Pei Xingjian asked: "How is the situation of Marshal Li and General Xue?"
Liu Shenli replied: "General Xue led his army eastward in mid-January. He did not encounter much resistance along the way. Now he has stationed in the north of the Yalu River. Marshal Li also marched towards the inner city three days ago."
"Can they leave troops to garrison in Xincheng and Liaodong City?" Pei Xingjian asked again.
"Marshal Li left 5,000 men in Xincheng, while General Xue only left 500 men."
Pei Xingjian frowned.
Wu Youji raised his eyebrows and said: "There are only so few people left in Liaodong City. If the Koreans attack by water, wouldn't they be cut off from their retreat? Second brother, should we remind General Xue?"
Before Wu Chengsi could speak, Liu Shenli rushed to say: "No, General Xue must have made such arrangements with some considerations. If we rashly raise our opinions, we will offend General Xue."
Wu Chengsi nodded and said: "General Liu Lang is right, and I mean the same thing. Let's just fight our own battle. We don't have to worry too much about the affairs of the other two armies."
Having said this, he stood up and said solemnly: "Generals, listen to the order!"
Everyone stood up straight.
"Liu Shenli will lead five thousand infantry to guard Nansu City."
"The general will get the order at the end." Liu Shenli cupped his hands and said.
"Pei Xingjian led 20,000 infantry, 5,000 cavalry, Yuan Biao, Hou Yanjing, and Russell to attack Yalu City!"
"The last general has received his order." Pei Xingjian, Hou Yanjing, Yuan Biao, and Russell said in unison.
"I will lead 20,000 cavalry, lead Han Cheng, Black Teeth Changzhi, Wu Youji and rush to the aid of Buyeo City."
Wu You and the three of them accepted the order with their hands raised.
After the military order is conveyed, each general will immediately return to their respective military camps to prepare for departure.
Early the next morning, the army was divided into two groups, led by Wu Chengsi and Pei Xingjian, respectively, and marched toward the northeast and southeast.
Before leaving, Wu Chengsi gave Liu Shenli an order: let him collect a large amount of sulfur and saltpeter, the more the better.
Although Liu Shenli didn't know the reason, he didn't dare to be careless about Wu Chengsi's military orders and immediately selected two hundred sergeants to take charge of this matter.
On the Goryeo official road from west to east, wherever Wu Chengsi's cavalry passed, the sound of hoofbeats shook the sky and dust flew up. Although all of them were cavalry, their marching speed was affected by the rugged road.
It wasn't until the eighth day that we arrived at Yongji City, which was eighty miles away from Buyeo City.
There were originally a thousand defenders in Yongji City, but after learning that the invading Tang army had 20,000 cavalry, they had already fled.
Wu Chengsi did not enter the city, but stationed his army ten miles west of the city, and then sent a large number of scouts to inquire about the situation in Buyeo City.
Two days later, scouts came one after another to report that the armies of Lebo and the Mo brown people were attacking Buyeo City from the north gate and the south gate respectively. The battle at the south gate was especially brutal.
In the commander's tent, Hei Te Changzhi said: "General, they have been attacking fiercely for days, and the soldiers must be very tired. We take advantage of the situation to attack Le Bo's army, and we will definitely win a great victory."
Wu Chengsi pondered for a long time and said slowly: "Don't worry, let the scouts do more investigating."
…
Buyeo City, outside the south gate of the city, the shouts of killing shook the sky. A primitive and bloody siege battle dyed the earth red.
The gray-white city wall has been dyed black and red, and is covered with ladders. Arrows are flying on the city wall like locusts, and wood and rocks are flying. Dozens of soldiers below are carrying large wooden pillars and constantly hitting the city gate.
There are countless defenders blocking the city gate. Even if the wooden stakes are doubled in thickness, it will be difficult to break open the city gate.
Three hundred feet away from the city gate, Goryeo general Le Bo inserted his long sword in front of him, pressed his hands on the sword, and looked at the battle ahead from a distance.
He is a general in his forties, with a beardless face and cold eyes.
Behind him stood two lieutenants wearing white armor and green armor.
Unlike the calm-faced Leber, the expressions on the faces of these two lieutenants were very painful, as if someone was cutting their hearts with a knife.
Suddenly, a scout rushed from behind and said, "General, the Tang Army has sent a scout to inspect the area."
Le Bo nodded and said calmly: "Send the order and let the soldiers attack more fiercely!"
The messenger took the order and left.
The white-armored general couldn't help but said: "General, the soldiers don't know the plan and are already attacking in earnest. It's impossible for the Tang Dynasty to see the flaw, so why bother with this extra step and cause more casualties to the soldiers?"
Le Bo said calmly: "I don't want to repeat the importance of this plan again. If you really want to be worthy of their casualties, then give me all your energy to lure the Tang army over!"
The deputy general sighed and said no more.
The more ferocious offensive continued until evening, but the Tang army never showed up.
Le Bo sent an order to withdraw his troops and return to the commander's tent. The green-armored general behind him said angrily: "Those Tang people are really hateful. They were nearby but refused to rescue them!"
Lebo said expressionlessly: "Stop saying stupid things. This is a life-and-death war. They are our enemies. Instead of complaining that they are not fooled, it is better to find ways to make them fooled!"
General Bai Jia said solemnly: "Fortunately, it is Wu Chengsi who comes to help. If it were Pei Xingjian, our hard-earned plan would have been in vain."
Le Bo said calmly: "When I set up this plot, I had already expected that Wu Chengsi would be the one to come."
"Oh, General, how did you know?"
Le Bo rubbed his wrist and said: "Judging from the current situation, Wu Chengsi must rescue Buyeo City, and at the same time cooperate with Li Ji to attack our country's second line of defense, so he must divide his troops."
"Then it should be Pei Xingjian who came to the rescue." General Baijia said in confusion: "How can the rescue of Fuyu City be as great as the attack on Yalu City?"
During their discussion, a soldier brought three trays, each containing mutton and wine. Le Bo grabbed some mutton and stuffed it into his mouth, took another sip of wine, and then calmly said: "It's very simple. Rescue Buyeo City."
If it’s more urgent, it must be the cavalry!”
The white-armored general said: "Even if it is a cavalry, it is possible that it is commanded by Pei Xingjian?"
Le Bo shook his head: "I have studied Wu Chengsi. From the first time he led 10,000 cavalry against the Khitans, and after he captured the war horses, he immediately converted all Zuo Wu's troops into cavalry.
It can be seen that this person loves cavalry.
Generals all have preferences, and people like Wu Chengsi who like cavalry will subconsciously lead cavalry in battle whenever they use troops."
The white-armored general nodded and said, "So you have already thought about it."
"Of course, otherwise, if I couldn't be sure that it was Wu Chengsi who came, how could I use such a strategy?" A trace of pain appeared on Le Bo's face, and it disappeared in an instant.
…
The siege lasted for five days. The Tang army's scouts kept wandering nearby, but the main force was nowhere to be seen.
Le Bo was still calm and composed, but his two lieutenants were becoming more irritable day by day.
On the afternoon of the seventh day, looking at the bloody siege in front of him, the green-armored general's eyes turned red and said: "General, let's attack the Tang army directly. I can't bear it anymore!"
"If you can't bear it, bear with me! They are all cavalry. As long as they see something strange, they can run away at any time. Then the sacrifice will be in vain!" Lebo said sternly.
The green-armored general lowered his head and said: "But the losses we suffered during the seven-day siege have already caught up with the sacrifices made in the previous half month. It is not worth it for the soldiers to die like this!"
Le Bo took a deep breath and said: "You have to remember, just for the survival of the entire country, even if it is a bigger sin, you must bear it. This is a soldier!"
General Bai Jia smiled bitterly and said: "There are only more than 10,000 defenders of Buyeo Castle. I'm afraid that in two days, our army will really capture Buyeo Castle."
Le Bo said coldly: "If that day comes, we will lose. But as long as that day doesn't come, I will never give up!"
The green-armored general lowered his legs and chest, walked to a tree, and hammered the trunk hard with his head.
At this moment, a messenger rushed over and said: "General, the main force of the Tang army is coming towards the south gate. It is less than twenty miles away from Buyeo City!"
He didn't know the plan, so he looked very flustered.
The green-armored general looked up to the sky and roared loudly: "Come on, Tang Jun, come on, I will kill you all!"
"How many people are here?" LeBo remained calm.
"The Tang Army's 20,000 cavalrymen are all dispatched!"
Le Bo raised his head and exhaled a long breath, his eyes flashing with dazzling light, and said slowly: "Lieutenant General Ping, you lead 10,000 troops, go around Mahuang Mountain, capture Yongji City, and block their retreat.
"
The white-armored general responded loudly, and the green-armored general said anxiously: "General, why don't you let me go?"
"You're emotionally unstable and I'm not sure about you, so just stay with me."
The green-armored general responded with a dull voice. After learning that the Tang army was dispatched, his anxious heart gradually calmed down.
Le Bo shouted loudly: "Send the order to the whole army to prepare to meet the enemy!"