Wow!
The news of the Tang Dynasty's naval fleet's surprise attack on Nanpu Port immediately caused a huge uproar in the Ministry of War of Goguryeo, with the scene in an uproar.
Even Ma Xidong, the usually composed and mature General of the Ministry of War, couldn't help but twitch a few times on his fleshy face.
At this moment, Ma Xidong suddenly realized that the Tang army's gathering in the Liaodong region and its crossing of the Liao River to recover the four prefectures of Liaodong were all a ruse, a cover for the Tang army's naval fleet to launch a surprise attack on the capital Pyongyang.
What a brilliant tactic of "openly repairing the plank road while secretly crossing the Chencang pass"!
Coming to his senses, Ma Xidong hurriedly asked, "How many warships and naval officers and soldiers does the Tang Dynasty's naval fleet have? What kind of weapons and equipment does it carry? And how is our Goguryeo navy, stationed at Nampo Port, responding to the enemy?"
Ma Xidong's questions came at the naval messenger who had come seeking help, like a barrage of bullets.
However, this naval messenger was among the first to be sent back for reinforcements, and he knew absolutely nothing about the basic situation of the Tang Dynasty's naval fleet or the enemy response of the Goguryeo navy in Nanpu Port.
He kept repeating, "Reporting to the Great General, this humble general only knows that the waters off Nanpu Port are densely packed with warships of the Tang Dynasty's naval fleet."
"At least, at least several hundred!"
Seeing the messenger who knew nothing, Ma Xidong could only wave his hand helplessly, telling the messenger to leave first: "You may leave now, I will make my own decision!"
"Your subordinate obeys!"
No sooner had the naval messenger left than Ma Xidong's deputy, Jin Dazhong, approached him and asked, "General, the Tang navy is already at our gates. What should we do?"
"Currently, Pyongyang only has 100,000 Imperial Guards left; the rest have been transferred to Uiju to fight against the Tang army's eastern expedition."
"If Nanpu Port unfortunately falls into the hands of the Tang army, under the attack of the Tang navy's powerful ships and cannons, we are afraid—"
"shut up!"
Before Vice General Jin Dazhong could finish speaking, he was rudely interrupted by General Ma Xidong, who had a gloomy face.
Ma Xidong said impatiently, "Vice General Jin, with a major battle imminent, if I hear any more of your words that could undermine morale, don't blame me for taking military law against you!"
Forehead--
Kim Dae-jung's expression froze for a moment, but he had no choice but to nod and bow, humbly accepting the criticism: "General, you are right. This humble general knows his fault!"
In fact, Ma Xidong knew that his deputy, Kim Dae-jung, was right. The Tang Dynasty navy fleet, equipped with cannons, could use the advantage of those cannons to bombard Pyongyang.
Defending a city may not be as easy as it seems.
Furthermore, once Nampo Port falls, the Tang army's naval ships will need to wait for the rainy season to arrive before they can advance eastward along the Taedong River and directly reach Pyongyang.
By then, the Tang warships sailing on the Taedong River could fully utilize the advantage of their red cannons to launch long-range attacks on the Goguryeo army on both banks of the Taedong River.
Meanwhile, the Goguryeo army was completely helpless against the enemy.
With just ten days to half a month of attrition, the morale of our troops will surely collapse, and Pyongyang will fall without a fight!
Therefore, Nanpu Port must not fall into the hands of the Tang navy!
Ma Xidong immediately issued the order: "Men, convey my command—"
"Immediately dispatch messengers to catch up with the reinforcements that set off for Uiju three days ago, and order them to return to Pyongyang at top speed."
"Vice General Jin, I hereby order you to immediately dispatch 50,000 Imperial Guards to Nanpu Port overnight. You must defend Nanpu Port at all costs and not allow it to fall into the hands of the Tang navy!"
"I will go to the palace immediately to personally report to Your Majesty about the Tang navy's invasion and request Your Majesty to order the Ministry of Works to immediately begin setting up defenses along the Daedong River to block the Tang navy's warships from advancing eastward along the Daedong River!"
"Did you all understand?"
"Understood!"
Ma Xidong waved his hand and said, "Go and prepare yourselves!"
"Your subordinate obeys!"
Just as everyone in the Goguryeo Ministry of War was preparing to leave with their respective orders, a naval messenger who had come without stopping from the front line of Nampo Port burst into the council hall of the Ministry of War.
"Report—"
"Reporting to the General, urgent military intelligence from the Nanpu Port naval camp—"
"The Tang Dynasty's naval fleet, comprising over three hundred warships, has arrived near Nanpu Port. The Grand Admiral has ordered the fleet to set sail and engage the enemy. The Tang warships are carrying a large number of cannons, and our naval vessels have suffered severe damage."
"The Grand Admiral requests that the General immediately dispatch reinforcements to reinforce the naval camp at Nanpu Port!"
"What?"
Upon hearing this, all the Goguryeo military officers in the Ministry of War were startled, and some of the younger officers who couldn't contain themselves even jumped up from their chairs.
What does it mean that the Tang Dynasty's naval fleet dispatched more than 300 warships?
For the Goguryeo navy, which only had one hundred warships, that was three times the number of enemy ships!
Even assuming each warship carries 300 men, this means that the Tang Dynasty's naval fleet dispatched at least 90,000 troops to launch a surprise attack on Nampo Port, with its sights set on Pyongyang.
Moreover, the Tang army's naval fleet was much larger than that of the Goguryeo dynasty.
Based on this conservative estimate, the Tang navy forces that appeared outside Nanpu Port at this time numbered at least 100,000.
hiss--
At this moment, even the usually composed and calm General Ma Xidong couldn't help but gasp.
He immediately ordered, "Vice General Jin, there's no time. First, gather your 10,000 cavalry and set off for Nampo Port immediately. After reporting to the King, I will personally lead the remaining reinforcements to come and help."
"Please remember, we must defend Nanpu Port at all costs!"
"Your subordinate obeys!"
Immediately afterwards, the Southern Camp of the Imperial Guards, which was located next to the Goguryeo Ministry of War, sprang into action. Ten thousand cavalrymen, led by Vice General Kim Dae-jung, urgently assembled and set off for the naval camp at Nampo Port, which was in imminent danger.
General Ma Xidong of the Ministry of War was not idle either. He hurriedly rode his horse straight to the palace to meet King Gaozang!
Just as Ma Xidong arrived at the palace gate and was about to dismount and walk into the palace, he was once again stopped by a naval messenger who had rushed from Nampo Port.
"Report—"
"Reporting to the General, there is an urgent military situation at the Nanpu Port Naval Camp!"
Thump!
Almost instinctively, Ma Xidong's heart skipped a beat, and an ominous premonition arose within him.
Now, he's afraid to even hear the words "Nanpu Port".
But the truth is, what you fear most is what will happen!
"The vanguard of the Tang Dynasty's naval fleet has landed on the docks and mudflats of Nanpu Port and is engaged in fierce fighting with our naval officers and soldiers. Nanpu Port is in imminent danger. Please send reinforcements immediately, General!"
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com