Li Chengqian of the Tang Dynasty: Please say long live His Majesty

Chapter 275: What to Do with Surrendered Prisoners (Part )
Swords and spears came out together, and the sound of killing shook the sky.

Fifteen thousand Tang infantry and cavalry were stationed on the top of Xiling Mountain to defend it, while fifty thousand Goguryeo soldiers at the foot of the mountain were madly charging up the mountain.

Bows and crossbows flew everywhere, and blood and flesh were everywhere.

Under the towering yellow canopy, countless flags were waving rapidly, and teams of soldiers took turns rushing to the front.

On the hillside, tall catapults kept throwing huge boulders, which directly crushed bloody paths among the densely packed Goguryeo soldiers at the foot of the ridge.

The Goguryeo people rushed forward frantically, but apart from the unfavorable places deliberately abandoned by the Tang army soldiers, the 50,000 people actually did not rush forward much.

In the shade of the trees on the North Mountain, Li Shimin, dressed in black clothes and black armor, looked indifferently at the bloody battle on the opposite mountain that was like a millstone. His gaze gently turned to the south.

Thirty thousand Goguryeo cavalrymen lined up neatly at a later position, ready to attack the Tang army on the mountain at any time if they showed any signs of defeat.

Unfortunately, from their position, they could not see clearly how many Tang Dynasty soldiers were on the mountain.

The emperor's expression remained indifferent. He raised his head and looked further behind the Goguryeo cavalry. At the end of his sight in the distance, there were 20,000 infantry and cavalry guarding the rear.

One hundred thousand, no, one hundred and fifty thousand.

There were 150,000 Goguryeo and Mohe soldiers. Goguryeo almost sent all its troops. 100,000 of them fought on the battlefield, 10,000 entered Anshi City, and 40,000 were guarding in the cities further behind and were ready to support the front at any time.

This battle was already a full-scale national war between the Tang Dynasty and Goguryeo.

But unfortunately, they had no idea that under Huang Gai on Xiling Mountain, the person in charge of the overall situation was Li Ji.

When they saw a yellow cap, they thought it was Li Shimin on the mountain, and then they rushed up the mountain like crazy without hesitation. However, they had no idea that there were only 15,000 infantry and cavalry on the mountain, and Li Shimin was on the North Ridge, leading the heavily armored cavalry in full armor, ready to charge at any time.

Behind the mountains on the southeast side, Changsun Wuji was leading 10,000 cavalrymen to make a detour, preparing to get behind the Goguryeo people and attack them from behind.

Thirty thousand versus one hundred and fifty thousand.

Almost all of the 30,000 Tang soldiers wore armor, and their swords and spears were extremely sharp. On the other hand, except for the core 10,000 or 20,000 people of Goguryeo who wore armor, the rest of the people wore leather and cloth armor.

On the Western Ridge, almost every time a crossbow arrow fell, a large number of Goguryeo people fell to the ground and died, and then were ruthlessly stepped on by the people behind them, and their blood splattered everywhere.

In frontal combat, Li Shimin was invincible.

The emperor's gaze gently turned to the city of Anshi on the east side. The city was built against the mountain. The city was spacious enough to accommodate more than 100,000 people. There were countless food and military weapons stored inside, and several mountain springs gushed out from the mountains, firmly guarding the main road for the Tang Dynasty to attack Goguryeo.

There are only 20,000 soldiers and 50,000 civilians left in the city. The previous attacks have failed to successfully capture Anshi City. But at this moment, 150,000 Goguryeo reinforcements arrived.

Goguryeo had been painstakingly preparing for the siege for fifteen years, no, it had been almost thirty years since Yang Guang's first attack on Goguryeo. The solid defense line they had built could not be broken just because Li Shimin said so.

His only luck was that during these three or four years, the Tang Dynasty had made sufficient preparations.

The food, fodder, and military equipment were so fully prepared that even Li Shimin himself was surprised.

There have been bumper harvests for four or five consecutive years, especially last year. After Li Chengqian improved the farming methods, the grain production in Guanzhong and Heluo Plain increased by almost 20% last year and this year.

As for military equipment, the Eastern Palace has been concentrating on improving military equipment in recent years, including swords, spears, armor, bows, crossbows, ships and shields. To be frank, the military equipment wall of the Tang Dynasty has increased by almost 30%.

This is also the reason why Li Shimin was able to move forward step by step.

According to their original plan, they should advance quickly, directly capture Anshi City, and then push south to Wugut City.

If that were the case, they would have no time to cultivate Liaodong in depth. Once they encountered obstacles, they would have to retreat if they could not capture Wugut City before winter.

Fortunately, now that the military equipment has been improved, Li Shimin has enough time to work slowly.

This year, a considerable amount of land in Liaodong produced harvests. Although not much, it was enough to offset some of the people's expenses.

Combined with Goguryeo's original grain reserves and the support from the court, there would be no problem in holding on until next autumn.

This is also the reason why Li Shimin now has to proceed steadily. The people are in the hands of the Goguryeo people and are consuming the Goguryeo people's food.

In several cities before, the Goguryeo people burned down the granaries when they evacuated.

……

The fighting in Xiling is still going on. Goguryeo is still rushing forward madly regardless of casualties. Although the casualties of the Tang Dynasty are also increasing, fortunately they are all within the controllable range.

Li Shimin looked at Huang Gai on Xiling. Li Ji's military march was terrifyingly steady.

For a moment, he didn't know what thoughts flashed through his mind.

At this moment, Chang He suddenly said, "Your Majesty, smoke and dust are rising from behind the Goguryeo army. Duke Zhao has already taken a detour."

Li Shimin suddenly turned around and looked behind the 30,000 Goguryeo cavalry. Countless smoke and dust rose up, and for a moment it was impossible to tell how many people there were.

The main camp of the Goguryeo army was already in a state of panic.

"Send the order!" Li Shimin said immediately, gritting his teeth: "Drums and horns sounded, flags raised, kill!"

"Yes!" Chang He turned around immediately, and the next moment, the sound of huge gongs and drums rang out above Beiling.

In the Goguryeo main camp, a white-haired general suddenly raised his head and looked towards the Beiling Mountains.

The sudden sound of huge gongs and drums made him feel cold all over as he was already feeling irritated by the sudden appearance of inexplicable smoke and dust in the back.

No, I fell into a trap.

"Gao Huizhen, you will personally lead 10,000 cavalrymen to attack Beiling." Gao Yanshou shouted sternly.

"Yes!" Gao Huizhen rushed out in an instant without any hesitation. With the flags waving, 10,000 cavalrymen charged towards Beiling one after another. However, when they were halfway through the charge, the ground beneath their feet began to tremble violently.

Countless heavily armored cavalrymen in black clothes and armor rushed down the mountain from behind the fallen trees, and then brazenly charged into Gao Shou's formation.

The sudden attack had already thrown Go Hye-jin's army into disarray, and they were unable to react to the sudden onslaught of the heavily armored cavalry. In the blink of an eye, the heavily armored cavalry charged forward, thrusting their spears straight through the armored Goguryeo cavalry.

The remaining long sword chopped weakly on the black armor, leaving only a white mark.

Countless blood splattered, and in an instant, a huge hole was torn in the front line of the Goguryeo army.

Countless heavily armored cavalry followed and trampled in.

Li Shimin was surrounded by countless soldiers with a cold expression. Chang He, Li Daliang, Zhang Shigui, Su Dingfang and others were all fighting bravely.

More of the emperor's personal attendants were also sprinting quickly.

……

The heavily armored cavalry rushed out like a torrent, and like a hot knife cutting butter, they directly penetrated tens of thousands of Goguryeo cavalry, and then rushed straight towards Gao Yanshou's main camp.

"Heavily armored cavalry!" Gao Yanshou couldn't help but utter a mutter, and then he immediately waved the flag in his hand, and 10,000 cavalrymen came forward again. At the same time, among the 50,000 soldiers who were originally surrounding the mountain, 10,000 were immediately withdrawn and turned back.

Not only now, but even in Anshi City, there are 10,000 cavalrymen coming in response to the order.

But at this moment, on the mountain road behind, Changsun Wuji had already led Niu Jinda, Zhishisili and Qibi Heli to attack together.

Charging at the front was a young general wearing a white robe and silver armor, holding a long spear...Xue Rengui.

With a loud "bang", countless catapults from the top of Xiling suddenly smashed down the mountain, and the Goguryeo people's momentum of rushing up the mountain suddenly stopped.

The next moment, Li Ji, Li Daozon, Liu Demin, Cheng Mingzhen and others rushed out together.

The leader was Ma Wenjuan, the General of the Left Guard.

Thirty thousand surrounded one hundred thousand.

In a very short period of time, Goguryeo was completely penetrated by the three Tang armies.

Smoke and dust rose up, and the sound of killing shook the sky.

After a whole night of fighting, the Tang army beheaded 30,000 people, captured 40,000, and caused 40,000 people to flee. They also seized 50,000 horses, 50,000 cattle, 10,000 sets of armor, and a number of various weapons.

Blood flows into a river.

……

"Croton?" Li Shimin, dressed in a black dragon robe, sat on the main couch and looked at Chu Suiliang and Yang Wulian. He asked in surprise, "The Crown Prince's idea was croton."

"Your Majesty!" Zhangsun Wuji interrupted, saying, "I think this method can be tried. After all, we captured 40,000 prisoners this time, which is too many. If we force them to stay, the army will run out of food and fodder. So, either release them, or..."

Trap and kill!

Changsun Wuji did not say those two words, but all the generals in the tent understood, but no one dared to speak up or respond.

Kill the surrendered!
"Your Majesty!" Yang Wulian bravely pulled out a memorial from his sleeve and handed it to the emperor, while bowing and saying, "Your Majesty, may the Crown Prince be in good health!"

"I'm fine." Li Shimin nodded casually and took the memorial.

Yang Wulian continued, "Your Majesty, before the Crown Prince left, he summoned me and asked me to ask Your Majesty if there were a large number of captives at the front line, and if they could be sent to the rear... The court is currently short of labor due to the Eastern Expedition. If some could be sent to the rear, whether it's to mine, to pull ships, or even to stay in Liaodong to dig ginseng, that would be all good."

"The prince has placed the blame on me!" Li Shimin looked up with indifferent eyes.

Yang Wulian immediately knelt down and kowtowed, saying, "I am guilty and I deserve to die."

"Okay, I just said it casually." Li Shimin suddenly chuckled and said, "I am not such a bloodthirsty person."

Although he said so, Li Shimin always had a feeling that Li Chengqian had seen through his plan to capture a large number of prisoners and had the idea of ​​killing the surrendered soldiers.

But shaking his head, Li Shimin gave up the idea.

The details of the massacre of surrendered soldiers remain unknown.

"Wuji, then keep some people and release another group." Li Shimin looked at Changsun Wuji.

"Okay!" Changsun Wuji nodded and said, "That's perfect. I can use these people to deliver the croton seeds to Anshi City, and at the same time use them to consume the food and fodder in the city."

"Your Majesty!" Yang Wulian interrupted again, bowing and saying, "I think we can use these people to build a city opposite Anshi before sending them back."

"City?" Li Shimin frowned. Building a city would cost too much.

"Your Majesty, even if it's not a city, building a wall to block the wind would be helpful. Winter is approaching, and the entire army won't be able to enter the city." Changsun Wuji glanced at Yang Wulian with a half-smile, then turned to Li Shimin and said, "Your Majesty, it would be helpful to scare the Goguryeo in the city and make them think we're going to fight a long battle."

"Hmm!" Li Shimin understood a little, then he smiled and nodded, "Okay, but we still have to attack the city. How should we attack it? Anshi City is dangerous. They closed the gate too quickly before and couldn't break in. That's also a problem."

"Your Majesty, I think we can build an earthen hill in the southeast of the city, gradually approaching the city wall, and at the same time, have soldiers take turns fighting, and then use battering rams and cannonballs to destroy the city towers. As long as we get close, we can break into the city." Li Daozon suddenly looked up, and a flash of inspiration flashed through his mind.

"Can!"

　More than 2 people were killed, and Gao Yanshou led the main force totaling people to surrender.

　　Taizong killed 3300 Mohe soldiers who broke into the enemy camp, selected 3500 chiefs below the rank of Nuosa, granted them military positions, and relocated them to the interior. The rest were released.

　　The Tang army also seized 5 horses, 5 cattle, 1 sets of armor, and a number of various weapons.

　　The whole country of Goguryeo was shocked. The military and civilians in Houhuangcheng, Yincheng and other places all abandoned the cities and fled, and there was no human habitation within hundreds of miles.

　　The Tang army returned to continue its fierce attack on Anshi City, but the defenders held firm. Upon hearing Li Ji's request to capture the city, the people of Anshi buried everyone alive, men, women, and children, in order to support the defenders, making it difficult for the Tang army to capture the city.

　　(Zizhi Tongjian: 3,300 Mohe people were captured and buried alive.)
　　
　
(End of this chapter)