Book Synopsis
Book Tags
Donation Rankings
Comment
0 Comments
You May Also Like
墨書 Inktalez
Chapter 118: The Two Generals
The Emperor was right to seek to conquer Goguryeo; anyone in his position would aim to eliminate Goguryeo, as there can only be one overlord. Goguryeo's unwillingness to submit stemmed from their own ambitions for supremacy.
Goguryeo was composed of the Mohe people, Han Chinese, Turks, and Silla, but the majority were undoubtedly Han Chinese, who made up nearly half of the population.
Thus, they harbored ambitions of unifying the Central Plains. Under the Emperor's rule, the Sui Dynasty had undoubtedly reached its peak, making it an opportune time to quell any disobedience.
The Emperor's mistake lay in his decision to personally issue an Imperial Decree for the campaign and to meddle in matters that should have been left to professionals, which ultimately led to defeat.
Once Li Jian Cheng secured his position in the Central Plains, he too would inevitably have to deal with Goguryeo. This was a task that a competent ruler must undertake, but he would never lead the charge like Yang Guang did.
What should have been a matter of selecting a capable commander and preparing supplies had devolved into chaos, undermining the Emperor's authority.
Yang Guang praised Li Jian Cheng extravagantly, assigning him control over the newly established Liaodong Commandery and promising that once Goguryeo was subdued, the entire Liaodong region would be entrusted to him as Governor.
Though Liaodong Commandery sounded significant, after their defeat and withdrawal, how much territory could they truly claim? In reality, this commandery under the Sui Dynasty consisted only of Tongding Town west of the Liao River and two small counties—this was all that had been gained from the expedition of a million troops.
Li Jian Cheng expressed his gratitude, but it was clear from the Emperor's words that he remained obstinate about seeking personal revenge. Consequently, officials continued to advise him earnestly.
It must be said that after suffering defeat, the Emperor's temper had lessened somewhat. Had it been his former self, he would have surely sought out scapegoats for punishment.
Left Grand Minister Guo Rong advised, "Your Majesty, if you personally lead such a vast army again, it will incur great expenses that the court cannot bear. It would be better to appoint a general to lead the campaign."
The Emperor slammed his hand on the imperial table and roared, "If I cannot succeed myself, how can I expect others to achieve victory?"
This statement left both civil and military courtiers stunned. Was he alright?
In the eerie silence that followed, the Emperor's face reddened slightly as he finally suppressed his grievances and said, "This time, I will heed the generals' advice and let them act as they see fit!"
Before any civil officials could respond, the military officers had already bowed down and shouted in unison: "My Emperor is wise!"
They were terrified at the thought of experiencing another situation like this one—feeling so constrained was something they never wanted to endure again.
The Emperor led the Civil and Military officials back to the Eastern Capital, Luoyang. Li Jian Cheng began to handle various matters that had accumulated during his absence. Li Jing's abilities in this regard were ordinary, and he was not skilled in social interactions. He had not established effective communication with families like the Lu Clan, leaving many important coordination tasks unresolved.
After finishing the main issues, he visited the Lu Clan and other families one by one, asking them to contribute money, supplies, and land to support the common soldiers who had escaped from Goguryeo.
At this moment, young men were the most valuable asset. In Zhuojun, there were more women than men, and every household had widows. They could not survive on their own.
Of course, before Li Jian Cheng returned from Liaodong with the Emperor, he had already left Zhang Hutan behind to gather the soldiers abandoned by Yuwen Shu under the guise of bandits, selecting the elite among them.
In total, there should have been over two hundred thousand people; about seventy to eighty thousand had returned gradually. The rest were still scattered across Goguryeo and seemed to have lost their way for the time being. The Emperor was too lazy to concern himself with them.
Now he had no choice but to deal with the bandits. In just a few months, not only had the number of bandits across the land not decreased, but it had also increased significantly.
In Qi County, Wang Bo, Meng Rang, Guo Fangyu from Beihai, Zhang Jincheng from Qinghe, Hao Xiaode from Pingyuan, Ge Qian from Hejian, Sun Xuanya from Bohai, and others gathered large groups for plundering—some with over ten thousand members and others with several thousand.
However, the foundation of the court began to show its strength. Zhang Suduo started to emerge as a prominent figure, defeating rebel forces in various regions and displaying an invincible momentum.
During this time, Yang Xuangan was far from idle. The Emperor's failure ignited his ambition as he began to rally his relatives and old acquaintances.
Yang Su had offended many people but also had numerous supporters. Some were deeply tied to the Yang Family; even if they reported him, they would not end well themselves. Those who did not participate would still be implicated when things went awry in the future.
Thus, they chose to rebel alongside him—a common occurrence throughout history.
As winter approached, Li Jian Cheng received a gift from Turkic Shibi Khan: over twenty severed heads. They were also responsible for informing the Emperor about that letter.
After accepting the gift, Li Jian Cheng did not express much; he merely sent the envoy back. This time Shibi Khan's letter was not an inquiry about Sui Dynasty intelligence but rather a simple lamentation that also mocked Yang Guang.
Just as Li Jian Cheng and his wife prepared for a peaceful New Year celebration, two unexpected visitors arrived in Zhuojun: Dan Xiongxin and Qin Shubao. Their arrival brought more joy than Shibi Khan's gift.
Although the campaign against Goguryeo had failed, Qin Shubao was promoted three ranks for his role in defeating the Goguryeo Royal Family and could now be considered a mid-level officer in Sui Dynasty Military.
Due to the absence of war, there was still a sense of freedom, so he came over under the pretext of visiting relatives with Dan Xiongxin.
It was not just out of curiosity; more importantly, after reaching the mid-level ranks of generals, he found that promotions were becoming increasingly difficult. There was always one position for one person, and even when a position opened up, it had usually been reserved for someone else.
Although the title of General Come to Protect the Child was still intact, his official position had not yet been restored. Thus, this trip was also about finding a powerful ally.
The two of them waited with their horses in front of the Governor's Office. Dan Xiongxin felt somewhat shy upon returning to his hometown, while Qin Shubao observed the guards at the estate and realized that they were all as capable as his own trusted men.
It was truly a pity that such fierce warriors, who could follow him into battle, were merely standing guard at the estate's entrance.
Before long, the gates swung open. Harsh Winter Month Li Jian Cheng appeared wearing only an inner garment and greeted them with a smile. "Ah, esteemed guests have arrived! I apologize for not coming out to welcome you at the city gates."
Dan Xiongxin's eyes reddened as he pulled off his fur coat and handed it over. "My Lord, why are you out here in such cold weather? You mustn't catch a chill."
Li Jian Cheng feigned surprise. "I was so overwhelmed with joy that I didn't even notice! Haha! Brother Dan and Brother Qin braved the harsh cold and traveled such a long distance to see me—this is true camaraderie."
He then donned Dan Xiongxin's fur coat without hesitation, clearly treating them as close friends. Turning to Qin Shubao, he continued, "In our previous battle, only you showcased the might of our Sui Dynasty. I have long heard of your great name; it is a blessing to meet you today."
…………
(End of Chapter)
Comment 0 Comment Count