Map of the Kingdom's Warfare.

Summary

Zuo Huai De attempts to assassinate the Sui envoy by positioning twenty assassins with powerful crossbows at a bustling market. The plan goes awry when the horse pulling the envoy's cart is killed, causing chaos. Although the assassins flee, several are captured or killed by the Tang cavalry. Zuo Huai De, observing from a distance, realizes something is amiss when the cavalry ignores the cart. Tang soldiers quickly seal off the area, and news of the assassination reaches the imperial city, prompting Li Yuan to close city gates and dispatch troops. Upon investigation, it is revealed that the envoy was not in the cart, leading to a sigh of relief from Li Jian Cheng. However, Zuo Huai De is captured by Tang soldiers in his silk shop, and under pressure from General Xue Wan Che, he reveals the location of the true assassins, who are subsequently eliminated. The Tang army manages to contain the situation, but the Sui side, led by Pei Ju, halts negotiations, seeking an explanation. Inside the imperial study, Li Yuan berates Li Jian Cheng for his negligence in handling prior warnings about the assassination plot. After venting his anger, Li Yuan discusses how to resolve the situation, deciding to dismiss officials responsible for security failures and to probe further into the Sui's demands.

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