In my dream of returning to the Tang Dynasty, I snatched Wu Zetian from my lap.

March 6th.

Several more days passed, and apart from the scouts setting off, the allied forces had not yet broken camp, but the atmosphere of war was becoming increasingly intense.

All three branches of the armed forces are making preparations in full swing.

On this day, Li Yuanchang sat in the general's camp and heard the deafening shouts from afar.

"What's going on outside?"

After running out to check, Guo Chao immediately returned and reported: "Your Highness, it is Cheng Chuliang wrestling with Huang Tu, and there is a disturbance in the military camp."

Upon hearing this, Li Yuanchang raised an eyebrow, put down his pen and ink, and then stood up, looking quite interested.

"Let's go take a look."

"yes!"

Upon arriving at the training ground, one finds a massive, dark mass of people, turning the area into a veritable "colosseum."

Few people noticed Li Yuanchang's arrival.

He managed to squeeze a path through the crowd and reach the inner perimeter.

Cheng Chuliang, shirtless, stood like an iron tower, locked in a fierce struggle with Huang Tu, who was like a humanoid beast, as they rolled and tumbled together, creating a visually striking scene.

It was a duel between two wild beasts. The two were about the same size, but Huang Tu was clearly a head taller and much larger.

The two of them stirred up the grass with their four feet until it was bare, their strength was terrifying.

Shouts filled the air all around, some calling out Huang Tu's name, others calling out Cheng Chuliang's. Both sides waved flags and shouted, creating a lively atmosphere.

"Your Highness, will something bad happen?" Guo Chao asked worriedly.

Li Yuanchang laughed and said, "It's nothing, just a wrestling match. Neither of us will hurt the other."

He also looked on with amusement, as Cheng Chuliang's brute strength was well-known, having inherited Cheng Yaojin's mantle.

And Huangtu is even more so, the chieftain of a mountain tribe who makes a living by hunting tigers and giant beasts.

He wanted to see who was stronger.

Upon hearing this, no one dared to say anything more and all watched from the sidelines.

"Ah!!" Cheng Chuliang roared, his veins bulging, and grabbed Huang Tu's waist with both hands, attempting to use brute force to pull him up from the ground.

Its loud voice is so powerful it hurts people's eardrums.

Huangtu's foot was lifted off the ground.

The crowd of onlookers gasped in surprise, holding their breath for Huang Tu.

But the next second, Huang Tu's thigh muscles bulged like a rock, and while struggling to steady himself, he used his arms to break free from Cheng Chuliang's bear hug.

Cheng Chuliang's eyes widened, and they were bloodshot.

Huang Tu failed the first time, but with a second burst of strength, he broke free in one go.

Then, with extremely agile steps, she turned around and hugged Cheng Chuliang's side waist.

Upon seeing this, Li Yuanchang's eyes widened in surprise. How could such a large creature possess such speed?

"Ah!" Cheng Chuliang immediately struggled, his strength was so great that it frightened the onlookers. He tried to throw Huang Tu over several times, but ultimately failed.

"Chu Liang is going to lose," Li Yuanchang muttered. "The first peak, the second decline, and the third exhaustion" is how military texts describe the morale of an army.

The same principle applies to people.

Before he could even finish speaking, Guo Chao and the others had a chance to say anything.

boom! !

Cheng Chuliang's towering body was thrown backward and slammed heavily to the ground.

The crowd erupted in cheers, shouting the name of Huangtu.

Huang Tu, having overpowered Cheng Chuliang, was also panting heavily: "Brother Cheng, you've lost."

Cheng Chuliang couldn't understand what the other party was saying at all. His face turned red, and he felt embarrassed in front of so many subordinates. He was very unconvinced.

"No, no, let's try again!"

He fell so hard, yet he got up as if nothing had happened and even tried to fight back.

"Chu Liang!" Li Yuanchang called out in time and walked out.

Only then did the excited army realize that Li Yuanchang had arrived. They all stiffened and knelt down to pay their respects: "We greet Your Highness!"

"Big brother!"

"Your Highness!"

Cheng Chuliang and Huang Tu stepped forward and clasped their hands in greeting.

Li Yuanchang laughed and said, "Chuliang, if you lose, you lose. I'm watching, so you're not allowed to cheat."

Cheng Chuliang's dark face flushed red: "Brother, I just slipped. Let's try again, I definitely won't lose!"

Huang Tu couldn't understand Chinese and relied on translators for daily life, but he felt that Cheng Chuliang was not convinced.

"A loss is a loss, there's no such thing as reneging on a debt. If you lose this time, you can win it back next time," Li Yuanchang said.

Cheng Chuliang was only twenty-two years old, but Huang Tu was already thirty-four.

Judging from his age, Cheng Chuliang clearly has a lot of room for advancement. Temporary gains and losses really don't mean anything. Both of them are quite abnormal.

Although Cheng Chuliang was dissatisfied, he couldn't say anything more.

"Let's compete again tomorrow!"

Upon hearing this, everyone was both amused and exasperated.

Upon hearing the translation, Huang Tu chuckled and said, "Okay, no problem, anytime!"

Li Yuanchang nodded to himself. Although Huangtu had always lived a semi-primitive life, he had a very good and steady character. He felt he had struck gold.

Just then, he was about to say something.

"Report!!"

A guard rushed in: "Your Highness, a letter from the western front camp!"

Li Yuanchang's eyes lit up. He had been waiting for Li Ji's reply for the past few days. He quickly opened it, saw the contents, and immediately burst out laughing.

"Hahaha!"

"Your Highness, has the Grand Steward agreed to our frontal attack?" The generals gathered around, their eyes gleaming.

Everyone knows the four major military achievements on the battlefield, all of which can only be achieved through frontal combat. No matter how well you do flanking maneuvers or logistical harassment, they can't compare to frontal combat.

"I didn't agree." Li Yuanchang shook his head.

"what?"

Everyone was disappointed and taken aback.

"But we have a chance now," Li Yuanchang said with a smile.

"Your Highness, what do you mean?"

"Don't ask any questions yet. All officers of the rank of Commander-in-Chief and above, assemble immediately in the main tent. I am about to convene a military conference!" Li Yuanchang shouted, his actions swift and decisive.

"yes!!"

Everyone clasped their hands in a fist salute.

Before long, the camp was already overflowing with people, mostly of Hu (non-Han) appearance, from the twenty-eight tribes.

Li Yuanchang personally appointed a commander for each tribe, and Li Ji also promoted Cheng Chuliang, Yuchi Baoqi, Tu Sitong and other key generals who fought against the Shatuo army.

Although this coalition was cobbled together, it was indeed a complete unit.

As soon as Li Yuanchang arrived, everyone solemnly clasped their hands in a fist salute, making a resounding sound.

He looked around and gestured for people to sit down.

Then he said, "Just now, I received permission from the Grand Steward that our army can make its own decision to send troops to the flank. If there is an opportunity, there is no need to report to the main camp."

Upon hearing this, an uproar erupted.

"Your Highness, then... then does that mean we can only stay on the sidelines?" Yu Chi Baoqi frowned.

"That's the gist of it, but the Grand Commander has already given us permission to send troops on our own. Opportunities are always given to us," Li Yuanchang said with a smile.

"Your Highness, do you already have a plan?" Kou Zhu asked curiously.

Li Yuanchang nodded, and then took out a route map that he had prepared in advance.

"I am just like you, I have no interest in wasting time with the Xueyantuo people. You advance, I retreat; I retreat, you advance."

"This king has made his decision!"

He deliberately dragged out his words, keeping everyone in suspense.