pappabearbooks Chapter 116 News of the fall of Pyongyang reached Yang Guang
Chapter 116 News of the fall of Pyongyang reached Yang Guang
"What about me? What about me?"
Pei Yuanqing leaned closer, also wanting to know how Zuo Xiong viewed him.
"Just a little brat..." Seeing Pei Yuanqing frown, Zuo Xiong immediately added, "Heroes emerge from among the young!"
"hey-hey."
Only then was Pei Yuanqing satisfied.
Heroes emerge from among the young, indeed, very good.
"Tell me about yourself. No need for flattery. I want the truth. Speak from the heart."
Since both Lü Xiao and Pei Yuanqing have such high praise for him.
Yuwen Chenglong felt that he was probably not much different.
"You... you look like a defeated soldier, all lousy and pathetic."
When facing Yuwen Chenglong, Zuo Xiong truly couldn't bring himself to say anything without looking in the dark.
"Does this lord look like a defeated army?"
Yuwen Chenglong immediately flew into a rage.
He was, after all, a marquis personally appointed by His Majesty; to say such a thing was to belittle himself.
"It's not like it."
"That's more like it."
Seeing that Zuo Xiong had changed his mind, Yuwen Chenglong was finally satisfied.
However, what he said next made everyone around him laugh.
"They're just a defeated army. The prince and his men are acting, but you don't seem to be acting."
"Hahaha!"
Immediately, the people around burst into laughter.
Pei Yuanqing, who especially looked down on Yuwen Chenglong, laughed until tears streamed down his face.
Although the Ao fish didn't know why everyone was laughing, it laughed along with them.
"Damn it, you guys are really bullying us!"
Yuwen Chenglong was almost in tears.
What lies ahead?
Seeing that Yuwen Chenglong was about to cry, Lü Xiao quickly asked.
He was afraid that if everyone continued to laugh, he would laugh along with them.
"Regarding the insult to Yicheng, this humble general knows a way to bypass it."
Zuo Xiong quickly said.
"Alright, let's avoid war if we can."
"Your Highness, rest assured, I can lead you out of Goguryeo with my eyes closed."
Zuo Xiong patted his chest and assured him.
Lu Xiao brought eight hundred men with him again, wanting to get to Liaodong as soon as possible and not wanting to stay any longer.
With Zuo Xiong around, it's even easier than having a map in hand.
Meanwhile, the battle for Liaodong City resumed.
The powerful families organized their troops and launched the fiercest offensive against Liaodong City.
Li Shimin stood on the high platform, silently watching the two sides fight, with no intention of letting Li Yuanba take action.
"Second Brother, why don't we let Yuanba go? That way we can get the greatest credit!"
Li Yuanji was very puzzled; this was a great opportunity to make a name for himself.
As long as Li Yuanba uses all his strength, he will surely be able to break into the city.
"The more members of noble families die, the more they will resent His Majesty."
Even though Li's soldiers died under the city walls, Li Shimin remained calm and composed.
The second campaign against Goguryeo resulted in heavy losses for the aristocratic families.
If Yang Guang continues to suppress the aristocratic families upon his return, it will inevitably arouse their dissatisfaction once again.
The reason these powerful families aren't rebelling now is because their bottom line hasn't been crossed.
Once the bottom line is crossed, it will be time for both sides to break off relations.
Whether a dynasty is in chaos or not is not up to the emperor to decide.
The fact that a powerful clan is going against the tide may not shake the foundation of a dynasty.
But what about five, or ten?
The world had reached the point where dynasties were changing.
As the sun set, the bugle sounded the retreat, marking the end of another fierce attack on Liaodong City.
Corpses littered the ground beneath the city walls, blood flowed like rivers, and the bodies of soldiers piled up like mountains. The faces of the noble families were solemn, their hearts filled with grief, indignation, and resentment.
Supported by two guards, Yang Guang slowly appeared under the canopy in front of the battle formation.
He gazed at the countless corpses below the city walls, a hint of regret flashing in his eyes.
These were all fine young men of the Sui Dynasty, but alas, they could only obey the orders of powerful families.
"Yang Guang, you can't beat me!"
Gao Yuan stood on the city wall, looking at the figure under the banner, and shouted with all his might.
He had forgotten how many times Liaodong City had been fiercely attacked.
The results of it?
Impregnable!
Just then, a disheveled army rushed in through the east gate and headed straight for the city wall.
The leading soldier, his clothes stained with blood and severely wounded, scrambled to Gao Yuan's feet and collapsed to his knees with a thud.
"Your Majesty... Your Majesty! Pyongyang... Pyongyang has fallen!"
These words struck Gao Yuan like a thunderclap.
His smugness and arrogance froze instantly, his pupils contracted sharply, and he stared incredulously at the soldier before him, his voice hoarse as he pressed for an answer:
"What did you say? How could Pyongyang have fallen?"
The soldier trembled all over, tears mingling with blood, and choked out:
"The Paesui defense line has been breached by the Sui army, and their main force has occupied Pyongyang. We fought our way out and came specifically to inform Your Majesty!"
Gao Yuan felt a sudden darkness before his eyes, his legs went weak, and he almost collapsed to the ground.
He grabbed the crenellations of the city wall beside him, and his belief crumbled instantly.
Pyongyang was the capital and the foundation of Goguryeo.
Now the capital has fallen, my brother has been captured, and the defenses have been destroyed.
Even if he defended Liaodong City, what would be the point?
Outside the city, in front of the Sui army's formation, several figures dressed in Goguryeo attire quickly passed through the ranks and came directly to Yang Guang's banner.
Their clothes were covered in dust, but their expressions revealed their eagerness and elation, clearly indicating that they had come on a long march.
"Your Majesty, it's our spy who was sent to Pyongyang!"
Yuwen Huaji had sharp eyes and recognized the person at a glance. He quickly stepped forward to report.
"Your Majesty! A great victory! The Crimson Valiant Army has won a great victory!"
The lead scout spoke loudly, his face beaming with barely suppressed joy.
The shout was extremely penetrating, and all the noble families around who were regrouping turned their heads and their eyes converged on it.
The Crimson Valiant Army was an elite force under Lü Xiao's command. This great victory undoubtedly meant that Lü Xiao's surprise attack plan had succeeded.
Everyone secretly speculated that they had successfully landed on the Paesui River and would soon be able to advance directly on Pyongyang.
At that time, Gao Yuan will inevitably be overwhelmed, the defenses of Liaodong City will naturally weaken, and the day of the city's fall will be just around the corner!
"Well done! Well done, Lü Zilie!"
Yang Guang shouted suddenly, his laziness and sickness of the past few days vanishing instantly.
He knew this kid would never let him down.
Moreover, the good news arrived at just the right time, breaking the stalemate on the Liaodong battlefield.
The scout stood there, stunned, watching the scions of noble families around him already showing joy and secretly celebrating. He was momentarily bewildered.
Before he could finish speaking, everyone was already delighted.
He composed himself and quickly added:
"Your Majesty, King Sok led only eighteen men to first enter Pyongyang, and now he has captured the entire capital. Goguryeo's rear is in complete chaos, Go Geon-mu has been captured alive, and the defending army has collapsed!"
Yang Guang, still basking in his joy, casually chimed in, "They've even captured Pyongyang! Good, very good!"
But as soon as he finished speaking, he snapped back to reality, his pupils contracted sharply, and his tone was filled with disbelief and urgency:
"What did you say? Pyongyang? Are you sure Lü Xiao has taken Pyongyang?"
Pyongyang was the capital of Goguryeo, and its fortifications and strategic importance far surpassed those of Liaodong City.
If Lü Xiao were to capture the capital, Gao Yuan would surely be thrown into chaos upon learning of its fall.