A thousand-year-old family begins with one fighting against ten thousand.

"My esteemed ministers, tell me, how should we fight this battle?"

Yang Guang looked at the sand table in front of him, glanced at the generals beside him, and was bursting with confidence. He felt that he only needed to make a slight move to defeat the Xia army in front of him.

Then, all we need to do is launch a surprise attack to drive them out of the Western Regions, invade their homeland, and destroy the Xia Kingdom.

"Your Majesty, I believe we should adopt a defensive strategy and wait for the attack."

"The imperial army is still pouring into the Western Regions, and we have the advantage of a fortified city. We can use Wulei City to wear down the enemy army."

"By the time the Sui army arrives in the Western Regions, the Xia rebels will be exhausted and weary. Your Majesty only needs to send a general to lead the troops in the city to break out, and then order the subsequent army to attack from the rear. This will surely result in a great defeat for the enemy."

Yuwen Shu, as the Minister of War, was the first to express his opinion.

The Western Regions had been ruled by China for hundreds of years, and the hearts of the people had long since turned to them.

Moreover, China has always been a beacon of world civilization, and all its people feel superior. Even though it has been conquered by the Xia Kingdom, the hearts of the people still stand with the Sui Dynasty, and both the people and nature stand with the Sui Dynasty.

In terms of geographical advantage, Wulei City has been the garrison of the Protectorate of the Western Regions since the Han Dynasty, and it has always been the place where the Wei family branch is stationed. It has been repaired and maintained for generations, and its defensive capabilities are unmatched by any other city in the entire Western Regions.

Even in the Central Plains, it was a rare fortified city.

This is the geographical advantage that the Sui Dynasty possessed.

Timing is beyond human control, and neither side has an advantage nor a disadvantage in this regard.

In Yuwen Shu's view, the Sui Dynasty held a significant advantage in this war.

As long as we proceed steadily and surely, we will surely achieve victory.

Yuwen Shu's mature and steady words were recognized by many veteran generals. With a city to defend, what fool would give up the advantage of a fortified city and choose open field battle?

The losses in open field battles far outweigh those in city defense.

"No!"

"How dare a mere vassal state defy the might of our Great Sui Dynasty? If we were to fortify our city, wouldn't that make people think that our Great Sui Dynasty is afraid of them?"

"We must attack! We have to attack!"

"We must show them the might of the Sui Dynasty's heavenly army!"

"Otherwise, wouldn't everyone think that the Sui Dynasty is easy to bully! And that I am easy to bully?!"

"Where is the dignity of my Great Sui Dynasty? Where is my dignity?"

Yang Guang directly rejected Yuwen Shu's suggestion. The attack by the Great Xia made him feel an unprecedented provocation, which almost nailed him to the pillar of historical shame.

Why would Yang Guang choose to defend?

He had to choose to attack; only in this way could he make the people of other countries feel the fighting spirit of the Sui Dynasty.

He never considered the victory or defeat of a single war; as the emperor of the Sui Dynasty, he also needed to consider the prestige of the Sui Dynasty and the opinions of other countries.

None of the generals dared to speak. Yang Guang had escalated the matter to the level of the Sui Dynasty and his own dignity. If they persisted, it would be as if they were deliberately trampling on the dignity of the Sui Dynasty and Yang Guang.

Yuwen Shu immediately knelt down, "Your Majesty, please forgive me, I deserve to die."

"snort!"

Yang Guang snorted coldly, "After we return from this battle, you will have to relinquish your position as Minister of War."

"Your Majesty, I thank you."

Yuwen Shu was moved, saying that at least his life was saved and Yang Guang would take back his position as Minister and would never lay a hand on him again.

The Yuwen family now holds two of the six ministerial positions, which is like a blazing fire, seemingly glorious, but in reality, it's like walking a tightrope over a cliff, where one wrong step could lead to a bottomless abyss.

Now that Yang Guang has stripped him of his position as Minister of War, the Yuwen family will no longer be such a hindrance, and will be much safer.

"Your Majesty, I request permission to fight!"

Yuwen Chengdu stepped forward. "When the ruler is in distress, the minister is disgraced; when the ruler is disgraced, the minister dies." Now that Yang Guang had been humiliated, Yuwen Chengdu felt that it was time for him to repay Yang Guang.

He wanted to make the Xia Kingdom pay a bloody price to repay Yang Guang's kindness in promoting him.

"Your Majesty only needs to provide Chengdu with 100,000 troops, and Chengdu will surely be able to decisively defeat the enemy!"

When Yang Guang saw his beloved general step forward, a satisfied smile appeared on his face.

Although Yang Guang lost to those four in the world's number one martial arts tournament, there was still a huge gap between him and the other warriors. He believed that Yuwen Chengdu would definitely be able to help him establish the great name of the Sui Dynasty on this battlefield.

"Granted."

"I will allocate you 100,000 of my most elite soldiers, and personally lead the remaining troops to support you."

The other generals, seeing that Yuwen Chengdu had seized this golden opportunity, were filled with regret and despair.

Yuwen Chengdu led 10 elite cavalrymen out of the city gate and lined up in battle formation.

Then, he emerged majestically from the army formation, wielding a phoenix-winged gilded axe, clad in golden chainmail, and riding a magnificent Akhal-Teke horse.

Holding the phoenix-winged gilded axe in his right hand, he pointed it forward and shouted, "General of the Rebellious Xia, do you dare to fight me?"

"Who will fight for me and slay this man?"

Xia Kang raised an eyebrow as he looked at the imposing Yuwen Chengdu before him.

After a series of resounding victories, the fear of the Divine Empire within the country had long since dissipated.

Even the entire Great Xia Dynasty felt that the Divine Continent Empire was nothing special, merely an empire that had achieved its status through geographical advantage.

In terms of true strength, they are no match for the Great Xia.

When it comes to generals, the Great Xia Dynasty is not lacking in fierce warriors.

"Your Majesty, I am willing to execute this official to celebrate for the Great Xia!"

A general spurred his horse forward, bowed to Xia Kang, and addressed him as "Your Majesty" instead of "King".

After occupying several states in China, the surrounding generals became arrogant, and no one raised any objections.

Xia Kang was overjoyed upon hearing this and quickly nodded, saying, "Granted."

"General Zheng, if you can kill this general, I will bestow upon you the title of Marquis within the Pass!"

Upon hearing this, Zheng Hu was overjoyed. He cupped his hands in greeting to Xia Kang, then charged out with his massive sword, which was taller than a man.

"Sui general! The one who killed you is Zheng Hu of the Great Xia Empire!"

Yuwen Chengdu's face turned cold. As a member of the Divine Continent Empire, he was also proud of it.

This general in front of me dares to call himself the Great Xia Empire! It's outrageous!

Yuwen Chengdu stared at Zheng Hu's moves and spurred his horse forward.

The two passed each other, and a thin line of blood appeared on Yuwen Chengdu's Phoenix Wing Gold Halberd. Zheng Hu's broadsword was cleaved in two along with his body.

Yuwen Chengdu raised his weapon high again, and a drop of blood dripped down the bloodline and onto the ground, splashing up a cloud of dust.

"Who else is going to die?!"

"I'll do it!"

Another general from the Xia army rode forward. This man was Du Fei, one of the Xia Kingdom's top generals. He had once performed the feat of killing fifty people in a single battle!

In the entire Great Xia Dynasty, there are no more than five people who can reliably defeat him!