Traveling through Du He, Li Chengqian's rebellion begins

Li Chengqian smiled and said, "Duke Chen, when we attack Goguryeo, we must destroy the enemy as much as possible."

"In the future, we will move the Han people here to live and completely protect this territory."

Before setting out on the expedition, he and Du He discussed how to operate and manage the newly conquered territory.

According to the consistent style of my father and the imperial court, after conquering Goguryeo, at most a protectorate would be established here.

He and Du He agreed that establishing a protectorate could only guarantee temporary peace. Once these ethnic minorities recovered, they would certainly continue to struggle to break free from the control of the Tang Dynasty.

Du He is right. Only where there are a large number of Han people living can the land be completely defended.

"What!?"

Hou Junji, who had just sat down, shouted in surprise again.

If we really do what the prince asks, wouldn't we have to massacre Goguryeo captives or even the Goguryeo people?

Hou Junji's tone was no longer calm. He asked anxiously, "Your Highness, are we going to massacre the city?"

"Is this His Majesty's will, or is this your personal idea?"

Li Chengqian nodded slightly, then shook his head gently.

He said softly, "Duke Chen, my father only agreed to my annihilation of the Goguryeo enemy and the dispatch of Han people to live here."

"I have never thought of massacring the city, and I have never mentioned it to my father. After all, this is an act that will be condemned by God!"

After hearing what Li Chengqian said, Hou Junji's expression eased a little.

Although the people of Goguryeo were a foreign race, the massacre of the city would surely leave them with eternal infamy, and the corrupt scholars in the court would certainly impeach them on the grounds that it was against the harmony of heaven.

However, Li Chengqian's next words made Hou Junji's mood rise again.

"Duke Chen, although we will not do such a heinous thing as massacring a city, the death of Goguryeo soldiers and civilians during the war is beyond our control."

Hou Junji frowned and was about to ask Li Chengqian what he meant.

Li Chengqian waved his hand and said, "Let's stop talking about this. Duke Chen, go down and mobilize the army and prepare to set off for Liucheng."

"promise!"

Although Hou Junji had many doubts in his heart, he still held back.

He then turned around and said to the other generals, "Su Dingfang, Xi Junmai, Cheng Huailiang, Yuchi Huan, you should follow me out."

The dispatch of the army is inseparable from the command of these marching generals.

"As ordered!"

A group of young military commanders responded, then saluted to Li Chengqian and left with Hou Junji.

Xue Rengui and Qin Huaidao also left with Xi Junmai.

When this group of people left, they all looked worried.

Obviously, he was deeply shocked by what Li Chengqian said just now.

In the dental tent.

Only Li Chengqian, Du He and Pei Xingjian were left.

Li Chengqian held up the imperial seal and said to Pei Xingjian, "Keep your promise. Please be an ambassador and deliver the imperial seal to Baekje."

"You have only one purpose for this trip, to try to persuade Baekje to take action against Goguryeo!"

In Li Chengqian's opinion, the most suitable person to be sent as an envoy to Baekje was Du He, but Du He needed to stay in the central army to give him advice.

There was no other way, he could only settle for the second best and let Pei Xingjian go on the mission.

Pei Xingjian stepped forward to take the imperial seal and said solemnly, "Please rest assured, Your Highness, I will do my best!"

Li Chengqian nodded: "Go down and prepare yourself. I will send guards to escort you."

"promise."

After Pei Xingjian bowed respectfully, he prepared to leave with the imperial seal.

At this time, Du He suddenly said, "Keep your promise, please stay."

Hearing Du He's voice, Pei Xingjian also stopped, then turned around and waited quietly for arrangements.

Du He clasped his fists towards Li Chengqian and said, "Your Highness, you can ask Zhang Liang to send 100 warships to escort Shouyue to Baekje. A large army on the sea will surely scare Baekje half to death."

"With the deterrence of powerful military force, the negotiations to abide by the treaty will go more smoothly."

Whether the envoy's eloquence is useful or not, in addition to testing the envoy's personal ability, the military deterrence of the country behind him is also of paramount importance.

Hearing Du He's suggestion, Li Chengqian and Pei Xingjian both showed happy smiles on their faces.

Li Chengqian agreed, "Du He, let's do as you say. I will write a military report now."

As he spoke, he picked up the pen and ink on the desk and began to write.

Du He glanced at him and continued, "Your Highness, while keeping your promise to go to Baekje, you can have Zhang Liang, the general commander of the Canghai Road, lead the remaining 300 warships to attack Beisha City."

"Once the army has gained a foothold in Beisha City, the army's food and fodder can be transported directly to the Liaodong Peninsula via Laizhou by large ships."

"If the Xueyantuo go south to Youzhou and cut off our army's retreat and food supply, we can still use the sea route as a retreat."

"After taking down Beisha City, have Zhang Liang lead the army to push northward and take down the important city of Jili City. Meanwhile, send people to control the Yalu River estuary to prevent the Goguryeo navy from destroying our maritime food supply route."

Beisha City is an important city at the southern tip of the Liaodong Peninsula. It is across the sea from Laizhou, and the distance between the two places is relatively short, making it an important supply line.

Li Chengqian raised his head and said with a smile: "Du He, you still have a good brain."

As the commander-in-chief of the entire army, he was fully responsible for the battle to annihilate Goguryeo and had the right to decide all battle orders.

For major combat arrangements like this, he didn't need to report to Li Shimin, he could just make the decision on his own.

Then he wrote quickly with the pen in his hand, writing a simple military order.

After the ink on the paper dried, Li Chengqian took out the seal, dipped it in ink and stamped it heavily.

After receiving the military order, Pei Xingjian clasped his fists towards Li Chengqian and Du He and said.

"Your Highness, Prince Consort Du, rest assured. With a large army behind me, I will definitely convince Baekje to send troops to Goguryeo!"

After the ceremony, Pei Xingjian left the tent with the imperial seal and military orders.

Soon, under the escort of dozens of soldiers, they quickly left Yingzhou.

In the dental tent.

Li Chengqian wrote another military report, informing Li Ji, the commander-in-chief of the Liaodong Road, of the temporary adjustment of Zhang Liang's battle plan.

At the same time, Li Chengqian asked his personal guards to call Hou Junji over and told him about the arrangement.

Hou Junji naturally agreed with this decision.

In his opinion, capturing Beisha City would be far more useful than strolling around Pyongyang City.

After all, Goguryeo had concentrated heavy troops near the imperial capital of Pyongyang, and Zhang Liang was a landlubber, so it was impossible for him to capture Pyongyang, the most heavily defended city.

An hour later, the central army also broke camp and set out.

The army was preparing to cross the 200-li Liaoze Lake to threaten Huaiyuan City, a major city in the central part of the Goguryeo Great Wall defense line.

Two days later, the army arrived at Liaoze.

Li Chengqian's luxurious carriage sank into the swamp several times while driving on the soft grass.

In desperation, Li Chengqian and Du He had to give up their comfortable carriage.

Li Chengqian sat on a sedan chair and was carried by his personal guards, while Du He rode on horseback.

When Du He first heard Li Ji say that Liaoze was difficult to cross, he didn't take it seriously. But when he was there, he realized the difficulty of marching.

Fortunately, the chief architect Yan Lide arrived in time. He led thousands of craftsmen and laborers to add soil when there was a swamp and build bridges when there was water.

Five days later.

After a difficult march, the 2-strong central army finally crossed the 200-mile swamp and arrived at Liucheng, the closest city to Goguryeo.