Tang Dynasty: Starting with 3,000 elite cavalry, a bloody battle to retake the city.

Two streams of tears slid down Li Shimin's face, mingling with blood from the corner of his mouth and dripping onto his dragon robe.

His lips trembled as he murmured, "I...I'm so sorry..."

He once swore: Anyone who tries to make peace again will be executed!

But now, he doesn't even have the strength to kill anyone.

Tap, tap, tap...

A series of steady footsteps broke the silence.

Outside the Imperial Study, Li Junxian stood tall and proud, his voice booming like a bell: "Your Majesty! General Li Yingge, the Divine Mighty Woman, is summoned to an audience!"

"Your Majesty! The Divine General Li Yingge has arrived!"

The command from outside the door was loud and clear, and everyone's spirits lifted.

Li Yingge, a general personally appointed by His Majesty as "Divine Might," is only twenty-five years old, yet he has already defeated the Turkic cavalry three times in the northwest, earning him a formidable reputation.

She was the daughter of Li Jing, and also a sharp blade personally honed by Li Shimin.

At this moment, the court is at a stalemate, and only she might be able to persuade this emperor who is on the verge of collapse.

Li Shimin heard this, but did not respond.

He knew whose daughter Li Yingge was.

He also knew that she would most likely say the same thing as her father—peace talks.

He didn't want to hear it.

I don't want to hear a single word.

The hall was utterly silent.

Li Jing, unable to contain himself any longer, shouted in a low voice, "Let her in."

Li Junxian was taken aback, his gaze shifting between Li Jing and the emperor.

Changsun Wuji's eyes widened immediately: "What are you all standing there for? The person His Majesty summoned, why aren't you bringing him in!"

"Yes!" Li Junxian clasped his hands in a fist salute, turned around, and strode out.

A moment later, a tall figure stepped through the twilight and entered the Imperial Study.

He was still in his silver armor, covered in dust, with sharp brows and piercing eyes.

That's right—Li Yingge.

The moment Li Yingge stepped into the Imperial Study—

The air seemed to freeze, and even breathing carried a chilling edge!

Tables and chairs overturned and lay scattered haphazardly on the blue brick floor, while memorials were strewn about like snowflakes, as if they had been violently torn apart and thrown into the air.

Li Shimin, who sat high on the dragon throne, had blood seeping from the corner of his mouth, his eyes were bloodshot as if burning, and his gaze was so sinister that it could gouge out a person's bones!

The entire hall was deathly silent, like a tomb.

Li Yingge's heart tightened, and a chill ran up her spine to the top of her head.

problem occurs.

Moreover, it's a big deal!

Looking back now, Han Ye's hesitant demeanor seemed like a premonition.

She suppressed her emotions, bowed respectfully, and said in a cold voice, "Greetings, Your Majesty. May I ask what brings you to my court?"

Li Shimin didn't even lift his eyelids, but waved his hand, his voice hoarse like the grinding of sand: "You...go and talk to her."

As soon as he finished speaking, Li Jing, Changsun Wuji, Fang Xuanling, and the others all sighed softly, their brows furrowed with worry.

They read out the urgent reports from the frontier word for word—

The Turks are launching a counterattack! The northern border is in dire straits! Hundreds of thousands of refugees are fleeing south, three border prefectures have fallen, and the flames of war have reached the foot of the Great Wall!

"boom!"

A thunderbolt seemed to explode in Li Yingge's mind!

She wasn't shocked by the outbreak of war—she was shocked that Han Ye had known about it all beforehand!

And she, a dignified female general who protected the country and the Left Vice Minister of War, learned of the military situation later than a "leisurely young master"?!

absurd!

Such a top secret could never be leaked unless personally opened by the emperor and decided upon by high-ranking officials! But Han Ye… how did he manage to sniff out the news?!

Even more terrifying is that he had even foreseen today's stalemate in the court: the pro-war faction and the pro-peace faction were locked in a standoff, the emperor was so angry that he vomited blood, and the ministers were at a loss!

"Who exactly is he?"

Li Yingge's fingertips trembled slightly as the image of the man leaning lazily against the window with a nonchalant smile flashed through her mind, and her heart sank.

But she didn't have time to think about it.

The border crisis is looming large, leaving no room for hesitation!

She abruptly looked up, her gaze sweeping over the assembled officials: "Gentlemen, do you have a solution?"

Changsun Wuji shook his head with a wry smile: "Yingge, you are also a commander. You should know that the Tang Dynasty's treasury is empty, supplies are running low, the people are exhausted, and there are millions of refugees... How can we launch a northern expedition under such circumstances?"

"Therefore—we urge Your Majesty to negotiate peace with the Turks."

"This is the only way out."

"Peace talks?!"

Li Yingge's pupils shrank suddenly, and a surge of anger rushed from her dantian to the top of her head!

Peace talks?!

What about the 100,000 soldiers who died in battle?! What about the border people who cut off their limbs and flesh to defend the city?!

Can a single alliance erase blood debts?!

But... she also knew.

The Tang Dynasty is truly unable to afford to fight now.

With the national treasury depleted, new taxes yet to be collected, the severe drought in the south still unresolved, and war reignited in the north—starting a war would be tantamount to suicide.

unless……

"Buzz—"

In that instant, she looked down at the unremarkable rice stalk in her hand—genetically modified rice.

Her breath hitched!

Her beautiful eyes suddenly widened, like lightning cleaving through the fog!

So... Han Ye had seen through everything all along!

He knew that the imperial court was no longer able to fight, and he also knew that only by solving the fundamental problems of people's livelihood could the war be restarted!

This rice plant—yielding 3,000 catties per mu, with a growth period of only 30 days, is cold-resistant and drought-resistant, and can grow wildly on wasteland!

If it were buried, it could feed a million refugees within three months, fill the national treasury within six months, and after a year, with a well-trained army and ample provisions, what would we have to fear from the Turkic cavalry?!

This is the real weapon to break the deadlock!

This is the source of Han Ye's confidence in making her "go to war at all costs"!

"Ying Ge."

Li Jing approached quietly, his voice low and full of helplessness: "His Majesty is unwilling to bow his head, but we... really have no other choice."

Go and try to persuade him; for the sake of the country and its people, peace talks are the only option.

Changsun Wuji, Yuchi Gong, and the others all looked over, their eyes filled with anticipation.

They were counting on her to quell the emperor's anger and sign that humiliating treaty.

"Peace talks?"

Li Yingge suddenly smiled.

Her smile could topple cities, yet it was as cold as frost and snow.

She looked down at the rice stalks in her hand, her knuckles turning slightly white.

On one side were his father's instructions and the expectations of the officials—to endure humiliation and seek peace, and to maintain a temporary state of tranquility.

On one side was Han Ye's order, cold and resolute—go to war at all costs!

She stood in the eye of the storm, holding the only hope for the survival of the Tang Dynasty in her hands.

Who do you listen to?

She slowly raised her head, her gaze sharp as a sword, reflecting the candlelight in the hall and the churning dark clouds outside the window.

"His Majesty."

She suddenly spoke in a loud voice, as clear as tearing silk:

"If you trust me—there's no need for negotiations."

Give me three months.

"Three months later, I will personally lead my troops to conquer the northern border!"

Two choices lay before her.

Like two knives, one pressed against the throat, the other against the heart.

How could Li Yingge not be confused? How could she not struggle?

Her eyes were unfocused, as if her soul had been ripped from her body.

At this moment, the voices of Li Jing and Changsun Wuji had long since become a buzzing sound.

Her thoughts, however, surged back like a tidal wave, violently recalling those days of bloodshed and fire—

From the moment the Ghost-Faced General appeared...

Outside Dingzhou city, the bones of Han people were piled up like mountains, their blood soaking the yellow sand, and no one was there to collect them!

The Ghost Face Army was completely wiped out, and corpses littered the field!

On the banks of the Wei River, General Qin severed a man's throat with a single sword stroke. Ten thousand refugees, treading on mountains of corpses and seas of blood, charged back to the battlefield, shouting "May the Great Tang be victorious!" Then, one after another, they fell before the enemy lines!

And then—

The Ghost-Faced General charged into the enemy camp alone, piercing the throat of Khagan Jieli with a single spear thrust!

They were then surrounded and pursued by hundreds of thousands of cavalry, their fate unknown, and no news of them ever heard from them...

Are these things far away?

Do not!

It feels as if yesterday's blood is still on my fingertips, and the pain is still burning in my heart!

But how come... everyone is pretending to have forgotten?

Who are they?

They are Han Chinese!

They are Han Chinese who would rather die than kneel!

Those comrades who died on the battlefield had already written the answer with their lives during the first Northern Expedition—

No way! No surrender! It's a fight to the death!

At that moment, a light suddenly ignited in Li Yingge's eyes!

The fog has lifted, and the fire in my heart has been rekindled.

Whether we can win... depends on you.

"Han Ye, don't let me make a mistake."

She looked down at the genetically modified rice plant in her palm, and suddenly smiled—a soft smile, yet one that conveyed a sense of resolve.

She figured it out.

She has made her choice.

She suddenly stood up, her battle skirt fluttering like a drawn blade.

She turned and knelt on one knee towards the throne, her voice as cold as frost:

"His Majesty!"

As soon as the sound rang out, Li Jing, Changsun Wuji, and the others all breathed a sigh of relief.

Finally... they managed to persuade him?

They thought that Li Yingge had finally compromised and was about to persuade His Majesty to negotiate peace.

This is the only way to survive right now, isn't it?

Li Shimin, however, sat quietly with his eyes lowered, his expression somber.

He seemed to have anticipated what she would say.

He slowly turned around, his gaze falling on her, disappointment like a knife cutting across the corner of his eye.

He said in a low, hoarse voice, "Li Yingge, you too... want to persuade me to bow down and sue for peace with the Turks?"

Why not?

She sneered, each word chilling the entire hall: "The ministers all say that the Tang Dynasty is powerless to fight again."

Since that's the case, what else can we do but negotiate? Should the entire nation be forced to die?

boom--!

Li Shimin suddenly looked up, his eyes burning red!

"Is this the only road left?!"

He gritted his teeth, his anger almost tangible: "Jiancheng's remnants colluded with foreign invaders to invade our territory! And now I'm expected to grovel before them? By what right?!"

"If I were to bow my head—"

He suddenly stood up, his voice shaking the heavens and earth:

"How can you face General Ghost Face?!"

"How can you face General Qin, who committed suicide by the Wei River?!"

"How can we face the soldiers who died on the frontier, those who never retreated?!"

The sound faded, and the hall fell into a deathly silence.

Li Jing lowered his head, Changsun Wuji closed his eyes, and Yuchi Gong clenched his fists so tightly that his knuckles turned white.

sorry……

I'm really sorry.

But how?

The national treasury is empty, the army is depleted, and the people are displaced.

The Tang Dynasty has been pushed to the brink of collapse!

But Li Yingge smiled softly in the deathly silence.

Cold, ruthless, and laced with biting sarcasm.

"What's there to be sorry about? Since you've decided to live on, you might as well forget about those loyal souls."

Being alive is the most important thing, isn't it?

boom--!!

These words caused an uproar throughout the hall!

Absurd! Outrageous!

Li Shimin's pupils contracted sharply, his eyes turning ashen and unfathomable: "What...do you mean?!"

"Splash—"

She suddenly raised her hand and slammed one knee heavily to the ground with a thunderous sound:

"Your Majesty! I speak frankly today! If you issue a decree today to negotiate peace and hand over the border city to the Turkic barbarians—then how are you any different from the remnants of Jiancheng?!"

Silence, as if frozen for thousands of miles.

But she persisted, her words like knives, piercing through everyone's pretense:

"Today's peace talks mean tomorrow's submission! The day after tomorrow, it means vassalage! In a few more days, the Tang Dynasty will change its flag and directly submit to the Turks!"

"Rather than that—"

She tilted her head back, a deeply mocking smile playing on her lips:

"Why not move the entire population to the grasslands, kneel before the Khan, play music in celebration, erase the words 'Great Tang' from the name, and instead call ourselves 'Turkic Vassals'? Wouldn't that be a win-win situation?!"