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

Since ancient times, the ascension of emperors to the throne has often been accompanied by auspicious omens of peace and prosperity throughout the land. However, Li Shimin was met with a monstrous wave that was enough to overturn the country.

Today marks the sixteenth day since Li Shimin ascended the throne. The air in the Liangyi Hall of Taiji Palace is so stagnant that it seems as if even the slightest sound could shatter the suffocating silence.

A huge map of Guanzhong was hung in the center, with marching routes marked on it in cinnabar. The route was shocking, like bloody rips that threatened the throat of Chang'an.

"Report—!"

A piercing howl shattered the tranquility outside the palace. Immediately afterward, a Ministry of War courier, his back adorned with a red plume, stumbled into the palace, covered in dust. "Your Majesty! Urgent report from the north! The Turkic Khaganate, led by Jieli Khan and Tuli Khan, has joined forces with an army of 200,000 and has already captured Jingzhou!"

Li Shimin's hand, which was reviewing memorials, suddenly stopped. A drop of ink fell from the tip of the brush, spreading into a dark ink flower on the rice paper.

"Jingzhou... Luo Yi's defense zone." Li Shimin's voice was low and unreadable. "Liang Shidu did indeed make a move. That rat in the gutter, if it weren't for him leading the way, how could the Turks' hooves have so accurately struck my weak spot!"

Where are the strikers now?

"Your Majesty! The Turkic cavalry are advancing at full speed, bypassing the fortified cities without attacking, and heading straight into the heart of the territory! They passed Wugong County yesterday and are now only a hundred li away from Chang'an!"

For the elite Turkic cavalry charging at full speed, a hundred li was merely a day and a night's journey.

The courtiers inside the palace erupted in uproar.

How can this be considered a border invasion?

Jieli Khan saw that the Tang Dynasty was undergoing a power transition and the people's hearts were not yet stable. He wanted to take advantage of Li Shimin's unstable position and swallow up the newly born Zhenguan era in one go!

Li Shimin suddenly stood up and strode to the map. He pressed his finger heavily on the two characters "武功" (martial arts) and then drew a line eastward.

"Gaoling..." he murmured to himself, his gaze sharp as a knife. "If I'm not mistaken, their vanguard scouts are probably already at Gaoling by now."

Seventy kilometers.

At that moment, Li Shimin seemed to hear the deafening sound of horses' hooves on the north bank of the Wei River and smell the sandstorm mixed with the smell of mutton and blood.

"Issue my decree!" Li Shimin turned around abruptly, "Yuchi Jingde!"

"Your subordinate is here!" Yuchi Jingde strode forward.

"Immediately muster all of Right Martial Marquis's cavalry. I hereby appoint you as the Commander-in-Chief of the Jingzhou Road Army. By whatever means you use, keep the Turkic vanguard pinned down in Jingyang! I don't need you to achieve a great victory; I only need you to blunt their momentum and show Jieli that the Tang Dynasty has no backbone!"

"Your subordinate obeys! If even one rider is allowed to pass through Jingyang, please behead me!" Yuchi Jing received the order and turned around, creating a gust of wind.

"Urgently dispatched imperial edict, summoning Li Jing, Grand Commander of Lingzhou, to return immediately to defend the capital!"

Imperial decrees were issued one after another, yet Li Shimin's brow remained furrowed.

The Turks were incredibly fast.

This is not just a matter of troop strength; it is the complete collapse of the Tang Dynasty's defense system.

……

Three days later, another battle report arrived.

"Report! General Yuchi encountered the vanguard of the Turks at Jingyang, fought a bloody battle, and beheaded over a thousand!"

The court breathed a slight sigh of relief; beheading a thousand was already a great victory in the skirmish.

However, the messenger's next words made everyone's hearts jump into their throats again.

"But... the main force of the Turks is relentless, like locusts swarming across the land, their wolf banners covering the mountains and plains! General Yuchi's forces are outnumbered, and although he has won, he cannot cut off the enemy's overwhelming tide. He has now been forced to switch to a defensive posture. The main force of the Turkic army... has already crossed Jingyang and is heading straight for the Wei River!"

Li Shimin closed his eyes and took a deep breath.

For Jieli, who commanded an army of 200,000, beheading a thousand was nothing more than a drop in the ocean.

It was now August 28th, just twenty days after Li Shimin ascended the throne.

In those twenty days, he didn't get a single good night's sleep.

In the study behind Xiande Hall, Li Shimin stared intently at the densely marked passes on the map, his face so gloomy it seemed as if water could drip from it.

"Your Majesty," Fang Xuanling said, his voice bitter, his usual composure gone, "the various fortresses in Guanzhong are garrisoned by twelve armies, totaling no less than two hundred thousand troops. Yet... apart from the Battle of Jingyang, not a single pass has been able to stop the Turks in the slightest. This..."

"What is this? Xuanling, are you trying to say that my 200,000-strong army is made of mud?" Li Shimin sneered, his laughter filled with self-mockery and anger.

Of course he knows why.

Of these 200,000 troops, how many were genuine "Tang soldiers"?

Li Shimin tapped his fingers heavily on the location of Binzhou, where the Tianji Army was stationed.

"Zhang Jin, the commander of the Tianji Army, is a senior minister of the retired emperor, with profound experience. A few days ago, in order to appease the people, I specially bestowed upon him the title of Champion General. Champion? Only Huo Qubing dared to call himself Champion after sealing the wolf's lair. What is Zhang Jin compared to that?"

A glint of savagery flashed in Li Shimin's eyes: "The Turkic army is pressing in, and he, with tens of thousands of troops, is cowering in Binzhou City, not daring to utter a single word! He watched helplessly as the Turks passed right under his nose and marched straight towards Chang'an! This is my Champion General!"

Du Ruhui whispered from the side, "Your Majesty, there's also Li Yi, the commander of the Tianjie Army... This man is elusive. Reports indicate that when the Turks invaded, he not only failed to stop them, but also seemed to be asking for passage. If he hadn't cleared the road, how could the Turks have arrived so smoothly?"

"Li Yi..." Li Shimin chewed on the name, his eyes revealing murderous intent. "I will skin him alive sooner or later."

A sudden external threat exposed the deep-seated problems within the Tang Dynasty, which had not yet healed, to the light of day.

Although Li Shimin won the Xuanwu Gate Incident, killing Li Yuanji and forcing Li Yuan to retreat, the Tang Dynasty he inherited was still internally fragmented.

Those former officials who held considerable military power and those warlords with ulterior motives were all watching and waiting.

They were waiting for the Turks to test the new emperor's abilities.

If Li Shimin had fallen by the Wei River, or if Chang'an had fallen, these people would have immediately become new separatist forces, or submitted to the Turks.

The so-called 200,000 troops stationed in Guanzhong were nothing more than a group of decorations that could only be looked at but not used.

"Your Majesty! Chang'an is currently sparsely defended. The Imperial Guards number only tens of thousands, and most of them are infantry. How can they possibly withstand two hundred thousand Turkic cavalry?" Changsun Wuji was sweating profusely with anxiety. "Should we...should we temporarily avoid their advance and move the capital..."

"shut up!"

Li Shimin turned around abruptly and interrupted Changsun Wuji's words with a sharp shout.

"Move the capital? Where should I move it? To Luoyang? Or to Jiangdu? If I back down today, the backbone of the Tang Dynasty will be broken!"

He walked to the window and looked north.

At this moment, standing on the high ground of the palace, one could vaguely see the billowing black smoke rising on the northern horizon.

"They think that I have just ascended the throne and my position is not yet secure, so they can manipulate me at will."

"Jieli wants to see me make a fool of myself by the Wei River, and wants me to kneel before him and beg for peace..."

"Issue my decree!" Li Shimin's voice instantly regained its coldness and composure. "Order that all four gates of Chang'an be closed and the entire city placed under martial law!"

"Order Gao Shilian to coordinate the able-bodied men in the city, distribute weapons from the treasury, and prepare for street fighting!"

"Order Fang Xuanling to remain in charge of the Secretariat. If anything happens to me..." He paused, not continuing, but simply waved his hand, "Go."

After the court officials left, only Li Shimin remained in the hall.

He slowly sat back on the dragon throne, his hand stroking the cold armrests.

Just then, a captain of the Imperial Guard rushed in to report, his expression strange and frightened.

"Your Majesty... Khan Jieli has sent an envoy, who is waiting outside the palace gates."

"Oh?" Li Shimin's lips curled into a playful smile. "You arrived quickly. What's your name?"

"...the power of thought is lost."