"Dae Mo Li Zhi was an official title in Goguryeo, equivalent to Cao Cao, a powerful minister in the Three Kingdoms period after he received the Nine Bestowments!"
"Oh, thank you so much, Uncle Li, for clearing up my doubts!"
"With the Goguryeo court in chaos, the soldiers were naturally terrified and had no will to fight!"
"Secondly, our Great Tang Dynasty is too strong."
"Since His Majesty the Emperor has implemented benevolent policies, the Tang Dynasty has accumulated twenty years of strength, with a powerful army and abundant provisions. The government is enlightened, and the people are willing to fight."
"Thirdly, His Majesty's personal command of the expedition greatly boosted morale."
"Given the shifting balance of power, what is it of our Great Tang to have 4,000 defeat 40,000? Even if they send 400,000, I dare to fight them!"
As soon as Li Shiji said this, the camp erupted in cheers.
"Well said!"
"His Majesty has personally led the expedition, aren't those little monkeys still howling and charging forward?"
"To be able to take on ten men is already a disgrace to His Majesty; to be able to take on a hundred men would be acceptable, hahaha!"
Li Shimin was very pleased to see his men so full of fighting spirit, but as the commander-in-chief, he was well aware of the strength of Goguryeo.
Even though Goguryeo was in turmoil and powerful ministers were vying for the throne, he still could not underestimate his enemy.
"Gentlemen, some boasts are fine to talk behind closed doors, but when we attack the city tomorrow, we must be careful and cautious, lest we make a fatal mistake!"
Upon hearing this, everyone immediately agreed and then each drank a cup of tea before leaving.
Before the great battle, the entire army was forbidden from drinking alcohol.
This was an ironclad rule set by Li Shimin, and a rule he had consistently upheld for many years.
Although Li Shiji said a lot, Li Jue was still confused. It wasn't until the next day, when the city was officially attacked, that Li Jue saw Li Er leading the charge, personally carrying sandbags and rushing towards the moat. Only then did he realize why the Tang Dynasty was so powerful.
The strength of the Tang Dynasty was not mysterious; it was simply because the Tang army had a brave and invincible emperor.
This emperor wouldn't hide behind his soldiers shouting "Charge!" Instead, he would take off his magnificent dragon robe, just like an ordinary soldier, personally carry a bag full of sand, brave the dense rain of arrows shot down from the city walls, run quickly towards the enemy's moat, and then slam the sandbags on his shoulders into the moat!
With such an emperor personally leading the way, how could the Tang Dynasty's imperial guards not be strong?
Li Jue was deeply inspired by Li Shimin's leading by example, so he also took off his fine clothes, picked up a sandbag, and followed closely behind.
But when Li Shimin turned around, their eyes met and he kicked him on the spot.
"Get out of my way!"
"Who told you to help carry sandbags!"
"Grandpa, you've already carried the sandbags yourself, why can't your grandson do the same?"
"I……"
"I've been training on the battlefield for so many years, how many times have you even seen a battlefield?"
Just as Li Shimin was reprimanding Li Jue, his ears suddenly twitched, and he tackled Li Jue to the ground. In the instant the two fell, an arrow grazed Li Shimin's scalp and struck the ground with a dull thud.
Upon seeing this, Li Shimin broke out in a cold sweat. He then grabbed Li Jue and ran, running for more than ten zhang (approximately 33 meters) until he was out of range of the archers in Liaodong City, before finally throwing Li Jue heavily to the ground.
Then, Li Shimin kicked Li Jue repeatedly!
"You unfilial grandson!"
"Are you trying to scare me to death?"
"If it weren't for me, you would have been shot dead just now!"
"Get out of here right now, and don't cause me any trouble!"
Li Jue was also very frightened when he saw this, but when he heard Li Shimin reprimand him like this, his pride welled up in his heart.
"Grandpa, don't underestimate me, I'm not afraid of death!"
After saying this, Li Jue got up from the ground, picked up another bag of sand, and followed the other soldiers, running wildly towards the moat.
Li Shimin was about to reach out to stop him when he was stopped by Li Shiji, who was standing to the side.
"Your Majesty, please do not panic. Your Majesty, I have already ordered men to protect the eldest grandson!"
Upon hearing this, Li Shimin looked ahead and indeed saw several men holding shields running in front of Li Jue. Whenever they saw someone shooting arrows from the city wall, they would raise their shields to create a safe area for Li Jue.
Li Shimin breathed a long sigh of relief when he saw that his grandson's safety was assured.
"This unfilial grandson, how can he be so insensible?"
Li Shiji smiled slightly upon hearing this.
"Your Majesty, the eldest grandson is not ignorant; his actions have directly established his position in the Tang army!"
"What status?"
"Of course, the Tang Dynasty has a worthy successor!"
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