How many people did you need to conquer Goguryeo? It's hard to say. Anyway, Emperor Yang of Sui dispatched a million troops three times and still hasn't defeated them.

Of course, war is a complex art, and it is not said that more people are better. It is not uncommon in history to win more battles with less.

Maybe Emperor Yang of Sui failed because he sent too many troops and his command was ineffective?

His Majesty Li Er sent fewer people on this expedition, which was also within the scope of Li Daozong's understanding. However, the number of people can't be so outrageous, right?

Twenty thousand...... What is 20,000 enough?

You must know that in Liaodong City on the border, there are 50,000 troops inside. The 20,000 army went, was it a crusade against other people, or was it to deliver food to people?

Of course, His Majesty Li Er understood Li Daozong's thoughts, and he explained: "King Jiangxia, don't worry, the total army of Goguryeo is not only your 20,000 people. ”

"Even if Your Majesty has another army, Weichen's vanguard army is only 20,000, isn't it a little less?"

"My Chinese army has 40,000 men, plus your vanguard battalion of 20,000, that's 60,000 troops. In addition, there are 40,000 sailors of Zhang Liang, the Duke of Xunguo. Of the 100,000 troops who went to Goguryeo this time, you alone brought 20%, which is not less. ”

"An army of 100,000?" When Li Daozong heard this exact number, he was even more disappointed, and said, "Your Majesty, you don't know how many troops Goguryeo has, right?" ”

"Of course I do. Goguryeo had a standing army of about 200,000. Mobilize with all your might, there will always be an army of 500,000 troops. ”

"It's still true, even if our Tang army is brave and good at fighting, but 100,000 against 500,000 troops, the disparity in strength is too great, right?"

His Majesty Li Er shook his head and said, "King Jiangxia, you only know one thing, but you don't know the other. Emperor Yang of the Sui Dynasty returned from his three expeditions to Goguryeo without success, except for some accidental factors, the most important reason was the lack of food. King Jiangxia is familiar with history books, so he always knows this, right? ”

"The minister knows."

"It's good to know. If I also send a million troops, although the treasury can be used, the food will not grow its own legs and run to the camp of the soldiers in front. If it is because of the food to the enemy, and it is afraid of provoking a civil uprising, the gains outweigh the losses. ”

Li Daozong's greed for money is true, but it is not a straw bag, otherwise he would not be so valued by His Majesty Li Er.

He nodded and said, "Weichen understands, Your Majesty has summed up the lessons of Emperor Yang of Sui's failure, so he acted cautiously and only sent 100,000 troops to prevent the logistics from being overstressed." But ......"

"Nothing. These 100,000 troops are all the elite troops of my Tang Dynasty, and my Xuanjia army is also all dispatched. Don't say that one is ten, and there is no problem with one as five. Goguryeo had many soldiers, but they were all rabble, and they were vulnerable. ”

Hearing that His Majesty Li Er's Xuanjia Army was also dispatched, Li Daozong immediately relieved himself.

The total number of this Xuanjia soldier is only about 5,000 people, but it is the real capital that His Majesty Li Er relies on to seize the world.

Every time the battle reaches a critical moment, Li Shimin will personally lead this iron cavalry to attack, attack and win, win the battle, destroy the withering and decaying, and make a final decision.

It is even unceremoniously said that the victory of the war was declared as soon as the charge of this army began.

He was overjoyed and said: "If the Xuanjia Army can be dispatched, of course it will be no problem to sweep away Goguryeo." Your Majesty, Weichen still has a reluctant request. ”

"King Jiangxia, please speak."

"It turns out that the Xuanjia army is personally led by His Majesty to lead the charge. Now that you are the Son of Heaven, you will definitely not be able to go into battle in person. Can...... Can you ......?"

"Do you want me to put the five thousand Xuanjia Army under your command?"

"Your Majesty."

"Okay." His Majesty Li Er nodded and said: The two armies are fighting, morale comes first, and the first battle is very important. I handed over the Xuanjia Army to you, you must give me a good start! ”

"Weichen has the Xuanjia army, and he can't win anymore, so what kind of Jiangxia king should he be, it's better to go home and pick up the child! Your Majesty can rest assured that Weichen will definitely live up to his trust. You sit firmly in the military tent, and this Goguryeo Weichen will help you get it! ”

"Hmph, that's not necessarily!" Guo Ye said loudly: "Your Majesty, the minister has something to say. ”

"If Qin Guogong wants to talk about any more useless teachers, he doesn't have to speak again."

"Uh...... Your Majesty, what Weichen wants to say is. Even if King Jiangxia had a Xuanjia army and an army of 20,000, I am afraid it would be difficult to pose any threat to Goguryeo! ”

His Majesty Li Er's face was frosty, and he said, "Why did the Duke of Qin say this? Could it be that the Xuanjia cavalry that I rely on to take the world can't enter the eyes of the Duke of Qin? ”

"Wechen doesn't dare." Guo Ye knelt on the ground and said, "Of course Weichen doesn't dare to underestimate the Xuanjia Army. However, our attack on Goguryeo is not just a field battle, and it can even be said that there will be a field battle or not. ”

"What do you mean...... Will Goguryeo defend the city?

"Exactly. Goguryeo is good at defending and not attacking, what if they don't fight with our army at all and retreat directly into the city? The Xuanjia army is all cavalry, and if it is used to attack the city, I am afraid that it will be the strength of the enemy's strength with its own shortcomings. ”

His Majesty Li Er smiled slightly, and said to Li Daozong: "King Jiangxia, you say." ”

Li Daozong coughed lightly and said, "Qin Guogong, you are too lonely and unheard. His Majesty's Xuanjia soldiers are not only cavalry, even if they are capable of attacking cities, they are far superior to other troops. In the process of seizing the world, the Xuanjia Army also made many contributions. ”

Guo Ye really didn't know about this, and said, "Is that really the case? ”

"What am I lying to you for? The sergeants of the Xuanjia Army are elite, and they are the best at attacking cities with rushing rods. At the critical moment, it was really like a divine soldier descending from the sky. The city of Goguryeo is strong, and it can withstand the million-strong army of Emperor Yang of Sui, but it can't stop the Xuanjia army, Qin Guogong, you just wait to see the achievements of the Xuanjia army! ”

Of course Guo Ye didn't believe what Li Daozong said. If the Xuanjia Army was really so useful, His Majesty Li Er would not have failed to conquer Goguryeo twice.

But if he was asked to refute it, he really didn't know what to say. You can't talk about it from the historical records of later generations.

He had no choice but to say: "I think that when Emperor Yang of Sui invaded Goguryeo, there may not be any troops around him who are good at attacking cities. Your Majesty is probably not right to put all your hopes on the Xuanjia Army. ”

"Then in the opinion of the Duke of Qin, how should this battle be fought?" His Majesty Li Er's tone was gloomy when he said this, and it was obvious that he was forcibly pressing the anger in his heart.

It is no wonder that this expedition was planned by him. Now Guo Ye is on the left "the old man is useless", and the right one is "not very proper", so it's no wonder that the mood can be good.

Guo Ye took a deep breath and said, "Weichen has a few shallow opinions in his heart. First, even if it was 100,000 elites, the conquest of Goguryeo was too few. Wechen suggested adding at least 100,000. ”

His Majesty Li Er waved his hand and said, "The grain and grass along the way are prepared according to the 100,000 army. The number of people cannot be changed! ”

"Well, even if the number of the army cannot be changed. The minister has one more suggestion. ”

"You say."

"Please don't go to your majesty. His Majesty's personal expedition is bound to put His Majesty's safety first, and a large number of troops will be used to protect His Majesty, making the siege of the city even more insufficient. Why don't Your Majesty sit firmly in Chang'an City and send another general to investigate. ”

Li Daozong sneered: "That general, it won't be you Qin Guogong, right?" ”

"If Your Majesty is willing, Guo should take the order."

"Dream your dreams! Oh, you are the boss, let me Li Daozong be the pioneer, you think too highly of yourself! ”

His Majesty Li Er also said: "I am not allowed to do this!" To put it mildly, Datang can sweep the world, and I have half of the credit. Could it be that this expedition to Goguryeo will still be a burden to the soldiers? ”

Guo Ye said helplessly: "You are not allowed to accept these two suggestions of Weichen, and you must be able to approve the third one." ”

"Let's hear it first."

"Remove the king of Jiangxia and take Weichen as the vanguard!"

"Not allowed! I have just named the king of Jiangxia as the vanguard, and you have no jokes, how can you go back on your word? ”

"But Goguryeo Chengjian, the king of Jiangxia is the vanguard......"

"Smack!"

His Majesty Li Er patted the imperial case, interrupted Guo Ye's voice, and said in a loud voice, "Retreat from the dynasty!" ”