Nine dragons fight for the throne, I don't want to sit on this throne

Liu Xiang stammered, "What if...what if we agreed to cede Heluo Prefecture, but Li Shiming went back on his word and took the territory, but only pretended not to order Li Jing to launch a full-scale attack?"

"Wouldn't we have lost both our country and our people? We'd have lost our territory, but received no real assistance."

This question, like a needle, pierced the deepest hidden worries in Dugu Jia's heart.

Her hand holding the pen paused slightly.

But then, a cold, sarcastic sneer appeared on her face.

She put down her pen and looked at Liu Xiang, her eyes full of insight into political realities.

"Xiang'er, you think too simply of Li Shiming, and you think too naively of the game between countries."

Dugu Jia's voice carried the indifference of someone who had seen through the world: "The lips and teeth are cold, and if they are gone, they are gone. How could a great leader like Li Shiming not understand this?"

She walked up to Liu Xiang and analyzed word by word, "Yes, Li Shiming really wants to take advantage of the situation and take advantage of our Han Dynasty."

"But he knows better than anyone that Chu Ning is his real biggest concern!"

"If our Han Dynasty is really easily annexed by Chu Ning, to what extent will the power of Chu expand?"

"By then, with the power to unify the Central Plains, his next target will definitely be Li Shiming's Tang Dynasty!"

"so,"

Dugu Jia said firmly, "He will never sit idly by and watch our Han Dynasty be destroyed by Chu Ning! He needs our Han Dynasty to exist. He needs us to hold Chu Ning back on the western front and consume Chu Ning's strength!"

"His request for ceding territory was nothing more than a negotiation tactic to maximize his advantage."

"Once we agree, he will definitely order Li Jing to really increase the offensive for his own strategic safety and create enough trouble for Chu Ning!"

"Because helping me is actually helping himself! Li Shiming understands this better than anyone else!"

Liu Xiang listened to his mother's analysis, not quite understanding it, but when he saw his mother's extremely certain look, the doubts in his heart were slightly alleviated.

Dugu Jia said no more, turned back to the desk, took a deep breath, and began to write.

In the letter, she readily agreed to the Tang Dynasty's proposal and promised that as long as the Tang Dynasty could effectively contain the main force of the Chu army on the eastern front and help Chang'an to break the siege, she would immediately cede Heluo Prefecture to the Tang Dynasty after the success.

The words were sincere, even with a hint of gratitude.

After writing the letter and using the Empress Dowager's seal, she called out to her most loyal confidant and said, "Send this letter to the Emperor of the Tang Dynasty as quickly as possible."

Watching his confidant leave, Dugu Jia closed his eyes tiredly.

This is a deal that is like trying to get the skin of a tiger, a humiliating gamble.

But in order to survive, she had no choice. Now, she could only pray that Li Shiming was really as shrewd and greedy as she expected.

The fate of Chang'an City also largely depends on the war on the eastern front, which she cannot directly control.

At the same time, on the eastern front, at the border of Wei.

The Tang army's camp, stretching for dozens of miles, was like a steel jungle, with flags fluttering, swords and spears like a forest, and a murderous atmosphere reaching the sky.

The atmosphere in the central military tent was solemn and warm.

Li Jing, the military god of the Tang Dynasty and commander of the eastern front, sat in the main seat.

He was about sixty years old, with a strong face and eyes as sharp as an eagle.

Although he was not wearing armor and was only wearing a dark casual uniform, the aura of a veteran and intimidating presence that he exuded made all the arrogant and powerful generals under his command feel awe.

Inside the tent, gathered together were the main generals of the Tang Dynasty's Eastern Expedition, as well as several chiefs of the Scorpion Tribe who served as allies.

Everyone had just finished their greetings and stood on both sides.

Li Jing didn't exchange any extra greetings. He glanced at everyone and got straight to the point. His voice was steady and powerful:

"Everyone, we have just received an urgent military report from Chang'an, eight hundred miles away, as well as a secret decree from His Majesty. The situation in the Central Plains has undergone a dramatic change."

As soon as these words were spoken, the tent suddenly became quiet, and all the generals focused their attention on Li Jing, sensing that something big was about to happen.

Li Jing said slowly, "Han Emperor Liu Xiu personally led an army of 200,000 men to a decisive battle with the main force of the Chu army at Hongdu and Kunyang. His entire army was annihilated, and Liu Xiu himself was also beheaded."

"Wow——!"

Although everyone was mentally prepared that the Chu-Han War would decide the outcome, when the words "the entire army was annihilated" and "Liu Xiu was beheaded" came out clearly from Li Jing's mouth, there was an uncontrollable cry and uproar in the tent!

The generals' faces showed expressions of shock, excitement, and even a hint of horror.

"Two hundred thousand troops, just gone like that?"

"How could the Chu army be so powerful?"

"Once Liu Xiu dies, won't all the Han territory belong to Chu Ning?"

Li Jing took in everyone's reactions, paused for a moment, and waited for the tent to calm down before continuing:

"Your Majesty's Imperial Edict: Although the Chu army has won, their troops and horses are undoubtedly exhausted after the fierce battle, and their main force will surely advance westward to Chang'an, intending to annex Han territory."

"This is a golden opportunity bestowed upon the Tang Dynasty! His Majesty has ordered us to seize the opportunity, immediately intensify our offensive, and attack with all our might!"

"We must take advantage of the fact that the Chu army is struggling to take care of both the east and the west, and strike a devastating blow to its eastern defenses."

"Strive to break through their defenses and march directly into the heart of Chu to contain their westward advance and expand the territory of the Tang Dynasty!"

"Your Majesty, Holy Might!"

"I have been waiting for this day for a long time!"

"Please give the order, Marshal! I am willing to be the vanguard!"

As soon as Li Jing finished speaking, the crowd in the tent suddenly became excited!

Especially those young and vigorous generals who were eager to make achievements were ready to fight and came forward to ask for battle, wishing they could lead their troops into Chu territory immediately.

Even several Scorpion chiefs had their eyes burning with excitement when they heard this. They had formed an alliance with the Tang Dynasty for wealth and land. Now that the opportunity was right in front of them, how could they not be excited?

"General! I am willing to lead my troops as the vanguard and attack the center of the Chu army!"

"I request orders to attack their left wing!"

"Leave the right wing to me!"

For a while, calls for battle came one after another, and the tent was filled with an atmosphere of eagerness to attack.

However, Li Jing, who was sitting in the main seat, did not show much excitement on his face. Instead, his brows were slightly frowned, and his eyes became deeper.

He raised his hand and pressed down gently.

An invisible pressure emanated, and the tent became quiet in an instant.

All the generals held their breath, waiting for the commander's decision.

They knew very well that this military god always planned before taking action and never fought a battle without confidence.

Li Jing's eyes slowly swept over the generals who were most active in requesting battle, and he spoke in a steady voice:

"I understand your desire for battle. The enemy is proud of their recent victory and worried about the west. This is indeed a good opportunity for our army to attack, but—"

He changed the subject and his tone became serious: "The Chu army's commanders Xue Huaide and Zhao Yu are both not mediocre."

"Their eastern defenses have been well-established and fortified for a long time. Even if some of their forces may be transferred westward, the troops remaining behind must have been well-prepared and on the alert!"

"If our army becomes complacent due to the enemy's weakness and rashly advances at one point, it will easily lead to a counterattack or even be surrounded."