The immortal of the Tang Dynasty, but the game starts at Xuanwu Gate?

"good."

Yuchi Gong couldn't help but chime in, "Chen Huai'an, I know you're capable, and I admit that what you're saying is indeed possible."

"But what you're saying is too arbitrary. What makes you so sure that the Turks will definitely attack? That Li Jing can't stop their surprise attack? That Luo Yi will just stand by and do nothing?"

"I'm not questioning you, I just want to know, what's the basis for your assumptions?"

"And what's the reason?"

Although he said he didn't question Chen Huai'an, the expression on Yuchi Gong's face betrayed his true thoughts.

He clearly scoffed at Chen Huai'an's words.

Without any basis, you've drawn conclusions about things. Do you think you can predict the future?

Du Ruhui pondered for a moment and said, "Mr. Chen, I will not comment on what you said earlier for the time being, but I agree with your opinion on Luo Yi."

"Luo Yi's situation is indeed much more complicated than Xue Wanche's. If the Turks attack, it's hard to say whether Luo Yi will stand idly by."

The implication is: I don't quite agree with what you said earlier, but I agree with Luo Yi's view.

These words actually show a lack of agreement with Chen Huai'an's views.

Seeing these people jump out one by one to question us, Chen Huai'an remained silent, but Wei Zheng couldn't sit still any longer: "Why do you always distrust us?"

Is it really that hard to listen to other people's opinions?

"Isn't it obvious that the Turks are attacking?"

"If you were the Turkic Khans, would you be willing to let such a good opportunity slip by when the Tang Dynasty is vulnerable and its power is unstable?"

"Mr. Chen's words are quite clear; this is a golden opportunity for them."

"Why let such a golden opportunity slip by?"

"But all of this hinges on one condition!" Changsun Wuji immediately retorted, "that the Turks can break through the main force led by Li Jing!"

"None of us said the Turks wouldn't attack; this is a golden opportunity for them, and we know that too."

"But who are Li Jing and Li Shiji, who are currently at the front lines? Do I need to elaborate on the abilities of these two generals?"

Wei Zheng: "Li Jing is currently located in Lingzhou on the western front, while Li Ji is far away in Bingzhou to the east. The two are separated by a thousand miles, each guarding one side. And what about Jingzhou, the northern gateway to Chang'an?"

"Jingzhou..."

"Alright!" Li Shimin said, sternly interrupting Wei Zheng.

"What's the point of your arguing here? We need to be on guard against the Turks, that goes without saying."

"The problem now is why Huai'an is so arbitrary, believing that Li Jing and his men cannot stop the Turkic army, and that Luo Yi will sit idly by and watch the Turks march south."

"The auxiliary engine asked Huai'an for a reason, so why don't we just ask Huai'an to give it to us now?"

"What's there to argue about? Can't you let people finish speaking?"

"And another thing!" Li Shimin scanned the crowd, saying each word clearly, "Don't forget, the last person who didn't listen to Wei Zheng and Huai'an is already dead!!"

"..."

The hall fell silent for a moment. Wei Zheng snorted coldly, and Changsun Wuji was speechless.

Indeed, the last person who didn't listen to these two is already dead.

Li Shimin looked at Chen Huai'an and asked, "Huai'an, could you explain why you made this guess?"

"And... are you so sure?"

Upon hearing Li Shimin's words, everyone turned to look at Chen Huai'an, sitting quietly and waiting for his reply.

Chen Huai'an smiled, showing no ill will due to Changsun Wuji and the others' questioning, and said meaningfully, "Gentlemen, it seems you've all forgotten about one person."

Forgot someone?

Everyone was taken aback, not quite understanding what Chen Huai'an meant.

Whom did they forget?

"Mr. Chen, stop beating around the bush, just tell me directly," Wei Zheng said urgently.

Chen Huai'an's lips twitched. Where had he been speaking in riddles? Wasn't this just normal, unfiltered speech?

He then said helplessly, "Liang Shidu!"

The moment Chen Huai'an uttered that name, everyone in the hall's pupils contracted sharply.

In an instant, they seemed to understand why Chen Huai'an was so certain that the Turks would take advantage of the situation and why he was certain that Li Jing and the others could not stop the Turkic army.

Who is Liang Shidu?

He was a powerful figure in Shuofang at the end of the Sui Dynasty and served as a general in the Sui court.

In the thirteenth year of the Daye era of the Sui Dynasty, he raised an army, killed the prefectural magistrate, occupied Xia Prefecture, and proclaimed himself Grand Chancellor.

He then joined forces with the Turks, occupied Diaoyin, Honghua, Yan'an and other counties, and declared himself emperor, establishing the state of "Liang"!

Currently, Liang Shidu is entrenched in Shuofang, Xia Prefecture, and is the last separatist force to openly oppose the Tang Dynasty since the end of the Sui Dynasty.

Furthermore, Liang Shidu openly submitted to the Turks and was appointed as the Great Bilge Khan and the Emperor of Peace by the Turkic Shibi Khan. He was truly a good dog under the Turks' command.

With such a major internal turmoil occurring in the Tang Dynasty, can the Liang army remain indifferent?

The answer is yes.

Liang Shidu would certainly not let such a good opportunity pass him by.

Because if he does nothing, he will surely perish.

He himself had little military strength, and even if the Tang Dynasty was in turmoil, he could not overthrow it on his own.

Therefore, as a loyal dog under the Turks, he would naturally do his best to encourage the Turks to take the opportunity to invade the south.

For Liang Shidu, if the Turks severely damaged the Tang army, he could profit from the disaster and strengthen his own forces.

Even if the Turks don't win, they can still greatly deplete the Tang army, leaving them no time to attend to themselves.

Either way, you're not at a loss.

With Liang Shidu as an inside man, perhaps... Li Jing and the others really can't stop them.

Li Shimin pondered, "If that's the case, and the Turks, with Liang Shidu's support, launch a surprise attack on the Tang Dynasty through gaps in the defenses, or even directly from within Liang territory, then Li Jing might not be able to stop them in time..."

"Even if there were an opportunity, for Li Jing, directly blocking such a large-scale invasion of the Turks would be too costly and not advisable. The best option would be to use the main force on the periphery to deter the Turkic army and cut off their retreat."

"As for Li Shiji..."

As he spoke, Li Shimin himself fell silent.

As a genius in military strategy, after Chen Huai'an pointed out that the Turks would definitely take the opportunity to attack, he had been analyzing various possibilities.

However, the more Li Shimin analyzed it, the more troublesome it became for him.

To reiterate, the regime is currently in turmoil; he has neither dealt with Li Jiancheng's old faction nor won over the generals and ministers loyal to Li Yuan.

Furthermore, once news of the Xuanwu Gate incident gets out, local unrest might occur.

Given all these factors, Li Shimin dared not act rashly.

Should Li Jing be recalled?

It is feasible to some extent, but the risks are too great, and there's another problem...

Li Shimin stared at Chen Huai'an: "Huai'an, when do you think the Turks will attack?"

"Where should we launch the attack?"

"......"