The city of Pyongyang has been shrouded in a miserable wind and rain, everyone is in danger, every family is crying, the streets are deserted, not a single pedestrian can be seen, all the shops along the street are closed, everyone is terrified, waiting for the moment when the Sui army will break through the city.

Almost every family was frantically digging three feet into the ground to bury valuable belongings, and young women even painted their faces with ink and mutilated their limbs, lest they be taken captive by the Sui army after the city was destroyed.

At this time, a carriage drove out of the palace, and dozens of guards followed on both sides, and in the window, Yuan Taizuo's pale face was revealed.

Just now, he finally agreed to the decision of Gao Yuan, the king of Yingyang, to surrender to the Sui army, due to the fiasco in the decisive battle, he temporarily lost the right to speak, and the dominance of military and political affairs has been replaced by Gao Yuan.

In fact, Yuan Taizuo still did not want to surrender, Pyongyang still had a population of more than 200,000, plus a million people from all over Goguryeo, at least another 100,000 troops could be conscripted, and the Sui army's long-distance expedition may not last.

But Yuan Taizuo also knew that all the courtiers supported Gao Yuan one-sidedly, and if he persisted, I was afraid that Gao Yuan would launch a mutiny against him, so Yuan Taizuo had to hand over the leadership to Gao Yuan.

After a while, the carriage drove into the mansion, Yuan Taizuo got out of the carriage, and walked quickly to the inner hall, and at the same time instructed the guards, "Find Hu Sizheng for me!" ”

Hu Si Zheng was originally the military secretary of the Great Sui, was the favored minister of the Sui Emperor Yang Guang, in the rebellion of Yang Xuangan last year he surrendered Yang Xuangan ★, shaking the government and the opposition, after the failure of Yang Xuangan's rebellion, Hu Sizheng absconded into Goguryeo in fear of crime, and was sheltered by Yuan Taizuo.

In a moment, the diminutive Hu Sizheng was taken into Yuan Taizuo's study by the guards, and Hu Sizheng was also in a panic, and he also knew the news of the defeat in the decisive battle of Goguryeo, which made him feel even more desperate.

He thought that Yuan Taizuo was going to hand himself over and walked into the door of the study. He knelt down and wept, "Do you want to die for me?" ”

Hu Sizheng was nominally the head of the Sui Dynasty's military department, but he actually had another secret identity, he was the force installed in the court by the Bohai Society, an old nobleman of the Northern Qi Dynasty.

Yang Xuangan originally secretly allied with the Guanlong nobles and was supported by the Guanlong nobles, and Li Mi became Yang Xuangan's henchman on behalf of the Guanlong nobles.

But the Bohai Society also expressed its willingness to support Yang Xuangan, which made Yang Xuangan feel both ends. Hu Sizheng, who represented the interests of the Bohai Society, also entered Yang Xuangan's decision-making circle, while Li Mi, who represented the interests of the Guanlong aristocracy, was gradually left out in the cold.

With the complete defeat of the Sui army that Yang Xuangan was killed, the Bohai Society did not dare to leave Hu Sizheng in the Central Plains and sent him directly to Goguryeo.

Of course, Yuan Taizuo knew very well that handing over Hu Sizheng to the Sui army meant a complete break between Goguryeo and the Bohai Society, and he didn't want Goguryeo to lose the Bohai Society, an ally of the Bohai Society for many years, but it was impossible to protect Hu Sizheng again.

Yuan Taizuo pondered for a moment and said: "The Sui army is coming to the city, Pyongyang City is no longer safe, and the King of Yingyang wants to hand you over." But I persuaded him that I could only use a compromise to announce that you had committed suicide in fear of sin, and then give a head to the Sui army, as for you, I will send someone to send you away overnight, and you can go back to the Sui Dynasty! ”

Hu Sizheng kowtowed and cried: "Don't leave the grace of Lord Zhi, Hu Sizheng is very grateful!" ”

Night. The lights in the camp of the Sui army were bright, and Laihu'er ordered to kill pigs and sheep to reward the three armies. In a decisive battle during the day, the Sui army annihilated 50,000 elites of Goguryeo, killed 30,000 enemies, captured 15,000 enemies, and escaped only a few thousand, and the Sui army won a decisive victory.

The big tent was bustling and noisy. Plates of golden roasted lamb were sent to the big tent, and everyone's table was filled with fragrant and oily barbecue, which made people happy.

Dozens of generals replaced wine with tea, and they paid tribute to Yuwen Chengdu and Zhang Xuan, who were the key to winning the war. It was the two of them who crushed the enemy army and turned the tide of the battle, and everyone was full of gratitude to them.

At this time, Laihu'er raised a bowl of tea, stood up and said loudly: "Let me say a few words!" ”

The big tent suddenly fell silent, and Lai Hu'er said with a smile: "Because the war is not over yet, we can only replace the wine with tea, and when the war is completely over, we will reopen the banquet and have a good drink with everyone." ”

Lai Hu'er looked at Yuwen Chengdu and Zhang Xuan, and said slowly: "In this battle, everyone has made meritorious achievements, I will truthfully report to the imperial court to report to the saint, I believe that every meritorious soldier will be rewarded, here I especially want to commend two generals, one is the tooth general Yuwen Chengdu, he conquered Hancheng, armed with 20,000 reserve Sui army, this is a merit, he commanded the headquarters to kill the enemy army, with 3,000 people to contain the enemy army of 10,000, and finally defeated the Chinese army, this is two merits, so the two merits are one, this time the Eastern Expedition General Yuwen recorded the merits. ”

There was a round of applause in the big tent, and at this time, everyone looked at Zhang Xuan, and Lai Hu'er said with a smile: "General Zhang Xuan, completely annihilate 2,000 enemy sentries in Shenlu Town, and attack 5,000 enemy troops in Hunshui Bay, so that we can land smoothly and rescue 80,000 captured Sui troops in Heshan."

In today's war, we are more courageous, kill the enemy cavalry commander, seize the enemy's flag, and defeat the enemy's Chinese army together with General Yuwen, so that we can finally turn the tide of the war, four merits in one, this Eastern Crusade, General Zhang recorded the first merit, come! We salute General Zhang and General Yuwen together. ”

All the generals in the big tent got up one after another and raised their big bowls together, "To General Zhang and General Yuwen!" ”

The night was already deep, and the celebration banquet gradually dispersed, Zhang Xuan and Li Jing walked slowly in the barracks, Li Jing smiled slightly: "This time in the Eastern Expedition to Goguryeo, the general has made the first contribution, and there should be a good future, I congratulate the general first." ”

Zhang Xuan shook his head, "The Great Sui is worried about internal and external troubles, and it is crumbling, where is there any future to speak of?" I'm just serving my country so that I have a clear conscience! ”

Li Jing knew that Zhang Xuan was right, and he also smiled bitterly and said: "Freezing three feet, not a day's cold, the rebellion of the Great Sui today, the roots were planted in the time of the first emperor, but now it is a great joy, blindly pursuing fierce medicine, but I don't know the truth that chronic diseases need long-term recuperation, and use the medicine of tigers and wolves to treat all kinds of old diseases, even if it is an iron-beaten King Kong, the body will not be able to bear it, and the Great Sui will not be long in coming!" ”

"What are your plans for the future, sir?"

Zhang Xuan smiled and asked, "Do you always follow the general?" ”

Li Jing shook his head, "This time, I only came to help him in the army because of the friendship between my uncle and the general, and after the end of the war, I will also resign and return to the Central Plains." Zhang Zhongjian and I have made an appointment to go to the Western Regions together to enjoy the magnificent mountains and rivers of the Western Regions. ”

Zhang Xuan didn't say anything more, he hoped that Li Jing would follow him, but his own future was uncertain, and it was a little too early to say this. Zhang Xuan smiled and said, "I hope that Mr. will come to me when he returns to the Central Plains, and we will have a good drink." ”

"Good!"

Li Jing happily smiled and agreed: "When the time comes, I will come to you with Zhong Jian." ”

At this time, there was a faint quarrel in the distance, and Zhang Xuan heard that the voice was coming from the Shuai tent, so he said to Li Jing: "It seems that something happened to the Shuai tent?" ”

"I heard it too, it seemed to be the voice of the general."

Zhang Xuan and Li Jing glanced at each other and walked briskly towards the handsome tent together.

Dozens of generals were already surrounded outside the tent, and everyone was talking about it, not knowing what was going on. Li Jing was called to the back tent by an entourage, Zhang Xuan slowly walked to Yuwen Chengdu's side, and asked in a deep voice, "Does General Yuwen know the situation?" ”

Yuwen Chengdu glanced back at him and said lightly: "It seems that the holy will requires the acceptance of Goguryeo's surrender, and the general is very resistant." ”

"Oh!" Zhang Xuan sighed softly.

Yuwen Chengdu glanced at him again, "You don't seem strange?" ”

Zhang Xuan smiled, "I can understand that the Holy Lord can't even leave Zhuojun. In such a situation as the Great Sui, even if we destroy Goguryeo. And how to deal with the aftermath? Breaking without extinguishing is the best solution. ”

A rare smile appeared on Yuwen Chengdu's face, "Many generals told me that the first credit should go to me, but I don't think so. ”

Zhang Xuan groaned and said, "But as far as today's decisive battle itself is concerned, you play a greater role than me, and I can capture the flag." It's because you're holding back the enemy's main forces. ”

"You can say this, which shows that you are also a fair and upright person, but in terms of the Eastern Crusade, I am indeed inferior to you."

Speaking of this, Yuwen Chengdu smiled proudly. "If there is a next time, I hope to fight side by side with me again to see who can take the first credit?"

Zhang Xuan also laughed, "Zhang Xuan is lucky to be able to fight side by side with General Yuwen!" ”

Yuwen Chengdu said to Zhang Xuan meaningfully: "I hope that after returning to Beijing, I will have a chance to have a drink with General Zhang." ”

Zhang Xuan nodded happily, "I'm looking forward to this day too!" ”

At this time, the pro-soldier team who came to Hu'er came out of the big tent and said to the generals: "It's nothing, the general asked everyone to go back to guard to prevent the Goguryeo army from attacking tonight." ”

But the people did not leave, and everyone heard that something was going on in the tent.

In the handsome tent, Lai Hu'er's face was full of anger, pacing back and forth with his hands down, the deputy general Zhou Fashang was silent on one side, and the chief Shi Cui Junsu on the other side was unusually calm, holding a scroll of edicts in his hand.

Just now, Cui Junsu read out the holy edict to Laihu'er, asking him to accept Goguryeo's request for surrender and end the war by accepting surrender, which caused Lai Hou'er to be strongly dissatisfied.

"When did the edict arrive, how do I not know?" Laihu'er turned around and glared at Cui Junsu and asked.

Cui Junsu said unhurriedly: "The imperial decree has always been in my hands, and I rushed to Pyongyang City for it, but because the decisive battle has not yet been won, I am afraid that it will affect the general's decision-making, so I didn't take it out." ”

Lai Hu'er was very angry in his heart, his hatred two years ago had been accumulated in his heart, seeing that he was going to capture Pyongyang City, destroy Goguryeo, and establish immortality, but at this critical moment, the Holy Lord issued an order to accept Goguryeo's surrender, which made him unbearable.

Lai Hu'er said with a dark face: "The general is outside, the king's order is not affected, Cui Changshi doesn't need to say anything, we must capture Pyongyang City, capture Gao Yuan alive, and I will ask the saint for guilt afterwards!" ”

Cui Junsu was also a little angry, and said coldly: "In that case, the general is the sinner of the Great Sui!" ”

"Why did Cui Changshi say this?" Lai Hu'er turned around suddenly, stared at Cui Junsu viciously, and pressed the hilt of the sword with his hand.

Zhou Fashang next to him hurriedly stepped forward and persuaded: "The general might as well listen to Cui Changshi and tell me the reason, why did the Holy Lord issue this edict?" ”

Laihu'er held back the anger in his heart and returned to his seat and sat down, "Say it! I listened. ”

Cui Junsu nodded to Zhou Fashang, and then said slowly: "Even if Goguryeo is destroyed, how to deal with the aftermath and what to do with the millions of people in Goguryeo?" Escort back to the Central Plains? The Central Plains is rebelling everywhere, and the smoke is everywhere, where will the millions of Goguryeo goguryeo go? If we don't return to the Central Plains and they re-establish the country, what should we do? Send hundreds of thousands of troops to pacify it? Can Da Sui still afford this expense? ”

Laihu'er was silent. In fact, he wanted to say that he could lead his army to Pyongyang for a long time, but he could not say this, because if he did, he would be suspected of trying to support the army and stand on his own.

Choi Junsu continued: "There are still Silla and Baekje in the south, especially Silla is extremely ambitious, once Silla takes the opportunity to annex Goguryeo. We will face an even stronger enemy, and if the Great Sui is unable to conquer at that time, what will Liaodong do? ”

Zhou Fashang knew very well in his heart that he couldn't continue to hard top, Cui Junsu was the middle of the imperial history, and he was a prisoner, once he reported to the saint that he was disrespectful to come to Hu'er and tried to monopolize Goguryeo, he would definitely die. All the soldiers who participated in the Eastern Crusade would be implicated.

Zhou Fashang hurriedly persuaded: "General, the Holy One is far-sighted and considers the overall situation, as courtiers, we should obey the Holy Will, and we must not go against the Holy Will." ”

After speaking, Zhou Fashang gave Cui Junsu another look, the words have been put in place, the key is to give Laihu'er a step. Cui Junsu understood, and said with a smile: "Of course." I can understand the general's feelings for the country's contributions, so be it! How about the general think about it overnight, and tomorrow I will listen to the official decision of the general? ”

Unexpectedly, Laihu'er didn't appreciate it, and he sneered. Slowly stood up, "Goguryeo has never had credibility at all, surrender is just their strategy, surrender today, and repeat tomorrow." Only by seizing Gao Yuan can we achieve complete victory, otherwise this war is meaningless, Cui Changshi, all the consequences are borne by me, tomorrow I must capture Pyongyang and capture Gao Yuan alive! ”

Cui Junsu was furious, he didn't expect Lai Hu'er to be so stubborn, his eyes were full of anger, and he stared at Lai Hu'er fiercely and said: "The general must disobey the holy will and bring disaster upon himself, I have no choice, but the soldiers can't be implicated by you." ”

He turned around and strode out of the tent, and there were nearly a hundred generals outside the tent, all of whom gathered around him, Cui Junsu took a deep breath and held up the edict high.

"As the superintendent of the imperial history, as the former army commander Shi, I want to tell you one thing, the Holy Majesty has issued an edict to stop attacking Pyongyang City, accept the surrender of the King of Goguryeo, and end the war, but your general is disrespectful to the decree, and must fight against the holy decree to the end, he is willing to bear the charge of supporting the army and standing on his own, what about you?"

Cui Junsu's words made all the generals in an uproar, none of them could have imagined that Laihu'er would reach the level of disobedience to the order, and Cui Junsu, as the supervisor of the army, actually said cruel words about supporting the army and standing on his own, and the problem was serious.

At this time, Laihu'er strode out of the tent and shouted: "When will I come to Hu'er to support the army and stand on its own, Cui Junsu, you will be spewing blood!" ”

"General, now that you have troops outside, you can monopolize Goguryeo as the king, and the Holy Decree will be given to you, and you will ignore it, say it yourself! What exactly is the attempt? ”

"I want Goguryeo to really surrender, and I have no other thoughts!"

"No one in the DPRK will believe you!"

Cui Junsu shook his head slowly, "You can't implicate others, let the soldiers choose for themselves." ”

He shouted to all the generals: "Raise your hand if you are willing to defy the will of the Holy Father and follow the general to attack Pyongyang!" ”

Outside the big tent, there was no one raising their hands, Laihu'er was anxious, and shouted: "Capture Pyongyang, capture the enemy chieftain alive, and completely defeat Goguryeo, this is our only chance, I will bear all the consequences, and it has nothing to do with you!" ”

At this time, Zhang Xuan and Yuwen Chengdu raised their hands in unison, but except for the two of them, none of the other generals raised their hands, and Lai Hu'er was deeply disappointed that only two of them supported him.

At this time, Cui Junsu said loudly again: "Follow the holy will, accept the surrender of the King of Goguryeo, and support my Cui Junsu, please raise your hand!" ”

Slowly, one by one, the generals raised their hands, and all the generals remained silent, but they all raised their hands without hesitation, except for Yuwen Chengdu and Zhang Xuan, who both turned around and left almost at the same time.

Laihu'er staggered back two steps, as if he had suddenly become old, and after a long time, he let out a long sigh.

The decisive battle of Pyongyang, which occurred in the early autumn of the tenth year of the Great Cause, finally enabled the Great Sui to win the third Goguryeo Campaign, but at this time, the Great Sui was worried about internal and external troubles, and was unable to destroy Goguryeo, and the Sui Emperor Yang Guang finally adopted Pei Ju's plan and accepted Goguryeo's surrender.

Due to the disastrous defeat of the Sui army in the decisive battle of Pyongyang, the main battle faction headed by Yuan Taizuo lost support, and Yuan Taizuo closed his door and no longer cared about military and political affairs.

Gao Yuan, the king of Yingyang, seized the dominant power, and he appointed Lu Quanhuan as the plenipotentiary representative, asked the Sui army to surrender, promised the Sui Dynasty all conditions, and Goguryeo declared himself a vassal to the Great Sui Dynasty.

Hu Sizheng, the military squire who defected to Goguryeo, committed suicide on the day of his defeat, and Goguryeo handed over his head.

Laihu'er also fell ill due to fatigue, and Zhou Fashang temporarily took over his military power, and the Sui army officially returned to the dynasty after ten days of rest, thus ending the Third Goguryeo War