The immortal of the Tang Dynasty, but the game starts at Xuanwu Gate?

"Your Highness, what are you still hesitating about? What nonsense about 'Venus Traversing the Sky'? It's just a pretext!"

Inside the Prince of Qin's residence, a large group of people were gathered. Zhang Gongjin clenched his fist and said, "Does Your Highness not understand? At this moment, the Turks are launching a major offensive, and Crown Prince Li Jiancheng has seized the opportunity to recommend Prince Qi to lead the expedition!"

"More importantly, the King of Qi not only wants to mobilize the elite troops of your Qin Prince's Mansion, but also specifically requests four generals from the Qin Prince's Mansion—Yuchi Jingde, Qin Shubao, Cheng Zhijie (Cheng Yaojin), and Duan Zhixuan—to accompany him on the expedition."

"This is not only to deal with the Turks, but also to strip you of your military power and your core group!"

"Yes, Your Highness!" Changsun Wuji immediately chimed in, "Moreover, our informant, Wang Zhi, planted beside the Crown Prince, has already sent back information. His plan is to first seize your military power, then ambush and assassinate you, wiping us all out in one fell swoop!"

"By this point, the conflict between us has reached an irreconcilable stage; it's a fight to the death!"

"Your Highness, give the order!"

The bearded Yuchi Gong said, "Your Highness, to be frank, without any hidden agendas, we follow you through thick and thin for wealth and honor!"

"If we're destined to die, then... I'll take my leave!"

The others then offered their advice and comfort.

All of these were orders given by Li Shimin.

Li Shimin, who was at the head of the group, stood in the hall, listening to the words of his many subordinates. He took a deep breath and glanced at Yuchi Gong.

Although this guy looks big and rough on the surface, he is actually very thoughtful.

This simple truth completely exposes what everyone is tacitly aware of.

At the same time, it was also telling Li Shimin that the situation had reached its most critical moment.

His own wife and children, as well as the wives, children, and elderly of his many subordinates, and their future prospects, all depended on his single thought.

Li Shimin tried to remain calm and make his voice sound even: "The Crown Prince... holds the power to command the troops in the capital, and has two thousand soldiers under his command. Even the Prince of Qi now has the power to conquer the eighteen tribes of the grasslands."

"Currently, our Qin Prince's Mansion has a maximum of eight hundred people!"

Changsun Wuji said without hesitation, "What's there to be afraid of? Things have come to this point, and the Crown Prince has used the celestial phenomena to falsely accuse us of treason."

"If we really go to the palace for a confrontation tomorrow, it will be disadvantageous for us, and it will be disadvantageous for His Highness!"

"Gossip is a fearsome thing; once the news gets out, we'll have no chance of turning things around!"

"Eight hundred people it is. We'll strike first!"

Changsun Wuji's uncle, Gao Shilian, said in a deep voice, "Your Highness, forgive my bluntness, but from the time we raised an army against the Sui Dynasty to the establishment of the Tang Dynasty, we have experienced countless hardships and tribulations!"

"We've worked so hard to achieve what we have today, but if we make a single wrong decision, all our years of effort will be wasted and vanish in an instant!"

"Who can accept this?"

"Eight hundred it is, Your Highness, proceed!"

Hou Junji was extremely excited: "Your Highness, we can't hesitate any longer, let's do it!"

"That's right, Your Highness!" Qin Shubao gritted his teeth and said, "We are willing to repay this with our lives. We can't hesitate any longer, let's go fight!"

Inside the Qin Prince's mansion, the crowd instantly became agitated.

Li Shimin looked around at the people, about to speak, when Zhang Gongjin pointed directly at him and declared with absolute certainty: "You are the true Emperor of Peace!"

In an instant, as soon as Zhang Gongjin finished speaking, everyone in the mansion responded immediately and knelt down without the slightest hesitation!

"Yes, Your Highness, you are the true Emperor of Peace!"

"You are the emperor..."

"A peaceful emperor..."

"Your Highness!" Zhang Gongjin seized the opportunity to exchange a glance with Changsun Wuji, then immediately clasped his hands in a fist and said, "Your Highness, I'll perform the divination!"

As he spoke, Zhang Gongjin took out a tortoise shell, preparing to cast a divination, when Changsun Wuji, understanding his intention, kicked the tortoise shell away!

"Serve divination?"

"What kind of divination is this!"

"If the divination results are bad, does that mean we shouldn't fight?"

These words immediately gained everyone's approval and finally made Li Shimin make up his mind.

He remained silent, gazing intently at his many subordinates, before instantly drawing the Qin King's sword and holding it before him.

Changsun Wuji was the first to stand up and place his hand on it. The others had been waiting for this moment, so they didn't hesitate.

At this moment, we are united as one!

"Excellent!" Yuchi Gong exclaimed joyfully. "With the King of Qin wielding his bow, Yuchi Jingde his spear, and Qin Shubao his lance, who in this world can stand against them?"

Hearing this, Li Shimin felt somewhat comforted and immediately stopped hesitating, saying in a low voice, "Pass on my order: all those who have served in the Prince of Qin's residence or the Tian Ce Mansion, as well as those who have served in those residences, must come to me as quickly as possible."

"Especially Du Ruhui and Fang Xuanling!"

"If they refuse to come... then bring their heads to me!"

"Okay." Someone immediately agreed and went to carry out the order.

Li Shimin continued, "We only have eight hundred men in Chang'an, but we need to keep one hundred men in the Prince of Qin's residence. That means we only have seven hundred men available to use!"

Gao Shilian suddenly stepped forward: "I can go to the Chang'an prison, organize the officials and soldiers, release hundreds of prisoners, and urgently arm them to form an army!"

"At that time, I will meet you again at Xuanwu Gate."

"Prisoners?" Li Shimin asked with a hint of doubt.

Gao Shilian nodded emphatically: "Don't worry, I wouldn't have offered such an opinion if I wasn't absolutely certain."

"Extraordinary times call for extraordinary measures!"

"Who cares if they're prisoners or not, as long as they can be used by us tomorrow!"

Li Shimin pondered for a moment, then nodded slightly: "Good."

Next, everyone sat down again to discuss the details of launching the uprising, striving to make it perfect.

The night was as dark as ink, and the full moon in the sky seemed to sense the unease of the night, quietly drawing in a dark cloud to obscure its light.

The lights in the Prince of Qin's mansion remained on all night, and the voices inside rose and fell, occasionally mingling with the clanging of swords being drawn.

No one knows whether tomorrow will bring them fame in history or utter ruin.

But everyone knew that this battle was unavoidable.

"..."

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