Chapter 509: Chapter 42: Gu Yan Passes Away, Upheaval in Liaodong

In his eyes, Li Shimin is an emperor who cares greatly about his reputation with future generations.

The Zhen Guan Golden Age is already sufficient as it is.

If he were to stir things up further, given his age, dying on the battlefield would eventually count as a blemish. He doesn’t believe Li Shimin would act!

It was only then that war was thoroughly declared across the entire Liaodong Peninsula.

Looking at the Silla envoy in the hall, the ministers couldn’t help but furrow their brows.

—Mobilizing troops for war remains something they are unwilling to face, let alone for a foreign vassal state.

But Li Shimin’s expression immediately turned serious.

"Hmph, what does Yeon Gaesomun take me for? What does he take the Great Tang for?"

Before the ministers could speak, Li Shimin’s voice, clearly laced with anger, resounded.

The ministers instantly guessed Li Shimin’s thoughts.

If it were another emperor, at this point only the brave would speak up, but the Great Tang is entirely different now.

"Your Majesty, please calm down, you mustn’t rush to a decision!"

Deputy Director Chu Suiliang immediately stood up, clasping his hands toward Li Shimin.

Almost at the same time, the ministers rose one by one.

Minister of the Secretariat Ma Zhou said especially solemnly, "When the heavenly troops of the Great Tang set out, we must inquire about the reasons clearly. We mustn’t make judgments based on the words of one nation!"

"Minister, seconded!"

"Minister, seconded, Your Majesty, please calm down!"

"..."

Instantly, cries rang out, the current political atmosphere of the Great Tang is as such.

Even though they clearly sensed Li Shimin’s anger, the ministers still dared to dissuade him.

"How could you speak like this, gentlemen? How could Goguryeo’s loyalty to Great Tang compare to our Silla?" the Silla envoy suddenly became somewhat flustered.

However, Li Shimin’s expression eventually relaxed.

He pondered for a moment, then stood up: "The King of Silla entrusted his nation to us, and we cannot fail to assist him."

"Transmit the edict."

"Send an envoy to Liaodong to convey my imperial directive, demand Goguryeo and Baekje to immediately withdraw their troops!"

—Withdraw the troops!

Li Shimin didn’t entirely heed the ministers’ advice.

He didn’t care about the reasons, but he could not allow Goguryeo to have the opportunity to unify the Liaodong Peninsula!

For the Great Tang, this was the most crucial thing!

Upon hearing this, the ministers had nothing further to say.

And the Silla envoy immediately showed an expression of gratitude, continually bowing to Li Shimin....

...

Liaodong.

Pyongyang City.

Ever since the Goguryeo King Changshou moved the capital from Domestic City to Pyongyang, Pyongyang City had completely become the core of Goguryeo.

Now the person in power of Goguryeo is still Yeon Gaesomun.

Although he once publicly apologized to the Great Tang, humans are inherently like this; how could he possibly return the power he holds?

He has nothing to fear.

Though all of Goguryeo bows to Great Tang in submission, alas, Great Tang’s reach is too distant.

In the past, when Gu Chen made it into Domestic City, it was already quite outstanding.

And the current Pyongyang City is even more remote for Great Tang, which gives Yeon Gaesomun absolute confidence.

Actually, Gu Yi had also considered whether he could occupy the entire Liaodong Peninsula and fully integrate this piece of land into Kyushu.

After all, this land is so suitable for cultivation.

But after deep contemplation, he abandoned this plan.

Unless the Maritime Silk Road he planned in the past could fully be realized, this idea would ultimately be unrealistic.

Such is the importance of navigation.

If there could be stable navigation technology, the nations of Kyushu could directly land on the plains of Liaodong Peninsula from the sea, reducing a great burden.

If not, even if Liaodong could be occupied in the short term.

The manpower, finances, and provisions expended in the process are unimaginable, enough to wear down any feudal dynasty.

Everything could only proceed slowly.

At this moment, within the royal city.

Yeon Gaesomun and his confidants looked at the Tang envoy, who was full of arrogance, with quite an extraordinary expression.

The others were still alright.

But Yeon Gaesomun’s eyes were full of murderous intent.

He was inherently a very volatile person, or else he wouldn’t have committed the regicide against the King of Goguryeo.

With Kyushu culture’s influence currently far surpassing original history, even within Goguryeo, this matter remains highly contentious.

Yeon Gaesomun, in the past two years, has consistently resorted to blocking and suppressing to limit the spread of this issue.

However, the effect has still been poor.

Choosing to attack Silla was also holding onto the idea of using external conflicts to alleviate internal ones.

This method is quite effective for any ruler.

"Yeon Gaesomun, do you know your crime?"

After reciting Li Shimin’s edict, Xiangli Xuanjiang looked at Yeon Gaesomun, his tone extremely serious.

Yeon Gaesomun’s hand clenched almost instantly.

But he still maintained his composure, and after taking a deep breath, he slowly stood up, bowed towards Xiangli Xuanjiang, and said, "Angel above, this guilty minister is aware of his wrongdoing."

"I request that the Angel return to the Great Tang and report to the Celestial Khan..."

Before he could finish speaking, Xiangli Xuanjiang immediately frowned and interrupted him, "Since you already know your mistake, why don’t you immediately order a retreat?"

His attitude was very firm.

It was not arrogance, but the Great Tang gave him this confidence, influenced by its political atmosphere.

Upon hearing this, a murderous intent once again flickered in Yeon Gaesomun’s eyes.

Looking at the Xiangli Xuanjiang in front of him, Yeon Gaesomun pondered for a moment, then unexpectedly stood up suddenly, shook his head, and said, "I ask the Angel to report back; we in Goguryeo cannot retreat!"

"Hm?" Xiangli Xuanjiang immediately frowned.

Yeon Gaesomun did not wait for him to speak, and directly continued, "Liaodong was a fief of Jizi, and it belongs to Goguryeo."

"While we are a vassal state of the Great Tang."

"How can the Great Tang interfere with us reclaiming our old lands?"

His expression was very determined, not hiding the murderous intent in his eyes at all.

For a moment, Xiangli Xuanjiang was stunned.

But he was not afraid.

On the contrary, Yeon Gaesomun’s attitude only fueled his anger.

He was just about to speak.

But Yeon Gaesomun did not give him the chance, and directly gestured for someone to forcibly take him away.

The atmosphere in the hall was extremely tense.

Witnessing this scene, even those confidants of Yeon Gaesomun broke into a cold sweat.

Are they going to openly rebel against the Great Tang?

The Great Tang is too strong!

Especially with the support of the Gu Clan, how could they not be anxious?

"Great Mo Lizhi, are you..."

Someone immediately stood up, their voice somewhat trembling, "going to war with the Great Tang?"

"Why not?" Yeon Gaesomun immediately looked at them and sneered, "The Great Tang’s Grand Tutor Gu Yan is dead. I do not believe anyone else can control the Western Regions."

"As for the so-called Celestial Khan—"

He paused slightly, with madness in his eyes, "Consider how old is he now?"

This question required no thought.

Even if they couldn’t pinpoint Li Shimin’s exact age, they could guess he was no longer young.

"Even if all those rumors are true, so what?"

"At his age... can he still draw a strong bow?"

At the end of his words, a disdainful sneer appeared on Yeon Gaesomun’s lips as he slowly shook his head.

The hall fell into instant silence.

The expressions of the generals below had already completely changed.

Yeon Gaesomun’s words pierced the last shred of doubt in their hearts like a needle—indeed, Li Shimin must already be in his old age, no longer the formidable force he once was!

Greed, after all, is the fiercest demon deep within the human heart.

The current structure of Goguryeo has already drastically changed since Yeon Gaesomun came to power.

Emulating the Kyushu system, he proclaimed himself "Mo Lizhi," overseeing military and political matters, standing above all kings. His established "Commanders" govern the cities and bow only to him.

This iron-fisted system has forged the entire nation into a cold war machine born for conquest. Every cog’s turn longs to crush new territories, seizing endless wealth and power.

Everyone longs to continue capturing more cities and amass great profits from it.

Upon hearing Yeon Gaesomun’s words, how could they not be tempted?

In just a brief moment, the answer formed in their hearts.

At this moment, Yeon Gaesomun’s contemptuous words ignited the fuse.

The enormous temptation exploded loudly in the heart of every general, with greed instantly devouring all their concerns.

The answer was etched into everyone’s eyes in a flash.

In the next moment—

"Chaang—!"

"Chaaang—!"

Ear-piercing metal clashes tore through the silence, bright blades emerging like venomous snakes from sheaths, reflecting the flickering candlelight, drawing fierce gleams in the hall.

"Destroy Silla!!!"

"Destroy Silla!!!"

"Destroy Silla!!!"

"....."

Shouts erupted instantly, the hall teeming with murderous intent, with the direction of blades indicating resolution—there was no turning back from this battle!.....

.....

(Ps: Kneeling for votes and monthly tickets, the plot is intensifying, both the court and foreign battles have begun, I ask the brothers for much support, many thanks from Fish.)