Peninsula: I'm being supported by a top idol.

Chapter 155 Eight hundred it is eight hundred

"Moreover, our army has received a secret report that the Goguryeo gatekeeper general, Sang Shin-seong, is a man of great righteousness and has already expressed his intention to surrender. He has agreed to open the city gates at the appropriate time to welcome the royal army in. Your Majesty only needs to wait here for good news. There is no need to let the Silla warriors take unnecessary risks. The fall of the city is only a matter of time."

However, how could the Silla people easily give up such a tempting prize?

Kim Fa-min shook his head, a look of "worry" on his face: "Chief Secretary Wang, it's not that I don't believe in the Duke of Ying's brilliant strategies, but that monk Xincheng—after all, is a veteran general of Goguryeo, and his heart is hard to fathom! What if there's a trap? Wouldn't that ruin everything? It would be safer to have our army assist in the battle!"

Although there was no overt conflict in their verbal exchanges, their positions and intentions were already clashing fiercely beneath the calm surface.

Xi Yuanjie gripped the reins tightly, her fingertips turning white. She looked at Jin Famin, then at Cui Yuan, who remained silent as a mountain, gazing only at the battlefield, her eyes filled with even deeper worry.

Just then, Cui Yuan, who had been gazing into the distance like a statue, suddenly moved.

He turned his head slightly and, to his adjutant who was standing beside him, also fully armed, uttered two clear and concise words: "Reorganize the army."

Without hesitation, the lieutenant clasped his hands in a fist salute and growled, "Yes, sir!"

He then turned around, raised a small red triangular command flag in his hand, and waved it vigorously toward a hidden depression at the foot of the hill!

In an instant, as if by magic, eight hundred lightly armored cavalrymen suddenly mounted their horses in the seemingly empty depression!

Their movements were perfectly synchronized, as if they were one, and produced very little noise, only the clanging of armor plates rubbing together and the suppressed neighing of warhorses.

The eight hundred cavalrymen, like eight hundred statues suddenly infused with life, instantly exuded a chilling killing intent, converging into an invisible cold current that made the Silla people on the hillside feel a tightness in their skin.

King Kim Beop-min of Silla was taken aback: "Commander Choi?! You—you don't mean to take these eight hundred men—to attack the city?!"

He felt that if tens of thousands of Tang troops were already stalled in the face of a fortified city like Pyongyang, what could eight hundred cavalrymen do? Send them to their deaths?

Cui Yuan did not answer immediately. His gaze seemed to inadvertently sweep over the beautiful figure in military uniform beside Jin Famin.

The latter was also staring intently at him, her eyes behind the veil filled with astonishment and undisguised worry.

Then Cui Yuan turned around, pulled down the hideous beast-face visor on his helmet, and the cold, grating sound of metal scraping against metal instantly covered most of his face, revealing only a pair of eyes as calm as a cold pool.

His voice sounded somewhat muffled through the mask, yet it carried a sense of confidence and composure: "In our Central Plains, eight hundred men can accomplish a great deal."

Before he could finish speaking, he suddenly spurred the horse's belly!

"Hiss!"

With a long neigh, Cui Yuan reared up, and in one swift motion, he pulled the lance from the ground and, like an arrow released from a bow, galloped down the hillside towards the distant, smoke-filled city of Pyongyang!

"drive!"

"Attack!!!"

The lieutenant roared and pointed the red command flag forward!

Rumble!!!

Eight hundred light cavalrymen, like a black torrent bursting its banks, followed closely behind the black-armored figure leading the charge, rushing down the hillside!

The horses' hooves crushed the wild grass, kicking up clouds of dust, and with an indomitable and fierce momentum, they launched a breathtaking charge towards the giant city where a bloody battle was raging!

On the hillside, the Silla king and his ministers looked at each other in bewilderment. Was this Commander Cui really planning to lead light cavalry to attack the city?

The Silla princess, who had been gripping the reins tightly ever since Choi Yeon launched his attack, was extremely uneasy, her eyes constantly following the figure, as if afraid he would disappear!

On the battlefield, Cui Yuan took the lead, and his eight hundred cavalrymen, like a black arrow that had been tempered, did not rush towards the North Gate or West Gate where the fiercest battle was taking place. Instead, they approached the East Gate of Pyongyang at an extremely fast speed!

The defenders on the city wall were clearly alarmed by the speed and decisive direction of this force, and arrows began to fall sporadically, but they were almost entirely inaccurate in the face of the cavalry's high-speed charge.

Just as the garrison at the East Gate was about to organize a denser defense, "Creak! Boom!!"

The heavy east gate was suddenly pushed open from the inside, creating a gap that quickly widened!

Behind the gate, one could vaguely see a general dressed in a monk's robe but covered with leather armor, his expression tense yet resolute. This was none other than the deputy commander of the city, Monk Xincheng, who had secretly contacted the Tang army!

"The Tang army is entering the city!!" Monk Xincheng shouted hoarsely, "Advance quickly!!"

"Charge!" Without any hesitation, Cui Yuan roared and charged through the wide-open city gate!

Eight hundred iron cavalrymen surged into the city streets like a flood!

However, it is easier to breach a city than to seize it.

The city's defenders reacted swiftly, especially after learning of the change at the East Gate. A troop of elite Goguryeo reinforcements rushed over, led by a tall and broad-shouldered general who held two spears and whose eyes burned with a desperate fighting spirit. He was none other than Yeon Jeong-do, a fierce Goguryeo general!

"You bastard! Don't even think about taking another step!" Yuan Jingtu roared, his twin spears swirling like wheels, blocking the way.

"Those who block my way shall die!" Cui Yuan's lance was already in his hand, and the tip of the lance thrust out like a bolt of lightning!

The spears clashed, producing a deafening clang of metal against metal! Sparks flew everywhere!

The two instantly engaged in a fierce battle.

Yuan Jingtu's twin spears launched a relentless and ruthless attack, with astonishing power. Each strike was heavy and forceful, clearly intended to hold back the vanguard of the Tang army.

Cui Yuan's horse spear was even more concise and sharp. He clashed with Yuan Jingtu on horseback for several rounds without being at a disadvantage. On the contrary, he subtly suppressed his opponent with his sharpness.

Behind them, eight hundred Tang cavalrymen were also locked in a fierce battle with the Goguryeo elites brought by Yuan Jingtu, and the narrow street instantly turned into a bloody grinder.

The Tang army was in high spirits, and the suddenness of their entry forced the Goguryeo army, despite their bravery, to retreat step by step.

Cui Yuan was as if possessed by a demon god; wherever his iron spear went, Goguryeo soldiers were either killed or wounded.

He led his men in a fierce attack along the main street toward the inner city, leaving corpses strewn everywhere they went.

However, the closer one gets to the inner city center, the more complex the streets become, with numerous houses, making street fighting less effective for cavalry.

"Dismount! Seize the gate on foot!" Cui Yuan decisively gave the order, dismounting first, throwing his lance to his personal guards, and charging forward on foot with his sword in hand.

Yuan Jingtu also abandoned his warhorse and charged forward with two spears in hand.

The two engaged in another fierce battle on the street littered with obstacles and corpses.

The clash of swords and spears, the whistling wind, kept the surrounding soldiers at bay.

After dozens of rounds of fierce fighting, Cui Yuan became more and more courageous, and his swordsmanship became more and more ruthless and swift. He seized a tiny opening when Yuan Jingtu took a breath, and the blade slid in along the spear shaft, cutting a deep gash in Yuan Jingtu's breastplate, causing blood to splatter!

Yuan Jingtu groaned, his face pale. Knowing he was no match for the enemy, he fought and retreated, trying to escape into the small gate on the east side of the inner city, which was just inches away.

"Trying to leave?!"

Cui Yuan's eyes flashed with a sharp light. Seeing his opponent about to retreat into the shadows of the entrance, he abruptly switched his ring-pommel sword to his left hand, while his right hand swiftly reached behind him, drawing out a short spear that gleamed with a chilling light. His arm muscles bulged, his waist twisted, and he exhaled, shouting, "Hit!"

The short spear transformed into a streak of dark light that tore through the air, and with astonishing speed and precision, it pierced Yuan Jingtu's back with a "whoosh" sound!

The immense impact propelled his body forward, pinning him beneath the inner city gate!

Yuan Jingtu's eyes were wide open, blood spilled from his mouth, and after struggling twice, he fell silent again.

This bloody and horrifying scene terrified the Goguryeo soldiers who were fighting desperately nearby. With a shout, they scrambled back into the inner city and slammed the small door shut behind them.

After catching his breath, Cui Yuan glanced at the corpse nailed to the door and the tightly closed inner city gate, but did not rashly pursue them.

After all, the situation in the inner city is unclear, and there may be an ambush.

"Turn to the west gate! Rescue General Qibi Heli to enter the city!" He sheathed his sword, mounted his horse again, and led his troops like a whirlwind toward the west gate.

The battle at Ximen was equally fierce, with Tang general Qibi Heli leading his troops in a fierce attack.

Cui Yuan's 800 fresh troops suddenly attacked from the flank and rear, and together with Qibi Heli, they defeated the defenders at the west gate, successfully opened the city gate, and allowed a large number of Tang troops to pour in.

"Sir Cui has arrived just in time!" Qibi Heli, covered in blood, laughed as he joined Cui Yuan.

"General Qibi, the inner city hasn't fallen yet. Let's join forces and break through this gate first!" Cui Yuan had no time for pleasantries and went straight to the heart of the inner city.

heart.

The two then joined forces and launched an even fiercer attack.

The inner city gates were finally smashed open by the Tang army's frantic ramming and climbing!

"Split your forces and wipe out the remaining enemies! Purge the palace!"

Qibi Heli and Cui Yuan tacitly divided their forces, each leading a portion of their troops to attack the palace from different directions.

Cui Yuan had just finished clearing an area and was about to rush towards the palace.

Suddenly, a troop of Goguryeo cavalry appeared from the side. Their armor was gleaming, and the general in charge had an arrogant face and fierce eyes. He was none other than Moliji Jeonnam-geon, the de facto supreme commander of Goguryeo!

He was clearly anxious upon learning that many parts of the inner city had been breached, and led his personal guards to try to return to the heart of the palace.

"Tang general, prepare to die!" Quan Nanjian wielded a heavy longsword, its force immense, as he slashed at Cui Yuan head-on!

"Well done!" Cui Yuan, who was about to capture the leader of the thief, brandished his sword to meet him.

The two fought fiercely, their swords clashing, and the surrounding soldiers were unable to intervene, forced to fight amongst themselves.

The fierce battle was in full swing when suddenly a deafening battle cry came from the direction of the royal palace!

Tang troops have already breached the core of the royal palace!

Izumi Kenjiro was terrified, his face turning ashen. He lost all will to fight. He feinted a strike, forcing Choi Yeon back half a step, then turned his horse and fled: "Retreat! Back to reinforce the palace!"

"Where do you think you're going!" Cui Yuan was not about to let the tiger return to the mountain, so he spurred his horse to give chase.

However, Quan Nanjian's personal guards fought desperately to block him, using their flesh and blood to block him layer by layer. Although Cui Yuan fought hard, his speed was slowed down.

Just as Quan Nanjian was about to disappear into the complex palace alleyways, a cold glint flashed in Cui Yuan's eyes, and he reached behind him again!

The first short spear pierced the air with a piercing whistle, grazing past Izumi Otake's helmet and severing the plume!

Quan Nanjian broke out in a cold sweat, his soul nearly leaving his body, and he crouched low, desperately urging his horse onward.

Immediately afterwards, a second short spear came flying in!

This time, with a precise "plop," it pierced deeply into Izumi Kenji's left shoulder!

"Ah!!" Izumi Ken screamed as he fell off his horse and rolled into a pile of broken walls, his fate unknown.

Cui Yuan wanted to pursue him further, but was blocked by the influx of more defeated Goguryeo soldiers and the complex terrain, making it impossible for him to confirm his fate. He had no choice but to give up.

At this point, the outcome was already decided.

Under the command of Li Ji, the Duke of England, the main force of the Tang army marched into Pyongyang, which they had essentially taken control of.

Cui Yuan rallied his troops and went to pay his respects to their commander.

Li Ji sat upright on his horse. Although he was over seventy years old, he was still vigorous and exuded an aura of authority without being angry.

He looked at Cui Yuan, who stood tall and straight as a pine tree despite being covered in blood and wearing tattered armor, and his eyes showed approval. He stroked his beard and smiled, saying, "Shi'an is the bravest in the army, the first to breach the city, and his merit is immense! You have worked hard this time!"

"This humble general has only performed his duties and dares not claim credit," Cui Yuan said, clasping his hands in a fist salute, his voice hoarse yet clear.

Li Ji nodded slightly, his gaze sweeping over the ravaged city. Suddenly, he changed the subject, lowering his voice: "As for the King of Silla—are they behaving peacefully today? Have they made any unusual moves?"

Cui Yuan recalled the anxious and flickering eyes of Kim Beopmin on the hillside and replied in a deep voice, "The King of Silla is ambitious and wants to wait for our army to be exhausted before reaping the benefits. His heart—I fear he is not a vassal state that will remain submissive for long. I dare to say that this man—should be dealt with as soon as possible."

Upon hearing this, Li Ji's eyes flashed with a sharp light, but he slowly shook his head, his smile carrying a hint of profound meaning: "Shi'an, Silla is a vassal state established by the Sage, and Kim Beop-min is the ruler of the country. Eliminating the vassal king—this is not something you or I can decide on our own; it requires the Sage's wise judgment."

He paused, glancing towards the direction where the Silla army might be stationed outside the city, his tone shifting to a cold, mocking tone: "However—since the King of Silla has come so 'enthusiastically,' we can't let him make a wasted trip, returning empty-handed and disappointing our friendly nation."

He turned to another general, Liu Rengui, and others beside him and said with a smile, "I heard that the Japanese reinforcements are rushing from the sea to rescue Goguryeo. Why don't we ask the King of Silla to entertain these guests from afar? Let us also witness the prowess of the Silla warriors."

Upon hearing this, Liu Rengui and the other generals were first taken aback, then understood, and burst into laughter, their voices echoing through the ruins: "The Duke of Yingguo's plan is brilliant! That's exactly right! Let the King of Silla stretch his muscles too!"

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