Inside Nanpu Port, at the rebel camp.
The crimson royal banners of the Tang Dynasty had long been planted in every corner of the rebel camp, fluttering in the early spring sea breeze of Nampo Port in Goguryeo.
Squads of rebel soldiers were raising their hands in surrender, orderly piling their weapons in designated locations, and then crouching in designated positions with their hands behind their heads, awaiting their fate in "regiments".
The operation of the vanguard battalion of the Tang Dynasty navy to storm the rebel camp in Nanpu Port lasted only an hour. They encountered almost no decent resistance from the rebels and occupied the entire Nanpu Port.
Among these achievements was the merit of Korean General Chen Qingzhi, who single-handedly stormed the enemy camp and undermined the morale of the rebel soldiers from top to bottom.
The vanguard battalion led by Marquis Lan Yu of Anxi also deserves credit for its bravery, skill in battle, and fearlessness in the face of death.
What is more evident is that Chen Longxiang, the Prince of Jin of the Tang Dynasty, was unpopular with the people of Goguryeo for raising troops to rebel and restore the previous dynasty.
As the saying goes, those who follow the right path will find many supporters, while those who stray from it will find few.
At 9:00 AM, the sun shone brightly both inside and outside Nanpu Port.
Chang Yuchun, Duke of Wei of the Tang Dynasty and Grand Marshal of the Eastern Expedition to Suppress the Rebellion, finally stepped down from the bow deck of the super warship "Zhenyuan" of the Tang Navy fleet, surrounded by a group of armored and sword-wielding, imposing personal guards, and strode into the rebel camp with firm and powerful steps.
At the entrance of the camp, Chen Qingzhi, the Duke of Han, dressed in a flowing white robe, and Lan Yu, the Marquis of Anxi, wearing bright armor and a ring-pommel sword at his waist, had been waiting with their troops for a long time.
Upon seeing each other, Chang Yuchun couldn't help but give Chen Qingzhi a big bear hug, laughing heartily, "Brother Ziyun (Chen Qingzhi's courtesy name)—"
"This time, by risking his life and penetrating deep into the enemy camp, he used his silver tongue to break the morale of the rebel army, which enabled our imperial troops to quell the Nanpu Port rebellion so quickly."
"The greatest credit for this battle belongs to none other than Brother Ziyun!"
"Brother Boren (Chang Yuchun's courtesy name) —"
Chen Qingzhi said modestly, "Brother Boren, you flatter me. This rebellion of the Tang Dynasty garrison in Goguryeo was inextricably linked to me."
"Now, it's just a matter of letting the misguided rebel soldiers see the error of their ways!"
Ha ha!
Upon hearing this, Chang Yuchun laughed heartily, patted Chen Qingzhi on the shoulder, and then turned his gaze to the vanguard general, Lan Yu.
Chang Yuchun said, "Lan Yu, the battle at Nanpu Port can be put to a halt. Immediately issue the order for the vanguard to pursue the enemy and capture the Goguryeo capital!"
"Your subordinate obeys!"
Lan Yu immediately accepted the order and left.
Boom! Boom!
Just then, in the once clear and sunny Nanpu Port, a series of muffled thunderclaps suddenly reached everyone's ears.
Um?
Seeing this, Chang Yuchun, who was setting foot on the Goguryeo Peninsula for the first time, couldn't help but frown slightly. Looking at the dark clouds that were beginning to gather towards the Goguryeo capital, he subconsciously said, "Brother Ziyun, is the weather in Goguryeo always so unpredictable?"
"One moment the sun is shining brightly, the next moment thunder is roaring!"
Um!
Chen Qingzhi, who had lived in Goguryeo for more than half a year, nodded and replied, "Yes, Brother Boren!"
As he spoke, Chen Qingzhi shaded his eyes with his hand and looked at the sky, then smiled and said, "It seems that this spring rain in Pyongyang, the capital of Goguryeo, is about to fall with this spring thunder!"
Chang Yuchun frowned and said, "This is not good news. If this spring rain comes, our Shenji Battalion's red-coated cannons will be silenced!"
"It seems we must get the Shenji Battalion to march to the Goguryeo capital as soon as possible, before this spring rain!"
Immediately, Chang Yuchun waved his hand and ordered, "Men, convey my command: the Shenji Battalion shall set off immediately, carrying two hundred red-coated cannons and five thousand three-eyed muskets, and advance toward the Goguryeo capital. There shall be no delay!"
"Your subordinate obeys!"
Soon, the messenger hurriedly took his orders and left.
Chang Yuchun continued, "Duke Dingguo, judging from the hundreds of warships of various types anchored in Nanpu Harbor, they are unlikely to be of use to the rebels."
"I hereby order you to remain at the naval camp and be fully responsible for receiving the rebels' warships, provisions, and equipment for the use of my Great Tang Navy!"
"Your subordinate obeys!"
Qi Jiguang immediately accepted the order.
Finally, Chang Yuchun turned his gaze back to Chen Qingzhi, the Duke of Han, and said with a serious expression, "Brother Ziyun, let's go to Pyongyang, the capital of Goguryeo, and meet with our willful Prince Jin."
"Before this expedition to quell the rebellion, His Majesty issued a separate decree to me;"
"If His Highness Prince Jin can repent and return to the right path, then I, the general, will personally escort him back to the capital to meet the Emperor."
"If, if he insists on going his own way—"
At this point, Chang Yuchun paused, his tone suddenly turning fierce, and continued, "Then, let this commander and Brother Ziyun personally see this willful Prince Jin off on his final journey."
"In a way, it preserves the last shred of royal dignity and respect for him!"
"good!"
Without hesitation, Chen Qingzhi answered with a crisp "Okay".
Immediately afterwards, the two mounted their warhorses and, escorted by thousands of elite cavalry of the Tang Dynasty, spurred their horses toward the capital of Goguryeo.
Halfway through the journey, Chang Yuchun, the Grand Marshal of the Tang Dynasty's Eastern Expedition to quell the rebellion, suddenly received an urgent report from the vanguard scouts.
"Report—"
"Reporting to the Commander, the Vanguard Battalion has an urgent report!"
A messenger, panting heavily, rode up on horseback. Before his horse had even come to a complete stop, he gracefully dismounted and reported to Chang Yuchun, who was still on horseback: "The rebel army inside the Goguryeo capital has abandoned the city and fled."
"A portion of the rebels who fled to Nampo Port were all captured by the vanguard battalion;"
"The defeated rebel soldiers claimed that the Goguryeo capital was now an empty city!"
"What?"
Upon hearing the news, Chang Yuchun and Chen Qingzhi, who were on horseback, simultaneously reined in their warhorses.
Immediately, Chang Yuchun repeated incredulously, "What did you say? The Goguryeo capital is now an empty city. And what about the rebel general Chen Longxiang?"
Without hesitation, the messenger replied, "Reporting to the commander, the defeated rebel soldiers only said that the Goguryeo capital is now an empty city, and they do not know the whereabouts of the rebel commander Chen Longxiang!"
hiss--
Upon receiving confirmation from the messenger, Chang Yuchun, still on horseback, couldn't help but gasp.
Could it be that Prince Chen Longxiang of Jin also intends to follow the example of King Baozang of Goguryeo and his remnants, leading his troops westward to hide in the primeval forests from Afeihu Ridge to Imjin River, playing hide-and-seek with the imperial army?
This is not good news!
Chang Yuchun immediately gave the order: "Pass down the order, the cavalry will not stop to rest, and will advance at full speed towards the capital of Goguryeo!"
"Your subordinate obeys!"
At the same time.
Outside the gates of the Goguryeo capital, the vanguard battalion led by Lan Yu, the Grand General of the Tang Dynasty and Marquis of Anxi, had arrived outside the Goguryeo capital.
Before Lan Yu could even order his thousands of vanguard soldiers to deploy, he discovered that the Goguryeo capital was now an empty city.
The city gates were open, and there was no one on duty atop the city tower.
Only at the main gate of the city, a man on horseback stood blocking the only way for the vanguard to enter the city.
The disheveled man on horseback, dressed in golden armor and wielding a pair of golden hammers, was none other than Chen Longxiang, the rebel commander.
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