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

Chapter 173: Lure the Snake Out of Its Hole
"Do you have any solution to this problem?"

Li Chengqian looked at the people in front of him with a serious look. If he wanted to raise the banner of rebellion, he had to face this thorny problem - those stranded soldiers.

Once the banner of uprising was raised, it meant that it would be impossible to completely defeat the aristocratic families in a short period of time and allow these soldiers to return home and reunite.

As time goes by, more low-level soldiers will betray because they miss their families.

Even their senior generals found it difficult to hold on for long.

"This is indeed a headache. Can we just let them go?"

Cheng Chumo scratched his hair in annoyance. He really couldn't think of any good suggestions to deal with the current predicament.

"These soldiers have fought in the battles of Goguryeo and Baekje, and each of them is battle-hardened. They are currently the most elite warriors of the Tang Dynasty. If we release them, and the Tang Dynasty recruits soldiers to attack us, wouldn't that be asking for trouble?"

Li Zhen shook his head and said helplessly.

These soldiers had fought bravely for the country and were the elite under their command, but now they had become a big problem. They could not give them up easily, but they could not find a suitable solution either.

It is really a dilemma for them!

"Earlier, I asked the various armies to investigate and find out how many Tang army soldiers were willing to settle in Goguryeo and Baekje."

Today, this is not just a simple political immigration, but also a military requirement.

"Your Highness, there are indeed some Tang army soldiers who are willing to settle in Goguryeo and Baekje, but most of them are soldiers with no family or are unmarried. A rough estimate shows that there are only about 2,000 of them."

Pei Xingjian answered respectfully. You know, in the Tang Dynasty, families that could join the army were considered relatively wealthy, otherwise they would not be able to afford the military expenses.

In other words, to join the army you have to have some mines at home!
"If that's the case, why don't we let all the Tang army settle down in Goguryeo? That way, they won't feel homesick anymore!"

Cheng Chumo suddenly burst into laughter. His idea seemed naive, but in fact it was somewhat inhumane.

"Although Chu Mo's idea is a bit absurd, it is not a bad idea. Now that we have confiscated a lot of property, if we give appropriate rewards, it may be possible to achieve this goal."

Li Zhen echoed and improved on Cheng Chumo's bad idea, turning it into a brilliant plan.

A lot can happen in two years. After serving, many soldiers return home and look back in confusion, only to find that they are the only ones left.

"Then promote this policy and encourage soldiers to settle down here. Select good women to serve in the army. Let the soldiers discuss and choose among each other. After they decide to settle down, they will be given housing expenses, land and property will be allocated preferentially, and they will be tax-free for three years."

Give the greatest preferential treatment to encourage soldiers to take root and solve the current difficult situations.

"In addition, for soldiers who really don't want to go, we will let them write letters to ease the current urgent need. We will send the disabled soldiers back first. If they don't want to go, we will arrange a spouse for them to help them settle down here. In addition, their treatment will be reduced, and they will be given one-tenth of their salary every month."

Li Chengqian implemented many benevolent policies in order to retain people.

"Faced with such generous conditions, I don't believe that those veteran soldiers would not be tempted."

Cheng Chumo chuckled and said that compared to the taxation in the Tang Dynasty, the taxation here was too generous. If there were no other factors, more people would definitely stay.

"I think you are moved!"

Li Zhen patted Cheng Chumo's shoulder with a sly smile on his face.

"Yes, you generals should take the lead and each take ten or eight."

In fact, even without Li Chengqian saying anything, they had already taken action.

The Korean and Korean women are very pretty, fair and tender, and you can even squeeze water out of them.

"I accept this military order."

Cheng Chumo patted his chest and assured that nothing could be better than before, as he was ordered to take a concubine.

"But then again, Your Highness, you are the head of the three armies. Shouldn't you also show your respect by giving a few hundred of them? You can be a role model for the army."

The atmosphere gradually relaxed.

"You think I'm a stud, and you really think I have three thousand beauties in my harem?"

Li Chengqian didn't want to die so young, dying on a woman's belly.

"Oh, by the way, now the plan has changed, and I am not too sure about Liaodong Dao. Keep your promise, and go to Liaocheng with my token."

Li Chengqian changed the topic and expressed his concerns, saying that Liaodong Road was indeed lacking someone to take charge of the overall situation.

Xue Rengui and Gao Kan are both under the command of Li Ji and Li Daozon, and they are likely to be checked and balanced, thus ruining this good situation.

"Okay, then we'll set off immediately!" Pei Xingjian accepted the order.

Liaodong Road is the gateway, so it must be heavily guarded.

In a mountainous area, dozens of men in black gathered together.

Li Ji and Li Daozon looked around.

It went so smoothly that they couldn't believe it.

"Where are you taking us?" Li Ji asked.

"Please rest assured, Duke Ying, we have no ill will towards the two old generals. We have done everything according to your orders. Now we are going back to Liaocheng and let you take charge of military affairs again."

The leader replied.

"Return to Liaocheng?"

Li Ji was an old hand at playing tricks and he keenly realized that this was a trap and they were the bait.

"Your efforts are in vain. Military affairs are all led by the crown prince's confidants. Even if I wait until Liaocheng, I will only be walking into a trap."

Li Ji said pessimistically.

"Please rest assured, Duke Ying and King Jiangxia, this operation is not ours. Maybe the Liao city has been pacified and is waiting for you two to lead it?"

The leader in black smiled.

"Let's leave quickly now. Maybe people in Pyongyang have already discovered that you, the Duke, are missing!"

I saw dozens of war horses being pulled out from the dense woods.

"Duke, King Jiangxia, please mount your horses!"

The rescue plan was very careful.

"It seems that even if we don't want to go, we can't."

Li Ji and Li Daozon looked at each other and shook their heads, fearing that their old bones would have to endure a bumpy ride for a while.

The two sides are playing against each other, but they are the ones who suffer.

On the official road, there were fast riders who set out earlier than them.

The moon sets, crows cry, and the sky is filled with frost.

In the blink of an eye, more than ten days passed.

Outside Liaocheng, a group of light cavalry came hurriedly from a distance.

"General Pei is here!"

On the top of Liao City, Xue Rengui pointed ahead and said.

Pei Xingjian traveled on the official road without any obstruction and could travel day and night. As early as three days ago, he had already arrived in Liaocheng and took over Gao Kan's command, becoming the current top leader of Liaocheng.

"I'll leave this to you, General Xue, to handle first."

Looking at the crowd approaching, Pei Xingjian turned and left, disappearing into the darkness.

"Stop whoever comes!"

An arrow was shot into the ground as a warning.

"The commander-in-chief of Liaodong's army, Duke Ying Li Ji, is here. How dare you act so recklessly?"

More than ten riders escorted Li Ji and Li Daozon closer.

The lower-level soldiers in Liaodong were unaware of the replacement of the top leaders, and there was no imperial decree. It was just Li Chengqian's unauthorized replacement.

Therefore, in people's minds, Li Ji was still the commander-in-chief of the army.

"How dare you! General Li Ji has been ordered to guard Pyongyang Road, how could he appear here?" Xue Rengui looked down at them, as if he didn't know Li Ji and Li Daozon.

"How dare you! His Majesty's imperial decree is here, and you still don't kneel down to receive it!"

The leader took out Li Shimin's imperial edict and held it above his head.

"You are a rebellious thief who is becoming more and more lawless. You even dare to fake the emperor's will. Come on, prepare to shoot!"

Each of them serves his own master, and Xue Rengui has no choice.

The soldiers on the city wall drew their bows and arrows, aiming at the people below the city.

Finished!

Li Ji and Li Daozon looked distressed. They did not think that these soldiers did not dare to give orders.

I came all the way here just to die.

"I wonder who dares. The Saint's order is here. Why don't you quickly catch these thieves and open the city gates to welcome the order and enter the city."

The leader was also fearless and confronted Xue Rengui.

He just waved his right hand, and there was a commotion on the top of the city, and many people turned against him.

Hundreds of soldiers suddenly rushed out from the city and rushed to the city gate.

Everything was planned.

"All officers and men, listen to my order. Xue Rengui is plotting to seize military power and is planning a rebellion. Follow me and fight your way out of the city. We will escort Li Ji into the city and kill the rebels."

A general raised his sword high and shouted loudly.

This person was none other than Pei Yan, who was keeping a low profile. After he obtained the order from Li Shimin and the wishes of his family, he acted as an insider in Liaocheng.

He did not participate in the first uprising of the aristocratic families and stayed on the sidelines. Now, he was almost certain to win.

His true colors were finally revealed.

These nearly one thousand soldiers were also from powerful clans, and some were even bad guys under Yuan Tiangang's command.

The aristocratic clans are like centipedes that will survive even after their death. Even after several baptisms, they still have considerable influence in the army.

Once a call is made, one-tenth of the people will respond.

The total number of people in Liao City is only about 8,000, including those guarding the four gates and those who take turns to rest.

There are only about 500 soldiers guarding the west gate, plus undercover agents who have been deployed long ago, so there are only about 300 people who are truly loyal.

Pei Yan led his troops to attack and occupied the entire city wall in one fell swoop.

"My fellow soldiers, Pei Yan is plotting treason, follow me and kill him!"

Xue Rengui was not at all panicked. He brandished his spear and rushed forward. No one could match him.

On the top of the city walls, soldiers were constantly being knocked down or stabbed to death by him, and his attacks were brutal and ruthless.

Xue Rengui wanted to use this battle to continue to establish his authority. Before, the number of heads of the children of the aristocratic clans he beheaded was too small, and it failed to have a deterrent effect and make these people feel that it was feasible again.

"Break open the city gate!"

Pei Yan looked towards the top of the city wall with a hint of fear in his eyes. He knew that he could not defeat the enemy by force, so he could only ask Li Ji to enter the city to stabilize the situation.

Pei Yan commanded a group of troops to resist Xue Rengui, while the rest of the troops rushed to the city gate.

The soldier guarding the gate was soon overwhelmed by the crowd.

"Tsk!"

The gate of Liaocheng was opened, Pei Yan rode out of the city at full speed, his sword stained with blood.

"General Pei Yan greets the Duke of Ying and the King of Jiangxia!"

Pei Yan performed the ceremony on horseback.

"The rebellion in the city has not yet been resolved. Please ask the Duke of Ying and the King of Jiangxia to take charge of the situation!"

This sudden change happened too fast, even the two people who had experienced countless big scenes were slow to react.

Is it so easy to seize control of Liaocheng?

Your Highness the Crown Prince is too easy to deal with!

Under the protection of a group of soldiers, the two men stepped into the outer city of Liao.

"I am Li Ji, the general commander of the Eastern Expedition. Why don't you stop?"

Li Ji was also forced to take charge. Since Li Chengqian could not hold on, he could only obey Li Er's orders and prepare to take over the military affairs of Liaodong.

Whenever Li Ji and Li Daozon were in a battle, they would personally lead their troops to kill the enemy, so much so that many soldiers in the army knew them.

"It really is Li Ji, the Duke of Ying and Li Dao Zong, the King of Jiangxia!"

Soon, many soldiers put down their weapons, looked at Li Ji and Li Daozon, and then looked at Xue Rengui who was still charging into the battle.

It turns out that I am the rebel!
"Xue Li, don't make the mistake. Your abilities should be used to kill the enemy, not to slaughter your fellow soldiers."

Li Ji said that he was shocked that such a powerful general had become Li Chengqian's confidant so quickly.

"This is not Tongze, but rebellion. As the general leading the army, it is my duty to suppress the rebellion."

Xue Rengui stood with his spear across his body, glaring at him.

Everyone was shocked.

For the first time, I felt the fear that the Goguryeo soldiers had felt.

This was not a human being, but the King of Hell holding the pen of judgment. Within a short period of time, corpses piled up under Xue Rengui, and dozens of people fell.

"Xue Li, you still don't know that you are the ones who are rebelling. Put down your weapons now, and I will protect you from death. Ask His Majesty for forgiveness. With your bravery, you will be given an important task."

Li Ji implicitly hinted that he also did not want to see a talent like Xue Rengui become a victim of political struggle.

"General Xue, you were personally ordered by His Royal Highness the Crown Prince to guard Liao City. How can you be accused of treason?"

Suddenly, a burst of laughter was heard in the corridor of the inner city.

At this time, a large number of soldiers emerged from the city wall, holding sharp bows and swords.

"Duke Ying and King Jiangxia were ordered to guard Pyongyang, so why did you lead your troops to appear in Liao City? You even said you came here by order. In my opinion, you are the ones who rebelled, right?"

Pei Xingjian stood behind the soldiers.

"I, General Gao Kan, have been ordered to lead the Anshi soldiers to suppress the rebellion."

At the same time, outside the city, there were loud voices and the sound of horse hooves.

Li Ji and Li Daozon shook their heads. It really wasn't that simple.

Pei Yan's face turned pale. This was a trap.

"Put down your weapons. We will all be treated leniently, and only the ringleader will be punished."

Pei Xingjian waved his hand and gave an order, and the soldiers behind him stepped forward to protect him.

"All soldiers, listen to my order. Charge through the siege and escort King Jiangxia and Duke Ying out of the city!"

Pei Yan didn't want to sit and wait for death, otherwise he would have no choice but to die.

"Stop, put down your weapons!"

Li Ji suddenly shouted that if they fought now, the ones who would die would only be their own people.

However, Li Ji's orders did not seem to be that effective for these people.

The bad guys here are given their orders by heaven.

And the children of the aristocratic families would only obey Pei Yan.

(End of this chapter)