Li Shimin faked his death? Then I will be powerful enough to conquer the world!

In the Anxi military camp, Guo Xiaoke stood tall and straight, his deep gaze fixed on Long Lipozhun before him. He asked, "How many defenders are there in Yanqi City?"

Long Li Pozhun raised his head slightly, frowning slightly, his eyes revealing a thoughtful look. After a pause, he slowly spoke: "General, according to my estimate, the number of defenders in Yanqi City is probably no less than 15,000, but no more than 20,000."

"Their forces were scattered across the city gates and key strongholds within the city. However, having not experienced war for many years, their armaments were in disrepair, their morale was low, and their training was sluggish and lax."

Upon hearing this, Guo Xiaoke nodded slightly, his lips curled up in a confident smile: "Only 15,000 people?"

The five thousand elite Tang Dynasty soldiers under his command have undergone countless rigorous training and brutal battles, and each of them is worth ten men.

Not to mention fighting against 15,000 enemy troops with only 5,000 men, even if they faced a more powerful enemy, they would have full confidence and assurance of returning victorious.

Moreover, in this expedition to Yanqi, the Tang Dynasty is an army upholding justice. The army is determined and unstoppable, like a sharp sword drawn from its sheath, determined to cut off the thorns of rebellion.

Because the Tang army had previously experienced a long and forced march, the soldiers were physically and mentally exhausted and in urgent need of relaxation and rest.

Only by allowing them to recuperate and gather their strength can they unleash their maximum combat power and become unstoppable in the upcoming siege.

So he decisively ordered the entire army to rest in the camp for a day so that the soldiers could fully rest and recover their physical strength and energy. At the same time, he carefully prepared siege equipment, checked weapons and equipment, and made full preparations for the upcoming siege.

On this day, the soldiers were busy and orderly.

Some were carefully wiping the weapons in their hands to make their blades as sharp as before, some were carefully repairing damaged armor to ensure that they could withstand the enemy's swords, guns and arrows on the battlefield, and some were sitting together, whispering about combat experiences and skills to boost each other's morale.

Guo Xiaoke and a group of generals gathered in front of the sand table in the tent, carefully studying the terrain and layout of Yanqi City.

Yanqi City is surrounded by water on all sides, and the gurgling river is a major obstacle to the Tang army's attack.

The road at the city gate was narrow and cramped, only wide enough for two horses to run side by side. It was a far cry from the broad and flat thoroughfare in Chang'an, the capital of the Tang Dynasty, which could accommodate ten carriages running side by side.

If they chose to storm through the city gate, not only would it be easy to expose their target, but the five thousand soldiers would be crowded together on the narrow road, becoming sitting ducks for the enemy. It would also waste a lot of time and they would miss the opportunity for a surprise attack.

In this case, the only way to attack the enemy by surprise is to cross the river.

Night fell again, covering the earth.

Guo Xiaoke stood in the center of the camp, looking dignified.

He shouted orders, send out troops!

This time, he left Long Lipozhun and others in the military camp.

Although they provided a lot of valuable information, Guo Xiaoke acted cautiously. In this complex and ever-changing battlefield, people's hearts are unpredictable.

It will take time to test whether they are truly sincere in surrendering to the Tang Dynasty.

At this moment, he had memorized the key information in the intelligence, so he felt there was no need to let Long Lipozhun and others go with the army.

The Tang army left two hundred men to guard the horses and the camp, and the remaining 4,800 men took advantage of the cover of night and quietly sneaked to the moat outside Yanqi City.

Their footsteps were light and quick, making almost no noise. Only the sound of their rapid breathing and the slight friction of their clothes and armor drifted faintly in the silence of the night.

The soldiers looked determined and held their weapons tightly.

"General, we've reached the water ahead. The underwater situation is unclear. Should we cross the river immediately?"

A young captain asked in a low voice.

There was worry in his eyes. After all, these unknown waters might hide many dangers, such as reefs, whirlpools, etc. If he was not careful, not only his own life would be in danger, but the entire combat plan might also be affected.

Guo Xiaoke stared at the water surface that was shimmering with a faint light.

His voice was firm: "We shoulder the mission of the Tang Dynasty. We have no reason to fear such danger! Now is the dark night, a heaven-sent opportunity. We should seize this opportunity to launch a surprise attack and catch Yanqi off guard."

After saying this, he no longer hesitated and was the first to step into the cold river.

There was no hesitation in his steps.

Seeing Guo Xiaoke so brave and fearless, all the soldiers were inspired and followed him.

They gritted their teeth, endured the discomfort, and struggled forward in the water.

Fight for the Tang Dynasty, fight for victory.

Only the slight paddling sound seemed particularly clear in the silent night.

At dawn, a hint of paleness appeared in the sky, and the morning light dimly shone on Yanqi City.

After a night of hardship crossing the river, the Tang army soldiers suddenly appeared at the foot of Yanqi City.

Guo Xiaoke looked up and saw that although the Yanqi city wall was not high, it was quite large, and the bricks and stones on the wall were slightly mottled.

He quickly gave orders, and the Tang army soldiers swung out iron hooks in a well-trained manner, and the iron hooks landed accurately on the city wall.

Then, they held the ropes tightly with both hands, pushed the wall with their feet, and climbed up the wall like agile monkeys, with skillful and swift movements, completing the task in one go.

"kill!"

With a roar, the Tang army launched a fierce attack on the Yanqi defenders on the city wall, who were still sleepy and at a loss.

For a moment, the sounds of shouting and the clashing of weapons intertwined together, breaking the tranquility of the early morning.

The Yanqi people in the city had long been complacent because of the natural barrier of water surrounding the city, and had long been lazy about the city's defense.

At this moment, he was frightened out of his wits by the sudden shouting and screaming.

"This... How is this possible? Did the Tang army descend from the sky?"

A Yanqi soldier opened his eyes wide, his face full of horror, and the weapon in his hand almost fell due to shaking.

The people in the city were also hastily awakened from their sleep. For a moment, the streets and alleys were filled with panic shouting and crying. There was chaos and people were running around, at a loss like headless flies.

Guo Xiaoke led the charge, holding a broadsword in his hand. Every time he swung the sword, a cold light flashed, blood splattered on the spot, and the enemies fell before him one after another.

"My men, follow me to attack the palace and capture the King of Yanqi!" His voice was powerful and resounded throughout the battlefield, inspiring the Tang army soldiers to move forward bravely and fearlessly.

Because he knew the location of the palace in advance, Guo Xiaoke did not delay at all.

To catch a thief, you must first catch the king. As long as we capture the King of Yanqi, we will win the battle.

He thought he would encounter stubborn resistance and was even prepared to use muskets, but he never expected the Yanqi soldiers to be so vulnerable, which actually saved him precious ammunition.

Under his leadership, the morale of the Tang army was high, and they advanced rapidly towards the palace.

The magnificent palace was particularly eye-catching in the city of Yanqi.

From this day forward, the great reputation of the Tang Dynasty will shine once again in the Western Regions, shocking the barbarians from all directions and making them dare not have second thoughts.