Neon Clothes and Iron Clothes

Chapter 127 Powerful Ministers
There are protrusions every hundred steps or so on the city wall. Goguryeo people call it the pheasant city, and there are two gates at the city gate. All have archers deployed.Standing on the city wall, you can clearly see the street market below the mountain and the Tang army camp further away, and the air is filled with the atmosphere of war.

"The breath of Tang people is always so stinky!"

As the actual supreme ruler of Goguryeo, Quangai Suwen is nearly sixty years old, but he is as strong as a young man in his early twenties.He is taller than everyone present, with slender legs, broad shoulders, flat belly, thin but muscular arms, thin lips under the high bridge of the nose, thick beard connected to the temples, wherever he looks, Everyone lowered their heads, and no one dared to look at him.

"Let's talk about it. Facing the Tang army's siege, what countermeasures are there?" Quan Gai Suwen's voice was not loud, but everyone present held their breath and listened attentively to what he said. Zhi (a special official position created by powerful officials to usurp the throne in the late Goguryeo Kingdom) was not very patient. The last time someone didn’t hear clearly, Quan Gai Suwen ordered to cut off his ears—the reason was that he couldn’t listen. He who knows what others are talking does not need ears.

"We should recruit all the tribes of Mohe to strengthen the defense of Xincheng (an important stronghold of Koguryo in Liaodong, located in today's Fushun). As long as the Tang people can't attack Xincheng, even if they can cross the Yalu River, they still have scruples!"

"No, Pyongyang is the goal of the Tang army. As long as Pyongyang can be defended, the Tang army will run out of rations next spring, and then the situation of the war can be reversed!"

"This time is different from the past. The Tang people have already destroyed Baekje, and the Silla people are allies. We can transport food from Silla as a long-term solution. If we are trapped in Pyongyang, we will only have a dead end!"

"Although the Silla people form an alliance with the Tang people, they are only using the power of the Tang people to destroy Baekje, and they will never really contribute to the transportation of food!"

"Baekje and Silla were originally on par. If the people of Tang could cross the sea and destroy Baekje, they would naturally be able to destroy Silla too. Not to mention that Baekje and the Japanese are feuds. The four counties were used as bait to attack Silla with the Japanese, how could Silla resist it? How could the people of Silla not know the advantages and disadvantages? How dare they not do anything?"

Quanyuan boy (the eldest son of Quangai Suwen) leaned against the female wall, trying to keep his injured right leg from bearing the weight of his body. In the battle of Yalushui not long ago, a Chinese crossbow shot through cut off his skirt armor, and hit his thigh.He knew that his father always kept silent at the beginning of the meeting, listened to the opinions of others, and never expressed his opinion until the end. He did the same today, but unlike usual, today he could feel the coldness cast from all directions. His eyes were all scolding him, a defeated general who caused 3 people to die by the Yalu River, to stand here like a normal person.

"I heard that the Japanese have intervened in the battle of Baekje. We should send envoys to contact the Japanese. After all, the Silla and Tang people are our common enemies!"

"That's it!" Quan Gai Suwen's low voice pierced through the noise of the crowd, like a sharp sword cutting through grease: "Back off, all of you back down!"

Everyone bowed their heads to Da Mo Lizhi, and then left one after another. Boy Quan Yuan was about to follow behind, but he heard his father's voice: "No, boy Yuan, you stay, and Yuan Nanjian (Quan Gai) Su Wen's second son) and Yuan Nan's birth (third son), both of you will also stay!"

The boy from Quanyuan was stunned for a moment, but he didn't say anything, he returned to Quangai Suwen's right hand and stood upright obediently, he dared not show any weakness or slack in front of his father.

"Isn't there an arrow wound on your leg? Sit down!" Quan Gai Suwen pointed to a stone next to him. The boy Quan Yuan was really at a loss and could only follow the order. His two younger brothers stood On the other side of Quangai Suwen, they stood facing their elder brother.

"Yuan boy, you did a good job today, it seems that you haven't forgotten what I told you once!"

The boy from Quanyuan raised his head in astonishment, trying to find traces of sarcasm on his father's face, but found nothing.

"The more powerful a person is, the less he should speak: first, the less you speak, the harder it is for others to know what you think; second, since they don't know what you think, they will be angry with you. Fear, fear is the most important weapon in my hand!"

"fear?"

"Yes!" Quan Gai Suwen pursed his lips slightly: "My family is not a royal family, and the power in my hands is not inherited, but usurped by violence and fraud. Only when people fear, can I continue to rule!"

It turned out that Quangai Suwen was the leader of one of the five tribes of Goguryeo, and his father was Dadulu (Prime Minister) of Goguryeo. Quangai Suwen inherited his father's official position and launched a military coup in 642 AD. Wang Rongliu and more than a hundred ministers were all killed. He even cut Gao Rongliu into pieces and refused to hold a funeral for him.Afterwards, Yuangai Suwen proclaimed himself "Damolizhi", and made Gaozang, nephew of King Rongliu, king and regent.King Gaozang is in vain, and Yuan Gai Suwen monopolizes military power and state affairs.In terms of political science, Quangai Suwen is a tyrant—although he has actual power, his power has not been recognized by tradition and law, and the foundation of his rule is very weak, so he has to resort to terror s method.

"Father, why don't you just become king?" Quan Yuan Nanchan asked.

"Hehe!" Quan Gai Su Wen laughed twice, walked up to the boy Quan Yuan, and patted the eldest son on the shoulder twice: "Let's leave this matter to your elder brother, I can only be an elder brother in this life." Don't let go!"

"Father! I—" Quanyuan boy immediately felt a subtle change in the eyes of his two younger brothers. He wanted to stand up and refuse, but was held down by Quan Gai Suwen: "Do you want to refuse, no Yes, my heir is you, and it can only be you!"

"Father!" Quan Yuan Nan gave birth to the youngest, and he couldn't help but ask directly: "The eldest brother just lost the battle in Yalushui? Why can't it be the second brother?"

"Because he is my eldest son!" Quan Gai Suwen snorted coldly.Photographed by his prestige, everyone shut up.

"Yuan Nanchan, Yuan Nanjian, I know what you two think. It's normal to desire power, but you have to remember that everything we have comes from the family. I killed King Rongliu, proclaimed myself Damo Lizhi, and held grudges There are as many people as a cow, but this is not the most dangerous time, because I am still alive; the most dangerous time is after I die, when people who hate me will besiege, if the three of you brothers will kill each other in order to fight for power , the family will be destroyed forever, so I can only pass on the power to your eldest brother, because only in this way will there be no disputes, do you understand?"

(End of this chapter)