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

Chapter 701 From this day forward, the world belongs only to the Tang Dynasty (Second Update)
Gao Baozang didn't even remember how he got back to the main hall.

He sat on the long couch, looking at Kim Sang-cheon with a bitter expression, and said, "Prime Minister, what do you think we should do?"

Kim Sang-cheon bowed with some sadness and said, “Your Majesty, Silla and Baekje have now been destroyed in Dongdao. The Goguryeo army is in the hands of the Tang Dynasty, as are the other cities of Goguryeo. The Tang Dynasty is only releasing Your Majesty now to save face. If we anger them…”

Gao Baozang's expression changed involuntarily.

“There’s more,” Kim Sang-cheon sighed softly, “Pyeongrang is doing alright on the surface right now, but in ten days, once the food runs out, the people will go crazy. They might even storm the palace, carry His Majesty, and head towards the Daedong River.”

Gao Baozang suddenly froze.

"Finally," Jin Shangquan bowed and said seriously, "It seems that the Tang Dynasty has withdrawn from Pingrang, but in reality, there are countless spies in many corners, especially the Quan brothers."

During the years that Your Majesty was away from Pyeongran, they spread countless rumors about you, saying that you were unfit to be king. Over time, many people have come to believe them, and they even say that it would be best for Goguryeo to be incorporated into the Tang Dynasty…”

Gao Baozang waved his hand and stared at Jin Shangquan, saying, "Have all three of Quan Gaisuwen's sons returned?"

“Yes, they are leading the army at the front.” Kim Sang-cheon said vaguely, then cupped his hands and said, “Actually, before Your Majesty returned, what I was worried about was that the three of them would forcibly lead the people to hand over Goguryeo to the Tang Dynasty. Although that was not dignified, it was…”

“Once it’s done, nobody will care about being respectable anymore.” Gao Baozang suddenly became bitter and said, “So, does that mean I have no other choice now?”

"Your Majesty!" Jin Shangquan suddenly raised his voice, then took a deep breath and said, "I have thought a lot about the current situation. The Tang Dynasty is going all out. If Your Majesty wants to resist, there is only one way out: death. But if you submit, there may still be a way to survive."

"What do you mean?" Gao Baozang looked up, his expression becoming solemn.

"His Majesty has always been benevolent." Jin Shangquan bowed slightly and said, "If Your Majesty submits to the Tang Dynasty, you can at least retain the title of a prince, and may even concurrently serve as the governor of a prefecture. If the Eastern Island becomes unstable in the future and the Tang Dynasty is unable to control it, then Your Majesty may have another chance..."

“But…” Gao Baozang’s body trembled slightly as he said, “But this is the fall of a nation!”

Offering up the entire Goguryeo kingdom to the Tang Dynasty would be tantamount to the destruction of the kingdom.

“Your Majesty,” Kim Sang-cheon said, bowing. “The people in the city are currently without food. If Your Majesty were to exchange your throne for the Tang Dynasty’s aid to the entire Pingrang region and Goguryeo, the people might remember Your Majesty’s benevolence. If the Tang people were to rebel in the future and Your Majesty were to return, they might immediately rise up in response.”

Gao Baozang clenched his fists immediately, and struggled to look up to ask, "Is this the only way?"

"This is the only way." Jin Shangquan cupped his hands and said, "Your Majesty, you don't want to see the Quan brothers lead their troops back to Pingrang, do you?"

Gao Baozang suddenly burst into laughter: "Originally, his plan was to annex Goguryeo, Baekje, and Silla."

He was, of course, the emperor.

“At least, Your Majesty, Goguryeo surrendered to the Tang Dynasty only after it had no other choice, having destroyed Silla and Baekje.” Kim Sang-cheon cupped his hands slightly and said, “In that case, Your Majesty can be said to have done right by your ancestors.”

Gao Baozang gave Jin Shangquan a deep look, and he suddenly realized that Jin Shangquan was the Tang Dynasty's biggest helper in Pingrang City.

With Jin Shangquan around, Gao Baozang could only follow the steps of the Tang Dynasty step by step.

Taking a deep breath, Gao Baozang said, "I need to go to the Imperial Ancestral Temple to offer sacrifices. Give me a few days to think it over carefully."

Jin Shangquan's expression calmed down, and he cupped his hands and said, "Yes!"

……

The Royal Palace of Goguryeo, the Imperial Ancestral Temple.

The sky was pitch black, and the candlelight flickered.

Gao Baozang knelt on the ground, looking at the memorial tablet in front of him, not knowing what to say.

Goguryeo was about to be destroyed, but what could he do?

He was always a puppet.

Gao Baozang glanced at the Crown Prince behind him. These days, he had tried to contact the outside world through the Crown Prince's connections, but all channels had been blocked.

Gao Baozang raised his head and looked at the memorial tablet in front of him with a bitter smile. He could only say that Goguryeo had destroyed Silla and Baekje, and now Goguryeo was the only country on the eastern island.

At least for now, at least for tonight.

As long as he doesn't go to the Daedong River, he is the king of all Goguryeo and the king of all Dongdo.

Suddenly, a commotion interrupted Gao Baozang's reverie.

Soon, Gao Baozang led the crown prince out of the palace.

As soon as they left the palace, they saw a patch of firelight outside the southern palace gate.

Jin Shangquan emerged from the darkness, cupped his hands, and said, "Your Majesty, some families in the city have run out of food, so they have arranged to come to the palace..."

"Drive them all away! Drive them all away!" Gao Baozang roared, unable to contain his anger. He knew that once someone started, everyone in Pingrang City would come here.

"The palace guards only have one day's worth of food left," Jin Shangquan said calmly, bowing with his hands clasped.

Gao Baozang was stunned; he stared straight at Jin Shangquan.

Jin Shangquan calmly lowered his head.

In the shadows in the distance, several figures seemed to flash by.

Gao Baozang finally fell silent. After a long while, he finally spoke: "I don't want to be the king of a fallen kingdom. How about I give it to the crown prince?"

The crown prince, who was standing to the side, looked up in surprise.

"I am fine, and I think Your Majesty should be fine too." Jin Shangquan cupped his hands and said, "But Your Majesty, once the Crown Prince ascends the throne and becomes Your Majesty, then the one who surrenders to the Tang Dynasty and is granted a title will be the Crown Prince. In the future, the one who will serve as a Prince, or a General of the Sixteen Guards, or a Prefect of a certain place in the Tang Dynasty will also be the Crown Prince. Your Majesty, on the other hand, may spend the rest of your life in some corner where no one cares."

No one would know if he died.

Gao Baozang instantly understood Jin Shangquan's hidden message.

He closed his eyes, and after a long while, he sighed softly and said, "Prime Minister, go and make preparations. Three days later, I will go to Tuzhou City to present the royal seal and household registers to the Great Tang Dynasty."

"Father!" The crown prince on the side couldn't help but cry out in surprise.

Gao Baozang turned around and walked into the Imperial Ancestral Temple with his son.

A tear rolled down Gao Baozang's cheek.

Soon, the sound of weeping came from the Imperial Ancestral Temple.

Jin Shangquan stood outside the ancestral temple, listening to the sounds inside, and calmly turned to the side and said, "Tell the people outside to stay for three days, and also tell the people in the city that His Majesty will go to ask the Tang Dynasty for grain in three days."

"Yes, sir!" The guard in the shadows turned and left.

Jin Shangquan glanced at the Imperial Ancestral Temple, then sighed softly and headed out of the palace.

In reality, the situation in Pingrang City is far worse than Jin Shangquan described; the people are starving and on the verge of madness.

They were only one step away from exchanging their own children to eat each other.

The Tang Dynasty used almost every means at its disposal to cause food shortages in Pingrang, even when the area was submerged.

Jin Shangquan even wondered if the Tang Dynasty really wanted the people of Pingrang to bring Gao Baozang to the capital and offer him up directly.

Food!
Your Majesty, you have no food on you, why did you come back?
Gao Baozang had no idea how much effort Jin Shangquan had expended to stop the people who knew Gao Baozang had returned empty-handed.

Without food, Go Bo-jang, the Goguryeo king who had only been in power for a few years and had little prestige, was less important to the people than a piece of paper.

Standing beneath the palace gates, Kim Sang-cheon looked back at the palace one last time.

The weeping in the palace had spread from the ancestral temple to the entire palace.

Jin Shangquan sighed helplessly, "Perhaps, this is fate."

……

On the 29th day of the sixth month of the eleventh year of Yongwei.

North gate of Pingrang City.

Gao Baozang, with his arms bare and chest exposed, carrying a black tray, walked out of the city gate with a sorrowful expression.

On the tray were the seal of the King of Goguryeo, a map, and household registers.

Behind Gao Baozang, the entire Goguryeo royal family left the city together.

Gao Baozang gently turned his head. On the city wall, he saw the entire population of Pingrang City.

Not a single soldier was present.

Gao Baozang wasn't too confused. Along the way from the palace, all the people of Pingrang City he saw were consumed by hunger.

Hunger can destroy all conscience.

Gao Baozang turned around and looked at the Taedong River in front of him, and couldn't help but sigh in his heart: "What a clever move!"

Even if the people of Goguryeo regret it in the future, they will have witnessed Go Bozang surrendering his kingdom to the Tang Dynasty without anyone stopping him.

Gao Baozang's expression calmed down, and then he strode forward.

After the royal family left the city, Kim Sang-cheon led all the officials of Pingrang out of the city as well.

They sent their king off on his final journey in the most formal official attire and with the most luxurious ceremony.

On the banks of the Datong River.

Gao Baozang stopped in his tracks. There was no pontoon bridge on the wide river in front of him, because the pontoon bridge here had been completely dismantled a few days ago.

However, there were large ships on the river.

Just as Gao Baozang stopped, the large ships on the river began to rapidly approach the south bank.

As the first large ship was secured at the dock on the south bank, one large ship after another was quickly linked together on the river to form a floating bridge.

Their movements were frighteningly skilled.

Gao Baozang took a deep breath, and without turning back, stepped onto the pontoon bridge and walked towards the other side.

In his eyes, there was only the city gate of Junbi City opposite.

……

With a creak, the gates of Junbi City opened.

Gao Baozang stood before the city gate, holding a tray, and slightly raised his head. Countless Thousand Bull Guards in red robes and golden armor poured out of the city and lined up on both sides of the city wall.

Banners fluttered on the city wall.

Beneath the city wall, swords and spears stood in a forest.

A series of crisp hoofbeats echoed from the city, and Wei Daijia, dressed in red robes and golden armor, appeared in Gao Baozang's sight.

A long spear hangs beside the horse, and a thousand-ox knife hangs at the waist.

Wei Daijia stopped his horse in front of Gao Baozang. He looked at Gao Baozang and the people behind him with a puzzled gaze and asked, "Didn't Your Majesty return to Pyongyang? Why are you here today? What are you doing here?"

Gao Baozang knelt down directly in front of Wei Daijia, and the entire royal family behind him knelt down in an instant as well.

Gao Baozang said in a bitter voice, "Pingrang is short of food, so we have come to offer our country as tribute, hoping that the Great Tang will provide relief."

Wei Daijia was taken aback, then bowed slightly and said, "This matter is of great importance and is beyond my ability to handle. Please wait a moment, Your Majesty, and I will report back to the Protector-General."

Gao Baozang bowed deeply: "Thank you for your trouble!"

Wei Daijia turned his horse around and quickly headed towards the city.

Gao Baozang just knelt on the ground, head down, without saying a word.

Not long after, Su Xu, dressed in a purple official robe, and Li Yuanchang, the Prince of Han, dressed in a light yellow python robe, arrived at the city gate on horseback, accompanied by Wei Daijia and a group of officials from the Andong Protectorate.

As soon as the horse stopped, Su Xu rolled off.

Su Xu stepped forward and quickly helped Gao Baozang up, saying, "Your Majesty, please rise. Why have you come to this?"

Gao Baozang couldn't help but sigh softly.

The Tang Dynasty certainly did a good job in terms of decorum.

Ignoring Su Xu, he directly picked up the tray, then kowtowed and said, "Your humble servant, the Grand Pillar of State, Duke of Liaodong, and King of Goguryeo, Gao Baozang, is foolish and warlike, exhausting his resources with military campaigns, to the point that the people are suffering and the ancestral temples are in danger. Today, the entire Goguryeo country is running out of food, the people are starving, and there are signs that they are even exchanging their own children to eat each other."

To prevent the common people from suffering, we now offer the royal seal, maps, and household registers, and the entire nation submits to the emperor. We humbly beg the Celestial Empire to bestow mercy and provide relief, so that these remaining people of the eastern border may live.

"We beseech the Great Tang Empire to exert all its strength to save this calamity." Countless royals behind them kowtowed in unison, saying, "We will repay with our entire kingdoms, without any regrets."

Su Xu slowly stood up, looked at Gao Baozang kneeling on the ground, and sighed softly, "King Baozang, I am well aware of the affairs within Goguryeo. Before you returned north this time, I also did my best to provide relief and repeatedly transferred grain and fodder from Tuzhou to assist you. You know about this, right?"

When Su Xu suddenly asked him this question, Gao Baozang immediately kowtowed and said, "I have heard the Prime Minister mention something about this."

Su Xu nodded and continued, "However, Tuzhou has limited food supplies. After several attempts to provide assistance, even Tuzhou is showing signs of food shortages, which is why we had to withdraw. We were hoping that after you returned south, you could resolve this predicament..."

"I am incompetent." Gao Baozang kowtowed heavily on the ground, his face full of sorrow, and said again, "Therefore, I beg you to entrust me with the kingdom, hoping that the superior kingdom will treat the people of Goguryeo as the people of the Tang Dynasty, and provide them with relief. I will be extremely grateful. If anyone questions me in the future, it will all be because of my incompetence. I will absolutely not make things difficult for the superior kingdom."

How could Gao Baozang not understand the subtext in Su Xu's words?

The Tang Dynasty wanted to annex Goguryeo, Baekje, and Silla. First, it used Goguryeo to destroy Silla and Baekje. Finally, it had Go Bozang voluntarily offer Goguryeo, along with Silla and Baekje which had been annexed by Goguryeo, to the Tang Dynasty, citing his own aggressive military campaigns that had caused widespread suffering.

The only reason for this is that the Tang Dynasty did not want its other vassal states to think that it intended to annex them, which would eventually lead to suspicion and disunity.

This is the real power behind true dignity.

Today, it is Gao Baozang who insists on handing over Goguryeo to the Tang Dynasty, which has nothing to do with the Tang Dynasty.

This is the attitude that Gao Baozang wants to project.

Su Xu sighed softly and said, "Since Your Majesty has said so, I can only accept it for now and send Your Majesty and the royal family to Chang'an. Whether or not this matter is decided will be up to His Majesty."

"Yes!" Gao Baozang kowtowed deeply, but couldn't help but snort inwardly. The person had already been sent to Chang'an, so what was there to refuse?

Su Xu glanced at Wei Daijia, who stepped forward and took the tray from Gao Baozang's hands.

Without bothering to hide it from others, he directly told his Qianniu Guards, "Escort by one man and three horses, eight hundred li urgent, to Chang'an immediately."

"Yes, sir!" The ten guards under his command responded simultaneously and quickly left in the blink of an eye.

Su Xu then looked at Gao Baozang and said, "Your Majesty, please rise."

"Thank you, Protector-General!" Gao Baozang kowtowed deeply before standing up.

"Guards, escort His Majesty to the guesthouse!" Su Xu stepped aside to give the order, and an official from the Court of State Ceremonial stepped forward to lead Gao Baozang and the entire Goguryeo royal family he had brought with him toward the guesthouse. Just then, Su Xu suddenly spoke up: "Your Majesty, wait a moment!"

Gao Baozang stopped and turned back to look at Su Xu with some surprise.

Su Xu nodded calmly, then waved his hands slightly to both sides.

The next moment, countless cavalrymen emerged from both sides of Junbi City and crossed the pontoon bridge toward Pingrang City.

It can be clearly seen that each batch of warhorses was accompanied by four bags of grain, which were then all sent to Pingrang City.

Having made preparations in advance, Jin Shangquan immediately arranged for people to set up soup kitchens along the entire long street, starting from the city gate, to provide relief to the people.

Standing before Gao Baozang, Su Xu looked at him and said softly, "Your Majesty, you have a good prime minister. After the Tang Dynasty withdrew from Pingrang, it was he who single-handedly maintained order, preventing the people from rising up in rebellion. I hope Your Majesty will not blame him for all of this."

Looking at the entire Pingrang City in the distance, Gao Baozang could clearly see countless emaciated people, unable to walk, being helped out of their homes by their families, and then going into the city to eat porridge and eke out a living.

The hardships of Pingrang City were fully revealed to Gao Baozang.

Upon seeing this scene, Gao Baozang couldn't hold back his tears.

For a moment, he didn't know what to say, so he simply bowed slightly and turned to head into the city.

Seeing this scene, Su Xu couldn't help but sigh softly.

Turning around, Su Xu's expression had become incredibly cold.

"Pass down the order: five days from now, the grain ships at sea, along with the grain convoys from Baekje, will return to Goguryeo to provide food for the people." Su Xu coldly looked at everyone.

"Yes!" The crowd respectfully bowed.

"Send the order: the southern expeditionary army and the Tuzhou army will enter every city of Goguryeo and tell them about Gao Baozang's surrender of the kingdom." Su Xing took a deep breath and said, "Those who are willing to surrender to the Tang Dynasty will be provided with grain and relief; those who are not willing to surrender to the Tang Dynasty will be killed!"

"Yes, sir!" The crowd responded respectfully.

"Furthermore, after the autumn harvest, we will tell the people that this year's harvest is still insufficient, and they should try to preserve as much food as possible to survive the summer famine next year." After a slight pause, Su Xing looked up and said, "Having experienced this autumn, they will naturally understand the difficulties next year and will naturally be much more cautious."

"Yes!"

Su Xu looked at Pingrang City across the way and said calmly, "This time, because of the food shortage, they supported Gao Baozang in offering grain to the Tang Dynasty. But once they are full, they will inevitably become fickle. Therefore, we cannot let them eat too much this year. After a year of hardship, they should forget Goguryeo and return to the Tang Dynasty."

"The commander is wise." Everyone bowed in unison.

"Finally, issue the order: starting this year, all flags of Goguryeo, Baekje, and Silla must be abolished. I, the commander, will ensure that the flags of the Tang Dynasty are planted in every corner of Goguryeo." Su Xu clenched his fist heavily.

"Hah!" everyone shouted in response.

"From this day forward, there will be no more Goguryeo, Baekje, or Silla in the world, only the Great Tang's Andong Protectorate." Su Xu raised his head and said forcefully, "In this world, there is only the Great Tang."

"Hah!" The entire city of Junbi responded with a thunderous roar that shook the heavens.

……

……

Under the night sky, the bright moon hangs high in the sky.

The Taedong River flows slowly by.

The city walls of Junbi.

Li Yuanchang walked up the steps and looked at Su Xu, who was sitting on the city wall by the river and under the moon, drinking fine wine alone. He said with a smile, "Brother-in-law, why are you here all alone?"

“The army has already entered Pingrang City, so there is nothing to worry about.” Su Xu gestured for Li Yuanchang to sit down, and then said, “As for Pingrang City, it is enough for Jin Shangquan to be in charge for the time being. He is currently the Chief Administrator of the Jiangnan Governor’s Office and concurrently the Prefect of Nanpu Prefecture. He is capable and loyal to the Tang Dynasty, so there is no need to worry.”

"Has the governor of the Jiangnan Governor's Office been chosen yet? Isn't it someone else, like you, the Protector-General of Andong, who is concurrently serving?" Li Yuanchang asked with some surprise.

"No, I will promote him to the position of Governor of the Andong Protectorate, concurrently serving as Governor of the Jiangbei Protectorate and concurrently as Governor of Tuzhou. As for the Jiangnan Protectorate, although no specific candidate has been decided yet, based on my understanding of His Majesty, the Jiangnan Protector should be Liu Rengui." Su Xu sighed softly. Everyone could see how much the Emperor valued Liu Rengui.

Not to mention that Liu Rengui is currently the Junior Tutor to the Crown Prince.

"But isn't the seat of the Andong Protectorate in Pingrang?" Li Yuanchang was increasingly confused.

"Hehe!" Su Xu couldn't help but laugh, then shook his head slightly and said, "That's true, but I probably won't be staying in Andong for long. Like the Duke of Yingguo, I should be transferred back once things in Andong have calmed down."

"What about here?"

"In Liaodong, Cui Renshi is still waiting." Su Xu shook his head and said, "His Majesty wants to use the Andong Protectorate to resolve the difficulties of the entire country. The most difficult places in the country are Hebei and Jiangnan. The situation in Jiangnan can be alleviated by sea transport, while the situation in Hebei can only be resolved by relying on the power of the aristocratic families."

After a slight pause, Su Xu continued, "If nothing unexpected happens, Cui Renshi will likely be appointed as the Protector-General of the Andong Protectorate, holding the rank of Third Grade in the Secretariat and Chancellery, and thus become the Prime Minister."

"The Prime Minister?" Li Yuanchang looked up in surprise.

“However, unless he retires, he will never be able to return to Chang’an in his lifetime.” Su Xu sighed softly and said with a smile, “Your Majesty should employ people in this way.”

I'll give you a sweet date, but it's only half sweet.

Li Yuanchang was speechless for a moment.

Su Xu raised his wine cup, looking at the bright moon in the cup, the bright moon on the river, and the bright moon overhead. He sighed softly and said, "In any case, Goguryeo, Baekje, and Silla, the three kingdoms have all been destroyed, and the entire Dongdao Island has become part of the Tang Dynasty. This can be considered as fulfilling the late emperor's wish."

"Yes!" Tears welled up in Li Yuanchang's eyes as he nodded and said, "Since His Majesty ascended the throne, he has planned for ten years and brought the three kingdoms of the Eastern Islands completely under the control of the Tang Dynasty at the lowest possible cost. Regardless of anything else, this alone is enough to comfort the late Emperor."

“Come, Brother Wang.” Su Xu stood up, walked behind the parapet, and facing the Datong River, Pingran City, and the bright moon overhead, said softly, “With this cup, I pay tribute to the late Emperor.”

"A toast to the late Emperor!" Li Yuanchang's voice trembled slightly as he and Su Xu raised their cups side by side, then poured the wine into the city walls.

Su Xu took a deep breath and said softly, "Your Majesty, I have ultimately lived up to your expectations after all this."

"Your Majesty, in all these events, His Majesty has ultimately lived up to your expectations. You chose the right person." Li Yuanchang looked up at the bright moon in the sky and said softly, "His Majesty will surely lead the Tang Dynasty into an even greater golden age."

"Most definitely."

Under the bright moon, the two drank heartily on the city wall until they were completely drunk.

(End of this chapter)