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

Yeon Gaesomun hurried back to his mansion with a look of determination in his eyes.

He dismissed his attendants and only kept a few of his most trusted confidants. He lowered his voice and solemnly instructed them to send his three young children safely out of Pyongyang in the shortest possible time and in the most covert way.

He understood better than anyone that the Tang army was coming with great force.

He speculated that based on the Tang army's behavior and strategic intentions, they might show leniency to other parts of Goguryeo and adopt a strategy of appeasement and pacification.

But the Tang army would never let go easily of Pyongyang, the capital of Goguryeo, and the people in the city, especially key figures like him who held high positions and controlled military and political power in Goguryeo, and their families.

When Yeon Gaesomun thought of the Jingguans in Liaodong that exuded a pungent smell of blood, his hands unconsciously clenched into fists, his nails digging deeply into his palms.

There was both anger at the Tang army's cruel tactics and a bit of sadness in his heart.

This was the Tang army's ruthless revenge.

Thirty years ago, their Goguryeo army had treated the Sui army in the same cruel and inhumane way, building a Jingguan with the corpses of the Sui soldiers to show off their military strength and military achievements.

Now the cause and effect have returned, and the Tang army has retaliated against them in the same way. Deep in Yeon Gaesomun's complicated heart, he actually feels that this is a kind of "fairness", although this so-called "fairness" is stained with blood and is chilling.

Liu Sangzai stood quietly in front of Yeon Gaesomun, with some confusion in his eyes.

"Da Molizhi, the situation is now clearly before our eyes. We are doomed to fail!"

"Why don't you run? Let's run while there's still a glimmer of hope."

"It will be too late if we delay any longer. The Tang army is too powerful. Their manpower, weapons, and tactics are all beyond the reach of Goguryeo! We are no match for them!"

"Da Molizhi, it's ok if you can fool others, but don't fool yourself!"

Yeon Gaesomun glanced at Liu Sangzai.

In his heart, he never liked this person.

Liu Shangzai is usually too timid and fearful. He gets scared and loses his mind when encountering the slightest disturbance and has no sense of responsibility at all.

Moreover, he is greedy for money and lustful, and will do anything to make a small profit. In Yeon Gaesomun's view, such a person has no ability to do big things and it is difficult for him to achieve great things.

But Yeon Gaesomun had to admit that Liu Shangzai had one advantage that he could not ignore, and that was his loyalty to him.

From the day he embarked on the dangerous road of rebellion, Liu Shangzai followed him closely and never left him.

No matter whether it was the thrilling power change within Goguryeo or the difficult war against Silla, Liu Shangzai was the only one who silently accompanied him through all the ups and downs along the way.

Yeon Gaesomun knew in his heart that if it really came to the final moment of no return, the one who would accompany him to the end would most likely be Liu Shangzai.

Thinking of this, Yeon Gaesomun sighed softly, and the sigh was full of helplessness. He slowly asked, "Liu Sangzai, why don't you run away?"

Liu Shangzai forced a bitter smile and shook his head gently, but his eyes revealed an unexpected determination: "Da Molizhi, you didn't choose to leave, how could I, Liu Shangzai, escape alone? You gave me this life. Without you, I would have died long ago."

Hearing Liu Shangzai's unexpected answer, Yeon Gaesomun finally showed a long-lost smile on his face. The laughter was soft at first, with a hint of self-deprecation, and then gradually became hearty, echoing in the room: "Haha ...

"Liu Shangzai, listen carefully, you can leave. As long as you leave Pyongyang, I will never blame you."

"You have to live well!"

Liu Shangzai shook his head firmly again and said calmly, "Damolizhi, my family is not in Pyongyang and will not be threatened by the Tang army, so they will be fine."

"Although I, Liu Shangzai, am a villain in the eyes of others, I also know that some things cannot be avoided, and death is not to be feared."

"Da Molizhi, if you change your mind and decide to leave, I will immediately take my family and run away with you. This way, we won't have to live in fear and anxiety here every day."

Seeing Liu Shangzai's carefree attitude, Yeon Gaesomun stopped being pretentious. He sighed deeply again, staring into the distance, and said quietly: "The Han people are too powerful. We have to admit this."

"We, the Goguryeo people, have long been influenced by Han Chinese culture. To this day, we are practically no different from the Han Chinese. Liu Shangzai, have you ever read Han Chinese history books?"

"Yang Guang, the tyrant emperor, chose not to flee when the Sui Dynasty faced a crisis. Do you know why he didn't run away?"

Yeon Gaesomun paused for a moment, a complex look in his eyes. "Although I, Yeon Gaesomun, am not officially the King of Goguryeo, everyone in this land of Goguryeo knows that I am, in fact, the ruler who controls everything."

"I don't care about those so-called false reputations, but I have to consider the future of Goguryeo."

"Although our Goguryeo is a small country, we also have our own backbone and dignity!"

"A monarch can choose to be a wise and virtuous monarch, loved by the people, or a foolish and incompetent monarch, despised by the people, or even a cruel and brutal monarch, feared by the people."

"But I absolutely cannot be a cowardly and incompetent monarch!"

"Even if we're facing the Tang army, our Goguryeo army will do our utmost to make them lose a tooth and show them how powerful we, the Goguryeo people, are!"

Yeon Gaesomun's eyes gradually grew fiery. "Goguryeo will not perish easily. Its ultimate outcome will be its integration into the Tang Dynasty. But we must also remind them that the Goguryeo people are not lambs to be slaughtered! Don't worry, Liu Shangzai."

Liu Shangzai listened to Yeon Gaesomun's impassioned words, and his heart was filled with emotion. He bowed solemnly to Yeon Gaesomun and said in a slightly hoarse voice, "I, Liu Shangzai, have lived a life that was not in vain because I have met you, Da Molizhi."

"In that case, let's try our best to knock the Tang army out of its buddies."

"Let them see that Goguryeo is not one of those weak countries that can be easily controlled by the Tang army!"

At this moment, there was a strange light in Liu Shangzai's eyes.

In his heart, death was no longer a source of fear. He only knew that at this moment, fighting for the dignity of Goguryeo would be a worthy death, even if it meant sacrificing his life.

How wonderful! How wonderful!