Map of the Kingdom's Warfare.

Summary

The chapter describes the aftermath of the emperor's return from the northern borders, leading to the dispersal of soldiers gathered around Taiyuan. Zhang Xuan's army, returning in two batches, gains rewards from the campaign, including warhorses. Li Yuan visits Zhang Xuan, expressing his intent to eliminate a notorious bandit gang in Bingzhou, while Zhang Xuan subtly warns him about potential conflicts regarding his son Jian Cheng. Li Jing, another character, seeks Zhang Xuan's help and reveals his reluctance to re-enter Sui officialdom due to past incidents. They discuss strategies for returning to Qingzhou, with Li Jing proposing several plans, ultimately leading Zhang Xuan to adopt the third plan involving maintaining the appearance of an army in Beihai. Li Jing agrees to serve as Zhang Xuan's strategist.

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