Chapter 115: The Army Encircles Yanmen (1)

Although the forces under Li Wenyuan were advancing aggressively, the frontline remained unexpectedly stable, and no positions had been lost. Li Gui finally breathed a sigh of relief and began to calmly organize his troops into a solid defensive line. Meanwhile, he grew curious as to why the enemy’s offensive lacked pressure. Could it be that their combat effectiveness had declined after reorganization?

At that moment, Cheng Yaojin, who was responsible for the offensive against Li Gui, was having a leisurely time. He spent his days in the camp arranging training for his soldiers and dispatching scouts to monitor the movements of Li Gui’s forces, with nothing else to occupy his time.

"Commander, what is the meaning of this strategy from the Governor-General?" a personal guard asked as he handed Cheng Yaojin his lunch. "We are surrounding them without attacking. If word gets out that our Fifth Legion is struggling this much against Li Gui’s forces hiding in Yiwu Commandery, won't everyone think our legion is ineffective?"

"You little soldier, what do you know?" Cheng Yaojin replied with a grin as he took the food. "Surrounding Li Gui without attacking is the Governor-General’s order. Besides, I would be happy if everyone underestimated the strength of our Fifth Legion."

Seeing the guard’s bewildered expression, Cheng Yaojin gave him a light kick and said, "When others underestimate us, they reveal their flaws, allowing us to defeat the enemy while losing fewer of our own brothers."

"War always involves casualties. Didn't we lose plenty of men back when the Turks raided the borders? Thousands, at least," the guard muttered quietly.

"Didn't our Governor-General say that he cherishes the people like his own children? No Han person should be sacrificed in vain on the battlefield," Cheng Yaojin said, reciting a passage from a speech Li Wenyuan had given during their time at the military academy. Hearing Li Wenyuan’s name, the guard stopped questioning and nodded in silence.

***

"Is the Emperor of the Central Plains really going on a northern inspection to Yanmen Commandery?" the Great Khan of the Eastern Turks asked the Goguryeo envoy.

"Indeed. Our intelligence is absolutely accurate. The Emperor has already left the capital and is headed toward Yanmen Commandery," the envoy replied, looking up with a smile. Had Yeon Gaesomun been present, he would have recognized this man immediately: it was Yeon Gaesomun himself.

"Why are you telling me this?"

"We hope to join forces with you, Great Khan, to seize this opportunity and kill the Emperor. We can then take what we each need. We want the seven coastal commanderies from Yan Commandery to Bohai Commandery; the rest will be yours to dispose of as you please."

"That is not enough benefit to make me break my oath to the Emperor and risk a direct assault on my royal camp by his forces," the Great Khan said in a deep voice.

Yeon Gaesomun cursed the old fox internally but maintained a smiling face. "As the envoy of Tengri, you are destined to rule all the tribes of the steppe, and we, the Buyeo people, are no exception. Once the Emperor is dead, we, along with the Shiwei and Mohe tribes, will immediately honor you as the Heavenly Khan and accept your rule."

The Great Khan closed his eyes in contemplation for a moment before replying, "You must not only honor me as the Heavenly Khan and accept my rule, but also fulfill your military obligations. Each year, you will provide a quota of warriors to serve as Turkic soldiers, and you must send troops to assist me whenever I launch a foreign war. You are not to refuse for any reason."

"Everything shall be as you command, Great Khan," Yeon Gaesomun bowed deeply, hiding his ruthless gaze from the Khan's sight.

"Then return and tell your King that I accept your proposal. As soon as the Emperor arrives at Yanmen Commandery, I will immediately march my troops to capture and kill him," the Great Khan said, nodding in satisfaction.

"May Tengri forever protect the soaring eagle," Yeon Gaesomun said, bidding farewell before returning to Goguryeo.

***

"Where is the Wudelu Legion?" Li Wenyuan asked his staff officer.

"They are conducting adaptive training in the desert north of Wuwei Commandery while guarding against a Turkic invasion," the officer replied without hesitation.

"Tell Wudelu to be ready at all times. Something major may happen soon," Li Wenyuan said cryptically.

"The Governor-General is worried the Turks will march south to besiege Yanmen Commandery, I presume?" Chief of Staff Zhuang Fudi said as he walked in with a smile.

"Indeed. Although your repeated simulations confirm that the Turks will move south, there is no perfect way to repel them. You must realize that the only force we can dispatch in time to support Yanmen is Wudelu’s Fourth Legion, which numbers only fifteen thousand. If your predictions are correct, the Turks will bring about one hundred thousand, to say nothing of the hostile Goguryeo forces in Liaodong," Li Wenyuan said with concern.

"Regarding Goguryeo, intelligence from the 'Night Owls' suggests they have a secret pact with the Eastern Turks. Since Yeon Gaesomun returned, Goguryeo has been preparing for war, leading our staff to conclude they have reached an agreement to strike together. However, personally, I believe we only face the Turkic threat," Zhuang Fudi said.

"How so?" Li Wenyuan asked, gesturing for Zhuang Fudi to sit.

"Goguryeo suffered heavy losses in the last war against the Sui Dynasty; it is unlikely they will commit troops. Their current posturing is merely for the Turks to see. They will not actually invade. After all, the heavy Sui forces in Zhuo Commandery and Beiping, led by Luo Yi, are not to be trifled with. If Goguryeo shows any signs of rebellion, Luo Yi will fiercely resist for his own sake, dealing them a crushing blow," Zhuang Fudi explained.

"Even so, one hundred thousand Turkic soldiers are difficult to handle," Li Wenyuan said, his face etched with worry.

"In that case, we can only harass the Turks from the rear. It is best to avoid direct confrontation. We can try to destroy their siege engines; even if they surround Yanmen, they won't be able to break in, and the danger will be averted," Zhuang Fudi comforted him.

"Then tell me, should I submit this memorial to the Emperor?" Li Wenyuan asked, turning over a document in his hands.

"That is a difficult question. Withholding the information could create an irreparable rift in the relationship between ruler and subject if he finds out later. But if you inform the Emperor, he may become suspicious of an organization that operates more efficiently than his own intelligence services, which could ultimately cost you your position," Zhuang Fudi said with a frown.