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

Li Mao returned to the Prince of Shou's residence, pondering how to deal with the current situation.

Li Longji's warning still rings in our ears; if not handled properly, we may find ourselves in the eye of the storm.

“Afu, we need a comprehensive plan now.” Li Mao paced back and forth in the study.

"Your Highness, do you mean... to continue cooperating with An Lushan, or do you have other plans?" Afu asked cautiously.

“We must maintain the momentum of cooperation, but keep our distance.” Li Mao’s eyes were resolute. “At the same time, we must find out the rebels’ true purpose and use that as a breakthrough.”

At this critical juncture, Li Longji suddenly ordered Li Mao to be summoned to the palace for a private meeting.

Under the cover of night, Li Mao hurried to the palace, puzzled by the summons.

In a quiet room in the palace, Li Longji sat opposite, his gaze piercing.

"Father, why have you summoned me so late at night?" Li Mao appeared calm on the surface, but a trace of nervousness could not be suppressed in his heart.

Li Longji didn't mince words and said directly, "Regarding the rebels, the court officials have differing opinions. I hope you can provide a detailed plan to clarify the situation."

Li Mao was slightly taken aback, but then calmly replied, "Does Father want me to investigate from the side?"

"This is an opportunity to test your loyalty, and I hope you understand." Li Longji's voice was authoritative.

Li Mao understood that if handled properly, this could be a crucial opportunity to elevate his own status.

However, if one is not careful in taking the steps, it could lead to utter ruin.

"Please rest assured, Father, I will do my best." Li Mao's expression was firm.

After leaving the palace, Li Mao returned to his residence and sorted out his thoughts: this opportunity was actually fraught with hidden dangers, and he had to proceed with caution at every step.

At the same time that Li Mao was summoned, Li Longji was also summoning Crown Prince Li Heng.

"Heng'er, regarding the matter of the rebels, I have put Prince Shou in charge. Do you understand this move?" Li Longji's words were full of consideration.

Li Heng nodded slightly: "Father hopes to use this opportunity to test Prince Shou's abilities and stance, and is also paving the way for the overall situation."

“Indeed, Li Mao’s talent should not be overlooked. I hope he can also shoulder the heavy responsibility of handling crises.” Li Longji nodded in satisfaction. “You should keep in touch with him and provide assistance when necessary.”

"Yes, Your Majesty understands." Li Heng was meticulous and deeply admired Li Longji's plan.

A storm is brewing, and undercurrents are surging in the imperial court.

The rebellion was not only a test for the royal family, but also a hidden power struggle between the two brothers.

In the study of the Prince of Shou's residence, Li Mao sat quietly, contemplating how he could emerge unscathed from this crisis.

"Afu, get ready. We need to discuss things with the military commanders tomorrow morning."

"Your Highness, should we formulate detailed rules for suppressing the rebels?" Afu asked, his tone slightly excited.

"That's exactly right. We must convince others with our strength."

Then Li Mao looked at Afu with a half-smile and said, "Success or failure hinges on this battle; we must go all out."

"Yes, Your Highness, I will do my best to assist you."

……

In the courtyard of the Eastern Palace, Li Heng and Xu You were studying the battle report they had just received.

The situation of the southern rebels is worrying, and the details of Prince Shou, Li Mao, need to be closely monitored.

"Your Highness, the latest news is that the rebels seem to be intentionally diverting our forces, but their purpose is still unclear." Xu You pushed the map on the table, pointing to the area where the rebels were active.

Li Heng sat at his desk, his eyes sharp: "The rebels must have strong backing, and their motives must be closely related to the overall situation."

Zhang Jiuling added from the side, "Your Highness, could we use a counter-espionage tactic at this time? We really need to create some illusions to confuse the rebels' judgment?"

“That’s a good suggestion,” Li Heng nodded slightly. “We can release false information to make them think that our defensive focus has shifted, in order to lure them into a trap.”

Gao Shi continued, "However, the implementation still needs to be done prudently to prevent the enemy from using our own plans against us."

Li Heng pondered for a moment, his expression resolute: "We must not be careless. Any slight misjudgment could lead to irreversible consequences."

at the same time.

Inside the Prince Shou's residence, Li Mao was holding a military conference to discuss strategies for dealing with the southern rebels.

He knew that if he handled this matter properly, he could not only solidify his position in the royal family, but also win Li Longji's trust.

"Gentlemen, the most important thing now is to ensure that we have a clear understanding of the rebels' movements. We must find out what their intentions are," Li Mao ordered his generals solemnly.

Afu, taking notes, said expectantly, "Your Highness, our spies have penetrated deep into the rebel territory and will soon have news back."

Feng Jiang was also present at the table. He frowned and said, "The rebels intend to shake the foundation of the court. The planners behind them are very cunning. We must be careful."

“General Feng is right. This mission is both a test and an opportunity.” Li Mao nodded in agreement. “Once we find the rebels’ weaknesses, we can defeat them in one fell swoop.”

After the meeting, Li Mao kept Afu behind and gave him some special instructions.

"Ah Fu, we've managed to contact people we can trust, and we've managed to subtly access many resources in the south," Li Mao said with a hint of instruction.

Afu carefully wrote it down, already having a plan in mind: "I understand, Your Highness. We will secretly deploy our forces to prepare for any unforeseen circumstances."

Meanwhile, An Lushan was also calculating the current situation in his own camp.

"General An, should we seize this opportunity to further advance the plan?" an aide asked in a low voice.

An Lushan nodded slowly: "Indeed, the turmoil in the south is an opportunity for us to adjust our internal and external forces. We need to ensure that hostile forces are divided."

"Will Li Mao's situation really turn out as we wish?" the aide pressed.

An Lushan smiled slightly: "If he's smart, he'll know where he stands right now. No matter what he chooses, we can force him to side with us."

Time flowed by under the intertwined pressures, and Li Heng and Li Longji discussed the situation once again.

"Heng'er, the problem of the rebels has not yet made any decisive progress, and I am worried that it will shake the morale of the court." Li Longji's eyes revealed a hint of anxiety.

“Father, please trust your son. The southern rebels must have a fatal weakness.” Li Heng tried his best to appear confident. “I will seize every opportunity to turn the tide.”

Li Longji looked at him for a moment, the consideration in his eyes still lingering, but his tone softened a bit: "I hope so. In addition, you should also pay more attention to Prince Shou. You must maintain a balance between the two."

"Yes, Your Majesty, I understand and will handle it properly," Li Heng replied respectfully.

at the same time.

Li Mao was secretly delighted when he learned that the local authorities were about to send more scouts to the south to gather information.

"General Feng, we can secretly help them to make the information flow smoother," Li Mao instructed General Feng.

Feng understood and smiled slightly: "Your Highness is truly farsighted. In this way, our position will not appear passive."