Chapter 2707 Where to Go
On the fifth day of Duke Zhao's siege of Anshi City, the logistical food and medicine finally arrived.
Duke Zhao did not ask why they were late. He simply chopped the escorting logistics officer to pieces and then hung him outside the tent.
The emperor did not comment on this, but once this happened, everyone became nervous, especially the logistics officers.
When the news got out, the logistics officer who was still escorting things on the road immediately tensed up and tried every means to rush to the front line.
Maybe they have reasons for being late, but being late for so long must mean they have their own selfish motives and they are not working hard enough.
Ultimately, the knife on the neck was too high, not low enough.
Who on the front lines doesn't have their head tied to their belts? Soldiers need to work hard to survive, so if they are like the soldiers on the front lines, they will naturally do everything they can to deliver the goods.
The logistics were so late that it delayed the battle, to put it mildly. If it weren't for the urgent need for people, Duke Zhao would have killed them all.
Not to mention that some of the things have been replaced.
However, the medicinal materials from the Imperial Medical Bureau were not replaced. Manbao got the medicinal materials and immediately replaced them with fresh ones that were used previously, but some soldiers could not bear it due to excessive blood loss.
After all, the medicinal herbs they dug out were limited, and some were only suitable for external injuries but not for internal bleeding.
Manbao could only watch the man's stomach swell up, and finally die with a big belly and vomiting blood. If there was medicine, even if she couldn't stop the bleeding, she could make a small incision on the stomach. There was a 40% chance that she could stop the bleeding and save the man.
It was also because of this that Manbao tried hard not to look at the person hanging there every time he passed by the camp gate, and walked into the camp with an expressionless face.
Because the weather was getting colder and Anshi City had been difficult to capture, the atmosphere in the tent was not very good.
Ashina proposed, "Your Majesty, I would like to lead an army deep into the enemy's territory and attack from behind."
The emperor shook his head. "No, there are at least 100,000 troops in Anshi City. They can easily cut off your retreat."
It was also for this reason that he did not agree to divide the army. He did not want to use his soldiers to deplete their numbers.
The emperor pondered, "I wonder where Feng Liang and the others are."
Feng Liang had just captured Shicheng at this time and was hesitating whether to go north to Anshi City or east to Daxing City.
The former can join up with Your Majesty, and the latter can go deeper into the Goguryeo Kingdom, and maybe even directly attack Guoneicheng or Pyongyang, which would allow them to truly conquer Goguryeo.
Feng Liang's deputy general, General Qiu, said, "General Manager, let's go north. Going east is too deep."
Feng Liang hesitated, but if he went east and took Guonei City in one fell swoop, he could destroy Goguryeo, which would be a great achievement.
General Qiu wanted to be more cautious and said to him, "The weather is getting colder. Anshi and Jian'an are both large cities. The Goguryeo royal family will definitely do their utmost to protect these two cities. If Your Majesty cannot capture them after a long siege, they will definitely retreat. If we go east and penetrate deep into Goguryeo, I'm afraid we won't be able to get out."
Feng Liang lowered his eyes and thought.
General Qiu continued to advise, "Sir, our wounded soldiers won't be able to hold out for much longer."
Their team had no logistics. Since entering Beisha City, they had been fighting to support themselves. Every time they captured a city, they looted food and medicinal materials. The officials of Shicheng had made preparations in advance. Before leaving, they burned all the food and medicinal materials that they could not take away, preferring to burn them rather than leave them for them.
Feng Liang stared at the map for a while and said, "How confident are we of bypassing Jian'an City and reaching Anshi City?"
General Qiu was about to speak when Feng Liang shook his head and said, "The journey is good, so we can almost reach Guonei City. Since they are determined to defend these two cities, they will definitely send a large number of reinforcements. In this case, we should attack Wei to save Zhao and draw troops from Anshi City and Jian'an City to Guonei City."
"But then we'd be cut off from retreat."
"As long as Your Majesty can quickly capture Anshi City, we can advance directly and counter-encircle it. By then, it's uncertain who will win."
General Qiu felt that this was too risky.
Feng Liang said, "Wealth and honor are sought in danger. Let's pack up and head towards Daxing City tomorrow. There are definitely not many defenders in this place. We won't fight too long. Once we have enough medicine and food, we can leave."
General Qiu opened his mouth but could not utter a word of objection.
Feng Liang is the chief steward and he has the final say in this matter.
The reason why Your Majesty appointed Feng Liang as the commander-in-chief of the Pyongyang Road was because he was steady and rational, and he would lead the army deep into the enemy's territory without making any rash advances. But how steady and rational is he now?
Feng Liang said, "Go and get Dr. Zheng."
Doctor Zheng had an untidy beard and no longer looked as energetic as before. There was darkness under his eyes.
He looked at Feng Liang expressionlessly.
Feng Liang's attitude towards him was good. They did not suffer much loss in the battles along the way. Of course, this was because Goguryeo did not expect them to attack by sea, but more importantly, because Imperial Physician Zheng and a group of students from the Imperial Medical Bureau accompanied the army. The death rate of the wounded was not high, and those with minor or moderate injuries could recover and return to the battlefield quickly.
Together with the soldiers they captured along the way, it was enough.
Feng Liang asked Doctor Zheng, "How many medicinal herbs are left? Our next city is Daxing City. We can replenish the herbs after entering."
Doctor Zheng gave a detailed list and asked, "Aren't we going to attack Pyongyang directly?"
Feng Liang said, "Your Majesty has sent a letter saying that Baekje is unwilling to send troops, and that even if Pyongyang is taken, there will be no one to defend it, so I plan to go to Guonei City."
Although Baekje was unwilling to send troops, Silla sent out a part of its troops and was now fighting from the east towards Pyongyang, which could also tie up some of the troops.
The Goguryeo country was in a state of misery at this time. They didn't understand how things had developed to this point. The five princes had clearly written to say that the Jin Dynasty had expressed its willingness to negotiate, so why did it turn around and send troops to them?
The Gao royal family was furious at the successive loss of cities and land, and they couldn't help but blame each other. "I've told you all along, don't provoke the Great Jin, don't provoke the Great Jin. Why won't you listen?"
"This war was started by the Great Jin, Your Majesty, how can you blame us?"
"If you hadn't sent troops to attack Yingzhou, how could this have happened?"
"Because of Silla's instigation, Dajin has long been dissatisfied with us. Even if we don't take action, they will not let us go. It is better to strike first."
"We did strike first, but how are we stronger now?"
"Your Majesty, send someone to ask for peace."
"We have to send troops to defend Anshi City. Liaodong City has been breached. If Anshi City is breached as well, we will have no more cities left to resist them."
"There is still an army roaming around our Goguryeo Kingdom. We don't know where they are now. We must destroy them, otherwise our kingdom will be in danger."
Alas, I am so sad. We are living a good life, why do you have to provoke Dajin?
The emperor was also looking at the map in deep thought, "I wonder if Feng Liang will come to Anshi City, or continue north to Guonei City, or go south to Pyongyang."
It's not good to be separated by such a large enemy area and ocean. It's difficult to transmit information.
Yin Li and Feng Liang were more familiar with each other. After all, they often interacted due to work and could be considered friends. After a moment's thought, he said, "Minister Feng might go to Guoneicheng."
The emperor raised his eyebrows and stared at the city.
See you at 8pm
(End of this chapter)
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