"Military advisor, there was another change in Goguryeo's army yesterday."
"They built earth and rocks on the border line overnight, and they also placed crossbows they didn't know where they got from somewhere in front of the two armies."
"In this way, Yuan Gaisuwen may officially start a war with the Tang Dynasty."
Northeast Datang border.
The commander-in-chief of the border army, Duke Zhang Liang of Yun State, and military officer Xu Shiji were talking about the news of the Goguryeo army yesterday.
Zhang Liang is over fifty years old and his hair is numb and white.
His slightly older face was full of worry.
The confrontation between Goguryeo and the Tang Dynasty border army has lasted for more than two months.
In addition, news suddenly came from Chang'an that war would be launched against Goguryeo, which caught Zhang Liang even more unprepared.
Goguryeo has always been a vassal state of the Tang Dynasty.
Zhang Liang did not realize that the suzerain country took the initiative to go to war against the vassal country. There was no morality in this war.
Nowadays, the friction between the border armies of the two countries is getting worse. Both sides have already put their crossbows and siege vehicles in position.
War is about to break out.
Xu Shiji was a military advisor of the border army. He was a Taoist priest before and later worked with the emperor to make plans.
Now he is also serving as a military advisor in the border army.
Seeing Zhang Liang so worried, Xu Shiji also sighed inwardly.
Prince Li Tai's undeclared war left them completely unprepared.
It was a morally unfair war. If they won, they would gain nothing. If they lost, it would all be their responsibility.
"Zhang Shuai, someone also received news yesterday that Hou Junji went to Goguryeo."
"Hou Junji is the Minister of the Ministry of War. He knows all the weapons of the Weapons Supervisor."
"Those bed crossbows were probably given to Yuan Gaesumun by Hou Junji."
"I didn't expect that the weapons that our Tang Dynasty spent money to research became a weapon against ourselves." Xu Shiji said a few words to Zhang Liang and sat down aside.
According to seniority, Hou Junji is older than the two of them.
But no one expected that Hou Junji went to Goguryeo and used weapons developed by the Tang Dynasty to deal with the Tang army.
"This is what I'm worried about as well. Who knows if Hou Junji got the blueprint of the Eight Ox Crossbow that the Ministry of War sent last time?"
"If there is one in Goguryeo, then..." Zhang Liang's face became more sad than before.
Thinking of the power of the Eight Ox Crossbow that he had seen before, Zhang Liang felt a chill in his heart at this moment.
"The prince's move was foolish. I don't know what His Majesty was thinking, but he actually asked the prince to supervise the country." Zhang Liang sighed again.
Xu Shiji said nothing.
Zhang Liang's words were intended to speak ill of the emperor, but they could not be spread among the generals.
"Zhang Shuai, we don't have to speculate on the saint's thoughts. The current plan is to guard against Goguryeo first..."
"Report——"
"The general, the military advisor, and the Goguryeo border troops suddenly launched an attack on our front army, and the two sides were already fighting in a melee."
While Xu Shiji was still speaking, a Tang soldier rushed into the camp.
"The left and right armies will support quickly." Zhang Liang's expression changed, he looked at Xu Shiji and immediately gave the order.
…
In the early morning of the first day of April in the eleventh year of Zhenguan, Goguryeo raided the Tang border army.
Zhang Liang, the commander-in-chief of the Tang Dynasty's border army, immediately ordered a counterattack.
The border troops of the two countries fought for a day, and both sides suffered heavy casualties.
At noon on the second day, the Goguryeo military marshal Yeon Gaisuwen declared on behalf of the Goguryeo king Gao Jianwu.
The Tang Dynasty took advantage of the fact that the king of Goguryeo was seriously ill and launched a war against Goguryeo.
All the people of Goguryeo were angry.
From now on, we will fight to the death with the Tang Dynasty.
Five days later, news of the declaration of war between Goguryeo and the Tang Dynasty reached Chang'an City.
"It's so unreasonable that a mere Goguryeo would dare to attack our Tang Dynasty border army. It's really unreasonable."
"Who the hell is Goguryeo that dares to declare war on me, the Tang Dynasty?"
"If my Majesty, the Tang Dynasty, had taken pity on Goguryeo, he would have sent troops to destroy them long ago."
"Will you still tolerate them jumping around to this day?"
"What a shame that this sudden attack caused the blood of my Tang Dynasty man to be spilled on the battlefield."
"If His Majesty hadn't been in Chang'an now, how could he have tolerated Goguryeo's arrogance?"
"His Royal Highness the Crown Prince didn't know what he was thinking. He declared war with Goguryeo in advance even before the reinforcements arrived."
"I really don't know what he is thinking."
"Since the prince took charge of the country, his behavior has been extremely strange."
"The previous pension insurance plan was stillborn. It is said that Prime Minister Wei resigned from office because of this incident."
"Alas, the Tang Dynasty has such a prince, and the Tang Dynasty is in danger."
Chang'an City was full of discussions about the border war and the prince Li Tai.
Many people shook their heads when they mentioned Li Tai.
In the Tai Chi Hall, Li Tai looked very ugly.
He didn't hear the comments of the people outside, but he knew very well that once the news in his hands spread.
As the prince, he will be in danger.
"Your Highness, the failure at the border must not be made public at this time." Fang Xuanling stood up and said to Li Tai.
Fang Xuanling also didn't expect that in just one raid, the Tang border troops would suffer such heavy losses.
There were more than 5,000 people in the frontier army, but after just one battle, less than 3,000 people were left.
This also includes the wounded who are still breathing.
The total number of frontier troops confronting Goguryeo was only over 30,000.
If this continues, before the support of Cheng Yaojin and Qin Qiong arrives, the Tang border army will be completely defeated.
If such a defeat were to be spread out at this time.
The people of the entire Tang Dynasty must be excited, and the Tang Dynasty must be in turmoil.
Li Tai took a deep breath.
For this defeat, someone must be found to take responsibility for it.
Otherwise, when the emperor comes back, Li Tai will definitely suffer.
"Send an order to Cheng Yaojin and order him to rush to the border front within ten days." Li Tai clenched his fists and spoke to the officials.
No one spoke.
Even if Cheng Yaojin and others led their troops to the front line within ten days, the Tang border army might not be able to sustain it for that long.
Since Tuyuhun destroyed the country, the Tang Dynasty has not launched a war with other countries for two years.
But just like Goguryeo, the Tang Dynasty suffered heavy losses in the first battle.
"I heard that during this Goguryeo raid, our Tang border troops counterattacked, but were swept away by Goguryeo's bed crossbows and eight oxen crossbows, causing heavy losses."
"If I remember correctly, this Eight Ox Crossbow was made by Zhao Chen."
"Now this eight-oxen crossbow has become the murderous weapon for the death of our soldiers of the Tang Dynasty."
"Then Zhao Chen may have a conspiracy with Goguryeo."
"Pass an order from this palace to seal up all the properties under Zhao Chen's name, seize all the money, and confiscate everything to the national treasury."
"Used to provide food for the frontline war."
"As for Zhao Chen himself..." Li Tai hesitated.
He wanted to take this opportunity to completely capture Zhao Chen.
But now that Zhao Chen is with the emperor, it may be impossible for him to capture Zhao Chen.
"We will deal with him after he returns to Chang'an." Li Tai and the officials ordered.
"Your Highness, the drawings of the Eight Bull Crossbow have been kept in the Ministry of War, and according to the frontline news, Hou Junji has invested in Goguryeo at this moment, so this..."
"Prime Minister, I know that your son has a good relationship with Zhao Chen, but Prime Minister, you are in the direction of Datang."
"It's not his Zhao Chen's."
"Anyone who makes false claims about this matter will be dismissed from office and sent back to his hometown." Li Tai looked at Fang Xuanling and said in a solemn voice.
Fang Xuanling looked at Li Tai, sighed inwardly, cupped his hands, and returned to his seat.