Liu Ergou, the Earl of Suiyuan, was originally the garrison general of Jizhou City, one of the Sixteen Prefectures of Youyun, and one of the thirty-six marquises of the founding of the Tang Dynasty. He was also the deputy general of Qin State Duke Wang Jian.
Since the founding ceremony of the Tang Dynasty, Liu Ergou's rank was higher than that of Liu Ziyu, the head of the military generals of the Sixteen Prefectures of Youyun, so he was naturally ostracized by the military generals of the Sixteen Prefectures of Youyun.
In addition, Jizhou, which Liu Ergou had previously guarded, was adjacent to Liaodong. When Emperor Gaozu of the previous dynasty, Zhao Mang, launched three campaigns against Goguryeo, Liu Ergou, who was then a commander of a thousand men in the army, also followed Zhao Mang in the three campaigns against Goguryeo and had rich experience in fighting against the Goguryeo army.
Therefore, before the Duke of Qin was ordered to set out on the expedition, he petitioned Emperor Zhaowu Chen Huai'an to recruit Liu Ergou into his ranks and make him the deputy general of the Tang Dynasty's "Eastern Expedition" against Goguryeo.
Upon hearing General Wang Jian's inquiry, Liu Ergou immediately replied, "Reporting to the Duke, the news from the navy came back seven days ago."
"The Jiaozhou area experienced an unusually cold snap in spring, and the severe weather with wind and snow was not conducive to the navy's long voyage. The Duke of Dingguo's idea is to wait until the weather warms up before leading the navy on an expedition!"
After thinking for a moment, Liu Ergou added, "It's already March, and even the frigid Northeast is warming up."
"Presumably, the Duke of Dingguo has already led our Great Tang Navy fleet on a long expedition; it's just that the urgent messenger is still on his way!"
Um!
Wang Jian nodded and then asked, "Vice General Liu, what about the Shenji Battalion of our Great Tang's Eastern Expeditionary Army? Have they all assembled in place according to the pre-battle plan?"
Without hesitation, Liu Ergou replied, "Reporting to the Duke, the Shenji Battalion of 10,000 men has been fully assembled in the Liaodong region by dawn today, and is ready to cooperate with Qin Ruishi in launching a feint attack to force a crossing of the Liao River!"
Wang Jian nodded again and said, "Now that the Shenji Battalion has arrived at the Liaohe River front and completed its assembly, we can't just wait for news from the navy."
With that, Wang Jian waved his hand and ordered, "Deputy General Liu, immediately draft a military report and send it to the capital by express courier, stating that our eastern expeditionary force will cross the Liao River in five days and launch an attack on the four commanderies of Liaodong, Xuantu, Lelang, and Daifang occupied by the Goguryeo army to recover the lost territory."
As for—
After a pause, Wang Jian changed the subject and said sternly, "After recovering the four prefectures of Liaodong, Xuantu, Lelang, and Daifang, should we press on and cross the Yalu River to take Pyongyang? Your Majesty, please decide!"
"Your subordinate obeys!"
......
The Imperial City of Jinling.
Emperor Zhaowu, Chen Huai'an, was also anxiously awaiting news from the Tang Dynasty's naval fleet. Seven days had passed since he last received news from the navy.
The naval intelligence received seven days ago was exactly the same as that sent by Duke Qi Jiguang to the Liaohe front. Both reports indicated that the Jiaozhou area had experienced an unusually cold snap in spring, and the wind and snow on the sea would bring great uncertainty to the naval fleet's expedition.
In his report, Qi Jiguang stated that he would wait until the weather warmed up before leading his troops to set sail.
At this moment, Chen Huai'an began to miss the world before he transmigrated. If there had been a TV weather forecast, he could have kept track of the weather conditions in various places at any time, instead of being stuck in the capital city worrying about nothing as he was now.
Of course, this can only be a thought.
Given the current technological level of the Tang Dynasty, let alone weather forecasts, even radio communication was impossible. The transmission of intelligence still relied on the most primitive four legs (horses) and a pair of wings (carrier pigeons).
Chen Huai'an couldn't help but sigh in his heart: The technological development and progress of the Tang Dynasty has a long way to go!
The time came to the third month of the first year of the Zhaowu reign of the Tang Dynasty.
Chen Huai'an's daily focus in court affairs was on two things: the Tang army's expedition to Goguryeo and the Tang Dynasty's reform of the imperial examination system. These two matters occupied almost 80 percent of his time.
According to the overall plan for the imperial examination reform, the provincial examinations in various prefectures and counties across the country will be held from March to May, the metropolitan examinations will be held from June to August, and the palace examinations will be held in January.
In other words, within the territory of the Tang Dynasty, various prefectures and counties had begun to hold local examinations one after another.
Lu Jiang, the Marquis of Zhongyong, who was appointed as the Imperial Commissioner by Emperor Zhaowu Chen Huai'an, also came to bid farewell to Chen Huai'an a few days ago. He then embarked on a tour of the country to supervise the first imperial examination of the Tang Dynasty on behalf of Emperor Zhaowu, in order to ensure the fairness and impartiality of the examination.
On this day, Chen Huai'an was in the imperial study, reviewing memorials from various regions regarding the first imperial examination of the Tang Dynasty, when Li Jingyu, the Minister of War, rushed in to report.
"Your Majesty, Minister of War Li requests an audience!"
Inside the Imperial Study, Cai He, the Grand Eunuch of the Directorate of Ceremonial, cautiously informed Emperor Zhaowu, Chen Huai'an.
Upon hearing this, Chen Huai'an, who was bent over reviewing memorials, looked up and immediately instructed Cai He to bring Li Jingyu in.
He guessed that it must be news of Duke Dingguo Qi Jiguang and the Tang Dynasty's naval fleet's expedition to Goguryeo.
Soon, Li Jingyu, the Minister of War, appeared in the imperial study and, as usual, knelt before Emperor Zhaowu, Chen Huai'an.
Then, while holding the memorial, he reported to Chen Huai'an, "Your Majesty, this is a military report that the Ministry of War has just received from the Liaohe River front."
"Also, there are military reports from the Tang Dynasty navy that have been sent back from Jiaozhou City."
After a pause, Li Jingyu continued, "The Duke of Dingguo led his naval fleet from Jiaozhou Bay three days ago, passing through the Miaodao Islands, heading towards Mashijin and Qingnipu east of Mashishan Mountain, and then along the eastern coast of the Liaodong Peninsula, passing through the Changshan Islands and heading straight for Pyongyang, the capital of Goguryeo."
"It is expected that the Tang Dynasty naval fleet will arrive in the waters near Pyongyang in seven days!"
"Furthermore, since the Duke of Qin had not received news of the naval fleet's departure, he decided to launch a feint attack on the Goguryeo army entrenched in the four commanderies of Liaodong, Xuantu, Lelang, and Daifang on March 17, which is two days from now, in order to recover the lost territory!"
After speaking, Li Jingyu presented the memorial in his hand and said, "Your Majesty, this is a detailed military report. Please take a look!"
Um!
Chen Huai'an took the memorial from Li Jingyu's hand, opened it, and began to read it quickly.
In fact, after hearing the oral account from Li Jingyu, the Minister of War, Chen Huai'an already had a general understanding of the matters reported by Wang Jian and Qi Jiguang, and reviewing the memorials was merely a formality.
Since ascending the throne and establishing the dynasty, Emperor Chen Huai'an has only provided guidance on strategic and developmental matters. He no longer directly intervenes in specific matters, such as the implementation of the imperial examination system or leading troops into battle.
It's even more impossible for someone in the capital's palace to do something as absurd as reaching out to the front lines to give orders and overstepping their authority.
Therefore, upon learning of the situation at the Liaodong front and the naval fleet, he immediately issued the instruction: "Lord Li, the expedition against Goguryeo shall be handled according to the reports submitted by the Duke of Qin and the Duke of Dingguo."
"I will not interfere, nor do I care about the process; what I want is the final result!"
As he spoke, Chen Huai'an picked up the brush on the desk and wrote a large "Approved" on both memorials. He then handed the memorials back to Li Jingyu, the Minister of War.
After thinking for a moment, he added, "Lord Li, regarding the battle on the Liaodong front, simply follow the regulations established by the Ministry of War before the expedition, and report the latest frontline situation to me every three days."
"As for the rest, you Ministry of War and the commanders-in-chief at the front should act according to the circumstances!"
"My lord, I obey the order!"
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