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

Chapter 164: Why are you rebelling against me when I divide your land?

On the battlefield, the armies of both sides were entangled and fighting each other, and every step forward came at a huge cost.

"General Xue, we can't fight any longer!"

Not long after, Niu Dajin shouted loudly, he keenly realized that the Goguryeo army was about to form an encirclement again.

The Tang army deployed less than 7,000 troops to the battlefield, while the Goguryeo army led by Gao Yanshou had ten times as many troops as them.

The art of war states that when the enemy's force is ten times yours, you should adopt an encirclement tactic.

Then surround it with ten.

Although the Goguryeo army had just suffered a fierce attack from the Tang army, their numbers still held an absolute advantage.

“Withdraw!”

Xue Rengui looked back and found that the chaotic Goguryeo vanguard troops had stabilized and began to move towards the Tang army, so he reluctantly ordered a retreat.

"Order to block the Tang army's road. Never let this Tang army escape back to the city."

Gao Yanshou rode his warhorse quickly forward. He knew clearly that this Tang army was the main force of Liaocheng. If they could be completely destroyed outside the city, then capturing Liaocheng would be as easy as taking candy from a bag.

If this group of Tang troops were allowed to retreat smoothly back to the city, not only would the siege become extremely difficult, but it would also seriously undermine the morale of the entire army.

Xue Rengui slapped the saddle, flew onto the horse, and stood steadily on the saddle. He stuck the spear in his hand into the ground, quickly took out the precious bow from his back, drew out an arrow and put it on the bowstring, then squinted his eyes and aimed at the enemy formation.

With a sound of breaking air, Gao Yanshou suddenly fell off his horse and his life or death was unknown.

"The enemy leader is dead, why don't you surrender quickly!"

Xue Rengui took the opportunity to shout loudly. He had wanted to shoot Gao Yanshou to death for a long time, but the other party had been hiding behind the army and did not give him a chance. But now it was different. Gao Yanshou was leading the army to pursue, and he showed up himself, giving him a great opportunity.

Within the range, Xue Rengui's shots never fail to hit the target. Once you are targeted by him, there is no hope of escaping.

When the Goguryeo soldiers saw this scene, they were all shocked. Their morale dropped instantly and their hearts were filled with fear and anxiety.

"Help me up quickly!"

Gao Yanshou endured the severe pain and stood up with difficulty. He knew that he had to stabilize the morale of the troops at this moment, otherwise the consequences would be disastrous.

Fortunately, the distance was far and Gao Yanshou was wearing the best inner and outer armor, so the arrow did not take his life.

"All troops, listen to my order. Encircle and kill the Tang army."

Gao Yanshou climbed onto his horse, raised the sword in his hand with difficulty, and shouted loudly, trying to stabilize the morale of the troops.

However, at this moment, a hint of murderous intent flashed in Xue Rengui's eyes, and he drew his bow and arrow again.

"not good!"

Gao Yanshou felt a chill coming over him, as if a thorn was on his back. Without hesitation, he spurred his horse and galloped away, quickly disappearing into the army formation.

The tide of battle changed again, with both armies withdrawing.

The generals under the Goryeo army were not all good-for-nothings. Even without the command of the main general, they were still able to retreat steadily and avoid defeat.

If there is no suddenness or even a big gap, it will be difficult to determine the winner between the two sides.

The Tang army had a strong advantage in equipment, while the Goguryeo army had an absolute advantage in numbers. In the end, neither side was able to defeat the other.

Both sides were wary of each other and stopped at the right time.

As both sides withdrew their troops, the shouting and screaming on the battlefield gradually disappeared, replaced by dead silence.

The afterglow of the setting sun sprinkled on the earth, dyeing the entire battlefield bloody.

Against this bloody backdrop, the Tang army began to clean up the battlefield, clearing away the bodies of their comrades and collecting scattered weapons and equipment.

The battle ended with the victory of the Tang army.

On the other side, the Goguryeo army was doing similar work, silently picking up the bodies of their companions. When the sun completely set, the entire battlefield fell into darkness.

Only a few stars and bonfires illuminated this land filled with killing during the day.

Inside the Liao city, a group of prisoners of war were stopped at a corner of the city wall. The Tang army soldiers were fully armed, with their sharp spears pointing straight forward.

This made the Goguryeo prisoners of war terrified, and they all trembled and huddled in the corner.

Li Chengqian came from the top of the city wall and looked at the group of Goguryeo prisoners of war.

"Your Highness, the remnants of Goguryeo are very despicable. Only by killing them all can we cure them completely."

Niu Dajin shouted at the top of his voice.

The prisoners of war below became agitated and looked up at the top of the city wall in horror.

"General Niu is right. I have already forgiven them once before, but now they have rebelled again. This crime is unforgivable."

Xue Rengui also made the remonstrance.

Among the remnants of Goguryeo, many still wanted to restore their country.

Historically, after the Tang Dynasty conquered Goguryeo, the remnants of Goguryeo launched two large-scale anti-Tang uprisings in an attempt to restore the monarchy.

The first was a large-scale anti-Tang uprising launched by Goguryeo general Jian Moucen after Liu Rengui withdrew from Goguryeo.

Li Zhi then appointed Xue Rengui to suppress the rebellion and govern Goguryeo.

The second time was after Xue Rengui left, when Goguryeo rebelled again, but it was successful in the end and Goguryeo became independent again.

Goguryeo's desire to restore the monarchy never died.

Li Chengqian did not give a direct answer, but stopped.

Rule by killing is never a long-term solution.

The Tang army had only defeated the ruling class of Goguryeo. Facing a large country with a population of up to five million, 100,000 Tang troops were simply unable to suppress it.

Only if the people of Goguryeo recognize him and the Tang Dynasty can there be no more rebellion.

Otherwise, even if Gao Yanshou's restoration was suppressed, there would still be Gao Yanshou and Ai Yanshou afterwards.

Stopping killing by killing will not achieve the goal, but will only continue to stimulate hatred.

"You also heard that my subordinates all advised me to kill you rebels."

Li Chengqian's voice lengthened a bit, drawing all eyes to him.

"Indeed, you really do deserve to die. I don't know that I distributed the nobles' land to you so that you could support your families and live and work in peace. Wasn't I doing this for your own good? However, what did you do? How did you treat me?"

Li Chengqian's eyes were like knives, piercing people's hearts. Just a few words made a group of prisoners of war lower their heads in shame.

These low-level soldiers all came from poor backgrounds, but after being enslaved for so long, they took everything for granted.

"You are gathering together to rebel against me!"

Li Chengqian's voice suddenly became extremely high.

"But I don't blame you. You were just forced by others."

The prisoners of war couldn't help but look up again, and there was even some gratitude in their eyes.

After kneeling for so long, they will feel it’s unreal once someone asks them to stand up.

It's because of servility.

(End of this chapter)