si-mexico Chapter 2307 is not difficult.
Chapter 2307 is not difficult.
The Tang Dynasty Imperial Palace, Daming Palace, Zichen Hall.
It was the twelfth lunar month, and the cold wind on the Guanzhong Plain was even more severe than that in the south of the Yangtze River. It howled through the palace corridors and made strange, wailing noises, as if countless wronged souls were crying.
Although several huge gilded charcoal braziers were burning inside the hall, with the finest silver frost charcoal glowing red and radiating scorching heat, they seemed unable to dispel the bone-chilling cold and gloom that permeated the air.
Emperor Li Shimin of the Tang Dynasty sat alone behind his imperial desk.
He wore a heavy, bright yellow dragon robe, with a sable fur cloak over it, but his face was even more gloomy and haggard than the sky outside the palace.
In just over a month, this once spirited emperor, who aspired to conquer the Jianghuai region, seemed to have aged ten years.
His eyes were sunken, his cheekbones were prominent, and there were even a few glaring white hairs at his temples.
The defeat at Jianghuai City, the rout at Changting Slope, and the deaths of generals like Guo Ziyi.
In particular, the annihilation of the last eight thousand cavalrymen was like a series of heavy hammer blows, shattering his ambition to expand southward.
It also instilled in him an unprecedented sense of crisis and fear.
He clutched tightly in his hand a copy of the official letter, which had just been presented by the Court of State Ceremonies and bore the seal of the Chu emperor.
Every word on it felt like a red-hot branding iron, burning his fingers until they trembled slightly, and searing his dignity and sense of luck.
"Wash your neck and wait... I will kill you with my own hands!"
Chu Ning's domineering, cold, and murderous reply seemed to penetrate the paper and transform into an invisible blade, hanging over his neck.
They refused to seek peace, their attitude so firm and resolute, leaving no room for compromise.
This was even worse than the worst outcome he had anticipated.
"Snapped!"
Li Shimin finally lost his temper and slammed the imperial letter onto the hard rosewood desk, making a dull thud.
His chest heaved violently, his breathing was heavy, and his eyes were filled with frustration, anger, and a trace of... panic that even he himself was unwilling to admit.
"His Majesty……"
A steady, slightly aged voice rang out in the hall.
Chancellor Changsun Wuji had quietly entered the palace at some point and stood bowing below the imperial steps.
His hair and beard were completely white, his face was thin, but his eyes were still wise and deep. At this moment, he was looking worriedly at the king who had lost his composure on the throne.
Changsun Wuji, having served two dynasties, is a shrewd and experienced political veteran, and also Li Shimin's most trusted advisor at this moment.
He was not entirely in favor of this southern expedition at first, believing that the time was not right and the risks were too great, but Li Shimin insisted on going his own way, so he could only do his best to assist him.
Now that defeat is inevitable, he knows that complaining is useless; the most urgent task is to figure out how to deal with the crisis ahead.
Is Your Majesty worried about the State of Chu?
Changsun Wuji asked the question knowingly, his voice calm, trying to soothe Li Shiming's agitated emotions.
Li Shiming took a few deep breaths, forcing himself to calm down, but his voice still carried an uncontrollable sense of frustration and anxiety:
"Worried? More than worried! Prime Minister Changsun, look at Chu Ning's reply!"
"Extremely arrogant, his murderous intent is blatant! He has no intention of giving our Great Tang any chance to breathe!"
"That old scoundrel Han Xing died on his way home, and Chu Ning has probably already held a grudge against me! With both old and new grievances, how could he easily let it go with just a letter seeking peace?"
He stood up and paced back and forth behind the imperial desk, the hem of his dragon robe sweeping across the gleaming gold-brick floor.
"Chu Ning was originally a man of great talent and ambition, ruthless in his methods and resolute in his will."
"Over the years, our nation has grown stronger by conquering other states. Now, after this victory, although we claim it was a Pyrrhic victory with significant losses, the morale of our troops is likely to rise rather than fall!"
"If he is determined to take advantage of the situation to launch a northern expedition to avenge the loss of Han Xing and annex our Great Tang... how can I not worry?"
Changsun Wuji listened quietly, and only after Li Shiming had vented his pent-up frustration did he slowly speak:
“Your Majesty’s concerns are well understood by this old minister. Chu Ning’s refusal to seek peace and his firm stance were indeed unexpected, but also… reasonable.”
"This man has his sights set on the world; how could he be satisfied with just a piece of paper proclaiming his allegiance? The death of Han Xing has given him an excellent excuse and a reason to mobilize."
He changed the subject, his voice becoming steady and powerful: "However, Your Majesty need not be overly pessimistic."
"Although Chu Ning won, it was a Pyrrhic victory, and that is no exaggeration."
"With an army of 350,000, more than 200,000 have been lost. Even if the Chu Kingdom is wealthy, it will take several years to recover from such casualties."
"After this great war and the rebellion of Chu Xuan, the country is bound to be in turmoil. Chu Ning's primary task must be to stabilize the internal situation, appease the military and civilians, and rectify the government."
"This is a golden opportunity for our Great Tang to catch its breath and prepare for war!"
Li Shimin stopped and looked at Changsun Wuji: "What does the Prime Minister mean..."
"The most urgent task is to restore the military strength of our Great Tang as soon as possible and strengthen the border defenses in preparation for the possible invasion of the Chu army next year."
Changsun Wuji's eyes shone brightly: "This old minister has three strategies that may solve the immediate crisis and ensure long-term peace."
"Firstly, veteran Li Jing should be reinstated!"
Changsun Wuji said with certainty, "Although General Li Jing is advanced in years, he is steady in his military tactics, experienced, and especially skilled in defense."
"Our army has just suffered a defeat and needs time to rest and reflect. At this time, the northern border defense line is not enough to be defended without Li Jing."
"Your Majesty, please set aside past grievances, summon Li Jing back to court immediately, entrust him with the important task of defending the northern border, reorganize the border troops, and fortify the passes to keep the Chu army out of the country!"
Upon hearing this, Li Shiming frowned slightly.
He was well aware of Li Jing's abilities, and employing him was indeed a good choice at the moment, but... it was a bit embarrassing.
But in this critical moment of life and death, we can't worry about that now.
He pondered for a moment and slowly nodded: "Li Jing... is indeed capable of being used. Approval is granted. Issue an edict immediately to summon Li Jing to the palace for an audience."
"Your Majesty is wise."
Changsun Wuji continued, "Secondly, I request Your Majesty to issue an order to urgently mobilize the elite troops from Guanzhong, Hedong, Longyou, and Jiannan prefectures for concentrated training to protect the capital and key passes."
"At the same time, recruitment notices were posted throughout the country, especially in the northern provinces, offering generous pay, land and houses to recruit young men and intensify their training."
"The money and grain from local government treasuries should be prioritized for military supplies."
"With this two-pronged approach, I estimate that by next spring, it will not be difficult to raise a new army of 200,000 men!"
"Although they are not as elite as those who have fought a hundred battles, they are strong enough to fight if they hold their ground in a strategic location!"
"Two hundred thousand new troops..."
Li Shiming murmured to himself, a glimmer of hope igniting in his eyes.
This number sounds truly encouraging. If it can be achieved, together with the existing border troops and the remnants reorganized by Guo Ziyi, the Tang Dynasty will once again have the resources to contend with the Chu Kingdom.
But then he worried, "The national treasury is empty after the losses of this southern expedition. Where will the provisions and weapons for the 200,000-strong army come from?"