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

The overwhelming sense of oppression and suffocation from the sight of 200,000 troops besieging the city began to fill every crevice of heaven and earth, causing even the grass and trees to tremble with fear and the mountains and rivers to lose their color.

The main forces of both sides converged in Anshi City, and Li Yuanchang also personally attended the event, handing over the Central Prefecture to Su Gui and Xue Rengui to oversee.

It wasn't that he didn't trust Kim Min-da's military command abilities, but rather that he simply didn't intend to extend the battlefield to the rear.

His family and the entire army's logistical retreat route were located there; Li Ji must not be allowed to replicate any of his miracles.

Two tigers faced off, the air thick with tension.

As the long night passed, neither side's frontline troops dared to relax their vigilance.

As the sun slowly rose from the east and its light illuminated the earth, thousands upon thousands of military tents sprang up just six or seven miles outside Anshi City, like castles filling the horizon.

Li Ji's army has effectively blocked three directions of Anshi City and dispatched cavalry to cut off most of the routes that could reinforce Anshi City.

In just one night, Li Ji had completed all the pre-battle preparations.

Even the campsite was set up in a way that embraced the local mountains and rivers, making use of the terrain and setting up a military camp that resembled a pincer.

The undulating blind spots on all sides made it impossible to determine the exact distribution of the imperial army; once inside, it felt like entering a maze.

Unless you have the ability to achieve a dimensional reduction attack, going in is just suicide.

Li Ji's efficiency and ability were breathtaking and almost flawless!

"Waaaaah!!"

Suddenly, a heavy and desolate horn sounded without warning, as if it were a call from ancient times, piercing the deathly silence of the peninsula in the early morning.

In an instant, the fortress of Anshi City was fully restored, and the alarm sounded.

Even with prior preparations, the three armies were still in an uproar, tense and barely daring to breathe. The heads inside and outside the city walls, like bamboo shoots after a rain, were all solemn!

Behind the heavy city walls were countless archers, all on high alert, all holding their breath!

Crack!

The armor clanged, and a path parted on the city wall.

Li Yuanchang arrived with his men and looked down to see the military drums exploding like a thunderclap.

The massive, dark army was as terrifying as a zombie siege, its impact overwhelming, and every person's pupils were filled with images of clashing swords and galloping horses!

Sunlight shone on the armor, wind swept across the spears, and a chilling, suffocating atmosphere permeated the air.

A lone rider arrived, a general of the imperial court. He entered the range of arrows and was instantly targeted by countless people.

He rushed forward and roared with all his might, "Is Prince Li Yuanchang of Han here?!"

"General Li Ji cordially invites you to come out of the city for a chat!"

"Our army can retreat a thousand meters; we will not take this opportunity to attack!"

"If you dare to have a conversation, my commander-in-chief is willing to go alone on horseback!"

The sound echoed and lingered for a long time.

"No!"

"Don't believe it, it's a scam!"

"You cunning scoundrel, get back home!"

"..."

On the city wall, there were only voices of opposition.

Li Yuanchang laughed. Li Ji truly lived up to his reputation as a tactical master; every move he made was worthwhile. It was a match made in heaven.

Not going means not daring to go, which will have a significant impact on the morale of both sides.

If I go down, he won't suffer any losses, and he can still achieve his goal, or even launch a sudden attack.

"Don't rush."

Li Yuanchang reassured his men, then shouted down, "Then have your men retreat first."

"Who are you? Do you get to decide?" The Tang soldiers below the city were too far away to recognize Li Yuanchang.

"What do you think?" Li Yuanchang shouted, leaning half his body over the city wall, looking down from above, his black hair flying.

The general stiffened. "King of Han!"

Without saying a word, he rode back to deliver the message.

In just a short while, the imperial army began to retreat in an orderly manner, like a mudslide slowly receding, leaving a clearing of land over a kilometer long.

Outside the oppressive city of Anshi, there was suddenly more space, and the oppressive atmosphere was no longer so suffocating.

"They really quit!"

"Your Highness, look, who is that?"

The crowd gasped in surprise.

Li Yuanchang raised his binoculars and saw that while a large number of imperial troops were retreating, a lone rider was going against the flow. Instead of retreating, he was slowly advancing alone.

"Li Ji!"

Li Yuanchang frowned and confirmed again and again that it really was him.

"He really dares to do it all by himself!"

"Your Highness, I can kill him!"

"With Li Ji dead, the imperial army will surely be leaderless!"

Several generals immediately volunteered, their eyes serious and earnest, even somewhat fervent.

Killing the commander-in-chief Li Ji means winning half the battle!

Such a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity immediately attracted the attention of many generals, all of whom wanted to make this contribution.

"no!"

"Everyone, put away your bows and arrows!" Li Yuanchang shouted in a low voice, sternly refusing.

Seeing this, everyone was bewildered.

Li Yuanchang said, "Li Ji is dead, but Xue Wanche, Ashina She'er and others will continue. The war will continue; it cannot be stopped because of this."

"Our sneak attack will not only give us a bad reputation, but it will also completely enrage the imperial army, driving them into a frenzy, drawing power from hatred, and making them fight to the death."

"Li Ji is currently in command of the Tang army, which is the best situation for us, for those innocent civilians and soldiers. At least he has a sense of the big picture. If it were someone who only cares about their goals and is willing to do anything, we would be in big trouble."

"Furthermore, ambushing and killing is not my style!"

His attitude was firm, and the generals had no choice but to give up.

"yes!"

"Your Highness, we were foolish!"

"Prepare the horses, open the city gates! I wish to personally go out and meet Li Ji!"

"Your Highness, shall I escort you?"

"No need. Li Ji has already come alone. If I were to lead a troop out, wouldn't that diminish my prestige and morale?" Li Yuanchang said confidently and calmly.

"..."

A short while later, the city gate of Anshi suddenly opened a crack, and a fiery red warhorse galloped out.

At this moment, Li Ji was already waiting in the open space. When he saw the fiery red warhorse, his eyes focused, with a hint of complexity in them.

An absolute vacuum zone was formed on the open ground where two to three hundred thousand people from both sides were facing off.

Li Ji did not bring any men, nor did Li Yuanchang.

When the two men were deployed, both armies immediately became tense!

They were all keeping a close watch from a distance, ready to pounce on any unusual movement by the enemy army.

Da da da……

The solemn open space outside the city was quiet except for the sound of horses' hooves and the breathing of hundreds of thousands of people.

This is an absolutely open space, without even weeds, completely flat, so neither side could possibly have any ambushes.

Li Yuanchang entered the arena with ease and stood facing Li Ji, who was twenty years his senior, without losing in terms of presence.

Both were on horseback, and when their eyes met, they were both somewhat dazed, both had complex feelings, and both had an indescribable feeling.

"Duke of England," Li Yuanchang spoke first, breaking the silence with a smile.

Li Ji was dressed in a long robe, without even wearing armor, looking like a steady, retired schoolteacher.

He gave a crossed-hands salute.

"Your Highness, the Prince of Han."

"To meet again is unexpected, on this battlefield, where swords clash. Life is truly unpredictable."