"General, general! We are surrounded by the Tang people!"
Quan Yuan woke up from his sleep. His first reaction was to look for a side weapon. When his fingertips touched the hilt of the horn, he opened his eyes: "What's going on? Where did the Tang Army come from?"
"I don't know, look?" The guard carefully opened a small crack in the vines covering the entrance of the cave: "When I found out, it was already too late to escape!"
Izumi Yuannan carefully moved closer to the exit. He could clearly see the campfire and smoke rising in the air not far away, and the stars also came out above his head. The neighing of war horses and the sound of chopping firewood could be heard in the distance. It was obvious that this enemy of unknown origin had also chosen this place as a campsite.
"The Tang Dynasty people haven't discovered us yet!" Quanyuan Nanzang put down the vines and blocked the entrance of the cave again: "They should just pass by here. As long as we don't disturb them and wait for them to leave before leaving, we'll be fine!"
"That's what the general said!"
"good!"
Like a drowning man grasping at straws, the guards heaved a sigh of relief. After leaving one person on guard, Quanyuan Nanzang returned to the cave. He knew in his heart that the situation was not that simple. Although the cave was hidden, there was only one exit. As long as they are discovered by the enemy, their group will be trapped in a trap. But now that I am on the run, although the people around me are all selected confidants, people's hearts are unpredictable, especially at this time, so I can only use good words to calm people's hearts. Come down, and then think of other solutions. My current situation cannot withstand any changes.
Quan Yuan was sitting on the stone, with many thoughts in his mind. The numerous affairs of the past came to his mind one by one. His stern father, his elder brother who was a bit cowardly but pretended to be strong, his second brother who always got together with him, and Gao Zang, who always pretended to be harmless to humans and animals, gave his family a fatal blow at the critical moment. At this time, a burst of barking interrupted Quanyuan's thoughts, and he said sharply: "Go and see, where did the dog come from?"
"Oh no, the Ah Fu guarding the entrance of the cave is missing!"
"Ah Fu is missing?" Quanyuan's heart moved, and he stood up: "Hurry up, the Tang Dynasty is coming!"
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"Ahead, right in front!" Ah Fu led the way while inadvertently bowing to the Tang Military Colonel behind him: "The pseudo-chief is hiding in the cave in front!"
"Hurry, hurry up! You're so slow, don't you even want military glory?" Tang Jun Lieutenant loudly urged his subordinates. Several vicious dogs were running in front of him, and torches cut through the night like sparks. Suddenly, the dog roared fiercely and rushed into the bushes in front. There were sounds of beating and cursing immediately.
"Quick, quick! The thief chief is in front, and he wants to capture him alive!" Upon seeing this, the captain of the Tang Army shouted sternly, unaware that someone was hiding in front of him. The soldiers responded in unison and surrounded him. Several arrows came over, and someone fell down after being hit by the arrow. The others immediately opened their bows and fought back.
"Mom, don't let go of arrows, don't let go of arrows, you have to catch them alive!" Tang Military Colonel scolded. He pulled out his steel knife and rushed forward. After a very short encounter, they captured three people, and the remaining The people ran westward.
"Is the thief chief inside?" The Tang military captain forcibly raised the heads of the three prisoners, illuminated them with a torch, and asked Ah Fu who was leading the way.
"None of these three!" Ah Fu shook his head.
"Okay, you three will stay and guard, and the rest will follow me! Hurry, release the dogs!" Captain Tang's military commander shouted.
The wind blew harder, and Quanyuan had to close his eyes. He could feel the arrows of the Tang Dynasty stirring in the muscles of his right leg. The pain was unbearable, even though the guards held his arms up. On his shoulders, he tried his best to share the weight, but the barking of the dog behind him was getting closer and closer. it's time! He suddenly remembered the last paragraph of "Historical Records of Xiang Yu" when he was a child. Everyone has that day and he must face it calmly.
"That's it! Stop it!" Quanyuan suddenly broke away from the guard and almost fell to the ground: "There's no need to run away, we can't escape!"
Lieutenant Tang Military Academy looked nervously at the enemies in the encirclement. Without the traitor's instructions, he could guess that the real owner was the man sitting cross-legged on the ground with an arrow wound on his leg.
"Confirm your identity!" Tang Military Colonel whispered to the interpreter.
Before the interpreter could ask the question, Quan Yuan Nan said loudly: "I am Quan Yuan Nan, the third son of Quan Gaisuwen, the general of Goguryeo. Take me to see your general! Today's matter is It’s destiny, don’t make things difficult for my men!”
"Yes!" Lieutenant Tang Military Academy suppressed his excitement, made a makeshift stretcher, laid Quanyuan on it, and ordered two prisoners to carry it, and a team of people escorted him away.
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"Caught the Quanyuan male?" Xue Rengui was overjoyed. He smiled at Qibi Heli and said, "This trip is really not in vain. I can actually catch such a big fish in a place like this!"
"It's all thanks to the great blessings of the Holy Emperor!" A smile appeared on Qibi Heli's face like a dead tree: "The British Duke's side should be able to surrender without a fight!"
"Yeah, I guess there's no need to fight at Wugu Mountain City!" Xue Rengui said with a smile: "But what is Quanyuan Mansion doing? You don't need to take this road back to Pyongyang?"
"If I guess correctly, we should go to Buyeo City!" Qibi Heli said: "That is the northern capital of the Goguryeo people. Whether you want to hold on or escape further north, you can do it there!"
"Yes!" Xue Rengui nodded: "Then call over and ask!" Seeing that Qibi Heli had no objection, he nodded to the captain on standby. After a while, Quanyuan Male was brought up. Xue Rengui saw an arrow wound on the opponent's leg: "Call a doctor and treat his wound first!"
Quan Yuan's son was like a puppet, letting the doctor do whatever he wanted without saying thanks. After the disposal was completed, Xue Rengui asked: "Where are you going this time?"
Quanyuan Manzang did not answer.
"What do you want?"
Still no answer.
"Are you a Quanyuan male?"
Still silent. The surrounding Tang army generals were furious and cursed one after another, and some even drew their swords and threatened death. However, the male Quan Yuan sat cross-legged with his eyes slightly closed, like a puppet.
"Do you want us to kill you?" Qibi Heli asked: "If that's the case, why didn't you just draw your sword and kill yourself?"
"Today, the overall situation has been decided. What does it matter whether I say anything or not!" Quan Yuannan replied.
"Although the overall situation is determined, your fate is not yet determined! Your eldest brother is in the army, why not see him?"
Quanyuan Manchan said with a smile: "My father and son have held the fate of the country for decades. Although we don't have the title of king, we have the real status of king. If our country is not protected today and the country is moved, if two or three sons do not die with their lives, won't future generations regard me as king?" There is no one in the country?”
Qibi Heli nodded: "Since you have this intention, I won't say much more! Someone, please take him down and keep him under safe supervision!"
Qibi Heli and Xue Rengui's encounter in this unknown mountain city did not affect their new army. Under the guidance of their guide, they arrived at the Yalu River at noon two days later and then crossed the river. They encountered no organized resistance along the way, and it took them only five days to reach Pyongyang.
"The general will pay homage to the Duke of Xi, General Xue!" Wang Wenzuo bowed.
"Captain Wang, no courtesy!" Qibi Heli's eyes were as bright as lightning. He stretched out his hand to help Wang Wenzuo up: "Captain Wang has the greatest credit for the destruction of Goguryeo this time. We all succeed because of others, so I accept your favor!"
"Mr. Xi's words are serious!" Wang Wenzuo was about to say a few words of humility, but Qi Bi Heli grabbed his right arm: "The Governor Wang does not need to be so polite. With your military exploits this time, the knighthood is just around the corner. Come, find a quiet place, and tell me the details of your plan in detail!"
Seeing the astonishment on Wang Wenzuo's face, Xue Rengui, who was next to him, smiled and explained: "Don't be surprised, Governor Wang. Mr. Xi has an honest and simple character. His hobby in life is nothing but the art of war. I will attack you on the way here." I am very impressed by the action of going down to Pyongyang City. After meeting me today, I naturally want to ask for advice!"
Only then did Wang Wenzuo understand. He quickly had some food and wine prepared. He sat down with Qibi Heli and Xue Rengui, and then he and the Silla people attacked Goguryeo. The two armies set up camps separately. Goguryeo bluffed to attack itself, but it failed. With the main force, they violently attacked the Silla people. Silla sent people to ask for help. Wang Wenzuo sent troops to defeat the Goguryeo soldiers in front of him, and then drove straight in, reaching the gate of Pyongyang. Gaozang took the opportunity to start an uprising in Pyongyang City and Kaesong surrendered.
"So that's it. Governor Wang is indeed a lucky charm!" Xue Rengui said with a smile: "I never imagined how Pyongyang City could be destroyed so easily. It turns out Gao Zang was involved."
"If it hadn't been for the strategic move of the Governor Wang not to save the Silla people and attack Pyongyang City, no matter how lucky he was, it would be useless!" Qibi Heli said with a smile: "Surrounding Wei to save Zhao is indeed a brilliant move!"
"In my opinion, it's not about besieging Wei and rescuing Zhao!" Xue Rengui said: "If I were the governor of Wang, I wouldn't save those Silla people, and he wouldn't save me. Why should I save him? Am I right? Wang Governor?" At this point, he himself burst out laughing.
"King Governor, don't pay attention to this reckless man!" Qibi Heli couldn't help laughing. He picked up a dried fruit and said, "This guy has suffered countless losses because of his reckless temperament, but he never changes!"
"General Xue is right!" Wang Wenzuo said with a smile: "I did think so at the time. You two don't know anything. I followed General Su to attack Baekje and defended the area. When rebels were everywhere, The war is difficult. Although Silla is an ally, things happen repeatedly, so we are very wary of it!"
“Hahaha!” Once this happens, everything will happen behind the scenes, not to mention the defeat in the front, all kinds of rumors will fly all over the sky, and all allies and countries will become bandits. It’s such a tragic situation, it makes me sad to think about it!”
Even a dignified and steady person like Qibi Heli could only shake his head and sigh when meeting someone like Xue Rengui who spoke freely. He coughed twice: "Captain Wang, General Xue said these things in private. That’s all, don’t say it in front of everyone!”
"My subordinates understand!" Wang Wenzuo said with a smile. Although Xue Rengui's words just now are not very "politically correct", they are quite consistent with the situation in the northwest in the early Tang Dynasty. What is different from what is written in the textbook is that the Tang army was in the direction of the Western Regions and Beiting. For a long time, he appeared as a conqueror, and his local rule was basically based on his military presence. Therefore, in history books, we often see the defeat of the Tang army in a certain place, and then it is hundreds or even more than a few hundred or even kilometers away from the place of defeat. Various riots and uprisings broke out in places thousands of kilometers away, and troops had to be redeployed from within the country or elsewhere. In this environment, Xue Rengui believed that all allies were potential rebels.
"You two, I have an idea!" Wang Wenzuo poured wine for Xue Rengui and Qibi Heli, and said in a low voice: "The people of Silla have been harboring evil intentions for a long time, and now is a good opportunity to wipe them out and avoid future troubles forever! "
"This is a big deal!" Qibi Heli's expression immediately became solemn: "In any case, Silla is also our ally of the Tang Dynasty. How can we start a war over a small provocation? It's inappropriate, it's inappropriate!"
"This is no small provocation!" Wang Wenzuo took out a stack of letters from his sleeve: "Please read it!"
Qibi Heli and Xue Rengui picked up the letter and read it carefully. After a while, Qibi Heli asked: "Where did you get this letter from?"
"Some of them were thrown by the Goguryeo people to my scouts, and some were later found by me from the Goguryeo people!" Wang Wenzuo said coldly: "The Silla people had already begun to win over the people of Goguryeo. Apparently they wanted to go north after the demise of Goguryeo. Devour and devour!”
"This is a hard thing!" Xue Rengui raised his thumbs: "Captain Wang, you are so clever!"
"What are your plans?" Qibi Heli asked.
"It's very simple. I have demobilized part of the Goguryeo army that has surrendered. There are still 60,000 people left. I have 10,000 people under my command. The Ungjin Governor's Office can also recruit 20,000 people. With the Goguryeo people as the vanguard, we can make a surprise attack. .”
"I'm afraid things are not that simple!" Qibi Heli shook his head: "The people of Silla are not defenseless, and they have many mountain cities!"
"It's okay for the mountain city. I have all kinds of siege equipment. And if I can only denounce Jin Famin and support Jin Inwen as king, Silla will definitely change!"
"This is a good idea!" Xue Rengui said with a smile: "With Brother Renshou as the king, the Silla people will definitely lose their desire to fight to the death."
Qibi Heli seemed a little moved: "Then where is Jin Renwen?"
"If you are still in Silla Kingdom, you can call him in handwriting first!"
Qibi Heli stood up and paced back and forth in the room. Both Wang Wenzuo and Xue Rengui knew that he was weighing the pros and cons, and they held their breath and did not dare to disturb Qibi Heli's thoughts. After about half an hour, Qibi Heli said: "I can write a letter immediately to summon Jin Renwen. Pyongyang, the matter of sending troops must be decided by the British government, we cannot take our own power!"
(End of chapter)
