Map of the Kingdom's Warfare.

Summary

After three days, the Khitan army resumed their siege on the northern city, focusing their attack on the southern front due to difficult terrain. The Sui army prepared with over seventy operational catapults and concentrated on using crossbows. Yang Shan Hui expressed confidence in their defenses against the Khitan's siege ladders, as his team had practiced with the provided weapons. The Khitans devised new tactics using tree canopies for protection, but as they approached the walls, they faced heavy arrow fire from the defenders. Despite the Khitans' relentless climbing of siege ladders, the Sui soldiers employed effective methods to dismantle them, significantly weakening the Khitan assault. The Khitans then brought forward battering rams, but the Sui army successfully countered them with catapult strikes, leading to the destruction of all five rams. After suffering heavy losses, the Khitan forces retreated. Taiga, the Khitan leader, initially sought to punish Su Zhi for the failure but ultimately spared him due to diplomatic considerations. On the Sui side, Li Chun noted the Khitans' dwindling siege capabilities and morale, while Yang Shan Hui expressed concern over a potential Goguryeo attack, suggesting that the defenses were weakened.

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