The Goguryeo government and opposition finally accepted Yuan Taizuo's decision, and there were not many Sui troops near Pyongyang City, and it would be unreasonable to surrender without fighting in the first battle. ☆ → Mi ☆ → River ☆ → Pavilion ☆ →,

Since the decision was made to fight a war, Pyongyang began to actively prepare for war, and groups of soldiers began to mobilize from house to house, ordering young men to fight in the army, and arresting men who refused to join the army, and women could be seen chasing women out of houses and hearing their cries everywhere in the streets.

Not only men, but also young women mobilized to carry supplies, repair the walls, cook and wash for the army.

Hundreds of rich people's ox carts laden with belongings crowded the city gates, dozens of wealthy businessmen begged the soldiers to open the door, but were ruthlessly refused, and an atmosphere of busyness and chaos pervaded the entire city of Pyongyang.

Yuan Taizuo stood on the city wall with his hands in his hands, staring coldly at the chaos in the city, his expression was solemn, he didn't say a word, no one knew what the actual ruler of Goguryeo was thinking, and no one dared to disturb his train of thought.

At this time, the general Eulzhi Wende walked quickly to Yuan Taizuo's side, he seemed to want to report something to Yuan Taizuo, but was stopped by several personal soldiers.

"Lord Mo Lizhi is thinking about something important, so I can't disturb him."

Yizhi Wende suddenly said urgently: "I have an emergency report, and I can't delay it for a moment!" ”

"What's the matter?"

Yuan Taizuo had recovered from his contemplation and glanced back at Eulzhi Wende, "What emergency?" ”

Yizhi Wende hurriedly stepped forward and said: "I just got the news that the Sui army has captured Seoul, Taishou Gaohan surrendered to the Sui army, and the Sui army occupied Seoul without a single soldier. ”

Yuan Taizuo couldn't help clenching his fists and scolded in a low voice: "The Gao royal family is a group of soft bones!" ”

He asked again: "Is there any news from the mine?" ”

Etoshi Wende shook his head, "No news!" ”

Yuan Taizuo was really worried about the 80,000 Sui prisoners of war on the other side of the mine, originally 10,000 troops guarded 80,000 prisoners of war, but due to the imminent war, he ordered 5,000 troops to be transferred back from the mine a month ago, and now there are only 5,000 troops left on the mine side, and it is a bit reluctant to guard 80,000 prisoners of war. If the Sui army rushed to rescue the prisoners of war, I am afraid that the situation would be more auspicious.

"My lord, I'm afraid the Sui army won't know about the prisoner of war camp!"

Eulzhiwende added: "Ordinary soldiers would not know that prisoners of war were being held in Heshan. ”

Yuan Taizuo shook his head, "But Quan Wenshou knows it very well. In order to save his life, that playboy will reveal any secrets, otherwise what will the Sui army do when it fights Seoul? I suspect that they are just to house the Sui prisoners of war, and the delay in the decisive battle may also have something to do with the prisoners of war. ”

Ezhi Wende was shocked. 80,000 Sui prisoners of war! If all of them were integrated into the Sui army, wouldn't Pyongyang have to face an attack by more than 100,000 Sui troops? He immediately became worried.

Yuan Taizuo seemed to understand his thoughts, although Yuan Taizuo himself was also worried, but at the moment of the battle, he didn't want to shake Yizhi Wende's determination to resist, so he said slowly: "You don't have to worry too much, most of the prisoners of war in the Sui army are injured and sick, and it is impossible to put them into battle if they are not raised for a few months to half a year, at most one or two thousand is already good, and it can't change the overall situation." But the situation in the city worries me. ”

Yuan Taizuo pointed to the chaotic streets in the city with a horsewhip, "I feel that many civilians are unwilling to fight to the death for the country, which will affect morale, you have to hurry up and train them, and let them understand the truth that once Goguryeo is destroyed, they will be slaves of the country!" ”

"Humble duty understands!"

At this time, Yuan Taizuo's eldest son, Yuan Gai Suwen, rushed over and whispered a few words to Yuan Taizuo, and Yuan Taizuo was immediately furious. "Dare to escape from the battle, disturb the hearts of our army, I have to kill him!"

Yizhi Wende hesitated and asked, "Is it Quan Huan?" ”

"It was this thief who dared to open the west gate and leave the city without authorization!"

Yuan Taizuo turned around and rushed to the city angrily. After walking a few steps, he pointed to the hundreds of ox carts at the city gate with his horsewhip, and said coldly to his eldest son: "Since those people are unwilling to serve the country, then there is no need for them to live any longer, all their property will be confiscated, and they will be arrested and put to death in prison!" ”

"Yes!"

Yuan Gai Su Wen bowed and hurried away. Yizhi Wende on the side sighed helplessly, the catastrophe is coming, the birds fly away from the forest, this is human nature, why should Lord Mo Lizhi be angry with them

Zhang Xuan crossed the water in the middle of the night and returned to the Sui army camp, his task was to rescue the Sui prisoners of war, and the placement of 80,000 prisoners of war and the reorganization of the army was the task of Yuwen Chengdu, he and Yuwen Chengdu handed over the task, then led the army back to the camp.

The soldiers had already returned to the camp to rest, and as the chief general of this operation, Zhang Xuan hurried to the handsome tent again to report the rescue situation to the commander Laihu'er.

Lai Hu'er didn't fall asleep, his big tent was brightly lit, and he was discussing the upcoming decisive battle with Cui Junsu and his staff Li Jing.

Cui Junsu was about forty years old, of medium stature, with a white face and a long beard, and he was polite and polite.

At the same time, Choi Junsu also served as the former army commander Shi, who was responsible for handling various political affairs and miscellaneous affairs in the army, and he had just arrived at the Pyongyang camp from Wugu City three days ago.

Although Cui Junsu was born in the Boling Cui family, he was Pei Ju's protégé, and was valued by Pei Ju, and was promoted step by step, because Pei Ju was old, everyone thought that Cui Junsu would become Pei Ju's successor, in charge of foreign affairs, especially this Eastern Expedition to Goguryeo, Cui Junsu was fully responsible for the negotiations with Goguryeo.

It's just that the actual ruler of Goguryeo, Yuan Taejo, refuses to negotiate peace, and Choi Junsu can only support the decisive battle between Laihu'er and Goguryeo, and only by completely disintegrating Goguryeo's fighting spirit by force can there be room for negotiation.

Cui Junsu smiled slightly: "I received a secret letter from Goguryeo's second minister, Quan Huan, yesterday, Goguryeo's internal disagreement is very serious, Gao Yuan is bent on peace talks, and has no intention of fighting again, but Yuan Taizuo is resolutely the main battle, because Yuan Taizuo is too powerful in the court, and many lords and officials in the court dare not speak out, as long as we can defeat the Goguryeo army, then the lord and faction in the city will inevitably have the upper hand, even if there are hundreds of thousands of troops in the city, they will not insist on fighting, so the key is this battle under the city." ”

Because Quan Huan's eldest son Quan Wenshou fell into the hands of the Sui army, he has secretly contacted the Sui army more than once, and Lai Hu'er also knows that Quan Huan's words are still more reliable.

He nodded and said: "Of course I know the importance of this decisive battle, but our troops are still slightly insufficient, and there is no certainty of absolute victory, I hope to get tens of thousands of troops from the Sui army prisoners of war to replenish it, then the certainty of winning this battle is much greater, and the specific date of the battle, I also hope to be determined." “

After speaking, he turned back to look at his staff Li Jing, who muttered and said, "I suggest that the marshal arrange the date of the decisive battle as early as possible, and it can't be delayed any longer." ”

Lai Hu'er was stunned and was about to ask carefully, when a soldier reported at the door of the tent: "Commander Qi, the general Zhang Xuan asks to see!" ”

Laihu'er was overjoyed, and hurriedly ordered: "Let him come in!" ”

After a while, Zhang Xuan walked into the big tent and saluted: "See the big handsome!" ”

"How?" Laihu'er asked impatiently.

"The humble duty lived up to the trust of the commander and successfully completed the task, and all 80,000 prisoners of war have been transferred to Seoul."

Laihu'er slapped his forehead heavily, "It's really the heavens to help me Da Suiye!" ”

Cui Junsu next to him couldn't help but ask: "How many prisoners of war can be incorporated into the army to fight?" ”

Zhang Xuan didn't know Cui Junsu, he didn't know how to answer, Li Jing introduced with a smile on the side: "This is the imperial history Cui Zhongcheng, and he is also our former military commander Shi." ”

Zhang Xuan hurriedly hugged his fists and said: "Back to Cui Changshi, most of the prisoners of war are injured or sick, and General Cui said that at most, he can only make up 20,000 troops that can fight." ”

"It's only 20,000!"

Laihu'er was a little disappointed, he thought that 80,000 prisoners of war could be used at least half, and the chances of winning were much greater, but if there were only 20,000, then it would still be a hard battle.

At this time, Cui Junsu hesitated and asked, "General Zhang, who is General Cui you just said?" ”

"It's the original Zhuojun Cui Taishou!"

Several people in the big tent were taken aback at the same time, wasn't Cui Hongsheng dead? How is he still alive, Cui Junsu is even more excited, Cui Hongsheng is his uncle, he is not dead, he grabbed Zhang Xuan's arm, and asked in a trembling voice: "What you said is true?" ”

"Of course it's true, thanks to his help, I was able to successfully rescue the prisoners of war, but he is too old to be a soldier anymore."

Cui Junsu was so excited that tears came out, and he raised his head and choked up and said, "God forbid, my uncle is not dead, he is still alive." ”

Lai Hu'er smiled and said to Cui Junsu: "Cui Gong is still alive, congratulations, but let's talk about the decisive battle first, and then let Changshi and Cui Gong reunite." ”

"Good! Good! I'm kind of out of shape. Cui Junsu hurriedly wiped away his tears and glanced at Zhang Xuan gratefully.

Lai Hu'er asked Li Jing again: "Just now you said that you want to fight a decisive battle as soon as possible, why is this?" ”

Li Jing sighed, "Goguryeo is rainy in autumn, rainy days will affect the performance of crossbowmen, and the other side has five thousand cavalry, we can only rely on crossbowmen to restrain it, seeing that it is about to enter the autumn rainy season, it is better to start the war early." ”

Li Jing's reminder made Lai Hu'er realize that he really couldn't delay it any longer, and he asked Zhang Xuan: "When will the 20,000 troops come over?" ”

Zhang Xuan thought for a while and said, "General Cui said that it only takes two to three days to complete the reorganization, and I think they can cross the river in four days at most." ”

Laihu'er nodded slowly, "Okay, then the decisive battle in four days!" ”