While Li Jue and others were puzzled, Jin Jianshen, the garrison commander stationed in Liaodong City, was also very confused.

What exactly was the Tang Dynasty doing?

Although Kim Geon-shin was unaware of the Tang Dynasty's motives, he still sent messengers to Pyongyang to request reinforcements.

In fact, Yeon Gaesomun, the de facto ruler of Goguryeo, had already sent reinforcements.

However, he remained unclear about the true intentions of the Tang Dynasty and hesitated throughout. It wasn't until he saw the Tang army approaching Liaodong that he swiftly dispatched an army of 40,000 men.

In his view, the 40,000 troops he had dispatched, plus the 10,000 troops already in Liaodong City, would be enough to stop the Tang army at the gates of Liaodong City.

After all, Emperor Yang of Sui led hundreds of thousands of troops to attack Goguryeo three times in a row, but failed to capture Liaodong City.

While Yeon Gaesomun was enjoying himself in Pyongyang, the Tang army outside Liaodong City was getting restless.

Li Shiji and the others all ran to Li Shimin's tent.

"Your Majesty, the encirclement by the army is complete. Why have you delayed in ordering the attack on the city?"

Upon hearing this, Li Shimin smiled slightly, ordered someone to hang up the map of Liaodong, and then addressed the crowd.

"Gentlemen, look at Liaodong City. Its geographical location is extremely important. There's no way Yeon Gaesomun wouldn't send someone to its aid!"

Upon hearing this, everyone understood that His Majesty was preparing to besiege the enemy's stronghold and attack any reinforcements!

"Your Majesty, do you intend to devour the Goguryeo army that has come to our aid, and then concentrate your forces to attack Liaodong City?"

Li Shimin nodded upon hearing this.

"yes!"

"Liaodong City is high and deeply moated, possessing the strategic advantage of mountains and rivers. If we were to forcibly attack the city, we would inevitably suffer heavy losses."

"Therefore, we must completely extinguish the hopes of the Liaodong City defenders, wipe out all the troops that come to their aid right under their noses, and then launch an attack on Liaodong City!"

Li Shimin's words drew cheers from the entire hall.

Even Li Jue, who always despised Li Er, had to give a thumbs up after witnessing Li Er's strategy.

This guy is indeed an outstanding strategic commander!

The Goguryeo reinforcements arrived quickly. Li Jue had expected another major battle, but to his surprise, Li Shimin simply sent out a relative, Li Daozong, with four thousand cavalry to meet the enemy...

With four thousand against forty thousand, just when Li Jue thought Li Shimin was about to suffer a defeat, he heard a military report from the front lines that the Tang Dynasty had actually won and beheaded more than a thousand!

If the Goguryeo reinforcements hadn't run away quickly, these four thousand men would have probably surrounded and annihilated them...

Li Jue was stunned when he heard the battle report. He had personally witnessed the Goguryeo army, and their equipment and soldiers were in no way inferior. In fact, their armor was even slightly better than that of the Tang Dynasty.

After all, when Emperor Yang of Sui conquered Liaodong, he brought not only hundreds of thousands of soldiers, but also tens of thousands of skilled craftsmen.

Goguryeo upgraded its equipment and military system by repeatedly playing the Sui Yangdi dungeon.

Therefore, while Goguryeo's military strength may not be the strongest on Earth, it is certainly second only to the Tang Dynasty in Jambudvipa.

However, such a powerful force was actually treated like a grandson by the Tang Dynasty?

This seems a bit outrageous no matter how you look at it!

When Li Shimin was celebrating his victory with his generals, he suddenly noticed Li Jue frowning to the side, and felt a little annoyed.

Actually, Li Jue's performance was quite commendable ever since the army entered Liaodong.

First of all, he did not rush to volunteer for battle, but obediently followed his orders and conscientiously provided logistical support to the army.

Secondly, he rarely talks and never argues back.

Finally, and most importantly, he discovered Li Jue's strengths in engineering.

I just casually gave him a command to build a bridge, and he actually built a sturdy pontoon bridge, transporting the main force over in the shortest amount of time.

Then he was also very good at building siege weapons. In just three days, this guy tinkered with over a hundred catapults, leaving even the master craftsman Yan Lide dumbfounded.

However, today everyone is celebrating Li Daozong's victory, and this bastard dares to be unhappy?

"Li Jue, aren't you happy for the Tang Dynasty?"

"ah?"

"I'm not unhappy. I'm just curious. Goguryeo's national strength is no weaker than that of the Tang Dynasty, and their soldiers' equipment is quite good. Why were they defeated so easily by our Tang army?"

Upon hearing this, Li Shimin immediately burst into laughter.

"Is that what you're wondering about?"

"Hahaha!"

"Gentlemen, who can explain this to the child?"

Li Shiji laughed heartily upon hearing this.

"Your Majesty, let me enlighten the eldest grandson!"

"Does the eldest grandson think Goguryeo is too weak?"

Li Jue nodded upon hearing this.

"right!"

“Uncle Li, it’s not that I’m trying to boost the morale of others while diminishing the prestige of our own people.”

"Goguryeo was a country that withstood three attacks from the Sui Dynasty. Logically speaking, their soldiers shouldn't have been so bad at fighting, right?"

Li Shiji nodded upon hearing this.

"What the eldest grandson says is absolutely right."

"In fact, Goguryeo was not weak at all. In fact, they were a force to be reckoned with in the entire Liaodong region."

"The Mohe and Khitan peoples in Liaodong all worship Goguryeo as their master. Even the Xueyantuo in northern Tang Dynasty have envoys to Goguryeo and have secretly formed a brotherhood with them."

"However, compared to our Great Tang Dynasty, they are still much weaker."

"First, there was political turmoil in Goguryeo."

"Yeon Gaesomun killed King Yeongnyu, and King Yeongnyu's nephew became King Bojang, who proclaimed himself Daemori..."

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