A group of more than 300 Goryeo cavalry crossed the Liao River, urging the horses to gallop in the direction of Huaiyuan Town, led by the general about 30 years old, with a burly physique, a long face, and a trace of coldness in his eyes that could not be concealed.

He is the son of the first powerful minister of Goryeo, Yuan Gai Suwen, also known as Gai Suwen, at this time, Goryeo is also facing the replacement of the king, the king of the plains Gao Tang died, and his son Gao Rong succeeded to the throne, called Rongliu Taiwang, but the military and political power is still in the hands of Mo Lizhi Yuan Taizuo.

Although the domestic situation in Goryeo was not suitable for war, Yuan Taizuo did not want to give up this opportunity to seize Liaodong, although the Sui Dynasty's Goryeo wars ended in defeat and consumed a lot of manpower and material resources, but Goryeo also suffered heavy casualties and did not recover for a while.

Therefore, despite the civil strife in the Sui Dynasty, Goryeo never stood still and did not break through the Liao River, and as Goryeo's vitality gradually recovered, their ambitions also recovered, and Yuan Taizuo realized that if they did not take advantage of the opportunity of the Central Plains to seize the melee, then they would have no chance in the future.

It was under the strong impetus of Yuan Taizuo that Goryeo decided to accept the surrender of Gao Kaidao and sent troops to Liaodong.

This time, Gai Suwen crossed the river to Huaiyuan Town, which was to negotiate with Gao Kaidao on the issue of sending troops.

On the one hand, Gai Suwen was his father's favorite general, and on the other hand, he was the head of the Goryeo intelligence agency Goryeodang, and he planned the assassination of the princess and the prince of Chu in Taiyuan City.

The purpose of the assassination of the princess and the prince was to plunge the Sui Dynasty into civil strife so that Goryeo's plan to seize Liaodong could be carried out, and on the other hand, Gai Suwen also held a grudge against Yang Yuanqing because of the death of his sister Gai Jiaojiao, and he had been waiting for a chance to take revenge for so many years.

But to his regret, the assassination failed, and the right-hand men he sent to Taiyuan also lost news, which filled Gai Suwen's heart with worry, and he was faintly aware. Something happened to his men.

After crossing the Liaoshui River and running westward for about half an hour, Gai Suwen saw tall warehouses in the distance, and Huaiyuan Town arrived.

The Goryeo cavalry stopped in front of the large camp on the high road. A cavalryman stepped forward and shouted: "Go and report to your king, the envoy of Goryeo has arrived!" ”

The guards hurriedly went to report, and after a while, Gao Kaidao personally greeted him, and when he saw Gai Suwen at a glance, he laughed from afar, "It turned out to be the young master." The young master came in person, and Gao was disappointed. ”

He was a little uneasy in his heart, this Gai Suwen was notoriously cold and mean, could he negotiate with him?

Gai Suwen didn't get off the horse, and smiled faintly on the horse, "Dealing with Yang Yuanqing is the common wish of our two families, to make a long story short." Let's start negotiations! ”

Gao Kaidao didn't expect Gai Suwen to be so direct, his face was solemn, and he waved his hand. "Young master, please!"

Gai Suwen turned over and dismounted, walked quickly to the barracks, the two sat down in the big tent, Gao Kaidao poured him a bowl of buttermilk, and said with a smile: "I just received the news that the Sui army has increased its troops to Linyu Pass by 20,000, and now the total strength of the Sui army has reached 50,000, commanded by the general Luo Shixin." ”

"Humph! Is it the young warrior under Zhang Xutuo, Yang Yuanqing's junior brother? Gai Suwen sneered disdainfully.

Gao Kaidao felt that Gai Suwen despised Luo Shixin a little, and hurriedly said: "This Luo Shixin is brave and strategic. Although he is young, he can lead thousands of troops and horses to stand alone, and he must not be taken lightly. ”

"Of course I won't despise him, I just regret that Yang Yuanqing didn't personally lead the troops into battle."

Gai Suwen really regretted in his heart, he was eager to fight Yang Yuanqing many years ago. But he never had a chance, when he tried archery in the palace, he was defeated by Yang Yuanqing's bow, which made him angry, and his sister Gai Jiaojiao died under Yang Yuanqing, which filled his heart with hatred.

"Alright! This time I came to Huaiyuan Town, just to tell you that Goryeo will send 30,000 elite soldiers to help you, but we have the conditions. ”

Gao Kaidao sighed secretly in his heart, of course he knew that Goryeo would not help him in vain, even if he surrendered, they wanted to obtain actual benefits, and the Goryeo people were very pragmatic.

"Young master, please say, what conditions are needed."

Gai Suwen slowly took a sip of buttermilk, and then said unhurriedly: "Our conditions will not make General Gao suffer, if we help General Gao defeat the Sui army and capture Youzhou, then Zhuo County will be returned to General Gao, Yuyang County and Beiping County and Liaodong County will be returned to Goryeo, how about it?" ”

Gao Kaidao smiled bitterly, the Goryeo people really opened their mouths, not only the two counties of Liaodong, but also Beiping County and Yuyang County, he also knew that if he didn't give a little benefit, the Goryeo people would not be able to help themselves, after thinking about it, Gao Kaidao said: "That's it!" If the Sui army is defeated, Yan County and Liucheng County in Liaodong will be returned to Goryeo, and we will take Linyu Pass as the boundary. ”

"Huh! In this way, we have nothing to talk about, so I wish General Gao to defeat the Sui army, and I will take my leave. ”

Gai Suwen got up and left, Gao Kaidao hurriedly stopped him, "Young master is slow, there is something to discuss." ”

Gai Suwen glanced at him and said coldly: "General Gao should understand in his heart that if Goryeo does not participate in the war, you will definitely be defeated, and there will be no place to die, if the Goryeo army participates in the war, there is still the possibility of defeating the Sui army, you can continue to live, which is more important, you think about it yourself!" ”

Gao Kaidao pondered for a long time, and finally gritted his teeth and said: "If the Goryeo Army can help me take Zhuo County, I can agree to your conditions, but if you can't take Zhuo County, then take Linyu Pass as the boundary." ”

Gai Suwen squinted and smiled, "Then we'll make up our minds." ”

In fact, when that time comes, will he still be able to open his way? ……

Outside Linyu Pass, the Sui army took Linyu Palace as a base, deployed 50,000 troops, Linyu Palace is a small palace in Liaodong in the north of Yang Guang, built by the mountains and rivers, about five miles away from Linyu Pass, the items in the palace have already been looted by the group of thieves, only an empty palace remains.

The camp of the Sui army is stationed close to Linyu Palace, covering an area of nearly 100 acres, and you can clearly see the city of Linyu Pass a few miles away.

Early in the morning, Yang Yuanqing's cavalry team arrived at the Sui army camp in Linyu Palace.

Outside the camp, the chief general Luo Shixin, the deputy general Cheng Yanjin and Niu Jinting, and dozens of generals came out to greet them.

"See the Chief!"

The generals knelt down on one knee, and the black pressure was overwhelming, Yang Yuanqing hurriedly turned over and dismounted, helped Luo Shixin up, and said to the generals: "Generals are exempt!" ”

The generals got up one after another, and the arrival of the chief manager made everyone excited, Yang Yuanqing patted Cheng Jin's shoulder again and smiled: "It's honest here!" ”

Cheng Yanjin scratched his head and smiled bitterly: "It's when to hit Linyuguan, we waited until our hair turned white." ”

"Oh! Actually the hair is gray, I thought it was because I wanted the lady to make her hair white. Yang Yuanqing quipped.

All the generals burst into laughter, and the atmosphere suddenly became relaxed, Yang Yuanqing walked towards the camp and said to Luo Shixin and the generals: "I also want to fight Liaodong, but the time is not yet ripe, but soon, just this month, everyone will get their wish." ”

All the way into the Chinese army tent, all the generals retreated, there are only four or five generals in the Chinese army tent, there is a sand table in the tent, at this time, the marching Sima Cao Sheng took the wooden pole and pointed to Linyu Pass and said: "According to our latest information, Linyu Pass has a total of 12,000 defenders, the pass is steep, easy to defend and difficult to attack, this is a hard bone to gnaw." ”

"How's the defenders equipped?" Yang Yuanqing asked again.

Next to Luo Shixin said: "The guard's name is Zhang Shihong, he was originally a fierce general under Douzi Ganggeqian, and now he is Gao Kaidao's henchman, commanding 15,000 elite troops, and the soldiers guarding Yuguan are this elite army, all preparations are the same as the Sui army, they are the armor obtained from Luo Yi, and they heard that after Gao Kaidao surrendered to Goryeo, Goryeo gave his army 30,000 sets of armor, and in terms of equipment, Gao Kaidao's army should not be underestimated. ”

Yang Yuanqing nodded, and then said to everyone: "There is another news to tell you, this time to attack Liaodong, it is very likely that Goryeo will also participate in the war, and the strength is about 30,000 to 50,000 people." ”

Yang Yuanqing looked at Luo Shixin, wanting to see his reaction, but Luo Shixin's reaction was very flat, he already knew it in his heart, and he didn't think it was different, Yang Yuanqing turned his head and asked Niu Jinda: "What does General Niu think." ”

Niu Jinda didn't say much, but his words could get to the point, he thought for a while and said: "I feel that the head of the government is waiting for Goryeo to send troops." ”

Yang Yuanqing smiled slightly, this Niu Jinda is very discerning and can see through the problem, he turned his gaze to Cheng Yanjin again, "What does General Cheng think?" ”

"Me!"

Cheng Yanjin smiled, "As a general, I don't have any ideas, the manager asked me to go to the sea of fire, I won't go to Shangdao Mountain, I just carry out military orders, unlike Lao Niu, I actually have my own ideas." ”

Yang Yuanqing saw that his flamboyant nature was difficult to change, so he sneered slightly: "Since you say so, I will hand over the heavy task of attacking Linyu Pass to you, and you carry out the military order!" ”

Cheng Yanjin was stunned all of a sudden, and he couldn't close his mouth for a long time......

Linyu Pass is an extremely dangerous city pass, the mountain pass that chokes a branch of Yanshan, is about three miles long, built tall and strong, in front of the city pass, the Yushui that is about three zhang wide flows crosswise, becomes the first defense of Linyu Pass.

On the south bank of Yushui, Yang Yuanqing, accompanied by hundreds of soldiers and dozens of generals, looked at the majestic Linyu Pass from afar, the pass was about three zhang high, and there was a soldier standing in front of each battlement, holding a bow and arrow, waiting for the battle.

"Steward, I don't think it's appropriate to let Cheng Yanjin be in charge of attacking Guancheng." Luo Shixin whispered on the side.

Yang Yuanqing glanced at Cheng Yanjin, who was not far away with a worried face, and said lightly: "I know that he is not suitable, let him fight the pass, and the number of brothers killed in battle will at least double." ”

"Then the manager still asked him to lead the troops?"

Yang Yuanqing snorted coldly, "I saw that he was too flamboyant, so I put a little pressure on him, do you see, so far, he hasn't said a word, this is the best way to shut him up." ”