NCCnovel Chapter 126 Gao Yuan hangs himself from a tree in the southeast; Goguryeo is pacified.
Chapter 126 Gao Yuan hangs himself from a tree in the southeast; Goguryeo is pacified.
Because on this battlefield, Lü Xiao doesn't need anyone else's assistance!
He alone is an army!
"Big brother, when did you become this amazing?"
Upon seeing Lü Xiao's incredible bravery, as if a demon had descended to earth, Yuwen Chenglong turned to Yuwen Chengdu beside him and asked him a question.
"..."
Yuwen Chengdu pursed his lips, but swallowed back the words that were on the tip of his tongue.
He never dared to dream that he could possess such inhuman fighting power.
"I feel like I'm invincible again!" Pei Yuanqing watched Lü Xiao unleash his power, and his previously exhausted body seemed to be ignited.
He grabbed two octagonal, plum blossom-shaped, bright silver hammers, roared, and ran down the city wall to rejoin the chaotic battle.
Lu Xiao's instantaneous recovery and burst of strength made Eulji Mundeok realize what despair truly meant.
From the moment he led his three thousand elite troops to besiege Lü Xiao, the fate of Goguryeo was sealed: destruction.
His eyes were vacant, his mind was blank and buzzing.
Even when Lü Xiao was charging towards him with his halberd, he showed no intention of dodging.
"General! Watch out!"
Upon seeing this, a Goguryeo lieutenant quickly raised his voice to remind him.
However, no matter how loudly he shouted, Eulji Mundeok seemed to have lost his soul and did not react at all.
puff!
The invincible halberd arrived with a whistling sound.
Eulji Mundeok, riding his warhorse, didn't even see Lü Xiao's movements before his head was severed and rolled to the ground.
His eyes remained wide open, filled with the horrified look of someone who died with their eyes wide open.
"Eulji Mundeok!"
Standing on a high platform in the distance, Gao Yuan's mind went completely blank upon seeing this scene.
Eulji Mundeok was his last resort, the white jade pillar supporting the sky and the purple gold beam spanning the sea for Goguryeo.
Now that the pillars have collapsed and the beams have crumbled, Goguryeo is truly doomed.
"Your Majesty, let's escape quickly! As long as we're alive, we can always fight another day!"
The guard beside him cried out.
"Escape?" Gao Yuan gave a bitter laugh, tears welling in his eyes. "Where can we escape to?"
He sealed off all the exits of Liaodong City with earth to show his determination to fight to the death.
Besides, Pyongyang and Liaodong City are now in the hands of the Sui army. How could he possibly escape?
Moreover, where in the world can one escape to?
Silla and Baekje had been attacked by him several times and had long harbored deep hatred for him.
How could those tribal forces in the Northwest be a match for the Great Sui Dynasty?
Even if he did manage to escape, in order to please Yang Guang, those people would not hesitate to cut off his head and return it.
Thinking of this, Gao Yuan silently turned around, straightened his disheveled clothes, and walked step by step into the depths of the inner city, his back view desolate and forlorn.
Eulji Mundeok was killed in battle, Gao Yuan's whereabouts were unknown, and Lü Xiao's momentum was unstoppable.
Whether it was the imperial army or the scions of noble families, they all joined the chaotic battle, mercilessly beating the defeated and desperately vying for the last bit of glory.
"Your Highness, some of the Goguryeo civilians and remnants of the army have lost all will to fight and are kneeling in surrender. Should we spare them?"
Li Jing approached Lü Xiao, looked at the prisoners scattered on the ground, and asked in a deep voice.
"Kill them all! Massacre the entire city!"
Lu Xiao turned his head, his eyes cold, and said in a vicious tone.
"No will to fight? Where were you before!"
If they had surrendered earlier, they wouldn't have caused such a huge obstacle and casualties for the Sui Dynasty.
But now, there's no need. Let's kill them all to serve as a warning to others!
"Yes." Li Jing nodded, his mind free of distractions, and drew his sword from his waist, turning to relay the order.
For a time, only the deafening shouts of the Sui army echoed through Liaodong City.
The entire city of Liaodong was completely transformed into a living hell.
Wherever they went, corpses littered the ground and blood flowed like rivers.
Crimson blood seeped into the snow, turning into shocking red ice.
"Brothers! The royal palace where Gao Yuan is located is just ahead. Whoever captures him, I will personally petition His Majesty to bestow upon him a title and honors!"
Lu Xiao pointed to the depths of the inner city and shouted loudly to the soldiers behind him.
Now that the overall situation is settled, it's time to reap the rewards, and there's no need for him to personally intervene anymore.
Next, it's time for our own soldiers to compete for this tremendous military achievement.
"The King of Shuo is mighty!"
"The King of Shuo is mighty!"
Upon hearing this, the imperial soldiers roared with fervor, their morale soaring, and they charged into the inner city with great enthusiasm.
Meanwhile, in the Sui army camp outside the city, Yang Guang could vaguely hear the deafening shouts coming from inside the city.
"Hahaha! Good! Good! Good!" Yang Guang laughed loudly, then turned to Yuwen Huaji beside him and said, "Now you can offer your congratulations!"
He had previously worried that he was too happy too soon and that all his efforts would be in vain.
But now, hearing this thunderous cheer, the situation is clear.
The Sui Dynasty has won!
"Your Majesty, I offer my congratulations! Congratulations! Your Majesty's might is boundless; Goguryeo has finally been pacified!"
Yuwen Huaji quickly repeated the auspicious words he hadn't had time to say earlier, his face beaming with smiles.
"Your Majesty! Good news! Eulji Mundeok has been killed in battle by King Sok, and Go Won has escaped into the inner city!"
"Our army has completely occupied all the key roads and is clearing the earthen barriers around the city gates. You will be able to enter the city soon!"
A messenger came running up, stumbling and crawling, excitedly reporting the news.
Yang Guang slowly loosened his clenched fists, feeling a surge of heat rising through his body, and even began to feel hot.
Goguryeo, the intractable problem that plagued two generations of emperors of the Sui Dynasty, was finally to be completely destroyed by him!
"Father! Did you see that?!"
Yang Guang suddenly raised his head and shouted loudly at the vast sky. His voice echoed in the wind and snow, filled with boundless excitement and triumph.
The late emperor's campaign against Goguryeo ended in a great defeat, which was a regret and a disgrace to the Sui Dynasty!
Now, he has led troops on two expeditions, finally determined to wash away all the shame.
"Your Majesty! The city gates are open!"
Yuwen Huaji, with his sharp eyes, saw the heavy city gate of Liaodong City slowly opening in the distance and immediately shouted loudly.
"Let's go! Enter the city!"
With a flick of his sleeve, Yang Guang mounted his horse and, leading his civil and military officials and personal guards, rushed impatiently toward Liaodong City.
Upon entering the city, what one sees is a mountain of corpses and a sea of blood.
The tattered banners and the corpses scattered on the ground showed just how brutal this final battle was.
"Where is Zi Lie? Where is Lü Xiao? Quickly, I need to see him!"
Upon seeing Li Jing, who was directing the cleanup of the battlefield, Yang Guang quickly asked a question.
At this moment, he even felt that he didn't need Lü Xiao to come and pay his respects; he wanted to personally go and pay his respects to this war god who had made unparalleled contributions.
"Your Majesty, the Prince is currently in the inner palace."
Li Jing bowed and replied.
Upon hearing this, Yang Guang immediately set off and strode quickly toward the inner city.
After passing through the dilapidated inner city gate, Yang Guang arrived at a magnificent hall.
Countless soldiers gathered in front, surrounding the main hall and discussing the matter animatedly.
"His Majesty is here! Get out of the way!"
Yuwen Huaji followed behind, and seeing that the crowd was blocking their way, he immediately shouted loudly.
The crowd quickly parted to make way, and Yang Guang walked through the crowd, finally understanding why the soldiers had gathered there.
In the courtyard in front of the main hall, Gao Yuan was already dead.
His body was hanging from a bare, crooked tree, swaying gently in the wind.