Tang Dynasty: Starting at Xuanwu Gate, this prince is better off not being one.

Upon hearing Zhi Shisi's words, everyone present, except for Li Er, was startled.

Looking around, Zhishi Sili was quite satisfied with the scene, but the only flaw was that the emperor sitting above showed no surprise whatsoever. He simply said to him with a calm expression, "Since that's the case, then go back and tell your Khan Jieli that whether it's 100,000 or 300,000, let him come if he wants. I will be waiting for him on the bridge over the Wei River in three days."

.........

After Zhishi Sili left, the main hall fell silent.

After a long silence, Li Er finally spoke, asking Du Ruhui, who was now the Minister of War, "Keming, how many troops can Chang'an muster within three days?"

"Your Majesty!" Du Ruhui sighed, "I have thoroughly investigated the military preparations in the capital region. Currently, the imperial guards and soldiers on duty in the sixteen southern guards within Chang'an City total more than 30,000. If a proclamation is sent to the nearby military commands, more than 50,000 armored soldiers can be gathered within three days; furthermore, another 50,000 able-bodied men from the capital can be temporarily conscripted. In total, within three days, Chang'an can gather 80,000 combat soldiers, 50,000 able-bodied men, and more than 100,000 archers."

Upon hearing this, Li Er waved his hand: "The situation in the court is not stable at present, and the national treasury is not rich enough. Conscripting able-bodied men is not feasible."

"In that case, Chang'an can only muster 80,000 troops within three days..." Du Ruhui replied with trepidation.

To everyone's surprise, Li Er waved his hand again: "The Turkic army is currently stationed forty miles to the northwest, and orders from there cannot be transmitted."

"Your Majesty!" Du Ruhui calculated for a moment, then stammered, "If that's the case, Chang'an will only be able to muster 50,000 troops within three days..."

"..."

As soon as Du Ruhui said this, the hall fell into a deathly silence once again.

These words disturbed everyone's composure, and their faces were filled with worry, even their breathing became cautious.

Li Yu, on the other hand, seemed quite relaxed. As someone who had read the script, he said that this was the plot where Li Er used temporary humiliation and three years of forbearance to capture Jieli and bring him to Chang'an to dance.

Moreover, he held the Turks in utter contempt.

Damn it, he can't even brag properly. And he has an army of 300,000... How could an army of 300,000 arrive in Chang'an in such a short time?

Li Er was also very troubled at this time. Even someone as powerful as him was at a loss for how to deal with the 300,000-strong army mentioned by Zhi Shi Si Li.

Because he had only recently ascended the throne, the current situation in the court was not yet completely stable for him. Furthermore, Feng Ang in Lingnan had been quite restless lately, and the surrounding Tuyuhun and Tiele tribes were also eyeing him covetously. Therefore, he dared not confront Jieli head-on in Chang'an.

Thinking of this, he looked up and glanced around. He was about to comfort these ministers who shared the same worries and boost the morale of the army when he noticed that there were people in the hall who looked relaxed and even occasionally turned their heads to chuckle.

"Boy! What are you laughing at?" Li Er's anger flared up instantly.

Li Yu was startled by the sudden voice, turned around and saw that it was Li Er, then replied, "Your Majesty, I am laughing at this stubborn and foolish man who can't even speak a simple truth."

Li Er, who had been prepared to listen to Li Yu's stammering explanation, was stunned for a moment upon hearing this, and then scolded, "Boy, explain yourself clearly!"

"He said the Turks have sent an army of 300,000. I think that's pure nonsense!"

"What makes you say that?" Li Er asked curiously.

Not only Li Er, but everyone was curious, and some people were even a little disdainful while being curious.

"Your Majesty!" Li Yu ignored the stares, rose from his seat, walked to the center of the hall, bowed to Li Er, and then cupped his hands to the crowd to explain, "According to the marching speed of 300,000 troops, it would take at least three months to travel from Qikou to Gaoling and then to Chang'an, while 50,000 Turkic cavalry can reach Gaoling in just over a month."

"Based on this calculation, even if they send out troops at the same time, when 50,000 iron cavalry are stationed in Gaoling, the Turkic army of 300,000 has only moved less than halfway."

"In that case, Uncle Yuchi would have no chance of encountering Turkic reinforcements. Even if they sent some reinforcements first, it would be impossible for them to reach Chang'an so quickly."

As soon as Li Yu said this, someone stood up and refuted him on the spot.

"Your Majesty of Songshan, you cannot speak so definitively! This involves important military matters; how can you make such wild guesses?"

The man who stepped forward was a Confucian scholar in his forties, another vice minister of the Ministry of Works, named Quan Wanji.

Because of his upright character, he had many political enemies in the court. Originally, he should have been the only vice minister of the Ministry of Works, but after Li Xuanba, who was a minister who was paid without working, was added, Emperor Li Er arranged for Duan Lun to serve as the vice minister of the Ministry of Works at the same time. This not only allowed him to take over the powers of Li Xuanba, the minister of the Ministry of Works, but also took away most of his power as vice minister.

In addition, he had always looked down on those in the royal family who took salaries but did nothing, so he had always disliked Li Xuanba. As Li Xuanba's only son, Li Yu naturally became his political enemy.

"Oh? Minister Quan, please tell me, how could I have made such a wild guess?" Li Yu raised an eyebrow, wanting to see what this guy who suddenly jumped out could find out.

Quan Wanji did not look at Li Yu again, but turned to Li Er and said: "Your Majesty, in my opinion, Jieli has probably already secretly stationed 300,000 troops in Gaoling. The 50,000 cavalry sent out earlier were just bait to probe the strength of our Great Tang."

Li Yu was never a magnanimous person, and naturally he wouldn't give a friendly look to those who considered him an enemy: "I think Minister Quan and Zhishi Sili are both equally stupid. They've already secretly stockpiled supplies at Gaoling. Are you going to supply the provisions for these 300,000 troops?"

"Furthermore, the Turks have assembled an army of 300,000. Such a massive force, how could they have remained completely silent? Even if they were extremely secretive, shouldn't they have been exposed by the time they reached Gaoling?"

"Moreover, Jieli and Tuli Khan have a deep-seated conflict, and the Xueyantuo, Uyghur and other tribes have already rebelled. Tell me, how dare Jieli send out an army of 300,000 men all at once, and lead them personally? Did you give them to him?"

Li Yu's words were so sharp that Quan Wanji was speechless for a moment.

"Your Majesty, the King of Songshan is right. We were too focused on the words of the one who lost his mind, and that's why we overlooked such an obvious flaw."

Du Ruhui, the Minister of War, stepped forward and expressed his deep agreement with Li Yu's words.

Not only him, but all the military officers present, including Li Er, were veterans of countless battles. After Li Yu's reminder, they all immediately realized what was going on.

Cheng Yaojin then stepped forward and bluntly stated, "Your Majesty, this young man is right. I think Minister Quan is so used to speaking his mind that he's become too rigid!"

.........