Map of the Kingdom's Warfare.

Summary

After the Eagle Army's defeat, they abandoned most cities except for Dong'an and Yishui Counties, which remained under Zhang Xuan's control. These counties were strategically important for bandits entering Beihai and Gaomi Counties, but their northern location made them hard to hold. Sun Xuan Ya decided to retreat south, focusing on Feixian and Linyi Counties in preparation for the Sui army's next attack. Zhang Xuan led his troops to Dong'an County, where he met with Deputy General Li Shou Jie, who reported no recent bandit activity. A merchant named Wang Shan arrived with a letter from Meng Rang, indicating a willingness to cooperate with the Sui army against Sun Xuan Ya. Fang Xuan Ling expressed skepticism about Meng Rang's intentions but suggested a strategy to turn the situation to their advantage. Zhang Xuan wrote letters to Meng Rang and Yang Yi Chen while preparing for battle. Meanwhile, Wang Bao contemplated his next moves against the Sui army and expressed concerns about Sun Xuan Ya's reliance on Meng Rang, influenced by personal ties. He resolved to make one last effort to persuade Sun Xuan Ya of the impending threat.

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