Chapter 113 Escorting Grain
In addition to Mai Tiezhang, a large number of soldiers including Huben Langjiang Qian Shixiong, Meng Jincha, etc. died in the battle on the spot. Despite paying such a high price, they were still beaten back and failed to cross the Liaohe River as they wished.

Yuwen Kai took off his clothes and crown, knelt down and walked to the emperor's tent: "I am a sinner and I am incompetent. Your Majesty, please execute me to comfort the souls of the generals."

The eunuch led him inside, where many officials were standing. He could also hear faint crying sounds from above. Upon taking a quick look, he found that the person with red eyes and wiping tears was actually the emperor.

"He was a man of great courage and determination, and had made many achievements. He followed the army to investigate crimes and was the first to break into the battlefield. He was a man of high integrity and righteousness. He died for his achievements. I am sincere in my words. I mourn for him and should give him special honors to show his virtue. I will posthumously grant him the title of Guanglu Dafu, posthumously confer the title of Duke of Suguo, and give him the posthumous title of Wulie!"

"My emperor is wise."

Yuwen Kai felt that he was doomed, and he just kept his head pressed to the ground, hoping that his merits that day would be remembered and his wife and children would not be implicated.

Yang Guang felt a little conflicted when he saw Yuwen Kai kneeling down. Killing the Minister of Works could indeed explain the failure this time, but when he thought about Guanfengxing Hall and the Eastern Capital Luoyang, he couldn't bear to do it. Talents are hard to come by.

Moreover, although they lost the first battle, the soldiers were indeed brave and not cowardly. Now they are mourning the death of their comrades, so we should just encourage them.

The emperor demoted Yuwen Kai, then prepared a large sum of money and sent people to redeem the bodies of Mai Tiezhang and others. The morale of the troops was greatly boosted, and two days later, they built two pontoon bridges long enough, successfully crossed the river and beheaded more than 10,000 people, and took advantage of the situation to besiege Liaodong City.

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Li Jiancheng received an imperial edict in Zhuo County, asking him to personally escort grain and fodder to the front army. It was a bit unreasonable for him to be the Minister of Civil Affairs and to manage grain and fodder, but Li Jiancheng could only obey the order. The emperor, who holds the world's military power, is the truth of this world.

"I'll go with you, too."

Li Jing was beginning to feel impatient. Although his official rank had risen and no one dared to laugh at him in person, he still had not proven himself on the battlefield.

"Master, forgive me for speaking frankly, but you are not qualified to lead the troops. Even if you can lead the troops, every move must wait for the emperor's order. If you win, it means that your majesty is wise and brave, and if you lose, it means that you are incompetent.

This battle will be lost without a doubt because of your majesty."

Li Jing was silent for a moment and then said, "Jiancheng, I am already forty-two years old."

Li Jiancheng was silent for a moment when he heard this. If it were an ordinary person, it would be fine, but Li Jing had this invincible skill that he had endured for half his life and had never used it to its full potential.

"It's not far away. Wan Tianqing will save the world and the people."

The master and disciple have been together for eight or nine years, so Li Jing has noticed that some things are not right, but it is too late. Everyone in the world knows that they are master and disciple who advance and retreat together. What can he gain by betraying his trust?

And everything that has happened in recent years is indeed just as he said back then, so miraculous and shocking.

"I entrust all military and political affairs of Zhuo County to you."

"it is good."

After leaving Li Xiaogong to assist him, Li Jiancheng escorted a batch of food and fodder straight to the front army. Along the way, he encountered several horse bandits who wanted to rob. There were Han, Turkic and Korean people mixed together, but after seeing the bravery of Li Jiancheng's personal guards, they retreated.

In fact, most of the time they can't get it, unless the owner has already been determined.

Li Jiancheng escorted the grain and grass to the outside of Liaodong City, handed over the grain and grass to the grain officer, and then went to pay a visit to the emperor.

After entering the imperial tent, Li Jiancheng paid his respects, and the emperor's first question was: "What did you say in the letters you exchanged with Shibi?"

"I don't know." Li Jiancheng answered sincerely: "I only wrote these two words after his letter, and then sent him back."

Seeing that the emperor was still looking at him with a stern gaze, Li Jiancheng calmly continued to explain: "I met him when I accompanied Your Majesty on a northern tour to the Turks. We have not had any contact since then. I don't know why he suddenly wrote a letter to coerce and bribe me, hoping that I would say something disloyal. I am a minister of the Great Sui Dynasty, so I naturally won't say much to him, so I sent him away with two words."

"If it's innocent, why didn't you report it to me immediately?"

"Your Majesty, it is imperative that you personally lead an expedition against Goguryeo, but the Turks have always been a stubborn enemy, so I would like to wait until Your Majesty has won a great victory over Goguryeo before I make suggestions and report to you.

By then, Your Majesty will have the power of a great victory. With one decree, you can order them to come to the court. If you continue to divide them, the Turks will be torn apart and it will be difficult for them to become powerful. "

Yang Guang's expression eased slightly, but he still said sternly: "From now on, you are not allowed to act on your own. Anything related to the Turkic Khan must be reported to him immediately!"

"I know my crime and I will keep it in mind!"

Li Jiancheng was submissive and obedient, so the emperor suppressed his anger. In fact, he did not believe that Li Jiancheng would collude with Shibi Khan. He just wanted to punish him for concealing the truth.

After the beating, the emperor said a few words to comfort him, praising him for his timely supply of logistics and food. Li Jiancheng's teeth tightened even more at this time, and his response was that it was thanks to Your Majesty's virtue that a minister dared not take credit for it.

The direction is pointed by the leader, the ideas are given by the leader, and the difficulties are coordinated and solved by the leader. How can I have any say in this?
In the end, Li Jiancheng came out holding the fine wine bestowed by the emperor and two hundred Goguryeo slaves as a reward.

The emperor had no intention of letting him go back, saying that Goguryeo would be conquered soon, so he asked him to go along to witness it. Of course, he could only express his gratitude profusely.

After he came out, he was looking for someone to arrange a tent for him. He demanded treatment according to his status, so it was impossible for him to live in the small tent of the grain escort officer.

Just as he walked out of the imperial tent, he saw Wang Yi chasing him out: "I heard that the emperor summoned you, so I arranged a camp not far from here."

Li Jiancheng cupped his hands and smiled, "Then I won't be polite."

Wang Yi said happily: "You will only give me face if you accept it."

At this time, Yang Xuangan stepped forward and said, "We finally stopped those people, but we didn't expect that Wang Neijian would get there first."

Wang Yi cupped his hands and said, "This is all I can do. I hope Minister Yang will not snatch it away."

"Okay, okay, I've already roasted the lamb over there, let's go over there."

"I won't go. Your Majesty still needs to serve here."

Li Jiancheng once again held Wang Yi's hand to thank him, then asked Li Jin to go with the eunuchs to clean up the tent, and then followed Yang Xuangan. They really didn't get to eat much hot food along the way.

Yang Xuangan said, "I just packed up the tent next door. It seems we can't live next to each other."

Li Jiancheng smiled and said, "Eunuch Wang means well, we can't refuse."

"That's right. They are the ones who hold grudges the most." Yang Xuangan said, "It doesn't matter. After we conquer Liaodong City, we will also move into the city. We will talk about it then."

Li Jiancheng would certainly not refuse. After all, if he wanted Yuyang County and Shanggu County to continue to be obedient, he had to rely on Yang Xuangan.

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(End of this chapter)