Nanpu Port, the naval camp of the Tang Dynasty.
At this time, several bonfires had been lit in the camp, illuminating the entire naval camp. Tang Dynasty naval officers and soldiers carrying torches hurriedly passed through the camp, busy with their own affairs.
Along the route from the naval camp to the Nanpu Port, groups of Tang Dynasty naval officers and soldiers carrying torches traveled back and forth, transporting supplies, provisions, equipment, and warhorses from the naval fleet's warships to the naval camp for storage in designated areas.
Thanks to the hasty evacuation of the Goguryeo navy stationed at Nanpu Port, which did not have time to burn down their camp, the Tang Dynasty navy fleet was spared the time to rebuild their camp, allowing the officers and soldiers on the front lines to quickly rest and recover their strength.
Inside the central command tent, the commanders of the Tang Dynasty's naval fleet gathered to discuss the upcoming combat operations.
Chen Longxiang, the vanguard general of the navy, was admired by a group of naval officers for his bravery on the battlefield today, and they arranged for him to sit next to Qi Jiguang, the naval admiral and Duke of Dingguo.
At this moment, under Qi Jiguang's invitation, the naval commanders enjoyed a delicious roasted whole lamb and strong Central Plains wine, living a carefree and happy life.
During the banquet, Qi Jiguang took the initiative to raise his wine glass and publicly declared that he wanted to represent the 108,000 officers and soldiers of the navy to pay tribute to General Chen Longxiang, the vanguard general who made the greatest contribution in this battle.
Qi Jiguang said, "Come, all soldiers, raise your wine bowls!"
brush!
At his command, all the Tang naval commanders in the central command tent raised their bowls filled with strong liquor, awaiting the next speech from Admiral Qi Jiguang.
Qi Jiguang continued, "Let us toast together with this bowl of wine to our Great Tang Navy Vanguard General Chen Longxiang!"
"Today, if it weren't for General Chen leading the charge, single-handedly cutting a bloody path through the Goguryeo navy's ranks, for the vanguard of our Great Tang navy..."
"Tonight, I'm afraid we can't spend the night in this Goguryeo naval camp, nor are we in the mood for eating meat and drinking wine."
"This bowl of wine is a toast to General Chen!"
As he spoke, Qi Jiguang stood up with his wine bowl in hand and took the initiative to clink glasses with Chen Longxiang.
Seeing this, the other naval commanders also raised their wine bowls in unison and said, "To General Chen!"
"Dry!"
"Dry!"
Next, everyone tilted their heads back and drank the wine in their bowls in one gulp.
Chen Longxiang, who is not a heavy drinker, was already a little tipsy, but he still tried his best to control himself and not get drunk, enjoying this moment of glory that belonged only to him.
At this moment, Chen Longxiang wanted to say to his elder brother Chen Huai'an, who had already ascended the throne: "Brother, do you see? We didn't disgrace Father, we didn't disgrace you, and we didn't disgrace our Prince Jin's Mansion!"
On the battlefield today, the young vanguard general Chen Longxiang is determined to prove himself, that he is qualified to inherit the title of Prince of Jin and to wear that set of golden armor!
In fact, he did it.
However, Chen Longxiang felt that he had not done better. His goal was to capture Pyongyang, the capital of Goguryeo, as the vanguard commander of the Tang Dynasty navy and kill all the Goguryeo princes and nobles in the city.
Then, in his capacity as the Prince of Jin of the Tang Dynasty, he personally took Xiao Lingwu's hand and helped him to the throne in the Goguryeo royal palace!
Just as Chen Longxiang, fueled by alcohol, was envisioning himself personally supporting the rise of a new generation of Goryeo king, Qi Jiguang, the Duke of Dingguo, continued his speech.
Qi Jiguang said, "Gentlemen, in the Battle of Nanpu Port, our Great Tang Navy fleet achieved a great victory. I have already dispatched messengers to deliver the news of the great victory at Nanpu Port to the Imperial City of Nanjing by sea and then land, using the fastest courier service."
"Next, all we need to do is hold our ground at Nanpu Port and wait for reinforcements, until the Emperor issues his next decree!"
"General, no—"
Suddenly, Chen Longxiang, his face flushed from drinking, stepped forward carrying a wine jar. Standing in front of Qi Jiguang, he hiccuped and said, "General, this humble general believes that our Tang navy should press on and take Pyongyang, the capital of Goguryeo!"
"This humble general is willing to lead 20,000 naval vanguard troops straight to the heart of the enemy, and capture Pyongyang..."
Before he could finish speaking, Chen Longxiang, who couldn't hold his liquor, finally collapsed.
"General Chen—"
Fortunately, Yuan Kai, the deputy admiral of the Tang Dynasty navy and Marquis of Tongwu, who was standing next to him, reacted quickly and helped Chen Long, who was drunk and unconscious.
Otherwise, Chen Longxiang would probably have bumped his head on the sharp corner of the desk.
Looking at the drunken Chen Longxiang, Duke Qi Jiguang couldn't help but shake his head, thinking to himself that Prince Jin was good in every way, except that he was a bit young and impetuous, ambitious and warlike.
However, on the other hand, can a young person be called a young person if they are not impetuous?
Moreover, he is a young general with outstanding abilities and unparalleled bravery in the army. He must be eager to prove himself in front of the emperor!
Qi Jiguang waved his hand, signaling his deputy general Yuan Kai to take the drunk Prince Chen Longxiang away to rest.
The victory celebration ended when the protagonist, Chen Longxiang, got drunk, and the naval commanders in the central command tent had no choice but to return to their respective tents to rest, still feeling unsatisfied.
Left alone in the central command tent, Qi Jiguang had to start thinking once again about whether or not to report the unclear and ambiguous relationship between the young Prince Chen Longxiang of Jin and the former Empress Su Wan'er to Emperor Zhaowu Chen Huai'an.
Qi Jiguang was an extremely intelligent man, and he naturally understood the unspoken meaning behind Chen Longxiang's words just before he passed out.
This young Prince Jin wants to completely destroy Goguryeo before Emperor Zhaowu Chen Huai'an issues the decree!
His reason for doing this was clearly to clear obstacles for the deposed emperor Chen Lingwu and help him ascend to the throne of Goryeo.
Qi Jiguang knew the whole story.
This includes Emperor Zhaowu Chen Huai'an sparing the lives of the former Empress Su Wan'er and the deposed Emperor Zhao Lingwu, and even adopting Zhao Lingwu as his godson, renaming him Chen Lingwu, and promising him a life of wealth in Goguryeo.
But all of this became uncontrollable with the arrival of Chen Longxiang, the Prince of Jin of the Tang Dynasty, who was sent to the navy for training.
Qi Jiguang was absolutely loyal to Emperor Zhaowu Chen Huai'an, and naturally, he followed Emperor Zhaowu Chen Huai'an's advice in dealing with Goguryeo.
His concern was that if the imperial edict from Emperor Zhaowu Chen Huai'an arrived, Prince Jin Chen Longxiang would directly install the deposed emperor of the previous dynasty, Chen Lingwu, as the King of Goryeo.
If, at that time, Prince Chen Longxiang of Jin does something that contradicts the opinion of Emperor Zhaowu Chen Huai'an, then Qi Jiguang, caught between the two brothers, will have a very difficult time.
Therefore, at tonight's victory banquet, Qi Jiguang took the initiative to reveal to Chen Longxiang that the army's next move would depend on the decree of Emperor Zhaowu, Chen Huai'an.
Who would have thought that Prince Chen Longxiang of Jin would actually volunteer to lead 20,000 naval vanguard troops to strike at the heart of the Goguryeo kingdom and capture Pyongyang, the capital of Goguryeo.
This is not a good sign!
Eh—
Disturbed and confused, Qi Jiguang couldn't think of a good solution for the time being. After a long sigh, he fell asleep on the bed in the central command tent.
The next day.
Just as the rising sun began to climb above the horizon off the coast of Nanpu Port, Qi Jiguang was awakened from his sleep by his deputy, Yuan Kai, in a panic.
"General, something terrible has happened!"
Yuan Kai burst into Qi Jiguang's tent, panting heavily, and said, "His Highness Prince Jin, before dawn, led 20,000 vanguard troops eastward along the Daedong River toward Pyongyang, the capital of Goguryeo!"
"What did you say?"
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