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

"I humbly request your guidance, Lord Wei," Li Yuanchang said, bowing respectfully.

"In the Second World War against Goguryeo, Your Highness, don't lose too quickly, nor win too early," Li Jing said earnestly.

Li Yuanchang looked up, his eyes gleaming.

What does it mean to not lose too quickly, and not win too early?

He looked at Li Jing.

But Li Jing did not intend to elaborate further: "Your Highness, just remember these words. I believe that with Your Highness's abilities, you should be able to turn misfortune into good fortune and have everything go smoothly."

"..."

It was already afternoon when we left the Duke of Wei's mansion.

Li Yuanchang kept hearing Li Jing's words: "Don't lose too quickly, and don't win too early."

Is this just stalling for time?

He left with the Six Armor Mirror in his hand.

The last to say goodbye was Yin Yao from Changhong Temple.

No matter how noisy the outside world is, this place remains forever quiet and serene.

This place was originally a place of imprisonment, a place exclusively for Consort Yin, where no outsiders would disturb her. But instead, it became a place for Li Yuanchang and Yin Yao to meet in secret.

at night.

The ancient temple was quiet, but not gloomy; the lights were still on in the meditation rooms.

Heavy breathing echoed and mingled.

With a shiver, Yin Yao felt it, slowly opened her misty eyes, and gradually regained consciousness.

With difficulty, he reached out and wiped the sweat from Li Yuanchang's forehead.

Then he sighed helplessly.

"What's wrong?" Li Yuanchang looked down at her, admiring her rosy and beautiful face.

Yin Yao hesitated, her red lips parted as if she wanted to say something, but things had already come to this point, and she was too embarrassed to bring up those shameful topics.

"fine."

"Just wash it in a bit."

Li Yuanchang understood immediately and chuckled.

Yin Yao glared at him, revealing a rare display of feminine emotions, completely different from when she was fasting and chanting Buddhist scriptures.

When a woman's personality is so contrasting, that's a charm that transcends mere physical appearance.

Li Yuanchang lowered his head and kissed him again, almost biting him off completely.

Yin Yao had difficulty breathing several times and finally managed to push away Li Yuanchang's chest.

Are you leaving tonight?

"I'm not leaving. I'll stay with you for one night. I'll depart for Tongguan the day after tomorrow, and then head to Goguryeo," Li Yuanchang said.

Yin Yao looked reluctant upon hearing this, but more than that, she was worried.

She understood that this relationship was not right, so she never asked for too much, but her worries about Li Yuanchang grew day by day.

She would rather never see him again than receive the devastating news of Li Yuanchang's death.

She embraced Li Yuanchang, their snow-white skin and bronze muscles pressed tightly together, their intertwined fingers creating a captivating and intense sexual tension.

"I will pray for you before the Buddha."

"Until you return safely."

Li Yuanchang felt her gentleness and unique mature charm: "Okay."

"However, I have one more request."

Yin Yao looked up in surprise. Why was he suddenly being so polite?

"What's wrong?"

"That nun's robe is nice. I wonder what you would look like in it," Li Yuanchang blurted out, a sly smile playing on his lips.

Yin Yao looked over and saw a very ordinary nun's robe, light blue, draped over the screen, which she usually wore when she worshipped Buddha and chanted sutras.

"You..." Her voice trailed off, somewhat uncertain, but she sensed a hint of malice in Li Yuanchang's smile.

"Ahem." Li Yuanchang coughed softly.

Seeing his guilty look, Yin Yao was completely certain of what he was up to, and was immediately shocked by Li Yuanchang's peculiar habit.

I was speechless, embarrassed, and a little ashamed, but in the end I made myself laugh.

"Then let me get up first."

Li Yuanchang's eyes lit up instantly.

"..."

The following day, he took the entire household to enjoy the spring scenery outside Chang'an City, and did not return home until late at night.

This is a wonderful day for family reunion, but after the joy comes separation.

To avoid upsetting his family, he deliberately got up before dawn, went through the backyard to check on each of his sleeping children, and then mounted his horse with the help of women like Situ Lan.

There weren't many words exchanged at the parting; Li Yuanchang simply promised that he would return in two years at most.

Situ Lan and the others did not shed tears, and kept saying that they would take good care of the family and that Li Yuanchang should not worry.

But as soon as he left, tears instantly streamed down my face.

Li Yuanchang did not turn back, fearing that he would not be able to bear it if he did, but he had to do something more important. Only in this way could he protect the entire government and ensure that no one would have to be separated in the future.

Even the slightest political risk can change the fate of countless people.

three days later.

Tongguan.

As a major gateway to Chang'an, this place has witnessed too many historical events since ancient times.

And now there's one more thing.

The troops from Kyushu Prefecture joined forces here, ostensibly to reinforce the defense of the border, but in reality, it was a second offensive against Goguryeo.

This was at least a year earlier than the second offensive in history, and it was not a feint.

On the training ground in the suburbs, military flags fluttered, and the dark mass of soldiers resembled a vast ocean, creating a powerful visual impact of 20,000 troops.

This is something that later TV dramas could not have filmed.

Novels often depict armies of hundreds of thousands, but in reality, a few thousand cavalrymen deployed together could blot out the sky.

"This humble officer, Wan Jun, Military Advisor of Liangzhou, pays his respects to the King of Han!"

"This humble officer, Liao Jie, Military Advisor of Fengzhou, pays his respects to the Prince of Han!"

"This humble official, Cao Hong, Commandant of Xingzhou's Garrison, pays his respects to the Prince of Han!"

"..."

The leaders of the Kyushu Prefecture soldiers all stepped forward and bowed.

The soldiers in the Ping Army were all nearly forty years old. They had been leading troops or farming for many years. They were all dark-skinned and burly, and were the backbone of the Tang Dynasty's military forces.

Li Yuanchang saw many familiar faces, especially Wan Jun and Song Yu, whom he hadn't seen for many years.

Wan Jun has shaken off his decadence, and his flabby body has long since been transformed into an impenetrable fortress.

Having served as a staff officer in the army for many years, Song Yu has shed his bookishness and become more composed and mature through experience.

The eight thousand soldiers from Liangzhou were clearly the most eye-catching sight among the twenty thousand troops, easily distinguishable at a glance.

They were full of energy, with sharp eyes, no potbellies, all lean and muscular, the result of long-term and extensive field training.

Standing there, they exuded the aura of a 21st-century modern military.

On the training ground, soldiers from the other eight prefectures all cast sidelong glances and whispered among themselves.

"Is this the strongest force in the anti-bandit campaign in Shannan West Circuit?"

Li Yuanchang surveyed the area, his gaze meeting that of many Liangzhou soldiers.

He was very pleased and proud; these were his own protégés whom he had personally nurtured!

The soldiers from Liangzhou looked up with pride and excitement, as if they were being inspected by their faith.

"good!"

"very good!"

"With talents like you, how could the Tang Dynasty not prosper!"

Li Yuanchang's current status and prestige mean that his words are practically law.

The soldiers of Kyushu Prefecture shouted excitedly in unison, "Long live the Tang Dynasty! Long live the Tang Dynasty!!"

The sound shook the heavens and the earth, alarming the garrison troops at Tongguan. If they hadn't received orders in advance, they probably would have thought there was a rebellion.