Chapter 2716: Where to Go

On the fifth day of State Duke Zhao’s siege of Anshi City, the logistics finally delivered the rations and medicines.

State Duke Zhao did not inquire about the reason for their delay; he directly executed the escorting logistics officer and then hung him outside the camp tent.

The Emperor did not comment on this, but once this incident occurred, everyone tensed up, especially the logistics officers.

The matter spread, and the logistics officers still en route immediately tensed up, trying every means to hurry to the front line.

Perhaps they had reason for being late, but to be delayed this long certainly revealed their selfish intentions; they had not tried hard enough.

Ultimately, it was because the sword over their neck was too high, not low enough.

Who at the front line doesn’t have their head tied at their waist? The soldiers must try very hard to survive, so if they were like the soldiers on the front line, they would naturally find every means to deliver supplies.

The logistics delay was ultimately a hindrance to the battle. If not for the urgent need for people, State Duke Zhao could have executed them all.

Not to mention, some of the supplies were swapped.

However, the medicinal supplies from the Imperial Pharmacy were not swapped. Manbao received the medicines and immediately replaced the previously used fresh herbs, but some soldiers couldn’t endure the excessive bleeding.

After all, the herbs they dug were limited, some only suitable for external injuries, not for internal bleeding.

Manbao could only watch helplessly as people’s bellies swelled, ultimately dying spitting blood. If there were medicine, even if it couldn’t be used to stop bleeding, she could cut a small hole on the belly, and there would be a forty percent chance of stopping the bleeding during surgery to save a person.

Because of this, every time Manbao passed by the entrance to the camp, she tried hard not to look at the people hanging up there, walking into the camp without expression.

As the weather grew colder, and Anshi City remained unbreached, the atmosphere in the tent was not good.

Ashina suggested, “Your Majesty, I am willing to lead an army to infiltrate and attack from the rear.”

The Emperor shook his head, “No, there are at least one hundred thousand soldiers in Anshi City; they could easily cut off your retreat.”

Because of this, he didn’t agree to divide the army; he would not use his soldiers to deplete their numbers.

The Emperor pondered, “I wonder where Feng Liang and the others have reached.”

At that time, Feng Liang was contemplating whether to move north to Anshi City or east to Daxing City after just capturing Stone City.

The former allows meeting the Emperor, the latter could further penetrate into the Kingdom of Goguryeo, perhaps directly capturing the domestic city or Pyongyang, which would mean truly conquering Goguryeo.

Feng Liang’s deputy, General Qiu, said, “Chief Steward, let’s go north; going east is too deep.”

Feng Liang hesitated, but if they went east and took the domestic city at once, it would destroy Goguryeo, a great accomplishment.

General Qiu wanted to be more cautious, and said to him, “With the weather getting colder, Anshi City and Jian’an City are major cities, and the Goguryeo royal family will certainly do everything to protect these two cities. If the Emperor fails to break through for a long time, he will certainly retreat. If we go east and delve deeply into Goguryeo, we might not come out.”

Feng Liang lowered his eyes in thought.

General Qiu continued to persuade, “Sir, our injured soldiers can’t hold on much longer.”

Their team had no logistics; since entering Pisha City, they sustained themselves by scavenging after battles, collecting grain and medicines after capturing cities. The officials of Stone City were prepared in advance and burned all the grain and medicines they couldn’t take, preferring to destroy them rather than leave them for Feng Liang’s forces.

Feng Liang stared at the map and, after a while, said, “If we bypass Jian’an City to Anshi City, how much chance do we have?”

General Qiu was about to speak when Feng Liang shook his head, “If we go to the domestic city, it’s about the same distance. Since they want to defend these two cities to death, they will certainly send a large number of reinforcements. In that case, we’ll besiege Wei to save Zhao, pulling forces from Anshi City and Jian’an City to the domestic city.”

“But doing so will cut off our retreat.”

“As long as the Emperor can quickly break through Anshi City, he can advance in counter-surrounding, and then who wins will be uncertain.”

General Qiu thought this was too risky.

Feng Liang, however, said, “Seek wealth in danger; have everyone prepare to set out tomorrow for Daxing City. The garrison there is certainly not many. We won’t linger in battle, just gather enough medicine and food and leave.”

General Qiu opened his mouth but couldn’t voice any opposition.

Feng Liang was the Chief Steward; his word was final in this matter.

The Emperor appointed Feng Liang as the marching Chief Steward of Pyongyang precisely because he was stable and rational, capable of leading the army deep without rash moves. But now, where was his stability and rationality?

Feng Liang said, “Go invite Imperial Doctor Zheng.”

Imperial Doctor Zheng, unkempt and lacking his former spirit, had dark circles under his eyes.

He looked at Feng Liang expressionlessly.

Feng Liang, however, treated him well. Along the way, their losses weren’t significant, naturally due to Goguryeo not anticipating their sea-route attack, but also because of Imperial Doctor Zheng and the accompanying students from the Imperial Pharmacy, which resulted in a low mortality rate among the injured soldiers. Furthermore, those with minor to moderate injuries recovered quickly and could return to the battlefield.

Adding the captured soldiers along the way, they had enough forces.

Feng Liang asked Imperial Doctor Zheng, “How much medicine do we have left? Our next target is Daxing City; we can replenish medicine once inside.”

Imperial Doctor Zheng reported the list in detail and asked, “Aren’t we going to attack Pyongyang directly?”

Feng Liang said, “The Emperor has sent word that Baekje is unwilling to send troops, so even if we take Pyongyang, no one can guard it. Therefore, I plan to go to the domestic city.”

Although Baekje was unwilling to send troops, Silla had dispatched some soldiers. They were currently heading from the east towards Pyongyang, which could also divert a portion of the forces.

At that time, the Kingdom of Goguryeo was in disarray, unable to comprehend how matters had deteriorated so much. The Fifth Prince had clearly sent word that Great Jin hinted at willingness to negotiate, so why did they suddenly wage war on them?

Consecutive losses of cities and territories left the Gao royal family furious, and they couldn’t help but start blaming each other, “I told you not to provoke Great Jin, why didn’t you listen?”

“This war was started by Great Jin, King, how can you blame us?”

“Had you not attacked Yingzhou, would this have happened?”

“Because Silla incited us, Great Jin has long been dissatisfied with us. Even if we didn’t make a move, they wouldn’t have let us go, so we might as well strike first.”

“We indeed struck first, but where are we now strong?”

“Your Majesty, send someone to seek peace.”

“We must also send troops to hold Anshi City. Liaodong City has already been broken; if Anshi City falls too, we won’t have any cities left to resist them.”

“We still have a wandering army in our Kingdom of Goguryeo, whereabouts unknown at the moment. They must be exterminated; otherwise, our capital city is in great danger.”

Alas, what a sorrowful situation. Life was going well, why did you have to provoke Great Jin?

The Emperor was also looking at the map, pondering, “I wonder if Feng Liang will come to Anshi City, continue north to the domestic city, or move south to Pyongyang.”

Being separated by such a vast enemy territory and ocean complicates communication.

Yin Li, being familiar with Feng Liang due to their work-related interactions and somewhat being friends, thought for a moment and said, “Minister Feng might go to the domestic city.”

The Emperor raised an eyebrow, staring at the domestic city.