Map of the Kingdom's Warfare.

Summary

The chapter describes the aftermath of a military defeat suffered by Pei Ren Ji, who kneels before Li Jian Cheng, seeking forgiveness after losing over 4,000 men and facing a demotion. Despite his efforts to rally his troops, many have deserted him, leading to a loss of confidence in his leadership. Li Jian Cheng shows leniency by demoting Pei Ren Ji but not punishing his subordinates, and he assigns Qin Qiong to protect the chief historian Wei Zheng on a mission. Meanwhile, Li Jian Cheng approaches Wuzhi County, intending to pressure the Sui army led by General Wei Wen Tong into surrendering without a fight. As Li Jian Cheng's forces retreat to show sincerity, Wei Wen Tong contemplates the situation, realizing he needs time to reorganize his troops. The chapter ends with Wei Wen Tong deciding to meet a messenger from the city, indicating a potential negotiation.

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