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Whispers of the army's mobilization had already spread among them when each of them arrived at the palace, but the details were scarce, and the implications were terrifying. The hall, usually a place of order and decorum, was now filled with the chaotic murmur of anxious advisors and officials as they were discussing about what happened.
At the center of the hall stood Mo Du and Dal Gae, King Sansang's most trusted and talented advisors. Mo Du, his already weathered and old face look much older now, but his sharp intellect and calm demeanor still preset, and he raised his hands to quiet the room.
"Gentlemen," he said, his voice steady but firm, "we must remain composed. Panic will not serve us in this moment. Let us await the king's arrival and hear what he has to say."
Dal Gae, standing beside him, nodded in agreement. His presence was a calming one, much younger than Mo Du but years of experience evident in the way he carried himself. "Master Mo Du is right," he added. "We are here to advise the king, not to add to the chaos. Let us gather our thoughts and prepare to offer solutions, not complaints."
The council members, though still visibly uneasy, began to settle down. The room grew quieter, though the tension remained palpable. It was then that the doors at the far end of the hall swung open, and King Sansang entered.
His expression was one of grim determination, but those who knew him well could see the flicker of desperation in his eyes. The council members bowed deeply as he made his way to the throne, their voices rising in unison. "Long live the king!"
King Sansang took his seat, his gaze sweeping across the room. "Rise," he said, his voice firm but weary. "We do not have time for formalities. You have all heard the news. The army has mobilized under Yeon Gaesomun's command, and Jang Gidu is dead. The kingdom is on the brink of chaos, and I need your counsel. What should I do? I need direction, advice, suggestions, anything you can offer to handle this matter."
The room fell silent, the weight of the king's words pressing down on everyone present. It was Mo Du who stepped forward first, his calm demeanor a stark contrast to the tension in the room.
"Your Majesty," he began, his voice measured, "the first step is to determine where Yeon Gaesomun is leading the army. Without knowing his destination, we cannot formulate an effective response."
He paused, allowing his words to sink in before continuing. "From the direction of their movement and the motives Yeon Gaesomun could possibly have, I believe he is heading toward Xiangping. It is a strategic target, a symbol of Lie Fan's influence in the region. By attacking Xiangping, Yeon Gaesomun would be sending a clear message, not just to Lie Fan, but to you, Your Majesty. He is challenging your authority and asserting his own."
The room erupted in murmurs as the council members absorbed Mo Du's analysis. Dal Gae stepped forward, his expression thoughtful. "If Master Mo Du is correct, and I believe he is, then we must act swiftly. Xiangping is a well fortified town, but it is not impregnable. If Yeon Gaesomun's forces reach it, the consequences could be dire. We must consider sending reinforcements to bolster its defenses, and show to Lie Fan that we have no intention to attack him ."
Another advisor, a man named Kim Seung, spoke up. "But how can we send reinforcements when we do not have control of the army? Yeon Gaesomun has taken command, and the soldiers are loyal to him. We cannot rely on them to reinforce Xiangping."
Mo Du nodded, acknowledging the point. "That is true. But we still have the city guards and the palace garrison. While their numbers are small compared to Yeon Gaesomun's forces, they are well trained and loyal to the crown. We can send them to Xiangping to support its defenses."
King Sansang leaned forward, his expression intense. "And what of Yeon Gaesomun himself? How do we deal with him? He has betrayed me, betrayed the kingdom. I cannot allow this rebellion to stand."
Dal Gae stepped forward, his voice calm but firm. "Your Majesty, Yeon Gaesomun's actions are indeed treasonous, but we must tread carefully. He is a skilled general, and the soldiers respect him. If we move against him too openly, we risk turning the entire army against us. Instead, we should focus on undermining his authority. Spread rumors among the troops, sow doubt about his leadership. If we can weaken his hold on the army, we may be able to regain control without a full scale conflict."
Kim Seung interjected, his tone urgent. "But what if Yeon Gaesomun succeeds in taking Xiangping? What then? We cannot afford to lose such a strategic location. It would be a blow to our credibility and our relation with Lie Fan massively."
Mo Du's expression grew thoughtful. "If Xiangping falls, it would indeed be a significant setback. But we must also consider the possibility of using this to our advantage. If Yeon Gaesomun attacks Xiangping, he will be drawing the ire of Lie Fan. We could use this to turn Lie Fan against him, to make him an enemy of both Goguryeo and the Han. In doing so, we may be able to isolate Yeon Gaesomun and weaken his position."
King Sansang's eyes narrowed as he considered the suggestion. "You are suggesting that we allow Yeon Gaesomun to attack Xiangping, knowing the consequences?"
Mo Du nodded. "It is a risky strategy, Your Majesty, but it may be our best option. If we can position ourselves as the defenders of Goguryeo, while Yeon Gaesomun is seen as a reckless warmonger, we may be able to regain the support of the people and the army."
The room fell silent as the council members considered the implications of Mo Du's plan. It was a bold and dangerous strategy, one that carried significant risks. But in the face of Yeon Gaesomun's rebellion, it may have been the only option.
King Sansang leaned back in his throne, his expression one of deep contemplation. "Very well," he said finally. "We will proceed with Mo Du's plan. Dal Gae, you will oversee the deployment of the city guards and palace garrison to Xiangping. Mo Du, you will handle the dissemination of rumors among the troops. We must act quickly and decisively."
The council members nodded, their expressions a mixture of determination and apprehension. The road ahead was fraught with danger, but they knew that the fate of Goguryeo depended on their actions.
As the meeting drew to a close, King Sansang stood, his gaze sweeping across the room. "Gentlemen," he said, his voice filled with resolve, "the storm is upon us. But we will not falter. For Goguryeo, for our people, we will prevail."
The council members bowed deeply, their voices rising in unison. "For Goguryeo and its people!"
Meanwhile, as King Sansang and his council scrambled to prepare their countermeasures, they remained blissfully unaware that their efforts were already too late.
Days turned into weeks, and Yeon Gaesomun's 150,000 strong army had already crossed into the region under Lie Fan's control, marching relentlessly toward Xiangping.
The Goguryeo army moved with purpose, their banners fluttering in the wind, their footsteps echoing like thunder across the landscape. Yeon Gaesomun rode at the forefront of the army, his presence a symbol of defiance and determination.
Beside him rode Choi Minho and another general named Kang Saeng, their horses keeping pace with his as they discussed the terrain and the strategy for the impending siege of Xiangping.
The landscape they traversed was rugged and treacherous, a mix of dense forests, narrow valleys, and steep hills. Kang Saeng, as seasoned general with a keen eye for terrain, gestured toward the surrounding hills. "This area is perfect for an ambush," he remarked, his voice tinged with caution. "If the enemy had anticipated our approach, they could have hidden troops in these hills and struck us when we least expected it."
Yeon Gaesomun nodded, his expression thoughtful. "True," he said, his voice steady. "But we have the element of surprise on our side. Lie Fan's men doesn't knew that we are coming to attack them, and even if the knew, they won't expect us to move so quickly or to take this route. By the time they realize what's happening, we'll already be at their gates."
Choi Minho, riding silently beside them, listened intently to the conversation. Inwardly, he knew the truth. The element of surprise was long gone.
The Oriole agents had ensured that Lie Fan's forces were well aware of the Goguryeo army's movements. He braced himself for what he knew was coming, waves of ambushes, traps, and raids designed to slow them down and demoralize the troops. But he kept his thoughts to himself, his face a mask of calm composure.
As they continued their discussion, the sound of distant shouts and the clash of steel suddenly erupted from the rear of the army formation. The once orderly march was thrown into chaos as panic spread through the ranks.
Yeon Gaesomun's head snapped toward the commotion, his eyes narrowing. "What's happening back there?" he demanded, his voice sharp.
A soldier came running toward them, his face pale and his breath ragged. "General!" he shouted, his voice trembling. "We're under attack! An enemy cavalry force has struck our rear flank. They're decimating our troops and retreating before we can mount a proper defense!"
Yeon Gaesomun's expression darkened, his jaw tightening. "How many?" he asked, his voice low and dangerous.
"At least 10,000 cavalry, General," the soldier replied. "They're using hit and run tactics, striking quickly and disappearing before we can respond."
Kang Saeng's eyes widened in shock. "How could they have known we were coming? We've been moving swiftly and quietly. There's no way they could have anticipated our route!"
Yeon Gaesomun's mind raced as he processed the information. The attack was a calculated move, designed to disrupt their formation and sow chaos among the troops. He clenched his fists, his frustration mounting. "This changes nothing," he said, his voice firm. "We cannot afford to panic. We need to stabilize the army and repel this attack."
Choi Minho, who had remained silent until now, spoke up. "General, we should send a detachment of cavalry to reinforce the rear flank. If we can counter their hit and run tactics with speed and precision, we can minimize our losses and regain control."
Yeon Gaesomun nodded, his expression one of grim determination. "Do it," he ordered. "Kang Saeng, take command of the cavalry and drive them back. Choi Minho, ensure the rest of the army remains in formation. We cannot let this attack disrupt our march."
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Name: Lie Fan
Title: Overlord Of The Central Plains
Age: 33 (200 AD)
Level: 16
Next Level: 462,000
Renown: 1325
Cultivation: Yin Yang Separation (level 9)
SP: 1,121,700
ATTRIBUTE POINTS
STR: 951 (+20)
VIT: 613 (+20)
AGI: 598 (+10)
INT: 617
CHR: 96
WIS: 519
WILL: 407
ATR Points: 0