Chapter 70: Offering Counsel and Pleading for Duty

After Li Kong and Li Chengqian arrived at the Taiji Palace, Li Tai led Li Ke and the others back to their respective residences, leaving Li Kong and Li Chengqian to proceed to the Ganlu Hall to discuss state affairs.

Truth be told, Li Kong held no official position, merely a commoner involved in governance—a situation reminiscent of Dongfang Shuo in the Western Han!

Inside Ganlu Hall, when they entered, silence reigned. Each person’s face was so gloomy it seemed as though water might be wrung from their expressions.

Seeing this, Li Kong hurriedly tugged at Li Chengqian’s sleeve and then stepped forward, bowing respectfully. “Commoner Li Kong greets Your Majesty—may Your Majesty enjoy everlasting peace!”

“Your son greets Father Emperor—may Father Emperor’s blessings enrich the world!”

Li Shimin waved his hand. “Join the ranks. Yunfeng, do you know why I called you all here today?”

Li Kong was stunned—how could he possibly know? Moreover, wasn’t Li Shimin asking the wrong person? He was but a humble citizen; was this truly appropriate?

Yet, seeing no one object and instead everyone looking at him with anticipation, Li Kong realized the matter was grave. Among the multitude of ministers, two gazes stood out—one filled with concern and worry from Li Ji, the other with anger and resentment from Changsun Wuji.

After pondering for a moment, Li Kong spoke, “Since this is urgent military news, someone must have launched an invasion against Great Tang. Now, with mid-autumn upon us and winter only a month or two away, the Eastern Turks, wounded from their previous defeat, are unlikely to risk another war so soon; they simply lack the courage.

The Western Turks and Tuyuhun have been weakened by our commerce over the past two years—their military strength has decayed, leaving them incapable of waging war. Tibet has just unified and now needs to develop; the Kingdom of Gaochang, even with ten times the courage, would not dare. As for Songling, the weather is suitable, but the timing isn’t right.

Given how somber you all appear, there can only be one possibility—Goguryeo has invaded Liaodong?”

Li Shimin took a deep breath. To deduce so much from weather and the ministers’ expressions alone—he had to admit Li Kong was truly talented.

“Correct. Xuanling believes the Eastern Turks have colluded with Goguryeo. Now, Goguryeo has swept through most of Liaodong, using Liaodong City as their base to radiate outward. In just ten days, they’ve seized hundreds of miles from us. Do you have any strategy to halt their advance?”

Li Kong was taken aback—it was indeed as he guessed. Yet his brow furrowed; in his knowledge of history, even the tyrant Yeon Gaesomun of Goguryeo never proactively attacked the Tang. Goguryeo’s downfall was triggered by their assault on Silla, not an attack on the Tang.

Moreover, Yeon Gaesomun’s father, Yeon Taijo, lacked ambition. The current King of Goguryeo, Yongryu, was much like the “Fatty Kim” of his past life—content to indulge in pleasures, not daring to challenge Great Tang.

Even with the Eastern Turks backing them, they surely lacked the nerve. After all, the Eastern Turks themselves were barely holding on; frankly, if Li Shimin were willing to stake everything, he could wipe out the Eastern Turks in a year.

Still, one had to admit Goguryeo’s choice of timing for this war was clever.

Tang’s current military structure was the fubing system. Even in the slack farming season, mobilizing the twelve fubing units would take a month. Then, marching to Liaodong would require another couple of weeks or more. By then, the Liao River would be frozen, the land bitterly cold, and Tang’s soldiers would surely fall to Goguryeo’s troops, who were accustomed to the climate.

If Li Shimin did nothing, not only would he fail to justify it to the empire, he could not reconcile it with himself, given his ambition to be remembered as a peerless emperor.

“No wonder the campaign against Goguryeo began with Li Shimin and only concluded in Gaozong’s reign, spanning over twenty years. If placed in my previous world, such a small nation would be crippled in at most three years. Clearly, the military system must change,” Li Kong mused inwardly. He drew a deep breath and said, “A large-scale mobilization is impossible—the weather is not on our side. But if we want to delay their advance, we can send two or three cavalry detachments deep into Liaodong. The numbers needn’t be large—several thousand will suffice. Their sole purpose would be to harass Goguryeo’s forces. Though unable to fully halt the invasion, this could delay the conflict by several months. When the weather warms, I can then launch a major campaign.”

“Utter nonsense!” As soon as Li Kong finished, Changsun Wuji leapt forward, loudly rebuking, “You are too naive. Several thousand cavalry to harass nearly two hundred thousand Goguryeo troops? Never mind whether they can withstand the winter’s harsh climate—their supplies would doom them all in Liaodong!”

Before Changsun Wuji could finish, Li Shimin waved him off, eyes locked onto Li Kong. “Explain your plan.”

Li Kong sighed softly, “There’s not much to it. But these thousands can indeed stall Goguryeo’s army. As for Duke Yu’s concern about supplies, we can live off the land, using Goguryeo’s own resources to sustain our troops.

For safety, these cavalrymen must be robust and able to quickly adapt to Liaodong’s severe cold. In truth, this war cannot last long; Goguryeo’s men are not made of iron. However well they adapt to the cold, there is always a limit. I believe, at most two months, and they will withdraw.”

After a pause, Li Kong added, “To ensure absolute success, I humbly request Your Majesty’s permission to personally lead these cavalry units.”

The ministers, ready to object, fell silent at his words. What could they say? Li Kong was risking his own life—a sign that he truly had confidence. Otherwise, given his current favor and limitless prospects, why risk it all? Why seek death?

Li Shimin felt a surge of emotion, recalling the scene three years prior when Li Kong knelt before him, pleading to infiltrate the Turkic army. How similar it was now.

Then, they lacked soldiers; now, they lacked time—both moments when Tang faced its gravest peril.

Reflecting on his earlier punishments of Li Kong, Li Shimin laughed self-deprecatingly, then looked at Li Kong. “How sure are you?”

“Absolutely certain. If I fail, I will return with my head in hand!” Li Kong’s voice was resolute and unwavering.

Li Shimin rose abruptly, but before he could speak, Li Ji suddenly interjected, “Your Majesty, Yunfeng—”

“Your Majesty, this time I must go. No one knows this warfare better than I, and only I can ensure its success!”

Li Shimin rubbed his temples with a headache, gritted his teeth, and said, “Very well, I grant you five thousand elite cavalry. But above all, safeguard your own life. When you return, I shall personally bestow your coming-of-age ceremony and marry you to Lizi!”

“Your Majesty…” Li Ji was bewildered. How could this be? The script should not play out this way.

Li Kong, meanwhile, rose with a smile. “Your Majesty, await my triumphant report. I shall make preparations and depart for Liaodong in two days!”