The horns are wailing, the drums are beating loudly, the clouds are stirring, and the wind and rain are like darkness.
Rolling banners surged toward the shore of Liao River. Countless soldiers boarded the boats that had been prepared on the river bank. Once the boats were full, the sailors rowed hard, and the boats arrived at the other side like an arrow from a string. The soldiers
After landing on the other side, they did not immediately launch an offensive. Goguryeo's heavy cavalry was not a display. Once they left the city for a surprise attack, the infantry would not be able to resist at all.
The Tang army's infantry landed on the other side and immediately formed an array, forming a square formation one by one. The spearmen were in front, the shield soldiers were interspersed to defend against the enemy's arrows, and the crossbowmen were at the end. This was a purely defensive formation.
It has lost its mobility and ability to attack fortresses, but it can perfectly resist all enemy attacks.
It can also protect the cavalry that will cross the river later from encountering a head-on attack from the enemy when they are halfway across the river.
Then countless boats lined up one by one in the river from the west bank of Liao River to the east bank of Liao River, and then were covered with wooden boards to form a huge pontoon bridge.
Countless cavalrymen jumped onto the bridge made of wooden planks, quickly crossed the wide river, and slowly gathered behind the infantry, forming an array to protect the two sides of the infantry.
During this period, the defenders of Far East City were unwilling to watch the Tang army quickly cross the Liao River, and launched several desperate charges, hoping to break through the Tang army's infantry array and inflict heavy losses on the cavalry crossing the river.
As a result, the Tang army had a neat formation and high morale. Although the rainy weather affected the lethality of the crossbows, they still firmly occupied the river bank position with their absolute numerical superiority, giving the cavalry sufficient time and space to forcefully cross the Liao River.
More than a thousand Goguryeo death squads, in front of tens of thousands of Tang troops in a flying goose formation, were like river water lapping against the embankment, only splashing a few pieces of white foam and then disappearing.
By the afternoon, more than 200,000 infantry and cavalrymen had crossed the river. His Majesty Li Er led a group of generals to cross the river and arrived at the infantry array. Seeing that it was getting late and his troops across the river were more than enough, he waved his hand and began to attack the city.
.
Tens of thousands of armored infantry charged from the river bank, sweeping towards the Far East City over the mountains and plains. The solid mountain city built halfway up the mountain was like a rock in the raging torrent, and it seemed as if it was enduring the waves of madness.
attack.
"Boom! Boom! Boom!"
Explosions of black gunpowder sounded one after another, and black smoke continued to rise from under the city wall of Far East City. Many places in the solid wall collapsed due to gunpowder blasts, leaving gaps. The Tang army surged towards these gaps like a tide. The people in the city
The defenders frantically tried to block the gap. Facing the well-equipped, brave and fierce Tang army, the Goguryeo army's corpses piled up like mountains and blood flowed into rivers.
At this moment, after receiving the news, Cheng Yaojin's troops came from south to north to cover up the enemy, completely cutting off Far East City's retreat and cooperating with the main force of the Tang Army to attack from the north and south.
Under the power of gunpowder, the solid walls of Far East City collapsed section by section. The Goguryeo defenders with limited troops were unable to block every gap. Seeing the Tang army pouring into the city along the gaps like a tide, the Goguryeo army had to retreat steadily.
, the two sides started a street fight.
Facts have proved that there is a huge gap between the two sides in terms of ordnance and equipment, soldier quality, battlefield command, etc. The only thing the Goguryeo army can rely on is the geographical location of the mountain city. Once the geographical location is lost, it will be impossible to compete with the Tang army regardless of field battles or street battles.
Comparable.
When the soldiers of the Tang army knew that the emperor had come to the battle in person, their morale naturally soared and they were not afraid of death. In the evening, the two armies that invaded the city from the north and the south finally met at the Goguryeo garrison office in the city. Thousands of Goguryeo soldiers abandoned their troops.
The surrender of weapons means that the whole process from the launch of the siege to the occupation took less than three hours. This important town of Goguryeo, which was set up on the shore of the Liao River to resist the Tang Army's first line, was captured.
…
At night, the bonfire is blazing, and the wind and rain are like darkness.
In the government office in the city, His Majesty Li Er summoned the generals and assigned tasks.
"The capture of Far East City means that the Liao River and the natural moat are no longer reliable. We can drive straight in from Youying Erzhou and enter the hinterland of Liaodong. All generals have contributed to the victory. I will naturally not hesitate to reward you. I hope you will continue to work hard and not be afraid of difficulties.
, create a great cause for the ages!”
His Majesty Li Er boosted morale with high spirits, and the morale of all the generals in his tent was naturally high.
Then asked: "Where is the vanguard now?"
Cheng Yaojin replied: "Xue Wanche's vanguard army has gone to Baiyan City to capture the defeated Goguryeo army. Then it turned west from Baiyan City and moved closer to Anshi City, destroying the food roads of Anshi City and destroying its logistical equipment.
Supplies. Wait until His Majesty leads the army to capture Jian'an City, then march eastward to Anshi City and join them."
Everyone knows that Anshi City is the heart of Liaodong. As long as Anshi City is captured, the entire Xuantu County will be in the hands of the Tang army. The Goguryeo army can only retreat and retreat to the Yalu River to snipe the Tang army.
Once the green water defense line was broken, the Tang army could march straight in, across a hilly mountainous area, and reach the city of Pyongyang.
Therefore, if the Goguryeo army wants to delay the occupation and wait for the right time, it must gather a large number of troops in Anshi City and fight the Tang army head-on!
The battle of Anshi City will directly determine the prospects for this Eastern Expedition.
Either the Tang army swept through Liaodong in one go, and a million-strong army marched south towards Pyongyang City, or the Goguryeo army stubbornly resisted and gave the Tang army a head-on blow, seriously delaying the Tang army's progress, and ultimately failed to capture Pyongyang City before the severe winter came.
Do not repeat the mistakes of the previous Sui Dynasty and declare the Eastern Expedition a complete failure.
After all, the bitter cold land of Liaodong cannot support nearly a million troops no matter what.
If grain and supplies were mobilized from within the borders of the Tang Dynasty to supply these armies, the national power of the Tang Dynasty would be brought to a sudden collapse...
Anshi City is the turning point of the Eastern Expedition, the key to the entire battle!
Li Ji added: "I just received the news from the Navy. They have arrived at the sea outside Besha City to gather, and they have probably started to attack now. After they capture Beisha City, they will immediately go north along the coast to cooperate with our main force to attack Jian'an City.
."
Beisha City was the important town where Goguryeo ruled southern Liaoning. Once Beisha City was captured, Goguryeo's rule in southern Liaoning would instantly collapse.
His Majesty Li Er said excitedly: "Okay! All the armies are rushing forward according to the established strategy. The defense lines of Goguryeo are vulnerable. The unprecedented achievements are about to be completed in our hands. How lucky are you and I?
Immediately gather the army, clean the battlefield, tear down all the walls of Far East City, and leave a brigade of soldiers to guard it as a transportation point for baggage. Release the scouts, and within hundreds of miles from here to Jian'an City, the Goguryeo people
I will know every move of you! Early tomorrow morning, we will light a fire and make food. After sunrise, the army will go south and attack Jian'an City!"
"promise!"
The generals responded with a roar, got up and left one after another, and went about their own tasks.
When the generals left, His Majesty Li Er, who had been so high-spirited just now, slumped on the chair like a deflated rubber ball. His face was as red as blood, but his eyes were blurry and blurry, and all the energy and energy in his body had been vented...
Zhu Suiliang behind him was sorting out the records he had just recorded. He was startled when he saw this. He quickly got up and stepped forward, asking with concern: "Why is your Majesty not feeling well?"
His Majesty Li Er braced himself, waved his hands and said: "It's okay, it's just that I haven't had a good rest these days, so I'm a little tired. Just take a rest. You can go and do your own business. Well, call the chamberlain in when you leave.
"
"promise."
Zhu Suiliang did not dare to ask any more questions, so he quickly packed up the records and left the government office. When he arrived at the door, he told the chamberlain that His Majesty had called him. When he saw the chamberlain entering the government office, Zhu Suiliang paused for a moment. Instead of going back to his residence, he took advantage of the opportunity.
In the dark of night, under the cover of the noisy soldiers on the street, we came to a temporary and simple tent.
"Haha, it turns out to be Denshan. Come on, come on, I happened to get an elk and prepared a delicious meal. Denshan is a blessing!"
In the tent, the round-faced Changsun Wuji smiled broadly and waved cheerfully.
Zhu Suiliang took two steps forward and looked around. When he saw no one around, he took two steps forward and lowered his voice and said, "I just came over from His Majesty's side. Your Majesty... there seems to be something wrong."
Changsun Wuji, who was picking up a piece of barbecue with chopsticks and put it into his mouth, paused and said calmly: "What's wrong?"
Zhu Suiliang still stood there and said: "I can't tell you, but my spirit is very poor and my physical condition is also very bad..."
Changsun Wuji's face straightened, and he pretended to be angry: "Your Majesty has been working hard on an expedition, and the journey has been tiring, and his spirit is always in a state of tension. After all, he is a little older, and he is not as strong as he used to be. This is human nature. Denshanshen
As a secretary to His Majesty, you should not presume to speculate about His Majesty's dragon body, let alone go out and talk nonsense, otherwise it is very likely to cause instability in the military's morale and morale, which is a serious crime!"