Datang: What's wrong with my fief being a billion points larger?

Li Yuanji rested for a whole month, and after the army replenished its ammunition, he began to march directly towards Chang'an.

As time passed, news of Li Er's defeat in Xiangzhou gradually began to spread.

When this news reached Chang'an, no one dared to believe it. Even though it was true news, many people thought it was a lie.

It was not for any other reason, but because the news that came out was too outrageous. His Majesty Li Er had hundreds of thousands of troops, but they lost more than half of their troops without even seeing Li Yuanji's army. In the end, Li Er even fled.

Then came the news that Yuchi Gong, Cheng Yaojin and others had died in battle. Most people in Chang'an City had no choice but thought that this was a trick of Li Yuanji.

Because this news was so outrageous that it could not be described. Even those who were usually unhappy with Li Er were unwilling to believe it.

Even Li Er's enemies had to admit one thing, that is, Li Er's ability to lead troops and fight was truly impeccable.

As for the generals under Li Er, almost everyone knew that they were famous generals of the Tang Dynasty. How could they die in battle together?

The commotion during this period was so intense that Fang Xuanling and his colleagues who stayed in Chang'an were extremely busy. Fortunately, no one believed the news in the end, and they were too lazy to block it.

It was impossible to block it in the first place, and since no one believed it, everyone thought it was Li Yuanji's doing, which saved them time and energy.

Because even they didn't believe that Li Er would be defeated so badly.

If it was just a rumor that Li Er was defeated, they might still feel uneasy and worried, but how could they be willing to believe this kind of news that was not related to Da Pu?

But it was not until half a month later that tens of thousands of remaining soldiers retreated into Chang'an City, and Li Junxian was among them. Everyone in the army was extremely tired and frightened, and everyone seemed to have lost their souls.

This news quickly spread throughout Chang'an City. Everyone in the city was shocked. When they thought about the news that had been reported before, most people gradually began to believe it.

Especially after Chang'an City suddenly closed its gates and restricted entry and exit, everyone knew that the news was almost certain.

Suddenly, the city of Chang'an was in an uproar. No one had expected this result. Li Er was defeated miserably. The news that many generals had died in the battle was also true.

Fortunately, the palace arranged for a large army patrol in time, so Chang'an City did not fall into chaos. But even so, it was much more chaotic than usual.

Especially the families in Chang'an City, all of them closed their doors at this moment, first discussing in the mansion, and then visiting people everywhere, no one knew what they were discussing.

Among them, the Yang and Wei families, who are now in Chang'an City, are the ones who chose to stand on the side of Li Er and did not go to Lingnan to support Li Yuanji.

These people are the most upset at the moment. There was clearly a huge opportunity, an opportunity to make the family prosperous again and reach the height of the Five Surnames and Seven Famous Familys, but they missed it.

However, the problem now is that what has been missed has passed. Once Li Yuanji enters Chang'an, they will probably be worse off than they are now.

Now think about it, when Li Yuanji was raising money and borrowing grain in Chang'an City, why couldn't their families give some to Li Yuanji? If they had given some to Li Yuanji at that time, wouldn't it be easier to talk to him now?

Think about it, these people once laughed at Li Yuanji in private. A dignified King of Qi of the Tang Dynasty, he even lost his dignity and came out to beg for food and money everywhere. Now think about it, they really want to slap themselves a few times.

They hated Li Er for being so incompetent that he couldn't even defeat Li Yuanji.

They regretted why they didn't treat Li Yuanji better at the beginning. If they had been more willing to give up a little at the beginning, the current situation could still be saved.

In Chang'an City, those who had given money and food to Li Yuanji in the past were more at ease at this time, because people are afraid of comparison.

Anyway, everyone here has a bad relationship with Li Yuanji. Since they all have a relationship with Li Yuanji, they had given Li Yuanji money and food in the past, but now the situation is different.

Regardless of whether they gave money and food to Li Yuanji voluntarily or not, they gave it anyway. If Li Yuanji really broke into Chang'an, at least their natural relationship would be closer than others, right?

If they then just have to make a little more effort, not only will their position be secured, they might even be able to make further progress.

Relatively speaking, only the Five Surnames and Seven Families were indifferent. But even among these people, they were only relatively indifferent, and their hearts were still complicated.

They knew during their business trips in Lingnan that Li Yuanji had invested all his efforts in education. If they really made Li Yuanji angry, they really would have no way to deal with it.

As for opposing Li Yuanji?

Now Li Er’s army of hundreds of thousands cannot defeat Li Yuanji and cannot last a single encounter. Let alone whether all of their five surnames and seven clans can muster hundreds of thousands of troops, even if they can, can they still defeat Li Yuanji?
These people are also exhausted. If they take the initiative to move forward, it will seriously lower the status of their family, because even with Li Er today, they don't do that. On the contrary, sometimes they even look down on Li Er.

He could do this to Li Er and the others because Li Er needed them. Without them, the Tang Dynasty would be paralyzed.

But it is hard to say about Li Yuanji.

But this is only the concern of a part of these families. Most people are still full of confidence in their families. In their eyes, Li Yuanji dare not provoke them.

The city of Chang'an was in chaos, with people's hearts divided. Everyone was preparing a retreat for themselves or their family.

Inside the palace, people were also in a state of unrest. Fortunately, the Hundred Cavalry Division was there to keep the situation under control. Plus, since they were inside the palace, everyone kept their mouths shut.

Only Li Yuan, the old man, is happy now.

At the beginning, Li Yuan and Li Er worked together to trick Li Yuanji. Li Yuan felt better in the palace because his relationship with Li Er had eased a lot, allowing him to know what was happening outside.

Now Li Yuan also knew about such a big thing, and it was because he knew it that he was extremely happy.

"Well, I didn't expect you to be so outstanding, Sanhu. I was wrong about you at the beginning.

Now that you have won a great victory, hurry up and march to Chang'an. Then you can rescue me, and I will definitely pass my position to you."

Even though Li Yuan was about to die, he still held out hope for the position of emperor. In his view, Li Yuanji entered Chang'an to rescue him and to eliminate Li Er, the usurper.

Once Li Er is eliminated, won’t the throne still be his?

After going through so many things, Li Yuan still has this kind of innocence.

Or maybe Li Yuan was not naive, but simply unwilling to believe the possibility in his mind. After all, Li Yuan was really fascinated by the position of emperor.

It is not just talk that power dazzles the eyes and corrupts the mind.

The more powerful a person is, especially an emperor, the more he wants to hold on to power and is unwilling to give it up.

Outside a palace, Fang Xuanling, Du Ruhui, Changsun Wuji and others were all waiting anxiously, looking towards the closed door from time to time, full of anxiety.

This time when Li Eryi came back, he locked himself in the hall and did not allow anyone to enter, not even them.

Fang Xuanling and his companions could only worry, but they could also understand Li Er's feelings. The losses in this battle could not be described as heavy, and the army was almost wiped out.

Li Ji, Yuchi Gong and others died in battle one after another. This was a huge blow.

They didn't know that Li Ji was not dead yet, but in their eyes, he had died in battle for his loyalty.

They all knew very well that at this point, their chances were very slim, but none of them were the kind of people who would sit and wait for death. Even though the chances were slim, or even if there was no hope at all, they still wanted to try again.

Among them, Changsun Wuji was the most anxious. He was the one who least wanted to see and face this result and situation, but the reality was so cruel to him.

Now he was extremely anxious, pacing in place, but there was nothing he could do, Li Junxian would not let him in. Li Er in the hall was sitting on the steps in front of the chair, looking straight ahead, but when he got closer, he could see that his eyes were out of focus, and his thoughts were wandering somewhere unknown.

Li Er himself didn't know what kind of mood he was in at the moment. From the great defeat, to the night attack, to the continued great defeat, his generals died in battle one after another, and Li Er's heart had become numb.

He had never thought that there would be such a day, especially being defeated by someone he once looked down upon. He was completely defeated.

Li Er was now thinking about the past and Li Yuanji's affairs, and his thoughts could not calm down for a long time.

Li Er still couldn't figure it out. Why did Li Yuanji change so much after going to Lingnan? Was it really because Li Yuanji had been hiding his incompetence in Chang'an?

Li Er racked his brains but still couldn't figure it out. He couldn't accept the current result.

Even if he couldn't beat Li Yuanji, he wouldn't do this. But now he was crushed by Li Yuanji, completely crushed. He didn't have the slightest ability to fight back, and he couldn't even make Li Yuanji use his full strength. This was inexplicable to him.

Especially when he thought about the scene where Li Yuanji came to him with an arrogant look and looked down at him, Li Er was shaking all over.

Just as Li Er's thoughts were drifting, the palace door was opened. Li Er suddenly came to his senses and became angry.

"Didn't I say that Guanyin maids are not allowed?"

Li Er suddenly became quiet. The person who came was his wife, the current Queen of Tang Dynasty, Empress Zhangsun.

After Empress Changsun entered the palace, she immediately closed the door, slowly walked towards Li Er, and sat next to Li Er.

At this moment, Empress Changsun looked haggard, with a hint of paleness faintly visible. She even coughed from time to time, and she looked a little weak.

"Guanyin maid, why is the condition so serious? I will call the imperial physician here right now!"

Li Er wanted to get up, but was stopped by Empress Changsun.

"Ji Lang, I'm fine, nothing happened, I'm used to it.

I came here because I was worried about Erlang. I hope Erlang won't blame me?"

"Guanyin maid, how could I blame you? It's good that you're here."

Li Er held Empress Changsun tightly in his arms, as if he was reluctant to let her go.

Empress Changsun was in Li Er's arms, and she still coughed from time to time.

"Erlang, I know you are in great pain, and I know you have endured too much.

But Erlang, you haven't reached the point of despair yet, so why give up on yourself?

The Erlang I know is full of vigor and vitality and will never give up. Why is he giving up now?

I think Li Yuanji was able to develop to what he is today after going to Lingnan. Even if Erlang cannot defend Chang'an now, the world is so big that he can go anywhere.

Li Yuanji was able to develop from Lingnan, so is Erlang worse than him? "

Li Er listened quietly, feeling deeply touched.

Yes, he used to be full of vigor and vitality. When did he become so decadent?

He had overcome so many difficulties in the past, so is there really nothing he can do now?
Li Er didn't believe it.

Especially what Empress Changsun said, is he worse than Li Yuanji?

Although the current results show that Li Yuanji is indeed better than him, Li Er is extremely confident that he is definitely not bad. He is no worse than Li Yuanji. If he is given more time to develop firearms, he believes that he will be the winner in the end.

Empress Changsun smiled sweetly as she felt Li Er gradually regain his former vigor in his arms.

"Erlang, if Chang'an cannot be defended, then leave and find a place to accumulate strength.

Li Yuanji was able to accumulate in Lingnan for several years and develop to where he is today, and then fight back to Chang'an. What Li Yuanji can do, I believe Erlang can do as well.

Erlang does not need to worry about temporary gains and losses. Now Erlang is still young and in his prime. It is impossible for Li Yuanji to remain powerful forever.

Erlang wants to keep his useful body. What he has lost now can be taken back with his own hands someday."

In the eyes of Empress Changsun, her husband, her Erlang, was the best man in the Tang Dynasty.

Even if it was Li Yuanji, her Erlang was only defeated temporarily. She believed that as long as Li Er was still there, her Erlang would be the final winner.

Li Er looked at Empress Changsun in his arms and suddenly smiled. As he smiled, tears began to flow again.

Only at this time, the one who supports him the most and understands him the best is still his Guanyin maid.

Now Li Er has fully recovered, his vigor remains the same as before, and his determined eyes appear again.

Li Er also figured it out. Now he is still alive, as long as he is not dead, there is still hope.

Now he still has Chang'an, he can continue to consume Li Yuanji, and he still has 200,000 new troops that have been trained. Why should he be afraid of Li Yuanji?

He, Li Er, still has a chance. He also believes in himself and still has a chance. He will never give up like this.

Even if Chang'an could not be defended, as Empress Changsun said, Li Yuanji could develop in Lingnan. At worst, he could find a place to develop and then attack back to the Tang Dynasty.

Li Er believed that he could do what Li Yuanji could do.

Li Er looked at Empress Changsun tenderly.

“Guanyin, I understand, and I won’t do this again.

Go back and rest now, and remember to ask the imperial physician to come and treat you."

Empress Changsun's smile became even sweeter as she watched Li Er fully recover.

"Don't worry about me, Erlang. I'm fine. I'll go down now. Erlang, please discuss the important matters with them."

Li Er looked at Empress Changsun's back as she left and smiled very happily. This was his Guanyin, his supporter.

Many times, although he was the support of everyone and also the support of Empress Changsun, but sometimes, his Guanyin maid was also his support.

The two of them have supported each other all the way until now.

After Empress Changsun left, Li Er's expression suddenly became serious.

"Li Junxian! Summon Fang Xuanling, Du Ruhui, Zhangsun Wuji, and Chu Suiliang to the palace to discuss important matters!" (End of this chapter)