Chapter 164:


    The people of the Great Tang were undoubtedly proud. Their pride stemmed from the legendary might of the Tang military, which had remained undefeated in battles. However, despite the Tang armys strength, they had never engaged in a total war that aimed to eradicate another nation.


    Whether it was the Eastern Turk Khan in the past or theter Tu Valley, neither had beenpletely eradicated. Both ethnic groups had submitted to the rule of the Great Tang, retaining their ethnic names and territories to this day.


    However, the war against Tubo was fundamentally different. In this battle, the Tubo Zanpu, Songtsan Gampo, was killed on the battlefield. Furthermore, the Tang forces directly upied Tubosnd. This marked a true war of annihtion, a feat unprecedented in Tang history.


    The differencey in the fact that the Tubo Zanpu had fallen in battle this time, and the Tang army had seeded in upying Tubo. This was a genuine war of annihtion, an aplishment that had not been achieved before. No one could have anticipated that Su Li would bring such a huge surprise not long after the victorious news of the Battle of Song Zhou. Everyone was specting about Su Lis capabilities, which led to consecutive battle victories.


    Moreover, the records of these battles were incredibly intimidating. Thetters entire force was annihted by fifty thousand against one hundred and fifty thousand. Furthermore, these troops were pitted against the entire might of the Tubo nations army, with a stark difference in strength, yet they managed to win. Astonishingly, this time, they directly wiped out the Tubo forces.


    In the past, the citizens of Changan were ustomed to hearing about sesses on the border. However, they had never heard of such unbelievable achievements. Why wasnt the reputation of the War God Li Jing particrly resounding among the people? It was because every time he fought a battle, it took years as the unit of measurement. He frequently achieved minor victories today and tomorrow, winning again and again.


    The citizens of Changan had be aesthetically tired from the continuous stream of victorious reports, so there wasnt much excitement left when the final victory was achieved. Most likely, there were feelings of its just like that.


    However, it was apletely different story when Su Li led troops into battle. There was either no news, or when there was news, it was earth-shattering. The ordinary citizens who listened for amusement didnt understand the intricacies involved. They were just happy with the entertainment. But the militarymanders who heard this news and the court officers who understood military matters were all utterly shocked. No one could imagine how Su Li achieved such astonishing battle records.


    On this day, no militarymander left their homes to drink as if they were all emting Li Jing. They locked themselves behind closed doors, secluded in their studies. Countless people tried repeatedly to deduce the secrets behind it, yet they still couldnt grasp the essence. Within the pce, the war reports received by Li Er were naturally much more detailed than those received by others. This particr war report was extremely lengthy.


    Since entering the teau, the Tang army had been facing continuous difficulties. Despite knowing that their army achieved aplete victory and destroyed the Tubo kingdom, Li Er couldnt help but furrow his brow as he read the constant stream of bad news in the report. Shortly after entering the teau, the miasma affected almost the entire Tang army, causing widespread illness. As time went on, there were even casualties due to this miasma.


    There were ongoing conflicts among the top ranks of the military. Judging solely from the descriptions in the war report, it seemed that Su Li obstinately persisted in attacking Tubo even in the face of these unfavorable conditions. If this battle had failed, just seeing this portion would have been enough for Li Er to have Su Lis head chopped off.


    Stubbornly adhering to ones own opinions was also a major taboo for amander, especially when the visible power bnce between the enemy and us was disparate. Su Lis actions, in this case, would typically be seen as leading the entire army to their deaths. Following that, Li Er saw theplete process of the Battle of Great Fei River.


    In that battle, the Tang army could only muster a mere ten thousand soldiers and horses, which made Li Er envision the peril of the situation. Later, the familiar scene unfolded  a lone individual charging the enemy formation, breaking throughyers of encirclement, and ultimately publicly beheading Songtsan Gampo. Su Li, a solitary figure, forcefully pierced through the ranks of Tubos four hundred thousand-strong army. Witnessing this, Li Er couldnt help but take a sharp breath of astonishment.


    Being a seasoned general on the battlefield, Li Er had faced life-threatening situations countless times, understanding better than anyone that weapons spare no one on the battlefield. Many renownedmanders had lost their lives to a simple arrow. It was a daring feat for someone like Su Li, who frequently charged into the fray, deliberately cing himself amid encirclement, yet still managed to carve a bloody path out. Li Er wouldnt dare even to imagine it, let alone just hear about it.


    But amander like Su Li, who could break through a siege of four hundred thousand soldiers and emerge unscathed, had miraculously appeared in reality. Furthermore, he cut through this massive army and emerged unharmed, which was astonishing. Li Ers brows involuntarily furrowed slightly, and his heart was in a state of tumultuous shock.


    Su Lis disyedbat prowess in this battle exceeded anyparison to mere chance. With these achievements alone, he had far surpassed Li Ers imagination. Looking at the war report in his hand, Li Er was filled with amazement and doubt. He then took out several confidential letters alongside the war report. After quickly scanning these letters, Li Er closed his eyes slightly and thought.


    <em>Its not a rumor. Its true</em>


    At this moment, he inexplicably remembered the origin that Su Li had mentioned before, In the heavenly white jade capital in the heavenly white jade capital Opening his eyes again, Li Ers expression was incrediblyplex. <em>If he really is a celestial being How could anyone from the mortal world possibly stand in his way?</em>He thought.


    Quickly, Li Er set aside this thought temporarily. Regardless of everything, this battle directly destroyed Tubo and brought it under the rule of the Great Tang. It was Su Lis military achievement but also an extraordinary aplishment for Li Er.


    The title of Emperor, known as the Respected One of the Ninth Five, naturally indicated that this positions privileges and benefits were beyond ordinary peoples imagination over several lifetimes. Even those powerful ministers who wielded great authority and held supreme positions in court might not truly understand where the Emperors pleasuresy. Wealth, beautiful women, fame, and fortune were easily obtained in their shallow perception. What an Emperor could enjoy, they believed they could enjoy equally.


    However, in Li Ers eyes, how could others truly understand the advantages of being an Emperor? Just as it is now, the thrill of creating a massive aplishment from scratch surged within him like a tide, making his body tremble slightly with excitement. The achievement of annihting a nation! What does it mean to aplish the destruction of a nation?


    To put it inly, concerning Tubo, as long as the Emperor of the Great Tang, Li Er himself was willing, he couldpletely exterminate its royal family, erase its lineage, and subjugate its people. In other words, with a single thought from Li Er, he could make Tubo, which was once a rtively powerful nation, disappearpletely from reality. From then on, the only meaning of Tubos existence would be to highlight the martial achievements of the Emperor of the Great Tang, adding a bold and colorful stroke to his journey of bing an eternal emperor.


    Moreover, Li Er could intentionally depict Tubo as even more powerful in historical records. This would help to contrast his exceptional nature as an Emperor. To wield the tool of a nation, to hold the power of life and death over millions internally, and to control the fate of other ethnic groups externally  to have the freedom to act as one pleases  this was the power of an emperor. In the contemporary world, only Li Er could experience this feeling fully. How could he not be fascinated by it?