Map of the Kingdom's Warfare.

Summary

The chapter describes the arduous journey of 300 Zhou soldiers as they traverse the harsh terrain of the Qilian Mountains, facing extreme cold and difficult climbing conditions. Led by guides A Wang and A Cai, they navigate a treacherous fissure known as the Black Snake Mouth, ultimately reaching the snow-covered summit after a grueling five-day trek, during which they lose five soldiers. Upon descending, they find themselves in Douduba Valley, controlled by the Tang army, and must decide whether to attack a small castle or the main camp. Liu Lan Cheng opts for a surprise attack on the main camp, recognizing that defeating it would lead to the collapse of the smaller stronghold. The chapter concludes with the Zhou army preparing for their assault under the cover of darkness, highlighting the tense standoff between the two armies that has persisted for a year.

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