The news of the Golden Tribe Royal Court's invasion spread across the world like wildfire and shocked the entire Central Plains.
Chang 'an reacted very quickly. Li Yu suppressed the uproar of the ministers of the Queen's faction with great courage. She did not care that she might become a laughing stock later and issued several military orders. She ordered the Northern Battlefront Army, which was moving towards Tuyang City, to retreat immediately. Together with the Northern Military Camp, they formed two lines of defense outside Hebei County.
At the same time, she ordered the Southern Battlefront Army to stop fighting with the savage tribes in the primeval forest and to rush to the northern border of the empire as soon as possible. At the same time, she ordered the Western Battlefront Army to move north along the Pamir Mountains to harass the Golden Tribe cavalry that was invading the Tang Empire.
What shocked the ministers the most was that Li Yu did not care that Chang 'an might be out of control. She even sent the Yulin Royal Guards that she had the most control to the northern border!
At the emergency court meeting, all the ministers admitted that Her Highness's arrangement was selfless and timely. But there were still people who strongly opposed it.
In the ministers' view, the Northern Battlefront Army could not support Tuyang City, which meant that the Yan army and the cavalry of the Left King's Palace could march straight in. Her Highness had also sent the Yulin Royal Guards to the northern border. What would Chang 'an do then? The Northern Battlefront Army's morale would definitely be damaged after so many setbacks. It was better to go to Tuyang City according to the previous decision and leave the task of defending against the Golden Tribe Royal Court to the other armies.
Lee Yu used only two sentences to settle the dispute.
"Chang 'an will never be conquered."
"Even I am not afraid of death. Why should you be?"
…
…
After the new emperor ascended to the throne, Li Yu had always been kind and gentle. The reason why she would change her attitude and show her absolute toughness at this moment was because she knew better than anyone else how terrifying the Golden Tribe Royal Court was.
She used to marry the talented Chanyu of the Golden Tribe Royal Court and lived in the Wilderness for a long time. She knew that the grassland cavalry that had been quiet for many years was the real threat to the Tang Empire.
Until now, her guards were still the barbarians that she brought back from the Wilderness.
She knew very well that the Golden Tribe Royal Court was a monster that had been suppressed by the Tang Empire for hundreds of years. If the Tang Empire could no longer suppress it, it would unleash unimaginable destructive power.
Compared to the cavalry of the Golden Tribe Royal Court, the cavalry of the Left King's Palace was like a child, while the Yan army was like a crying girl.
Under the terrible pressure of the Golden Palace's southward invasion, Li Yu had no interest in paying attention to the army led by Prince Long Qing. She was very clear that the vast territory of the Tang Empire and the local armies of the various prefectures would exhaust them. Other than some losses to the people, it would not affect the overall situation.
Therefore, even though the officials of the Empress' faction opposed it, even though even her most loyal subjects carefully expressed their doubts in private, she still insisted on mobilizing the entire Empire's forces to the north.
The facts of the future would prove that her current decision was correct.
However, at that time, not many people could understand her decision. After the court meeting ended, she also felt extremely tired. A faint fear slowly rose from the deepest part of her heart.
Was this her retribution for tampering with her father's edict?
At this moment, there was a noise outside the hall. She frowned slightly, but before she could say anything, she saw several officials led by eunuchs hurrying in. Li Huiyuan, He Mingchi, and the new director of Tianwu Agency also walked in from the side door. Everyone looked extremely serious.
Li Yu was slightly shocked, but her expression did not change. She asked, "What happened?"
He Mingchi glanced at His Majesty.
Li Huiyuan walked forward and handed a letter in his hand to Li Yu.
The official who came from outside the palace said in a trembling voice, "The West-Hill Divine Palace has just issued an edict."
…
…
The edict from the West-Hill Divine Palace, together with a letter from the Hierarch Lord, was sent to Chang 'an.
In the edict, the West-Hill Divine Palace exposed the identity of the Empress and pointed out that the Tang Emperor had protected the remnants of the Devil's Doctrine for decades, which was a blasphemy against the filthy country. Two generations of the Academy were punished by Heaven because they disrespected Haotian, so the Divine Hall called for the whole world to attack the Tang Empire. It also said that the Golden Palace went south under the order of Haotian. They advised the believers of the Tang Empire not to resist, but to overthrow the dark royal family.
After reading the edict from the Divine Hall, Li Yu began to read the letter from the Hierarch Lord.
Compared with the Divine Hall's ornate letter, the Hierarch Lord's handwritten letter to her was much simpler. There was only one sentence written on it: "The night covers the stars, the Tang Empire is restless, Your Highness, surrender."
She was silent, and her fingers holding the letter kept trembling.
The hall was quiet. Li Huiyuan looked at his sister nervously. He Mingchi slightly lowered his head. The eunuchs and palace maids were pale, and the officials widened their eyes.
If the Golden Palace going south was the strongest enemy that the Tang Empire had encountered in decades, then the edict from the West-Hill Divine Palace and the letter from the Hierarch Lord were the things that the Tangs were most afraid of.
Yes, there was no country in the world that could defeat the Tang Empire. Even the Golden Palace, as long as the Tang Empire could survive the initial period, they would eventually win.
However, if the whole world began to attack the Tang Empire, could the Tang Empire withstand it? Many years ago, the Tang Empire had faced a similar situation. But at that time, the Tang Empire had the Headmaster, and now the Headmaster had ascended to heaven.
…
…
Any other country would have collapsed in the face of such terrible pressure and desperate prospects to attack a country with the whole world's power.
The Tang Empire did not collapse. The confidence and strong spirit that had been tempered for a thousand years made the people living here vigilant and uneasy, but they still did not have the idea of giving up.
All the institutions of the imperial court took action as fast as possible. Chang 'an was in a state of solemnity. All kinds of military orders were sent from Chang' an to every region of the vast territory.
In contrast, the Imperial Palace, the political and military power center of the Tang Empire, became quiet.
Everything that should be done was being done. What else could they do but wait?
Lee Yu stood by the stone railing and looked at the moon in the night sky. She was silent.
She thought of the words in the letter written by the Hierarch of the West-Hill Divine Palace and the instructions made by the Imperial Astronomer many years ago. She slowly clenched her hands behind her back. Her nails cut her palms and stained them with blood.
She took a deep breath and forcibly suppressed the fear and confusion in her heart. She turned around and walked around the side of the hall. She walked across the small lake and entered the imperial study.
She had never entered the imperial study since she changed the edict and let Li Huiyuan ascend the throne. This was because this small room was filled with her father's scent, and she felt a little stifled.
However, she still came today because she needed her father to give her spiritual comfort and support.
A military general walked into the imperial study and saluted. The war had not affected Chang 'an yet, but the whole empire was facing a war. It was no longer a time of peace, but a time of war.
"When will General Xu Shi arrive in Chang 'an?" She looked at the general and asked.
…
(To be continued. If you like this work, please come to Qidian.Com to vote for me. Your support is my greatest motivation.)
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