Map of the Kingdom's Warfare.

Summary

The chapter depicts a chaotic battle on the Huang He River, where the Sui army, led by Zhang Xuan, ruthlessly attacks and decimates over ninety percent of small ferry boats. Dou Jiande, observing the massacre, realizes the strength of Zhang Xuan's forces and the strategic blunder he has made. After receiving an ultimatum from Zhang Xuan demanding his surrender, Dou Jiande retreats to Lu County. Two days later, Zhang Xuan prepares for an assault on the city, deploying massive trebuchets to exploit a weakness in the city wall. As the trebuchets launch boulders, they cause significant damage, leading Dou Jiande to order a retreat as the city defenses crumble.

Full content