General Li Jing's
"Alright, alright, stop nagging here. Hurry up and take the cavalry and leave first."
General Li Jing has been nagged for two days. Ever since Li Xiang took over Baiyan City, Niu Jinda could no longer stay in this place. This guy was afraid that Li Xiang would take over all the land in Jiangbei. If that happened, his name would not be on the list of merit.
"What about here?"
Niu Jinda originally wanted to leave early, but when General Li Jing agreed, Niu Jinda remembered that General Li Jing was in poor health. If he left, all matters would be left to the general. Isn't this a bit unfair?
"Don't we still have the Qin family's kids? Just put your mind at ease and let them train well. They're the next generation of talent for our Tang Dynasty. But there's one thing I need to tell you..."
Qin Huaiyu heard it very carefully. General Li Jing spent most of his time in the carriage due to his health. If General Niu Jinda took the cavalry away, the remaining 100,000 or so infantrymen would be under the command of Qin Huaiyu.
Qin Huaiyu suppressed his excitement at this moment. He often saw his father commanding so many troops in the past, and he was so envious in his heart. He didn't expect that it would be his turn so soon. These hundreds of thousands of troops all listen to him. This is so exciting.
"Please give your orders, General."
Although Niu Jinda had a lot of experience, his official position and title were one level lower, so when General Li Jing was speaking, this guy was listening attentively beside him. He knew that General Li Jing's words were not meant for him, but for Li Xiang.
"Go tell the Grand Marshal that I will not allow him to cross the Taedong River until I reach Baiyan City."
General Li Jing knew that they had been busy for over a year, and the Goguryeo army had long since lost its fighting capacity. Li Xiang's powerful army, combined with Su Dingfang's powerful foes, would be able to sweep north of the Taedong River in just two weeks. But what was the situation inside Goguryeo? General Li Jing was still unsure. If they attacked all the way south of the Yangtze River, things would be very difficult to predict.
"General, after we take over the land north of the Yangtze River, shouldn't we take advantage of the situation and move south?"
Niu Jinda said in some confusion, and Qin Huaiyu next to him also became interested. According to their ideas, we already have absolute advantages. Goguryeo has been like a thorn in our throats over the years. We couldn't do anything to them before, but now they have no ability, so shouldn't we crush them to death?
"Your ideas are not wrong. If I were twenty years younger, I would probably think the same as you. But now we have to wait and see what's happening in Chang'an. Also, on the Goguryeo Peninsula, there's not just one country involved, there are two others as well."
After General Li Jing's words came out, the two people present understood. Chang'an City had one meaning, and the other two countries had another. Now, apart from Silla paying tribute to us, Baekje didn't care at all, so in this situation, we have to put some pressure on him.
"I will take my leave first."
After understanding this, Niu Jinda did not stay here. He wanted to lead 40,000 cavalrymen to advance first. These people were traveling lightly. The prefects and governors along the way had already made all the necessary preparations, so they would be able to reach the Liaodong front within ten days.
As for the remaining infantry, they could only walk slowly at the back. Before the war, they knew their fate, which was to take over Goguryeo's land in Liaodong. Our soldiers needed to be stationed in every town for at least several years, otherwise the local rebellion could not be suppressed.
General Li Jing has already told his men that every team of soldiers has its own responsibilities. From now on, you will be the local emperors. Within your jurisdiction, if anyone wants to rebel against the Tang Dynasty, the knives in your hands must not be fire sticks. Once you strike someone, you must let the people around you know what you are doing.
Goguryeo Royal Palace.
"Your Majesty, news has arrived from the front lines: Baiyan City has fallen..."
The Minister of War of Goguryeo was holding a memorial in his hand, which was delivered overnight.
"What did you say? Didn't the Tang army just leave their capital? Didn't they say the attack wouldn't begin for a month? Who was the commander of Baiyan City? Didn't they offer any resistance?"
The King of Goguryeo was confused, but soon recovered. The Minister of War didn't know how to answer the questions he raised. Part of the Tang army set out from Chang'an City, but another part had been stationed in Liaodong for a long time. If they wanted to launch an attack, it would only be a matter of raising their legs.
As for who the commander of Baiyan City was, does it really matter now? The city was lost, and people were killed in the war. Do you still want to hold him responsible?
"Where is the Prime Minister? Does the Prime Minister know about this?"
The King of Goguryeo suddenly thought of this matter. Although he has grown older, his strategies and ways of doing things have not improved. In the past, he only thought about competing for power with the prime minister, but he didn't think about what to do after getting the power. For example, in this matter at hand, do you know how to issue an order?
"The Ministry of War's official document is divided into two copies. I will bring one to Your Majesty later, and the other copy will be brought to the Prime Minister's residence by the Minister."
The Minister of War certainly knew what was going on with the Prime Minister, but the Prime Minister said nothing. This was perfectly normal. Aren't you trying to take power back? Now that you have power, why don't you speak up and tell the Prime Minister what to do? Don't go to the Prime Minister now.
"Come here, go to the Prime Minister's residence."
What surprised the Minister of War was that the King of Goguryeo seemed to be really anxious. He did not send anyone to call the Prime Minister, but instead visited the Prime Minister himself. An external crisis also stopped the internal fighting. If this fighting could have stopped a few months earlier, perhaps Baiyan City would not have fallen.
Unfortunately, there is no regret medicine in this world. Everyone must be responsible for what they do. You two have messed up the entire Goguryeo. Now you think of maintaining it by relying on some strategies, I'm afraid it won't work. In the face of absolute strength, strategies are nothing!
