At this time, the Goguryeo regime was at its peak of power after hundreds of years of development spanning the Han, Wei, Jin, and Northern and Southern Dynasties.
The vassal state relationship with the Central Plains dynasty, which involved paying tribute and submitting to the emperors, ended after the death of Emperor Gaozu of the previous dynasty, Zhao Mang.
During the reign of Emperor Zhao Gan, the second emperor of the Daxin Dynasty, Goguryeo frequently clashed with the Daxin Dynasty on the Liaodong Peninsula, often occupying cities and plundering people and resources.
Especially after the death of Emperor Zhao Gan, the second emperor of the Daxin Dynasty, at Tumu Fortress, Goguryeo's then-king Gojang seized the opportunity to send troops to Liaodong, annexing the four commanderies of Liaodong, Xuantu, Lelang, and Daifang of the Daxin Dynasty in one fell swoop, and confronting the Daxin Dynasty across the Liao River.
After annexing the four counties, Goguryeo went on a frenzied expansion of its military in preparation for a potential war with the Xin Dynasty in the Central Plains.
By the first year of the Zhaowu era of the Tang Dynasty, the number of standing troops in Goguryeo had reached a staggering 600,000, including infantry, cavalry, and naval forces.
It is no exaggeration to say that the power of Goguryeo King Gojang was far greater than that of the two non-royal kings who established themselves as emperors of the Daxin Dynasty, Yi Jong-min and Mu Rongfu.
Otherwise, Emperor Gaozu of the Great Xin Dynasty, Zhao Mang, would not have failed in his three campaigns against Goguryeo and ultimately had to tacitly allow Goguryeo to exist in the Liaodong region as a vassal state of the Great Xin Dynasty.
Otherwise, given Zhao Mang's personality, Gomon, the then-King of Goguryeo, would most likely have become one of the nine non-royal kings of the Xin Dynasty.
The territory of the Great Xin Dynasty, which already spanned over 13 million square kilometers, is estimated to have increased by another 200,000 square kilometers.
Let's get back to the main topic.
After Emperor Zhaowu of the Tang Dynasty, Chen Huai'an, successfully launched a rebellion to quell the rebellion as the former Prince of Jin and declared himself emperor in Jinling, he immediately sent envoys to Goguryeo, hoping that King Gojang of Goguryeo would follow the etiquette of the previous dynasty, pay tribute, and make Goguryeo a vassal state of the new dynasty.
However, Chen Huai'an, the Prince of Jin who declared himself emperor at that time, was not able to completely unify the territory of Daxin. In Guangdong, Guangxi, Yunnan and Guizhou, there were still two kings of different surnames from the previous dynasty who had declared themselves emperors and were eyeing the territory. Large areas of land in Liangjiang, Lianghu and Bashu were still under the control of the remnants of Daxin.
Therefore, when King Gaozang first met Emperor Zhaowu Chen Huai'an's special envoy, he rejected Chen Huai'an's proposal without hesitation.
Emperor Zhaowu Chen Huai'an sent envoys to Goguryeo for the second time after he had pacified Nanyue and Nanzhao, and successfully wiped out the remaining rebels of the Daxin dynasty in the Liangjiang, Lianghu, Bashu, and Yunnan-Guizhou regions, thus completing the unification of the new dynasty.
He issued another edict, hoping that Goguryeo would abide by the etiquette and laws of the previous dynasty and pay tribute.
As a result, he was still ruthlessly rejected by Takarazuka!
The third time Chen Huai'an sent envoys was after he confirmed that he would ascend the throne and establish the new dynasty on the fourth day of the first lunar month. He hoped that Goguryeo would send envoys to pay homage as a vassal state.
This time, Gao Zang rejected him once again.
On the contrary, Emperor Zhaowu Chen Huai'an's repeated initiative to send envoys to Goguryeo led King Baozang Gaozang and the civil and military officials in the country to believe that Chen Huai'an was just an ordinary person with no real ability and only knew how to talk big.
As a result, Goguryeo, from top to bottom, no longer took the newly established Tang Dynasty seriously.
Some radical young generals in the Goguryeo army even boasted that they would cross the Liao River and bring the entire resource-rich northeastern region of the Central Plains dynasty into the Goguryeo dynasty's territory.
Until recently, when the scouts of the Goguryeo army, which occupied the four prefectures of Liaodong, Xuantu, Lelang and Daifang, suddenly discovered that the Tang Dynasty on the other side of the Liao River had begun to frequently mobilize and gather troops on the border.
The civil and military officials in the Goguryeo court suddenly realized that the newly established Tang Dynasty seemed to be serious this time.
As a result, the civil and military officials in the Goguryeo court were divided into two factions: those who advocated war and those who advocated peace.
Furthermore, all the previously compiled information about Emperor Zhaowu of the Tang Dynasty, Chen Huai'an, was retrieved, organized, and analyzed one by one to provide corresponding evidence for whether the relationship with the Tang Dynasty would be one of war or peace.
That day.
Inside the royal palace in Pyongyang, the capital of Goguryeo.
King Gaozang of Baozang is convening a meeting with Prime Minister Li Zhenghao, who oversees all affairs of state.
The topic of discussion was how to deal with the possibility that the Tang Dynasty's troops were stationed in Liaodong and that a conflict could break out between them and Goguryeo at any time.
Chancellor Li Zhenghao was the first to speak, saying, "Your Majesty, I received another memorial from the Ministry of War today, indicating that the number of troops the Tang Dynasty is assembling in the Liaodong region is still increasing;"
"According to the latest information gathered by our spies in Liaodong, the Tang army that has gathered in Liaodong has exceeded 200,000!"
Um?
Upon hearing this, Treasure King Gao Zang raised an eyebrow and said, "Prime Minister Li, didn't the memorial submitted by the Ministry of War three days ago say that the Tang army in the Liaodong region only numbered 150,000?"
"In just three days, another 50,000 troops have been added?"
Prime Minister Li Zhenghao nodded and said, "Your Majesty, it is like this!"
Gao Zang frowned slightly, pondered for a moment, and then said, "It seems that the Tang Dynasty is preparing to cross the Liao River and march on my Goguryeo Dynasty!"
snort!
With that, Gao Zang sneered and continued, "This Emperor Zhaowu of the Tang Dynasty, Chen Huai'an, is truly interesting. He has repeatedly sent envoys to me, hoping that I will submit to him and pay tribute."
"Now, they're starting preparations to deploy troops along the Liao River and launch a surprise attack!"
"So it seems that whether it's war or peace is entirely up to Chen Huai'an? Our Goguryeo Dynasty doesn't even have a shred of autonomy?"
"He, Chen Huai'an really thinks he's some kind of Heavenly Khan!"
After a pause, Gao Zang frowned and asked, "Prime Minister Li, regarding the Tang army's deployment on the Liao River, have the civil and military officials in the court reached a consensus on whether to fight or make peace?"
Li Zhenghao shook his head and truthfully replied, "Your Majesty, not yet!"
After thinking for a moment, Li Zhenghao added, "The young generals in the Ministry of War are still highly motivated to fight, especially General Cui Dongyuan, the Grand General of the Western Expedition."
He believed that a war between our country and the Tang army was inevitable, and since war was unavoidable, why not be even more determined to take the initiative and send troops to meet the enemy?
"The military generals led by Cui Dongyuan had all clashed with the armies of the Central Plains dynasty in the war to conquer the four commanderies of Liaodong, Xuantu, Lelang, and Daifang, and had won great victories."
"Therefore, they advocated that they should take advantage of the fact that the Tang army had not yet gained a foothold in the Liaodong region, and lead their troops to launch a preemptive attack across the Liao River to catch the Tang army off guard!"
As he spoke, Li Zhenghao took out a letter from his sleeve and respectfully presented it to Treasure King Gao Zang.
Li Zhenghao said, "Your Majesty, this is General Cui Dongyuan's letter of request for battle. Please take a look!"
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