Map of the Kingdom's Warfare.

Summary

Li Yuanji reveals his true intentions to the Guanzhong nobles, seeking to conscript their well-trained tenants to bolster the Tang army against the Zhou forces. The nobles, shocked and feeling betrayed, refuse his demands and insist on confirming the Emperor's intentions directly. Li Yuanji, frustrated, places them under house arrest with the backing of his Black Tortoises. He discusses strategies with Cui Wen Xiang and his father, Li Yuan, about dealing with the nobles and suggests confiscating their estates to reward military merit. Li Yuan, initially hesitant, starts to see the feasibility of this plan due to the nobles' recent betrayals. Meanwhile, Yu Qian Feng, a loyal guard of the Du Gu family, senses danger and rushes to warn his family of the impending threat.

Full content