There are protrusions every hundred steps or so on the city wall, which the Goguryeo people call Pheasant City, and there are two city gates at the city gate. The light and shadow of spears, swords and various bows and crossbows are everywhere on the city wall. Every battlement and arrow opening All are deployed with archers. Standing on the city wall, you can clearly see the street market at the foot of the mountain and the Tang Army camp further away. The air is filled with the smell of war.
"The breath of Tang people is always so smelly!"
As the actual supreme ruler of Goguryeo, Quan Gaisuwen was nearly sixty years old, but he was 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 strong muscles in his arms, thin lips under the tall bridge of his nose, and a thick beard connected to his temples. Wherever he looks, Everyone lowered their heads, no one dared to look at him.
"Tell me, what are the countermeasures in the face of the Tang Army's siege?" Quan Gaisuwen's voice was not loud, but everyone present held their breath and listened to what he said. Everyone knew that Da Mo Li Zhi's patience was not very good. The last time someone couldn't hear clearly, Quange Suwen ordered his ears to be cut off - the reason was that people who couldn't hear others clearly didn't need ears.
"The Mohe tribes should be recruited to strengthen the defense of the new city. As long as the Tang people cannot attack the new city, even if they can cross the Yalu River, they will have some scruples!"
"No, Pyongyang is the target of the Tang army. As long as Pyongyang can be defended, the Tang army's military rations will be exhausted next spring, and then the situation of the war can be reversed!"
"This time is different from the past. The Tang people have destroyed Baekje, and they have Silla as their allies. We can transport food from Silla as a long-term solution. If we are trapped in Pyongyang, we will only die!"
"Although the Silla people formed an alliance with the Tang people, they only used the Tang people's power to destroy Baekje. They will never really contribute to transporting grain!"
"Baekje and Silla were originally on par. If the Tang people could cross the sea and destroy Baekje, they would naturally be able to destroy Silla. Not to mention that Baekje and the Japanese were feuding. If the Silla people dared not to contribute, the Tang emperor would do whatever he wanted. The four counties were used as bait to attack Silla with the Japanese. How could Silla resist? How could the Silla people not know the stakes? How dare they not do anything?"
The boy from Quanyuan was leaning against the parapet, trying his best to prevent his injured right leg from bearing the weight of his body. In the Battle of Yalu Water not long ago, a Tang Dynasty crossbow bolt shot through his skirt and hit him in the middle. thigh. He knew that his father always remained silent at the beginning of the meeting, listening to the opinions of others and never expressing his opinion until the end. He did the same today, but what was different from usual days was that today he could feel the coldness coming from all directions. Their eyes were all scolding him for standing here as if nothing happened to a defeated general who allowed thirty thousand people to die by the Yalu River.
"I heard that the Japanese have intervened to occupy Baekje. We should exclude envoys from contacting the Japanese. After all, Silla and the Tang people are our common enemies!"
"That's it!" Quan Gaisuwen's deep voice cut through the crowd's noise, like a sharp sword cutting through grease: "Step back, all of you, step back!"
Everyone lowered their heads and bowed to Da Molizhi, and then left one after another. Boy Quan Yuan was about to follow them, but they heard his father's voice: "No, boy Yuan, you stay, and there are Yuan Nanjian, Yuan Nan Yes, you two should stay too!"
The boy from Quanyuan was stunned, but he didn't say anything. He docilely returned to Quan Gaisuwen's right side and stood up straight. He didn't dare to be weak or relaxed in front of his father.
"Isn't there an arrow wound on your leg? Sit down!" Quan Gaisuwen pointed to a stone next to him. The Quan Yuan boy was really at a loss and could only act according to the order. His two younger brothers stood On the other side of Quan Gaisuwen, he stood facing their elder brother.
"Boy Yuan, you did a great job today. It seems you haven't forgotten what I once told you!"
The Quanyuan boy raised his head in shock, trying to find traces of ridicule on his father's face, but found none.
“The more powerful a person is, the less he or she should say: firstly, the less you say, the harder it will be for others to know what you are thinking; secondly, since they do not know what you are thinking, they will have a negative impression on you. Fear, fear the most important weapon in my hand!"
"fear?"
"Yes!" Quan Gaisuwen pursed his lips slightly: "My family is not a royal family, and the power in my hands is not inherited, but usurped through violence and fraud. The one who seizes it cannot win the respect and love of everyone, and the only way is to let it go. Only when people are afraid can I continue to rule!”
It turned out that Quan Gaesumun was the leader of one of the five tribes of Goguryeo. His father was Goguryeo Dadulu. Quan Gaesumun inherited his father's official position and launched a military coup in 642 AD, leaving the then King of Goguryeo Rongliu. The king and more than a hundred ministers were killed. He even cut the body of King Gaorongliu into pieces and did not hold a funeral for him. Afterwards, Yuan Gaisu Wen proclaimed himself "Da Moli Zhi" and made Gaozang, the nephew of King Rongliu, the king and regent. King Gozang was in name only, and the military power and state affairs were all controlled by Yuengai Suwen. In political terms, Izumi Isumi is a tyrant - although he has actual power, his power is not recognized by tradition and law. The basis of his rule is very weak, and he has to resort to terror. s method.
"Father, why don't you just declare yourself king?" Quanyuan asked.
"Haha!" Quan Gaisuwen laughed twice, walked to the side of Quanyuan boy, and patted the eldest son's shoulder twice: "I'd better leave this matter to your eldest brother. I can only be the eldest brother in this life. Mo Li Zhi!"
"Father! I -" Boy Quan Yuan immediately felt a subtle change in the way his two younger brothers looked at him. He wanted to stand up and refuse, but was held down by Quan Gaisuwen: "Do you want to refuse? No. Yes, my heir is you, and only you!"
"Father!" Quanyuan, the youngest male, couldn't help but asked directly: "The eldest brother just lost the battle in Yalu Water? Why can't it be the second brother?"
"Because he is my eldest son!" Quan Gaisuwen snorted coldly. In view of his prestige, everyone shut their mouths.
"Yuan Nanchan, Yuon Nanjian, I know what you two are thinking. It's normal to desire power, but you have to remember that everything we have comes from our family. I killed King Yeongliu, proclaimed myself Great Moliji, and held a grudge. There are so many people, but this is not the most dangerous time, because I am still alive; the most dangerous time is after my death, when people who hate me will gather together and besiege me. If the three of you brothers kill each other for power at that time , the family will be destroyed forever, so I can only pass the power to your eldest brother, because only in this way can there be no disputes, do you understand?"
