Traveling through Du He, Li Chengqian's rebellion begins

Just when Buyeo Yici and a group of civil and military officials thought they could be freed, a cold voice sounded from behind.

"Everyone, it's windy on the city wall. To prevent you from catching a cold, please return to the palace now."

Forehead...

Thinking that there were still 2000 Tang cavalry in Juba City, the smiling faces of Buyeo Yici and a group of civil and military officials instantly collapsed.

Engu walked up to Xue Rengui and spoke flatteringly with his head bowed.

"Master Tianjiang, can you please be flexible and allow us to go home?"

"Don't worry, we will definitely not treat you unfairly. We can satisfy you with gold, silver, treasures and beauties!"

Seeing that Xue Rengui's expression remained unchanged, Engu touched the tip of his nose in dismay.

What kind of people are these Tang generals? They don’t even covet beauty and gold and silver. This is really unbelievable.

Fu Yu Yici's expression changed several times, then he walked to the side of Xue Rengui, stood on tiptoe and whispered.

"General, as long as you let me return to the harem, I promise you that except for my favorite concubine, you can choose the rest of the concubines in the harem!"

"And if you want to bring it back to the Tang Dynasty, I will not object!"

Seeing Xue Rengui frowning, Fu Yu Yici thought that Xue Rengui thought the conditions were not generous enough.

He continued to raise the stakes and said, "How about I secretly give you another thousand gold coins?"

Xue Rengui raised his eyebrows and looked at Fu Yu Yici as if he were a fool.

Now that Baekje has been destroyed, he still naively believes that the wealth in Baekje is still his private property.

Xue Rengui threatened in a deep voice: "If you are still standing on the city wall within three breaths, the Fang Tian Hua Ji in my hand will draw blood."

"three!"

"two!"

Before the last word was uttered, Buyeo Yici and a group of civil and military officials had already tumbled down the city wall and, under the surveillance of dozens of Tang soldiers, ran towards the direction of the imperial palace.

Xue Rengui turned his head to look outside the city, took a deep look at the team that was gradually moving away, and then quickly walked down the city wall carrying his Fang Tian Hua Ji.

...

Just as Du He led tens of thousands of troops northward, an important news was also circulating in Pyongyang.

Molizhi Yuan Gaisuwen will hold a coronation ceremony in 5 days and change the country's name to Shenwu!

On the main street in the city.

Countless court ceremonial officials and soldiers held colorful silks and lanterns and hung them on the treetops along the street.

The people in Pyongyang all went out onto the streets, pointing at the soldiers decorating the streets and muttering condemnations in low voices with angry faces.

"There are still tens of thousands of Tang troops outside the city. Who would have thought that Yeon Gaesomun would still want to usurp the throne?"

"I have long said that Yeon Gaesomun is a traitor, and you said he was a minister of state. Now your true colors are revealed!"

"What do you think King Gojang should do when Yeon Gaesomun ascends the throne?"

"How can one country tolerate two rulers? It's a dead end!"

The vast majority of the people in Pyongyang were loyal to the Gao royal family, and they were very dissatisfied with Yeon Gaesomun's act of usurping the country.

But at the same time, their hearts were filled with despair.

The earthen hill built by the Tang army is getting closer and closer, and in a few days it will be close to the north city wall. It is conceivable that a bloody battle will follow.

However, the officials in the court not only did not oppose Yeon Gaesomun's seizure of the throne, but they even assisted him!

"Alas, our Goguryeo is doomed!"

A pessimistic voice sounded from the crowd.

When the onlookers heard this, they all looked confused.

Inside the palace hall.

Yeon Gaesomun, wearing a dragon robe, sat on the throne with a happy look on his face.

All the civil and military officials in the main hall changed into new court robes, and even the tablets in their hands were engraved with the words "Shenwu".

Yeon Gaesomun said to a lean civil official with a smile on his face, "Brother Choi Bo-yi, how are the preparations for the coronation ceremony going?"

"Report to King Shenwu, everything can be prepared within three days."

"very good!"

Yeon Gaesomun said loudly and excitedly.

A few days ago, he had people spread the news in the city that he was going to ascend the throne and proclaim himself the King of Shenwu, but not a single citizen stood up to oppose it.

Upon hearing the good news reported by his subordinate officials, Yeon Gaesomun happily favored five concubines in the harem.

Yeon Gaesomun turned his head and looked at the tall and burly middle-aged man standing third in the row of generals.

He asked with a slightly heavy voice.

"General Yang, has the Tang army outside the city made any moves in the past few days?"

The burly general saluted respectfully and said, "Reporting to King Shenwu, the Tang army is busy building the earthen hill and has not made any other moves."

After a pause, he continued his report.

"However, the earthen hill is only a few feet away from the city wall. According to the speed at which the Tang army is piling it up, it may coincide with your ascension to the throne."

Upon hearing the news, Yeon Gaesomun's eyes widened and his face was filled with anger.

"General Yang, didn't you say earlier that it would take the Tang army at least half a month to push the earthen hills up to our city walls?"

“Why five days in advance?”

In order to ascend the throne before the Tang army built the earthen hill, Yeon Gaesomun specially asked the generals guarding the city to monitor the Tang army day and night. After many discussions with a group of ministers, he decided to advance the time of his enthronement.

Now that the time of his enthronement has been announced to the people, wouldn’t it undermine his prestige if he changed it?

General Kuiwu explained nervously: "Reporting to King Shenwu, just a few days ago, the Tang army accelerated the speed of building the earthen hill for some reason..."

Yeon Gaesomun roared angrily: "Such a big thing, why didn't you report it!"

"Have you conspired with Gao Zang to disrupt my coronation ceremony?"

Yeon Gaesomun's angry voice suddenly exploded in the hall.

Seeing Yeon Gaesomun's bloodshot eyes, the civil and military officials standing on both sides of the hall were all frightened.

They all lowered their heads and dared not look at him, for fear that Yeon Gaesomun would implicate innocent people in his rage.

"Plop~"

General Kuiwu knelt on his knees in the main hall and kowtowed to Yeon Gaesomun, begging for mercy.

"Shenwu King, I am wronged!"

"I will be loyal to you and will never have second thoughts!"

"I didn't realize the Tang army's trick at first. By the time I found out, the news of your ascension to the throne had already been announced for several days. I really didn't dare to ruin your joy."

These days he was so busy flattering Yeon Gaesomun in the palace that he neglected to inspect the north gate.

By the time his soldiers came to report, it was already too late.

"Humph!"

Yeon Gaesomun snorted heavily, then spoke in a cold voice.

"I'll spare your life this time! If you do it again, I won't let you off easily!"

There are only a few generals that can be used now. Even if he is very angry, he cannot kill them before the battle.

General Kuiwu, who survived the disaster, kowtowed and shouted with tears in his eyes.

"I thank the King of Shenwu for not killing me!"

Yeon Gaesomun waved his hand, frowned and asked, "My dear ministers, do you think the coronation ceremony will be held as scheduled?"