Honglou: This bastard is too persuasive.

Chapter 664: Both Sides Use Tricks
The ministers dispersed one after another, but they all felt heavy in their hearts. The shadow of this war loomed over everyone's heart. They all knew that Goguryeo was facing an unprecedented crisis, and tomorrow's morning court would determine the fate of the country.

The next morning, the sun shone through the clouds onto the main hall of the Goguryeo royal palace. Li Youhe sat on the dragon throne with a solemn look. The civil and military officials of the court stood neatly on both sides of the main hall, and the atmosphere was tense and depressing.

"My dear ministers, I stayed up all night yesterday, carefully considering your suggestions. Now, I have made a decision." Li Youhe's voice echoed in the hall.

Everyone raised their heads and stared at Li Youhe, waiting for his decision.

"I have decided to take a two-pronged approach. On the one hand, we will send envoys to Jia Changsheng's camp to negotiate and strive to resolve the dispute peacefully. On the other hand, General Park Sung-moo, you will immediately begin to gather troops and strengthen the defense of Pingyang City. If the negotiations break down, we will fight the enemy to the death!" Li Youhe's tone was firm and resolute.

Park Sung-moo stepped forward, clasped his fists and accepted the order: "I obey your order! I will do my best to defend Pingyang City!"

Li Mingzhe also said: "Your Majesty is wise. I will select a suitable envoy and go to the enemy camp as soon as possible."

"Okay. This matter is of great importance, and you must act with caution. I hope that we can avoid unnecessary wars and defend the dignity and territorial integrity of Goguryeo," said Li Youhe.

Afterwards, the court discussed in detail the specific negotiation conditions, troop deployment, intelligence gathering, etc. The ministers expressed their opinions and made plans to deal with this crisis.

When the court meeting ended, the ministers walked out of the hall one after another. The sun shone on them, but everyone knew that the road ahead was still full of uncertainty and challenges. The fate of Goguryeo was hanging by a thread at this moment, and they would shoulder the responsibility of saving the country and write a chapter belonging to Goguryeo in this game of war and peace.

In the majestic palace of the Goguryeo capital, a court meeting to decide on the envoy was going on in a tense and solemn manner. The palace was decorated with carved beams and painted buildings, and the huge stone pillars were engraved with mysterious and majestic totems, symbolizing the glory and inheritance of Goguryeo through the ages.

King Go Won of Goguryeo sat on the magnificent throne, wearing a robe embroidered with golden dragon patterns and a crown inlaid with rubies. His face was cold and deep, and his eyes revealed the majesty and wisdom of a king. Below him were the dignitaries and important officials of Goguryeo, who stood in order of their official positions, and everyone had a solemn expression on their faces.

"Today's court meeting is to discuss the diplomatic mission. The surrounding situation is unpredictable now, and Goguryeo has frequent exchanges with various forces. The mission of this diplomatic mission is important, and it concerns the rise and fall, honor and disgrace of Goguryeo. My dear ministers, do you have any suitable candidates to recommend for the envoy?" Gao Yuan's voice echoed in the palace, steady and powerful.

As soon as he finished speaking, a minister in black official uniform and with a thin face stepped forward. This person was Goguryeo's Grand Councillor Eulji Mundeok. He bowed slightly and said respectfully: "Your Majesty, I think Moliji Quan Gaesomun can take on this important task. Quan Gaesomun is both wise and brave, has a very high prestige in my Goguryeo army, and is well aware of the situation in the surrounding countries. If he is sent as an envoy, he will definitely live up to his mission and strive for the greatest benefit for my Goguryeo."

As soon as Yi Zhi Wende finished speaking, a slight discussion broke out in the court. Some people nodded slightly to show their agreement, while others looked hesitant, as if they were thinking about something.

At this time, a burly general wearing a general's armor stood up. He was Buyeo Long, the Eastern General of Goguryeo. Buyeo Long clasped his fists and saluted, saying loudly: "Your Majesty, I think what Master Eulji Wende said is reasonable, but Master Quan Gaesomun is now shouldering the military responsibility of Goguryeo. If he goes on a diplomatic mission, it may have an impact on the domestic military deployment. I recommend myself as an envoy. I am willing to use my martial arts and courage to protect the dignity of Goguryeo during the diplomatic mission."

Fu Yulong's words sparked more discussion. Some people believed that as a military commander, Fu Yulong had enough courage and strength to deal with the dangers he might encounter during his mission; but others worried that he lacked experience in diplomatic negotiations and might not be able to properly handle complex diplomatic affairs.

While everyone was arguing, a young civil servant walked out of the queue. His name was Gao Jianwu. Although he was young, he had already made a name for himself among the civil servants of Goguryeo. Gao Jianwu bowed to Gao Yuan, and then said slowly: "Your Majesty, I have a different opinion. I think this mission not only requires a brave and resourceful person, but also a person who is proficient in diplomatic etiquette and good at speaking. I recommend the chief clerk Gao Ren. Gao Ren has been familiar with the classics, history, and literature since he was a child. He has an in-depth study of the culture and diplomatic etiquette of various countries, and he is an excellent eloquent person who can skillfully deal with various problems in diplomatic occasions."

Gao Jianwu's recommendation made the atmosphere in the court more heated. Some people recognized Gao Ren's talent, but others questioned whether his experience and prestige were sufficient.

At this time, Right Minister Kim Yu-sin, who had been silent, slowly spoke up: "Your Majesty, what you all said makes sense. But I think that the selection of envoys should not only consider their personal abilities, but also the purpose and target of the mission. The purpose of our mission this time is to establish good relations with [specific country or force] and to resolve issues such as border trade and territorial disputes. We need an envoy who can understand the position of Goguryeo and communicate effectively with the other party."

Kim Yu-shin's words made everyone fall into deep thought. Gao Yuan nodded slightly, indicating that he should continue.

Kim Yu-shin went on to say, "I recommend Park Suk-hee, a doctor of the Imperial College. Park Suk-hee has traveled to various countries and has a deep understanding of their politics, economy, and culture. He is upright, thoughtful, and able to look at problems from a long-term perspective. Moreover, he has had contacts with some important figures in the country or power to be sent to, and has a certain network of contacts. His mission may bring us unexpected gains."

Kim Yu-shin's recommendation attracted a lot of attention. Some people began to re-examine the issue of the envoy's selection, wondering whether Park Su-hee was really the most suitable candidate.

However, the debate in the court did not end there. Several ministers successively proposed their own recommended candidates, each with their own reasons and considerations. For a time, everyone in the court held their own opinions and the debate was fierce.

Gao Yuan listened to the arguments quietly, his eyes swept across the faces of the ministers one by one, and he was weighing the pros and cons in his mind. He knew very well that the selection of the envoys this time was of great importance. If the wrong choice was made, it might bring serious consequences to Goguryeo. After a long time, Gao Yuan raised his hand to signal everyone to be quiet. He slowly stood up and said with a firm look: "My dear ministers, the selection of the envoys this time is related to the future of Goguryeo. I have seriously considered every one of your suggestions. After careful consideration, I think that Park Su-hee, a doctor of the Imperial College, is indeed a suitable candidate."

As soon as Gao Yuan said this, the court suddenly fell silent. Some people looked surprised, while others nodded slightly to show their agreement.

Gao Yuan continued, "Dr. Park Su-hee is knowledgeable, experienced, and has a certain connection with [the country or power to which the envoy is sent]. He can communicate with the other party with a peaceful attitude, while firmly safeguarding the interests of our Goguryeo. I believe that he will be able to complete this mission excellently."

Afterwards, Gao Yuan put forward some specific requirements and expectations to Park Su-hee: "Park Su-hee, you represent the image of Goguryeo on this mission. You must bear in mind your mission, be neither humble nor overbearing, and in your dealings with the other party, you must show Goguryeo's friendship while adhering to Goguryeo's bottom line. If you encounter any problems, you must report them to me in a timely manner."

Park Su-hee knelt down to express her gratitude: "Your Majesty, rest assured that I will do my best to live up to your trust and confidence. I will put the interests of Goguryeo first, act prudently during the mission, and strive to create a good development environment for Goguryeo."

After the court meeting, the ministers left one after another. Park Su-hee was filled with a sense of mission and felt great pressure. He knew that he would face a severe test in the coming days. He returned home and began to carefully prepare various materials needed for the diplomatic mission, study the latest situation of the [target country or force], and make full preparations for the upcoming diplomatic mission.

Outside the capital of Goguryeo, the people gradually learned about the selection of the envoys. They were full of expectations for this mission, hoping that the envoys could bring peace and prosperity to Goguryeo. In the hearts of the people, Goguryeo was their homeland, and they longed to see their country play an important role on the international stage and win more respect and benefits.

As time went by, the day of Park Su-hee's diplomatic mission was getting closer. The whole of Goguryeo was busy preparing for this important diplomatic event. Before leaving, Park Su-hee once again said goodbye to Gao Yuan. Gao Yuan personally saw him off and gave him a sword that symbolized power and glory, hoping that he could overcome all obstacles on his way to the mission and successfully complete his mission.

Finally, Park Su-hee embarked on a diplomatic mission with the King of Goguryeo's instructions and the people's expectations. He led a large delegation and headed towards the [destination of the mission]. Behind him were the majestic mountains and magnificent land of Goguryeo. He knew that he was shouldering the future of the entire country.

Although the selection of the envoys went through fierce debate at the court meeting, Park Su-hee, who was finally selected, undoubtedly carried the hope of Goguryeo. What challenges and opportunities will he face on his diplomatic journey? Can he successfully complete his mission and bring new development opportunities to Goguryeo? All of this will be gradually revealed in the days to come. And Goguryeo will also write its own chapter in history in this diplomatic storm.

In the tent at the border, the candlelight flickered, illuminating Jia Changsheng's deep and sharp eyes. The tent was filled with a tense and calculating atmosphere. Jia Changsheng sat in the main seat, tapping the table with his hands, thinking about the upcoming arrival of the Goguryeo envoy.

"Report..." A messenger hurried into the tent and knelt on one knee. "General, according to the latest intelligence, the Goguryeo envoy team is three days away and will arrive at our base soon."

Jia Changsheng nodded slightly, signaling the messenger to withdraw. Then, he glanced at the generals in the tent and slowly said, "Everyone, the Goguryeo envoys came here, seemingly for peaceful negotiations, but in fact, there may be other intentions behind it. But this is also a great opportunity for us."

At this time, Li Meng, the deputy general, stood up and asked in confusion: "General, the Goguryeo envoys are here, so why is it an opportunity? We can't be fooled by their superficial efforts."

Jia Changsheng smiled and said, "Li Meng, you are right. However, we can use their tricks against them. They think that sending an envoy can stabilize us, but we should take this opportunity to paralyze them and then give them a fatal blow."

The generals in the tent all showed curious expressions, waiting for Jia Changsheng's further explanation.

Jia Changsheng stood up and walked to the map in the center of the tent. He moved his finger across the northern part of Goguryeo on the map. “You see, these cities in northern Goguryeo have defenses, but they are not indestructible. Especially when they are focusing all their attention on the envoys’ negotiations, if we can secretly gather our forces and attack them unexpectedly, we will definitely achieve twice the result with half the effort.”

Staff officer Zhao Wen frowned and expressed his concerns: "General, this plan is brilliant, but how can we ensure that we can paralyze the Goguryeo envoys while gathering our forces smoothly without being noticed by them? After all, once they become alert, our plan may fail."

Jia Changsheng nodded, acknowledging Zhao Wen's concerns: "This is exactly what we need to plan carefully. First, we must pretend to be ignorant of their intentions before the envoys arrive, and show that we are willing to negotiate peacefully. After the envoys arrive, we must give them the highest courtesy and arrange a grand welcome ceremony to make them feel that we have been moved by their 'sincerity for peace'."

Li Meng scratched his head and asked, "General, is it that simple? Will this work?"

Jia Changsheng smiled and looked at Li Meng: "Of course, there is more to it than that. While welcoming the envoy, we have to secretly deploy troops. During the day, let the soldiers pretend to conduct daily military training, and secretly gather to the northern border at night. In order to avoid arousing Goguryeo's suspicion, we should not mobilize too many troops each time, and carry out the operations in batches, and the operations must be absolutely secret."

Zhao Wen continued, "General, in this case, we still need some people to create a false impression on the border so that the spies of Goguryeo can see that we are still the same as usual and there are no signs of large-scale military operations."

(End of this chapter)