Map of the Kingdom's Warfare.

Summary

Shan Xiong Xin, while pretending to prepare for an assault on the Sui army, actually aims to lure Gu Shu County's cavalry out to cover the retreat of his forces. He grapples with uncertainty about the cavalry's movements and the loyalty of his generals, particularly Sun Chang Le, who spares an enemy general to protect their soldiers. As Shan learns of potential defections within his ranks, chaos erupts when two of his generals lead their troops away, causing mass desertion among his soldiers. Despite his efforts to maintain order, he can only control a fraction of his forces. A messenger from Prince Qi arrives, revealing that Zhai Hong has been killed while attempting to defect. Shan is presented with an enticing offer from Zhang Xuan to become the governor of Dong Jun, leading him to contemplate surrender for the sake of his people.

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