Traveling through Du He, Li Chengqian's rebellion begins

Hou Junji smiled and replied: "I have received news that Li Ji's troops will arrive the day after tomorrow."

There is some distance between Gaimu City and Liaodong City, and the army also has to bypass Baiyan City which lies in the middle, so it takes the army about two days to march.

Fortunately, the small cities around Liaodong City had been almost cleared out by them, so Li Ji's army only needed to travel on with peace of mind.

Hou Junji pointed to the tent and said, "Your Highness, my nephew Du, you have just traveled a hundred miles. Please go to the tent and rest."

"it is good."

Li Chengqian said softly with a smile.

Although he was always carried on a sedan chair, his back and waist would ache after sitting for a long time.

Du He said, "I'm going to go outside Liaodong City to see what this famous fortress looks like."

Hou Junji warned: "My dear nephew Du, you can't get too close to the wall of Liaodong City. Be careful of the crossbows on the wall."

"The crossbow can shoot thousands of steps and can penetrate the bodies of people and horses."

"If you get closer, the armor on you won't be of much use!"

This is the old style of crossbow used by Goguryeo. If the latest crossbow of the Tang Dynasty was used, the range could reach two miles.

The crossbow arrow is as thick as an arm. Once hit, how can you survive?

Hearing Hou Junji's reminder, Du He nodded solemnly.

Outside Liaodong City.

Under the protection of Xue Rengui, Xi Junmai and others, Du He walked from the South Gate to the North Gate and carefully inspected the city wall of Liaodong City.

To the east of Liaodong City is the Taizi River, which is several hundred feet wide, and on the other three sides there is a moat more than ten feet wide.

Hou Junji sent people to test the depth with bamboo poles and found that the moat was dug very deep. If it was filled with sandbags, it would take at least one or two days for tens of thousands of troops to dig it out.

Moreover, the defenders of Liaodong City also deployed a large number of crossbows on the mountains beside the moat.

Once the Tang army tried to fill the river with soil, they would be exposed to the attack range of the crossbows.

This undoubtedly brought great risks to the Tang army.

After crossing the moat, there is a tall, wide and thick city wall inside. The Goguryeo army also learned from the Han people and built a barbican outside the city gate.

Du He frowned and said with emotion.

"It's no wonder that Liaodong City's defenses were so tight that they could keep Emperor Yang of Sui's million-strong army out of the city."

"Even if tens of thousands of troops attack, they may not be able to take the city if more than half of them are killed or wounded!"

Then Du He turned around and asked Xue Rengui and Xi Junmai.

"If this city is given to you to attack, how would you break it?"

After hearing Du He's words, Xue Rengui and Xi Jun lowered their heads and began to think hard.

A cup of tea passed.

The two shook their heads at the same time and said, "There is no other way except to attack violently."

Because no matter how they attacked, the first step was to destroy the moat, and a close combat with the Goguryeo army was inevitable.

Du He suddenly thought of the evil plan he had mentioned, and he suddenly said, "If we use catapults to throw diseased corpses into the city, and let the plague disintegrate the Liaodong City defenders, what do you think of this method?"

Xi Junmai, who had rich combat experience, shook his head and responded in a deep voice.

"Prince Consort Du, the Goguryeo defenders are not fools. When they see the rotten corpses we throw into the city, they will definitely burn them immediately."

"And the plague method would take at least several months or even half a year to be effective."

"The longer our army besieges the city, the greater the risk."

Liaodong City is very large and was not completely surrounded by the Tang army, so they had a steady supply of logistical supplies.

Xi Jun paused for a moment, then patiently explained the risk issues to Du He.

"In addition to the logistics supply issues such as food, the risks we face include enemy raids and thunderstorms, which will have a great impact on us."

"By the end of the siege, the enemies in the city might not have surrendered yet, and we ourselves will be the first to collapse."

With tens of thousands of troops besieging the city, the daily food consumption was astronomical. Moreover, once Goguryeo defeated Silla, they would be able to dispatch 200,000 to 300,000 troops to besiege the Tang army.

Faced with an encirclement and suppression campaign by enemies six to seven times their size, even if the Tang army fought to the end and won, it would certainly suffer a lot of casualties.

If there is a mistake in the combat deployment, there is even a risk of the entire army being wiped out.

As for thunderstorms, tens of thousands of soldiers staying in the damp and stuffy tents for a long time can easily cause health problems.

Du He smiled bitterly and said, "I thought it was too simple."

"Let's go back to the tent to rest and make plans after General Li Ji and his men arrive."

...

Two days later.

Li Ji, Li Daozon and others also led an army of 3 to Liaodong City.

The two armies joined together and instantly scared the Liaodong city defenders.

Inside Liaodong City.

The garrison officer in charge of guarding the west gate was so frightened when he saw more and more Tang troops outside the city that he rushed to the city lord's mansion to report the news to the garrison commander of Liaodong City.

"Reporting to Gao Nuosha, tens of thousands of Tang troops have arrived outside the city. I think they are the Tang troops that besieged Gaimu City!"

"The number of Tang troops outside the city may have reached 50,000 to 60,000!"

"Please ask Gao Nuosha to request reinforcements as soon as possible!"

Nosa was a high-ranking official position in Goguryeo, and its duties and status were equivalent to the 6th to 8th governor established by the Tang Dynasty.

Only in important cities would Nosa be assigned to guard them. He controlled all the military and political power in the surrounding cities.

This Nousa in Liaodong City was named Gao Changyi, and was a prince of the Goguryeo royal family.

Although he was dissatisfied with Yeon Gaesomun's control of the government, compared to the Tang army invading Goguryeo, they, the royal family, decided to resist the foreign enemy with all their strength.

Gao Changyi was a middle-aged man with a dignified face. Seeing the panicked guard, he shouted at him harshly.

"You panic when encountering a small matter. You are such a useless jerk!"

"Our city is so strong, and there are still 4 defenders in the city. Why are you panicking?"

"No matter how brave the Tang army is, how can they attack us in less than three to five months?"

Seeing that Nusa Gao Changyi was so calm and collected, the panic of the commander guarding the west city gate gradually subsided.

The commander of the west gate clasped his fists and said, "Gao Nuosa, it's not that my subordinates are cowardly, but the fighting power of this group of Tang troops is very strong."

"Half a month ago, they defeated the elite troops of General Yang Wanchun. Now Yang Wanchun is hiding in Anshi City with 20,000 soldiers and horses and dares not come out."

"Although our city walls are high and our food and grass are plentiful, the Tang army has many tricks and we must be on guard!"

Noosa Gao Changyi was just a man who gave orders with words, but these grassroots generals needed to lead their soldiers in bloody battles.

When the city wall is breached by the Tang army, those who are defending the front will probably not be able to escape.

Gao Nuosa, who was hiding in the back, probably ran away first.

Gao Changyi stood up, walked step by step to the guard of the west gate, glanced at him and said.

"Are you teaching me what to do?"

The commander of the west city gate was so frightened that his face changed drastically, and he quickly bowed and saluted.

"My subordinates dare not!"

“Humph!” Gao Changyi snorted, and then said in a cold voice: “As early as five days ago, I had Yeon Gaesomun send people to support us. Now there are 5 infantry and cavalry on the way. They will arrive tomorrow!”

"In addition, Gao Yanshou of Nuosha in the north is mobilizing the garrisons of Cangyan City, Heshenggu City, and Ganwu City, and Gao Huizhen of Nuosha in the east has already recruited Mohe soldiers."

"When the reinforcements arrive, we will attack from both inside and outside to annihilate this Tang army!"

The West Gate Guardian was delighted, and he immediately flattered the commander, saying, "Gao Nuosa is really good at planning!"

Gao Changyi narrowed his eyes and said, "Stop talking nonsense. Go to the west gate and guard against the Tang army's sneak attack!"

"Subordinate, go right away."

The commander of the west city gate bowed and nodded repeatedly, then quickly left the luxurious city lord's mansion.