Ji Tang

867 Empty City
After the conversation that day, Ji Song understood that Li Shimin had already planned to withdraw.

But he also understood that neither the emperor nor the generals would be willing to withdraw at this point, and they would not retreat easily until they gave up completely.

In the next few days, the Tang army launched several attacks on the inner city, but all ended in failure. Even if Ji Song personally led the army to attack the city, he was quickly forced to jump off the city wall by the overwhelming army. The loss for this is not small.

Half a month later, the weather turned cold again, and the morale of the Tang army, which was not prepared for the winter, was even lower.

After many discussions, Du Ruhui was the first to raise the issue of withdrawing from the army. He was opposed by most people at first, but after some arguments, he had no choice but to agree.

During this period, Li Shimin, the emperor, did not say anything. Ji Song also regarded himself as an invisible person, hiding in the corner and watching everyone argue with red faces!

In early October, when the first heavy snow fell and hundreds of people were lost overnight, Li Shimin could not care less and immediately ordered the army to quickly withdraw across the Liao River and return to Chang'an.

But how could an army of more than [-] people just retreat if they could?
When everyone was discussing who should be the rear guard to prevent Goguryeo from jumping over the wall, Ji Song was the first to ask for an order to be the rear guard for the army.

Finally, Li Shimin assigned [-] troops to continue stationed in the camp, while others evacuated in batches, and evacuated from the camp at night when the enemy was unclear about the situation.

In this way, three days later, only Ji Song and [-] troops were left in the original camp of more than [-] people.

In addition to the original [-] troops led by himself, Xue Wanche, who was asked to stay by Ji Song, led [-] cavalry and stayed with Ji Song.

In the Chinese army tent, the original emperor's palace had been demolished long ago, and the current Chinese army tent was left by Li Ji.

But at this time, it belonged to Ji Song. There was heavy snowfall outside the tent, but it was as warm as spring inside. More than ten braziers burned the tent comfortably.

"His grandma's family is finally gone. Now we brothers have the final say, not to mention how comfortable we are."

Xue Wanche didn't know where he got this problem. Ji Song was so busy that he didn't even touch the floor, dealing with all kinds of material allocation and official documents, but this fool was sitting on this guy's lap, drinking warm wine, and was almost comfortable in the chair. The moan came out.

"I said it would be nice if you had nothing to do and went out to check the surrounding situation. Didn't you see that I am still so busy? Why are you causing trouble when you have nothing to do?"

"Get the hell out of here!"

"Otherwise I will kill you!"

Ji Song's head was filled with dark thoughts. This bastard was just here to disgust him. Why did he believe his words and ask the emperor to keep him?
How can I find help for myself?It was obvious that he had found an uncle.

"Don't go!"

"It's so comfortable here. Now that old man Yang Wanchun is hiding in the city and can't come out, what could happen?"

Then he glanced at Ji Song again and said, "Besides, it's extremely cold outside now, so I won't go!"

Bang!

Xue Wanche caught a paperweight with his hand, but before he could react, a document smacked him directly on the forehead.

"Alas! What are you doing? Aren't you just going out on patrol? If you can't do that in our area, why are you taking action?"

Ji Song was too lazy to talk to him and continued to deal with the official documents in his hand. When he was done with them, he saw Xue Wanche who had put on his armor, picked up his horse and was about to go out.

"Don't worry, I have something to tell you!"

Xue Wanche was stunned for a moment, but came back again.

Ji Song pondered for a moment and said: "The city of Anshi is too quiet, so quiet that it makes people feel panicked. Logically speaking, even if they are not planning to pursue our army, it is still necessary to send some scouts to inquire about the military situation. But it has been three days. There is no movement at all, this is very abnormal!”

"Maybe they are worried about the trap set by our military. He doesn't want to take risks, so..."

Ji Song interrupted him and said directly: "Impossible!"

"Although our army set out at night, after all, so many people are still on other people's territory. It is impossible to say that Yang Wanchun was not aware of it at all."

"But now that he knows that our army has retreated, but there is no movement at all, this is not his style."

Ji Song walked back and forth several times and said to Xue Wanche: "No, we still have to find out!"

"You go gather the army and let's go take a look!"

Xue Wanchun was shocked when he heard this and quickly stopped him: "Are you crazy?"

"Now we only have 3 people, and there are at least [-] troops in the city. What if we are seen through and come out to fight us?"

"No, you can't do this!"

Xue Wanche's head shook like a rattle, and he disagreed with Ji Song's actions to the death!

"are you going?"

Ji Song glared at this guy fiercely. Seeing that this idiot had lost his temper again, he could only say patiently: "If they want to cause trouble for us, Ji Song came out early. How can they wait until now?"

"If we don't show up, they will really be sure that our troops have withdrawn. But if we show up openly outside the city, they will not dare to make any move."

But seeing Xue Wanche's confused look, Ji Song put his right hand on his forehead and said helplessly: "Just do as I say, and nothing will happen."

"No"

"Are you going? If not, go back!"

Seeing as this guy is okay, Ji Song said angrily.

Seeing that Ji Song was indeed angry, he muttered a few more words and left reluctantly.

Boom boom boom!
The war drums sounded, and when [-] troops came out in full force and all appeared at the foot of Anshi City, Ji Song was puzzled. The enemy troops on top of the city were in a panic!

No, he immediately picked up the telescope and looked in other directions. From a few hundred steps away, he could see the expression on the other person's face with the telescope.

Only twos and threes of Goguryeo people appeared in the field of vision, but what puzzled Ji Song was that these people were obviously not elites. They looked more like the old, weak, sick and disabled, and had no fighting ability at all.

Even the spear in his hand and the armor he wore were in tatters. Where were the elite men who fought to the death against the Tang army some time ago?

"Send the order down!"

"Siege the city immediately!"

Looking at Xue Wanche who was trying to stop him, he said in a deep voice: "Execute the order, this is not a discussion with you!"

Xue Wanche's heart was filled with confusion. He didn't know what kind of madness Ji Song had gotten. After the army withdrew, he actually wanted to attack Anshi City, where more than [-] troops had been attacking the city for three months without success.

Seeing Ji Song's expressionless look, he opened his mouth, but in the end he could only grit his teeth and said: "I will attack the city myself!"

As if out of anger, he led everyone to attack the city.

Siege equipment such as ladders and pit rails are all ready-made.

In less than a stick of incense, they had already entered the gate of the inner city.

Without saying a word, Xue Wanche stepped onto the ladder with his shield, and the other soldiers followed suit!

Ji Song was not far behind them. They did not stop Xue Wanche's anger, but just watched quietly.

The enemy troops on the top of the city shot down a few weak arrows sparsely, and Xue Wanche climbed up the city wall unimpeded. This was a huge difference from the previous days when the Tang army suffered heavy losses and failed to climb the city wall!
Xue Wanche, who thought he would be met with all-out resistance, somehow climbed onto the city wall and casually stabbed to death an old soldier who could barely walk. When he saw the scene on the city wall, his heart suddenly became cold!
"It seems that we have all been deceived by Yang Wanchun!" Ji Song came to the city wall at some point. His face was livid at this time, and he was obviously extremely angry!
"Search! I will turn Anshi City upside down and find anyone alive!"

"promise!"

Xue Wanche's hands and feet were cold, even if he was a fool, he understood that this matter was unusual!
It's freezing cold. Where are the [-] to [-] troops in the city?
"No, Your Majesty is in danger!"

Xue Wanche screamed and looked back at Ji Song!

But what puzzled him was that Ji Song had no expression at all. He just stood in the snow and didn't know what he was thinking.
"Brother Song, hurry up and save your majesty immediately, otherwise"

"That's too late!"

Ji Song almost fell to the ground and murmured: "Now that the mountains are blocked by heavy snow, we can't walk very far in a day. By the time we get there, the day lilies will be cold."

"Report to the Chief Manager, we found a dozen Goguryeo civilians hiding in the cellar!"

Ji Song looked over and saw a dozen Goguryeo civilians kneeling on the ground shivering from the cold.

Their eyes were numb and their bodies were covered in mud, like walking zombies!
Xue Wanche rushed over like crazy, grabbed one of them and asked loudly: "Tell me, where are all the people? If I don't tell you, I will kill you!"

But what was shocking was that instead of being afraid, the man even smiled at Xue Wanche.Just when Xue Wanche didn't understand what was going on, Ji Song came up and pinched the man's chin, only to see that there was no tongue inside.

Ji Song took a breath and felt Yang Wanchun's cruelty again!
No, Yang Wanchun couldn't do this, otherwise he wouldn't be respected by the Goguryeo people!

"Yuan Gai Su Wen!"

Ji Song gritted his teeth and said.

When Ji called out this name, the man suddenly struggled and stared at Ji Song, as if he was the same person.

Xue Wanche also understood at this time. He stared at the dozen or so people in front of him blankly, and he really couldn't understand why Yeon Gaesumun did this?

Doesn’t he have no troops?Wasn't he put under house arrest by Yang Wanchun?

What's the matter with him?
"I reported to the General Manager that three tunnels were discovered in the city leading to the mountains outside the city. Based on the traces, it is estimated that the excavation started at least a month ago."

"in addition."

"What else?"

Seeing that it hesitated to speak, Ji Song seemed to understand something, while Xue Wanche said anxiously.

"In addition, a large number of civilian corpses were found near the tunnel. It seemed that they were killed in a short period of time without resistance."

"Ahhh!"

As soon as the lieutenant general finished speaking, the Goguryeo people kneeling on the ground suddenly started yelling and even managed to break free from Datang's control without paying attention.

"Ahhh!"

Just when everyone reacted and wanted to regain control of them, something unexpected happened.

I saw them jumping off the city wall like moths to a flame. The five-foot-high city wall had a frozen moat below.

boom!
The ice surface cracked, but a pool of blood slowly turned the ice surface and even the underside of the ice layer red.
One, two, three.
More than a dozen people, without exception, all jumped off the city wall!

Ji had a chance to stop it, but he didn't.

Maybe for them, death is better than life!
"Why...why is this?"

Xue Wanche was stunned. Things happened so fast that he is still a little baffled!
"Those were all killed by Yeon Gaesumun. He even didn't hesitate to kill all the few civilians in the city in order for us to know a few days later."

"If nothing else happens, Yang Wanchun should be controlled by Yeon Gaesumun."

Ji Song looked at Cheng Nai in a daze. He didn't expect Yeon Gaesumun to be so cruel?In order not to be discovered by Datang earlier, he actually dared to massacre the city?
How did he control the army?
Xue Wanche was silent for a long time, then came to Ji Song and begged, "What should we do?"

"Your Majesty had an accident, and we..."

Ji Song was deeply prevented from speaking out and turned around to get off the city wall.

"Su Lie!"

Returning to the army, Ji Song spoke out.

"The end is here!"

Ji Song glanced at him and said expressionlessly: "From now on, you will be the guard of Ancheng City. I will hand over all [-] infantry to you. In addition, in addition to three days' food and grass for the [-]-strong army, the remaining food and grass will also be given to you." Leave it all to you."

"No matter what accident happens, you have to hold Anshi City firmly in my hands. Is it possible for you to do it?"

Su Lie was shocked, and instantly understood what the Marquis wanted to do.

He wanted to stop him, but saw the indifferent look on the Marquis's face and shut up.

He sighed and said: "The last general takes orders!"

Ji Song nodded, looked at Xue Wanche and said, "You must immediately summon all the cavalry, bring three days' worth of dry food for each person and provisions for the army horses, and set off immediately with the general manager to meet with His Majesty."

"It must be fast, it must be fast!"

Xue Wanche's eyes were red and he said loudly: "No!"

Seeing Xue Wanche leaving, Ji Song's body seemed to have no skeleton, and he slumped on the couch.

"Your Majesty"

Su Lie was startled and was about to step forward to help, but Ji Song stopped him!

"I am fine!"

With trembling hands, he drank a cup of tea into his stomach, and then he felt a hint of warmth!
"Remember, Anshi City must never return to the hands of the Goguryeo people. Your mission is to tightly control these territories east of the Liao River. There must be no accidents."

Su Lie nodded, agreeing.

Ji Song breathed a sigh of relief. He didn't know what methods Yeon Gaesumun would use to deal with the emperor, but judging from his actions, he could spend so much money and conceal his whereabouts even if he slaughtered the city.

If you don't move, it will be enough. If you move, it will be shocking!
This is done with the determination to succeed or die. If it succeeds, Goguryeo will still have a chance to breathe. If it fails, Goguryeo will have a chance to breathe.
Ji Song shook his head. Yeon Gaesumun must have already had his mind set on death. This was a gamble, and the bet was the last trace of Goguryeo's national destiny.

Ji Song left, taking Xue Wanche and ten thousand cavalry with him.

They only brought three days' worth of dry food, so they didn't plan on taking much rest along the way!

Judging by the time, even if they go, it will probably be over long ago, but they have to go, even if there is a glimmer of hope, they have to go.

Li Shimin must not let anything happen. He has already sent a letter to Ji Qing and the others, asking them to go ashore immediately and advance quickly towards the emperor's army without any hesitation!
He knew this would put them in danger, but he had to do it.

Looking at the falling snowflakes in the sky, Ji Song led his army into the vast white sky without looking back.
(End of this chapter)