Chapter 126: Brave Fruit
The emperor was watching a battle that day. A four or five-story battering ram with wheels underneath and a 15-meter-long iron-headed ramming pole mounted diagonally on top, loaded with soldiers, was heading straight for the city wall.

As usual, the city wall was not breached and the emperor was not disappointed. He just watched with a frown. But suddenly he saw a soldier climb to the top of the pole and stood there much higher than the city wall.

Then he leaped down from the city wall, his cleaver shining in the sunlight, and he hacked several defenders on the wall to death. After snatching spears from the corpses, he fought with the surrounding defenders.

"Okay! What's this man's name? I'm going to reward him handsomely!"

The battle above was actually not very clear, but that did not stop the emperor from cheering. No matter what, at least some brave warriors had climbed up the Liaodong city wall today. This was a good sign.

The accompanying civil and military officials of course did not recognize Shen Guang, so they flattered him subconsciously: "With a saint like Your Majesty ruling the world, there will naturally be no shortage of capable people serving the king and father. I saw that they were dressed like officers of the Xiaoguo Army. They have received Your Majesty's great grace, so they are willing to brave the front and relieve the worries of the king and father."

When Yang Guang heard that they were from the Xiaoguo Army, he couldn't help but feel even more delighted, as this proved that he was right.

But he couldn't help but worry, because he was the only one who climbed the city wall first. It would be difficult for other soldiers to rescue him, let alone provide support. It was a pity that such a brave man had to die first.

Sure enough, within a moment, the figure returned to the edge of the city wall and then fell down. The emperor had expected this, and the morale of the Sui army under the city wall was high, and they couldn't help but exclaimed in surprise.

But Shen Guang was a man of great character. He had already thought of a way to retreat before he went up. He grabbed the rope hanging from the battering ram, but instead of going down immediately, he drew his sword again and chopped at the head of the Goguryeo defender who was leaning out from the city wall to see his death.

"mighty!"

Along with the shouts of the Sui army, three heads fell down and rolled a few times under the city wall. Shen Guang was covered in blood, but he laughed a few times, then slid down the baton without a scratch.

"Go! Bring him here immediately!" The emperor was overjoyed: "What a brave and skilled soldier! If all the soldiers of the Sui Dynasty were like this, how could Goguryeo stop me for long?"

The civil and military officials who accompanied him knew that no matter what this man's character was, at least his career was secure for the next few years. If he was also born into a noble family, his future would be limitless.

.........

In a mountain behind the Sui army, Zhang Huli was leading thousands of elite soldiers waiting for the opportunity mentioned by his master, but he felt a little anxious.

The emperor has a million-strong army, and there are scouts everywhere where they are stationed. Although they are hiding here, they would have been discovered long ago. Fortunately, Langjun has already arranged identities for them and has an official transfer order from the Ministry of War.

But Zhang Huli knew that the transfer order looked genuine and the seal of the Ministry of War could not be forged. However, if he really asked the Vice Minister or the Minister of War, they would never acknowledge it.

Therefore, they are half-able to see the light and cannot help but see it. It all depends on whether the scout commander will report it carefully and ask for advice.

He himself was not afraid of anything. With the iron-backed bow on his horse and the spear in his hand, he could come and go freely among thousands of troops. However, most of the elite troops he had gathered with great difficulty could not be saved.

At this time, the Minister of War, Hu Sizheng, whom Zhang Huli was worried about, was secretly drafting a transfer order to transfer several of Yang Xuangan's brothers back to the Central Plains while the emperor was meeting the young general.

The emperor solemnly received Shen Guang, who had already washed and dressed. The officials who went to deliver the message also knew that this man was about to rise to a high position, so they not only spoke politely, but also hurriedly found a set of silver rhinoceros armor for him.

Clothes make the man, and saddles make the horse. The emperor himself was very handsome, so he liked beauties more, and he also appreciated young men with heroic appearance. After Shen Guang thanked him, he went to see the emperor. The emperor was even more pleased when he saw him. He thought he would be a strong man with a beard, but he didn't expect him to be such a heroic young man. This was exactly what he expected.

After asking about his name and background, the emperor did not show any disdain. It was a good thing that he did not come from a noble family.

Upon hearing that he was only a seventh-rank official, the emperor promoted him to a fifth-rank official on the spot, rewarded him with an imperial sword and horse, and then held a grand banquet.

At the banquet, after the emperor drank heavily, he pointed at him and sang: "He rides a white horse and is decked out in gold and pearls, galloping along the Liao River. Who is his son? He is a guard of the imperial guards, wearing a six-armored armor with rhinoceros horn and a sword with seven-star light... He has dedicated himself to the country, and he is also a military prodigy. For thousands of years to come, his reputation will always be spread all over the country.

After that, he was reluctant to let Shen Guang take the risk of going into the battlefield, so he transferred him to be his side as a guard. Shen Guang also took the opportunity to tell the emperor that it was Li Jiancheng who suggested that he serve in the Xiaoguo Army.

Let's not talk about this matter now. When the emperor finds out about it himself in the future, it will definitely be bad.

The emperor was not surprised at all, as he was used to everyone knowing Li Jiancheng. He just said, "It's rare that he still remembers to recommend talents while he is in mourning."

Shen Guang said: "Mr. Li has always been loyal to you. When we were having a feast, I often heard him praise your majesty's great talent and strategy. He saw that Gao Yuan had surpassed us for hundreds of years, and everything he did was for the benefit of future generations."

"You have a good relationship with him?"

Shen Guang shook his head: "Mr. Li has many friends, but he is unable to visit many people at once, so he is just an ordinary friend to everyone."

Wang Yi took the opportunity to say, "I have also heard that Li Langjun has been recruiting talents for Your Majesty since Your Majesty's residence. He has spent all his family property on this. Many people in the capital secretly laugh at him."

Although Yang Guang could tell that the two men were trying to speak well of Li Jiancheng, he also slowly began to think of Li Jiancheng's good points, so he said with a smile: "You don't have to speak well of him. I have never treated meritorious officials unfairly. After he is done with mourning, I will entrust him with important tasks."

Then he thought for a moment and immediately sent someone to pass on his decree: "Reward Li Jiancheng with three carts of gold and silver utensils, three hundred slaves from Goguryeo, and a thousand rolls of silk."

Shen Guang and Wang Yi looked at each other, but did not stand up to thank Li Jiancheng for the reward.

Then the emperor began to concentrate on attacking Liaodong City again, and even came up with a good idea, which was to order the soldiers to speed up the sewing of tens of thousands of cloth bags.

The soldiers were ordered to fill cloth bags with soil, and then pile the soil bag by bag from the camp all the way to the foot of Liaodong City. In the end, the soil would be piled into a slope level with Liaodong City, so that the army could climb directly to the top of the city.

The emperor had already thought of a name for this slope, which was Yuliang Avenue. As for why it was called this name, no one dared to ask. They all knelt on the ground and praised His Majesty's wisdom.

At this time, Yang Xuangan had already arrived in Liyang and contacted many of his students and former officials, as well as his servants and generals. He gradually took control of Liyang and began to gradually reduce the amount of food and supplies transported to the front line.

...............

(End of this chapter)