Honglou: This bastard is too persuasive.

Chapter 649: Dealing with Goguryeo

Jia Changsheng sat on the main seat with a solemn expression, looking around at all the generals under his command, and slowly said: "I summoned you all today because we have received accurate news that Goguryeo is actively preparing for war. Their intentions are unpredictable, and I am afraid they will take action soon. We need to make plans early to ensure the peace of our border. Please speak freely and share your ideas."

General Zhao Yong stood up first and clasped his fists, saying, "General, Goguryeo is preparing for war this time, presumably because they covet the fertile land and abundant products on our border. In my opinion, we should immediately strengthen the deployment of troops on the border, transfer soldiers from each battalion to key passes, strengthen the city defenses, stockpile food and military equipment, and prepare for defense first, so that they dare not attack easily."

Jia Changsheng nodded slightly and turned his gaze to the calm and reserved counselor Qian Wen: "Mr. Qian, what do you think about this?"

Qian Wen stroked his beard and thought for a moment before saying, "General, defense is important, but it may not be a long-term solution. Since Goguryeo has decided to stir up trouble, we might as well strengthen our defense while sending elite scouts deep into Goguryeo to find out about its military movements, food reserves, and the various forces within it. As the saying goes, knowing yourself and the enemy ensures victory in a hundred battles. At the same time, we can contact neighboring friendly tribes, explain the benefits and disadvantages, form an alliance, and jointly deal with the threat of Goguryeo, so as to contain its forces from the side and prevent it from invading our border with all its strength."

"Well, Mr. Qian's words make sense." Jia Changsheng agreed and looked at the young and energetic Li Meng, "Li Meng, what do you think?"

Li Meng stood up suddenly, his eyes gleaming with fighting spirit: "General, why don't our army take the initiative to attack? While Goguryeo is not fully prepared, gather our forces, attack their heartland, disrupt their deployment, and kill them by surprise. I am willing to lead a vanguard to clear the way for the army, and I will definitely let the Goguryeo people know how powerful our army is!"

Jia Changsheng frowned and said, "Although we can take the initiative to attack, the terrain in Goguryeo is complicated. If we rush in, we may be surrounded. Moreover, the supply of food and grass for our army will be a big problem for a long-distance attack."

At this time, veteran general Sun Fu spoke up, "General, General Li Meng's idea is a bit radical, but it is not impossible. We can adopt a strategy of dividing our forces and attacking together. One part of the force will pretend to be the main force and bluff at the border to attract the attention of the Goguryeo army; the other part of the force will take a detour and choose their weak defenses to launch a surprise attack, burn their food and supplies, and destroy their preparations. In this way, we can avoid being surrounded and achieve the goal of striking Goguryeo."

Everyone nodded, thinking that Sun Fu's suggestion was quite feasible. After thinking for a moment, Jia Changsheng said, "General Sun's strategy of dividing the troops and attacking together can be considered, but the specific implementation needs to be carefully planned. We also need to consider the impact of weather, terrain and other factors on combat. In addition, our navy cannot be ignored. Goguryeo may have its troops deployed in the coastal areas. We must strengthen the patrols and vigilance of the navy to prevent them from attacking from the sea."

Then, Jia Changsheng discussed with everyone many issues such as the collection and transportation of food and fodder, the forging and replenishment of weapons, and the treatment and placement of the wounded. The discussion lasted until late at night before a preliminary strategy was drawn up to deal with Goguryeo's preparations for war.

Jia Changsheng concluded: "Everyone, Goguryeo's preparations for war are a severe test for our dynasty, but as long as we work together, make good use of strategies, and give full play to the advantages of our army, we will be able to keep our borders safe. In the days to come, everyone should act according to the established plan, pay close attention to Goguryeo's movements, and adjust strategic deployment at any time. I believe that victory will belong to us!"

In the following months, Jia Changsheng's army moved intensively. Border fortifications were constantly reinforced, towers were built one after another, and soldiers on the city walls patrolled day and night, ready for battle. Scouts sneaked into Goguryeo in batches, and with their agile skills and extraordinary wisdom, they continuously sent back intelligence.

The contacts with the surrounding tribes also achieved certain results. Some tribes were moved by Jia Changsheng's sincerity and were willing to form an alliance with them to fight against Goguryeo. These tribes harassed Goguryeo's border from time to time, forcing Goguryeo to divide its troops for defense, reducing the pressure on the front battlefield.

The strategy of dividing the troops and attacking together was also being prepared in secret. The main force frequently moved around the border, creating the illusion of an imminent attack, attracting a large number of Goguryeo troops. At the same time, an elite force led by Li Meng, under the cover of night, took a detour and headed towards Goguryeo's grain and grass storage area. They avoided Goguryeo's patrols, and after many hardships, they finally arrived at their destination. At the command, the soldiers ignited the grain and grass, and the flames shot up into the sky, and Goguryeo's grain and grass were reduced to ashes.

As for the navy, patrols and alerts were also strengthened, and Goguryeo's small-scale maritime harassment was repelled many times. Under Jia Changsheng's command, various response measures were carried out in an orderly manner, gradually reversing the situation, which seriously hindered Goguryeo's war preparation plan. They also felt the strong strength and firm determination of the army led by Jia Changsheng, and did not dare to start a war easily. The border temporarily returned to peace. But Jia Changsheng knew that this was only temporary, and he still needed to remain vigilant in the future and continuously strengthen border defense forces to deal with crises that might arise at any time.

Jia Changsheng, wearing armor, stood majestically in the tent, scanning the generals under the tent with a sharp gaze. The atmosphere in the tent was solemn and depressing. Everyone knew that the upcoming battle to attack the Goguryeo border town of Jiuyuecheng was related to the safety and glory of the border.

"Everyone, after days of preparation, our army is ready. Now, September City is right in front of us. The city has a dangerous terrain and strong defenses. The Goguryeo defenders will definitely fight to the death. But our army's morale is high and it is unstoppable. Today, I have gathered everyone to discuss a foolproof strategy for attacking the city." Jia Changsheng's voice was like a bell, breaking the silence in the tent.

The vanguard general Zhao Meng stepped forward, clasped his hands in a salute, and said excitedly: "General, I am willing to lead the vanguard troops to attack the city first! Our army has prepared sufficient siege equipment, including battering rams, ladders, and catapults. I plan to launch a surprise attack at dawn, while the enemy is not yet fully awake, and use battering rams and ladders to forcibly break into the city and catch them off guard!"

Jia Changsheng nodded slightly, with a hint of admiration in his eyes: "General Zhao Meng's courage is commendable, but the defenders of September City are by no means ordinary people. They must have been prepared. We can't just rely on courage, we also need strategy to support it."

Advisor Qian Wen waved his feather fan and stepped forward and said, "General, in my opinion, we can first send a small force to pretend to attack the city and attract the main force of the enemy to the city wall. Then, our main force will go around to the flank of September City, where the terrain is relatively hidden and the enemy's defense may be negligent. Use catapults to attack the weak points of the city wall from a long distance. After opening a gap, we can quickly rush into the city with elite infantry and engage in street fighting with the enemy to disrupt their deployment."

Jia Changsheng touched his chin, thought for a moment and said, "Mr. Qian's plan is very good, but the flank attack needs to be carried out secretly. Once the enemy discovers it, our army will be passive. General Li Xin, what do you think of this?"

General Li Xin frowned slightly, and after thinking for a while, he said, "General, when our army is attacking the city, we must also guard against the reinforcements from Goguryeo. They will definitely fight to the death to rescue Jiuyue City. If our army is attacked from both inside and outside, the situation will be extremely unfavorable. I suggest setting up an ambush on the main road leading to Jiuyue City to block the reinforcements and ensure that the siege is not disturbed."

"General Li Xin is right. The choice of the ambush is crucial." Jia Changsheng looked around at everyone. "General Zhang Yuan, you lead your troops to carry out this mission. You must stop the reinforcements and buy time for the siege."

"I obey your orders!" General Zhang Yuan took the order and left. At this time, General Sun Fu, who was in charge of logistics, said, "General, food and supplies are the lifeblood of our army. Although the supply is safe at present, once the siege begins, the consumption will be huge. I have made arrangements and set up multiple supply points in the rear, which can transport supplies to the front line at any time. But we need to send troops to escort them along the way to prevent enemy surprise attacks."

Jia Changsheng nodded and said, "General Sun, you have considered everything. I will leave this matter to you. You must also keep up with the maintenance of the siege equipment at all times and not let it fail at the critical moment."

"Yes!" Sun Fu replied.

Jia Changsheng looked at everyone again: "Everyone, this attack on September City is a key battle between our army and Goguryeo. We must not only capture this city, but also minimize our own casualties. All troops must work closely together and fight in coordination. Once the city is broken, we must quickly control the key points in the city to prevent the enemy from counterattacking."

"Understood!" the generals shouted in unison.

In the following days, Jia Changsheng's army carried out pre-war preparations in an orderly manner according to the established plan. The soldiers repeatedly checked their weapons and equipment, and the siege equipment was pushed to the front line, ready for battle.

Finally, the siege began. At dawn, General Zhao Meng led the vanguard troops to rush towards Jiuyue City like a tiger. For a while, the shouts of killing shook the sky, battering rams hit the city gates, ladders were placed on the city walls, and soldiers bravely climbed up. The Goguryeo defenders fought desperately, and rolling logs and stones fell one after another. The casualties of the soldiers attacking the city continued to increase, but they did not retreat.

At the same time, Jia Changsheng personally led the main force to bypass the flank. In the hidden catapult position, huge stones were thrown high up and hit the city wall like raindrops. With a loud noise, a crack appeared in the city wall, and then it collapsed with a loud bang, forming a gap.

"Charge!" Jia Changsheng gave the order, and the elite infantry poured into the city like a tide. The Goguryeo soldiers in the city quickly organized resistance, and the two sides launched a fierce street battle. Jia Changsheng's troops were well-trained, and they cooperated with each other to clear the enemy troops street by street.

Outside the city, the ambush troops led by General Zhang Yuan also fought fiercely with the reinforcements of Goguryeo. They occupied advantageous terrain, repelled the enemy's attacks time and time again, and ensured the safety of the rear of the siege troops.

After a day and night of fierce fighting, the Goguryeo defenders in Jiuyue City gradually lost their strength. Jia Changsheng's army successfully controlled the key strongholds in the city. Seeing that the situation was hopeless, the Goguryeo defenders surrendered one after another.

When the flag of victory flew over September City, Jia Changsheng's army cheered. But Jia Changsheng knew that this was just a victory in the war with Goguryeo, and there was still a long way to go in the future. They must continue to defend the border and protect their country.

Under the shadow of the fall of September City, the city lord Park Chung-hee fled to the mountains outside the city with several trusted senior officials. They were ragged and exhausted, hiding in a secret cave, their hearts filled with fear and confusion.

Park Chung-hee's face was gloomy, his eyes were filled with reluctance and despair, and he was the first to break the silence: "Now that September City has fallen into the hands of the enemy, we have failed the king's trust. What should we do? If we return to the imperial city, the king will be furious, and our heads will be in danger; but if we flee from Goguryeo, how can we live in the world with dignity?"

Financial officer Jin Zaizhong frowned and said worriedly: "City Lord, the situation is critical. Although we have escaped from September City, the enemy must have taken precautions, and the road back to the Imperial City must be full of dangers. And I heard that Jia Changsheng is a master of military tactics, and he may have expected us to return to the Imperial City and set up many ambushes along the way. With the limited number of troops we have now, I am afraid that we will be captured and killed before we even reach the Imperial City."

Military adjutant Cui Minxiu snorted coldly, his face full of resentment: "It's all Jia Changsheng's fault! If he hadn't suddenly attacked, how could September City be breached so easily? We have been operating in the city for many years, but now we have ended up like this. I think we can't just let it go, we should gather our old subordinates and look for an opportunity to retake September City!"

Park Chung-hee smiled bitterly and shook his head: "General Cui, you are too naive. Now that September City has been controlled by the enemy, what can we use to take it back? Besides, even if we are lucky enough to take back September City, how long can we hold on? How can Jia Changsheng's army be dealt with so easily?"

At this time, counselor Li Shanyu slowly said: "City Lord, in my opinion, our top priority right now is to save our lives first. As long as the green mountains remain, there will be no worries about lack of firewood. The world is so big, there is more than just Goguryeo to stay. We can stay away from Goguryeo first, go to other countries to hide temporarily, and wait for an opportunity to make a comeback in the future."

Park Chung-hee's eyes flickered, and he hesitated: "Leaving Goguryeo? It's easier said than done. Not to mention the long journey, there are many checkpoints along the way. Where can we go?"

Li Shanyu thought for a moment and said, "I heard that the Tang Dynasty is a rich and powerful country that values ​​talents. City Lord, you have a talent for governance. If we can go to the Tang Dynasty, we may be able to get protection and have the opportunity to learn their advanced governance and military strategies. When we return in the future, we will have enough capital to compete with Jia Changsheng."

Jin Zaizhong raised objections: "The Tang Dynasty is good, but it is a foreign country after all. We don't speak the language and the customs are very different. We are unfamiliar with the place, how can we survive? Moreover, as officials of Goguryeo, if we defect to another country like this, wouldn't it be treason?"

Cui Minxiu also echoed, "I also think it's inappropriate. We have been blessed by the King of Goguryeo for generations. How can we easily leave our homeland and go to another country? Even if we have to die, we must die on the land of Goguryeo!"

(End of this chapter)