Tang Dynasty: To win Yang Guifei, they asked Emperor Xuanzong to die.

Deep within the enemy camp, An Lushan was entrenched in his tent, pondering how to deal with the current situation.

The setbacks in the war left him with a persistent and lingering worry.

"General, we've encountered another setback at the front, and supplies are starting to run low," a trusted aide rushed in to report, his brow furrowed.

Upon hearing this, An Lushan's face instantly darkened.

The army is currently caught in a dilemma, and with General Feng's defection and setbacks at the front, the situation is even more unfavorable.

"The mantis stalks the cicada, unaware of the oriole behind; we are surrounded by enemies. If our supplies run out, we risk a mutiny." An Lushan muttered to himself, realizing he was in deep trouble.

His advisors advised, "General, the most urgent task is to stabilize morale. Why not seek help from our allies?"

“Ask our allies for help…” An Lushan fell into deep thought.

After a moment's thought, An Lushan resolutely decided to ask Li Mao for help, both to solve the problem of food supplies and to consolidate his rear.

"Prepare pen and ink. I will personally write a letter to Your Highness Prince Shou requesting your assistance," An Lushan ordered. He knew that Li Mao was the only one he could rely on at this moment.

The night was still and the city of Chang'an was tranquil.

The lights were on in Li Mao's study. He stood by the window, gazing at the night sky.

Just then, Afu rushed over and handed a letter to Li Mao: "Your Highness, General An has sent a letter requesting assistance. His entire army is running out of food and supplies, and he wants our help to overcome this crisis."

Li Mao took the letter, read it carefully, and his brows furrowed slightly.

The words before him clearly revealed An Lushan's urgent needs and his helplessness in seeking help.

“An Lushan is now besieged on all sides and can hardly protect himself,” Afu said, seizing the opportunity when he saw Li Mao’s thoughtful expression.

“This time, he really has come to us for help,” Li Mao said with a soft laugh, already having considered the matter. “We should give him a taste of his own medicine.”

Afu seemed to understand something: "If Your Highness assists General An, you can also take the opportunity to restrain his movements."

Li Mao nodded: "That's right. Although An Lushan is an ally of us, given the current situation, we need to think twice and act cautiously."

Even so, Li Mao already knew in his heart that providing assistance to An Lushan at this time might also pose risks.

Li Mao turned to Afu and ordered, "Order your men to prepare provisions and be ready to be deployed at any time."

"Yes, Your Highness." Afu accepted the order and left.

Soon after, emergency provisions were secretly sent to An Lushan's camp.

While this aid alleviated An Lushan's immediate crisis, it also made him realize the severity of the situation.

Inside the main tent, An Lushan sat at his desk, flipping through the scroll in his hand, and sighed, "The situation is becoming increasingly complicated. Without reinforcements, it will be difficult to continue the battle."

"General, His Highness Prince Shou's assistance this time is truly a timely help, demonstrating that he has not abandoned our alliance." The advisor comforted An Lushan while also considering the next steps.

An Lushan nodded, his trust in Li Mao growing stronger: "Li Mao has indeed lived up to expectations. I must seize this opportunity to turn the tide."

But besides being grateful to Li Mao, An Lushan also felt a little uneasy. If Li Mao made a bigger request in the future, would he be able to help him again?

In the following period, An Lushan communicated with Li Mao more frequently in hopes of obtaining more support and instructions.

Although their conversation seemed mundane, their underlying scheming was something they couldn't articulate in words.

When Li Heng learned that An Lushan had sought help from Li Mao, he became very wary.

Inside the Eastern Palace, Gao Shi reported to Li Heng: "Your Highness, An Lushan has suddenly sought help from Li Mao. Such a move is rather puzzling."

Li Heng tapped the table lightly, pondered for a moment, and slowly said, "An Lushan is isolated and helpless, and has no choice but to rely on Li Mao. At this time, we also need to pay close attention to their communication and find a breakthrough from it."

"What is Your Highness worried about?" Gao Shi carefully observed Li Heng's expression and sensed his unease.

"In the current situation, the enemy is in the dark while we are in the light," Li Heng said slowly, a hint of worry in his voice. "No matter who wins the decisive battle, the final outcome will affect the fate of the Tang Dynasty."

Meanwhile, within the Prince of Shou's residence, Li Mao tacitly maintained a delicate balance with An Lushan.

That night, Li Mao pondered deeply, laying out a complex game of human nature.

"Although An Lushan's request for help was successful, it was also a precautionary measure I took to prepare for unforeseen circumstances," Li Mao thought to himself.

He carefully analyzed the chess game, looked out at the night sky, and murmured to himself, "What seems like a crisis is actually an opportunity."

"Your Highness, by not getting involved this time, we will have even greater leverage in the future," Afu said softly, a smug smile on his face.

“However, one wrong step could lead to an abyss.” Li Mao’s eyes flashed, his expression complex.

……

Li Heng stood on the high platform of the Eastern Palace, overlooking the entire city of Chang'an.

“Your Highness, An Lushan and Li Mao are becoming increasingly close. Should we take some measures?” Gao Shi stood beside him, a hint of worry in his eyes.

After pondering for a long time, Li Heng finally spoke: "The enemy's eagerness to seek help must stem from some hidden and unspeakable suffering. Why don't we go with the flow and respond to all changes with constancy?"

Gao Shi asked with slight concern, "Does Your Highness mean that we should wait and see for the time being?"

“That’s right. If we act without understanding the situation, we risk losing everything.” Li Heng’s eyes were firm.

Meanwhile, in the distant enemy camp, An Lushan was also quietly planning his next move.

With Li Mao's assistance, his military strength was temporarily stabilized, but he knew Li Mao's true intentions in providing the aid.

An Lushan placed Li Mao's letter under the candlelight. The letter did not convey simple tactical support, but rather a strategic, covert cooperation.

For An Lushan, this was both an opportunity and a risk.

"General, what is Li Mao's intention in doing this?" an aide asked cautiously from the side.

An Lushan stared at the candlelight: "Prince Shou is unwilling to remain subservient to others for long and wants to use me to weaken the Crown Prince's power. This shows the weakness of people's hearts."

"Then should we still cooperate with him?" the aide pressed.

"Given our current disadvantage, this is merely a temporary measure; we must proceed with caution and prudence." A cold smile appeared on An Lushan's lips.

Meanwhile, Li Mao was also making careful arrangements for his actions, and the contents of An Lushan's letter made him wary.

"Your Highness, General An hopes we can help restrain the Crown Prince's power, and promises to share the benefits with us if we succeed." Xiao Zhuo conveyed the details of the letter to Li Mao.

Li Mao frowned slightly, then smiled and said, "An Lushan's words are certainly not credible, but that doesn't stop us from profiting from them."

"What Your Highness means is..." Xiao Zhuo suddenly realized that Li Mao had a deeper plan.

Li Mao said calmly, "We feign compliance with him, each seeking our own benefit. However, true feelings are revealed only when interests are at stake."

At the same time, Feng felt uneasy ever since his stance wavered.

"General, An Lushan and Li Mao are continuing their secret plot, which could be quite sinister. Should we prepare an escape route in advance?" the lieutenant said worriedly.

"When an army marches into a dangerous place, shouldn't it be necessary to take a risky approach?" General Feng's expression was complicated.

……

The next day, An Lushan and Li Mao began exchanging letters even more frequently.

"Your Highness, General An has sent word that he has set up a feint to temporarily postpone the war with the court," Afu said softly in the study.

"Heh, General An has his own strategies. Why don't we take advantage of his tactics and seize the opportunity?" Li Mao chuckled, tapping his fingers on the table.

"My lord, are you referring to those secret supplies that have passed through the hands of our army?" Afu asked thoughtfully, his face full of probing.

“Exactly. We must take this opportunity to negotiate and reach a decision.” Li Mao raised his head, his gaze firm. “However, right and wrong, merit and demerit, all lie in a single thought.”