Datang: Rebirth of Li Chengqian, the beginning of the treason interrogation

Chapter 139 Yeon Gaesomun's Jedi

Time passed quickly, and several days went by in the blink of an eye.

On this day, Li Dejian led his army back in triumph. They gave up the pursuit and killed more than 2,000 enemy soldiers, and those fleeing soldiers were also dispersed.

Now, as the temperature gets lower and lower, these fleeing soldiers are facing the test of severe cold, and only death awaits them.

By mid-November, the land of Goguryeo was covered with a thick layer of ice, more than three feet thick.

In such a harsh environment, it was difficult for people and horses to move, as if the whole world was frozen. The war was finally quelled by the cold winter.

However, at this moment, Yeon Gaesomun's rage was not frozen.

"Why haven't the food and grass been delivered yet?" Yeon Gaesomun angrily questioned his generals.

Yuan Nanjian replied: "Maybe it's because the roads are difficult, which has hindered transportation, so there is a delay."

Yeon Gaesomun frowned and said dissatisfiedly: "Delay? It has been delayed for half a month! How far is it from Pyongyang to Qiuyi? Don't the boys have any way to solve it?"

In addition to being angry, Yeon Gaesomun could not help but feel a little worried. He had a keen insight into the situation on the battlefield, and at this moment he realized that something unexpected might have happened in Pyongyang, otherwise the food and fodder would not have been delayed for so long.

"Father, don't worry. Brother Nan has so many loyal generals to our Yuan clan helping him. Gao Zang can't make any trouble. I also think that something must have happened on the way. Not only has the food and grass from Pyongyang not arrived, but the food and grass from other cities have not arrived either. I think they will arrive in a few days. There are still more than 100,000 stones of food and grass stored in Qiuyi City, which can last for more than a month."

Yeon Gaesomun's third son, Yeon Nansan, also spoke up, completely unaware of the impending crisis.

"How are the border defenses? Are there no Tang troops crossing?"

Yeon Gaesomun's brows were furrowed, and his eyes always revealed a hint of uneasiness and worry.

Yuan Nanjian replied respectfully: "No, the Tang army has been confronting our army. As the weather gets colder, their activities are not as frequent."

However, Yuan Nanjian did not know that the Tang army did not break through the defense line from them, but chose an unexpected route - the sea. The Tang army successfully went around the back of Qiu Yi City and cut off Qiu Yi City's logistical supplies.

The Tang army general Cheng Mingzhen led his troops to ambush the road that the grain-transporting troops had to take, and attacked and seized all the food in one fell swoop.

Although many soldiers escaped, they had difficulty surviving in the severe cold due to lack of food supply. Therefore, even after half a month, no soldier was able to escape back to Qiuyi City to report the news.

Yeon Gaesomun was still uneasy. He knew that every detail in the war could determine the outcome. He decisively ordered:
"Nanjian, you must immediately send out an elite force to investigate and find out what happened to the grain route. I have a bad feeling and we must find out what happened."

"Report, the grain transport team has arrived!"

Just then, there was a burst of hurried footsteps outside.

Upon hearing this, Yeon Gaesomun breathed a sigh of relief. It seemed that he had been overthinking.

But soon, he discovered how wrong he was. This was not good news, but bad news.

"Yuan... Da Dui Lu, the Tang army has sent troops to cut off our army's food supply."

A general with frostbitten face fell to his knees and said in panic.

"What?" Yeon Gaesomun jumped up suddenly.

"Tang Jun, how did you appear behind us?"

"It should be coming from the direction of the Datai River. The Tang army has navy." Yeon Gaegon's pupils were also shrinking, but he still had basic thinking ability.

"Yes, the Tang army is heading towards Dataijiang." The grain transport officer said again. No one knew how he could run to Qiuyi City to report the news in such cold weather without any food or fodder.

"Dataijiang!"

Yeon Gaesomun murmured softly, and then fell weakly on the seat at the back.

"Father..."

Yuan Nanjian and Yuan Nanchan were shocked and immediately stepped forward to support Yuan Gaesomun.

"It's over, Goguryeo is over, everything is over." Yeon Gaesomun's pupils dilated and he talked to himself like a madman.

"Don't worry, father. Isn't it just a small group of Tang troops that have appeared? I will lead the army to attack them, take back the food and grass, and reopen the food supply route."

Yuan Nanjian said loudly.

"What can we do if we rob them? The Tang army that is confronting us is just a cover. If the Tang army can appear behind our army, then they can definitely appear in Pyongyang."

Yeon Gaesomun now understood the strategic deployment of the Tang army, but it was too late.

"So what? There are 100,000 soldiers and civilians in Pyongyang, and the city walls are high and thick. Even the Tang army cannot break through them."

Yuan Nanjian was still immersed in fantasy.

"What can we do? This means that our army will starve to death in Qiu Yi City."

Yeon Gaesomun was so angry that he came to his senses. The situation he imagined was too good to be true. He didn't know that Pyongyang City had become Li Chengqian's office at that time.

"What should we do? Why don't we retreat to Pyongyang City? This way we can attack the Tang army from both sides."

"It's freezing cold today. We will all freeze to death on the way before we even reach Pyongyang."

……

These news made Yeon Gaesomun's two sons no longer calm.

Yeon Nam-geon said anxiously to Yeon Gaesomun: "Father, why don't we surrender to the Tang army first! As soon as the Tang army withdraws from Goguryeo, we can take advantage of the situation and rise again."

During the Sui Dynasty, Goguryeo had successfully implemented such a strategy, and the results were very significant, putting the Sui Dynasty in trouble. Yuan Nanchan also agreed with this view and thought it was indeed a good idea.

However, Yeon Gaesomun remained silent and fell into deep thought. Now they were facing Emperor Taizong of Tang, Li Shimin, and it was simply a pipe dream to use such a trick.

Moreover, the warning issued by Li Chengqian that day is still vivid in his mind, as if it is still echoing in his ears.

"Defend the city, no one is allowed to enter or leave. Anyone who dares to surrender will be killed!" Yeon Gaesomun's domineering voice suppressed all objections.

Yuan Nanjian asked worriedly, "But the food and grass in the city can only last for two months at most, and it will take at least four more months until the snow melts in spring. How can we hold out that long?"

Yeon Gaesomun replied in a sinister voice: "We need to find a way to survive for four months. Only then will we have a chance of survival."

Qiuyi City was located in the south, had trade relations with Baekje and Silla, and had a large population.

It is not impossible to survive the four-month cold winter.

(End of this chapter)