Tang Dynasty: Starting with 3,000 elite cavalry, a bloody battle to retake the city.

At this time.

Han Ye, however, had not yet returned home.

He remained hidden in the shadows outside the palace walls, like a silent breeze, coldly watching Li Shimin and his entourage depart in haste.

Only after the last figure disappeared around the corner did the corners of his lips slowly turn up, revealing a meaningful smile.

"I've said everything I needed to say."

"You are the emperor; you only need to play your part well..."

Don't disappoint me too much.

He gazed into the depths of the palace, his voice as soft as a sigh, yet his eyes were as deep and unfathomable as an abyss.

If Li Shimin were here, he would surely be horrified—this young man had already seen through his identity?!

But that is indeed the case.

Han Ye knew this very well from the very beginning.

Ask yourself, who else in the world would climb the city walls at night with hundreds of imperial guards secretly following them like shadows, providing layer upon layer of protection, as if facing a formidable enemy?

Those people thought they were extremely well hidden, but Han Ye had already seen through them the moment he stepped into Chang'an.

He did not accidentally leak the secret.

He deliberately handed those military strategies and tactics to Li Shimin, word by word, by hand.

But he did not expect this emperor to be able to wipe out the Turks in one fell swoop and kill Jieli.

That's too difficult.

It doesn't matter.

because--

"You just focus on the planning."

"The rest..."

"Leave it to me."

Han Ye gazed at the distant night sky and suddenly whispered, his voice calm yet carrying immense power.

He smiled gently, a smile that hinted at the marks of time.

Those masked soldiers buried at the border, those brothers who died in his arms... how could he let them die in vain?

How can we let them die with resentment?

His gaze gradually hardened, like cold iron being tempered, finally forging a resolute determination.

But all this.

Li Shimin was completely unaware of this.

While the secret meeting in the Imperial Study was in full swing, Han Ye had already returned to Li Jing's residence like a ghost.

It landed silently, leaving no trace.

He sneaked into his courtyard, pushed open the door, and entered the house, only to freeze in shock—

A little girl was lying on the table, her hair disheveled, sleeping soundly; it was Xiao Tuan.

"Little group?"

He called out softly, his eyebrows twitching slightly.

What's this girl doing here?

"Young Master..."

Xiao Tuan groggily raised her head, and when she saw it was him, her eyes lit up instantly, and her voice was as clear as a spring stream hitting stones: "You're back!"

Han Ye shook his head helplessly, but his heart softened.

He walked over, ruffled her hair, and said with a wry smile, "How did you know I went out?"

The words fell.

Xiao Tuan's eyes suddenly reddened, her fingers twisted the hem of her clothes, and she lowered her head like a child who had done something wrong.

After a long pause, she whispered, "This afternoon... when you were asleep, I changed your clothes... and I saw... your injury..."

boom!

Han Ye's heart skipped a beat, but a bitter smile slowly appeared on his face.

In the end, it couldn't be hidden any longer.

Although the wounds have long since healed, the crisscrossing scars, like the imprints of battle spirits, are branded onto the flesh, indelible and impossible to wash away or erase.

Those are memories of blood and fire, medals forged from slaughter and death.

He reached out and pinched Xiao Tuan's cheek, chuckling softly, "So... you knew everything?"

Xiao Tuan nodded vigorously, pursing her lips, her eyes flashing with stubbornness: "I've always known! I said that even if Young Master leaves Youzhou, he'll fight his way out! They don't believe me, but I do!"

She tilted her head back, speaking slowly and deliberately, with the pride of a little animal protecting its cubs:

"My young master is that great hero—Ghost Face!"

"Sh-!"

Before she could finish speaking, Han Ye raised his hand and pressed it against her lips, his eyes slightly sharp.

He paused for a moment, then gently patted her head, his tone tender yet authoritative: "Remember, this is a secret."

Hook up.

Little Tuan blinked and obediently extended her little finger.

They interlocked their fingers, and a crescent-shaped smile returned to her face: "Pinky promise, it's a secret, hehe."

Now that the secret was out, Han Ye no longer held back.

He casually instructed, "Go and prepare hot water."

After a fierce battle, we can finally shed the dust and grime and wash away the blood and fatigue.

Xiao Tuan remained by his side, carefully attending to him.

The lights flickered, and the air was filled with mist.

The masked general, who had returned stained with blood, now soaked quietly in the hot water, as if he had finally found a moment of peace.

When Xiao Tuan's eyes fell on the layers of crisscrossing scars on Han Ye's body, her eyes instantly reddened.

Those old wounds, some deep and some shallow, are like blood-stained inscriptions carved by time, branded on the flesh, silently telling the story of the bloody storms he had endured.

"Young Master... what exactly have you been through..." Her voice trembled, almost choking with sobs.

It hurts so much!

Even though it has long since healed, just looking at these gruesome marks is enough to imagine—

Before returning to Chang'an, what kind of life-and-death battles did he encounter?

Slashes, arrow wounds, fire burns, poison... every scar was once a deadly injury!

Xiao Tuan finally couldn't hold back her tears.

However, Han Ye was unaware of her emotional fluctuations at this moment.

His consciousness had completely sunk into the depths of the system in his mind.

[Ding! Access to the Three Thousand White Horse Cavalry has been unlocked. You can summon these underworld warriors to fight for you on the battlefield at any time!]

The notification tone finally sounded!

After waiting for so long, the three thousand White Horse Cavalry can finally step forward!

But the smile on Han Ye's lips was not one of joy, but rather one of extreme bitterness.

We're too late...

If it had happened earlier, the disaster in Dingzhou, the death of Zhongfang, and the blood feud of millions of people on the border—perhaps it wouldn't have dragged on until today.

But he harbored no resentment; he simply whispered, "Wait a little longer..."

"Wait two more days."

"Two days from now will be the day we pay for our blood debt."

These words sound like a soliloquy, but they are actually a promise he made to the soldiers who have fallen into the underworld.

His Azure Dragon Spear once drank the blood of enemy chieftains amidst mountains of corpses and seas of blood;

His demon mask once made barbarian children stop crying at the mere mention of it;

His Red Hare steed traversed thousands of miles of land, leaving countless souls dead beneath its hooves;

His blood-stained clothes were still wet, and his fighting spirit was still strong.

He was telling them—

Don't worry, it'll be quick.

Before long, you will be able to be reborn with a smile and depart without regrets.

[Ding-dong! New review request has arrived—]

The system beeped again.

Han Ye clicked on it, his pupils suddenly contracted, and a layer of tears welled up in his eyes.

[Ding! Xiahou Dun, the Tiger and Leopard Iron Cavalry, has applied for reincarnation and is awaiting approval...]

[Ding! Zhong Fang, a citizen of the Tang Dynasty, has applied for reincarnation and is awaiting approval...]

[Ding! Liu Chi, a citizen of the Tang Dynasty, has applied for reincarnation and is awaiting approval...]

[Ding! Ding! Ding! Ding!]

It seemed as if fate had its own plan—

All those who were connected to him by blood and were willing to die for him suddenly submitted applications for reincarnation!

Their souls lingered in the underworld for a long time, because their obsessions had not yet subsided.

Now, the time has finally come to a conclusion.

But Han Ye gritted his teeth and fiercely traced the word "rejection" with his fingertips.

"Wait a little longer!"

Hot tears fell onto his palm, but he forced a cold laugh.

It's not that I'm heartless, but that I can't bear to.

He wanted them to leave peacefully, happily, and with smiles on their faces!

Two more days! Just two more days!

He would personally place the head of his enemy on the altar, so that all the unjustly killed souls could witness it—

In the end, they protected this world!

—Just as Han Ye made his vow, the Imperial Study in the palace was brightly lit, as if it were daytime.

Li Shimin sat upright before the dragon throne, his gaze sharp and piercing, and summoned his ministers to discuss matters.

He then proceeded to reveal all the tactics he had discussed with Han Ye the previous night!

In an instant, the entire hall erupted in uproar!

"A surprise attack?!"

"Are the garrisons in Dingzhou and Youzhou just empty shells? Or are they just bluffing?"

"The real main force is hidden among the refugees, launching a sudden counterattack during their retreat?!"

"With only 5,000 soldiers, they disguised themselves as an army of 500,000 and feigned a retreat from Khagan Jieli?!"

"hiss--"

The courtiers gasped, their spines tingling.

What a ruthless scheme!

Every step is fraught with danger, each step is interconnected, and all are desperate measures to survive!

But unfortunately... every move he made was aimed directly at the Turks' Achilles' heel!

The group exchanged bewildered glances, but their eyes blazed with intense desire.

This is not a conspiracy, it's an open strategy! Using intelligence to overcome force, and deception to defeat strength!

Even more shocking is...

These astonishing strategies, Your Majesty actually came up with them in just one night?

Changsun Wuji frowned slightly and tentatively stepped forward: "Your Majesty, please forgive my intrusion... Could these brilliant strategies have come from the guidance of some master?"

Upon hearing this, Li Jing, Cheng Yaojin, and the others all pricked up their ears and held their breath.

Only Li Junxian's lips twitched, and he smiled bitterly to himself:

If you knew that all of this came from a boy who was not even twenty years old... you probably wouldn't even be able to sit still!

Li Shimin chuckled softly, his gaze deep and unfathomable.

That long talk that night not only changed the course of the battle, but also ignited the flames of war in his heart.

"A master?" He nodded slowly. "I suppose so."

Immediately, the emperor's imposing aura swept across the entire venue, his voice resolute and unwavering—

"The strategies just mentioned shall be implemented immediately! Preparations must be completed within one day!"

"tomorrow--"

"We will send troops to attack the Turks!"

boom!

The officials knelt in unison, their armor clanging, and roared in unison, "Yes, Your Majesty!!!"

The war drums are about to sound.

But just as the crowd was in high spirits, Changsun Wuji spoke again, his expression grave:

"Your Majesty... there is still one matter unresolved."

Li Shimin's pupils contracted, and his voice suddenly rose: "What's the problem?!"

Changsun Wuji slowly unfurled the map, his fingertip tracing the northern desert line, his eyes gleaming like iron: "Your Majesty's plan is brilliant—using refugees as cover, concealing a surprise force unseen, waiting for the enemy to relax their guard, then suddenly turning back to strike directly at the Khan's camp!"

He paused, then changed the subject, his voice turning cold as he pressed, "But the problem is... who can take on the role of commander for this surprise attack?!"

boom--!

The air seemed to explode, and the hall fell into a deathly silence.

Everyone held their breath.

yes……

The strategy may be considered a decisive move, but the person who executes it is the key to the entire game.

Who can shoulder this heavy responsibility?!

This person must not only possess extraordinary courage, but also unparalleled cunning; the slightest mistake will lead to utter ruin!

This battle is not only a contest of national destiny, but also a gamble for life and death!

Li Jing and Cheng Yaojin are both unusable – their identities are too important, and they have long been watched by Turkic spies, with their every move under the enemy's watchful eye!

So... who's left?!