Early Tang Dynasty: forge ahead

Chapter 378 Chaos in the East China Sea
Jincheng, the capital of Silla.

A great mansion.

Jin Yuxin is playing chess with his sixth son Jin Yuanwang at home.

Jin Yuxin's residence is very simple, without any gorgeous furniture, only simple daily necessities.

The only valuable thing is the exquisite set of Go equipment in front of the two of them. It is a high-quality equipment made of jade and amber. It was a gift specially purchased by Queen Seondeok from Zhongyuan and given to Jin Yushin.

Obviously, Kim Yu-shin did not collect the Go chess piece given by Queen Seon-deok as a treasure, but pragmatically placed it in a corner of the house. The chess pieces made of jade and amber had lost their luster due to rubbing.

Jin Yuanwang threw the chess pieces in his hands into the chess box in admiration, shook his head and said: "My father is very thoughtful and has a clever game plan. This child will never win in this life."

Jin Yuxin silently put away the chess pieces on the chessboard, thinking a lot.

Jin Yuanwang looked at his father and said angrily: "The child is incompetent and cannot solve his father's problems."

Jin Yuxin had already expected Chen Qingsi's destruction of Fu Yufeng's Restoration Army. When the news reached Silla, Jin Yuxin was not surprised. Everything was within his expectation.

Ever since he chose to give up supporting Baekje, Kim Yu-shin already knew the fate of Buyeo-feng.

Jin Yuxin was only a little surprised when the Japanese reinforcements arrived and had no other reaction. But when the news came that Liu Rengui had occupied Tsushima Island, Jin Yuxin's demeanor changed drastically, and he locked himself in the house for a whole day and night. , just ordered food and drink.

But from that day on, Jin Yuxin became taciturn, sometimes even going whole days without speaking. When he spoke occasionally, it was just a few simple words, which made everyone in his family worried.

Jin Yuanwang was Jin Yuxin's favorite youngest son. He specifically sought out his father to play chess because he wanted to make his father happy.

As a result, in the past, Jin Yuxin would hold back his hand appropriately when playing chess with him to make it more fun for him. But today, in a state of lack of confidence, Jin Yuxin killed him and was defeated due to the difference in strength.

Instead of making his father happy, he was depressed because he was killed. Jin Yuanwang could only feel ashamed and reflect on himself.

Jin Yuxin said: "My father is fine."

Jin Yuanwang said: "Father has been planning for Silla his whole life, it's time to let go."

Jin Yuxin thought about the current situation and said, "How can I let go?"

Silla was originally in a good situation, with the Tang court on the outside, attracting Goguryeo. By flattering the Tang court, their internal situation was good, their economy was prosperous, their national power was prosperous, and they already had the power to unify Haidong.

All he was thinking about was how to get the biggest piece of meat from Tang Ting's mouth.

Who would have thought that the Tang Dynasty suddenly discovered their intentions and did not work hard in Liaodong, causing Goguryeo and Baekje to attack. Silla struggled to hold on for more than a year. The originally good economy became corrupt and the national power gradually declined. .

At this moment, Tang Ting suddenly sent troops to Baekje and captured Baekje with lightning speed.

This really stepped on Silla's painful foot, and Silla even had the idea of ​​​​connecting the Goguryeo and Baekje rebels with the Japanese to resist the Tang Dynasty.

However, this method was a last resort, and Silla did not dare to do it rashly.

After all, there are too many things involved in each. The leader of Goguryeo, Da Mo Li Zhiyuan Gaesu Wen, is ambitious, and the Japanese country is also a group of wolves. Silla has a feud with both sides. Joining forces with them is tantamount to seeking the skin of a tiger.

It's okay to have the Tang army here, so they can attack the outside world in unison. Once they are lucky enough to win, they will force the Tang army to withdraw from Baekje, and there will be less foreign enemies.

How can their four forces be stabilized?
The dog's brains have to be knocked out.

Silla already had enmity with Goguryeo and Japan, and had a bad relationship with Baekje. They drove out Tang Ting, a reasonable tiger, and attracted a group of crazy jackals. Silla might even gnaw away its bones. .

They haven't gotten there yet...

At first, Jin Yuxin planned to secretly support the Baekje rebels and drag Tang Ting into the quagmire of war. He would let Tang Ting know how much they had to pay for the land of Baekje, so that they would retreat in spite of the difficulties.

At first, the situation was as he planned, but with the appearance of Chen Qingsi, everything changed. The initiative he had originally controlled was lost bit by bit.

Facing Chen Qingsi, Jin Yuxin also had a way to deal with it.

Praise!

This aroused Chen Qingsi's ambition and made him want to establish himself as the king of Baekje. Even if he did not establish himself openly, he was still secretly the uncrowned king, obeying the instructions but not the announcement.

It just so happened that the Emperor of Central Plains was in strange health, and the future prince of Tang Ting was still a child.

A proud man like Chen Qingsi must be ambitious. The transition from ambition to ambition is just a step away.

In fact, in history, this is how Jin Yuxin treated Liu Renyuan, the then governor of Xiongjin. The news that Liu Renyuan wanted to separatize Haidong spread wildly in Chang'an. In addition, he could not stay in Baekje, which aroused Li Zhi's suspicion. He was exiled to Yaozhou and died in a different place.

According to the real history, it is unclear whether Liu Renyuan had any rebellious intentions, but he was arrogant and domineering in his favor, which indeed aroused Li Zhi's suspicion.

Jin Yuxin firmly believed that the human heart could not withstand the test. No matter whether Chen Qingsi became ambitious or Tang Ting became suspicious, it would be a good thing for Baekje.

Until Jin Yuxin got the news that Tang Jun controlled Tsushima Island and it reached his ears.

In an instant, Jin Yuxin realized that Silla had no future.

Tang Jun's control of Tsushima Island was only a trivial matter in the eyes of others, but it was different in the eyes of Jin Yuxin.

He saw the future and saw the future scene of the Tang Navy stationed on Tsushima Island.

It is difficult for a small country like the navy to control it. Naval warfare is different from land warfare. The weak can defeat the strong by relying on the terrain.

On the sea, naval duels are about which side's ship is stronger and which side's ship is bigger. There is no other reason to say.

The navy of the Tang Dynasty was unparalleled in the world. They occupied Tsushima Island and were a fatal threat to Silla.

Directly opposite Tsushima Island is Busan. As long as the sails are raised, the Tang army can attack their narrow peninsula coastline at any time...

This also means that as long as Silla dares to make any move against Baekje, the Tang army can appear anywhere behind them.

Jin Yuxin knew very well how powerful Chen Qingsi was. Since he chose to invade the Japanese mainland, he could not let go of Tsushima Island, a military fortress that could restrict Silla and Japan.

Even if Chen Qingsi left Baekje in the end, the strategic layout he left behind was enough to restrain Silla and not dare to act rashly.

Jin Yuxin's strategic vision was too strong. He had already seen Silla's future and was unable to resist.

This is too cruel for a person like Jin Yuxin who has devoted his life to the prosperity of Silla.

Jin Yuanwang knew his father's frustration. He couldn't help at all in this regard, and sighed: "How can you shake a big tree by floating?"

Jin Yuan looked at the middle and upper position, but he saw it very clearly.

The three kingdoms of Haidong, Goguryeo, Baekje, and Silla, have hundreds of years of history and hundreds of years of grievances. Each of them has its peak, but no one can destroy any one.

In just three months, the Tang army destroyed Baekje, a country that had existed for four to five hundred years. How can this gap be restored by human power?
How could Jin Yuxin not know this truth, but he was unwilling to do so!

Pyongyang, Goguryeo.

Da Mo Li Zhi Mansion.

Unlike Kim Yu-shin who was devastated, Yeon Gaesoo-moon in Pyongyang learned that Chen Qingsi had sent people to invade the Japanese mainland. The hero of Haidong was really relieved.

Chen Qingyi's victory over Fu Yufeng and the complete annihilation of the Japanese army was truly astonishing.

When Yeon Gae Suwen heard the news, his scalp was numb, his eyes were dim, and he even felt like crying.

Yeon Gaesumun has been bullied and cried by Tang Jun in recent years.

His highlight moment was naturally protecting Goguryeo from being destroyed by the Tang Dynasty. Facing the divine power of Tian Khan Li Shimin, relying on Yang Wanchun's Anshi City, he forced the Tang army to retreat.

After that, Yeon Gaesumun's power was unparalleled for a while, and he controlled all the rights in Goguryeo as a minister.

But in the next few years, Yeon Gaesowun did not live a good life.

The defeat outside Anshi made Li Shimin know that Goguryeo, a regime established by the Fuyu people, indeed had extraordinary national resilience. Moreover, Goguryeo was particularly easy to defend and difficult to attack. They were accustomed to building cities close to the mountains, and the mountain cities everywhere were extremely difficult to attack.

As a result, the Tang army changed its tactics. On the one hand, it established a closer relationship with Silla and let it threaten Goguryeo's rear. On the other hand, it sent famous generals to lead troops to attack the hinterland of Goguryeo. Instead of attacking the city, they burned the villages and migrant populations and wreaked havoc.

Yuan Gaisuwen was so angry that he tried to wipe out the invading Tang army many times, but the commanders of the Tang army in the Zhenguan Dynasty were Niu Jinda, Li Ji, and Xue Wanche. Who is not a ruthless person?
The same was true in the Gaozong Dynasty. Cheng Mingzhen, Su Dingfang, and Xue Rengui made Goguryeo miserable.

The two countries have been at odds for almost twenty years, and Goguryeo and Goguryeo have never been able to take advantage of the Tang army in the field.

The economy and people's livelihood are in shambles, and the fact that they have been able to survive until now is entirely due to the national resilience of the Fuyu people.

Goguryeo knew the purpose of the Tang army's destruction of Baekje.

Therefore, Yeon Gaesomun also secretly made a lot of efforts to support Yufeng's restoration army and gave away a lot of armaments and food in vain.

As a result, Chen Qingxi was easily defeated, and he also wiped out all 40,000 Japanese troops.

Such a powerful person appeared behind him...

There were Cheng Mingzhen, Xue Rengui, and Li Jinxing in the front, which had already made it difficult for Yuan Gaisuwen to sleep and eat well. Now Chen Qingsi came from behind. Yuan Gaisuwen felt cold all over just thinking about it.

He couldn't imagine that if Cheng Mingzhen, Xue Rengui, and Li Jinxing attacked from Liaodong, and Chen Qingsi, Hei Te Changzhi, and Cheng Wuting came in from behind, and if Silla's Jin Yuxin also got involved.

How can you be a Goguryeo?

What to use to stop it?
So knowing that Chen Qingsi was focusing on the Japanese country, Yeon Gaesumun rarely had a good sleep.

Of course it’s just a good night’s sleep.

Yeon Gaesumun was able to withstand the Tang army for so many years, and he was able to make Li Shimin return in defeat. Naturally, he was not an easy person. He knew that the Tang army occupied Baekje, which was a huge harm to them.

Unless the Tang army is driven out of Baekje, Yeon Gaesumun will never feel at ease.

"Call the big couplet!"

The main guest house in Goguryeo was called Eulji Chungmu, and his father was Eulji Mundeok, the military god of Goguryeo in the past.

Ulchi was both civilized and military. When Yang Guang's army of one million attacked Liaodong, he treated Yang Guang like a stupid pig. The army of one million could not capture the Liaodong city he was guarding. Later, he personally led an army to kill the 350,000-strong Sui army, leaving only 2,700 people.

Eulji Chungmu was the most outstanding son of Eulji Mundeok. He was reused by Yeongaesumun and served as the grand guesthouse of Goguryeo, with a status equal to that of the prime minister.

"Da Mo Li Zhi!"

Eulji Chungmu is in his fifties this year, with bright eyes, but he looks older, his beard and hair are all white, and he looks a bit tired.

Goguryeo was in dire straits both internally and externally, and the heavy burden on the shoulders of Eulji Chungmu, the elder of the house, was certainly not small, weighing him down like an old man in his seventies.

Yeon Gaesumun asked: "The Tang court seems to have the intention to attack the Japanese country. Do you think we should try to unite the Japanese country to deal with the Tang court together. The Tang court occupies Baekje and is too great a threat to us."

Eulji Chungmu said: "It is indeed feasible, but I think that just one Japanese country is not enough. What's more, the Japanese country is far away from us, and we cannot effectively transmit messages to each other and establish tacit cooperation. Even if we make a good alliance, it will be difficult to achieve miraculous results. "

Yeon Gaesumun immediately understood the implication of his grand master's words.

Although he felt resentful in his heart, he looked down on Silla who hugged Datang and knelt down to lick him, and hated the other party for always taking advantage of others' danger. Whenever Datang attacked Liaodong, Silla would take the opportunity to encroach on its territory of Goguryeo.

Yeon Gaesumun tolerated this kind of villain behavior again and again.

Until a small number became a large number, Silla once threatened the Datong River Basin.

This is also the reason why Goguryeo couldn't bear it and attacked Silla. The Daedong River Basin was Goguryeo's most important grain-producing area. How could Silla succeed?
Yeon Gaesumun's hatred for Silla even exceeded that of the Tang Dynasty.

But facing the current situation, Yeon Gaesumun also knew that it would be the best situation if he could promote reconciliation with Silla and then work with Silla and Japan to deal with the Tang army.

"I don't mind reconciling with Silla, but Silla may not be willing."

Yeon Gaesumun frowned, expressing his displeasure.

Eulji Chungmu was not sure about this and said: "We can only take a chance. The kings and ministers of Silla are all ambitious and talented people. I don't believe that as one of the Three Kingdoms, they have never thought about unifying Haidong. The existence of the Tang Army will destroy all Silla's plans, so we can give it a try."

"Okay!" Yeon Gaesumun said: "I will personally compile a letter for the King of Silla, and the grand palace will choose the right person to be the envoy to Silla. In addition, I will send someone to the Japanese country to express our intentions to the Japanese country."

Because of the appearance of Chen Qingsi, the situation in Haidong changed drastically.

Both Goguryeo and Silla were affected and had their own action plans.

This is especially true for Japan...

At this time, the Japanese nation was already convinced of the death of their general, the hero of Echigo's defense against the barbarians, Abebirov, and also confirmed that the person who betrayed the Japanese nation was Nakatomi Daiki of the Nakatomi family.

It was because of Nakatomi Daiki's betrayal that their heroes who conquered the barbarians died tragically in a foreign land, which led to their emperor's death in Tsukushi, and caused the Western Expedition army to flee back to Asuka like a bereaved dog.

In an instant, the Nakatomi family was targeted by thousands of people.

As a result, there was internal turmoil in the Japanese state.

On the surface, there are two political forces in Japan, the reformist faction who inherited the legacy of Prince Shotoku, and the conservative faction.

But there is actually another faction...

(End of this chapter)