Chapter 161: Raising Enemies
In August of the tenth year of Daye, it rained heavily and Li Jiancheng had to start reducing the food supply for the army. Although it was not in short supply yet, once the rainy season arrived, there would be some problems with the supply of food and fodder.

Fortunately, the emperor's army retreated, and only tens of thousands of people were left here. The supply of food and fodder might be delayed, but it would not be completely cut off.

"The soldiers on duty should prepare enough food and provide ginger soup. They must not slack off. Xiong Xin, you will patrol the camp in person. Anyone who neglects his duty will be executed."

"promise."

Li Jiancheng didn't think that the Liaodong defenders would dare to go out of the city to attack the camp in such weather, but the rules could not be avoided. If they were allowed to develop a lax habit, something bad would happen sooner or later.

After Shan Xiongxin left, Qin Shubao poured a cup of tea for Li Jiancheng: "The rainy season is still bearable, but before winter comes, we must withdraw our troops. Should we continue to wait?"

Wang Long said with a smile: "Ninety-nine steps, how can one be wrong? Although there are few cavalrymen entering the city today, their momentum is extraordinary. In my opinion, you are waiting for someone to come."

Li Jiancheng also breathed a sigh of relief. The two countries were at war and had a deep hatred for each other. He could not reach Goguryeo, so he would need some luck to succeed. If it delayed for another month or two, he would have to withdraw his troops and make a new plan.

Sure enough, the next day an envoy came and agreed to talk in front of Liaodong City. Li Jiancheng did not agree immediately, but kept reiterating the emperor's request that Gao Yuan's head be presented before any talks could be held.

The stalemate lasted for two days until Gao Jianwu revealed his identity. Li Jiancheng reluctantly agreed and brought Luo Yi and Zhang Huli as guards to meet Gao Jianwu several miles outside the camp.

We exchanged a few simple pleasantries. After all, at this level of status, I couldn't just start a life-and-death struggle. If that were the case, there would be no need to waste time meeting each other.

Gao Jianwu was silent for a moment and then asked, "After my brother dies, can you withdraw your troops immediately?"

"It stands to reason that if your Majesty wants to relieve his hatred, your ruler must die."

Li Jiancheng said to Gao Jianwu: "I admire your king very much. Even ants try to survive, let alone someone with such status. It is really not easy."

Gao Jianwu wanted to maintain his composure, but he couldn't help but sneer, "It's all thanks to you, the Sui Dynasty!"

"It's boring to talk about these things, Your Highness, King Cheng, Lai Huer is just outside Pyongyang. You came all the way to see me, it shouldn't be just to talk about these things."

Gao Jianwu didn't want to fall into the other party's rhythm, but he had too few choices now: "After my royal brother dies, I will submit to the Emperor of Sui and pledge my loyalty. You withdraw your troops immediately and take Hu'er with you."

Li Jiancheng said bluntly: "Then where is my benefit?"

Gao Jianwu said with disgust: "These are enough for you to please your emperor and get promoted. Don't be too greedy!"

"Haha." Li Jiancheng laughed and said, "Your Highness Prince Cheng doesn't seem to know me very well. At my age, I can't be promoted any higher. I have the title of Duke inherited from my family, so I don't need this little bit of merit."

"Then what do you want?"

"I want Liaodong City and to attack Pyongyang myself!"

Gao Jianwu looked straight at Li Jiancheng and said, "You are so foolish and shameless. If that's the case, I will go to see Lai Huer and you can leave now."

Li Jiancheng comforted him, "Your Highness, don't get excited. The world is bustling with people, all for profit. The world is bustling with people, all for profit. If there is benefit for me, there will naturally be benefit for Your Highness."

Gao Jianwu didn't want to say anything more, and turned to leave. Li Jiancheng said calmly, "Why did you come here from such a far distance? I think it's because Lai Huer is even more greedy. That's right, what merit can compare to the merit of destroying a country?"

Seeing Gao Jianwu stop, Li Jiancheng knew that he had guessed correctly: "With internal and external troubles, Goguryeo is on the verge of extinction. I just want a false reputation, but Lai Huer really wants to destroy Gao's ancestral temple and country."

In fact, it is not difficult to guess that Lai Huer's navy's troops should not be able to attack Pyongyang, but he never asked Li Jiancheng to rush to join him, just hoping that he could delay the defenders of Liaodong City. That must have been an agreement with the officials of the aristocratic families in Pyongyang. They opened the city gates, Lai Huer personally beheaded Gao Yuan and killed all the royal family members, and then the emperor would select a few of the surrendered aristocratic families to be kings and divide the existing territory of Goguryeo.

In this way, not only will the thriving Goguryeo be completely destroyed, but the surrounding countries will certainly be more in awe of the Sui Dynasty, and even the Turks will be restrained, and the prestige of the Sui Dynasty will be demonstrated.

And for the emperor, it was a true revenge.

Of course, this is just Lai Huer's plan. It has a big ambition and seems feasible, but it is obviously not very realistic. Gao Yuan is not an incompetent monarch.

He was not defeated by Yang Guang, but because his country was small and sparsely populated, and could not consume the rich wealth left by Emperor Wen of Sui.

"Your Highness, if Lai Huer succeeds, I won't benefit from it, but Your Highness will not have a good ending either."

"We lost Liaodong City, and you invaded Pyongyang. What difference does it make?"

Li Jiancheng said sincerely: "Of course there is. Lai Huer wants to destroy the Goguryeo royal family and change the dynasty. I entered the city just for the sake of honor. There is no one I must kill. Of course, if Your Highness needs anything, I am willing to help you."

These words made Gao Jianwu somewhat excited. He knew very well that even if he defended Pyongyang and fought off foreign invasion, he would still have to face Chen Shi Baizhe and others after his brother's death. He didn't know when he would be able to completely regain power.

If I could kill someone with a borrowed knife and get rid of Chen Shi Baizhe, then...

Li Jiancheng knew that he was almost there: "Your Highness will be crowned king soon, and I want to send you a gift to congratulate you."

"what?"

"Come and protect our son's head."

This was to make up for Gao Jianwu's prestige, help him eliminate internal troubles, and help him establish his authority. Gao Jianwu became more and more tempted, but he also felt more and more uneasy in his heart.

Gao Jianwu looked at Li Jiancheng, who was much younger than him, and said, "I am trying to get the skin of a tiger, right?"

Li Jiancheng had no grudge against Lai Huer, but the navy was what he really wanted. However, as long as Lai Huer was alive, he could not touch him.

Therefore, Lai Huer had to die. The death of such a person should not be wasted and should be used in many ways.

"Your Highness, what are you talking about? Jiancheng is just trying to find a way out for his family. The Central Plains is in chaos. Maybe I will serve you in the future. I hope you will not forget our friendship today."

Gao Jianwu wanted to refuse, he really wanted to, but no words came out when he opened his mouth. Li Jiancheng and Lai Huer were both tigers, leopards, jackals and wolves, but he had to choose one.

"How...how do I know that you and Lai Huer are not on the same page?"

"It seems that Your Highness is really not very clear about the news in the Central Plains." Li Jiancheng said with a smile: "Then I will speak frankly. If Goguryeo is destroyed, I must return to the court and hand over the military power. If Goguryeo is still there, I can defend Liaodong and resist."

It turned out that they wanted to keep the enemy at bay for their own protection. Gao Jianwu felt slightly relieved.

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

(End of this chapter)