Map of the Kingdom's Warfare.

Summary

At Loufan Pass, a standoff between the Sui and Tang armies has persisted for ten days, with both sides preparing for an impending battle. The Sui army has conscripted 300,000 laborers to supply their troops, while the Tang has reinforced Taiyuan with additional troops and laborers, raising their garrison to 100,000. Taiyuan's fall could destabilize the Tang dynasty, prompting Li Yuan to defend it fiercely. The Sui army, however, has opted to build a military camp rather than attack immediately. Fang Xuan Ling, a strategist, receives news that the Sui army is ready to take Loufan Pass and devises a plan to capture it using catapults, focusing on a weak point in the northern wall. Meanwhile, Li Jian Cheng of the Tang army questions the Sui's intentions, suspecting they may not want to take Taiyuan, which could lead to a strategic disadvantage for the Tang. Wei Zheng advises Li Jian Cheng to inform the emperor about the situation, suggesting that abandoning Taiyuan may be a viable option.

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