Ma Seok-dong, the Grand General of the Ministry of War of the Goguryeo Dynasty, uttered words that left Gai Se-wen, the Lord Gai who represented the interests of the nobility in the court, speechless.
yes!
If this were to incite a mutiny, no one could bear the responsibility.
Gai Shiwen was well aware that the Goguryeo Dynasty was currently at its peak in terms of national strength and military power, having existed for over seven hundred years since its founding.
At the same time, it was also a period in which the ambitions of the court and the military, including King Takazo, expanded rapidly.
The 600,000 troops across the country (now only 570,000 remain) are the best proof.
Clearly, the lessons learned from the defeat of General Cui Dongyuan at the Liao River and the deaths of 30,000 Goguryeo warriors were not enough to awaken these arrogant and fierce generals who were eager to tear a few pieces of flesh from the sleeping lion of the Central Plains dynasty. Instead, they aroused their bloodthirsty and warlike nature.
However, the Tang Dynasty, which was created by Emperor Zhaowu Chen Huai'an in the Central Plains at this time, could not be compared with the Xin Dynasty, which had been destroyed.
Chen Huai'an started an uprising with 8,000 troops and overthrew the Daxin Dynasty, which had 1.5 to 1.6 million troops, in less than three years. He also defeated the Turks, who had been entrenched on the northern grasslands for hundreds of years, and destroyed their country.
And what about the Tubo Kingdom, which took advantage of the natural geographical advantages of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau and tried to take advantage of the internal strife of the Daxin Dynasty to fish in troubled waters and get a share of the spoils? Wasn't it also defeated by Chen Huai'an's army and driven directly to the Potala Palace, ultimately having no choice but to submit?
Furthermore, all thirty-six kingdoms in the Western Regions, led by the Uyghur-Han Kingdom, were thoroughly subdued by Emperor Zhaowu Chen Huai'an.
This bunch of reckless brutes, led by the pro-war general Ma Xidong, actually thought they could use the 600,000 troops of the Goguryeo Dynasty to fight against the million-strong army of the Tang Dynasty. Isn't that like a mantis trying to stop a chariot?
Gae Seon is one of the few clear-headed figures in the current radical Goguryeo Dynasty.
Of course, this may also be related to his early experiences.
As an envoy who personally participated in the peace negotiations and submission of the Goguryeo Dynasty to Daexin during the Zhenwu era of the Daxin Dynasty, and who stayed in Jinling for several years, Gai Se-mun had an excellent understanding of the Central Plains dynasties.
He also had interactions and friendships with Chen Polu, the father of Emperor Zhaowu Chen Huai'an and the Prince of Daxin Dynasty.
Both Chen and his son were skilled military strategists, and they were men who would never give up until they achieved their goals.
Now, the Tang Dynasty's military might is aimed directly at the Goguryeo Dynasty. Apart from negotiating peace and becoming a vassal state, Gai Shiwen really can't think of any other third outcome.
This is why Gai Shiwen strongly advocated for peace talks with the Tang Dynasty, to submit to Emperor Zhaowu Chen Huai'an, and to restore the relationship between the two countries as suzerain and vassal states.
Unfortunately, the Goguryeo court has been taken over by the energetic "young generation," and no one is willing to listen to the unpleasant but honest advice of this old man who is nearly sixty!
Eh—
In the end, Gai Shiwen, who was speechless after being rebuked by General Ma Xidong of the Ministry of War, could only let out a long sigh with a red face.
"Lord Gai, General, please calm down, please calm down—"
At this moment, Prime Minister Li Zhenghao stepped forward with a beaming smile, taking the initiative to act as a peacemaker and smooth things over, saying with a smile, "Please hear what I have to say;"
"Lord Gai and the General's starting point is for the sake of the eternal foundation of our Goguryeo Dynasty. It is truly a blessing for the dynasty, the king, and the people that the millions of people of our Goguryeo Dynasty have these two to protect them!"
It must be said that Prime Minister Li Zhenghao's ability to smooth things over is first-rate.
He immediately showered both General Ma Xidong and Lord Gai Shiwen with high praise, which eased the tense atmosphere between the two men.
Li Zhenghao continued with a smile, "The General's words are not without merit. Right now, the morale of our Goguryeo army is high, and our fighting spirit is strong. Judging the outcome based on the Liaodong battle will inevitably dampen the morale of our soldiers."
As he spoke, Li Zhenghao turned his gaze to Gai Shiwen, looking at him earnestly, and said, "Lord Gai, you should also understand the importance of morale and fighting spirit for an army;"
"General Cui and his western expeditionary army suffered a defeat in Liaodong, losing 30,000 men;"
"But just a year ago, General Cui and the troops stationed in Uiju also achieved a great victory in Liaodong, annihilating more than 50,000 troops of the Daxin Dynasty in Liaodong and incorporating the four commanderies of Liaodong into the territory of the Goguryeo Dynasty;"
"Over the past year, Lord Gai is surely well aware of the amount of taxes the four commanderies of Liaodong have contributed to the Goguryeo Dynasty."
"We can't negate the past achievements of General Cui and the Dynasty's western expeditionary army just because of a temporary defeat, can we?"
"Lord Gai, don't you agree?"
As Prime Minister Li Zhenghao's words increasingly leaned towards General Ma Xidong, Gai Shiwen's expression grew increasingly gloomy.
Just as he was about to reprimand Li Zhenghao, the latter suddenly changed the subject: "But—"
Li Zhenghao smiled, ignoring Gai Shiwen's glare that seemed to want to tear him apart, and turned to look at General Ma Xidong, who appeared rather smug, saying, "However, what Lord Gai said is not without merit;"
"Since the founding of the Goguryeo Dynasty, spanning over seven hundred years through the Han, Wei-Jin, and Northern and Southern Dynasties, regardless of the changes in the Central Plains dynasties, we have generally maintained a vassal state and suzerain state relationship with the Central Plains dynasties, despite occasional conflicts and frictions."
"The reason for this is simply that our Goguryeo Dynasty was no match for the powerful Central Plains dynasties in terms of national strength, military equipment, population, and resources."
"To ensure that millions of people were spared the ravages of war, they had no choice but to submit to the Central Plains dynasty, paying taxes and tribute."
"The taxes and gold and silver we pay to the Central Plains dynasty every year are a considerable sum. If we can use this tribute for domestic development, the strength of our Goguryeo dynasty will surely reach a new level!"
After a pause, Li Zhenghao continued his eloquent speech, "Now, the Tang Dynasty of the Central Plains is launching an invasion, simply to restore the relationship between the two suzerain and vassal states, and to demand that my Goguryeo Dynasty pay tribute to the Tang Dynasty every year as before;"
"However, through the painstaking efforts of successive Goguryeo kings, the Goguryeo Dynasty has now reached an unprecedented peak in both national strength and military preparedness."
"Even if we ultimately cannot break free from the relationship of being a vassal state of the Central Plains dynasty, we should at least take this opportunity to renegotiate the contract and reduce the annual tribute of gold and silver."
Finally, Li Zhenghao steered the conversation back to Gai Shiwen, smiling as he said, "Lord Gai, isn't this exactly the suggestion you made when you wrote to the King?"
"I'll submit to your authority, but I won't pay taxes or tribute!"
Um?
Upon hearing this, Gai Shiwen raised an eyebrow, wondering how Li Zhenghao had managed to steer the conversation to this point!
Although Gai Shiwen had his doubts, he nodded and said, "That's right, that was indeed my intention!"
"Lord Gai, this matches up perfectly!"
Li Zhenghao clapped his hands and said, "To re-establish the alliance between the suzerain state and its vassal state, and to amend the contents of the alliance, is naturally not something that the two of us can achieve by simply talking big in court."
"Then Emperor Chen Huai'an, the founding emperor of the Tang Dynasty, would not allow himself to be manipulated by us, nor would he simply refuse to pay taxes and tribute as he sees fit."
Ultimately, it all comes down to first determining the victor on the battlefield, and then negotiating a peace agreement at the negotiating table.
So—
At this point, Li Zhenghao paused deliberately, then turned his gaze to Treasure King Gao Zang on the throne in the main hall, and said slowly, "Your Majesty, esteemed officials and generals—"
"In my opinion, a war between the Goguryeo Dynasty and the Tang Dynasty is now inevitable!"
"While our army's morale is high, if we can decisively defeat the Tang army's eastward advance, then our Goguryeo Dynasty can break free from the shackles of the Central Plains dynasties and become an independent kingdom."
"Even if we are unfortunately defeated, we can still return to the negotiating table and talk peace with the Tang Dynasty. At worst, we can just restore the old relationship between the suzerain state and the vassal state!"
As he spoke, Prime Minister Li Zhenghao deliberately glanced at Gai Shiwen and said meaningfully, "Lord Gai is very experienced in peace negotiations."
"With Lord Gai in charge, the army of our Goguryeo Dynasty can fight with all its might. Regardless of victory or defeat on the battlefield, our Goguryeo Dynasty will ultimately stand undefeated."
"Lord Gai, don't you agree?"
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