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

Zhao Yu nodded solemnly, "Your Majesty is absolutely right. This humble general is also worried about this matter."

"Although our army has won, the Tang Kingdom has a vast territory with great depth. Guo Ziyi's military tactics are steady, and he will surely set up defenses at every level to delay our army."

"If the war drags on and supplies run out, and if something unexpected happens on the northern front, the consequences will be unimaginable."

Guan Yun stroked his beard and pondered, "The Scorpion Clan is fickle. Although they broke their promise to Li Jing this time, their military strength in Youzhou of our dynasty has not been reduced. Their wolfish ambitions are obvious. The war on the northern front is still unsettled, which is a great worry for me."

Even the most warlike Ran Ming scratched his head and said in a muffled voice:

"Your Majesty and the old generals are right. Although I, Old Ran, want to fight, I can't let my brothers go hungry or be ambushed and wiped out."

"If these two problems aren't resolved, I won't feel at ease taking them in!"

Generals such as Xue Huaide also spoke out, and their opinions were unprecedentedly consistent—while they supported the spirit of enterprise, they valued stability even more.

Without first resolving the two critical concerns of food supply and the threat from the northern front, any large-scale military operation deep into enemy territory would be extremely dangerous and unwise.

All eyes turned back to Jia Yu, who had made the suggestion.

I'd like to hear from this strategist what solutions he has for these two thorny issues raised by His Majesty.

After all, it's easy to propose a strategic direction, but the real test is to come up with solutions to specific critical problems.

The atmosphere inside the hall shifted from excitement to deep contemplation and waiting.

Faced with Chu Ning's two potentially fatal concerns, as well as the doubts and objections raised by the generals, Jia Yu showed no embarrassment or surprise.

He seemed to have anticipated this question, and it might even be the test he was waiting for after he put forward his radical suggestions.

He bowed again with composure, a confident smile on his lean face, and began to respond in a clear and resolute voice:

"Your Majesty is wise. The concerns of the generals are all wise and insightful, and they are also crucial points that military strategists must be extremely cautious about."

"However, in my humble opinion, these two problems are not unsolvable, and there are even grounds for dealing with them."

He first responded to the threat posed by the Scorpion Clan on the northern front:

"Your Majesty mentioned the war in Youzhou in the north. Your humble servant has been paying close attention to it recently and has been maintaining close correspondence with His Highness Prince Xuan, who is in charge of the war in the north."

Jia Yu took out a seemingly ordinary copy of a letter from his sleeve to show that his words were true:

"According to the latest battle report and analysis by His Highness Prince Xuan, the 100,000 Scorpion Clan cavalry led by Huyan Ying, although fierce and difficult to deal with, initially launched a fierce attack while our southern front was busy and our northern border was relatively undefended, which did put considerable pressure on us."

"However, the troops I left behind in the north, under the unified command of His Highness Prince Xuan, have already stabilized their position thanks to the strategic passes of Youyan and the strong city defenses built up over many years."

His tone became more certain: "The current battle situation is indeed as Your Majesty knows, in a state of intense stalemate."

"But Your Highness asserted that the Scorpion Clan cavalry excelled at field raids but were less adept at attacking fortified positions."

"As long as our army does not make any major mistakes, holds the key passes, and relies on the cities, the Scorpion Clan will have no chance of breaking through our Youzhou defense line in the short term, let alone advancing deep into the territory and threatening the rear of our main force in the south."

"Your Highness Prince Xuan is a prudent military strategist, and I have complete faith in his judgment."

"Therefore, the threat on the northern front can be considered under control in the short term and is not enough to be a decisive factor in hindering our army's southward advance."

"Simply instruct Prince Xuan to be cautious and steadfast in his defenses, and not to engage in reckless or impulsive battles."

Jia Yu's words, citing the authoritative battle report and analysis from the prince who was stationed in the rear, immediately alleviated everyone's concerns about the northern front.

Prince Xuan is Chu Ning's elder brother. He has experience in leading troops into battle and enjoys a high reputation. His judgment is highly credible.

Next, Jia Yu turned to the second, more realistic and specific problem—supplies:

"As for provisions and supplies, these are indeed the lifeblood of the expedition and of paramount importance."

Jia Yu said solemnly, "Your Majesty, I am willing to volunteer to personally oversee Zhennan Pass!"

He looked around at his generals, and finally looked at Chu Ning: "Zhennan Pass is the foundation of our army's southern expedition, and also the hub and largest logistics base for future advances."

"The grain, fodder and weapons stockpiled here, the supplies captured from the Tang army, and the supplies transported from the country later all need to be gathered, sorted and distributed here, and then continuously sent to the front line."

"This task is crucial to the overall situation, and only those who are skilled in calculation, good at scheduling, and able to coordinate all parties and deal with emergencies can be competent."

He paused slightly and put forward a key condition: "However, the transportation of grain supplies is not only a matter of literature, but also requires military support to prevent enemy troops, bandits, or even small groups of Tang troops from harassing the grain supply route and damaging the warehouses."

"Therefore, while I am overseeing the overall situation, Your Majesty needs to leave behind a highly respected, capable, and reliable general to lead an elite force to oversee the defense of Zhennan Pass and the security of the grain supply route!"

"In this way, with the support of both civil and military officials, we can ensure that the army's rear is secure and that supplies are readily available!"

Jia Yu's suggestion was reasonable and thoughtful. He not only took on the most complicated and crucial task of logistical coordination but also considered the need for security, demonstrating his comprehensive consideration.

However, his words of "leaving behind a great general" had barely left his lips.

The reactions of the main generals in the hall were somewhat different from his expected cautious and reliable ones, and instead instantly stirred up a small but significant ripple!

Before Chu Ning could even name who to keep, Zhao Yu, Guan Yun, Ran Ming, and Xue Huaide, all recognized as valiant generals, stepped forward almost simultaneously.

Their faces showed urgency, and they all spoke in unison, expressing the same meaning in their own ways—they didn't want to stay!

Zhao Yu clasped his hands in greeting first, his voice clear and resonant yet carrying an undeniable firmness: "Your Majesty! The White Horse Cavalry under my command are most skilled in rapid raids and breaking through enemy lines!"

"If we march into the Tang Dynasty, this will be the perfect opportunity to put our skills to use! How can we be confined to guarding passes and supplies? This humble general requests to be the vanguard of the army!"

Guan Yun opened his phoenix eyes wide, stroked his beard, and said in a deep voice, "Yun is skilled at charging into battle, slaying generals and seizing flags."

“Guarding the rear is not my forte. If Your Majesty wishes to advance, I, Guan, am willing to be Your Majesty’s sharp blade, pointing directly at the Tang capital!”

Ran Ming was even more direct, his voice booming: "Your Majesty! I, Old Ran, have finally finished fighting at Zhennan Pass, and I'm itching to march into the Tang Kingdom!"

"You want me to stay and guard the house? This... this is like letting a precious sword rust and a fierce tiger be trapped in a cage."

"No, no! I want to go with His Majesty to attack Chang'an!"

Even the usually composed Xue Huaide couldn't help but speak up at this moment:

"Your Majesty, my father and I have recently achieved military merits and are in high spirits. We also yearn to follow Your Majesty in expanding our territory and establishing unparalleled achievements."

“Guarding the rear is important, but... it is not the same as fighting on the battlefield. I fear that I will fail His Majesty’s high expectations and fail to fulfill the soldiers’ desire to serve the country.”