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

Chu Ning's question instantly made the atmosphere in the hall both more serious and lively.

All the generals' eyes lit up. This was a crucial moment that would determine the future course of the battle and whether each of them could make new contributions.

Almost simultaneously, everyone's eyes turned to the civil officials' queue.

The figure standing quietly, dressed in a simple black robe, with a thin face, three long wisps of beard, and unusually deep and bright eyes, was none other than the Military Advisor, Jia Yu.

Although Jia Yu did not wear armor or wield weapons, none of the generals present dared to underestimate him.

This man possesses profound wisdom and resourcefulness, and has repeatedly devised ingenious strategies. He also played a crucial role in the planning and coordination of the Battle of Zhennanguan, earning the deep trust of Chu Ning.

Now that the next strategic direction is being discussed, we naturally need to hear the opinion of this strategist first.

Feeling the gazes of the crowd, Jia Yu smiled calmly and confidently.

He calmly walked out from the ranks of civil officials and came to the foot of the imperial steps.

He bowed slightly to Chu Ning, then straightened up. His voice, though not loud, carried clearly throughout the hall, exuding a confident and sharp understanding of the times.

"Your Majesty, generals, in my humble opinion, our army has been resting for several days, and the soldiers' strength is gradually recovering, and their morale is soaring."

"The Tang army had just suffered a crushing defeat and had lost its morale. Although Guo Ziyi tried his best to gather the remaining troops, the army's morale was low and the defense line was full of loopholes."

"This is a golden opportunity; how can we let it slip by?"

He paused briefly, then looked intently at Chu Ning and uttered that earth-shattering suggestion:

"I suggest that the army set off immediately, pursue the enemy in their victory, and crush them with overwhelming force, directly entering the territory of the Great Tang!"

Upon hearing this, although they had anticipated that His Majesty would inquire about strategies for advancement, the six words "directly enter the territory of the Great Tang" still sent a jolt through the hearts of some generals!

This is no longer just about chasing down the remaining enemy forces; it is a clear and large-scale invasion!

Jia Yu's suggestion to "go straight into the Tang Dynasty's territory" was like a boulder thrown into a calm lake, instantly creating ripples throughout the hall!

Many generals' eyes suddenly lit up, a light of longing to achieve great deeds and expand territory!

Yes, riding the wave of a great victory, sweeping away the defeated enemy, and bringing the flames of war to the land of Tang, what a feat this is!

Ran Ming couldn't help but clench his fists, as if he could already see himself leading his army to break through the Tang army's passes.

On the throne, Chu Ning listened to Jia Yu's advice, his face first showing a look of deep agreement, and he even nodded slightly.

What Jia Yu said perfectly matched his ambition to not be content with merely winning a border defense battle.

The temptation to firmly grasp the initiative, maximize the results of the battle, and even take this opportunity to severely weaken or shake the foundation of the Tang Dynasty is undoubtedly immense.

“What Minister Jia said is exactly what I wanted to say.”

Chu Ning spoke slowly, his voice filled with agreement: "The prestige won by the men of Great Chu through bloody battles, how can it be used merely for maintaining the status quo?"

"We should seize this opportunity to expand our gains and demonstrate our national power to the world!"

However, he did not immediately change his tone to discuss how to advance.

Instead, he leaned forward slightly, his gaze becoming exceptionally sharp and calm, and posed two crucial questions that could determine whether any offensive plan could be implemented:

"However, a large army's expedition deep into enemy territory is not something that can be accomplished by the bravery of a mere mortal."

"I have two concerns in my mind. If these two concerns are not resolved, even with a million strong army, we will be walking on thin ice, and the consequences will be endless!"

His voice echoed in the hall, instantly cooling down the feverish mind.

"Firstly, provisions and supplies are the lifeblood of an army."

"Although our army has stockpiled a lot of grain and fodder at Zhennan Pass and captured some of the Tang army's stored grain, if we want to support an army of hundreds of thousands of people to fight far from our own passes and deep into enemy territory, the consumption will be astronomical, and the supply line will be greatly lengthened and easily harassed and cut off by the enemy."

"I ask Minister Jia, and all the generals, whether our army's grain transport strategy and logistical support capabilities can truly keep up with the rapid advance of the army?"

"If the supply lines are disrupted, the morale of the army will surely collapse. At that point, we will be unable to advance or retreat, and we will be in grave danger!"

This question was like a bucket of cold water poured on the minds of the generals.

Having fought many battles, how could they not know the principle that "an army marches on its stomach"?

The great victory at Zhennanguan was largely due to the fact that the enemy was able to wait in comfort and that supplies were readily available.

Once we leave the pass and enter unfamiliar enemy territory that may be under scorched earth, the logistical pressure will increase exponentially.

Ran Ming opened his mouth, wanting to say something, but found that he had no confidence in the specific allocation of grain and supplies and the support along the way, so he had to shut his mouth.

Chu Ning didn't pause, and immediately posed a second, even more serious question. His gaze swept over the huge map of the Nine Provinces hanging in the hall, landing on the northern Youzhou region:

"Secondly, the danger on the northern front is like a thorn in our side!"

"My lords, do not forget that while we are engaged in a decisive battle with Li Jing's main force here, in Youzhou in the northern border, the 100,000 cavalry led by the Scorpion Clan leader are locked in a fierce stalemate with the troops left behind in the country! The battle is intense and the outcome is still undecided!"

He stood up, walked to the map, and pointed heavily at the location of Youzhou. His voice grew increasingly somber: "Youzhou is the northern gateway of our Great Chu, and a strategic stronghold connecting our Central Plains with the rear of our southern expeditionary force!"

"If our main force marches south at this moment and penetrates deep into Tang territory, our rear will inevitably be relatively vulnerable."

"What if the war on the northern front goes badly, Youzhou falls, and the Scorpion Clan's iron cavalry breaks through..."

Chu Ning turned around, his gaze sharp as lightning, sweeping across the entire scene: "Then, the Scorpion Clan's 100,000 cavalry can drive straight in and cut off the retreat and supply lines of my southern expeditionary army!"

"It's even possible that together with the retreating Guo Ziyi's troops, or reinforcements mobilized by the Tang state from other places, they could form a pincer movement from the north and south!"

"At that time, my hundreds of thousands of elite troops will be trapped in a desperate situation with fortified cities and powerful enemies in front, and wolves blocking the way from behind!"

"This is not an exaggeration; it is a real, sharp sword hanging over our heads!"

These words were a thorough and penetrating analysis, starkly revealing the greatest potential risk. A deathly silence fell over the hall; you could hear a pin drop.

The enthusiasm for advancing that had just been ignited by Jia Yu's suggestion was now completely suppressed by the cold reality.

Feng Anguo frowned and spoke first in a heavy tone: "Your Majesty's wisdom is profound, and this old minister seconds it!"

"Without eliminating these two problems, the advance is absolutely impossible! Supplies are the foundation of the army, and the northern front is our Achilles' heel."

"To venture too far is, as Your Majesty has said, to place hundreds of thousands of soldiers in perilous territory and turn a great victory into a potential catastrophe!"

As the Minister of War, Feng Anguo shared the same concerns as Chu Ning!

He had to resolve all the problems before he could feel at ease.