My father, Li Shimin, requests Your Majesty to become the Retired Emperor.

Yeon Gaesomun's father, Yeon Taejo, was originally a high-ranking official in Goguryeo, known as Daejero.

After Yeon Tae-jo passed away, Yeon Gaesomun wanted to inherit his father's official position.

However, Yeon Gaesomun was cruel and tyrannical, and the people disliked him. Therefore, the authorities did not allow him to inherit his father's position.

Yeon Gaesomun kowtowed to the people and said to them, "I implore you to agree to let me succeed my father's position. If I am not competent, you may dismiss me. I will have no regrets."

The people sympathized with him and agreed to let him inherit his father's position.

Yeon Gaesomun, relying on his father's achievements in Goguryeo, acted arrogantly and domineeringly, controlling the government without any restraint, and even disregarded King Go Geonmu of Goguryeo.

Yeon Gaesomun had seized military power, making it impossible for him to be dismissed.

Now, Gao Jianwu has been sidelined by him; to use an inappropriate analogy...

Yeon Gaesomun was like Dong Zhuo back then, and Go Geonmu was like Emperor Xian of Han.

To be fair, Gao Jianwu still advocated for reconciliation with the Tang Dynasty, and sent envoys to the Tang court multiple times to express his submission.

The Tang Dynasty also conferred upon Gao Jianwu the titles of Grand Pillar of State, Prince of Liaodong, and King of Goryeo.

However, as his status and power continued to rise, Yeon Gaesomun became ambitious and looked down on everyone.

Gao Jianwu did not approve of being an enemy of the Tang Dynasty, nor did he approve of Goguryeo and Baekje joining forces to attack Silla, and he was even less willing to collude with the Wa (Japanese) Kingdom.

However, Gao Jianwu could not make decisions for Yeon Gaesomun.

Yeon Gaesomun emphasized to Go Geon-mu that Emperor Yang of Sui had launched three campaigns against Goguryeo.

The Central Plains states and Goguryeo had a deep-seated hatred that could not be resolved under any circumstances.

Although the Central Plains region has now undergone a dynastic change, from the Sui to the Tang dynasty,

but,

What has never changed is that they have always kept their sights on Goguryeo.

Sooner or later,

Li Shimin will surely bare his sharp fangs and tear Goguryeo to shreds.

Although Gao Jianwu is a king

However, he could not stop Yeon Gaesomun.

Yeon Gaesomun can do whatever he wants.

He used both threats and inducements against Buyeo Long, promising to guarantee that Buyeo Long would smoothly inherit the throne in the future.

If Buyeo Long does not listen to him, he will launch an attack on Baekje.

Under Yeon Gaesomun's coercion and enticement, Buyeo Long submitted to him.

Buyeo Long believed that his talents were inferior to Buyeo Pungjang's.

Therefore, he always had concerns in his mind.

He worried that once Buyeo Phong-jang returned to his country, his position as crown prince would be unstable.

Therefore, Buyeo Long advised King Sumin to kill Buyeo Pungjang to prevent future troubles.

Yeon Gaesomun said to Lee Seung-gan, "You were doing just fine in Chang'an, but you came here to cause trouble. You're asking for it, so don't blame us brothers."

Lee Seung-gyeon stared sharply at Yeon Gaeso-mun: "What exactly do you want today?"

Yeon Gaesomun sneered: "Lee Seung-gan, what are you pretending to be confused about?"

First, you used Princess Wencheng to win over Songtsen Gampo, and then you used your hypocrisy to deceive Fuyu Fengzhang.

Make him completely subservient to you.

Next, you used your handsome appearance to deceive the Queen of Silla, and you bewitched her, causing people to revolve around you and submit to the Tang Dynasty.

Your tricks may fool others, but do you think they can fool me?

Today, I will expose your ambitions and schemes to the world.