The world of film and television starts from the flow of money

In early winter, Chang'an had completely lost the crispness of autumn. The sky was always gloomy, with leaden clouds pressing low over the city. The biting north wind howled from time to time through the wide Zhuque Avenue, stirring up withered yellow leaves and dust, adding a touch of desolation and unease to this newly established capital.

The imperial palace, located north of Chang'an, was originally the Taiji Palace of the Sui Dynasty. After Li Yuan ascended the throne, he made some minor renovations, and it became the power center of the Li Tang Dynasty. Although it was not as magnificent as the later Daming Palace, its numerous halls and flying eaves still demonstrated the majesty of the imperial family. However, beneath this majesty, there was an anxiety that was difficult to dispel.

Inside the Ganlu Hall, the charcoal fire burned brightly, dispelling the chill of late autumn, but unable to dispel the heavy atmosphere that permeated the relationship between the emperor and his ministers.

Li Yuan, dressed in casual clothes, sat behind his imperial desk, his brow furrowed. The radiance he had displayed upon ascending the throne was now replaced by deep worry. Crown Prince Li Jiancheng stood to the left of the desk, his expression equally somber. Prince Qin, Li Shimin, stood before the massive military map hanging in the hall, his fingers unconsciously tracing its surface, his gaze sharp as an eagle, fixed on the area marked in glaring vermilion—representing the rapidly expanding sphere of influence of the Heavenly Alliance.

Besides the Li family, several key advisors were also present in the hall. Liu Wenjing looked haggard, his eyes sunken, clearly exhausted by the recent string of bad news. Pei Ji (Shi Zhixuan) sat on a rosewood chair at the lower end, dressed in a dark purple court robe, which concealed some of his former wickedness and gave him a more respectful air. His face was slightly pale, and his breathing seemed somewhat unsteady; he would occasionally cover his mouth with his sleeve and let out a few suppressed coughs, as if he were still recovering from a serious injury. Only the occasional glint of shrewdness in the depths of his lowered eyes hinted that the person hidden within this body was no ordinary individual.

At this moment, the focus of the debate inside the hall was the news that had just spread far and wide—Li Mi of Wagang, along with his remaining forces, announced a month ago that he had joined the Heavenly Alliance!
"His Majesty!"

Liu Wenjing spoke first, her voice slightly hoarse, her tone urgent: "Li Mi's actions are like adding insult to injury for our Great Tang! Although Wagang suffered a major defeat at Tongshan, its foundation remains, and Li Mi himself is a formidable figure who still wields considerable influence in Henan and Shandong. His defection to the Heavenly Alliance not only allows the Heavenly Alliance to seize Wagang's remaining territory without bloodshed, but also puts its military force directly threatening our Hedong region and even eastern Guanzhong! Now, the eastern part of our Great Tang is completely exposed to the Heavenly Alliance's military might!"

Li Jiancheng frowned even more deeply and continued, "What's even more hateful is that after the Battle of Tongshan, when Li Mi was at his wit's end, my father disregarded past grievances and sent envoys to appease him, promising him high-ranking positions and generous rewards. But he ignored them and turned around and joined that 'nameless' guy of unknown origin! Such a fickle and despicable person is truly hateful!"

Li Shimin turned around, his face showing little indignation but rather a calm analysis: "Brother, getting angry now is useless. Li Mi is a ruthless hero, and ruthless heroes choose their roosts carefully. His choice of the Heavenly Alliance can only mean that, in his eyes, the Heavenly Alliance can offer him more than my Li Tang, or that the future of the Heavenly Alliance is brighter than he envisions for the future of my Li Tang."

After a pause, Li Shimin pointed to the map: "The situation is now clear. Dou Jiande occupies Hebei, is preparing for war, and is eyeing my Youzhou and Bingzhou with hostility; Wang Shichong has seized Luoyang, amassing a powerful army and controlling my eastern gateway. Now, in addition, there is the Tiandao Alliance, which has integrated most of the south and subdued Wagang, and whose power is rapidly expanding... My Great Tang is now facing enemies on three sides!"

He took a deep breath, looked around at everyone, and said in a deep voice, "What's even more critical is that our main force has just gone through a fierce battle with Liu Wuzhou. Although we ultimately won and recaptured Jinyang, we suffered considerable losses. Our soldiers are exhausted, and our supplies have been depleted. We urgently need to rest and recuperate. If either side launches a major attack at this time, our army will be put on the defensive!"

Liu Wenjing added, "What the King of Qin said is absolutely right. Moreover, according to reports from various places, the Heavenly Dao Alliance has implemented a series of strange policies in its controlled areas, such as reducing taxes and corvée labor, rectifying officialdom, and encouraging agriculture and commerce, which has attracted a large number of refugees to come with their families to seek refuge... With this shift in power, its war potential is probably even greater than we have estimated!"

A somber atmosphere settled over the hall.

Li Yuan rubbed his throbbing temples, feeling a wave of weakness wash over him. The grand ambitions he had displayed when he declared himself emperor seemed to be crumbling before the harsh realities of life. He instinctively turned his gaze to Pei Ji, who had remained silent, and asked, "Pei Jian, what is your opinion?"

Pei Ji slowly raised his head, coughed lightly twice, his voice slightly weak, but his tone was unusually steady: "Your Majesty, Crown Prince, Prince Qin, esteemed officials. The Heavenly Alliance has indeed achieved its full potential. Its leader is 'Nameless'..."

When this name was mentioned, a complex and barely perceptible glint flashed deep in Pei Ji's eyes—a mixture of fear, humiliation, and a chilling killing intent—but it quickly vanished.

"...His methods are extraordinary, his martial arts are unparalleled, and he has many talented people under his command, such as Song Que and Zhu Yuyan, and now Wagang has been added... Defeating him head-on is no easy task."

He paused, seemingly choosing his words carefully, before continuing, "However, as the King of Qin said, a hero chooses his tree to perch on. Li Mi was able to join the Heavenly Dao Alliance because the Heavenly Dao Alliance demonstrated sufficient power and 'prospects.' To break this deadlock, our Great Tang must demonstrate a stronger attitude, greater strength, and... a clearer 'future' that can attract the world. Only by blunting their momentum on the front lines can we reverse this passive situation and regain the initiative. But..."

He coughed lightly again: "Our army is exhausted and surrounded by enemies on all sides. We need to be careful in how to allocate our forces and choose our primary targets."

His words, seemingly mature and prudent, actually pointed out the key issue—only by defeating the Heavenly Dao Alliance militarily could they have a glimmer of hope. He himself knew all too well how terrifying the strength of Yi Huawei, the one known as "Nameless," was, even he and Ning Daoqi had been utterly defeated... However, how easy was it to "defeat the Heavenly Dao Alliance head-on"? But he absolutely could not say this outright.

Just then, an urgent report came from outside the hall: "Your Majesty, Grand Master of the Left, Li Xiaogong, and Changsun Wuji request an audience! They say they have urgent military intelligence to report!"

Li Yuan's spirits lifted, and he immediately said, "Summon them quickly!"

The palace doors opened, and Li Xiaogong and Changsun Wuji strode into the hall, carrying with them the dust and chill of travel. Both men looked haggard, their eyes bloodshot, and their clothes were still stained with dust they hadn't brushed off, clearly indicating they had rushed through without proper rest. Li Xiaogong, in particular, seemed to have lost much of the arrogance of a renowned general from the imperial family, replaced by an indescribable sense of defeat.

"Your subject, Li Xiaogong (Changsun Wuji), pays his respects to Your Majesty!"

The two knelt down on the ground.

"Be flat!"

Li Yuan asked impatiently, "Xiao Gong, Wu Ji, how was the trip to Ba and Shu? Are Jie Hui, Fan Zhuo, and the Ba Alliance willing to form an alliance with our Great Tang?"

Li Xiaogong and Changsun Wuji stood up, glanced at each other, and both saw bitterness in each other's eyes.

Changsun Wuji took a deep breath, stepped forward, and bowed, saying, "Your Majesty, we... have failed to live up to Your Majesty's expectations. Our journey to Bashu... has failed."

"what?!"

Li Yuan suddenly stood up from behind his desk, Li Jiancheng also exclaimed in surprise, and Li Shimin, though silent, suddenly contracted his pupils and clenched his fists.

Liu Wenjing asked anxiously, "It failed? Why? Was it because Jie Hui refused? Or did something go wrong on the Ba Meng side?"

Li Xiaogong shook his head with a grim expression and said in a dry voice, "Your Majesty, it's not that Jie Hui or Ba Meng refused outright, but... but that things took an unexpected turn."

Recalling the scene in the secret chamber of the Qiang village that night, especially the ghostly figure that appeared, his throat tightened.

"Your Majesty and I had already persuaded Feng Zhen, Jiao Luofeng, Fan Zhuo, and others, analyzing the threat posed by the Heavenly Dao Alliance, and they were already interested. However, just as we were about to finalize the details of further discussions..." "The Heavenly Dao Alliance Leader, 'Nameless'... he appeared in person!"

"nameless?!"

"He went to Sichuan?!"

A collective gasp filled the hall. Li Shimin's eyes flashed with a sharp light as he stared intently at Li Xiaogong. Even Pei Ji, who had appeared calm throughout, trembled slightly as he raised his head, his fingers hidden in his sleeve.

"Yes,"

Changsun Wuji picked up the conversation, his tone heavy: "He not only appeared in person, but also brought with him the demoness of the Yin Kui Sect. He silently passed through the Qiang village's heavy guards and appeared directly in the room where we were having our secret meeting. His methods are beyond the ordinary."

He omitted the bloody details of Wanwan instantly killing three guards, but his solemn tone allowed everyone in the hall to imagine the harrowing scene.

"And then?" Li Shimin asked in a deep voice, keenly sensing that the key point was yet to come.

A look of humiliation and lingering fear crossed Li Xiaogong's face as he gritted his teeth and said, "Then... he directly exposed our... exposed our Li Tang's possible... possible plan to rely on the power of the Turks."

These words shocked the entire hall! The clandestine communication with the Turks was one of the Li clan's top secrets, known only to a very few core members. How could this "Nameless" know it?!

Li Yuan frowned: "What...what did he say?"

Changsun Wuji took a deep breath and repeated, "He said... if my Li Tang has the courage and responsibility to end the chaos and bring peace to the people, he might not be able to allow the Li family to exist. In a battle on the battlefield, each side will rely on its own methods. Even if... even if my Li family is defeated, he can promise to spare the Li family's life, and allow... allow them to live as wealthy men and preserve the ancestral temple."

These conditions, though seemingly generous, were in fact filled with condescending contempt, making Li Yuan, Li Jiancheng, and others feel ashamed and humiliated.

"but--"

Changsun Wuji's tone suddenly became extremely solemn, even carrying a hint of coldness: "Wuming also said that if the Li clan, for their own selfish reasons, disregards the bloodline of the Chinese people and colludes with the iron cavalry of foreign tribes such as the Turks and Tuyuhun to invade the Central Plains and poison the lives of the people... then, in this vast world, there will be no place for the Li clan to hide! He will personally take action to uproot all those who collude with foreign barbarians, leaving not a single blade of grass behind!"

"boom!"

Li Yuan slammed his fist on the imperial desk, causing the writing brushes, ink, paper, and inkstones to bounce wildly. His face was ashen, and his chest heaved violently, filled with both anger and...fear! The other side actually knew their most secret plans and had issued such a naked and murderous warning!

Li Shimin was also greatly shocked, looking at Li Xiaogong and Changsun Wuji: "He...he really said that? How...how did he know about the Turks?!"

Li Xiaogong nodded heavily and said bitterly, "It is absolutely true! We... dare not utter a single falsehood. As for how he knew... we do not know."

Recalling Yi Huawei's unfathomable gaze, which seemed to see through everything, still sends chills down my spine.

There was deathly silence in the hall.

The group, who were originally debating how to deal with Wagang's defection to the Heavenly Alliance, were now shaken by the even worse news and the death warning from the "nameless" one.

"Father!"

Li Shimin bowed to Li Yuan, whose face was grim: "The situation is now beyond our control. The words 'Nameless' have cornered our Li Tang dynasty. If the accusation of colluding with foreign tribes is confirmed, we will lose the hearts of the people. At that time, the Heavenly Alliance will not need to lift a finger; the internal structure will collapse."

He raised his eyes, his gaze sweeping over the crowd: "Our army is exhausted, surrounded by enemies on all sides. However, precisely because of this, we cannot show weakness! Dou Jiande and Wang Shichong are like scabies; we can send generals to hold strategic points and temporarily slow their advance. The most urgent task is to concentrate our elite forces and choose a key point in the expansion of the Heavenly Alliance's influence to fight a resounding victory! Even if we cannot severely damage their main force, we must at least blunt their edge and prove to the world that our Li Tang still has the strength to fight them! Otherwise, those who are watching will all join the Heavenly Alliance, and refugees will all flock to the south; our fate will be sealed!"

Upon hearing this, Pei Ji nodded slightly. His thoughts coincided with Li Shimin's, and were even more radical. Because he knew better than anyone else that in the face of Yi Huawei's absolute personal strength, any conspiracy or trickery might be ineffective. Only on the battlefield in a fair fight, relying on the army, strategy, and national power, was there a sliver of hope.

Li Shimin took a deep breath, his gaze sharpening and resolute as he looked at Li Yuan: "Father, I request permission to consolidate our forces, march east out of Tongguan, seek an opportunity to fight the Heavenly Alliance to the death!"

"Cough cough!"

Pei Ji coughed again. He slowly stood up and bowed to Li Yuan, whose face was pale and who was still angry. His voice was still weak from his injuries, but his tone was unusually clear and calm, instantly drawing everyone's attention.

"His Majesty,"

Pei Ji raised his eyes, his seemingly submissive but unfathomable gaze sweeping over the crowd before finally settling on Li Yuan, who was restless behind the imperial desk: "'Nameless' is an arrogant and vicious scoundrel who dares to so blatantly defy the imperial authority and threaten the imperial clan. His heart deserves to be punished, and his actions deserve to be annihilated!"

He first established the characterization, catering to Li Yuan's anger and fear, and then changed the subject: "However, although his words are arrogant, his momentum has already been established. Observing his annexation of the south, his subjugation of Wagang, and his military advance pointing directly at the Central Plains, he has indeed become a major threat to our Great Tang, and is also the greatest enemy at present."

Pei Ji turned slightly, his gaze falling on the huge map hanging in the hall, his finger pointing towards the east: "Your Majesty, Crown Prince, Prince Qin, esteemed officials, precisely because the Heavenly Dao Alliance is powerful and its edge is outspoken, we must remain calm. We must not be led by the nose by them, nor be intimidated by them." (End of Chapter)