The next day, Fang Er carefully withdrew his arm from Xiao Qing’s neck.
He got dressed and went outside.
He said to the guard outside.
"Go invite General Cheng, Duke Chai, and Chancellor Liu here for a discussion."
The three men did not live far away and soon arrived at the Chen residence.
"Brother Cheng, Father-in-law, Chancellor Liu, please sit down and talk."
In the reception hall, Fang Er led the three to their seats and then had someone prepare tea.
"My dear son-in-law, why have you summoned us so early in the morning? Is there something important?" Chai Shao asked with a smile.
"When you three came, did you pass by the Liao River?" Fang Er's tone was somewhat cold.
"You mean the remains of the former Sui dynasty generals that Goguryeo built into a mass grave?" Cheng Yaojin's usually cheerful face became filled with killing intent.
"Yes! The city is now settled, and with Chancellor Liu in charge, I believe everything should be fine. Therefore, I plan to march on Dandong!" Fang Er's tone was very firm! The skeletal remains by the Liao River had always been like a thorn in his heart. Now that the reinforcements had arrived and there was ammunition, it was time to fight!
"Fight! Old man, I've been waiting for you to say that!" Chai Shao swore directly and slammed the table, standing up.
"Heh heh, I've been so bored these past few days that I'm almost sick. Tell me, how should we fight!" Cheng Yaojin took off his hand cannon from behind him and placed it on the table.
"Your Excellency, rest assured! This subordinate will guard Shenyang City well!" Liu Dacheng, a civil official, also possessed a proud backbone. Those mass graves were not just a disgrace to warriors, but also a shame to scholars!
"Very well! Chancellor Liu, Shenyang City is in your hands. Father-in-law, Brother Cheng, leave three thousand new firearm troops to guard the city, and we will depart today!" Fang Er stood up and bowed to the three.
After returning the courtesy, the three hurried away.
The new firearm troops had always been stationed outside Shenyang City, and their provisions were also there. Therefore, gathering them was quick. The Heavenly Fire Army was even more so. An hour later, outside Shenyang City. Seven thousand new firearm troops and two thousand Heavenly Fire troops had assembled.
Fang Er, riding his warhorse, stood in front of the army, scanning the soldiers.
"Goguryeo, a small country, repeatedly violated the borders of our Great Tang! They stole firearm secrets! They attempted to use the might of firearms to covet the Central Plains! You! Can you tolerate this?" Fang Er's voice was impassioned, his eyes sharp, and he spoke word by word to the soldiers. As he spoke, his words were relayed, ensuring all soldiers could hear.
"We cannot tolerate it!" The nine thousand soldiers roared in unison! Their voices were like thunder, their spirit reaching the heavens!
"Not only that! Goguryeo even built mass graves with the remains of former Sui generals by the Liao River! What is this? This is a provocation to our Great Tang! This is an insult to the men of Huaxia! Soldiers, can you endure this?" Fang Er shouted until his voice was hoarse, veins bulging on his forehead, and his eyes bloodshot.
"We cannot! We cannot! We cannot!" The new firearm troops and the Heavenly Fire Army responded in unison again.
"Fang once said a word by the Liao River! Those who insult our Great Tang will face unending enmity! Those who insult our Han family will face unending enmity! Those who insult our Huaxia will face unending enmity! We will build the Great Wall with the enemy's bodies! Today, Fang says another word! With my blood! I will protect Huaxia! We will not return to Tang until the enemy country is destroyed!" Fang Er drew his long saber, slashed his palm, clenched his fist, and pointed it diagonally at the sky. Drops of blood fell from his palm, and he shouted his resolve with all his might!
"We will not return to Tang until the enemy country is destroyed!"
"We will not return to Tang until the enemy country is destroyed!"
"We will not return to Tang until the enemy country is destroyed!"
Over ten thousand men raised their weapons simultaneously, imitating Fang Er, slashing their palms and letting their blood drip, nourishing the land beneath their feet. Their eyes were filled with determination, and they let out the roar of the men of Huaxia! The warhorses whinnied, as if in response. The birds in the forest were startled and took flight. Even Cheng Yaojin and Chai Shao, two seasoned generals by his side, raised their weapons, their eyes filled with tears, their faces contorted with anger. They roared with all their might!
"The army! March!" After the soldiers had calmed down slightly, Fang Er announced the order to depart.
An all-cavalry force! Nine thousand horsemen left the outskirts of Shenyang City in a mighty procession. They headed in the direction of Dandong.
The five hundred-mile journey took three days before the army arrived outside Dandong City. To Fang Er's surprise, the gates of Dandong City were wide open, and not a single commander was visible on the city walls! He sent the eighteen riders of Yan and Yun to scout the city. It was then they learned that the Goguryeo commander, upon hearing of the Tang army's approach, had actually abandoned the city and fled!
"Damn it, these sons of bitches are too goddamn cowardly!" Cheng Yaojin was very frustrated. He felt as if he had punched cotton, unable to exert any force, and the feeling was unbearable.
"What's the rush? Dandong may have fled, but can their capital city also be abandoned?" Chai Shao was quite calm. "The city is still here, it won't run away, and no one else can take it."
Thus, the army bypassed the city, crossed the Yalu River, and headed straight for the capital of Goguryeo, Pyongyang!