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

After leaving the palace, Li Yuanchang immediately rescued one or two hundred people from the mountain tribe and brought them back to the Prince of Han's residence.

Everyone in the Prince of Han's mansion breathed a sigh of relief.

Although the person returned, a shadow remained over the Han Prince's Mansion.

In addition, Li Yuanchang also took on a difficult task.

When he voluntarily signed the pledge, the matter was completely his.

If nothing unexpected happens, Li Yuanchang estimates that this matter will most likely be approved, because he only needs 20,000 men to destroy Goguryeo in two years.

Such war expenditures, though they may sound like a pipe dream, were at least acceptable to the Tang Dynasty's high command.

It all depends on Li Shimin's ambition.

This wait lasted for three whole days.

Li Yuanchang was not summoned until the fourth day.

This time, it was still just Li Shimin alone.

But Li Yuanchang knew very well that he must have discussed this matter with many people in the past three days, at least to communicate with the Political Affairs Hall and test their attitude.

"Please take a seat," Li Shimin said, waving his hand.

Li Yuanchang sat down.

"I have already discussed this matter with many people. Do you know what they said?" Li Shimin got straight to the point.

Li Yuanchang shook his head.

Li Jing said the odds of winning were no more than 20%.

"Li Ji said the odds of winning were no more than 10%."

"What do you think?" Li Shimin asked mercilessly, which was practically a death sentence for these two, who were among the Ten Sages of the Temple of Martial Arts.

They all felt that with only a 10% or 20% chance, why bother fighting?

Moreover, these figures are, frankly speaking, rather conservative, figures given to save face.

Li Yuanchang calmly replied, "What you two, Lord Li, say is absolutely right."

Li Shimin narrowed his eyes: "Then you still dare to sign a military pledge."

Li Yuanchang said, "If we use the conventional approach, we only have a 10% or 20% chance of winning, or even no chance at all."

"The Tang army could be invincible and crush the enemy, but its combat effectiveness was greatly reduced due to the three major factors of terrain, weather and logistics."

"But these objective factors are not without solutions."

"Due to the terrain, cavalry cannot maneuver freely, but I have some knowledge of mountain warfare, and the mountain tribes are even more crucial."

"Weather issues can be addressed by deploying troops earlier and ending the campaign sooner to avoid the harshest winter."

"As for logistics, we can only optimize it, not completely solve it. The logistics problem is too long, as it is thousands of miles away."

"But if Xiang Yu could burn his boats and destroy his cauldrons, so can I."

"Only when you are in dire straits can you achieve your strongest form."

"This is a plan that I have written at home over the past three days. I hope Your Majesty will review it."

Li Shimin did not accept the offer, but instead kept testing Li Yuanchang to see if he was really that confident.

"If I really send you, Goguryeo can mobilize at least 200,000 troops, more than ten times yours, and they also have fortified cities. How are you going to fight them?"

"Anshi City, even with my army of over 100,000, I couldn't take it. What makes you think you can?"

Li Yuanchang looked up and glanced at Li Shimin.

He wasn't asking about plans, but about resolve.

What he wanted was not an absolute victory, but a desperate, all-out attack.

In order to prevent the Gaoshan tribe from being taken away again, and for the future of the entire Hanwang Mansion, Li Yuanchang had to go out!

He took a deep breath and declared arrogantly, "Two hundred thousand troops are like pigs and dogs. Without the weather and terrain, they are nothing."

"If you couldn't conquer it with an army of over 100,000, it's because of a strategic error. Give me 20,000 men, and I will take down Goguryeo for Your Majesty!"

"At that time, His Majesty will be the first person in history to expand the territory!"

boom!

Li Shimin was shocked, and the corner of his mouth twitched involuntarily. He dared to admit that his strategy had gone wrong.

But he wasn't angry; instead, he was attracted by Li Yuanchang's extreme arrogance.

The last big pancake really touched his heart.

Seeing that he remained silent for a long time, Li Yuanchang spoke again.

"I dare to swear on my life that we will fight to the death. When has Your Majesty ever been so indecisive?"

"The Zhenguan era was the most militarily capable dynasty!"

These words were like pulling a tiger's whiskers off its face.

Li Shimin was humiliated.

And from the side door, which was just one door away, came faint gasps of cold air.

Li Yuanchang looked over and saw someone there!

Seeing that he had been exposed, Li Shimin said directly, "You lot, come out here."

"yes!"

The door was suddenly pushed open.

Immediately afterwards, Changsun Wuji, Fang Xuanling, Li Ji, Ashina She'er, and even the reclusive Li Jing were all there!

These people were almost all top ministers who possessed real power, merit, and ability.

They all looked at Li Yuanchang with a hint of knowing what he was doing.

They wouldn't have believed it was true unless they heard it with their own ears and saw it with their own eyes.

"Alright, did you hear that now?"

"I wasn't lying, was I?"

"Was it the King of Han who proposed it? Did the King of Han boast that 20,000 men could sweep through Goguryeo in two years?"

"Is that so?" Li Shimin blew his beard and glared, as if he had been misunderstood.

Changsun Wuji and his group were embarrassed and bowed repeatedly, saying, "Yes, we misunderstood His Majesty and deserve to die!"

"Ignorance is no excuse, but the King of Han's words are indeed too outrageous. Even I would not believe them."

"What do you all have to say?" Li Shimin asked, adjusting his belt with both hands.

The group exchanged glances and fell silent, their faces filled with conflicted hesitation.

Even Fang Xuanling, who had a good relationship with Li Yuanchang, remained silent.

"Your Majesty, I feel this is inappropriate!" Changsun Wuji finally stepped forward.

Li Shimin gestured for him to continue.

Changsun Wuji frowned and said, "Even with His Majesty mobilizing over 100,000 of the main border troops, along with many of our dynasty's renowned generals, we still couldn't defeat Goguryeo."

"Even if they are also severely weakened, it's still impossible for 20,000 men to take them down."

"Although the national treasury can afford a limited deployment of 20,000 people, that's still 20,000 people, and it requires a large amount of food and supplies."

Li Yuanchang replied directly, "I will bring my own provisions!"

The five resounding words drew the attention of Li Jing and the others.

Changsun Wuji frowned: "King of Han, you mustn't act recklessly."

"Although you have achieved great military exploits, you have never been to Goguryeo. I am doing this for the sake of the Tang Dynasty. To put it bluntly, can you lead 20,000 men to defeat His Majesty's more than 100,000 men?"

Li Ji and the others' expressions changed slightly; these words were somewhat cutting.

A hint of coldness flashed in Li Yuanchang's eyes.

He knew what Changsun Wuji was thinking: he didn't want to control the military. If he really won, he would be even more difficult to deal with.

But Li Yuanchang must go to this battle!

He wanted to completely break free from Li Shimin's control. From the moment Li Shimin reached out to the Prince of Han's residence, the brotherly affection and respect were completely shattered.

"Lord Changsun, you are a civil official. Your concern is governing the country, managing finances and taxes, and ensuring national peace and prosperity. You should not interfere in matters of war."

One sentence from him made Changsun Wuji's face darken; it was an insult to his lack of expertise.

Li Yuanchang didn't give him a chance to speak, and continued, "If Goguryeo is not destroyed, the northeast of the Tang Dynasty will never be peaceful, and the reputation of the Heavenly Khan will be in jeopardy!"

"A limited investment of only 20,000 people, in exchange for the destruction of a nation, isn't that a worthwhile trade?"

"Your Majesty, you mustn't!" Changsun Wuji objected.