Map of the Kingdom's Warfare.

Summary

Xinxing County, strategically located by the Yongji Canal, has been used by Li Jian Cheng as a base due to his brother-in-law's position as county magistrate. He leads 20,000 troops to Liyang Warehouse, leaving Xu Shiji with 5,000 in Xinxing. Xu Shiji, anxious about Zhang Xuan's powerful navy, fears for Li Jian Cheng's forces. A scout reports 5,000 Sui cavalry nearby, raising alarms. Xu Shiji and Cheng Yaojin spot what appears to be 100,000 troops, but Xu deduces it's only 40,000. As dawn breaks, the Sui army prepares for siege, launching paper flyers instead of projectiles. Xu Shiji refuses negotiations from Pei Hong, insisting on defending the city. He receives a personal letter from Zhang Xuan but does not read it immediately.

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