Datang: Just been appointed as the crown prince, the counterattack system is here

Chapter 433 So your name is Yeon Gaesomun! [Seeking monthly votes]

Thirty miles outside Pyongyang, dust obscured the sun, and the sound of horses' hooves made the ground tremble slightly.

Yeon Gaesomun reined in his horse, gazing ahead at the direction in which the rebels had fled. His face was smeared with blood, and the long sword in his hand was still dripping with blood.

"General, Gao Yanshou's remaining troops have fled to the northern mountains. Should we continue the pursuit?"

The lieutenant urged his horse forward, his voice tinged with weariness.

For the past two weeks, rebellions have broken out all around Pyongyang, and they have barely slept a wink.

Just as Yeon Gaesomun was about to speak, a scout rushed in like an arrow, his voice trembling as he fell to his knees:

"General! Something terrible has happened! The main force of the Tang army has already crossed Wandu Mountain, and Li Chengqian is personally leading a large army, less than a hundred miles from Pyongyang!"

"what?!"

Yeon Gaesomun's pupils shrank sharply, and the long sword in his hand fell to the ground with a 'clatter'.

He originally thought it would take the Tang army at least half a month to integrate the troops in Wugu City, but he did not expect Li Chengqian to arrive so quickly, just at the critical moment when he was suppressing the rebellion.

"Big Lu!"

Gao Renzheng, a trusted advisor, cautiously suggested, "The Tang army is currently riding high on its momentum. Why not temporarily avoid their advance and negotiate peace with Li Chengqian? We could abandon the area south of the Yalu River..."

"Peace?"

Yeon Gaesomun interrupted with a cold laugh: "Then wait for Lee Seung-gyeon to finish digesting the spoils of war before taking Pyongyang? Go In-jeong, you're senile!"

After saying that, he stood up, walked to the huge map hanging in the sky, and slammed his finger into the location of Pyongyang: "If Li Chengqian dares to come, this commander will let him taste the true power of Goguryeo!"

"But."

Another general hesitated and said, "The domestic rebellion has not been quelled, and Gao Yanshou and the remnants of the Eulji clan are still in the south..."

"Then let's quell the rebellion first!"

Yeon Gaesomun suddenly turned around, his eyes fierce:
"Issue the order to transfer 20,000 troops from the Pyongyang garrison, to be led by you personally. Within ten days, I want to see Gao Yanshou's head hanging on the walls of Pyongyang!"

"Greatly against Lu Sansi!"

Gao Renzheng was greatly alarmed: "If we withdraw the troops from Pyongyang now, what if the Tang army suddenly attacks..."

"Li Chengqian has just finished attacking Wugu City and needs at least a month to recuperate!"

Yeon Gaesomun's tone left no room for argument: "Do as I say!"

However, Li Chengqian did not give him ten days at all.

Late on the seventh night, another urgent report arrived.

The vanguard of the Tang army has crossed the Chongchon River and is less than 20 li from Pyongyang!
The speed was far beyond anyone's expectations.

"This is impossible!"

Yeon Gaesomun rose, put on his robe, and stared at the scout who had come to report: "Doesn't Lee Seung-gwan intend to rest and reorganize his troops? Doesn't he intend to secure the rear?"

"The Tang army...the Tang army never stops."

The scout replied tremblingly, "After the city fell, only a small force was left to garrison it, while the main force marched day and night. Their cavalry have a new type of saddle and stirrups, making their marching speed extremely fast!"

"And... there was also a four-wheeled horse-drawn carriage, used to transport artillery and provisions..."

Yeon Gaesomun staggered a step and steadied himself on the table.

He had planned everything meticulously, but he hadn't anticipated that the Tang army's mobility would be so terrifying.

Even worse news followed.

"Withdraw the troops! Return to Pyongyang immediately!"

Yeon Gaesomun made a quick decision, his voice unusually urgent.

The rebels could postpone their pursuit, but if the Tang army were to take advantage of the situation and attack the city, everything he had painstakingly built would be in vain.

A day later, Yeon Gaesomun, covered in the dust of his journey, stormed into the palace and went straight to Gojang's bedchamber.

At this moment, Gao Zang was sitting at his desk reviewing memorials. When he saw Gao Zang burst in, exuding a murderous aura, his fingertips paused slightly, but he still slowly put down the memorials.
"Why is Da Dui Lu here instead of quelling the rebellion outside the city?"

"Your Majesty! The Tang army has already reached the city gates, and Pyongyang is in imminent danger!"

Yeon Gaesomun stepped forward, his tone urgent and demanding: "Your Majesty, please issue an immediate decree to conscript all able-bodied men in the city into the army, and order the surrounding counties to send troops to our aid at the last minute!"

"Conscript young and able-bodied men?"

Gao Zang looked up at him, his eyes holding a hint of coldness:

"The people of Pyongyang have been complaining about the conscription and grain collection by Dae-ro over the past year. If we continue to conscript soldiers, the city will probably fall into chaos before the Tang army even attacks it."

"What kind of time is this, Your Majesty, to still be worrying about such things!?"

Yeon Gaesomun lost his temper completely, slamming his hand heavily on the table, scattering the memorials all over the floor: "If Pyongyang falls, neither Your Majesty nor I will escape death!"

"My life and death are none of your concern, General."

Gao Zang stood up, took half a step back, and created some distance.

A fierce glint flashed in Yeon Gaesomun's eyes. Just as he was about to press further, a soft laugh suddenly came from the side.

Yeon Gaesomun glanced coldly and saw Lee Sa-won calmly step out from behind the screen.

"It's you?"

Yeon Gaesomun narrowed his eyes.

Gao Zang's lips curled into a slight smile, fleeting for a moment, before he began his introduction in a calm tone:

"I presume that you, Lord Lu, know Li Qing. I need no introduction; he is now the chief clerk of Goguryeo!"

"Humph!"

Yeon Gaesomun snorted coldly, but remained silent.

Li Siyuan continued, speaking to himself, "The King is perhaps just temporarily confused about how to appease Lu Xi. However..."

He paused, then continued, "The Tang army is at the city gates, yet Your Majesty is unwilling to conscript soldiers. Perhaps the arrival of the Tang army will actually give Your Majesty a chance at 'freedom'?"

These words were like a sharp knife, directly piercing Yeon Gaesomun's suspicions.

He suddenly looked at Gao Zang, his suspicion growing stronger: "Your Majesty, have you been hoping for the Tang army to come so that you could get rid of me?"

Gao Zang's expression changed: "What nonsense are you talking about!?"

He never expected Li Siyuan to say such a thing.

Isn't this clearly a way to make him fall out with Yeon Gaesomun?

Moreover, Li Siyuan was someone he had promoted to deal with Yeon Gaesomun, but instead he was placed in a dangerous situation, leaving him completely bewildered.

"nonsense?"

Li Siyuan added fuel to the fire, his voice extremely low: "Has Your Majesty forgotten? A few days ago, when the rebels attacked the city, someone in the palace sent a secret letter to Gao Yanshou. If it weren't for Da Dui Lu's timely return to defend, I'm afraid..."

"enough!"

Yeon Gaesomun roared, his killing intent spreading out completely.

He stared at Gao Zang, his teeth grinding together: "I risked my life for Goguryeo, yet you secretly colluded with the rebels! If I don't eliminate you today, you will become a great threat!"

Gao Zang was so frightened that he retreated repeatedly, pointing at Li Siyuan and shouting sternly, "He's the one who instigated this! Yeon Gaesomun, don't fall for his tricks!"

But Yeon Gaesomun was already blinded by anger and suspicion, and turned to leave:

"Guards! Confine the King to his bedchamber. No one is to approach him without my order!"

After the guards escorted Gao Zang away, Li Siyuan quietly followed Yeon Gaesomun and whispered:

"Da Duilu and Gao Cang are still alive, a constant threat. Tonight, in the dead of night, I am willing to remove this thorn in your side, General. Then you can rightfully take charge and resist the Tang army." "Hmph! What are you really up to? One minute you're betraying me, the next you're betraying the King?"

"You have wronged me, Your Excellency. I have always been loyal to you. Back then in the Tang Dynasty, I had no choice but to submit because Li Chengqian was so powerful. Moreover, Gao Yanshou's return to the Tang was the real reason. If I hadn't pretended to return to the Tang, I probably wouldn't have been able to come back alive!"

Li Siyuan quickly explained, "Besides, if I hadn't gotten close to the King, how would Lu Qi know? The King had already secretly contacted his confidants, preparing to work with Gao Yanshou from the inside to get rid of you."

"He is ruthless, so don't blame me for being unjust!"

A ruthless glint flashed in Yeon Gaesomun's eyes as he said, "If you are truly loyal to me, tonight at midnight, you will take your men to my bedchamber and make sure you do it cleanly."

After saying that, he left immediately, but he didn't see the subtle smile that appeared on Li Siyuan's lips as he bowed his head to reply.

That night, Li Siyuan quietly slipped into the bedroom where Gao Cang was being held under house arrest, a short knife in his hand.

When Gao Zang saw him enter, he cowered in a corner, terrified: "You... what do you want?"

"Your Majesty, do not be afraid."

Li Siyuan lowered his voice and shoved the dagger into Gao Cang's hand:

"Your Majesty, I've come to save you! Yeon Gaesomun intends to kill you tonight. If you don't act first, you'll have no chance tomorrow! You only need to wait until he enters and then catch him off guard..."

Gao Zang is now completely confused by Li Siyuan and doesn't know who this guy is loyal to.

However, holding this cold knife in his hand made him realize one thing, and he knew that this was his only chance of survival.

He gritted his teeth and nodded: "Okay!"

At midnight, Yeon Gaesomun indeed entered the bedchamber with two guards. Just as he was about to speak, Gojang suddenly rushed out from behind the door and thrust his knife at him.

But Gao Cang has been pampered since childhood, how could he possibly know how to use a knife?

Yeon Gaesomun easily dodged the attack and then slapped him to the ground with a backhand strike.

"Your Majesty, why are you doing this?"

Yeon Gaesomun sneered and drew his long sword from his waist.

Gojang lay on the ground, roaring in despair, "Yeon Gaesomun! You traitorous scoundrel, Goguryeo will perish in your hands sooner or later!"

The long sword fell, and blood splattered all over the memorials on the table.

Yeon Gaesomun sheathed his sword and looked at Lee Sa-won, who was trembling with fear beside him: "Clean it up, don't leave any traces."

"Yes, Da Du Lu."

Li Siyuan bowed in response. After Yeon Gaesomun left, he quickly took out a secret letter from his pocket, stuffed it into Gao Zang's clothes, then climbed out the back window and disappeared into the night.

The following morning, Yeon Gaeso Munjeong summoned all civil and military officials to announce the news of 'Gojang's death,' but someone came to report:

"General! The rebel army has suddenly gathered outside the city. Gao Yanshou, under the banner of 'killing the treacherous minister Yeon Gaesomun and avenging the king,' has already reached the city gates!"

Yeon Gaesomun suddenly stood up, his heart skipping a beat.

How could Gao Yanshou know that Gao Zang was dead?
Before he could react, another scout rushed in: "General! Tang army! The main force of the Tang army has arrived at the south of the city, and Li Chengqian's banner has been raised!"

Attacked from both sides!

Yeon Gaesomun felt a sudden dizziness, but quickly regained his composure.

He surveyed the officials in the hall and said in a deep voice, "What's the panic?! The Tang army has come from afar, while the rebels are nothing but a rabble! Issue the order to close all four gates tightly, and divide the city's defense forces into two groups to defend the north and south sides respectively. Anyone who dares to retreat even a step will be punished according to military law!"

After saying that, he immediately led his men to the city wall.

All they could see below the city walls was a dense mass of Tang soldiers, which made the Goguryeo generals behind Yeon Gaesomun's head tingle with fear.

At this moment, a young man dressed in gilded armor, riding a white horse, rode out of the army formation and shouted:

"I, Li Chengqian, the Crown Prince of the Great Tang Dynasty, would like to ask: who is Yeon Gaesomun?"

boom!
As soon as this statement came out, the whole audience was shocked!

Especially the Goguryeo generals on the city wall.

They never expected that the Crown Prince of the Tang Dynasty would be so young, and that he would appear so arrogant.

"Hmph! You brat! How dare you address me by my given name!?"

Yeon Gaesomun's face was gloomy, and he snorted coldly.

Li Chengqian's gaze sharpened, immediately locking onto him, and he said mockingly, "So your name is Yeon Gaesomun! You're nothing special!"

"presumptuous!"

Gao Renzheng immediately stood up and angrily said, "The Tang Dynasty is a land of etiquette. As the Crown Prince, how can you be so disrespectful?"

"cut!"

Li Chengqian curled his lip in disdain, not even glancing at Gao Renzheng, and then turned his horse around and headed towards the army formation.

The Goguryeo generals were left on the city wall, looking at each other in bewilderment.

For the next three days, Pyongyang was engulfed in a fierce battle of attack and defense.

To the south, Tang army artillery bombarded the city walls day and night, sending flying stones and causing waves of defenders to fall.

To the north, Gao Yanshou's rebel army, though lacking artillery, repeatedly charged forward using ladders, driven by a burning desire to avenge their king.

Yeon Gaesomun personally oversaw the battle from the city wall, day and night, and on several occasions personally drew his sword to kill enemy soldiers who had climbed the wall.

Tang's 'siege hammer' blasted down a corner of the south city wall, and he immediately ordered sandbags to be used to block it.

The rebels breached the outer gate of the north city gate, but he and his personal guards fought desperately to retake it.

After three days, Pyongyang was on the verge of collapse, but it was not breached.

Li Chengqian stood on the watchtower south of the city, looking at the Goguryeo army still stubbornly resisting on the city walls, his brows furrowing slightly:
"Yeon Gaesomun does have some skill. If we continue to attack like this, our army will suffer too many casualties."

Pei Xingjian stood aside and pondered, "Your Highness, Yeon Gaesomun has been able to hold out until now entirely because of his belief in 'defending Pyongyang to the death'."

"If the people and soldiers in the city could know that Gao Zang was dead and killed by Yeon Gaesomun, and if they could also hear that the Tang army would not hold surrendered soldiers and generals accountable, it might break their will to resist."

"good idea."

Li Chengqian's eyes lit up: "Pass on my order to have the musketeers cease fire and send soldiers who can speak Goguryeo to shout from below the city walls that Yeon Gaesomun has murdered the emperor and usurped the throne. He said that as long as the gates are opened and surrendered, the Tang Dynasty will not harm the people. Soldiers can lay down their weapons and go home."

"In addition, bring Li Siyuan here and have him go to the North Gate to shout to the rebels that the Tang army is willing to join forces with them to punish the treacherous officials."

Soon, dozens of soldiers in front of the Tang army formation south of the city shouted in unison, their voices carried through the wind into the city.

The Goguryeo soldiers on the city wall turned pale when they heard "Yeon Gaesomun murdered the king".

They fought desperately to defend the city, all for the sake of a traitor who killed the king?

The people in the city also heard the shouts, and their already pent-up discontent due to the shortage of food and supplies instantly erupted.

Some people started banging on the gates, demanding that Yeon Gaesomun open the city gates and surrender to the Tang army.

At the North Gate, Li Siyuan stood in front of the formation and shouted to the rebel army, "The Tang army is willing to join forces to punish the traitors." Gao Yanshou, who was originally Li Chengqian's man, would certainly have readily agreed and said that he was willing to join forces with the Tang army to punish the traitors.

Yeon Gaesomun stood atop the city wall, listening to the shouts below and the commotion inside, trembling with rage.

He drew his long sword and roared at the city walls, "Don't listen to their nonsense! This is a divisive tactic by the Tang army! Anyone who dares to undermine morale will be executed without mercy!"

After finishing speaking, he ordered Gao Renzheng beside him, "Go and kill the person who caused the riot immediately! As a warning to others!"

"Yes!"

Gao Renzheng immediately accepted the order and quickly arrested dozens of ringleaders, finally bringing the chaos to an end.

However, people's hearts are already in turmoil, and Yeon Gaesomun is unsure how long he can hold out.

Now, Pyongyang is in dire straits, surrounded by enemies on all sides.

(End of this chapter)