Under the heavy snow, hundreds of thousands of Tang troops were scattered, scrambling for the first place, retreating like a tide in the vast ice and snow towards the Yalu River in the north.
The soldiers didn't know what happened, but when they almost entered Pingrang City at the last moment and the order to retreat was given, everyone knew that the battle had failed.
The morale of the Tang army can be boosted but not discouraged. When hundreds of thousands of Tang warriors entered the Goguryeo border and fought bloody battles from north to south until they reached Pyongyang City, they withdrew at the last moment. The morale and morale of the army collapsed instantly. At this moment, the Tang army was left with few points.
The proud and domineering man who had swept across Liaodong had only one thought left in his mind, and that was to withdraw, withdraw, and quickly withdraw to the territory of the Tang Dynasty, so as not to bury his bones in Liaodong...
The army was defeated like a mountain.
Yeon Gaesomun is indeed worthy of the title of a famous general. When he saw the Tang army retreating, he did not know what happened, but since he withdrew the army just before the city was breached, something great must have happened. The army was demoralized and it collapsed.
It is inevitable.
Therefore, he made a decisive decision and ordered the defenders in the city to abandon the city and attack, chasing them one after another. They did not seek to kill the enemy, but only wanted to delay the Tang army for a few more days in the ice and snow of Liaodong.
It was not to fulfill the agreement with Changsun Wuji, but the more chaotic the Tang army, the greater the casualties, and the greater the benefits to Goguryeo.
As long as this battle inflicts injuries to the Tang army, it will be difficult for the Tang army to launch such a large-scale eastern expedition in the next twenty or thirty years at least. Goguryeo will have a chance to breathe, recuperate and accumulate strength.
Yeon Gaesumun, who had just massacred the royal family of Goguryeo and ascended the throne of Goguryeo, was very ambitious and hoped that one day he might personally lead an army to invade China.
The Tang army retreated like a tide in the front, and the Goguryeo army pursued in succession. On the vast snowfield of Liaodong, the offensive and defensive momentum was reversed in an instant.
…
After running wildly for a day, the Tang army camped more than a hundred miles north of Pingrang City and sent out two armies, Xue Wanche and Ashina Simo, to block the pursuing enemy forces and give the army some rest time.
In the camp, headed by Li Ji, Cheng Yaojin, Yuchi Gong, Cheng Mingzhen, Zhang Jian, Zhang Liang, Qiu Xiaozhong and other generals were all present. A charcoal pot in the tent was burning brightly, but the cold air was exposed from the cracks in the tent.
The wind blew sparks flying around, and no one felt the slightest warmth.
Everyone sat in silence, the atmosphere was sad and depressing.
For a long time, Cheng Yaojin stared at Li Ji and asked hoarsely: "Your Majesty is injured and is recovering in the big tent, but the British Duke and the Duke of Zhao do not allow us to visit. Now that something like this is happening, what are your plans?
Give me an explanation?"
When he learned that His Majesty had passed away, he felt as if his head had been hit hard by a running wild bull. The sky was spinning and stars were flying in his eyes. No matter what, he couldn't believe it.
But when he stepped forward to see that His Majesty was indeed not breathing, he accepted the bad news.
It was just that at that time, in order to organize the retreat of the army and avoid being distracted by the enemy's counterattack, I suppressed the sadness and anger in my heart.
Now here and now, I can no longer suppress it.
Zhang Liang, the Duke of Yun State, also had red eyes, stared at Li Ji, and said angrily with his halberd finger: "Your Majesty is in the prime of the Spring and Autumn Period, and the dragons and tigers are fierce. Even if you accidentally fall off a horse and get injured, you can recover in a few days, and again
How could he die due to injuries? I would not believe such nonsense even to death! Can the British Lord truthfully tell you the reason for your Majesty's death?"
Compared with Cheng Yaojin, Yu Chigong and others, Zhang Liang's sadness may not be sincere, but he is the person who can't accept the fact that His Majesty passed away the most. Because everyone else relies on their merits to live and work, he is the only one who has no military achievements and no ability.
However, the reason why I have held a high position in these years is precisely because of your Majesty's favor and trust.
Now that His Majesty has passed away and his biggest supporter has fallen, how can we not be angry?
Li Ji's face was gloomy, showing no signs of joy or anger. Even when Zhang Liang pointed at his nose, he remained motionless and said slowly: "I don't know the truth about this matter. Perhaps only Zhao Guogong knows something about it."
His Majesty died inexplicably, and Changsun Wuji disappeared without a trace. There must be something involved in this. As for the inside story, only Changsun Wuji knows.
Qiu Xiaozhong interjected: "Zhao Guogong disappeared without a trace. The truth is not yet known. However, according to the imperial doctor, His Majesty finally took a bowl of decoction under the service of Zhu Suiliang. Of course, it may not be because of the bowl of decoction.
Zhu Suiliang must be arrested and tortured and interrogated, right?"
Everyone agreed.
Since Zhu Suiliang was the last person that His Majesty came into contact with before his death, and His Majesty happened to take a bowl of decoction while in his service, the suspicion was naturally the highest.
However, Li Ji remained calm and said slowly: "His Majesty's death is a matter of heaven and earth falling. As human ministers, it is natural for us to feel sad, and it is natural to track down the real culprit. But I want to remind you that the current situation
It's so bad that once the news of His Majesty's death comes out, not only will the morale of these hundreds of thousands of troops collapse in an instant, but even Chang'an, thousands of miles away, will be turned upside down!"
He stared at the people in the tent with bloodshot eyes, and said word by word: "Everyone, His Majesty's death is irreversible. Compared with tracking down the real murderer, it is more important to track down these hundreds of thousands of people.
Bring the army back to stabilize the situation in Chang'an! Otherwise, if the army's morale is lax and hundreds of thousands of troops are buried in Liaodong, or even the situation in Chang'an collapses and the country collapses, how can we have the face to set foot on the land of the Tang Dynasty?
Farewell, Fathers of the Tang Dynasty? At this critical juncture of life and death, I ask you to stay rational and restrain your soldiers. If anyone's momentary indignation leads to irreversible consequences, when the sword and ax are applied to the neck, don't blame me for not thinking of my love!
"
Everyone was speechless and silent in response.
It is not that everyone is disloyal to His Majesty Li Er, as Li Ji said, the more important thing is to bring these hundreds of thousands of troops back to the Tang Dynasty, and quickly return to Chang'an to stabilize the situation. If those with ulterior motives seek to usurp the throne, it will lead to
The country is in ruins, how can they have the dignity to see His Majesty after they die?
All doubts and anger can only be put aside for the time being.
I am loyal to His Majesty Li Er and vow to find out the real culprit of His Majesty Li Er's death. All the generals in the tent have fought side by side with His Majesty Li Er for many years. Apart from the righteousness of monarch and minister, and the love of robe and honor, how can they watch it with open eyes?
His Majesty Li Er passed away but remained indifferent?
But more importantly, everyone inevitably has their own plans in mind, how to find out the real culprit, how to remove themselves from suspicion, how to maintain the power and wealth in the future in the court, and even how to go one step further...
The pros and cons are just human nature.
*****
When the navy, which was drifting on the sea and battered by cold winds and waves, learned that hundreds of thousands of troops had abandoned the city and fled, all the generals, commanders, and soldiers looked bewildered.
On the flagship, Su Dingfang stared at the captain who reported the news with wide eyes: "How is that possible?"
Hundreds of thousands of troops besieged Pingrang City. Although they suffered heavy casualties, the Goguryeo army was obviously ineffective. As long as they continued to attack by force, they would be able to break into the city and overthrow Goguryeo in just a few days.
How can we retreat at this time?
If we retreat now, won't the previous half-year expedition be in vain? Won't the tens of thousands of Tang Dynasty tigers and warriors buried in Liaodong all die in vain?
How could His Majesty issue such an order?
The captain said: "This is true. The army retreated more than a hundred miles in one day. The general came here on the order of the British Duke and ordered the navy to withdraw to Huating Town immediately to avoid being attacked by the enemy."
Even so, Su Dingfang still didn't believe it: "Impossible! Did the army fail to attack for a long time? What kind of strategy did the army use to lure the Goguryeo army out of the city to pursue them, and then wait for an opportunity to counterattack?"
The captain shook his head and said: "The withdrawal is certain. As for the reason, we don't know. But..."
Seeing his hesitation, Su Dingfang angrily scolded: "If you are still hesitant at this time, do you think that this commander will not kill people?"
The school captain was so frightened that he knelt down on one knee and said: "It's just because there is a rumor spreading all over Pingrang City recently. It may be related to the retreat of the army, but it actually makes no sense. I don't know whether to say it or not."
Su Dingfang said: "Say!"
"Here!"
The lieutenant said: "Recently, rumors have been spreading inside and outside Pingrang City, saying that the Goguryeo 'Wang Zhuangjun' was lurking in the deep ravine behind Anhe Palace some time ago. His Majesty happened to go to inspect and was attacked by them. He fell off his horse and was injured.
And he was shot in the eye by Yuan Nanjian..."
Su Dingfang was shocked.
The Navy was stationed at sea and was only responsible for transporting food, ammunition, and equipment to the army. There was no contact with outsiders back and forth, so this was the first time he heard such rumors.
Although it was unbelievable, hundreds of thousands of troops suddenly withdrew without any warning, even giving up an easy victory. The combination of the two made Su Dingfang feel a frightening thought... Couldn't it?
But if something really happened to His Majesty, what would the navy do?
Do you really obey the British Duke's order, return to Huating Town from the sea, and completely give up this easy victory? If you give up this good situation today, and if you want to overthrow Goguryeo in the future, how much food will you have to collect and how many soldiers will you lose?