Datang: Rebirth of Li Chengqian, the beginning of the treason interrogation

Chapter 143: Anshi City Surrenders and Goguryeo Destruction

With Gao Zang's surrender, Liang Wanchun was alone and helpless, so he chose to negotiate with Li Ji.

"The Duke of England of the Tang Dynasty is indeed very courageous. He opened the city gate."

Liang Wanchun looked at the Tang Dynasty general in front of him and couldn't help but feel admiration in his heart.

As the gate of Anshi City slowly opened, a steep slope came into view of the three people.

The city wall of Anshi was built on the mountain, and the terrain was extremely steep. The slope was so steep that it was daunting, which was why the Tang army had blown up the city gate twice before but still failed to break through the city. There were still dangerous places in the city that could be defended.

On the hillside, thunder stones and rolling logs piled up like a mountain, forming a solid line of defense. Even if the Tang army launched another strong attack, it would be difficult to conquer this indestructible city.

The path up the mountain is narrow and winding, winding its way to the top of the mountain. Every setting is easy to defend but difficult to attack.

The Anshi city wall is only the outermost first layer of defense.

On the top of the mountain, a group of houses and towers loomed, like an impregnable fortress. However, at this moment, a voice suddenly sounded: "Stop, you are not allowed to enter!"

Outside the City Lord's Mansion, Zou Dingguo blocked the way of Xue Rengui and Xue Wanche. He looked at the two men with a vigilant look on his face, holding his weapon tightly in his hands.

Xue Wanche saw this and without hesitation raised his spear and pushed Zou Dingguo away. At the same time, he held the hilt of the sword tightly with his other hand, his eyes revealing murderous intent.

In an instant, the city's guards rushed forward, holding sharp blades, and the atmosphere instantly became tense. Both sides were on the verge of a fight.

"In this Anshi City, you are still afraid of the three of us. It turns out that you are nothing more than this."

Li Ji laughed loudly, he walked forward and entered the city of Anshi. It seemed that there was no difference between three people and one person.

If he dared to go in alone, he would be completely sure of success.

"General Li, please take a seat!"

Liang Wanchun sat on the main seat and stretched out his hand.

"General Liang, let's get straight to the point. What do we need to do in order for Anshi City to surrender? Goguryeo has already been conquered, and you should know that."

Li Ji did not sit down but asked directly.

"We are just a defeated army, so why would we ask for any conditions? I just don't know what you will do to let our soldiers and civilians in the city go?"

Liang Wanchun's position is very low, so they have some bargaining chips, but at the moment, they are insignificant.

The Tang army is not in a hurry. They only need to besiege Anshi City for a year or two without attacking, and the city will run out of ammunition and food and fall without a fight.

"I have already said that if Anshi City surrenders, our army will forgive the past, and with your talent, you will not be buried in our Tang army."

After many years of military service, there are few people who can make Li Ji lose face.

Both of them were impressed by each other's military talents and admired each other.

"I will recommend you to His Majesty the Tang Dynasty and pardon your past sins."

The battle of Anshi City had reached this point, and both sides no longer wanted to fight.

"I hope General Li will keep his word and ensure the safety of the people in Baoan City."

Liang Wanchun stood up and held up the city lord's seal.

Li Zuosheng hesitated to speak, still feeling a little unwilling.

Defeated?
They were not defeated, but they had to surrender.

The guards on both sides couldn't help but lower their heads.

Li Ji walked forward with his head held high, took the token from Liang Wanchun's hand, and then helped Liang Wanchun up with both hands.

"General Liang is a wise man. It is not too late for him to turn from evil to good."

"General Zuo Sheng, notify all the soldiers in the city to go out of the city to accept the surrender!" Liang Wanchun felt relieved.

Soon, the gates of Anshi City were opened and all the soldiers and civilians left the city.

They all looked around in confusion, sometimes looking at Liang Wanchun and others on the top of the city, and sometimes stealing glances at the approaching Tang army. "General, now that Goguryeo is all Tang territory, I believe that these Tang troops will not embarrass their own people." Zou Dingguo said.

"Yes, Goguryeo has already perished. I have failed the trust of the king. If the country does not exist, how can I have the face to keep it alive?"

Liang Wanchun tragically drew out his sword, looked around in confusion, and committed suicide.

"General Liang!"

Zou Dingguo and many other generals were shocked, but everything happened too quickly and no one could stop it. They wanted to reach out and grab it, but all came back empty-handed.

Liang Wanchun fell straight down from the city wall and crashed down below the city.

He would rather die than surrender, and would rather be a ghost of Goguryeo than be a subject of the Tang Dynasty.

"Ugh!"

Li Ji just sighed slightly, feeling indescribable feeling in his heart.

"Gather the body of General Liang and bury him in the city of Anshi."

As a result, the Tang army occupied the city of Anshi and Goguryeo was destroyed.

It took more than a year, and under the siege of the Tang army by land and sea, the country that had stood for hundreds of years was destroyed.

"Pass the order down. No infringement shall be done on the residents of the city."

After Li Ji ordered everything to be arranged, he led a group of elite soldiers towards Pyongyang City.

After the war was lifted, Pyongyang and Liaodong provinces began to engage in agricultural production, and everything was waiting to be rebuilt.

"Your Highness, there is a lack of county officials in Pyongyang Province, government orders are not being implemented, and land reform is difficult to advance. Should we re-employ the previous officials?"

Liu Rengui reported that after the military incident, he had more things to deal with.

Li Chengqian dismissed all previous Goguryeo officials.

He knew very well that the minor officials who managed the counties were the real lifeline.

Back then, after Xue Rengui was ordered to march west, Goguryeo was able to immediately organize an effective rebellion. That was because the power of Goguryeo's subordinates was still in the hands of the old Goguryeo nobles.

Li Chengqian would never make such a mistake. Even if immigration is not possible now, the authority of grassroots management must be in the hands of the Tang people.

"In this campaign, all the soldiers' achievements will be recorded in the roster."

We can’t just paint a rosy picture for these Tang army soldiers.

"It's all recorded, but the soldiers only know how to charge into battle. I'm worried about their ability to govern the place."

"There are not many literate soldiers in the army, so how can they manage the local area and pay taxes and grain?"

Liu Rengui immediately realized Li Chengqian's plan.

"How about this, the county magistrate will be appointed by the previous person to be responsible for paying taxes and grain, while the county magistrate and county lieutenant will be selected from the military, those who have made outstanding contributions."

The school has not been built yet, so there is definitely a shortage of such talents, and Li Chengqian does not want to employ the children of aristocratic families.

All order in Goguryeo has been broken. It is time to establish a completely new order, and not even a little bit of sand can be allowed to mix in.

"That's good too!"

Liu Rengui nodded. In other words, the entire territory of Goguryeo was still under the management of the military, strengthening centralization.

"I don't care how great their political achievements are. I just hope that every county will implement the land tax and household contract responsibility system to the end."

Throughout history, the root cause of all riots has always been conflicts over land issues.

Break up and then reorganize, then merge again after reorganization, and so on.

(End of this chapter)