My father, Li Shimin, please call me Crown Prince

Chapter 411 The Crown Prince Will Not Let Me Down
Xuanwu Gate was breached.

The morale of the Liaodong army was high.

It hasn't even been two hours since the cannons started bombarding the city gates.

This has never happened before in previous siege battles.

The advent of gunpowder was about to change the way cities were besieged since ancient times.

"Guard the gate!!!"

Yuchi Jingde roared, his voice trembling from the sound of the explosion.

Behind the city gates were densely packed imperial guards.

Although the city gates were forced open, Yuchi Jingde and Cheng Yaojin were not intimidated.

Xuanwu Gate has 50,000 Imperial Guards, but so far in the siege, they have only lost one or two thousand men.

The Liaodong troops have already suffered losses exceeding five thousand.

In other words, the Crown Prince only had about 20,000 troops left, which was less than half the number of troops at Xuanwu Gate.

Not to mention, they could also mobilize the troops of the inner court.

"Put on the kerosene!"

A captain shouted, and dozens of soldiers rushed forward carrying earthenware jars, pouring the black kerosene down the doorway.

The flames flared up instantly upon contact with the oil, forming a wall of fire that burned the Liaodong soldiers at the forefront into human torches.

But these brave men did not retreat. Instead, they roared and rushed into the wall of fire, extinguishing the flames with their bodies to clear a path for their companions behind them.

“They’re insane…they’re all fucking insane…” A young Imperial Guard’s hand, gripping his spear, trembled as he watched a Liaodong soldier engulfed in flames rush toward him and gouge his eyes with his charred fingers.

The veteran next to him cleaved the Liaodong soldier in two with a single stroke of his sword, sparks crackling against his armor.

Armored against armor, it's hard to say that they could be killed outright.

Just as the first wave of Liaodong soldiers charged, Li Chengqian had already ordered his cavalry to charge the city gates from the rear.

Around three thousand cavalry charged directly toward the city gate.

This was a heavy cavalry charge.

The thunderous roar of iron hooves crushing the bluestone slabs swept across the city walls like rolling thunder, and three thousand heavy cavalrymen, draped in scarlet cloaks, charged through the smoke of battle.

"kill!"

As they approached the city gate, the cavalrymen roared deafeningly.
-
Tai Chi Palace.

Inside the Taiji Hall, the air was filled with the fragrance of sandalwood.

The flying cavalry from Xuanwu Gate kept sending back messages. Since the distance was not far, they were able to keep track of the situation immediately.

Especially when Li Chengqian bombarded Xuanwu Gate, the atmosphere inside the hall was tense for quite a while.

Although Xuanwu Gate has been continuously reinforced and should not be at risk of collapse under normal circumstances, the bombing that destroyed Tongguan City Wall was too terrifying, and no one knows whether it can withstand the impact.

Fortunately, when the news came, it was found that the Crown Prince did not intend to bombard them with artillery, which relieved Li Shimin and the others.

The latest news is that the Crown Prince breached the Xuanwu Gate by crashing a car into a hiding place to stow gunpowder.

"Chengqian does have some strategic acumen."

Li Shimin said with a faint smile, his tone more relaxed.

The breach of Xuanwu Gate was within his expectations and not too surprising, since the gate was only covered with iron and could not compare to the thickness of the city wall.

When the Crown Prince attacked Goryeo, he used ballistae in conjunction with thunderbolts to force open the city gates.

However, Goryeo at that time had never seen gunpowder before, and all the soldiers were terrified and unable to organize an effective defense, which allowed the crown prince to successfully breach the city.

Therefore, Li Shimin could guess from the beginning that if the crown prince could not breach the city wall, he would definitely have to break through the city gate, which was something that could not be avoided.

"The Crown Prince's chariot launched a fierce attack and provided cover, but lost several thousand elite troops. Now he has only 20,000 remaining soldiers. Even if the Liaodong troops who were brought in to lie in wait are brought in, there are only a little over 50,000 left."

"Even if the city gates are breached, it's impossible to break through."

To Li Shimin, breaking out of the city gate was completely impossible.

No matter how many soldiers the Crown Prince had, they would all be thrown into this bottomless pit at the city gate.

The city gates are not so easy to breach.

Although Li Chengqian's Liaodong army successfully breached the city gates, they faced numerous difficulties in advancing further.

The numerical disadvantage in troop strength became a key obstacle preventing Li Chengqian from advancing.

Despite the high morale and fearless fighting spirit of the Liaodong army, the Imperial Guards held an overwhelming numerical advantage. Fifty thousand Imperial Guards were stationed at Xuanwu Gate; even if they lost a thousand or two during the siege, their remaining strength far exceeded Li Chengqian's twenty thousand-odd remaining troops. Even including the Liaodong soldiers lying in wait, the Imperial Guards' forces numbered only slightly over fifty thousand. Compared to the Imperial Guards, Li Chengqian would find it difficult to maintain his numerical superiority in a protracted war of attrition.

Each charge cost the Liaodong army enormous casualties, while the Imperial Guards could constantly replenish the defensive line with their numerical superiority. This kind of attrition was unbearable for Li Chengqian.

As the battle continues, the disparity in troop strength will become increasingly apparent, causing their offensive momentum to gradually weaken and ultimately making it difficult to break through the Imperial Guard's layers of defenses.

The unique terrain of the city gate greatly limited the effectiveness of Li Chengqian's troops.

The narrow passageway at the city gate prevented a large number of troops from launching an attack simultaneously, thus hindering Li Chengqian's more than 20,000 troops from being fully utilized.

When the cavalry charged, the three thousand iron cavalry could not form an effective charging formation at the narrow city gate. Instead, they were prone to crowding each other, which hindered their movement.

Despite its impressive scale, the impact was significantly diminished due to the limitations imposed by the city gates.

In contrast, the Imperial Guards could use the city walls on both sides of the city gate as cover to attack from a high vantage point. This superior position allowed them to strike the Liaodong army attacking the city more effectively.

Whether it's the shooting of arrows or the dropping of defensive weapons such as oil, they can all be accurately applied to the Liaodong army in the narrow passages, and the Liaodong army has no way to avoid them. In this terrain, the attacking side is often in a passive and defensive situation.

The Imperial Guards' defensive strategies were highly targeted and effective, with meticulous plans and preparations for the defense of the city gates.

The dense formation behind the city gates meant that the Liaodong army faced a forest of spears and swords with every step forward. In armor-on-armor combat, directly killing the enemy was no easy feat, turning the battle into a brutal war of attrition. The Imperial Guards, with their strong fortifications and orderly formations, effectively resisted the Liaodong army's attacks, while Li Chengqian struggled to find an effective way to break through their defenses.

In terms of morale, although the Liaodong army displayed astonishing bravery, the Imperial Guards also possessed a firm fighting spirit. Li Shimin controlled the overall situation from inside the Taiji Hall, and the constant reports from cavalrymen ensured that the Imperial Guards soldiers knew they were not fighting alone and had strong support behind them.

After losing thousands of elite troops, Li Chengqian's Liaodong army, even though its morale remained, would gradually face increasing psychological pressure as the battle continued and casualties rose.

Especially when faced with the effective defense and tenacious resistance of the Imperial Guards, the Liaodong Army may gradually develop feelings of fatigue and despair, which, once spread, will greatly affect its combat effectiveness.

The siege tactics Li Chengqian employs, whether it's breaching the city gates or launching a direct assault, are all within Li Shimin's control.

Li Shimin could readily mobilize the inner court's troops to reinforce Xuanwu Gate, further strengthening its defenses. Li Chengqian, however, with limited forces, lacked sufficient strategic reserves to handle unforeseen circumstances and struggled to breach the Imperial Guard's defenses from multiple directions. He could only concentrate his forces to attack through the city gates, a single offensive tactic easily countered and defended against by the Imperial Guard.

"Do not underestimate the enemy!"

Fang Xuanling suddenly spoke, his voice somewhat low.

Inside the hall was a huge sand table, which was originally created by the Crown Prince.

"Back then, when Your Majesty launched a night raid on Luoyang, three thousand Xuanjia soldiers were able to disrupt the formation of an army of one hundred thousand. Since Li Chengqian dared to choose to launch a direct attack under such circumstances, how could he not know the principle of throwing an egg against a rock?"

"Any military commander with even a little military knowledge can understand this situation."

“The Crown Prince is naturally knowledgeable about military affairs. Even if the Crown Prince doesn’t understand, how could Su Dingfang not understand?” “But under such circumstances, the Liaodong troops are launching a fierce offensive and have no intention of giving up.”

"There must be something fishy going on here; the Crown Prince must have a backup plan!"

In the realm of military strategy, Fang Xuanling can certainly be considered a master.

The advantages they now saw were too obvious, which actually made Fang Xuanling feel confused.

If it were an unfamiliar general, or a barbarian from the grasslands, there would be no need to think too much about it, but this is the crown prince.

Fang Xuanling understood the Crown Prince and knew that the Crown Prince's plan was definitely not that simple.

Therefore, there must be something hidden in the current situation that he hasn't discovered yet.

Changsun Wuji slammed the jade ruyi in his hand against the edge of the sand table, producing a clear, crisp sound: "What other tricks could they possibly have up their sleeve? The five gates of the imperial city remain unmoved, and the Crown Prince's forces are limited, unless..."

He grabbed a handful of white chess pieces and scattered them around the Taiji Palace: "Can he conjure up 100,000 heavenly soldiers and generals?"

Changsun Wuji made a joke, but he didn't think the Crown Prince could do anything.

Li Shimin frowned, his relaxed mood becoming somewhat tense again.

He ignored Changsun Wuji's words, but Fang Xuanling's reminder made him realize that now was not the time to talk about victory.

After all, the Crown Prince always likes to do things unexpectedly.

Li Shimin had played chess with the Crown Prince before and knew that the Crown Prince had great military talent. Coupled with his experience in the Liaodong War, the Crown Prince was already a qualified commander.

So, in the current situation, things are indeed a bit complicated.

At this moment, Fang Xuanling suddenly looked at Changsun Wuji and asked, "What did Minister Changsun just say?"

Changsun Wuji was taken aback for a moment, then said, "I wonder what other tricks the Crown Prince might have up his sleeve."

Fang Xuanling shook his head: "The last sentence."

Changsun Wuji hesitated for a moment and said, "Could it be that the Crown Prince can conjure up 100,000 heavenly soldiers and generals?"

Upon hearing this, Fang Xuanling's eyes lit up, and he immediately began to analyze it in his mind.

Li Shimin and Changsun Wuji looked at Fang Xuanling without saying a word, worried about disturbing Fang Xuanling's thoughts.

Having served as his subject for many years, the emperor was naturally aware of Fang Xuanling's abilities.

After a long pause, Fang Xuanling spoke up: "Does Your Majesty still remember the intelligence sent by Xuanwu Gate earlier?"

"General Yuchi said that when the Crown Prince used a battering ram to attack the city gate, General Yuchi wanted to retaliate with a ballista and a thunderbolt."

"However, every time they were carried onto the city wall, the prince's cannons would fire, destroying the ballistae and thunderbolts."

"It's the same once, and it's the same twice."

"This is definitely not a coincidence; the Crown Prince's side really can see what's happening on the city wall."

Fang Xuanling's tone was certain and resolute, which made Li Shimin frown even more.

Changsun Wuji, however, did not quite understand the meaning behind this.

"Prime Minister Fang, what does this mean?"

"What does this have to do with the Crown Prince's backup plan?"

Fang Xuanling did not answer Changsun Wuji's question, but instead bowed to the Emperor and said, "Your Majesty, the Crown Prince is acting strangely these days. He is clearly at a disadvantage, yet he still does things his own way, as if victory is in his grasp."

"In my opinion, perhaps the Crown Prince has another creation, just like gunpowder back then, which is absolutely certain."

"Back then, wasn't Goryeo just like this now, completely unprepared, when the city was suddenly breached?"

Fang Xuanling's words silenced Li Shimin.

This argument seemed to make no sense, but Li Shimin found it to be very reasonable.

The Crown Prince creating things—this is an unavoidable issue.

First it was the crispy mountain, then it was gunpowder.

At first, it was said that it came from the two Taoist disciples who were executed, but now it is clear that it was not something that the two Taoist disciples could have done.

If those two Taoist priests were truly of such skill, they would have been revered as national advisors long ago.

Looking at the Crown Prince's actions, such as using a curved plow, writing bamboo paper, making rubbings, and publishing official gazettes, these were far beyond what a simple Taoist priest could accomplish.

It was clearly the crown prince's own skill, or perhaps the crown prince had obtained some secret manual.

From this perspective, the battle at Xuanwu Gate this time is not so simple after all.

Changsun Wuji opened his mouth slightly, wanting to say something but not knowing what to say.

After hesitating for a long time, he finally said, "What did the Crown Prince create to give him such confidence? Is it something similar to a cannon?"

Fang Xuanling smiled wryly and said, "I can't guess that. If I did, I would have presented it to His Majesty long ago."

No matter how intelligent Fang Xuanling was, he didn't know what the Crown Prince really possessed.

Li Shimin pondered for a moment before speaking, "It should be as Fang Qing speculated, otherwise the Crown Prince would not have acted so rashly."

"We don't yet know what methods they will use. Send an order to the Xuanwu Gate to make preparations so as not to let their morale be broken."

There's no point in discussing things that are completely unknown; we can only take it one step at a time.

Judging from the current situation, if the Crown Prince does not make any other preparations, he will undoubtedly lose.

Li Shimin hoped that the crown prince would do this, but the facts proved it impossible.

Even if the crown prince is foolish, he wouldn't be foolish enough to bury his own elite troops.

There was absolutely no way to deal with this; all we could do was send out more messages and keep abreast of the situation at Xuanwu Gate.

Changsun Wuji hesitated and said, "Even if the Crown Prince has a backup plan, it will be at Xuanwu Gate."

"Your Majesty, why not send 10,000 Imperial Guards ahead first?"

Fang Xuanling considered the matter carefully and said, "What Minister Changsun said makes sense, but ten thousand might not be enough. We can transfer the imperial troops back to the inner court and leave only a portion to guard Chengtian Gate."

"Now that the Crown Prince of Xuanwu Gate can no longer be abandoned, even if there are any disturbances in the capital, it is not a cause for concern. On the contrary, the Crown Prince's side is more important."

"We can dispatch 30,000 Imperial Guards to provide support, in case of unforeseen circumstances."

Changsun Wuji glanced at Fang Xuanling, who was even more cautious than himself.

You should know that the Crown Prince only has a little over 20,000 troops at Xuanwu Gate, and he still wants to send 30,000 more.

However, upon hearing these words, Li Shimin immediately stood up.

"I would like to go and see for myself what other tricks the Crown Prince has up his sleeve."

(End of this chapter)