Du Qi's journey to the north was along the same path he came from. When Du Qi and the others returned to Jiangdu, they rested for a while before taking a boat and going north along the Jinghang Canal. It was already mid-July when they returned to Chang 'an. In mid-July, the weather in Shaozhou, Guangzhou, and other places was unbearably hot. But in Chang 'an, even the heat was tolerable.
Apart from Shangguan Yi, Ma Zhou, and the others, there were also Wei Zheng, Fang Xuanling, and other civil officials and generals who once belonged to the Tang Dynasty. Especially Tang Jian, Ning Zhiqi, and other former officials of the Tang Dynasty who served Du Qi.
The army returned to Chang 'an and set up camp in the city.
Du Qi went straight to the Imperial City.
With Du Qi's arrival, the Imperial Army soldiers were in position to maintain the safety of the Imperial City.
In the Imperial Palace, Du Qi was resting in the palace.
He was exhausted from the journey back to Chang 'an from the south. Today, he could finally rest a little. Especially when Du Qi left the Imperial Capital to suppress the Tang Dynasty, it took him more than two years. It was not easy.
Now, he could finally heave a sigh of relief.
On this day, while Du Qi was resting in the palace, Shangguan Yi walked in with a serious expression. Du Qi saw Shangguan Yi and asked, "Shangguan, what happened?"
Shangguan Yi said, "Your Majesty, there's news from Liaodong. Ma Yuan is seriously injured, and Lai Ji is also lightly injured. Goguryeo has ruthlessly schemed against Ma Yuan. "
Du Qi said, "What's the specific battle report?"
At this moment, Du Qi's expression was cold and solemn.
According to Du Qi's expectations, after Gao Di and Jin Yuzhen were taken down, it would not be difficult for Ma Yuan to destroy Goguryeo, Silla, and Baekje. Du Qi did not expect Ma Yuan to be schemed against and seriously injured.
Shangguan Yi immediately handed over the letter.
Du Qi took the letter and quickly skimmed through it. After looking through the goods, he sighed inwardly. Ma Yuan's failure this time around wasn't unjustified. After all, the Goguryeons had schemed against him deeply.
Goguryeo had sent Prince Rongliu Gao Jianwu's nephew, Gao Baozang. As the main envoy of the envoy, he had brought his men to meet with Ma Yuan personally and submitted a letter of surrender, thus lowering Ma Yuan's guard against him.
Back then, even though Ma Yuan and Lai Ji had their doubts when they met Gao Baozang, they didn't reject his request. After all, Ma Yuan had also made arrangements to infiltrate Goguryeo, so he knew the intentions of Gao Baozang's group. What no one expected was that the envoys who followed Gao Baozang actually buried gunpowder in the gifts that they brought along.
When Gao Baozang presented the treasure, the moment the accompanying envoy opened the box, it ignited the gunpowder and exploded.
At the time, Ma Yuan had been close to Lai Ji. At the moment of the explosion, Ma Yuan had leaped to Lai Ji's side and pressed Lai Ji under his body, preventing Lai Ji from dying from the explosion. This had allowed Lai Ji to be lightly injured while Ma Yuan was heavily injured and almost killed.
On the Goguryeo side, Gao Baozang had been killed by the explosion, and the envoys who came with him had also been killed.
This plan had been concocted by Yeon Gaesomun, a powerful Goguryeo official.
Goguryeo's Prince Rongliu, Gao Jianwu, was prepared to surrender upon seeing Xia's arrival. When Yeon Gaesomun saw this, he pushed for Prince Rongliu to send Gao Baozang over. But Yeon Gaesomun had hidden a trick. He had arranged for his own men to act as suicide soldiers in the envoy's group, tampering with the boxes that had been prepared to be presented. On the boxes were treasures and on the bottom were gunpowder.
In the end, Yeon Gaesomun's men had ignited the gunpowder.
Yeon Gaesomun had been too cunning and used Prince Rongliu. Otherwise, Ma Yuan wouldn't have been schemed against.
After reading the letter, Du Qi closed it and sternly said, "Come!"
As the soldiers entered, Du Qi ordered, "Summon Ma Zhou and Guan Zhilan to the palace for a discussion."
"Yes!"
The soldiers immediately went to make the arrangements.
It didn't take long before Ma Zhou and Guan Zhilan entered. Du Qi looked at Shangguan Yi, Ma Zhou, and Guan Zhilan and said, "Ma Yuan and Lai Ji were schemed against on the Liaodong front line. The specific situation is like this …"
Du Qi immediately began to explain.
Du Qi explained the information clearly and explained Ma Yuan's situation. Then he said, "I've already explained the general situation in Liaodong. What do you think we should do about this? "
Shangguan Yi's eyes were sharp as he said, "Your Majesty, this subject believes that Goguryeo should be executed for scheming against us. We will not rest until we destroy Goguryeo. This subject suggests that we immediately send troops north to Liaodong and start a war with Goguryeo. "
Du Qi nodded after hearing that.
However, he didn't express his opinion.
Ma Zhou thought for a moment, then said, "Your Majesty, this subject also suggests that we immediately head north to suppress the situation in Liaodong. The world has just stabilized, and although the various regions have submitted, it is all because of my Xia Xia's strength. At this time, if Ma Yuan's army is affected in Liaodong and is unable to achieve a breakthrough, the impact will be enormous. This subject believes that we should quickly deal with Goguryeo in Liaodong. "
Guan Zhilan said, "Your Majesty, this subject agrees."
Du Qi nodded again after listening to the three of them.
Taking down Goguryeo was certain.
On the Goguryeo side, Yeon Gaesomun had used Prince Rongliu, Gao Jianwu, to viciously scheme against Ma Yuan. This grudge naturally had to be settled. Perhaps Yeon Gaesomun's scheme against Gao Jianwu might lead to conflict in Goguryeo, but in truth, Yeon Gaesomun's actions had won the hearts of the Goguryeo people, and all of them were focused on Yeon Gaesomun.
For the time being, Du Qi did not consider Yeon Gaesomun's situation, nor did he consider what would happen to Goguryeo. He was only thinking about sending troops. After pondering for a moment, he said, "We have to go north, but we have to pay attention to the method of going north. Moreover, we can't send a large number of troops north this time."
Shangguan Yi said, "Your Majesty, please instruct us."
Ma Zhou and Guan Zhilan both looked at Du Qi. For the time being, the two of them had not considered what Du Qi would do.
Du Qi sternly said, "The world has only just settled down, and the various regions have only just stabilized. Thus, we cannot send a large number of troops north. We need to leave troops here in Chang 'an in order to deal with the situation of the entire country.
"Xue Rengui's troops will be stationed in Chang 'an.
"In the south, Xiao Yuanqi can respond to the situation there at any time. Although Ma Yuan is injured, the troops under Ma Yuan's command have not been affected. In addition, Lai Ji's letter clearly stated that Ma Yuan is injured and temporarily unable to send troops, suppressing the anger of the soldiers. "
Du Qi said, "There is no lack of troops in the north, so We plan to leave the army behind. We will take our personal guards north to Liaodong and personally command this battle."
Ma Yuan was heavily injured and could not command the battle.
Someone needed to oversee the situation.
Du Qi personally going north was the best outcome.
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