Chapter 71: The Gateway

Li Kong was not a stranger to the battlefield, nor did he feel the nervousness that plagued him during his first campaign. In his previous life, he had dared to infiltrate tens of thousands of enemy troops alone for decapitation missions, thriving amidst the smoke and fire of war, reaping lives by the hundreds of thousands. Now, as another war loomed in this life, the passion and bloodthirsty genes within him began to stir once more.

Behind him marched five thousand elite cavalrymen, handpicked from the Imperial Guards of Chang’an. The Tang Empire had been founded barely over ten years; it had only been five or six years since the last war. At this moment, the Imperial Guards of Chang’an were undoubtedly the most formidable fighting force in the entire Tang, and even when compared to armies across the world, they stood unrivaled.

At the eastern gate of Chang’an, Emperor Taizong Li Shimin personally came to send Li Kong off, accompanied by the civil and military officials. Though this campaign was not a matter of national fate, its importance was no less. Thus, Li Kong had become a hero in the hearts of the entire Tang’s central administration—at least for this moment. Even Changsun Wuji, typically his rival, remained silent.

Perhaps Changsun Wuji harbored personal motives, but his loyalty to the Tang was indisputable. However much he wished for Li Kong’s demise, it would never be at this time.

“Yunfeng, today I appoint you as the Commander of the Expeditionary Forces to Liaodong and as Eagle Guard Captain. You are entrusted with full responsibility for this campaign. I… will await your triumphant return!” Li Shimin stepped forward, took the drumstick from a nearby soldier, and shouted with all his might.

Li Kong knelt on one knee and clasped his fists: “I swear to repel the enemy and bring glory to our nation!”

“I swear to repel the enemy and bring glory to our nation!” The five thousand soldiers roared in unison, their voices shaking the heavens.

Countless onlookers joined in, chanting, “Tang forever victorious…”

“All soldiers, heed my command! Mount up, move out!” After returning the salute, Li Kong sprang to his feet, vaulted onto his horse, and whipped its flank. With a piercing neigh, the warhorse surged forward, plunging into the distant horizon where earth and sky met.

“Brother Kong… you must! You must come back! I’ll be waiting here for you!” A sweet, shrill cry echoed from far within Chang’an, finally carried away by the wind.

...

The territory of Liaodong under the Tang was vast, encompassing the northeastern part of Hebei, the Beijing-Tianjin area, and stretching north to the upper reaches of Jilin province—covering at least eight hundred thousand square kilometers, perhaps even more.

Since the death of Gongsun Zan at the end of the Eastern Han, the Xianbei swiftly occupied most of Youzhou, including Jicheng (modern-day Beijing), and made it their own territory. The Jin dynasty was powerless, and after the chaos of the Five Barbarians, this region became a perennial headache, eventually abandoned altogether.

It wasn’t until Yang Guang’s reign that the armies of the Sui pushed into Liaodong by several hundred li, but stopped short at Liaodong City—what would later be known as Liaoning Province, never crossing the Yalu River.

The wind howled; though it was only mid-autumn, the land was already gripped by the rhythm of harsh winter. On a vast, deserted grassland, thousands of oddly dressed cavalrymen rode rampant, their hooves tearing up the yellowed grass. After a long while, their forms became visible: not only were there cavalrymen atop the horses, but also some Han women, weakly crying out.

They were filled with despair, helplessness, even lifelessness.

The cavalrymen, meanwhile, shouted loudly, their faces brimming with smugness and lechery.

“General, up ahead is the pass. Once we cross it, we can ride straight into the heart of Tang, reach Jin City, and the Hetao region is only a few hundred li away. Should we head straight to Chang’an for a tour? This place is too bitterly cold, even the women here are unpleasant. I’ve heard Chang’an is prosperous—if we… heh heh…” One cavalryman rode up beside the leader and spoke loudly.

The leader was Gao Yanshou, commander of the northern Koguryo cavalry. He was just over twenty—at the peak of his vigor. A rare talent, among the younger generation, only Yeon Gaesomun could overshadow him, but Gao Yanshou was never convinced, even dreaming of someday toppling Yeon Gaesomun and ascending to the head of Koguryo.

More importantly, he was a classic hawk. In the histories, after Yeon Gaesomun usurped power, nearly all inner officials opposed him, but Gao Yanshou gave the greatest support—he not only handed over his military authority, but also led the charge whenever battle broke out, essentially serving as Yeon Gaesomun’s vanguard.

So, upon hearing his subordinate’s words, Gao Yanshou pondered briefly and then said, “Very well, let’s charge into Tang and see if this so-called Celestial Empire is truly as invincible as the rumors claim. All men, heed my command! Target the pass—ride forth!”

“Ho ho ho!” Thousands of cavalrymen howled, charging towards the pass.

The pass was located in the northwest Hetao Plain, near modern-day Datong, between Datong and Taiyuan, the first defensive checkpoint guarding the western Hetao region. But the location was poorly chosen; no mountains surrounded it, only rolling hills, and the city walls were a mere few meters high and one meter thick—by the standards of the era, a most inconspicuous little fortress.

At this time, the pass was guarded by Liu Rengui, a famous Tang general. Yet now Liu Rengui was still a man in his twenties—capable, but with only a modest official rank, serving as Eagle Guard Captain of the Left Guard among the Twelve Imperial Guards, tasked with defending the pass.

Originally, this pass was built to counter the Turks, but since the Turks retreated from Hetao and returned Yanmen Pass to Tang, three years had passed without a battle. As the weather turned cold, Liu Rengui remained in his residence, enjoying two dishes and a pot of “Hero’s Intoxication,” savoring the solitude and charm.

Suddenly, a scholar-like man rushed in, his face somewhat panic-stricken: “General, the Koguryo cavalry from Liaodong are heading our way. According to patrol reports, they are only a few dozen li away—at most a stick of incense before they arrive!”

With a snap, Liu Rengui tossed aside his wine cup and said coldly, “Koguryo cavalry? Are you certain?”

“We’ve confirmed it. However, we don’t recognize their leader. Their discipline seems strict. General, should we request reinforcements from the court? We only have three thousand men here; if the main Koguryo army follows, the consequences will be dire!”

Liu Rengui snorted, stood up, and said, “A mere few thousand cavalry—do you think I, Liu Rengui, fear them? As for the main Koguryo army, do you really think they have the guts? Come, follow me to meet these reckless barbarians!”