Transmigrated into Li Chengqian, he effortlessly ascended the throne and became emperor.

The Tang army's morale was appeased, and the surrender of Baiyan City proceeded exceptionally smoothly.

The city gates were wide open, and tens of thousands of trembling Goguryeo people thought they were about to face annihilation, but what awaited them was the extremely strict military discipline of the Tang Dynasty.

After the Tang army entered the city, they did not commit any offenses against the people, nor did they take away a single grain of rice.

Tens of thousands of people were thus properly resettled, with some farming and others weaving, as if the war had never affected their lives.

What shocked the Goguryeo people even more was the way the Tang Dynasty treated the surrendered soldiers.

Li Shimin not only did not massacre or enslave the Goguryeo soldiers who were conscripted and stationed in Baiyan City, but instead ordered that they be given ample dry rations and travel expenses.

When these disarmed foreign soldiers received the millet and copper coins from the Tang Dynasty quartermaster with trembling hands, many of them broke down in tears and kowtowed heavily in the direction of Chang'an.

They were finally able to pack their bags and embark on their journey home.

From this perspective, Li Shimin's action transcended the era's rules of killing and even carried a touch of compassion from later international humanitarianism.

As these repatriated soldiers dispersed and returned to their hometowns, the reputation of the Tang emperor as benevolent and righteous spread rapidly throughout the Liaodong region, more terrifying than any catapult.

Violence is never the most powerful weapon; tolerance is.

Winning without bloodshed is the best strategy – winning hearts and minds.

After the Battle of Baekam Fortress, Goguryeo's psychological defenses were riddled with holes.

Since the start of the campaign, the Tang army has been invincible, galloping across the land between the Changbai Mountains and the Heilongjiang River.

Important towns such as Liaodong City, Baiyan City, and Gaimu City successively changed hands and were raised with the red military flag of the Tang Dynasty.

At this unstoppable pace, it would only be a matter of minutes before this vast Liaodong land was reclaimed from the Central Plains dynasty's territory.

Confident in his abilities, Li Shimin stood before a huge military map, and with a stroke of his vermilion brush, quickly turned his gaze to Anshi City (present-day Haicheng City, Liaoning Province), the last and most fortified military stronghold of Goguryeo in Liaodong.

"Gao Ming, come and take a look." Li Shimin beckoned Li Chengqian forward.

Li Chengqian, pulling his cloak tighter around himself, walked to the map. His gaze fell on Anshi City, marked with its strategic location, and a knowing glint flashed in his eyes.

Changsun Wuji chimed in from the side, his expression slightly grave: "Your Majesty, Your Highness, Anshi City is a tough nut to crack. In Goguryeo today, it is a very special case."

"Special?" Li Chengqian tilted his head slightly, a perfectly timed look of doubt in his eyes.

His obedient and inquisitive appearance made the rough and old generals in the tent exclaim in their hearts, "Your Highness is so handsome!"

"Your Highness," Changsun Wuji replied respectfully, "Anshi City is actually in a semi-independent state. Years ago, the traitor Yeon Gaesomun murdered the emperor and usurped the throne, and the whole of Goguryeo was terrified and submitted to him one after another, recognizing Yeon Gaesomun's leadership. But this city lord of Anshi City is extremely disrespectful."

Changsun Wuji paused, his tone carrying a hint of admiration for the defending general: "This man is of a fierce character, refusing to obey Pyongyang's orders and unwilling to bow to the usurper. Yeon Gaesomun was extremely angry about this, believing that he had challenged his authority, so he personally led his troops to launch several strong attacks on Ansi City."

"And what was the result?" Li Shimin had already guessed the outcome.

"As a result, they were all driven back by that brave and skilled city lord!" Changsun Wuji took a deep breath. "Yeon Gaesomun used all kinds of siege equipment, suffering heavy losses, but he still couldn't cross the walls of Anshi City. In the end, Yeon Gaesomun himself had no choice. In order to save face, he simply turned a blind eye and automatically blocked all news about Anshi City, reluctantly acquiescing to a high degree of autonomy for Anshi City."

"Even a genius like Yeon Gaesomun couldn't conquer this isolated city..." Li Chengqian held his teacup, his fingertips tracing the warm porcelain surface, and sighed softly, "This Anshi City Lord is quite a man. It's just a pity that his talent was wasted, born in Goguryeo."

Li Chengqian's words, seemingly compassionate, actually subtly flattered his own father:

"However, he may have been able to hold off Yeon Gaesomun's rebel army in the past, but he may not be able to hold off the mighty army of our Great Tang Dynasty. The Emperor's might is overwhelming. No matter how tough Ansi City is, it will eventually be crushed into dust before the Emperor."

Li Shimin felt completely pleased by his beloved son's flattery, and his earlier worries vanished instantly. He threw his head back and laughed heartily, "Hahahaha! Gao Ming is right! I'd like to see just how much guts this Lord of Anshi has!"

……

Meanwhile, in Pyongyang, the capital of Goguryeo.

Inside the luxurious hall, the atmosphere was so oppressive it felt like ice had formed. All the officials and civil servants were silent as if they were shivering, not daring to even breathe loudly.

Seated high beside the throne, wielding absolute power, Molizhiyuan Gaesomun was now tearing up urgent battle reports from the front lines to shreds with a grim expression.

"Useless! They're all useless!"

Yeon Gaesomun, his eyes bloodshot, roared like a madman in the palace: "Liaodong City has fallen! Gaemu City is gone! Now even that damned Son Baek-eum of Baekam City has raised the Tang army's flag! These spineless cowards, taking Goguryeo's salary, yet serving as dogs for the Tang emperor!"

An elderly minister, mustering his courage, stepped forward tremblingly: "Molizhi, please calm your anger... The Tang army is powerful, and Li Shimin is as cunning as a fox, repeatedly using leniency towards surrendered soldiers to undermine our morale. Now... now throughout Liaodong, all our other important strongholds have fallen, except... except for Anshi City!"

Yeon Gaesomun's eye twitched violently at the mention of the words "Anshi City".

That city was the greatest humiliation of his governing career. He had vowed to raze Anshi to the ground, but he failed time and time again. In the end, he could only use the fig leaf of high autonomy to cover up his incompetence.

But now, the situation no longer allows him to dwell on past personal grudges.

"Report—!"

A messenger covered in blood stumbled into the main hall.

"Report to Molizhi! The main force of the Tang army has approached the outskirts of Anshi City! Li Shiji's vanguard battalion is setting up camp!"

A collective gasp rippled through the hall.

Yeon Gaesomun's fists clenched so tightly they cracked.

Anshi Castle was the last line of defense for Goguryeo in Liaodong.

If even Anshi City cannot be held, if this last stronghold is also crushed by the Tang army, then the hundreds of thousands of battle-hardened cavalry of the Great Tang will cross the Yalu River with high morale and march straight in, reaching the gates of Pyongyang!

There's no turning back now.

Yeon Gaesomun, who had previously ignored Ansi Fortress, was now finally forced to reveal Goguryeo's last remaining assets.

"Send orders to Gao Yanshou and Gao Huizhen!"

Yeon Gaesomun had no choice but to take a desperate gamble.

"Immediately mobilize troops from across the country, assembling an army of 150,000! Appoint these two as commanders, and they shall march swiftly to reinforce Anshi City!"

"Tell them, even if we have to fill the city with corpses, we'll nail the Tang army to the ground beneath Anshi! If our 150,000-strong army is defeated, Goguryeo will perish!"