Chapter 3410: Failure
Liaodong.
Under the heavy snow, hundreds of thousands of Tang troops were scattered and scrambling, retreating like a tide in the vast ice and snow towards the Yalu River in the north.
The soldiers didn't know what happened, but when they almost invaded Pingrang City at the last moment and the order to retreat was given, everyone knew that the battle had failed.
Morale can be boosted but not discouraged. When hundreds of thousands of Tang Dynasty tigers crossed the border of Goguryeo and fought bloody battles all the way from north to south until they reached Pyongyang City, but withdrew at the last moment, the morale of the army collapsed instantly. At this moment, the Tang army no longer had the arrogance and arrogance that it had when it swept across Liaodong. There was only one thought left in its mind, and that was to withdraw, withdraw, and quickly withdraw to the territory of the Tang Dynasty, so as not to bury the bones of Liaodong...
The army was defeated like a mountain.
Yeon Gaesomun is indeed worthy of the title of a famous general. When he saw the Tang army retreating, he did not know what happened, but since he withdrew the army just before the city was breached, something terrible must have happened. The army was demoralized and collapsed. It is inevitable.
Therefore, he made a decisive decision and ordered the defenders in the city to abandon the city and attack, chasing them one after another. It was useless not to kill the enemy, but to delay the Tang army for a few more days in the ice and snow of Liaodong.
It was not to fulfill the agreement with Changsun Wuji, but the more chaotic the Tang army and the greater the casualties, the greater the benefits to Goguryeo.
As long as this battle inflicts damage to the Tang army, it will be difficult for the Tang army to launch such a large-scale eastern expedition in the next twenty or thirty years at least. Goguryeo will have a chance to breathe, recuperate and accumulate strength.
Yeon Gaesumun, who had just massacred the royal family of Goguryeo and ascended the throne of Goguryeo, was ambitious. He hoped that one day he might personally lead an army to invade China.
The Tang army retreated like a tide in the front, and the Goguryeo army pursued them in succession. On the vast snowfield of Liaodong, the offensive and defensive momentum was reversed in an instant.
……
After running wildly for a day, the Tang army camped more than a hundred miles north of Pingrang City and sent two armies, Xue Wanche and Ashina Simo, to block the pursuing enemy and give the army some rest time.
In the camp, headed by Li Ji, Cheng Yaojin, Yuchi Gong, Cheng Mingzhen, Zhang Jian, Zhang Liang, Qiu Xiaozhong and other generals were present. A charcoal basin was burning brightly in the tent, but the cold wind that came in through the cracks in the tent blew sparks around, and no one felt the slightest warmth.
Everyone sat in silence, the atmosphere was sad and depressing.
For a long time, Cheng Yaojin stared at Li Ji and asked hoarsely: "Your Majesty is injured and is recovering in the big tent, but the British Duke and the Duke of Zhao do not allow us to visit. Now that something like this is happening, what are your plans? Give us an explanation?”
When he learned that His Majesty had passed away, he felt as if his head had been hit hard by a running wild bull. The sky was spinning and stars were flying in his eyes. He couldn't believe it no matter what.
But when he stepped forward to see that His Majesty was really not breathing, he accepted the bad news.
It was just that at that time, in order to organize the retreat of the army and avoid being distracted by the enemy's counterattack, he suppressed the sadness and anger in his heart.
Now here and now, I can no longer suppress it.
Zhang Liang, the Duke of Yun State, also had his eyes reddened. He stared at Li Ji and said angrily with his halberd finger: "Your Majesty is in the prime of the Spring and Autumn Period, and the dragons and tigers are fierce. Even if you accidentally fall off a horse and get injured, you will be able to recover in a few days." How could he die because of his injuries? I wouldn’t believe it even to death! Can the British Lord tell the truth about the cause of His Majesty’s death?”
Compared with Cheng Yaojin, Yuchi Gong and others, Zhang Liang's sadness may not be sincere, but he is the person who can least accept the fact of His Majesty's death. Because everyone else relies on their merits to settle down and live their lives, he is the only one with little military merit and lack of ability. The reason why he has held a high position in these years is precisely because of his majesty's favor and trust.
Now that His Majesty has passed away and his biggest supporter has fallen, how can we not be angry?
Li Ji's face was gloomy, showing no signs of joy or anger. Even when Zhang Liang pointed at his nose, he remained motionless and said slowly: "I don't know the truth about this matter. Perhaps only Zhao Guogong knows something about it."
His Majesty died inexplicably, and Changsun Wuji disappeared without a trace. There must be something involved in this. As for the inside story, only Changsun Wuji knows.
Qiu Xiaozhong interjected: "Zhao Guogong disappeared without a trace. The truth is not yet known. However, according to the imperial doctor, His Majesty finally took a bowl of decoction under the service of Zhu Suiliang. Of course, it may not be because of the bowl of decoction. Zhu Suiliang must be arrested and tortured, right?”
Everyone agreed.
Since Zhu Suiliang was the last person that His Majesty came into contact with before his death, and His Majesty happened to take a bowl of decoction under his service, the suspicion was naturally the highest.
However, Li Ji remained calm and said slowly: "His Majesty's death is a matter of heaven and earth falling. As human ministers, it is natural for us to feel sad, and it is natural to track down the real culprit. But I want to remind you that the current situation It's so bad that once the news of His Majesty's death comes out, not only will the morale of these hundreds of thousands of troops collapse in an instant, but even Chang'an, thousands of miles away, will be turned upside down!"
He stared at the people in the tent with bloodshot eyes, and said word by word: "Everyone, His Majesty's death is irreversible. Compared with tracking down the real murderer, it is more important to track down these hundreds of thousands of people. Bring the army back to stabilize the situation in Chang'an! Otherwise, if the army's morale is weakened and hundreds of thousands of troops are ordered to bury their bones in Liaodong, the situation in Chang'an will even collapse! With the ruined country in ruins, how can we have the dignity to set foot on the land of the Tang Dynasty, and how can we have the dignity to see the elders of the Tang Dynasty again at this critical moment of survival? Don’t blame me for not thinking about my feelings when the sword and ax are applied to my neck.”
Everyone was speechless and silent.
It is not that everyone is disloyal to His Majesty Li Er, as Li Ji said, the more important thing is to bring these hundreds of thousands of troops back to the Tang Dynasty, and quickly return to Chang'an to stabilize the situation. If those with ulterior motives seek to usurp the throne, it will lead to The country is in decline, how can they have the face to see His Majesty after they die?
All doubts and anger can only be put aside for the time being.
It is inevitable to be loyal to His Majesty Li Er and vow to find out the real culprit of His Majesty Li Er's death. All the generals in the tent have fought side by side with His Majesty Li Er for many years. Apart from the righteousness of the monarch and his ministers, and the feelings of robe and honor, how can they watch it with open eyes? His Majesty Li Er passed away but remained indifferent?
But more importantly, everyone inevitably has their own plans in mind, how to find out the real culprit, how to remove themselves from suspicion, how to maintain the power and wealth in the future in the court, and even how to go one step further...
Its advantages and disadvantages are due to human nature.
*****
When the navy, drifting on the sea and suffering from cold winds and waves, learned that hundreds of thousands of troops had abandoned the city and fled, all the generals and soldiers at the top and bottom looked confused.
On the flagship, Su Dingfang stared at the captain who reported the news with wide eyes: "How is that possible?"
Hundreds of thousands of troops besieged Pingrang City. Although they suffered heavy casualties, the Goguryeo army was obviously ineffective. As long as they continued to attack by force, it would take only a few days to break into the city and overthrow Goguryeo.
How can we retreat at this time?
If we retreat now, wouldn't the previous half-year expedition be in vain? Wouldn't the tens of thousands of Tang Dynasty tigers and warriors buried in Liaodong all die in vain?
How could His Majesty issue such an order?
The captain said: "This is the fact. The army retreated more than a hundred miles in one day. The general came here on the order of the British Duke and ordered the navy to withdraw to Huating Town immediately to avoid being attacked by the enemy."
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Even so, Su Dingfang still didn't believe it: "Impossible! Did the army fail to attack for a long time? What kind of strategy did the army use to lure the Goguryeo army out of the city to pursue them, and then wait for an opportunity to counterattack?"
The captain shook his head and said: "The withdrawal is certain. As for the reason, we don't know. But..."
Seeing his hesitation, Su Dingfang angrily said: "If you are still hesitant at this time, do you think that this commander will not kill people?"
The school captain was so frightened that he knelt down on one knee and said: "It's just because there is a rumor spreading all over Pingrang City recently. It may be related to the retreat of the army, but it is actually unreasonable. I don't know whether to say it or not."< br>
Su Dingfang said: "Say!"
"Here!"
The captain said: "Recently, rumors have been spreading inside and outside Pingrang City. It is said that the Goguryeo 'Wangzhuangjun' was lurking in the deep ravine behind Anhe Palace some time ago. His Majesty happened to go to inspect and was attacked by them. He fell off his horse and was injured. And he was shot in the eye by Yuan Nanjian..."
Su Dingfang was shocked.
The navy was stationed at sea and was only responsible for transporting food, ammunition, and equipment to the army. There was no contact with outsiders back and forth, so this was the first time he heard such rumors.
Although it was unbelievable, the hundreds of thousands of troops suddenly withdrew without any warning, even giving up the victory that was within reach. The combination of the two made Su Dingfang feel a frightening thought... Couldn't it?
But if something really happened to His Majesty, what would the Navy do?
Do you really obey the British Duke's order, return to Huating Town from the sea, and completely give up this easy victory? If we give up this good situation today and try to overthrow Goguryeo in the future, how much food will we have to collect and how many soldiers will we lose?
Su Dingfang weighed his options and said nothing. (End of chapter)