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

But not making peace means the de facto division of territory and the establishment of separate systems, which, as time goes by, could very well turn into a split, a division similar to that between the North and South of the peninsula.

This is not even determined by individual will.

Moreover, the core military forces of the Tang Dynasty will be locked in a standoff in the Liaodong direction, while the Tubo Kingdom in the southwest will experience greater development.

Therefore, from the perspective of the millennium-long pattern, the overall national situation, and the rise and fall of the nation, continuing the confrontation is not what Li Yuanchang wants.

Since they could neither reconcile nor maintain a stalemate, they were caught in a dilemma.

He knew that any decision he made could rewrite the course of history and the nation's destiny.

"Ugh."

He sighed softly and couldn't help but pinch his brow. There's no such thing as having it all in this world!

……

Time flies, and a month has passed.

Since the battle of Black Dragon Valley, Li Ji has completely abandoned any intention to launch a full-scale attack on Anshi City. He not only contracted his defensive lines and recalled his scattered troops, but also stopped all harassment and provocations against Anshi City.

For a whole month, the front line was eerily quiet, with only the 40,000 Japanese pirates buried in Black Dragon Valley becoming victims.

They were reduced to ashes by 100,000 heavenly lightning bolts, becoming a slowdown in the Tang army's civil war.

The loss of 40,000 lives made the imperial army realize the disparity in strength and the terrifying power of Han Lei, so they dared not attack.

Two hundred thousand main force troops cannot be reduced to ashes by heavenly lightning!

Li Yuanchang himself speculated that the imperial court might be forced to withdraw its troops.

Given Li Ji's abilities, he would most likely explain the situation to the court and stop the attack.

However, a secret letter from Chang'an in late June overturned this conjecture.

"Li Ji has been replaced at the last minute!" Li Yuanchang's voice was calm, but his face betrayed his shock.

"What??"

Gasps of surprise and astonishment erupted all around.

"Li Ji has been replaced?"

"Could it be Li Jing?"

"No, that can't be!"

Many people find it hard to believe, as military personnel know that changing commanders on the eve of battle is a major taboo in the army. Moreover, Li Ji only failed to achieve victory on the front line, which cannot be considered a major defeat, and he did not make any major mistakes.

The secret letter in Li Yuanchang's hand was sent by Wu Meiniang through the Black Ice Guard. Because of her status as the Crown Prince, she had firsthand information about Chang'an.

"Li Ji sent an urgent military memorial, saying that the front line could not be attacked, that the losses were too great, and that the entire army might be wiped out. His Majesty was furious and criticized him for being reluctant to attack because of old friendships."

"In a fit of anger, he dispatched an urgent messenger a thousand miles away, recalling his troops from the front lines and ordering their return to Chang'an."

"Then, Your Highness, who has replaced you in the court?"

"He was also promoted on the spot; he was Ashina She'er, the former vanguard of the Tang army," Li Yuanchang said in a deep voice.

"That's just a change of name but not substance. However, Li Ji's recall is a good thing for us."

"That's right, Li Ji is a brilliant strategist, and we still have to be wary of him."

Li Yuanchang shook his head and gave a wry smile.

"This is not a good thing."

"With Li Ji removed from office, there's only one path left for his successor."

"What road?"

"Attack to the death, attack to the death no matter what!" Li Yuanchang gritted his teeth, his eyes heavy. The thing he feared most had still happened.

He originally thought that by annihilating 40,000 Japanese pirates, he could make Li Shimin back down and quietly spend the year, allowing Li Shimin to die of natural causes, and then he could deal with the conflict when Li Zhi came to power.

But Li Shimin was determined to kill him.

Everyone tensed up; it seemed to make sense.

Both sides had been holding back, with one side refusing to kill Tang soldiers until the very last step, and Li Ji also not having absolute certainty, and absolutely not allowing his soldiers to die in vain.

But now that Li Ji has been dismissed, who would dare to keep him?

"Isn't the imperial court afraid of our Han Lei?"

Li Yuanchang remained silent.

Of course I'm afraid.

However, Li Shimin's health was probably deteriorating, and he wanted to take himself with him before he died to pave the way for Li Zhi and the Guanlong Group.

There is only this one explanation.

Before anyone could speak, the sound of rapid hoofbeats echoed outside the city lord's mansion.

"Report!"

"Report!!"

The urgent shouts shattered a month of peace, making everyone's hearts skip a beat, and then all eyes turned to look.

The scout rushed in, panting, and clasped his hands heavily, saying, "Reporting, Your Highness!"

"Tang army making unusual movements! Tang army making unusual movements!"

"Over 100,000 troops are gathering outside the city, approaching again to within seven miles of the city's defenses. A large number of siege weapons can be vaguely seen rising from the ground!"

"It is suspected that the Tang army is cutting down trees to manufacture siege weapons!"

boom!

The single stone stirred up a thousand waves, and the entire city lord's mansion instantly erupted into a tense, combat-ready state.

Li Yuanchang looked up and took a deep breath, his brows furrowed.

In the end, this battle was unavoidable.

Since we can't avoid it, let's fight!

When he opened his eyes again, he instantly became ruthless and decisive.

"By my order, the entire city is to enter combat readiness!"

"All residents should relocate to the northern part of the city and prepare for air raids!"

"yes!!"

A deafening shout erupted from inside the city lord's mansion.

Then, the situation changed drastically, and a shadow of war fell over Anshi City.

The dense drumbeats resounded, and large numbers of troops from within the city surged toward the city walls to the beat of the drums, their armor clanking.

The large-scale military mobilization was unusual, and even the people were panicked, as if they sensed that real gunfire was about to follow!

Outside the city, dark clouds loomed, dust rose, and command flags could be faintly seen flashing. Before the people even arrived, a murderous aura capable of destroying the heavens and the earth had already enveloped Anshi City.

This is unlike before, when a large army had to be deployed and people had to shout from the city walls.

Those who do this will not launch a full-scale attack; rather, the more silent and quiet they are, the more ferocious their attack will be.

By dusk, more and more catapults were rising from the outskirts of the city. The Tang army's military industrial capacity was formidable; building catapults was as simple as building a loom.

As night fell, the darkness was ignited by thousands of torches, turning the night into day.

Anshi City remained under constant guard throughout the night, its streets densely packed with troops, awaiting the Tang army's attack.

In the latter half of the night, it was pitch black.

In the pitch-black night, squads of Tang soldiers led the way, protecting large siege engines. Catapults soared into the sky, colliding with towering trees and swaying violently, while flocks of birds took flight.

This couldn't be kept secret from the garrison of Anshi City; they could only wait.

The wait before war is always the most suffocating and tense.

At dawn, the hazy, azure sky was torn apart by a deep, massive horn in the distance, like an ancient call.

"The Tang army is here! The main force of the Tang army is here!"

A series of desperate shouts rang out from the watchtower.

In an instant, Anshi City was restored!

Thousands of arrows were mounted on the walls, massive logs were ready to be rolled, and countless suits of armor and imposing mountains formed an iron fortress.