A Good Landlord in the Tang Dynasty: Emperor Yuan Cong

Chapter 1280 The Prince’s Suspicion

In a heavy snow,

The seventeenth year of Zhenguan arrived.

The international situation changed suddenly. Goguryeo Prince Go Hwan-gwon cried to the Tang Emperor in the Golden Palace about Quan Gaisuwen's regicide and rebellion, and requested Tang to send troops to help the vassal state quell the rebellion.

Last November, a coup took place in Goguryeo.

Da Dui Lu Quan Gaisu Wen killed King Gao Jianwu, made his nephew Gao Zang the king, proclaimed himself Molizhi, and controlled the country's affairs.

The trigger for this mutiny was actually related to Su Dingfang's capture of southern Liaoning last year.

After the fall of Beisha, Quan Gaisuwen feared the Tang army and advocated peace. He sent his son to Chang'an to pay tribute and ask for peace, hoping to buy peace with money.

This move caused great dissatisfaction among the pro-roya faction in the Goguryeo Dynasty, and they took the opportunity to unite and prepare to take the opportunity to get rid of Quan Gaisuwen. However, these people were not confidential enough, and Quan Gaisuwen found out, so he pretended to have a military review, summoned the troops, and set up a sumptuous banquet in the south of the city, inviting the ministers to come for the review.

When they arrived, Quan Gaisuwen killed them all, including more than a hundred ministers, and the blood flowed like a river.

Then Quan Gaisuwen burned the warehouse and led his troops into the palace, killed King Gao Jianwu, and brutally dismembered his body and threw it into a ditch.

Then he made Gao Zang, the son of Gao Jianwu's younger brother Gao Dayang, the king. He named himself Molizhi and took charge of state affairs.

This palace coup can be said to have fully demonstrated his heroic character.

But Quan Gaisuwen missed killing one person.

Before the incident, the Tang Dynasty's spies lurking in Pyongyang, Goguryeo, had already detected some movements and knew some news in advance. So at the critical moment, the person in charge there took action. They rescued the prince, sailed out to sea, and quickly sent him to Dengzhou.

Then they escorted him all the way to Chang'an.

In the 14th year of Zhenguan, Gao Huanquan had paid tribute to Chang'an, so the emperor and his ministers of the Tang Dynasty were not unfamiliar with him.

He cried to the Tang Dynasty with tears and begged it to send troops to quell the rebellion. He looked very pitiful.

For the Tang Dynasty, it was originally going to send troops to Goguryeo.

Now Goguryeo itself is in chaos. King Go Jianwu of Yeongryu, who had been in power for 25 years, was murdered by his subjects. The crown prince fled to the Tang Dynasty to request for the rebellion to be quelled. This is really like someone falling asleep and then hitting the pillow.

So timely.

At this time, another Silla envoy, Kim Chunchu, came to ask for help.

Last year, Baekje turned to form an alliance with Goguryeo and then launched a large-scale attack on Silla. They successively captured more than 40 cities in the western part of Silla and then captured the important city of Daeye. The governor Yiam Kim Pin-seok who was guarding the city was killed in the battle. His wife was Kim Chunchu's daughter and also died in this battle.

Kim Chunchu was the grandson of King Jinji of Silla, and the grandson of King Jinpyeong. The current Queen Seondeok was his aunt. He was also a very prestigious and important official in Silla. After his daughter's tragic death, he asked Queen Seondeok to allow him to go on a diplomatic mission to Goguryeo, hoping to unite with Goguryeo to take revenge on Baekje.

However, the Goguryeo people took advantage of the situation and demanded that Silla cede most of its territory, including the western coast exports, before they would send troops. Jin Chunchu refused and was detained by Goguryeo for more than two months.

When Quan Gaesomun rebelled, a hidden Tang spy took advantage of the chaos to rescue him. After Jin Chunchu returned to Silla, he immediately advocated seeking help from the Tang Dynasty to fight Goguryeo and Baekje together.

After obtaining the consent of Queen Seondeok, Kim Chunchu personally crossed the sea to Chang'an to ask for help from the Tang Dynasty.

The emperor then said in front of the envoys from all over the world in the Golden Palace:
"Suwen murdered his king, betrayed his ministers, and oppressed his people. Now he has violated my imperial edict and invaded and oppressed neighboring countries. He must be punished."

The emperor's words officially marked the beginning of the expedition against Goguryeo.

After the court was dismissed,

Li Shimin summoned the prime minister and important officials to the Purple Palace to make comments.

"Liaodong was originally Chinese territory, but the Sui Dynasty launched four expeditions but failed to take it. I am now heading east to avenge the sons of China and the sons of Goguryeo, and to avenge the humiliation of my father and king."

"Moreover, the other corners have been largely pacified, but this part has not yet been pacified, so while I am still young, I will use the remaining scholars and officials to conquer it.

Since I left Luoyang, I have only eaten meat and rice, and I have not even eaten spring vegetables, because I am afraid that they will worry about me. "

The emperor was so determined that no one could dissuade him from leading the army in person. Although Chu Suiliang and others repeatedly advised him against it, the emperor did not accept their advice.

The news of the Eastern Expedition spread.

The world is boiling.

In the first month of the new year, the emperor also specially summoned a group of old soldiers left over from the Sui Dynasty who were rescued after the capture of southern Liaoning, as well as a group of old soldiers who had participated in the Sui Dynasty's expedition against Goguryeo in the early years.

These people, together with some wounded representatives from last year's conquest of Beisha City, the Jinshan victory, and the Yudujunshan victory, appeared before the emperor.

The emperor brought legendary military leaders such as Li Jing, Wu Huaiyu, Qin Qiong and Yuchi Gong to hold a tea party with the veterans, and finally hosted a banquet.

The emperor also raised his glass to toast them.

After the meal, the old and wounded soldiers were rewarded with money and food, and each of them was given a horse. Those with injuries and old illnesses were asked to receive treatment from the prefectures and counties.

A group of old and wounded soldiers were moved to tears.

The court began to recruit soldiers.
Although he led the army in person this time, unlike Emperor Yang of Sui's expedition against Liao, the emperor did not plan to mobilize the entire country's troops for the eastern expedition and did not make such a grand event, so the total number of troops mobilized was only 150,000.

They are all selected elites,
There are Youyan cavalry, Jiangdong infantry, Guanzhong government soldiers, and Jianghuai sailors.

Many people want to go to Liaodong to fight, but they haven't had the chance yet.

The Tang Dynasty had more than 700,000 soldiers in Tianfu, but only selected 150,000 of them, leaving a large number of people unselected.

So many people volunteered to join the army in private uniforms.
Countless people signed up from all over the country, numbering in the thousands.

Everyone shouted slogans, "We don't ask for rewards from the county magistrate, we only wish to die in Liaodong."

I brought my own food and clothing and volunteered to join the expedition. But the emperor issued an edict that only 150,000 elite troops would be selected for this eastern expedition, and no one was allowed to volunteer to join the army.

The Liaodong battlefield has its own particularities. First, there is a long cold winter. Second, the Liaoze River is dangerous and difficult to supply. The more soldiers there are, the more difficult it is to supply, and the higher the transportation cost.

It was very difficult to maintain the supply of food, fodder and equipment for an expeditionary force of 150,000 people. The court adopted Wu Huaiyu's suggestion and mainly relied on sea supply.

Therefore, at the beginning of the new year, the emperor ordered the chief architect Yan Lide to go to the western route of Jiangnan and supervise the construction of 400 supply ships at the shipyard in Jiangzhou.

He also ordered the Yingzhou governor and Andong Protector Su Dingfang to lead the Youzhou and Yingzhou government soldiers, as well as the light cavalry corps composed of Khitan, Mohe and Xi people as the vanguard to launch a tentative attack on the area west of the Goguryeo Great Wall, and to conduct reconnaissance and draw detailed maps.

He ordered the Minister of Rites Wei Ting and the Vice Minister of Civil Affairs Cui Renshi to supervise the transportation of military supplies from various states in Hebei to be stored in Yingzhou.

He ordered the son-in-law of the emperor, Duwei, and Minister of the Imperial Household Department, Xiao Rui, to transport grain and fodder from various states in Henan to the sea to Shamen Island, to serve as a transit station for military supplies.

These were the plans that the emperor discussed repeatedly with Li Jing, Wu Huaiyu and others at the Tangquan Palace in Mount Li many years ago.

When the war officially breaks out, Li Shimin will personally lead the expedition to Liaodong, and Crown Prince Chengqian will also take up the title of Governor of Dingzhou and go to Dingzhou, the logistics base, to take charge.

Zuo Pushe Fang Xuanling stayed in Chang'an, while Gao Shilian was in charge of Luoyang.

Liu Li, Cen Wenben, Ma Zhou and others assisted the prince in Dingzhou.

Li Jing, Wu Huaiyu, Changsun Wuji and others accompanied him.

There were two attack groups by sea and land. The sea route was commanded by Li Daozon, who was appointed as the chief commander of the Pyongyang Road Army. He had Wu Heita, the governor of Qingzhou, and Zuo Nandang, the governor of Luzhou, as deputy chief commanders. He led the Jianghuai Navy, the Lingnan Navy, the Denglai Navy, and two land combat forces, 500 warships, and 50,000 troops.

This naval army was divided into two routes. One was the northern route, led by Li Daozon and Wu Heita, with Qingnipu and Shimazin in southern Liaoning as their bases. They would be responsible for attacking the east and west coasts of southern Liaoning, reaching the mouth of the Liaohe River in the west and the mouth of the Yalu River in the east.

The southern naval fleet led by Zuo Nandang will be anchored at the naval base in Qingdao, and will then sail to the Korean Peninsula with the goal of harassing the coast near Pyongyang. If there is an opportunity, they will unite with Silla to open up a new battlefield in Baekje and build an offensive base.

Fifty thousand in total, but the task is heavy.

On the front battlefield on the emperor's side, there are 100,000 troops with more luxurious configurations.

Su Dingfang and Cheng Yaojin were the left and right forwards. Cheng Yaojin was responsible for attacking in the northeast direction, with the targets being Gaimu City and Xincheng.
Su Dingfang mainly led the You and Ying Tang armies, as well as the Xi, Qi, Mohe and other supporting troops, and fought in the southeast direction, aiming at Jian'an City and Anshi City.

The main task of these two vanguards was not to capture cities, but to make the Goguryeo people confused about where the main force of the Tang army was and where the main attack direction was, so as to mobilize the Goguryeo army.

In particular, the heavy troops in Liaodong City and the troops defending the Liaohe River were lured away from the mountain.

Then comes the time when the emperor's central army group shows its power, which is the most deadly killing move.

Liu Hongji, a veteran general of the founding of the country, was the vanguard officer, Qin Qiong and Yuchi Gong were the two gate gods as the cavalry chiefs, Li Ji was the chief of the central army, and was appointed as the chief marching commander of Liaodong Road.

Wu Huaiyi, the Grand Protector of Anxi, was appointed as the Deputy Commander-in-Chief of the Liaodong Road Army.

The next nine governors were Zhang Shigui, Zhang Jian, Zhishisili, Qibi Heli, Li Sheer, Jiang Xingben, Duan Zhixuan, Cheng Mingzhen and Pang Xiaotai.

Li Jing was the chief military officer, Wu Huaiyu was the military secretary, and Zhangsun Wuji was the military advisor.

In the first month of the year, the emperor issued the "Edict to Punish Goguryeo", and in the second month he issued the "Edict to Personally Lead an Expedition to Goguryeo". The specific reasons for sending troops in the edict were that Goguryeo was in civil strife, with ministers killing their kings, abusing their subjects, occupying the border areas, and poisoning others and other countries.

Therefore, the Emperor of the Tang Dynasty had to personally lead an expedition to Goguryeo to rescue the people of Goguryeo from the dire situation, and at the same time rescue the Silla Kingdom, a vassal state of the Tang Dynasty.

Another thing was to restore order and help put down the Goguryeo rebellion.

Therefore, the Emperor of the Tang Dynasty in Chang'an conferred the title of Supreme Pillar of the State, Prince of Liaodong, and King of Goryeo on Goguryeo Prince Gao Huanquan, and granted him the title of General of the Right Guard.

Wu Huaiyu took some time to visit the Crown Prince Chengqian in the East Palace.

He was still immersed in the grief of Wu Meiniang being burned to death. Princess Xiaoxue of Taiyuan called for her mother every day, and Cheng Qian became more sad every time he heard it. Prince Li Xian of Longxi also often cried and called for his mother.

Crown Princess Han was willing to accept the two children and wanted to raise them personally, but Cheng Qian refused. He wanted to raise the two children himself.

But he had no experience after all. Although he had a wet nurse and a nanny to help take care of the child, he could only feel sad and helpless when the child looked for his mother.

"How come Second Mother is gone? I still can't believe this fact."

"Do you think that if I had been in Lizheng Hall that day, nothing would have happened?"

"Why did Mei Niang want to drink that day?"

The prince kept chattering like Xianglin Sao.

"Your Highness, do not dwell on the past, do not mix up the present, and do not anticipate the future. Let the little princess and the little prince be raised by Princess Han. Your Highness will be going to Dingzhou soon, and it is impossible for him to take them with him."

"The children are still young and still need the warmth of their mother. Their biological mother is deceased, but Crown Princess Han is also their legal mother and will take good care of them."

"Mei Niang passed away suddenly, leaving these two children behind. I must take good care of them." Cheng Qian turned his head and looked at Huaiyu, "Teacher, I always feel that this matter is not that simple. Maybe it is not an accident."

A cold light flashed in the prince's eyes, "Mei Niang just escaped from poisoning, but she still couldn't escape a sudden fire. Teacher, don't you think this is a little strange?

I think this is not an accident, but someone deliberately set the fire. Teacher, please help me find out the truth."

"Your Highness, the matter has been investigated and it was found to be a fire."

"No, I don't believe it. Someone deliberately set the fire. They murdered my Mei Niang."

Wu Huaiyu couldn't help but admire that the prince could still remain so calm at this time and even guess that Wu Mei did not die in an accidental fire.

But he was destined to get no results.

The fire was set by the emperor. Wu Huaiyu had no evidence, but he knew it was the emperor who set it, and of course, he was also involved.

(End of this chapter)