This made Li Shimin anxious, and he wanted to trade one for one with me.

Cheng Yaojin rolled his eyes at the sound of it.

Cheng Jun chuckled dryly and said, "Uncle Li..."

Before he could finish speaking, Li Jing chuckled and said, "Don't worry, with me here, your father will be fine."

Cheng Yaojin said irritably, "Get out of here! You're talking like I'm your junior!"

Cheng Jun asked, "Uncle Li, the outcome of this battle should be decided after the New Year, right?"

Li Jing chuckled, "You're even more daring than I am."

"If we can pacify the Turks within a year, I will be extremely grateful."

Upon hearing this, Cheng Jun couldn't believe a word of it.

As a time traveler who had read history books, Cheng Jun knew better than anyone how heavy Li Jing's iron fist was.

He said that, but he was incredibly ruthless in his actions.

Li Jing was observing Cheng Jun's expression when he noticed Cheng Jun suddenly give him a look. A thought struck him, and he turned to Cheng Yaojin, saying:

"Brother Zhijie, please step outside for a moment. I have a few words to say to your son in private."

Cheng Jun also looked at Cheng Yaojin.

Upon hearing this, Cheng Yaojin waved his hand and said, "Then you guys chat, I'm going to the outhouse first."

After he left, Li Jing sat down, looked at Cheng Jun, and asked:

“Nephew Chuxia, you seem to have something to say.”

Cheng Jun smiled, saying that talking to smart people was effortless, and said:

“I do have something to say to Uncle Li. I think that if the Turks are really as Uncle Zhang said, then Uncle Li’s expedition will surely be invincible.”

Li Jing squinted and said, "You just wanted to say auspicious words to this old man?"

Cheng Jun shook his head and said seriously:

"What I really want to say is that once the Turks can't withstand the heavy blows of our Great Tang, the Turkic Khan will definitely send someone to the court to apologize, and may even surrender."

"Uncle Li, do you think the Turks will surrender?"

Li Jing pondered for a moment and said, "Based on my understanding of the Turks and Jieli, surrendering is just an excuse to delay seeking a turning point."

Cheng Jun asked, "Then, will anyone in the imperial court believe it?"

Li Jing chuckled and said, "Of course not."

Cheng Jun then asked, "Will the imperial court take advantage of this?"

"..."

Li Jing seemed to be deep in thought.

Cheng Jun continued, "I think that if the Turks really surrender, regardless of the attitude of the court officials, based on my understanding of His Majesty, His Majesty will definitely agree to the Turks' surrender and then send court officials to the Turks to appease them."

"With His Majesty's wisdom, he certainly doesn't believe that the Turks have truly submitted. The reason he agreed to the Turks' surrender was to lull them into a false sense of security and buy Uncle Li some time to gain the upper hand."

Cheng Jun said earnestly, "Uncle Li must seize this opportunity."

This kid… Li Jing was taken aback. He looked Cheng Jun up and down and said:

"I never imagined you could see so far ahead."

Cheng Jun smiled, pointed to his eyes, and said, "To be honest, my eyes can see 1,395 years into the future."

One thousand three hundred and ninety-five years later, in 2025 AD.

Li Jing clicked his tongue and said, "I've seen plenty of braggarts, but you're the first one to make such a detailed and accurate claim."

"However, there is some truth to what you said."

Li Jing stroked his beard and said thoughtfully, "If such an opportunity truly arises, I will not miss it."

Cheng Jun asked, "Then here's the problem: by then, if the person His Majesty sent is still in the territory of the Turks and Uncle Li's army, won't that person be doomed to die without a burial place?"

"..."

Li Jing fell silent again. At this moment, he had to take this issue seriously, because there was a certain probability that what Cheng Jun had said would happen.

Once it happens, the problem becomes unavoidable.

Li Jing naturally didn't want his colleague to suffer unnecessary harm, but if the time really came, he could only apologize and ask the other party to make the sacrifice.

But Cheng Jun has revealed this problem so early, and Li Jing realizes that this kid might have a solution, so he immediately asks:

"My dear nephew, do you have a way to both prevent the army from missing its opportunity and save this comrade-in-arms?"

Cheng Jun solemnly said, "My nephew's solution is that Uncle Li should not have any reservations at the time and just charge forward."

Li Jing stared at him and said, "You mean...?"

Cheng Jun smiled and said, "If what I said is true, I will definitely help Uncle Li so that you will have no worries."

Hearing this, Li Jing breathed a sigh of relief, a smile appearing on his face, and remarked with emotion:

"You've wasted your brains being Cheng Yaojin's son."

"Once we pacify the Turks, I will definitely teach you how to lead an army and fight battles."

Upon hearing this, Cheng Jun's eyes narrowed, and he decisively refused, saying, "That's not necessary..."

Seeing this, Li Jing did not insist, but instead said with a broad smile:

"Then we'll talk about it later."

After saying that, he stood up and said:

"His Majesty's decree has been issued, and I will depart immediately. I will not keep you any longer."

Cheng Jun stood up, clasped his hands in a fist and said, "Take care, Uncle Li."

Li Jing smiled and nodded, saying, "Take care of yourself too."

Cheng Jun opened the door and stepped out, only to see Cheng Yaojin standing under the window, eavesdropping.

Seeing Cheng Jun looking at him strangely, Cheng Yaojin didn't feel embarrassed at all and said calmly, "Are you done?"

Cheng Jun nodded and said, "I'm done."

Cheng Yaojin held up four fingers and said resentfully, "You only said four words to your own father."

"You talked to a stranger behind closed doors for fifteen minutes."

"To be honest, I'm a little annoyed right now."

Li Jing then came out and, upon hearing this, chuckled and said, "So what? I'll have my son come over and have him chat with you, to make it up to you?"

Cheng Yaojin rolled his eyes and said, "Who cares about your son?"

Li Jing patted Cheng Jun on the shoulder and said, "I do like your son."

After saying that, he strode away.

Upon hearing this, Cheng Yaojin's eyes narrowed. He stared at Cheng Jun's departing figure for a long time before turning his gaze to Cheng Jun and asking with a solemn expression:

"Hero, you didn't just take his surname in the house, did you?"

Cheng Jun, both amused and exasperated, said, "What are you thinking about?"

"I was discussing important military and national affairs with Uncle Li."

Upon hearing the words "matters of national importance," Cheng Yaojin asked sternly, "You want to go to the front lines?"

Cheng Jun decisively replied, "I don't want to!"

Cheng Yaojin snorted and said, "Even if you want to, I can't let you go."

"If anyone's going, it should be your eldest and second eldest brothers first."

"Alright, I'm going back now. You can continue with your work."

Cheng Jun nodded and watched him leave, while he went to the Censorate to continue his duties.

He had just stepped out of the Ministry of War when a familiar voice rang out from not far away:

"Imperial Censor Cheng, please wait!"