Map of the Kingdom's Warfare.

Summary

Warrior Xuan informs Zhai Rang about the arrival of Tang army reinforcements, although this information is tightly controlled by Li Shi Min. Qu Tutong leads 50,000 troops already in Xiyang County, while Li Shi Min commands 30,000 troops nearby. The Tang army aims to eliminate the bandit leader Zhu Jie, whose forces threaten their advance. As Li Shi Min strategizes with his officers, they learn that Zhai Rang has cut off supply routes for Wang Shi Chong's troops, putting them at a disadvantage. Meanwhile, Zhu Jie, a brutal warlord, prepares for battle but is persuaded by his strategist Duan Tao to avoid confrontation, believing the Tang army is running low on supplies. After a few days, Zhu Jie discovers the Tang army has indeed retreated due to food shortages, prompting him to pursue them. However, he soon realizes he has fallen into a trap when he learns that Tang soldiers have taken Nanyang City. As Zhu Jie attempts to withdraw, he is met by Li Shi Min's forces, leading to a decisive battle where Zhu Jie's army collapses, and he is forced to flee. Li Shi Min gains a significant number of recruits from the surrendering forces and plans further actions.

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