in allegiance among neighboring counties. The defeat at Hedong resulted in the loss of Li Shentong's elite forces and left Bingzhou vulnerable, with only Taiyuan remaining under Tang control. Meanwhile, a snowstorm blanketed Chang'an, obscuring the news of Bingzhou's fall from the general populace, who remained unaware of the dire situation. Li Shi Min's successful campaign in Yan'an Jun, marked by decisive victories over Song Jin Gang, provided a momentary distraction for the Tang court. However, whispers of Bingzhou's defeat began to circulate among merchants. In the East Palace, Li Jian Cheng and Wei Zheng discussed the failures in military leadership that led to the loss of Bingzhou, highlighting the detrimental effects of nepotism in the royal family. The chapter concludes with Li Jian Cheng attending a crucial meeting at Wu De Hall, where factions within the court debated the future strategy regarding Bingzhou, with Li Yuan seeking his son's opinion on the matter.

Full content