Chapter 404: Withdrawal from Pyongyang

Outside Pyongyang, in the Tang army camp, the seventy-year-old Su Dingfang sat steadily on the main seat. On the left and right, his generals sat in order of rank. They were discussing matters.

There was a brazier in the middle of them. The charcoal in the brazier was burning vigorously, making crackling sounds.

The burning brazier dispelled some of the coldness in the tent, making everyone feel less cold. The generals leaned forward from time to time and stretched their cold hands to the brazier to test it.

Su Dingfang held an exquisite fire basket in his hand to ward off the cold. The charcoal in the fire basket burned and emitted heat, which made him feel warm.

This was the item that the emperor personally gave him last winter to keep him warm in the cold winter. He never used it, but it came in handy today.

"General Manager, our army has been besieging Pyongyang for more than eight months. The walls of Pyongyang are strong, the moat is deep, and there is plenty of food and grass in the city." "

It won't be a problem to hold out for another year or two, but our morale has been low after besieging Pyongyang for so long." "

It's cold today, and it's inconvenient to transport food and grass. The army has already started to reduce food, and I don't know if we can hold out until the food and grass are delivered." General Lu Qi said.

"What do you want to say?" Su Dingfang asked.

Su Dingfang is already seventy years old this year. His hair, beard and eyebrows are all white, and even his eyesight is not very good.

He knew in his heart that he might not have many years left, and he was afraid that he would no longer be able to lead troops to fight for the court. He

had originally planned to take Pyongyang for the court while he was still able to move, destroy the living forces of Goguryeo as much as possible, and bring their king and Mo Lizhi back to Chang'an.

"I think it's useless to stay here. It's better to withdraw from Goguryeo and return to the Central Plains. The soldiers have been away from home for a long time and must miss their relatives in their hometown very much."

"The relatives in their hometown must be looking forward to their return. Even if Pyongyang cannot be captured, the Tang Dynasty can still make a comeback. One day, we will be able to capture Pyongyang."

"But it's not worth it if the soldiers freeze to death or starve to death here. They are all good sons of the Tang Dynasty. Let them survive and expand the territory for the Tang Dynasty."

"General Manager, please order the evacuation of Pyongyang and return to the Central Plains so that these soldiers can be reunited with their relatives." General Lu Qi knelt on one knee and clasped his fists.

"Yes! I haven't seen Grandpa and Grandma for a long time. I can't sleep every time I think about how their wives and children are doing."

"When I went to the battle, I promised that after this battle, I would go back to celebrate the Lantern Festival with them and enjoy the lanterns."

The generals were talking about it. Su Dingfang looked at the generals and knew that they were homesick and had no intention of fighting again.

If they stayed here and surrounded Pyongyang, there might be deserters. If the enemy troops in the city took the opportunity to rush out of the city, they would be defeated in their current situation.

The weather in Liaoning this year is colder than before. It is likely to snow heavily. The army is not well prepared for the cold.

The main reason is that they did not expect to be here for so long.

"The weather is getting colder now. Staying here will only freeze more people to death. It is meaningless to let them freeze to death here."

"It is better to let them return to their hometowns and reunite with their families. Keep them as useful people so that they can make contributions to the Tang Dynasty in the future."

"Pass on my order. From now on, the army will move camp and evacuate Pyongyang in an orderly manner and withdraw troops back to the Central Plains." Su Dingfang ordered.

Instead of staying here to do useless work, it is better to keep the useful people and attack Goguryeo next time.

Anyway, it is impossible to conquer Goguryeo now. Besiege Pyongyang City. Don't let the enemy troops in the city be trapped and die first, but we will be frozen to death first.

"Yes!" All the generals stood up and saluted in response. All the generals were very happy. Finally, they didn't have to stay in this hellhole anymore. Finally, they could return to the home that haunted them.

"Send someone to inform Ren Yaxiang, the chief military commander of the Zhujiang Road, and Pang Xiaotai, the chief military commander of the Woju Road, to withdraw the troops immediately." Su Dingfang said.

"Yes!" The messenger received the order, saluted and was about to leave the tent to convey Su Dingfang's words to Ren Yaxiang and Pang Xiaotai.

At this time, a soldier rushed in, with a white gauze wrapped around his head and a mourning belt tied around his waist. After seeing Su Dingfang, he knelt on one knee and clasped his fists and said, "Meeting the chief commander Su."

"Whose army are you? Why are you in mourning?" Su Dingfang was shocked to see the dress of the visitor, and hurriedly stood up and asked.

Generally, only when the main general passes away in the army are they allowed to wear mourning, or some people who have been specially authorized can also let the soldiers wear mourning for them.

Generally, such people are heroes with outstanding military exploits.

"Reporting to General Su, I am under the command of Pang Xiaotai, the general of the Woju Road. My general fought with the Goguryeo army at Sheshui."

"Due to the bad weather, the road was difficult to travel, and the reinforcements were delayed. Our army was outnumbered. My general and thirteen major generals were all killed in the battle, and no one survived." The soldiers in mourning burst into tears as they spoke.

The generals were shocked after hearing this! Pang Xiaotai was already 62 years old this year, and he died in the Goguryeo Sheshui. Even none of his thirteen sons survived.

They were a family of loyal warriors. Fourteen people including Pang Xiaotai and his son died in the battle. What should be done with his orphans and widows?

"Got it! Send someone to collect their bodies and transport them back to the Central Plains for a proper burial." Su Dingfang said.

"Yes!" General Lu Qi responded.

"Report!" A soldier rushed in, knelt on one knee and said, "Report to the general manager, the general manager of the Peijiang Road, Ren Yaxiang, died in the army."

"The entire Peijiang Road army is in mourning and has evacuated Pyongyang and returned to the Central Plains. I have sent someone to inform you."

"Today, we have lost two pillars of the Tang Dynasty and many soldiers who fought bloody battles. These are all losses of the Tang Dynasty." "

Order someone to rush 800 miles to inform the court that Ren Yaxiang and Pang Xiaotai have passed away." Su Dingfang said. "I

respect your order!" The other general replied, left the big tent, and immediately sent someone to rush 800 miles to send a letter back to Chang'an to report to the court.

Su Dingfang waved his hand, and the soldiers saluted and left. All the generals remained silent at this time. Today, they heard two pieces of bad news one after another.

First, the father and son of Pang Xiaotai, the general manager of the Woju Road, died in the Sheshui in the 14th battle, and then the general manager of the Jogang Road, Ren Yaxiang, died in the army.

Now they are even more depressed, and the idea of ​​leaving Pyongyang and returning to the Central Plains is even stronger.

Fortunately, Su Dingfang has ordered the withdrawal of troops to return to the Central Plains. The generals saluted and left, immediately packed up, and evacuated Pyongyang in order.

The defenders in Pyongyang were overjoyed when they learned that the Tang army had withdrawn. They finally waited for them to leave. They had been frustrated for a long time during the siege.

If they could not defeat the Tang army outside the city, they would have gone out of the city and beaten them to pieces.

No matter how good the Tang army was, they could not do anything to them in the end and could only return in disgrace.

How could they break through Pyongyang?