Tang Dynasty: The Holy Prince, the Dragon that Reigns Over the World

Li Chengqian returned to the barracks and rushed to Li Yuanba's tent. He saw that Li Yuanba had woken up after taking the antidote prescribed by the military doctor. However, he was lying on the bed with a pale face and weak. Li Yuanba asked when he saw Li Chengqian coming in.

"Da Lang, can we take Xincheng?"

"Uncle San, just rest and recover, the new city has been captured." Li Chengqian said with a smile.

"I've caused trouble for Dalang." Li Yuanba sighed.

"Uncle, you are not saying that. Get well soon, Uncle. We will need your help in killing the enemies later." Li Chengqian said with a smile.

Li Chengqian immediately asked the military doctor.

"How is King Zhao's injury?"

"My lord, the poison in King Zhao's body has been controlled after he took the antidote prepared by my subordinates. The poison in his right arm has not been removed, but..." The military doctor paused with embarrassment.

"Just what? If you have something to say, just say it quickly." Li Chengqian frowned and said dissatisfiedly.

"The arrow that hit King Zhao was a wolf-tooth arrow with barbs. It can only be removed by cutting through the flesh. And I just checked the injury on King Zhao's right arm and found poison attached to the bone. Once the poison enters the bone marrow, even gods cannot save it." The military doctor said hurriedly.

"The poison has already attached to the bones? How to treat it?" Li Chengqian asked anxiously.

"The only option now is to either amputate the right arm, or..." the military doctor said with difficulty.

"What are you talking about? If you keep nagging me, I'll kill you." Li Chengqian said angrily.

"My lord, please calm down. You can either use a sharp knife to cut the flesh and reach the arm bone, and then use the knife to scrape away the poison in the bone. But this method is extremely painful, which is unbearable for ordinary people. There will also be a lot of bleeding, and it will require postoperative treatment. I don't have the ability to do that." The military doctor said hurriedly.

Li Chengqian thought for a moment after hearing this, and immediately ordered someone to invite Ziyang Zhenren. For the first time, Ziyang Zhenren wanted to go with Li Chengqian on this expedition, saying that he wanted to appreciate the scenery of another country.

As soon as Master Zi Yang entered the tent, Li Chengqian shouted.

"Old man, please save my third uncle." Master Zi Yang was stunned when he heard this, and then quickly walked to Li Yuanba's bedside.

When Li Yuanba saw Zi Yang Zhenren coming, he quickly stood up and called Master. Zi Yang Zhenren motioned Li Yuanba to lie down. Then he carefully checked the injury and asked the military doctor a few more questions. After a while, Zi Yang Zhenren frowned and said.

"What a vicious method. The poison that my disciple was poisoned with is a bone-attaching poison. This poison is not difficult to cure in the body. However, this poison will soon attach to the bones. Once attached to the bones, it will be difficult to cure. Moreover, if the poison enters the bone marrow, even gods and immortals cannot save it.

Shooting a wolf tooth arrow into the body, the arrow head will expand the wound surface so that the poison can quickly attach to the bone, what a vicious mind. "

"Then do you have any way to cure it?" Li Chengqian asked anxiously.

"Yes, I agree with the military doctor. There is no other way except to break the limbs or scrape the bones to heal the wound." Master Zi Yang nodded.

"Do you know how to scrape the bones?" Li Chengqian asked again.

"What's the difficulty?" said Master Zi Yang.

"Da Lang, just do as Master said and scrape the bone to heal the wound." Li Yuanba said calmly.

Li Chengqian ordered people to prepare things according to Ziyang Zhenren's request. Soon, everything was ready. Ziyang Zhenren took out the sharp blade, burned it with fire, and then put it in boiling water for a while. Then he walked to Li Yuanba with the sharp blade and said.

"Disciple, the process of scraping the bone to heal the wound is extremely painful. If the pain is unbearable, you can shout loudly, or bite a piece of white cloth?" asked Master Zi Yang.

"Haha, I, Li Yuanba, have been a hero all my life, why should I be afraid of a little pain? Master, please do whatever you want. If I scream, I will not be considered a hero. Master, please help me. Someone bring me some wine." Li Yuanba laughed. After drinking a jar of wine in one breath, Li Yuanba said loudly.

"Great, Master, you can start now."

Zi Yang Zhenren nodded, and first used silver needles to seal several acupuncture points of Li Yuanba to reduce blood loss. Then he used a sharp blade to cut open the wound on Li Yuanba's right arm, and a fishy smell came to his nose.

Zi Yang Zhenren took out the arrow and threw it aside, and then cut off the poisoned flesh of Li Yuanba's wound bit by bit. During the process, Li Yuanba closed his eyes and lips without saying a word. Beads of sweat flowed down his forehead, and the military doctor next to him kept wiping the sweat off his forehead with a cloth.

After Zi Yang Zhenren cleaned the flesh infected by the poison at the wound, he continued to cut the flesh along the wound until he reached Li Yuanba's arm bone. Li Yuanba's arm bone was already blue and black, and Zi Yang Zhenren slowly scraped the poison attached to the bone with a sharp blade. The sharp blade scraped the bone and made a "crunching" sound. Everyone inside and outside the tent was terrified when they heard the sound of scraping bones.

After a while, Master Zi Yang finished scraping the bone, sutured the wound, applied special medicine, and then spoke with sweat on his face.

"Okay, remember to change the dressing regularly. You can't use force on your right arm within three months."

Li Yuanba was seen sweating through his clothes, but he did not utter a word from beginning to end. Seeing this, everyone inside and outside the tent called Li Yuanba the reincarnation of a god and showed great respect to him.

After Li Yuanba had his injuries scraped, Li Chengqian issued a notice to reassure the people. With the help of Yuan Zhiren, he quickly stabilized the people's hearts in Xincheng and restored order in Xincheng.

Two days later, Li Shimin led the rear army to enter Xincheng. After learning that Li Yuanba was injured, Li Shimin hurried to visit him. After learning that Li Yuanba's right arm would not be able to exert force for three months, he ordered people to send Li Yuanba back to Chang'an for recuperation.

Li Chengqian introduced Yuan Zhiren to Li Shimin, who comforted him and appointed him as the lord of Xincheng and the right attendant of the imperial guards. Yuan Zhiren was overjoyed and thanked him, and Li Shimin hosted a banquet for him.

Shortly after Li Chengqian conquered Xincheng, Liaodong City, an important city in Liaodong, received a military report that Xincheng was conquered in one day after Li Chengqian smashed the gate open. Yuan Zhiren, the lord of Xincheng, surrendered to the Tang army.

The lord of Liaodong City was shocked when he received the news and ordered the gates of Liaodong City to be closed. He also ordered Jian'an City to prepare troops and horses to attack the Tang army from both inside and outside when they arrived.

Xincheng Tang Dynasty military camp.

"According to the Jinyiwei, the lord of Liaodong City ordered the gates of Liaodong City to be closed. And there are signs of troop movements in Jian'an City." Xue Li said.

"He wants to attack me from both inside and outside. Very good, I'm just worried about how to annihilate the main force of his Liaodong army as soon as possible." Li Chengqian said with a smile.

"The main force of the Liaodong army now consists of 150,000 soldiers, 100,000 of whom are stationed in Liaodong City, and 50,000 are stationed in Jian'an City, southwest of Liaodong City. Starting from Jian'an City, we can reach Liaodong City in two days with light equipment and a few followers.

Gao Shixing, the chief official of the Liaodong region of Goguryeo, is a member of the royal family of Goguryeo. He is arrogant and domineering, ambitious but incompetent, and timid. He only got to his current position by trying his best to curry favor with Yeon Gaesomun." Zhuge Fu said.

"Okay, this kind of stuff is easy to deal with. Generals, listen to my orders." Li Chengqian said loudly.

"We will march out tomorrow. I will lead the Flying Dragon Army, Flying Wing Archer Cavalry, Black Tortoise Army and 1 surrendered soldiers from Xincheng to Liaodong City. The Turkic Wolf Cavalry was formed not long ago, and not many people in Goguryeo know about it. We can use the Turkic Wolf Cavalry to eat up the reinforcements from Jian'an City. Ashina Heluohu."

"I'm here." Ashina Heluohu came out with his fists clasped.

"I order you to select 5000 elite soldiers from our Turkic Wolf Cavalry, take a detour, and ambush in the mountains and forests beside the road leading to Liaodong City from Jian'an City. If troops are sent out from Jian'an City, wait for their troops to pass by and then block them from behind." Li Chengqian said.

"Yes." Ashina Heluohu replied loudly.

"Ashina Falcon." Li Chengqian said loudly.

"I'm here." Ashina Falcon clasped his fists and came out.

"I order you to lead the remaining Turkic wolf cavalry and set out one day later than the main army. You will ambush in the woods 50 miles southwest of Liaodong City. When the reinforcements from Jian'an City arrive, you will send troops to intercept and kill them, and annihilate the enemy army with Ashina Heluohu.

You two remember, I want to annihilate them all. If after the army has besieged Liaodong for five days, no troops from Jian'an leave the city, you two will join forces, surround Jian'an, and feint an attack on it. "Li Chengqian said.

"Yes." Ashina Falcon and Ashina Heluo Hu replied loudly.

"The rest of the generals will follow my troops to besiege Liaodong City." Li Chengqian said.

"Yes." The other generals clasped their fists and said. After the generals dispersed, Zhuge Fu stayed alone in the tent.

"My lord, it doesn't matter how many Goguryeo people die. But the uniforms and flags of the Jian'an city army are still useful. Why don't you use them, my lord?" Zhuge Fu said with a smile.

"Well, the military advisor is right. The soldiers of Jian'an City are useless, but the military uniforms and flags can be of great use. They can be used to deceive Gao Shixing." Li Chengqian thought for a while and smiled.

"I'm afraid he will lose his life." Zhuge Fu said with a sinister smile.

"It doesn't matter. What we want is to kill him." Li Chengqian also smiled sinisterly.

Li Chengqian then called Ashina Falcon and Ashina Heluo Hu to give them instructions in person.

On the second day, Li Chengqian said goodbye to Li Shimin and led his army to Liaodong City. Gao Shixing, the chief officer of Liaodong region, saw Li Chengqian's army besieging the city in Liaodong City and panicked, and ordered the city to defend against the enemy.

Li Chengqian did not waste words and immediately ordered an attack on the city. At one time, siege weapons such as catapults and siege crossbows launched a fierce attack on Liaodong City. Although the attack was fierce, there were few people charging, only 1 surrendered soldiers from Xincheng.

Gao Shixing was shocked at first when he saw the powerful siege weapons of the Tang army. Then he was delighted when he saw that the Tang army was besieging Liaodong City with one missing, and there were fewer troops at the southwest gate, and the whole army was moving forward, leaving the rear defense empty. He said happily to his men.

"Everyone says that Li Chengqian is good at fighting and knows military affairs, but after today's observation, he is just so-so. He only cares about the front and not the back, so he will be easily attacked from both sides. Come on, get out of the city tonight and ride as fast as you can to Jian'an City. Order Jin Yi to lead his troops to Liaodong City and join me in attacking the Tang army from the front and back." That night, a man on a fast horse ran out of the north city gate that had never been besieged and galloped towards Jian'an City.

The Jinyiwei who had been monitoring the north city gate hurriedly reported the situation to Li Chengqian, who then sent a letter to Ashina Falcon and Ashina Heluohu by carrier pigeon, asking them to prepare to encircle and annihilate the Jian'an city army.

After the messenger from Liaodong City entered Jian'an City, he conveyed Gao Shixing's order to Jin Yi. Jin Yi immediately led 5 troops out of the city and marched towards Liaodong City with a small entourage.

When the army was still 50 miles away from Liaodong City, a horn suddenly sounded and a cavalry rushed out from the nearby woods. In front of the cavalry, they held high a large flag with the Chinese character Tang and a flag embroidered with a wolf's head. On one side of the flag was a line of words: Under the command of the Crown Prince of Tang, the Turkic Wolf Cavalry.

Jin Yi was horrified when he saw this, and cried out that he had been tricked. He quickly ordered his army to return to Jian'an City. However, the Tang war horses were fast, and the Turks were very good at riding and shooting. Before Jin Yi's troops could even start to flee, they were caught up by Ashina Falcon's army, and a large number of them were shot and killed.

Jin Yi led his army to flee in a panic. Halfway through the escape, suddenly a drum sounded in the woods beside the road, and Ashina Heluogu led 5000 cavalrymen to charge out from the woods beside the road ahead.

Jin Yi was in great pain when he saw this, and could only lead his army to charge forward. When the two armies were fighting, Jin Yi ran into Ashina Heluogu, who chopped him off his horse with a single blow, and hung his head on the horse.

The Jian'an army was thrown into disarray when they saw their commander dead. The Turkic wolf cavalry took the opportunity to start a frenzied massacre. Half an hour later, the Jian'an army had only 2 soldiers left, and they gave up resistance and knelt down in surrender.

"Is that it? It's too fragile. I haven't had enough fun yet, and it's over." Ashina Heluohu said with a lingering feeling.

"That's right, what level is that. With this level, they are still arrogant and want to become enemies with the Tang Dynasty. Is this what the lord said: The people are weak, but the addiction is strong. But what about those who surrender?" Ashina Falcon nodded in agreement.

"Didn't the lord say it? Destroy them all!" Ashina Heluohu said sinisterly. Ashina Falcon also smiled sinisterly.

"Yes, the military advisor also said that it doesn't matter how many Goguryeo people die. These people are useless, but the military uniforms they wear and the flags they hold are still very useful. The useless ones are trash, and keeping them is a waste of food."

Ashina Heluohu nodded in agreement, and then ordered that a few people be left behind, and the rest be stripped naked and killed.

The Turkic wolf cavalry changed into the uniforms and flags of the Jian'an City army and asked the few survivors to lead the way to Liaodong City. The few people were already scared and could only obey orders.

The Turkic Wolf Cavalry arrived outside Liaodong City and staged a drama with Li Chengqian. Li Chengqian was suddenly attacked from behind by the disguised Jian'an City army and was defeated and fled.

When Ashina Heluohu and Ashina Falcon saw that Gao Shixing did not follow his own plan to attack the Tang army, they sneered and whispered that Gao Shixing was a waste, and he did not seize such a good opportunity and did not leave the city? He deserved to be defeated.

Ashina Heluohu led the Turkic wolf cavalry disguised as the Jian'an City army to the gate of Liaodong City and shouted to open the gate. Gao Shixing saw that the Jian'an City army had defeated Li Chengqian, and hurriedly and happily ordered the city gate to be opened.

As soon as the gate was opened, Ashina Heluohu roared and led his army into Liaodong City. Li Chengqian saw that the gate was open and led his army back. Two hours later, Liaodong City was broken and Gao Shixing was killed in the chaos.

Once Liaodong City was broken, Ashina Heluohu led the Turkic Wolf Cavalry to continue pretending to be soldiers from Liaodong City. Under the guidance of the survivors of the Jian'an City army, they took the forged order of Gao Shixing. On the pretext that the Tang army was defeated and Gao Shixing ordered 5000 Liaodong City defenders to come to Jian'an City to increase the defense, they tricked the city gate open and occupied Jian'an City.

After the two cities were captured, Li Chengqian issued a notice to pacify the people. He also ordered Xue Li and Li Dejian to split their troops into two groups and sweep across Liaodong. He waited for Li Shimin to arrive.

At this time, the remaining troops in Liaodong were all city defense troops, with low combat effectiveness and small numbers. Xue Li and his entourage were unstoppable and the remaining cities in Liaodong were captured one after another. For those who voluntarily surrendered, Li Shimin retained their posts, comforted them with kind words, and gave them generous rewards. For those who dared to resist, Li Chengqian ordered that after the city was captured, the entire family of the city owner should be killed.

After the city was captured, the rear army led by Li Ji quickly sent troops to garrison the newly captured city. Half a month later, Liaodong was completely controlled by the Tang army. Li Chengqian ordered the troops to rest for a few days and then march towards Pyongyang.