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"Our alliance's standing army has expanded to 350,000 men. The five major camps in Xiangyang, Jiangling, Jingling, Baling, and Lingnan are well-equipped with soldiers and ample supplies, and are constantly training. The navy has expanded the fastest, with more than 1,800 warships of various sizes, including 350 new-style warships and large warships, all equipped with improved crossbows and cannons, which can now completely control the middle and lower reaches of the Yangtze River. The cavalry has increased to 150,000, including 8,000 elite Xuanjia cavalry. Most of the warhorses come from the Flying Horse Ranch, trade in Longyou, and tributes from some tribes that have submitted to us in the southern desert. Master Lu's 'Divine Machine Workshop' has made breakthroughs. The newly made 'Thunderbolt Fireball' (large explosive) and 'Divine Machine Arrow' (multi-barreled rocket) have been equipped in small batches with the elite troops and navy in Xiangyang. Their power is considerable, but they are not easy to manufacture and have not yet been widely adopted."

"The rotation, garrison, provisions, rewards and punishments of each army are all set in order, and the morale of the army is stable. The troops that originally belonged to the surrendered generals have been properly settled, except for a few elite troops who were absorbed and reorganized, and no trouble has arisen."

"Last year, the total revenue of our alliance's various prefectures and counties from land tax, commercial tax, maritime tax, and mining tax amounted to approximately 16 million taels of silver. On the expenditure side, military expenses accounted for about 40%, while official salaries, engineering projects, education, and pensions accounted for about 50%, resulting in a slight surplus. The treasury currently holds approximately 2.8 million taels of silver, and the grain reserves can support the entire alliance's military and civilian population for two years. The output of government-run mines, workshops, shipyards, and weaving bureaus has been increasing year by year, not only meeting military needs but also allowing some civilian goods to be sold in various regions, complementing private enterprises."

"More than a thousand elementary schools have been established in various places, and academies in Xiangyang, Jinling, and Panyu have been officially opened, with nearly a thousand students in the first batch, specializing in classics, history, law, mathematics, and crafts, in order to cultivate talents for the future. 'Benefit-the-people pharmacies' have been extended to county towns in various places, and the ability to prevent and control epidemics has been improved."

Zhu Yuyan paused slightly, a sharp glint flashing in her beautiful eyes, and continued:
"The 'Shadow' has deeply infiltrated government offices, military camps, and key industries in various prefectures and counties. Over the past three years, seventeen potential internal threats have been discovered and dealt with, including two prefectural governors who secretly colluded with their former master (a former subordinate of Du Fuwei), for whom the evidence was conclusive, and who were executed last autumn, along with their entire families; five mid-level officers who embezzled military pay and mistreated soldiers, for whom they have been dismissed, investigated, and dealt with according to military law; and several officials who accepted bribes from local powerful figures to help them conceal land and evade taxes, all of whom have been dismissed and exiled. Furthermore, thirteen officials have been monitored for private correspondence with the Li Tang and Wang Shichong factions in the north, the contents of which are mostly intelligence gathering or tentative recruitment attempts. Currently, these are only being recorded and are under close surveillance, without alerting the suspects..."

"Lord Song is diligent and his prestige is growing daily, but he is getting older and his energy may not be what it used to be. Xu Xingzhi is exceptionally talented, especially in civil administration, but his humble origins cause occasional clashes with some officials from aristocratic families. Lord Song is stationed in Lingnan, where his prestige is unparalleled, and there are no signs of unrest for the time being. Young generals such as Su Dingfang, Xu Shiji, and Cheng Yaojin are each guarding their respective areas, training their troops tirelessly, and while there is a slight competitive spirit among them, it is still healthy. Veteran generals such as Wang Bodang and Zhang Zhenzhou are also conscientious in their duties. Mei Xian is stationed in Yingzhou, and although separated by oceans, she reports in detail every month, and her loyalty is commendable."

Zhu Yuyan's report was well-balanced in its details, acknowledging achievements while also addressing problems. She also meticulously analyzed the status of key officials, demonstrating her precision and shrewdness in managing intelligence and monitoring officials.

After speaking, she picked up the teacup she had poured, took a small sip, and then looked at Yi Huawei with her beautiful eyes again.

Yi Huawei tapped his fingertips lightly twice on the smooth edge of the rosewood desk, then raised his eyes, his gaze falling on Zhu Yuyan's face:
"How's the fight going with the three tigers of the North?"

Zhu Yuyan's expression turned serious. After a moment's thought, she spoke:

"Reporting to the Alliance Leader. Li Yuan is stationed in Chang'an, and his government orders are generally running smoothly. The support from the Guanzhong aristocratic families is relatively stable. Over the past three years, the Li Tang dynasty has been advancing step by step, first to the west and then to the east."

"Two years ago, Prince Qin, Li Shimin, completely pacified Li Gui in Hexi, ordering his general An Xinggui to defect on the battlefield, capture Li Gui, and send him to Chang'an to be beheaded. The lands of Longyou and Hexi were all brought under the control of the Li Tang dynasty, which not only eliminated the threat to their flanks but also secured a stable source of warhorses, greatly increasing the strength of their cavalry."

"On the northern front, Crown Prince Li Jiancheng was the main force, supplemented by Li Yuanji and Luo Yi who had surrendered. They were trying to appease the small forces remaining in northern Shanxi and the Hetao region after the defeat and death of Liu Wuzhou and Song Jingang. Now, the area north of Taiyuan has been basically cleared, and the defense line has been pushed north to the Mayi and Yanmen areas. However, the pressure from the Turks has always existed. Although Li Jiancheng is trying his best to maintain it, he is finding it quite difficult to deal with."

"Since three years ago, Li Shimin has led the main force of the Tang army eastward from Tongguan and Hangu Pass to compete with Wang Shichong for key locations around Luoyang. The two sides fought dozens of battles, large and small, at Cijian to the west of Luoyang, Beiman Mountain to the north, and outside Hulao Pass to the east. The two sides had victories and defeats, but the Tang army gradually gained the upper hand due to its superior troop replenishment, logistical support, and Li Shimin's command."

"Li Shimin was a brilliant strategist, truly a commander of his generation. He commanded the Tang army at the front lines, besieging and constantly harassing Luoyang. Although Wang Shichong possessed a fortified city, he had no external reinforcements and lacked sufficient supplies for a prolonged war. Furthermore, his harsh rule had alienated the people, and the situation in Luoyang became increasingly dire. By the autumn and winter of last year, important outlying strongholds such as Cijian, Luokou, and Huiluo had fallen one after another, and the Tang army had essentially completed the encirclement of Luoyang."

Zhu Yuyan paused slightly, a slight smile playing on her lips: "If this trend continues, the Li Tang dynasty is very likely to conquer Luoyang this year and take over all of Henan. At that time, riding the wave of their great victory and integrating the resources of the Central Plains, their momentum will be even more difficult to contain."

Yi Huawei listened quietly without saying a word.

Zhu Yuyan changed the subject, her tone becoming both playful and serious: "This spring, when Li Shimin was besieging Luoyang with all his might and Wang Shichong was in grave danger, Dou Jiande, who had been holding back, made his move, led by Liu Heita, Dou Jiande's top general."

Yi Huawei's fingers, which were tapping the table, paused slightly. He looked up at Zhu Yuyan and asked, "Liu Heita?"

Zhu Yuyan nodded slightly and explained, "This man's background is quite legendary. He was originally a farmer's son from Zhangnan, Beizhou. In his early years, he was a bandit. Later, he joined Hao Xiaode and eventually came under the command of Li Miwagang. After a battle with Wang Shichong, he was captured by Wang Shichong. Wang Shichong heard of his bravery and appointed him as a cavalry general. However, Liu Heita was dissatisfied with Wang Shichong's character and took the opportunity to escape back to Hebei two years ago and joined Dou Jiande."

"Dou Jiande saw his boldness and skill in battle and greatly appreciated him, so he bestowed upon him the title of general and ordered him to lead an army on his own. This man was fierce and cunning in his military tactics, especially skilled in raids. He shared weal and woe with his soldiers and gradually gained prestige in the Hebei army. However, he had not yet made any great achievements in leading an army on his own, so he did not receive much attention from the Li Tang dynasty or the outside world."

Zhu Yuyan's beautiful eyes flashed with a sharp light as she continued, "Just when Li Shimin thought that Dou Jiande would sit idly by and watch Wang Shichong perish, or at most send troops to harass his supply lines and make a show of force, Dou Jiande adopted the advice of his strategist Ling Jing and Liu Heita himself, and took a risky move."

"In February, Dou Jiande ordered his generals Cao Dan and Fan Yuan to lead 50,000 troops in a grand display of force, making a show of advancing south to attack Li Tang's Liyang Granary (located in Junxian, Henan, which was an important supply base for Li Tang in Hebei), thus attracting the attention of the Tang army in Hebei (mainly the troops of Li Shenfu, the governor of Bingzhou, and Guo Ziwu, the prefect of Luzhou)."

"At the same time, Liu Heita personally led 15,000 elite cavalrymen from Leshou in secret, heading west through the dangerous passes of Jingxing in the Taihang Mountains, silently advancing into the heart of Hedong, towards Taiyuan!"

"Liu Heita's military tactics are extremely ruthless and swift."

Zhu Yuyan's tone carried a hint of admiration: "He avoided the cities along the way, choosing only remote mountain paths, traveling day and night, and within ten days he crossed the Taihang Mountains, suddenly appearing in the Fenzhou and Jiexiu area south of Taiyuan! At that time, the main force of the Tang army was either on the front line in Luoyang or attracted to the direction of Liyang by Cao Dan's feint, and the troops left behind in Hedong were scattered, catching them off guard in the face of this surprise attack!"

"Liu Heita led his troops in a massive plundering spree, burning granaries, attacking fortified villages, and taking refugees hostage, creating a huge disturbance. He even divided his troops to launch attacks in all directions, making it appear as if he wanted to cut off the Tang army's connection between Bingzhou and Guanzhong, and even threaten Chang'an! In an instant, Hedong was shaken, and Guanzhong was in an uproar!"

"Taiyuan is the birthplace of the Tang dynasty, and the Jinyang Palace has abundant treasury. It is also a strategic stronghold for resisting the Turks and shielding Guanzhong. It cannot be lost! If Hedong falls, the Tang army on the front line in Luoyang will be attacked from both sides, its logistics will be cut off, and it may even face the danger of total annihilation!" Zhu Yuyan said, a cold smile appearing on her lips. "Although Li Shimin's military tactics are ingenious, he has no choice but to save his base when it is threatened. He left his generals Qu Tutong and Qin Qiong with a portion of the troops to continue the siege of Luoyang, while he personally led the Tang army's most elite Xuanjia Iron Cavalry and a portion of mobile forces, marching day and night to return and reinforce Hedong!"

"Liu Heita did not confront Li Shimin, who had returned to reinforce, head-on. After learning that Li Shimin had returned with his main force, he immediately led his army north, but instead of taking the original route, he turned east into the Taihang Mountains. He used the complex terrain to maneuver against the pursuing Tang army. At the same time, he spread rumors along the way, exaggerating his troop strength, making it difficult for the Tang army to distinguish between the real and the fake, and thus they dared not pursue with all their might."

"By the time Li Shimin led his army back to Hedong, Liu Heita had already led his main force out of the encirclement. Li Shimin's attack came up empty-handed. Although he stabilized the situation in Hedong, the battle for Luoyang was abruptly interrupted, and Wang Shichong gained a valuable respite. More importantly, the Tang army was exhausted from running around, its morale was damaged, and it lost part of its strategic initiative."

"With Liu Heita's amazing performance in this battle, he not only successfully lifted the siege of Luoyang (indirectly), but also greatly boosted the morale of his own side. Liu Heita's name became famous throughout Hebei and even spread throughout the Central Plains after this battle, making him a rising star general that no force could ignore. Dou Jiande relied on him even more and rewarded him handsomely."

"The current situation in the North,"

Zhu Yuyan's gaze swept across the map: "Although the Li Tang is still the strongest, Luoyang has not yet fallen, and it will be difficult for them to launch a full-scale eastward advance in the short term. Wang Shichong is holed up in Luoyang, barely surviving, but even a cornered beast will fight, and the city is well-fortified, so the Li Tang will also find it difficult to conquer him quickly. Dou Jiande, on the other hand, has gained great momentum and is firmly based in Hebei. He can advance south to the Central Plains or retreat to protect himself, making him the most proactive of the three."

After listening, Yi Huawei slowly stood up and walked to the map again, his gaze falling on the vast area between Hedong, Hebei and Luoyang.

"Liu Heita... He is a general who can relieve the siege of Wei by attacking Zhao, and he is unconventional in his military tactics. He is indeed a talented general. Dou Jiande has managed to acquire and utilize this man, so his power should not be underestimated. Although the Tang Dynasty has suffered a major setback, its foundation has not been damaged. Li Shimin is a seasoned general who will surely adjust his strategies."

He turned to Zhu Yuyan and asked, "What about the Turks? They haven't reacted much to this chaos in the north?"

Zhu Yuyan's expression hardened, and she said in a deep voice, "For the past three years, there have been constant small-scale harassments along the border, but there has never been a truly large-scale southward retaliation. According to reports from 'Shadow' spies who have penetrated deep into the grasslands, Ashina She'er has vigorously reorganized internally and suppressed the Tiele tribes, making his power even greater than before. He still adopts the policy of 'supporting the weak and suppressing the strong' towards all parties in the Central Plains, including the Li Tang, Dou Jiande, and even the dying Gao Kaidao, constantly bestowing rewards and titles, but there has been almost no substantial military intervention."

Zhu Yuyan parted her red lips slightly: "There are indications that the connection between the Turks and Dou Jiande may be closer than it appears. Dou Jiande was able to gain a foothold in Hebei, certainly due to his good governance and popular support, but without the tacit approval or even covert support of the Turks in the early stages, it would have been difficult for him to withstand the pressure from Youzhou and Shanxi so smoothly. As for Liu Heita's surprise attack on Hedong, the timing and the route were so clever that it seems there was a master familiar with the Tang army's deployment and the geography of Hedong behind him. 'Shadow' is investigating the clues, which may be related to the Turks."

Yi Huawei nodded slightly: "A wolf with ambitions, how could he be content with loneliness? He is waiting, waiting for all sides in the Central Plains to be exhausted so that he can reap the benefits. Or... he may have other plans."

As if remembering something, Yi Huawei smiled and asked, "How have Xu Shiji and the others performed in our army?"

Zhu Yuyan immediately replied, "Xu Shiji is calm and resourceful, and disciplines his troops rigorously. He has repeatedly made meritorious contributions during the pacification of Jianghuai and the defense of Jiangyou, and is highly respected by his soldiers. He is now in charge of his own division. Cheng Yaojin is brave and skilled in battle. He may seem rough and bold, but he is actually meticulous. He is rarely matched in battle, but his temperament still needs to be tempered. As for the others, such as Luo Shixin and other former generals of Wagang, they are scattered in various armies. They have all been promoted due to their military achievements, and there has been no evidence of them forming factions or reminiscing about the past. Now that they have joined our alliance, they are trusted by the alliance leader and given a promising future. This is a hundred times better than the precarious situation under Li Mi's command. So far, they seem to have no disloyal intentions."

"Ah."

Yi Huawei asked no further questions.

A brief silence fell over the study, broken only by the flickering candlelight. Zhu Yuyan sat quietly, awaiting Yi Huawei's instructions.

Yi Huawei stood with his hands behind his back in front of the painting, his back straight. After a moment, he slowly spoke:
"The stalemate in the north is about to break. Dou Jiande, with Liu Heita as his ally, will be even more powerful and will not be content to remain in Hebei for long. The Tang dynasty, having suffered a setback, will surely launch a counterattack, with Luoyang as its primary target. However, they will be extremely wary of Dou Jiande behind them. Wang Shichong... is already a dead end; it's just a matter of when he will make his move."

"Order 'Shadow' to intensify surveillance of the grasslands, especially the Turkic royal court and the communication channels with Dou Jiande. Any unusual activity in the three northern regions, especially large-scale troop movements, important personnel exchanges, and the distribution of supplies, must be reported to Xiangyang and...this place immediately."

"You personally wrote a secret letter to Song Lu and Xu Xingzhi, ordering them to expedite the stockpiling and mobilization of troops, provisions, and weapons in the southern border region, in accordance with the strategies I left behind. The Yangtze River Navy must maintain the highest level of combat readiness. The transfer of gold and silver from Yingzhou must not be delayed in the slightest."

"Other,"

Yi Huawei paused for a moment: "In my name, I secretly order Xu Shiji, Su Dingfang, Zhang Zhenzhou... to reorganize their troops and await the opportune moment. Tell them that the battle is coming soon."

Zhu Yuyan felt a chill run down her spine, and stood up solemnly, replying, "Yuyan obeys! I will carry it out immediately."

Yi Huawei waved his hand slightly: "There's no need to rush. We can do it tomorrow. You've been working hard, go and rest first."

Zhu Yuyan bowed gracefully: "Thank you for your consideration, Alliance Leader. I will take my leave now, and please rest well, Alliance Leader."

As she turned to walk towards the door, she suddenly looked back, her gaze lingering on Yi Huawei for a fleeting moment. She hesitated, as if wanting to say something, but ultimately only smiled slightly, lifted the curtain, and left. (End of Chapter)