Transmigrated into Li Chengqian, he effortlessly ascended the throne and became emperor.

However, when this urgent military intelligence was sent by galloping messenger to the Tang imperial camp, the atmosphere inside the central command tent was as relaxed as if they were preparing for a spring hunt.

In front of the huge sand table, Li Shimin showed no signs of tension at the sight of an impending attack, nor did he immediately deploy defenses. Instead, he turned his head with great interest to look at the Crown Prince sitting on a brocade couch to the side.

Li Chengqian, being very polite, began to praise: "Father's might shakes the four seas. Let alone 150,000, even 500,000 would be nothing but chickens and dogs in front of a commander as unparalleled as Father."

Li Shimin was deeply touched by his beloved son's words.

"Gao Ming is absolutely right. As the art of war says, know yourself and know your enemy. If I were Gao Yanshou, facing the might of my Great Tang Dynasty and holding this army of 150,000, I would have no choice but to devise three strategies: superior, medium, and inferior."

"Firstly, lead the army directly to the walls of Anshi City, build fortifications using the strategic terrain, and coordinate with the city's defenders. Rely on stored grain to defend the city to the death, and secretly send out Mohe cavalry to harass our supply lines, thus waging a protracted war of attrition against me. This is the best strategy."

Changsun Wuji stroked his beard and agreed: "If the enemy is like this, our army will be facing a major problem in transporting supplies on a long expedition."

"Secondly," Li Shimin continued, "we should move all military and civilian supplies from Anshi City, implement a scorched-earth policy, and have the main army retreat overnight, not engaging our army in a battle for even a day. This is the middle strategy."

The generals inside the tent held their breath and focused intently.

Li Shiji frowned and asked, "May I ask, Your Majesty, what is that worst possible strategy?"

"A poor strategy?" Li Shimin raised his head, as if he could see right through the enemy general's foolish head. "A poor strategy is to be so arrogant as to think that our forces outnumber us many times over, and to recklessly come and fight me to the death! Let them fight to the death!"

Li Chengqian held the hand warmer, a smile playing on his lips: "Then, in Father's opinion, which strategy would General Gao Yanshou choose?"

Li Shimin burst into laughter, predicting, "Gao Yanshou is ambitious but incompetent, arrogant and reckless. I dare say he will choose the worst course of action and eagerly walk into our trap!"

……

Once again, history unfolded exactly as Li Shimin had predicted.

Gao Yanshou truly did not disappoint the Tang Dynasty.

During the advance, the veteran Goguryeo general Gao Zhengyi pleaded with Li Shimin, offering a suggestion that was exactly the same as the best strategy he had proposed: halt the troops without fighting and plunder the Tang army's supply lines.

However, Gao Yanshou, who commanded 150,000 troops, was in a state of extreme excitement.

"Why be so cowardly when 150,000 men are facing tens of thousands of Tang soldiers?" Gao Yanshou decisively rejected the old general's earnest advice, and with a wave of his hand, led his mighty army to set up camp only forty miles away from Anshi City.

Just as they were about to gain a foothold, a Tang cavalry force of only a thousand men suddenly appeared in front of them.

Gao Yanshou was overjoyed upon seeing this and immediately dispatched his elite troops to attack.

The thousand-plus Tang soldiers were thrown into a panic and fled in disarray after a brief exchange of blows.

This caused the Goguryeo army to erupt in jubilation.

"Hahaha! Everyone says Li Shimin is a genius in warfare, but in my opinion, the Tang army isn't that great!" Gao Yanshou sat on his tall horse, looking around triumphantly, while his soldiers all wore expressions of fervor.

This group of foreign soldiers, blinded by optimism, followed closely behind and set up their battle formation at the foot of a mountain outside Anshi City.

Just as the army set up camp, the Tang army arrived.

Instead of a menacing soldier, a refined and cultured envoy from the Tang Dynasty arrived.

The envoy stood inside Gao Yanshou's tent, his attitude extremely humble, even tinged with a hint of helplessness: "My Emperor has sent me to deliver a message—the Tang Dynasty's military campaign this time is entirely due to the assassination of your esteemed minister Yeon Gaesomun, and we have come to demand justice. As for fighting, it was never the Tang Dynasty's intention. It was only because we have been short of supplies since entering your borders that we were forced to capture several cities to maintain our military provisions. As long as your country is willing to make peace and restore the rites of submission, the Tang Dynasty will surely return all these cities to you."

This statement was arguably the most clumsy lie Li Shimin ever told.

Hundreds of thousands of Tang Dynasty troops crossed the sea and mountains, and catapults smashed down countless city walls. Now they say it was just a misunderstanding caused by not bringing enough dry rations?

However, Gao Yanshou once again lived up to Li Shimin's expectations; he believed him.

With such a foolish and naive commander, it would be an injustice if Goguryeo didn't suffer a defeat.

……

As night fell, the Goguryeo camp was immersed in a state of relaxation and arrogance.

Meanwhile, in the Tang imperial camp not far from them, torches illuminated the central command tent as bright as day.

Li Shimin removed his full armor, revealing his heroic bearing. After surveying the generals in the tent, he swiftly issued the most deadly battle plan for this land of Liaodong.

"Li Shiji!"

"Your subject is here!"

"You will lead 15,000 infantry and cavalry, and array yourself at Xiling early tomorrow morning. Your mission is singular—to draw Gao Yanshou's main force to its knees, making him believe that you are all of Tang Dynasty's trump cards!"

"As you command!"

"Changsun Wuji!"

"Your subject is here!"

"You will lead 11,000 elite troops, the army's surprise force! Tonight, under the cover of darkness, quietly slip out of the northern valley and, at top speed, outflank the enemy from behind, launching a grand encirclement!"

Changsun Wuji clasped his hands and shouted, "Your subject will surely cut off the enemy's retreat, leaving them no way to escape!"

Li Shimin strode back to his command seat and slammed his hand on the desk: "I will personally lead four thousand iron cavalry to garrison on the northern mountain, serving as the command center for the entire army!"

"For this battle, all troops are to lie in wait. Once the drums and horns sound in unison from the northern mountains and the Tang Dynasty's dragon banner is waved, you must launch a simultaneous attack and strike the enemy with all your might! There must be no mistakes!"

"Yes, sir!" the generals roared in unison, their voices shaking the heavens.

Before leaving, Li Shimin seemed to remember something and turned to look at Li Chengqian, who was sitting quietly to the side.

Li Chengqian stood up very shrewdly and assured his father, "Father, you have made a great plan. I will prepare fresh tea in the tent and await your triumphant return."

Li Shimin's heart warmed, and he immediately issued his final order with boundless enthusiasm: "Send out the decree! Immediately set up a large tent next to the court! Prepare for tomorrow's surrender!"

Upon hearing this, all the generals in the tent were filled with fervor.

……

On the 22nd day of the sixth month of the 19th year of Zhenguan, the morning mist had not yet dissipated.

Gao Yanshou stepped out of his tent early in the morning and looked into the distance. Sure enough, he found that Li Shiji had led more than 10,000 troops into a strict formation below the Western Ridge.

Standing on high ground, Gao Yanshou carefully observed the Tang army's formation from above and couldn't help but burst into wild laughter.

"Hahaha! Li Shimin is utterly at his wit's end! A mere ten thousand men dare to stand against the might of my 150,000-strong army?"

According to his observation, the Tang army was not only small in number, but also had no reinforcements from the rear.

Mr. Gao decisively issued the order for a general offensive—it would be a real shame not to take advantage of this opportunity.

Accompanied by the dull sound of horns, the 150,000-strong Goguryeo army poured out like a flood bursting its banks. The enemy troops roared and brandished their weapons as they swarmed forward, charging madly towards the outnumbered and outmatched Li Shiji army.

Smoke billowed and the sounds of battle shook the heavens.

Gao Yanshou stood on his horse at the rear of the formation, seemingly already seeing the goddess of victory beckoning to him.

As long as he can crush these 10,000-plus people and capture the Tang emperor alive, the extraordinary feat will fall into his hands!

However, Gao Yanshou probably misunderstood the goddess's meaning; that gesture wasn't "hello," but rather "bye-bye."

Just as the entire Goguryeo army launched its charge and its rear was extremely vulnerable, the remaining soldiers who had been lying in ambush in the North Mountain Valley finally opened their eyes.

Changsun Wuji led 11,000 elite troops, who, like divine soldiers descending from the heavens, silently completed the final tactical infiltration, like an extremely sharp dagger, fiercely pressing against the back of Gao Yanshou's 150,000-strong army.

The summit of Beishan Mountain.

Emperor Li Shimin of the Tang Dynasty, clad in black armor, rode a magnificent warhorse.

Once he was certain that Changsun Wuji had entered the designated attack position and completely blocked the enemy's retreat, Li Shimin ordered: "Beat the drums! Sound the horns! Raise the dragon flag!"

"Thump! Thump! Thump—!!!"

A tremendous war drumbeat, shaking the heavens and earth, suddenly boomed from the summit of the northern mountain.

The mournful sound of horns tore through the harsh winds of Liaodong, and a huge, crimson Tang Dynasty military flag embroidered with golden dragons fluttered in the wind at the highest point of the northern mountain.

In this way, the seemingly deserted mountains, forests, canyons, and wilderness were instantly transformed into countless Tang Dynasty armored vehicles.

Hidden in various locations, the Tang army launched its fiercest and most deadly offensive from different directions and terrains, almost simultaneously, towards the same target trapped in the net.