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

When it came to the third point, Changsun Wuji hesitated noticeably for a moment, but still forced himself to speak:

"Thirdly, Your Majesty, perhaps we should still try to strengthen our alliance with the Scorpion Clan."

Upon hearing this, Li Shiming's brows furrowed instantly, and his expression, which had just eased slightly, darkened again.

The air inside the hall seemed to freeze again.

Knowing the emperor's resentment, Changsun Wuji quickly explained, "Your Majesty, this old minister also knows that Huyan Ying is treacherous and despicable. His desertion in the face of battle was indeed one of the reasons for this crushing defeat."

"However, in the current situation, the enemy is strong and we are weak, and the disparity is huge."

"If the State of Chu launches a full-scale attack, even with the utmost effort, the Great Tang alone may not be able to guarantee its survival."

"Although the Scorpion Clan is fickle, their cavalry advantage can greatly enhance our army's mobility and field combat capabilities."

"If we can manage to win over a portion of them, even if it's just to prevent them from turning against Chu, it would greatly relieve the pressure on me."

"The more strength we have, the more confident we will be in dealing with the State of Chu, and even in forcing them to sit down and negotiate!"

"This is a temporary measure, done out of necessity."

What he said was both reasonable and logical, based on the coldest reality of self-interest.

Sometimes, one has to make a painful choice between saving face and surviving.

Li Shiming remained silent for a long time.

He walked slowly to the window with his hands behind his back, gazing at the blurry outline of the palace in the deep night outside.

Changsun Wuji's words pierced his heart like needles.

Should we try to curry favor and form an alliance with that "ally" who caused Wang Zhongsi's death in battle and indirectly led to the annihilation of 250,000 troops?

This is not just a matter of losing face, but also a huge blow to his prestige as the emperor of the Tang Dynasty, and a desecration of the heroic spirits of the soldiers who died fighting bloody battles!

But what if we don't do it this way?

Emboldened by its great victory, the State of Chu was at the height of its military might.

The Tang Dynasty suffered a new defeat, losing all its elite troops, which shocked the nation.

If Chu Ning's ambitions truly swell and he launches a major northern expedition, can Guo Ziyi and his hastily assembled troops stop him?

At that time, what will be lost will probably be more than just face.

Reason and emotion, dignity and survival, clashed fiercely in the heart of this emperor.

The flickering candlelight inside the hall cast his lonely and heavy shadow long, long, on the smooth, cold floor.

Changsun Wuji held his breath and waited. He knew that this decision was far too difficult for the proud and arrogant emperor.

But the fate of a nation sometimes hinges on this difficult single thought.

The hall was deathly silent, save for the occasional crackling of the charcoal fire and the heavy, slow pacing of Li Shimin.

The darkness outside the window seemed to seep into the hall, pressing down on everyone's hearts.

Changsun Wuji remained kneeling, his forehead almost touching the ground. He could feel the emperor's silent struggle and the turbulent inner conflict within him.

He knew that his third point had touched upon His Majesty's deepest, most sensitive pride and wounds.

After a long while, Changsun Wuji raised his head, his aged face full of earnestness and concern for the country.

He spoke again, his voice even lower, yet every word struck at the most vulnerable points of reality:

"Your Majesty, this old minister knows that this matter has put Your Majesty in a difficult position and has caused Your Majesty great distress."

He paused, his voice choked with emotion: "General Wang Zhongsi, General Gao Xianzhi, General Liu Hongji, and those 250,000 loyal and brave soldiers, their blood cannot be shed in vain!"

"Their revenge must be avenged by our Great Tang!"

He abruptly changed the subject, his tone becoming incredibly calm and even cold: "However, Your Majesty, revenge requires strength, and wiping away shame requires opportunity."

"In the present situation, our Great Tang is like a severely wounded beast, while the Chu Kingdom is a fierce tiger that has just eaten its fill and sharpened its claws."

"If, in a moment of anger, we cut off all possible external assistance and try to fight the tiger head-on by ourselves, not only will we be unable to avenge our grievances and wipe away our shame, but we may also face the danger of our own downfall!"

He crawled forward half a step on his knees, looked up at Li Shiming's stiff back, and spoke with increasing earnestness:

"Your Majesty, enduring temporary humiliation is for the sake of lasting peace! Our feigned compliance with the Scorpion Clan is not a sign of forgetting our blood feud, but rather a means to buy time and accumulate strength!"

"Once our new army is fully trained, our defenses are solid, and our national strength is restored, then we will be able to settle accounts with the treacherous Huyan Ying or seek revenge against the Chu Kingdom for the blood debt!"

"Bow your head now so that you can hold it high in the future!"

"Besides,"

Changsun Wuji lowered his voice, with the shrewd calculation of a politician: "Huyan Ying's breach of contract is certainly hateful, but it also exposes his profit-driven nature."

“Such a villain may not be immune to being lured with benefits. What can the State of Chu offer him? Nothing more than plundered wealth.”

"If our Great Tang can offer more stable and lasting benefits—such as opening border markets, bestowing titles and honors, or even designating certain pastures—we might be able to win them over again, or at least keep them neutral."

"If this matter is entrusted to a capable official skilled in diplomacy, there might still be room for maneuver."

"The key is not whether we suffer humiliation, but whether we can buy our Great Tang Dynasty the most precious chance to breathe!"

Li Shiming still had his back to him, but Changsun Wuji could feel that the straight back trembled slightly.

He knew that His Majesty had taken his words to heart.

Your Majesty is a great ruler, the Heavenly Khan who ushered in the prosperous Zhenguan era, but precisely because of this, he understands the cruelty of reality and the gap in power better than anyone else.

Acting rashly will not resolve the empire's current crisis.

Time passed by second by second, and every moment felt exceptionally long.

The air inside the hall seemed to have frozen into ice.

Finally, Li Shiming slowly turned around.

The rage and struggle that had been on his face had vanished, replaced by a deep, almost terrifying calm. Yet, deep in his eyes, lingering pain and a chilling resolve remained.

In an instant, he seemed to suppress all his emotions deep within his heart and transform back into the emperor who controlled the world.

He glanced at Changsun Wuji, who was still kneeling on the ground, and said in a calm but unwavering voice, "Wuji, get up."

"you're right."

These four simple words carried immense weight: "I cannot gamble with the fate of the nation and the well-being of its people on a mere act of pride."

"I have remembered the blood feud between General Wang and his soldiers, and one day I will exact it all upon them with interest! But now..."

After he returned to his desk, despite the mess on it, he stood there as steady as a mountain.

He took a deep breath, his gaze becoming sharp and resolute.

A series of clear and swift commands emanated from his mouth, beginning the mobilization of the vast empire's war machine in the dead of night:

"First, draft an imperial edict immediately and send it to the front lines by express courier! Grant Li Jing permission to resign from all military posts and return to the capital to await investigation!"

"All remaining troops under his command will be temporarily placed under the unified command of Guo Ziyi!"