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

Chapter 165 Instigating Rebellion
"But I just can't understand why you do this. Why do you work for those who oppress and enslave you? Why do you fight for those who enslave you?"

Li Chengqian's voice became louder and louder, and his questioning echoed in the crowd. His eyes swept across everyone's face, as if he wanted to see through their innermost thoughts.

These people have been oppressed and enslaved for a long time, and they have become accustomed to this way of life.

For a moment, they felt only confusion and bewilderment at Li Chengqian's questioning.

Faced with people who have been kneeling for too long, relying solely on a policy cannot completely change their mindset.

The fundamental way is to liberate their minds. If the deep-rooted slave mentality in their hearts is not changed, even if they are given freedom and land, they may still give it up like they are doing now.

"There is no savior in the world, let alone God. If you don't resist, it will be futile even if I help you. Instead, I will be hated by you cowardly and incompetent people."

"You must know that I am not your enemy. Your enemies are the nobles who are now taking your land."

Li Chengqian was leading the charge and wanted to turn the spearhead towards all the nobles of Goguryeo.

With the implementation of the land-based tax system and the contract system, Li Chengqian's chessboard was very large, covering Goguryeo and the entire Tang Dynasty.

If we want to completely overthrow the monopoly of clans and aristocratic families, we can only start from the grassroots people.

This is a tactic borrowed from the instructor.

Tonight is the beginning.

"Take up your weapons and defend your own land and your loved ones, instead of continuing to work for those who enslave you."

"Open the city gates and let them go."

Li Chengqian issued an unexpected order.

But no one dared to object, the gates of Liaocheng were opened, and the Tang army soldiers retreated to the side.

Faced with the road to freedom, the prisoners were stunned.

After escaping from Liaocheng, where else could they go? They could only return to their original troops and fight in the battlefield again the next day.

"Please take us in, Prince. We know we are wrong."

Suddenly, one of the prisoners knelt down.

Compared with the Goguryeo army, they were more willing to join the Tang army.

Most of them were unwilling to take part in the rebellion, especially under the policy of contract farming and land tax distribution implemented by the Tang army.

They all just wanted to farm properly, but the Goguryeo leaders did not allow it and forcibly conscripted men.

They went to the battlefield in a daze, fighting instinctively, without any purpose and just following the orders of their generals.

Immediately afterwards, more prisoners of war knelt down. They had no choice before, but now it seemed that they had a choice.

"You want my Tang Army to take you in?"

A sneer appeared on Li Chengqian's lips.

"We are willing to go through fire and water for His Royal Highness the Crown Prince!"

Several prisoners shouted in unison to show their loyalty.

"In terms of loyalty, do you think you can compare with the Tang army soldiers under my command? In terms of combat power, can you compare? I will not kill you, but I just think you are a group of pitiful and pathetic people."

"I know that you are born poor, which is pitiful, so I will distribute land to you and reduce taxes even if it means offending the nobles."

"But you are a group of pathetic people. You have never resisted when facing bullying. You are not afraid to fight on the battlefield, so why don't you dare to resist? This is what is pathetic about you."

Li Chengqian shook his head and looked at the group of prisoners of war with disappointment.

Indeed, Li Chengqian had done a lot for the lower-class people like them, but now, they are turning against him, their benefactor.

The prisoners of war were extremely ashamed and embarrassed at this time. They may not have knowledge, but they also had a sense of shame.

One by one, they stood up dejectedly and walked towards the city gate like zombies.

There is no purpose, no direction. "If you don't resist now, when will you? Do you still want to live like this? Do you want your descendants to be enslaved forever?"

Li Chengqian felt that the time was ripe, and he shouted loudly, shocking everyone.

Everyone looked up at Li Chengqian, wondering what he meant.

"Gao Yanshou has occupied your land and enslaved you to work for him under the slogan of restoration. Are you willing to be bullied and enslaved by him?"

Li Chengqian asked again.

"I can't wait any longer!"

As soon as the words fell, several powerful echoes rang out among the crowd.

It didn't sound like the kind of momentum that a captured soldier could muster.

But now, none of this matters anymore. This shout is like a piece of firewood, igniting the resentment that has been pent up for a long time.

All the prisoners of war shouted along, venting all their resentment.

"From now on, you are a member of my Tang Army. You must remember that you are not fighting for me, but for yourself and for your land."

Li Chengqian nodded with satisfaction, feeling that he had laid such a long groundwork.

“Fight for yourself!”

In Liaocheng, shouts shook the sky.

Li Chengqian waved his hand to calm the excited crowd.

"Lin Zhi, take them downstairs to eat!" Li Chengqian turned and left.

The rest will be handled by the Bad Guys.

If the purpose was just to recruit these thousand men, it would be enough to split up and join the army. There would certainly be no need for such an elaborate speech.

As daybreak approached, the gates of Liaocheng opened again, and more than a thousand soldiers headed towards Gao Yanshou's tent under the cover of darkness.

"Your Highness, everything has been arranged. Three hundred bad people have been mixed in with the prisoners of war. They will be sent to the Goguryeo army in batches. Even if there are loopholes, they will not be completely exposed."

Lin Zhi came hurriedly and saw that Li Chengqian was still awake, so he reported the situation to him.

"Just make the arrangements. When you find such bad people in other states, spread the word."

Li Chengqian said something worryingly before going into the house to rest.

Gao Yanshou also couldn't sleep tonight. He was in so much pain that he couldn't fall asleep.

Although Xue Rengui's arrow did not take his life, it left a big bloody hole in his chest, causing unbearable pain.

"Have all the scattered soldiers gathered together?"

Gao Yanshou opened his pale lips and asked with difficulty.

"They have returned one after another. We lost 10,000 soldiers in this battle. Lord, it is better to retreat."

Gao Huizhen said that the commander was injured and the three armies suffered a setback, and it was no longer appropriate to fight.

"The Tang army is really hard to deal with!"

Gao Yanshou thought of the thrilling battle today, in which he almost lost his life, and he couldn't help but feel like retreating.

Defending a city is, no matter how you look at it, much easier than attacking it.

"Let's wait until the scattered soldiers gather together, then we can retreat."

Gao Yanshou followed up with the order.

Come with great ambition, leave with defeat.

(End of this chapter)