diymy Chapter 112 Taking Pyongyang
Chapter 112 Taking Pyongyang
"Let's just kill him!" Yuwen Chenglong glanced at Zuo Xiong, who was being held captive, and immediately urged him.
He could tell at a glance that this kid was a tough guy, although his martial arts skills were not as good as Pei Yuanqing's.
However, within the Goguryeo army, he would certainly be the kind of person who would rather die than surrender, and keeping him around would be a potential threat.
Upon hearing this, Zuo Xiong's legs went weak, and he immediately knelt down with a thud.
He was active in Liaodong for many years. Although he was not proficient in the language of the Sui people, he could understand most of it, which made him much better than the Ao Yu who could only echo them.
He was just planning to surrender in order to save his life, but they were going to kill him right away. There was simply no reasoning with them!
"No, didn't you even ask for my opinion?"
Seeing that the soldiers of the Red Falcon Army had already drawn their swords, Zuo Xiong hurriedly spoke up, his eyes scanning the crowd in a panic.
Li Jing first looked at Lü Xiao, and seeing that he had no objection, he turned to Zuo Xiong and asked:
"Are you willing to surrender?"
Zuo Xiong had a solemn expression before kneeling down, and his awe-inspiring demeanor made him look like a tough guy willing to die for his country.
His current statement surprised him somewhat.
"I am willing to surrender!" Zuo Xiong blurted out without thinking.
So much time has passed, and Gao Jianwu in the palace still hasn't brought anyone to seize the city gates. There are only two possibilities.
They've either already fled, or they're too drunk to speak.
Gao Yuan failed to recognize talent, and Gao Jianwu's debauchery led to the downfall of the country and the destruction of its foundation.
Why should he continue to serve such a monarch and general?
"Your Highness, he's definitely feigning surrender. We should kill him!"
Yuwen Chenglong moved closer to Lü Xiao, looking confident, as if he had already seen through Zuo Xiong's thoughts.
"I'll lead you into the palace and capture Gao Jianwu alive!"
Zuo Xiong was both angry and anxious, unable to understand how he had offended Yuwen Chenglong and was being relentlessly pursued and killed.
"Pharmacist, Yuanqing, you two stay at the city gate and guard against a counterattack by the enemy." Lü Xiao pulled Zuo Xiong to his feet and then ordered Zhao Chong, "Zhao Chong, take five hundred brothers and follow me into the palace."
"promise!"
Everyone responded in unison and began to act in an orderly manner.
"Quickly! Take back the city gate!"
Just then, a loud shout came from around the street corner.
A Goguryeo general rushed over with a squad of soldiers, attempting to regain control of the city gate.
Whoosh! Lü
Xiao gripped the spear tightly in his hand and threw it out like a javelin.
With a soft thud, the spear pierced the general's chest with pinpoint accuracy.
The other party didn't even have a chance to react before falling heavily from the horse and dying on the spot.
Zuo Xiong witnessed this scene and secretly rejoiced that he had surrendered in time and decisively.
Such miraculous skills are beyond the reach of ordinary generals; his choice was absolutely correct.
He quickly raised his hand and pointed north, saying, "The royal palace is in this direction!"
"Walk."
Lu Xiao took the Zhenyue Sword from Li Jing and stepped forward first.
The group walked quickly along the street and soon arrived at the foot of the outer wall of the palace.
The palace guards, having noticed the approaching Red Vanguard Army, had already closed the palace gates tightly and even filled and compacted the soil behind them, attempting to use the sturdy gates to block the attack.
Zuo Xiong was racking his brains for a way to break through the palace, but Lü Xiao slowly took two steps back.
He slightly bent his knees to gather strength, and then suddenly charged towards the palace wall.
Boom!
After a dull, loud thud, a section of the thick palace wall was smashed down, scattering bricks and rubble all over the ground.
If it were the palace walls of Luoyang, the eastern capital, Lü Xiao would not have dared to break through them with such brute force.
However, the palace walls of Goguryeo may seem indestructible to ordinary people.
In his eyes, it was no different from the courtyard wall of an ordinary household, and could not stop his divine power at all.
"lead the way."
Lu Xiaochong waved to Zuo Xiong, signaling him to lead the way.
Zhao Chong immediately led his soldiers to draw their swords and charge towards the palace guards who had surrounded them, clearing a path for them.
As Zuo Xiong walked forward, he frequently looked back at the scattered bricks, becoming increasingly convinced that surrendering was the wise move.
He could tear open a thousand-pound gate with his bare hands and smash through a palace wall; Lü Xiao's combat prowess was far beyond that of ordinary people.
Next, will they even try to break through the city wall?
Holding the Zhenyue Sword, Lü Xiao faced the charging guards. With a flash of sword light, one of them fell to the ground, swift and decisive, and no one could stop him.
The Red Valiant Army soldiers coordinated perfectly, with shield bearers clearing the way at the front and archers and crossbowmen advancing in alternating steps, pressing forward relentlessly.
The Goguryeo defenders were caught off guard and were no match for the superior equipment and formidable fighting power of the Red Fierce Army, so they could only retreat in defeat.
"Gao Jianwu is inside!"
Upon arriving at the main hall, Zuo Xiong was more excited than anyone else, and he pushed open the heavy palace door.
The reason for pushing the door open earlier was to persuade Gao Jianwu to turn back from his misguided ways and stop indulging in pleasure.
Pushing open the door at this moment, I was filled with pent-up anger and just wanted to vent it all out.
Inside the palace, the singing and dancing continued unabated, with the graceful figures of the dancers moving to the music and the sounds of instruments never ceasing.
The Goguryeo generals lay drunk on the mat, completely intoxicated.
Zuo Xiong looked at this scene and smiled helplessly, his laughter filled with sorrow and disappointment.
Lü Xiao also laughed, a hearty and unrestrained laugh.
Taking over the palace so easily saved a lot of trouble.
Gao Jianwu, still slightly drunk, propped himself up and squinted at Lü Xiao and the others who had entered. He said in a muffled voice:
"Zuo Xiong, you're here again? Could it be that the Sui army has attacked?"
"Didn't you hear the sounds of fighting outside the palace?"
Zuo Xiong frowned, his tone full of accusation.
"Watching the dance and listening to the music, how can you hear any sounds of fighting?" Gao Jianwu chuckled, picked up the wine glass on the table, swirled it, and said, "Have a drink."
Upon seeing this, Yuwen Chenglong rushed to the hall and smashed the wine jar in Gao Jianwu's hand.
"Still want to drink? Look who we are!"
"presumptuous!"
Gao Jianwu was splashed with alcohol and immediately flew into a rage.
"You're still going to release five people!" Yuwen Chenglong said without any politeness, punching Gao Jianwu in the face.
He then grabbed his collar, yanked him to the ground, and dragged him into the hall.
This punch instantly sobered Gao Jianwu up considerably.
The generals who were lying drunk nearby were also startled and quickly got up, rubbing their sleepy eyes.
When they saw Lü Xiao inside the hall and the Chixiao Army eyeing them menacingly outside, everyone sobered up completely, and the drunkenness on their faces was replaced by fear.
"Your Highness, this man is Gao Jianwu, the younger brother of King Gao Yuan of Goguryeo, and the person in charge of guarding Pyongyang."
Zuo Xiong stepped forward and introduced in a deep voice.
"Um."
Lu Xiao nodded slightly, strode forward, and sat directly on the throne.
Gao Yuan was at least a man who could rival Yang Guang, but Gao Jianwu was licentious, incompetent, and utterly worthless.
However, it was thanks to his incompetence that Pyongyang was taken. If it had been someone as cautious and shrewd as Zuo Xiong who was left in charge, Pyongyang might not have been taken so easily.
Gao Jianwu stared in fear at the Red Fierce Army inside the hall. Though the effects of the alcohol had worn off, he was still dizzy and filled with doubt.
Has Liaodong already fallen?
Otherwise, how could these Sui soldiers have suddenly appeared in the Pyongyang Royal Palace?