Li Shimin faked his death? Then I will be powerful enough to conquer the world!

The candlelight in the tent crackled, illuminating the letter in Guo Ziyi's hand. However, the handwriting was like a poisoned needle, making the generals see stars.

Guo Ziyi slammed the envelope on the table, causing the bronze lamp on it to clang. His white hair trembled with his rapid breathing, and his voice was hoarse as never before. "Did you all see clearly? The sage really wants General Geshu Han to march out of Tongguan to fight?"

The generals under his command were immediately in an uproar. Li Guangbi stood up, holding the sword at his waist. The scabbard hit the corner of the table with a dull sound. He roared with red eyes, "Brother Ziyi, how can this be possible! General Geshu has been guarding Tongguan for six months. An Lushan's rebels have been repulsed countless times. Why would they suddenly leave the city?"

He had worked with Geshu Han in Hexi in his early years. Veins popped out of his forehead with anxiety. "Most of An Lushan's men are fierce soldiers from border areas, and they're already fierce in field battles. He's not defending the natural fortress of Tongguan, but insisting on going out and engaging him head-on. Isn't that just throwing tens of thousands of soldiers into a fire pit?"

Pugu Huai'en slapped his thigh. Originally of Turkic descent, he was known for his straightforward nature. He shouted gruffly, "I think there must be a traitor in Chang'an! Otherwise, how could a saint be so foolish?"

"General Geshu sent a military report a few days ago, saying the rebels were low on food and fodder. If we hold out for another three months, they'll collapse without a fight. Leaving the city now would be nothing more than destroying the Great Wall."

He clenched his fists, his knuckles crackling as he spoke. "Were we fighting the rebels in Hebei to the bitter end just to make Tongguan as stable as a rock? Now, the rear is thrown into disarray!"

Guo Ziyi closed his eyes, and when he opened them again, the bloodshot eyes were even more dense.

He walked slowly to the map hanging in the tent, poked his finger at the location of Tongguan, and said in a deep voice as if a thousand-pound stone was pressing on him: "Guangbi, Huai'en, do you think I can't understand?"

"But the imperial decree has been issued. General Geshu has always been known for his loyalty and bravery. I'm afraid... I'm afraid it will be difficult to disobey."

He suddenly turned to the scout commander under his command and asked, "When was the last time we heard from Chang'an? Has there been any unusual activity in the city?"

The scout leader knelt on one knee, his voice trembling, "Reporting to General Guo, it has been over half a month."

"The last time the messenger only said that Yang Guozhong was eliminating dissidents in the court, and also said... he also said that the sage has been staying in the imperial garden lately, often feasting with the imperial concubine, and has become tired of military affairs."

"Feast? Laziness?" Li Guangbi was so angry that he kicked over the copper stove at his feet, spilling charcoal all over the floor. "Does he know that the battlefield in Hebei is littered with corpses?"

"Did you know that General Geshu only sleeps two hours a day in Tongguan? Did you know that our soldiers can't even get enough cotton-padded clothes to keep warm? And yet he's drinking with the imperial concubine in his arms!"

Pugu Huai'en suddenly sneered and reached out to press the scimitar at his waist: "In my opinion, why don't we return to Chang'an? First, we should eliminate those treacherous officials who have harmed the country, and then we can go back and deal with An Lushan!"

"Stupid!" Guo Ziyi turned back abruptly, his gaze blazing. "If we turn back now, Hebei's defenses will be breached! If the rebels seize this opportunity to march south and join forces with the enemy at Tongguan, will the Tang Dynasty have any chance of retreat?"

He took a deep breath, walked to the door of the tent, lifted the curtain and looked out at the dark night sky. "Remember, we are soldiers of the Tang Dynasty, not separatist princes."

"If the ruler makes mistakes, the ministers must not make mistakes, otherwise the world will be in chaos."

The tent was silent for a moment, with only the crackling of the candlelight. Li Guangbi panted heavily and suddenly bowed to the ground, "Brother Ziyi is right. It was Guangbi who was reckless."

Guo Ziyi turned around, his eyes sweeping over the generals, his voice gradually becoming steady: "Now is not the time to blame others. If General Geshu really goes to war, Tongguan will be in jeopardy, and Chang'an will be in imminent danger."

"From today on, the entire army will accelerate its advance and rush to Hedong day and night!"

"Hedong?" Pugu Huai'en was puzzled. "We originally planned to attack Fanyang and cut off the rebels' retreat."

"Fanyang can be postponed, but Chang'an cannot be lost!"

Guo Ziyi pointed to the Yellow River ferry on the map and said, "If we hold the east side of the Yellow River, we can cross the Yellow River and rush to Chang'an at any time."

"As long as Chang'an is still here and the saint is still here, there is still hope for the Tang Dynasty."

He paused, then reached out and pressed his hand against the imperial edict on the table. His fingertips gently stroked the five words "Order of the Emperor of the Great Tang Dynasty." A barely perceptible sob choked his voice, "General Geshu... perhaps there's nothing we can do."

"We cannot let his blood be shed in vain, and we cannot let the legacy established by our ancestors be destroyed in our hands."

Li Guangbi raised his head abruptly, the anger in his eyes gradually turning into determination. "Brother Ziyi is right! I am willing to lead 5,000 cavalry as the vanguard and set out tonight!"

"I am willing to stay in the camp and follow closely behind to transport food and fodder!" Pugu Huai'en also clasped his fists and asked for permission.

"Good!" Guo Ziyi slammed the table. "Pass my order: Li Guangbi's troops will set out at dawn tomorrow. They must not harass the civilians along the way, and must not delay. They must reach the Hedong ferry within seven days!"

"Pugu Huai'en's troops will prepare their food, fodder, and weapons, and will follow the day after tomorrow! The rest of the troops will follow our main force and move out in three days!"

"Yes!" All the generals responded in unison, and the sound made the dust on the top of the tent fall down.

Guo Ziyi looked at the backs of the generals as they left, slowly walked to the table, and picked up the imperial edict.

The moonlight filtered through the cracks in the tent, shining on the white hair at his temples, making it look like a layer of frost.

He suddenly recalled the days when he and Geshu Han worked together in Hexi twenty years ago. At that time, they were both still young and had sworn an oath to the moon at the foot of Yanzhi Mountain to guard the border for the Tang Dynasty and protect the peace of the people.

"Brother Geshu," he murmured softly, as if speaking to the void, "you must... you must hold on."

The wind outside the tent was getting stronger and stronger, making the military flags flutter, as if they were whimpering for the coming storm.

Guo Ziyi folded the imperial edict carefully and put it into the brocade bag he carried with him. Then he walked to the map, picked up the red pen and drew a deep red circle around the location of Chang'an.

The moment the veteran saw the envelope, he knew that Changan was finished.

However, the military force is still insufficient, especially the cavalry. If they want to defend the Tang Dynasty, they must be fast.

They don't have so many cavalry, but the foreigners do.