My father, Li Shimin, please call me Crown Prince

Chapter 269: The End of Baekje, Unification of Liaodong

In Baekje at the end of May, the heat was like a ferocious beast, wreaking havoc on this war-torn land.

Inside the central military tent on the Baekje front, the atmosphere was so depressing that it was almost suffocating.

The Baekje King Buyeo Ui-ji had a face as gloomy as water as he sat on the main seat, his brows furrowed like a deep "chuan" character, and his eyes were full of fear and helplessness about the Tang army's relentless advance.

Inside the tent, veteran General Lian Cheng, civil official Park Sun-jeong, and minister Jin Hong-gil and others had solemn expressions, like solemn statues, standing quietly on both sides, and everyone's heart was weighed heavily by the shadow of the impending country's demise.

In this deadly atmosphere, a burst of hurried footsteps suddenly came from outside the tent, instantly breaking the depressing silence.

A guard hurried into the tent, knelt on one knee, and respectfully presented a secret letter with both hands, saying, "Your Majesty, Liaodong has an urgent secret letter."

When Buyeo Yici heard this, a hint of doubt and expectation flashed in his eyes. He suddenly stood up, took a few quick steps forward, and snatched the secret letter.

He unfolded the letter and glanced at it quickly. His originally dull eyes suddenly widened into a widening shape. An expression of disbelief first appeared on his face, and then surprise blossomed in his eyes like sparks.

"Hahahaha, God will not destroy Baekje!"

Buyeo Yici couldn't suppress his inner joy and laughed out loud.

After that, he waved the letter in his hand and said excitedly to everyone: "Everyone, this is the news from our spies lurking in Liaodong. The imperial censor of the Tang Dynasty has arrived in Liaodong and brought the imperial edict of His Majesty the Emperor of the Tang Dynasty, ordering the Crown Prince of the Tang Dynasty to withdraw his troops immediately!"

The veteran general Lian Cheng was slightly startled at first, then he quickly stepped forward and said solemnly: "Your Majesty, although this news is exciting, it is too strange. The Tang prince Li Chengqian is ambitious. The war in Liaodong is raging now. How could he easily withdraw his troops just because of an imperial edict?"

Civil official Park Sunjeong stroked his beard and nodded in agreement, "General Lian is right, Your Majesty. The Crown Prince of the Tang Dynasty is determined to establish an unprecedented achievement in Liaodong to consolidate his position. It is hard to predict whether he will disobey the imperial order and continue to advance. Moreover, this information only comes from our spies. If there is a fraud, Baekje may be in an irreparable situation."

Buyeo Yici frowned slightly and said with displeasure: "Why are you two always so cautious? This is a turning point for Baekje. The imperial edict of the Tang Emperor is as powerful as the sky, how dare the prince disobey it? Don't spoil my interest."

Minister Jin Hongji hurriedly apologized and said, "Your Majesty, please calm down. You two are also concerned about the survival of Baekje. There is nothing wrong with being cautious. But this is indeed a rare opportunity for Baekje."

"In my opinion, we should send people to Liaodong as soon as possible to keep in close contact with the spies and further verify the news. On the other hand, we should not slack off and make preparations for both scenarios."

Fuyu Yici thought for a moment, nodded slowly and said: "What Hongji said makes sense. Immediately select capable people and rush to Liaodong day and night to investigate this matter thoroughly. If the Tang Dynasty really wants to withdraw its troops, we must devise a countermeasure to prevent fraud; if the news is false, we must also immediately strengthen our defense and prepare to meet the enemy."

Lian Cheng and Park Sun Jeong looked at each other and bowed, saying, "Your Majesty is wise."

Buyeo Yici took a deep breath and a hopeful smile reappeared on his face: "If we can escape this disaster this time, Baekje will be able to recuperate and regain its former glory."

Everyone continued to discuss countermeasures in the big tent. Although the atmosphere was still solemn, a ray of hope had quietly penetrated the haze and shone into the tent.

However, as time went by, the scene that Buyeo Yici had been looking forward to, the withdrawal of the Tang army, did not appear like a dream.

The mighty Tang army led by Su Dingfang was like an unstoppable steel torrent, advancing its military deployment in an orderly manner on the border of Baekje, with no intention of retreating.

The battle continued and Baekje continued to suffer defeat. In order to delay time, Buyeo Uiji followed the old path of Yeon Gaesomun, forcibly conscripting a large number of soldiers and using the lives of the soldiers to block the advance of the Tang army.

Even so, after a few days, they were still defeated and finally had to be trapped in the royal capital.

The uneasy feeling surged like a raging tide in Buyeo Yici's heart.

He was restless in the palace and kept pacing back and forth. Every step seemed to be stepping on his own hanging heart. The strong foreboding premonition in his heart was as difficult to contain as overgrown weeds.

Finally, he could no longer endure the torment of being shrouded in the unknown, and immediately sent someone to urgently summon several of his most trusted ministers.

Everyone hurried over and gathered in the palace.

Fuyu Yici's face was full of worry. He scanned everyone's faces and asked anxiously, "What is the reason for this? Why did the Tang army ignore the order to withdraw, as if nothing had happened? Could it be that the news was false, a smokescreen deliberately released by the enemy to confuse us?"

Veteran General Lian Cheng frowned, put his hand on the hilt of his sword, and after thinking for a moment, he said, "Your Majesty, this matter is indeed strange. Judging from common sense, the imperial edict may be true, but considering the ambition and aspirations of the Tang Crown Prince Li Chengqian, he commands a large army and is eager to establish unparalleled achievements in Liaodong. He is unwilling to give up the victory that is so close, and it is not impossible that he refuses to obey the imperial edict."

The civil official Park Sun-jeong nodded slightly, stroked his beard and said slowly: "General Lian is right, Your Majesty. The current situation is complicated and the forces of all parties are intertwined. We must not make judgments rashly. The most urgent task is to find out the truth of the matter as soon as possible, otherwise Baekje will always be in a passive position."

Minister Jin Hongji also echoed: "Yes, Your Majesty, the situation is urgent. We must find out the truth as soon as possible so that we can find a solution."

Buyeo Yici gnashed his teeth, a hint of ruthlessness flashed in his eyes, and he slammed the table and shouted, "No matter what, this matter must be thoroughly investigated, and there must not be the slightest doubt. Immediately send out my most capable spies from Baekje to gather information at all costs and find out what happened in the shortest possible time. I want to know every move of the Tang army and the true situation hidden behind the edict."

Soon, a shocking news came that the Tang Dynasty imperial censor was attacked by Baekje bandits and was unfortunately captured. The Tang army was trying its best to track down the Baekje bandits.

When Buyeo Yici heard this, his face turned pale as paper in an instant, as if all his strength had been drained away, and his body couldn't help but tremble slightly.

If you want to add a crime, there is nothing wrong with it.

He certainly understood that this was news deliberately released by Li Chengqian, the Crown Prince of the Tang Dynasty. His purpose was obvious, which was to be able to continue attacking Baekje without any scruples, even if it meant openly defying the edict of the Emperor of the Tang Dynasty.

"How dare this Li Chengqian be so audacious and disrespectful to his majesty! Does he still have the Emperor of the Tang Dynasty and the principles of the country in his eyes?"

Fu Yu Yi Ci was so angry that he pounded the table so hard that the teacup on the table jumped high and the boiling tea splashed everywhere.

"It seems that he is determined to annex Baekje. All the hopes we had before have now been completely shattered."

There were flames of despair and anger burning in Buyeo Yici's eyes, and the determination that flashed in his eyes was like a sharp blade in the cold night.

He suddenly stood up from his seat, his hands clenched into fists, his knuckles turning white, as if he wanted to condense all his inner resentment and anger into these fists.

Then, Buyeo Yici shouted at the top of his lungs: "The prince of the Tang Dynasty is so bullying that he has forced Baekje into this desperate situation! Even if Baekje is in a desperate situation, we will never sit there and wait for death and be slaughtered by others!"

"I will fight the Tang prince's army to the death. Even if I die, I will defend the dignity of Baekje. Even if I die, I will die gloriously and never live in disgrace!"

Upon seeing this, the ministers hurried forward to dissuade him.

Veteran General Lian Cheng frowned and said with a worried look: "Your Majesty, the current situation of our army is really not optimistic. After many days of hard fighting with the Tang army, the soldiers are already exhausted, many soldiers are seriously injured, and morale is extremely low."

"On the other hand, the Tang army is strong, with high morale and momentum."

"To hastily fight under these circumstances would be like an egg hitting a rock, and would only cost the precious lives of our soldiers in vain."

"Your Majesty, please think twice before you act!"

The civil official Park Sun-jeong also hurriedly echoed, and earnestly advised: "Yes, Your Majesty. We cannot act on passion alone. Baekje has been passed down for hundreds of years, and the efforts of countless ancestors cannot be wasted so easily."

"At this moment, there may be other opportunities. We don't have to fight a head-on battle with the Tang army to avoid irreversible consequences." However, Buyeo Yici, who was in despair, couldn't listen at all.

He waved his arms excitedly, his face flushed as he retorted: "Do you want me to be a coward and surrender to the Tang Dynasty?"

"We are a great country like Baekje, which has gone through countless storms. How can we go to destruction in such a cowardly way?"

"As the ruler of Baekje, I succeeded the previous king. Even if I have to fight to the last man and shed my last drop of blood, I will never retreat even a single step!"

Although the ministers were worried and knew that a decisive battle with the Tang army would be dangerous and the chances of winning were slim, when they saw Buyeo Yici's resolute eyes, which revealed his determination to die, as if he had already put life and death aside, they had no choice but to obey.

However, Buyeo Yiji, who was in a desperate situation and was determined to fight, did not realize that behind this seemingly united preparation for war, the soldiers under his command were already exhausted physically and mentally after experiencing the torture of a long and brutal war, and their hope of victory had been completely shattered.

They watched helplessly as their comrades fell one by one on the battlefield, their blood dyeing the earth red; they watched as their homes were ruthlessly destroyed by the war and turned into ruins; they watched as their loved ones were separated, with their lives and deaths uncertain.

Their hearts were filled with endless fear and despair.

Many people have already begun to think of surrendering. They really don't want to die in vain for a hopeless war.

They yearn for peace and long to survive in this chaotic world, even if it is just a humble life.

When the news of a life-and-death battle with the Tang army spread, in a remote tent in the Baekje military camp, several generals with rebellious intentions were sitting together. The atmosphere in the tent was tense and depressing.

The oil lamp on the table flickered with a faint light, casting their shadows on the walls of the tent, the shadows seemed to foreshadow their inner struggle and anxiety.

"Given the current situation, if we continue to fight, we will only end up dead."

"The Crown Prince of the Tang Dynasty even dared to disobey the Emperor's edict, which shows how determined he is. How can we resist their wolf-like and tiger-like attack?"

A burly general frowned and said worriedly, his eyes revealing fear of the future.

Apparently, because Buyeo Yiji was determined to fight to the death, some information that was supposed to be kept secret had been leaked.

They gathered together because some ministers did not want to follow Buyeo Yici to death.

Another general sighed softly and nodded in agreement, "Yes, my brothers have suffered heavy casualties. If this continues, the people of Baekje will also suffer, and the entire Haidong will be in ruins."

"In my opinion, it is better to surrender to the Tang Dynasty. Perhaps this can save everyone's lives and prevent the people from suffering more."

Everyone nodded in agreement, but they were also worried that they would be severely punished by Buyeo Yiji if they surrendered rashly.

After all, Buyeo Yici has always emphasized that he must fight the Tang Dynasty to the death and will never show mercy to those who surrender.

At this time, the leading general looked around at everyone and said in a low voice: "We can't just sit there and wait for death. We must come up with a foolproof plan. The king is determined to fight. If we surrender directly, he will definitely try his best to stop us and even kill us. Therefore, we can only take advantage of his unpreparedness, control him, and then surrender to the Tang army."

After hearing this, everyone felt that this plan was feasible, but they were also worried that the action would fail.

So they began to discuss the action plan in detail, from how to avoid the king's personal guards to how to raid Buyeo Yiji's tent without alerting others, and every detail was considered over and over again.

"We should act at night. The guards are relatively lax at night, and Buyeo Yici is also fast asleep, so his vigilance will be reduced." said a general.

"That's right, but we must also be careful and not let the news leak out. Once discovered, we will all be killed without a burial place." Another general reminded.

After careful discussion, they finally worked out a plan. Without further delay, they decided to act tonight and raid the big tent while Buyeo Yici was asleep.

In fact, Buyeo Yiji was not unaware of it.

These days, when he was patrolling the military camp, he always felt something was strange.

When the soldiers saw him, their eyes avoided him, no longer showing the awe and loyalty they once had. Moreover, he also found that some soldiers were whispering to each other in private, but when they saw him coming, they immediately shut up and looked panicked.

But he was only interested in a decisive battle with the Tang army, and attributed these anomalies to the soldiers' fear of war, and did not investigate further.

Buyeo Yici was unaware of the danger approaching step by step. He still devoted himself to preparing for war, planning day and night how to fight to the death with the Tang army and how to find a glimmer of hope for Baekje in the desperate situation.

Finally, it was night.

The moonlight was like water, sprinkling on every corner of the Baekje military camp, shrouding the entire camp in silver.

Those rebellious generals led a team of carefully selected soldiers. They were dressed in black, with black cloth covering their faces, revealing only a pair of determined eyes.

They quietly moved towards Buyeo Yici's tent, their steps light and cautious, without making any sound.

Some of the guards around the big tent had been instigated by them to rebel, and when they saw them coming, they just nodded slightly and let them pass.

Those guards who had not been turned were quickly and silently eliminated by them without them noticing.

When they arrived at the big tent, Buyeo Yici was sleeping soundly in the tent, snoring loudly.

He was unaware of the movement outside and was still immersed in his own dream. Perhaps in his dream, he was still commanding the Baekje army, engaging in a fierce battle with the Tang Dynasty and ultimately winning.

The leading general waved his hand, and the soldiers rushed into the tent. Buyeo Yici woke up from his sleep, and before he could open his eyes, he felt several hands holding him tightly and dragging him off the bed.

He opened his eyes in horror and saw a group of soldiers in front of him. He immediately understood what had happened.

"How dare you betray this king!"

Buyeo Yici roared angrily, with fire almost spitting out of his eyes. He struggled desperately, but was tied up tightly and could not move.

"Your Majesty, we are fighting for the people of Baekje and for the lives of our brothers. If we continue to fight, we will die. We don't want to see more people die, and we don't want the people of Baekje to suffer."

The leading general said helplessly, his voice carrying a hint of guilt, but more of determination.

Buyeo Yici gnashed his teeth and said, "You cowards, for your own lives, you actually betrayed Baekje and the king! You have brought shame to Baekje! You will be punished!"

A soldier nearby snorted, "I think you will suffer retribution for following the king."

(End of this chapter)