Chapter 1355 Flat Top

Chapter 1355 Flat Top

Chapter 1355 Flat Top
After the South Shore’s great victory, the North Shore also began to take action.

The cavalry spread out far away to scout the situation in Heshenggu City and Zi'anshan City, while the main cavalry was on high alert, waiting for an opportunity to engage the enemy who might come to reinforce.

Some of the soldiers in the prefecture began to harvest the remaining food in the wild for military supplies.

Shao Yu also crossed the river surrounded by his subordinates.

When he entered Yannan City, he received a military report: the vanguard of Zheng Long, the left Sima of the Shanyu Palace, had passed the Heigou Mountain City and would arrive here in three days.

Upon hearing the news, Cui Jinghua and Pan Dan looked at each other.

Some things were tacitly understood, and the King of Yan also took advantage of these people.

If he crossed the river and headed south, Zheng Long would not dare to delay any longer and would definitely select the best cavalry and rush south to join the army of Prince of Yan.

Shao Yu was bandaging Guo Shi's wounds personally.

In fact, it was nothing serious, just a stray arrow hit his arm. He had already sawed off the arrow shaft, taken out the arrowhead, and was applying medicine.

Guo Shi was still mumbling, "There must be soldiers in Maru City. Your Highness can try to attack. The first batch must include elite soldiers. Do not drive the civilians to attack the city."

Shao Yu hummed.

Not driving the common people to attack the city was not because we cared about them, but because we were afraid that their abilities were too inadequate. In order to give the defenders time to adjust, we needed to deploy elite troops in the first batch.

If the elite troops in the front cannot take it, he will not be able to take it once the enemy has recovered and adjusted themselves, and can only wait for the main force to attack.

"If you can't take Maruto, Your Highness should consider the long-term development of your fiefdom." Guo Shi said, "After becoming a fiefdom, the enemy is strong and we are weak. Goguryeo will not let go of Liaodong and will definitely attack with all its forces. At this time, we should kill as many enemy soldiers as possible, seize their property, and plunder their population, so that they will be unable to invade for 20 years."

Shao Yu deeply agreed with this.

Liaodong Kingdom's external expansion? Not very likely in the short term.

His primary task was to reorganize the counties in Liaodong, restore abandoned farmland, rebuild dilapidated cities, enrich the declining population, and stabilize the scattered people's hearts.

Especially since the country was a mixed place of Hu and Han people, with different languages, customs, and lifestyles, most of his energy was destined to be spent on internal affairs.

This requires a stable external environment, and Goguryeo was the biggest threat.

"There are only two options for now." Guo Shi said, "First, take advantage of the arrival of the royal army and do everything we can to weaken Goguryeo. The more severely the better. They are ambitious and have repeatedly crossed the border to build cities since the Han Dynasty. It is impossible for them not to expand outward. They are the mortal enemy of Liaodong. We must seize this opportunity to kill all their elite troops, exhaust the people, and make the nobles rise up against the Gao family, causing chaos inside. Only in this way can Liaodong be safe. After a few decades, when Goguryeo's strength gradually recovers, Liaodong will also be more powerful and ready to fight."

"Second, while your majesty is in his prime, find a way to ask for food, livestock, household registration, craftsmen, and equipment. If there is a chance, go to the Central Plains to recruit as many as you can. Your Highness can temporarily live in Lushun, Beifeng, and Pingguo counties, encourage farming and sericulture, and save money and food. Reward meritorious soldiers with more land, and plunder some Goguryeo people and make them slaves. Now the emperor has a system of military service, and Liaodong has few people and a lot of land, so it may not be impossible to try. I request that they be placed in these three counties, because they are far away from the front line and are not easily disturbed by bandits, and there is time to summon them."

"Mr. Guo is truly a national hero." Shao Yu exclaimed.

Neither side mentioned occupying Goguryeo. That was impossible, at least not in the short term.

The emperor did not ask to destroy the country, he only asked to inflict pain on Goguryeo. As for the occupation of Pingzhou land and sheltering the remnants of Murong, they were just ready-made excuses. Even if these things did not happen, the war would still be fought.

While Shao and Guo were talking, Pan and Cui came closer and listened quietly for a while. Then Cui Jinghua asked, "Your Highness, what should we do next?"

"This place is not far from Wandu. We can select a thousand elite cavalry and two thousand soldiers of the Zuo Feilong Guard, bring more horses, and test the defense of Wandu." Shao Yu said, "By the way, how is the situation in the west?"

"It's been a while since we received a military report." Cui Jinghua said, "Half a month ago, we were at Pingdingshan Mountain City. The king's army failed to capture the city, so Gao Zhao led his army to help and set up fences a few miles behind the city. In the two battles, the Li army was at a disadvantage, so they dug deep trenches and built high fortifications to avoid the king's army's sharp edge."

"Where is Murong?"

"There are more than 10,000 people, and they will join forces with Gao's army, totaling 50,000 to 60,000 infantry and cavalry."

"Where is Murong Zhi?"

"No news has been received."

"I understand." Shao Yu nodded.

Pingding Mountain is located in the Liangmo River (Taizi River) basin. It got its name because of the relatively flat top of the mountain. It is the gateway to Xiangping from Goguryeo and one of the western gates. It had heavy troops stationed there before, and it also joined forces with Gao Zhao, Murong Jun, and Murong Biao. The total force should have been more than 60,000.

The royal army was led by Xu Yu, and had only more than 30,000 people. It was enough to defeat the enemy in a field battle, but it was a bit difficult for it to attack a city.

However, this is only the troop figure for half a month, and perhaps more troops will be added now.

In addition to this main force, there were two detachment forces led by him and Murong Zhi. He had more than 10,000 cavalrymen, and Murong Zhi had 5,000 cavalrymen, distributed to the north and south of the main force, and coming from the flanks.

Murong Zhi's troops were all cavalrymen. Shao Yu did not think they could capture any city, but it was not difficult for them to create momentum, burn, kill and loot, which would certainly attract a considerable portion of the enemy's forces.

As the battle got to this point, Shao Yu actually began to understand his cousin's intentions.

In fact, he didn't have any main attack direction. He would strengthen whichever route he made a breakthrough. Anyway, he had abundant military forces, and many of the troops that had previously swept through the remaining forces of Murong Xianbei should have been freed up - I just didn't know whether Murong Huang had been captured.

"I should also create some momentum to let Gao Zhao know as soon as possible that there is chaos in the rear and shake his military morale." Shao Yu said.

******
In fact, Shao Yu's guess was correct. Murong Zhi had 5,000 cavalrymen and 12,000 horses under his command. After setting out from Xi'anping, they plundered along the way and fought to support the war.

There were few civilians left in Xi'an. They were either slaughtered or plundered by the Goguryeo people, or fled to other places. There were very few people left, and it was impossible for them to provide him with much supplies - unless the navy stopped transferring supplies to the Liaohe River and specifically protected him along the way. Before he went out, Murong Ren also gave him secret instructions: avoid hard battles, give full play to the mobility of cavalry, fight when you can, run when you can't, and plunder as much property, people, and livestock as possible to strengthen his own strength.

Admittedly, this is a bit tricky, but the sensation it creates is really not small.

On the seventeenth day of the intercalary seventh month, the troops bypassed the Hushan Mountain City (Pozhuo City) and did not attack it, but instead targeted the surrounding villages in search of people.

For a time, the village was filled with thick smoke, and the people of Goguryeo were crying and walking towards Xi'anping on the dilapidated road littered with corpses.

On the 20th, they attacked the enemy halfway across the Yalu River and dispersed more than a thousand Woju soldiers who had crossed the river from the other side.

On the 24th, just as Shao Yu arrived at the confluence of the Feiliu River and the Yannan River, Murong Zhi's troops arrived at Shuishi Village, where Gao Zhao's father, the Meichuan King Yi Fuli, had taken refuge. They slaughtered all the men and took the women, children, and property. "Yi Fuli fled out of fear of being harmed, and then worked as a servant in the Yinmou family of Shuishi Village... After a year, he left and went to trade salt with the people of Dongcun in Zaimou."

When the mayor of Bozhuo City heard the news, he felt as if he had lost his parents.

Shuishi Village, Dong Village and Sishou Village on the other side of the river have all been grateful to the royal family, but now they are in trouble. If someone attacks them, he will inevitably be reprimanded.

But what can we do? Bozhuo City is so small, how many people can you let in? If people come in, will there be enough food? What about livestock? Goguryeo is not a nomadic people, but it is not farming either, but farming and animal husbandry at the same time. How to settle the large number of livestock in the countryside? This is half of the people's property.

He had tried his best to find a way to get these people to hide in the mountains, but some of them did not learn their lesson. They were concerned about the crops that would soon mature in the fields and worried that there would not be enough pasture in the mountains.

No one could understand his feelings. The Xianbei cavalry roamed the countryside searching for people, property, and livestock. At one point, the vanguard was not far from Maru City, causing a panic.

On the same day, Shao Shen arrived in Xiangping from Cuizhenbao Mountain City, and then led his troops into the mountains to supervise the attack on Pingdingshan Mountain City.

"The Goguryeo people seemed to know a small path. A few days ago, they sent more than a thousand people to enter the city through the path, but we failed to block them in time." Xu Yu said with some shame.

"Has it been blocked now?" Shao Shen asked.

"I have sent elite soldiers to ambush nearby. If the enemy comes again, we will defeat them." Xu Yu said.

"It won't happen again. The secret passage can only be used once." Shao Shen shook his head and said, "Can you beat it?"

"The mountain city is probably going to be difficult." Xu Yu said honestly, "The more than a thousand soldiers entering the city boosted morale, and it will be difficult to break the city in a short time."

"The Cuizhenbao mountain city has been conquered, and three thousand enemies have been killed. You better hold on tight here." Shao Shen said.

"Yes." Xu Yu felt relieved. The recruiting envoy did not criticize him too harshly, which was good.

Unexpectedly, Shao Shen quickly said, "Although I have other plans, you can't be too lazy. Fuyu Duwei Murong Han returned with a great victory, and captured more than 10,000 people and 150,000 cattle and sheep. I have ordered him to go east from Cuizhenbao and attack Wandu by detour. If you haven't conquered Wandu by the time the army gathers, it will be embarrassing."

"Yes." Xu Yu responded again.

This is the truth.

From north to south, there are four routes to enter Wandu, including Cuizhen Fort, Gaoer Mountain City, Pingding Mountain City, and Hushan Mountain City. Murong Han's troops have turned around and are now advancing from four directions. It is said that the Prince of Yan is advancing the fastest, and Murong Zhi is not slow either. If Murong Han advances quickly, he will be embarrassed.

The road to Cuizhenbao is the "flat and wide" northern road mentioned by Murong Han in history, also known as the "Buyeo Road". It was built by Goguryeo in order to expand into the Buyeo Kingdom. The city is located in the northeast of Xuantu County. The 15,000-strong army led by Wang Yu, the Taifu of the Former Yan, was defeated here.

These cities built across the border are lined up from north to south. They are intended not only to control the roads, but also to serve as forward bases for expansion.

If you want to attack Goguryeo, you must take these five routes.

"You should withdraw the Right Flying Dragon Guard." Shao Shen suddenly said, "The Left and Central Silver Spear Camps are here. I'll leave them to you. Fight them well."

Xu Yu's expression brightened, and he asked, "Over there in Xiandu..."

"Murong Khan surrendered because his city was isolated and difficult to defend." Shao Shen said expressionlessly, "Now only Murong Huang's navy, the Black Jade Left Camp, the government troops, and the cavalry are left to search and suppress."

"Catch the turtle in the jar." Xu Yu laughed.

Shao Shen also laughed and asked, "Where is Yi Cong's army?"

"We are searching everywhere and have captured more than 7,000 Goguryeo civilians and settled them in Xiangping," said Xu Yu.

"The more fiercely you search and hunt, the more impatient the Gao family will become." Shao Shen took one last look at the mountain city and said, "I will leave all military matters to you. I will return to Xiangping first and come back in August."

After saying this, he walked away surrounded by his personal soldiers.

Xu Yu climbed up a hillside and overlooked the panoramic view.

From north to south, there were more than 10,000 cavalrymen from Murong Han, more than 20,000 people from the armies of Prince of Yan and Zheng Long, more than 30,000 infantry and cavalry from his own army, plus 5,000 cavalrymen from Murong Zhi. The four armies totaled 80,000 people. He didn't know how Goguryeo would defend itself. Even if the country was not destroyed this time, it was seriously injured.

In fact, they had already sent a group of envoys, saying that they were willing to hand over the remnants of the Murong clan and ask the royal army to withdraw.

Shao Shen refused and reported the Goguryeo envoy's words to Murong Jun and Murong Biao.

These were not the reasons for this war. The fundamental reason was that the emperor wanted to weaken Goguryeo's strength. Gao Zhao did not understand this and deserved to be defeated.

(End of this chapter)