Tang Dynasty: Father, if you don't rebel, I will!

"Your Majesty, Yuan Taizuo and his men have gone too far. They no longer respect Your Majesty at all."

"If this continues, Yuan Taizuo will likely replace you, and we will all be killed by him!"

"Your Majesty, we can't tolerate this any longer!"

Xuantu County.

As the largest city in Goguryeo closest to Youzhou in the Tang Dynasty, it served as a hub for trade with the Tang Dynasty, facilitating the transport of military equipment sold to them by the Tang, and training soldiers.

Gao Jianwu directly abandoned the original capital city and instead made Xuantu County his base.

Such an outcome has both advantages and disadvantages.

The fact that the capital city was presented to the Tang Dynasty in such a grand manner, coupled with Gao Jianwu's consistently obedient behavior, was remarkable.

Trade between the two sides was no longer limited to weapons; cloth, glass products, and all sorts of novelties from Bingzhou Road in the Tang Dynasty were also transported by caravans.

It was sold to Goguryeo.

In exchange, they received a large number of Goguryeo prisoners, grain, and gold and silver.

However, the drawbacks on the other side cannot be ignored.

Just like the dynasties in Chinese history that moved their capitals south, they were destined to be immediately and severely impacted, and become shaky.

Yeon Taejo Moliji, who was already a powerful figure in the Goguryeo court and was evenly matched with Go Geonmu, was equivalent to a prime minister in the Central Plains dynasties.

Since Sima Zhao's intentions are obvious to everyone...

Gao Jianwu's face was gloomy.

"Hmph! That's really going too far. It seems that old bastard finally couldn't hold back anymore! He's scared!"

He took a deep breath and rose from his throne.

"He is afraid of us now, afraid of our 50,000 elite troops in the capital. I have also promised the Emperor of Tang that I would send those remnants of the Central Plains aristocratic families to Chang'an."

"That old bastard Yuan Taizuo is afraid that we will strike first, so he is pressing us step by step!"

"Hmph! Since he's determined to break off all pretense and refuses to maintain the current relationship, then I have no choice but to strike decisively!"

"By my royal decree, immediately post arrest warrants and apprehend the remnants of the Central Plains aristocratic families, led by the Cui family of Qinghe, the Lu family of Fanyang, and the Li family of Zhaojun!"

The capital city of Goguryeo.

Yeon Taejo, who outwardly calls himself "Regent," is currently attentively listening to the discussions of several people in front of him in his residence.

"Master Yuan, no one understands reform better than us, and no one understands the thoughts of Li Shimin and his son better than us."

Cui Minshi, the head of the Cui family of Qinghe, is currently a high-ranking official in the imperial court, giving advice and guidance to the country.

"This Tianchaike system is a product of our combination of the current national conditions of Goguryeo, the military merit system of the Qin Dynasty in the Central Plains, and the new policy reform of Bingzhou in the Tang Dynasty."

“The land and forests were forcibly nationalized, and a portion of them were then awarded to meritorious nobles as ‘meritorious land and firewood.’ Commoners who made military achievements were also rewarded with land and firewood, but hereditary rights were not allowed.”

"Then the remaining fields, which are called 'public fields,' were given to the people to cultivate, so that they could become the state's tenant farmers."

"Now, only six months after the new policy was implemented, the grain and fodder in the treasury have already reached five times what they were before!"

As Cui Minshi spoke, Li Xing, the head of the Zhao County Li Clan, and Lu Zhaojing, the head of the Fanyang Lu Clan, who were sitting to one side behind him, also looked proud.

Even Yeon Tae-jo, who was the "Prime Minister" of Goguryeo at this moment, had a look of agreement on his face. His old face, which had a look of eagle-like eyes and wolf-like gaze, also had a faint smile.

however.

At this moment, the few Goguryeo nobles sitting on the other side all tried their best to show the same expression.

But the resentment and anger they felt when they occasionally exchanged glances were absolutely genuine.

"Excellent, excellent! As expected of a renowned family in the Central Plains, it is an honor for our Yeon Gae clan to have the assistance of these gentlemen. As long as we continue to maintain this order step by step, within two years, our Goguryeo will surely usher in a golden age!"

Yeon Tae-jo was laughing, and his close confidants behind him were also laughing.

however.

Right outside the council chamber, the rows of Goguryeo nobles standing respectfully couldn't manage a smile.

Many of them had conflicts with Yeon Taejo in the past.

Taking advantage of the situation, Yuan Taizu, under the guise of reform, actually reclaimed all the land that originally belonged to them, and then distributed some barren and desolate land back to them.

It was absolutely disgusting.

“Master Yuan, now is the perfect opportunity to take over. We now control most of Goguryeo, and the hearts of the people are at our disposal. Mo Lizhi only needs to raise his arm and call to arms to destroy the Goryeo king in the blink of an eye.” Cui Minshi said again, seizing the opportunity.

He had been saying these words to Yeon Taejo ever since he started working for the Yeon Gae clan.

however.

Yuan Taizuo, however, sighed again, feigning difficulty.

He gently shook his head: "I understand Patriarch Cui's thoughts very well, but as you also said, now is the perfect time for Goguryeo to develop its national strength."

"Gao Jianwu has the Tang Dynasty backing him after all; we are no match for the Tang Dynasty now..."

Yuan Taizu shook his head.

The Tang Dynasty is too powerful now, especially the former heir of the Prince of Qin's mansion.

The current crown prince, in just over a year, not only destroyed the Eastern Turks, but also forcibly seized control of the most prosperous region of Tuyuhun.

To be an opponent of someone like that...

Yeon Tae-jo was able to firmly hold the position of Moliji in Goguryeo for so many years, and his power even surpassed that of Go Geon-mu, the king of Goryeo, to some extent.

Naturally, they possess their own unique abilities.

Cui Minshi nodded, but when he looked at the other family heads behind him, their eyes were filled with gloom.

That night.

"That old bastard Yeon Tae-jo is just using our abilities to develop his country's strength and accumulate power. Even if he really has the strength to overthrow the King of Goryeo, he will never launch a coup as we say!"

"The most likely scenario is that they will hand us over to the Tang Dynasty, and then once again express their submission to the Tang Dynasty..."

The heads of the Cui, Li, and Lu families were currently hiding in a secret room beneath their residence, plotting something.

To avoid being betrayed by Yeon Gae-ji.

The aristocratic families and powerful clans who fled from the Tang Dynasty still maintain a close-knit group structure.

They lived in Donghu City, south of the royal city.

To show their sincerity, Yeon Gae-ji replaced all the officials in the city with people from several different families.

It can be said that Donghu City was the foundation of Cui Minshi and his people in Goguryeo.

however.

The situation for these companies is far from optimistic.

Cui Minshi's face was gloomy. Hearing Li Xing's words, he nodded.

“We originally intended to nationalize the lands and forests of those nobles and then distribute them to them in full, without any loss, as hereditary land.”

"Who would have thought that old bastard Yuan Taizu would use this opportunity to suppress his political enemies, and we've ended up taking the blame for it!"

Everyone was extremely angry.

During the Tang Dynasty, Li Shimin and his son Li Chengqian were despicable and shameless, and we were powerless to do anything about them.

Now that they've come to Goguryeo, they're being held hostage by those lowly Goguryeo bastards like Yeon Taejo.

Then all our trip to Goguryeo was for nothing!

Lu Zhaojing snorted coldly.

"If that old man doesn't want to fight, then we'll make him have no choice but to fight! If Yeon Tae-jo and the others don't openly confront the King of Goryeo, we'll have no chance of survival in the future!"

Both of them looked at him.

Lu Zhaojing took a deep breath: "Yuan Taejo is currently lacking in weapons and armor, but not in food and manpower. On the other hand, the King of Goryeo has only occupied Xuantu County, yet he has purchased so much armor and weapons from the Tang Dynasty."

"That Li Chengqian is a man who won't do anything without a profit. How much money and grain can the King of Goryeo still afford?"

"Most of the prisons throughout Goguryeo are now empty. What if we told the King of Goryeo the locations of Yeon Gae's secret granaries...?"

As Lu Zhaojing spoke, she narrowed her eyes and let out a cold snort.

"I simply don't believe that once Gao Jianwu has tasted the sweetness, he can resist taking a second bite, and that old bastard Yuan Taizuo can withstand a few more losses!"

"He wants to sell us for a good price? You can't have your cake and eat it too."

Just a few days.

Upon receiving the secret letter, the King of Goryeo ordered his generals to lead 20,000 elite troops trained by the Tang Dynasty to enter Liaodong Commandery in Goguryeo.

In several secret locations in the wilderness, a large amount of food and supplies were indeed discovered.

At the Yeon Gae clan's residence, Yeon Taejo's face was gloomy. This matter was too coincidental; he knew without even thinking that someone had secretly betrayed them.

however.

His gaze swept across the faces of everyone present, and he even stared intently at Cui Minshi and the others for a long while.

They didn't see anything amiss.

Since Yuan Taizuo was willing to give the Cui family and their group of Tang people a city, he naturally took precautions.

However, his men found no suspicious persons leaving Donghu City.

“Father, the King of Goryeo is treating us like his granary. He wants to take away everything we've worked so hard to accumulate!”

Yeon Gaesomun was so angry he felt like his lungs were about to explode.

As the eldest son of Yeon Tae-jo, he is now gradually taking over power.

He held in his hand the royal decree from King Go Geon-mu of Goguryeo in Xuantu County.

I wish I could tear it to shreds on the spot.

You want my Yeon Gae clan to pay for and provide supplies when you train soldiers?!

Do you really think Gao Jianwu alone can call the shots in Goguryeo?!

Cui Minshi and the others remained silent, watching quietly with expressionless faces, as if to say, "I am a Tang Dynasty person, what does what Goguryeo has to do with me?"

On the contrary, those nobles who followed Fuchi Taijo and obtained more land during Shibata Osamu's reforms were the ones who benefited.

One by one, they were filled with righteous indignation.

"Molizhi, we can't tolerate this any longer! We are all willing to listen to you!"

"These are all things we've worked so hard to create over so long. Why should Gao Jianwu take away our achievements with just a few words?"

"He betrayed his country for personal gain, bowing and scraping to the Tang Dynasty, and now he wants to sell us all to the Tang Dynasty too. Molizhi, he is not worthy to be king. You are the king of Goguryeo!"

"The people will all curse that damned Gao Jianwu as a tyrant! We are acting on behalf of Heaven!"

Seeing that his father was still hesitating, Yeon Gaesomun knelt down in front of him and slammed his fist into the letter.

"boom!"

"Father, I know you don't want to break ties with the Tang Dynasty so soon, but I must fight this battle!"