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On the walls of Xiangping, Zhuge Liang and Pang Tong watched the chaos unfold with a sense of quiet satisfaction. Their plan had worked perfectly. The Goguryeo army, once look very united, was now on the brink of collapse. The soldiers were deserting, their morale shattered, and their leadership in disarray. The battle was all but over.
"It's time," Zhuge Liang said, his voice calm but firm. "Order the final assault. Let's end this."
Pang Tong nodded, his sharp eyes gleaming with confidence. "It's done," he said, his voice filled with quiet satisfaction. "Goguryeo is finished."
Receiving the words from Zhuge Liang and Oang Tong, Gongsun Gong gave the order for the final assault. As the orders were relayed, the defenders of Xiangping launched their final assault.
The Hwacha and ballista continued to fire, their deadly projectiles cutting down the remaining Goguryeo soldiers. The flanking forces, their numbers bolstered by reinforcements from Xiangping as the gate was opened to allow the soldiers to come out, closed in on the enemy from all sides.
The Goguryeo army, already on the brink of collapse, was now completely overwhelmed. Yeon Gaesomun, his command post overrun by rioting soldiers, watched in horror as his army disintegrated before his eyes.
The once proud general, who had led his men into battle with such determination, now stood alone, his dreams of victory shattered. He had gambled everything on this campaign, and he had lost.
As he was feeling lost, the rioting soldiers immediately overwhelm Kang Saeng and disarm him, then tied him with a rope. After that they goes to Yeon Gaesomun and tied him with a rope as well, but they didn't receive any fight from Goguryeo unlike when they tried to tied Kang Saeng.
As the battle raged on, the outcome became increasingly clear. The Goguryeo army, once a symbol of strength and resilience for Goguryeo, was now a broken force.
The defenders of Xiangping, led by the brilliant minds of Zhuge Liang and Pang Tong, had outmaneuvered them at every turn. The storm had arrived, and Goguryeo was being swallowed whole.
In the end, there was no glory, no victory, only the bitter taste of defeat. Yeon Gaesomun, his pride and determination now his greatest weaknesses, had led his men to their doom. And as the dust settled on the battlefield, the fate of Goguryeo was sealed now at the mercy of Lie Fan's forces.
The battlefield, once a chaotic maelstrom of clashing steel, roaring flames, and desperate cries, now lay eerily quiet. The dust had begun to settle, and the air, thick with the acrid stench of smoke and blood, carried the weight of a decisive victory.
The Goguryeo army, which had marched into Lie Fan's territory with such bravado and determination, was now a broken force.
Soldiers who had once stood united under Yeon Gaesomun's banner now sat in dejected silence, their hands bound, their spirits shattered. The soldiers of Xiangping moved swiftly through the aftermath, rounding up prisoners, tending to the wounded, and clearing the battlefield of the remnants of war.
Gongsun Gong, as the governor of Xiangping and general of his army, stood at the center of the cleanup efforts, his presence commanding and his voice steady as he issued orders.
"Round up the prisoners and ensure they are treated humanely," he instructed his officers. "Tend to the wounded, both ours and theirs. The battle is over, but our duty is not." His words carried a sense of authority and compassion, a reminder that even in victory, there was a responsibility to uphold dignity and order.
Zhuge Liang and Pang Tong, the masterminds behind the defense of Xiangping, observed the scene with a quiet sense of satisfaction. Their strategies had unfolded exactly as planned, and the Goguryeo army had been outmaneuvered at every turn, now they reap the fruits of their plans.
Zhuge Liang, his fan resting lightly in his hand, turned to a soldier assigned to serve him. "Go and gather the casualty reports," he said, his voice calm but firm. "I want to know the exact numbers, our losses and theirs."
The soldier cupped his hands in acknowledgment and hurried off to carry out the order. Zhuge Liang and Pang Tong exchanged a glance, their expressions reflecting a mix of relief and contemplation.
The battle had been won, but the cost, both in lives and resources, was not insignificant even if they had reduced casualties to the bare minimum. Still, they knew that the victory was a crucial step in securing Lie Fan's iron clad influence over Goguryeo.
Gongsun Gong, Zhuge Liang, and Pang Tong descended from the walls of Xiangping, accompanied by a group of elite soldiers. They moved through the battlefield, their eyes scanning the scene as they issued additional orders for the cleanup and reorganization of their forces.
The sight of the fallen Goguryeo soldiers, their banners trampled and their weapons scattered, was a stark reminder of the brutality of war. Yet, amidst the devastation, there was a sense of purpose and resolve among the defenders of Xiangping.
As they walked, a soldier came running toward them, his face flushed with urgency. He dropped to one knee before Gongsun Gong and cupped his hands in a respectful salute. "Governor," he said, his voice filled with excitement, "we have captured the Goguryeo generals, Yeon Gaesomun and Kang Saeng. They were handed over to us by a group of Goguryeo soldiers who we think rioted and seized them before the final collapse of their army."
Gongsun Gong's eyes widened in surprise, but he quickly composed himself. "Bring them here," he ordered, his tone firm. "I want to see them immediately."
The soldier nodded and hurried off to carry out the order. Zhuge Liang and Pang Tong exchanged a knowing glance. "This was an unexpected turn of events," Pang Tong remarked, his voice tinged with amusement. "We anticipated their command structure collapsing, but we didn't expect the soldiers to turn on their own generals."
Zhuge Liang nodded, his expression thoughtful. "Indeed. It seems the internal strife within the Goguryeo army was severe due to the low morale, even though they at first show high level of unity. This will make our task of securing their surrender much easier."
As they waited for Yeon Gaesomun and Kang Saeng to be brought before them, another figure approached. He was a Goguryeo man, his armor distinct from that of the common soldiers, and his demeanor cautious yet determined. The elite soldiers immediately drew their swords, forming a protective barrier around Gongsun Gong, Zhuge Liang, and Pang Tong.
The man raised his hands in a gesture of peace, his voice trembling slightly as he spoke in broken Han language. "I am unarmed," he said, his words halting but clear. "I come in peace. My name is Choi Minho. I was instructed by the Oriole agents to meet with Master Zhuge Liang and Master Pang Tong after the battle. I am a supporter of Lord Lie Fan."
Gongsun Gong turned to Zhuge Liang and Pang Tong, his expression one of surprise and curiosity. The two strategists exchanged a glance, their eyes narrowing as they assessed the man before them. After a moment, Zhuge Liang nodded, and Gongsun Gong signaled for the soldiers to stand down.
Choi Minho let out a sigh of relief that his hand language could be understood and stepped forward, dropping to one knee before them. "Masters," he said, his voice filled with a mix of respect and desperation, "I come seeking refuge. I cannot return to Goguryeo. If I do, I will be branded a traitor by King Sansang for supporting Yeon Gaesomun to mobilize the army and attacking Xiangping. The Oriole agents told me to remain in Xiangping until Lord Lie Fan has established absolute control over Goguryeo."
Zhuge Liang studied Choi Minho carefully, his sharp mind already piecing together the implications of his arrival. "The Oriole agents have been busy," he said, his tone measured. "Very well, Choi Minho. You will remain here under our protection. Your knowledge of the Goguryeo army and its leadership will be invaluable as Lord Lie Fan move forward in the future."
Pang Tong smirked, his sharp eyes gleaming with amusement. "It seems the Oriole agents have outdone themselves this time. Welcome, Choi Minho. You've chosen the winning side."
Before the conversation could continue, a group of soldiers approached, escorting the bound figures of Yeon Gaesomun and Kang Saeng. The two generals, their faces etched with exhaustion and defiance, were a stark contrast to the composed demeanor of Choi Minho. As they were brought before Gongsun Gong, Zhuge Liang, and Pang Tong, their eyes widened in surprise at the sight of Choi Minho kneeling before their enemies.
"Choi Minho?!" Kang Saeng exclaimed, his voice filled with a mix of relief and confusion. "You're alive! But why are you—" His words trailed off as he noticed the respectful posture Choi Minho maintained before the Han commanders.
Yeon Gaesomun's eyes narrowed, his expression one of dawning realization. "You…" he said, his voice low and filled with bitterness. "You betrayed us."
Choi Minho avoided their gaze, his face a mask of guilt and resignation. "I did what I had to do General, I'm sorry," he said quietly. "For the future of myself and my family I have to."
The tension in the air was palpable as the two captured generals processed the betrayal. Gongsun Gong, sensing the need to take control of the situation, stepped forward and speak a fluent Goguryeo. "Yeon Gaesomun, Kang Saeng," he said, his voice firm, "your campaign has ended in defeat. Surrender now, and you will be treated with the dignity befitting your rank."
Yeon Gaesomun's jaw tightened, his pride warring with the reality of his situation. "I will not surrender," he said, his voice filled with defiance. "Do what you will with me, but I will not bow to Lie Fan or his lackeys."
Kang Saeng, though equally defiant, remained silent, his eyes fixed on Choi Minho with a mixture of anger and sorrow. The betrayal of a comrade in arms and a figure he admired was a bitter pill to swallow, and it was clear that the events of the day had left a deep scar on his spirit.
Zhuge Liang stepped forward, his fan resting lightly in his hand, and also speaks a fluent Goguryeo. "General Yeon Gaesomun," he said, his voice calm and persuasive, "your bravery and determination are commendable, but they have led you to this moment. The fate of Goguryeo is no longer in your hands. Surrender, and you may yet live to see a new future for your people."
Yeon Gaesomun's eyes burned with anger, but he said nothing. The weight of his defeat, the betrayal of his men, and the collapse of his dreams were too much to bear.
He had gambled everything on this campaign, and he had lost. As the soldiers led Yeon Gaesomun and Kang Saeng away, Gongsun Gong, Zhuge Liang, and Pang Tong turned their attention back to the aftermath of the battle. The victory was complete, but the work was far from over.
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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