On the dragon throne, Emperor Tiande, Li Zongmin, did not immediately respond to the calls for war from the Crown Prince's faction.
To be fair, before receiving the letter of "surrender" from Pang Xianchu, a valiant general under Chen Huai'an, Li Zongmin, who was already nearing sixty, was inclined to negotiate peace with the new emperor Chen Huai'an.
He was not optimistic that the Southern Yue Kingdom, with its limited manpower, financial resources, and material resources, could contend with Chen Huai'an, who occupied most of the Xin Dynasty.
Prior to this, Li Zongmin had even conspired with Chancellor Tang Bo to offer the condition of surrendering to the new emperor Chen Huai'an.
Unfortunately, the sudden "surrender" letter from the valiant General Pang Xianchu completely disrupted Li Zongmin's plans.
The conditions offered by the new emperor, Chen Huai'an, were indeed difficult for Li Zongmin to accept.
As Crown Prince Li Shiyu said, if all military power of the Nanzhao Kingdom is handed over today, wouldn't his Li family become fish on the chopping block of the new dynasty, at the mercy of others?
Li Zongmin was able to rise to prominence in a chaotic world and eventually become one of the eight kings of different surnames under Emperor Zhenwu Zhao Mang. How could he not know the importance of having military power in his hands?
Therefore, Li Zongmin was also hesitant at this moment.
Just as Crown Prince Li Shiyu said, they were willing to risk their lives and use 200,000 wolf soldiers to defend Yongzhou City and resist the southern expeditionary army of Longcheng, so as to preserve the Li family's kingdom in Nanyue.
Or should they accept Chen Huai'an's offer to surrender and hand their fate over to someone else?
Finally, Li Zongmin turned his attention to Tang Bo, the current prime minister.
Cough cough!
Li Zongmin coughed twice more, and the once noisy and chaotic Golden Palace immediately fell silent. Everyone turned their attention to Emperor Tiande on the dragon throne.
Li Zongmin asked, "Prime Minister Tang, what is your opinion on the Crown Prince's proposal?"
"Your Majesty, I agree with the Crown Prince's proposal!"
brush!
As soon as Tang Bo finished speaking, all the officials in the Golden Palace turned their gazes toward him.
Even Crown Prince Li Shiyu himself looked at Tang Bo with a look of astonishment and disbelief.
He had thought that his proposal to fight would be met with strong opposition from Tang Bo.
Even Crown Prince Li Shiyu had already prepared his response, ready to give Tang Bo countless reasons to refute him should Tang Bo dare to stand up and contradict him.
Unexpectedly, the guy who had always disagreed with him on the issue of war or peace in the past actually chose to stand on his side this time.
Is the sun rising in the west?
In contrast, Prime Minister Tang Bo remained unfazed by the astonished and puzzled gazes in the court. He maintained his composed and wise demeanor, and said calmly, "Your Majesty, His Highness the Crown Prince is right. Military power must not be handed over!"
"The military power of these 200,000 wolf soldiers of the Nanzhao Kingdom is not only the foundation for protecting the millions of people of Nanyue, but also the source of confidence for the Emperor and his ministers!"
"Once we hand over our military power, our Southern Yue Kingdom will truly become fish on a chopping block, left with no choice but to be slaughtered!"
After a pause, Tang Bo continued, "The new emperor, Chen Huai'an, himself rose to power as a non-royal prince with eight thousand troops from the Dragon City's Defeat Army. He deeply understands the importance of military power."
"That's why he spared no effort in demanding that the Southern Yue Kingdom hand over its military power before any peace talks could begin!"
"As the saying goes, the more an enemy cares about something, the more he fears it!"
"And the military power of the 200,000 wolf soldiers of the Southern Yue Kingdom is what Chen Huai'an fears most!"
As he spoke, Tang Bo immediately stated his position to Li Zongmin: "Your Majesty, I believe that the battle of Yongzhou must be fought, and we must win it."
"Only by defeating the Dragon City army's morale on the battlefield can we strike a blow against Chen Huai'an's arrogance at the negotiating table!"
"War is also a political tool!"
Finally, Tang Bo pointed out incisively, "Your Majesty, I believe that only after the battle of Yongzhou is over can we decide on the future path of the Southern Yue Kingdom!"
As soon as Tang Bo finished speaking, a sinister and disdainful expression appeared on the face of Crown Prince Li Shiyu.
Li Shiyu thought to himself: Tang Bo, that treacherous and cunning fellow, is planning to use me as a pawn. He wants me to win the battle of Yongzhou so that he can gain more leverage for you at the negotiating table, right?
If you want me, the Crown Prince, to make your wedding dress, you'd better wait!
This prince will definitely give you a big surprise!
After listening to Chancellor Tang Bo's opinion, Emperor Tiande nodded repeatedly in agreement.
Tang Bo's opinion was largely the same as what Li Zongmin was thinking.
Finally, Li Zongmin made the final decision: "Since the Crown Prince and Chancellor Tang agree, I will not say anything more. Let's do as you say!"
"Your Highness, heed my command!"
"Your subject is here!"
Li Zongmin said, "I hereby bestow upon Crown Prince Li Shiyu the title of Commander-in-Chief of the Southern Yue Kingdom, in charge of all the troops under heaven, and General of the Eastern Expedition, giving him full authority over the war in Yongzhou. He shall immediately depart for the front lines in Yongzhou without fail!"
Upon hearing this, Li Zongmin raised an eyebrow, a subtle glint of cunning and slyness flashing in his eyes.
Immediately, he hurriedly stepped forward, knelt down, and accepted the imperial decree: "Your subject accepts the decree and thanks you for your grace!"
Li Zongmin then said, "Prime Minister Tang Bo, listen to the decree—"
"Your humble servant is here!"
"......"
Three days later, Yongzhou City, a key gateway to the Nanyue Kingdom and a necessary passage for those heading south to the capital Yangcheng County.
Thirty miles outside the city, the 100,000-strong southern expeditionary army led by Pang Xianchu, the valiant general of the Po Lu Army in Longcheng, had all arrived and set up camp.
Within the city of Yongzhou, 100,000 wolf soldiers from the Nanyue Kingdom were stationed.
Crown Prince Li Shiyu has led several thousand elite guards from his Crown Prince's Palace to Yongzhou City to personally oversee and command the operation.
On this day, Li Shiyu climbed to the top of the city wall of Yongzhou, which has a history of hundreds of years, and looked out at the beautiful rivers and mountains of the Nanyue Kingdom, which was the land he would inherit in the future!
Li Shiyu could never bring himself to hand over such a vast and beautiful land.
"Report—"
"Your Highness, the assassins in the Crown Prince's residence have all been arranged according to your instructions!"
At this moment, Shi Feng, the Crown Prince's trusted deputy general, rushed over to report to Li Shiyu.
Um!
Li Shiyu grunted without looking up, then asked, "Where are the envoys sent to the rebel camp in Longcheng? Are their supplies ready?"
Shi Feng said, "Your Highness, everything is ready. We are just waiting for Your Highness's order to leave the city and head to the Dragon City army camp!"
Li Shiyu waved his hand and said expressionlessly, "Go!"
"Yes, Your Highness!"
Soon, with a command from Crown Prince Li Shiyu, the tightly closed gates of Yongzhou were opened from the inside, and the envoy carrying the forged imperial edict rode straight to the Longcheng army camp.
As the envoy's figure gradually disappeared from sight, a ferocious smile appeared on Li Shiyu's face.
He muttered to himself, "Tang Bo, Tang Bo, do you think the peace talks can continue if I, the Crown Prince, were to kill Pang Xianchu, Chen Huai'an's number one lackey?"
Hahaha!
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