Within the city of Wandu,
Smoke and fire raged.
While Ye Feng was still wrestling with his transformation into a Yellow Turban Rebel, Gongsun Zan’s side was already tallying their losses.
The garrison led by Ran Ren?
Annihilated!
The already formidable Black Armored Cavalry, coupled with the cooperation of some rebels…
The effect was surprisingly potent!
Ran Ren didn’t even get to see the second wave of reinforcements before Gongsun Zan cleaved him down with a single sword strike.
And with Ran Ren’s death,
For the common Goguryeo soldiers, it was nothing short of a devastating blow.
The already weak Goguryeo infantry, without their commander’s direction?
What was there to fight for!
The rout happened almost instantaneously.
Their speed in surrendering and fleeing made even the tribal elders who had already submitted blush with shame.
Such a disgrace!
To claim to be a strong nation of the plains day in and day out, only to fall apart like this when war truly erupted?
It was one thing to be outmatched by enemy cavalry, but to lose to cavalry in an urban street fight as infantry?
Especially that Ran Ren!
As the supreme commander of the Goguryeo army, why was he fighting so far forward?
Showing off?
He ended up being decapitated, and dragged them all down into captivity.
That's right!
The moment Ran Ren died, these tribal elders had already found a scapegoat.
What?
We surrendered voluntarily?
How could that be!
We were clearly fighting valiantly until the very last moment, on the verge of victory.
But due to Ran Ren’s recklessness, an opportunity was seized, and he was cut down, causing the Goguryeo army to fall into disarray and collapse.
Indeed.
When the King of Goguryeo finally came to his senses, these elders explained it exactly like that.
The crucial point was that the King of Goguryeo actually believed them!
After a period of theatrical weeping, Gao Bogu could only grudgingly accept his status as a captive.
Of course!
To persuade the King of Goguryeo to voluntarily offer up the eldest princess, they had to expend some effort.
For example… making Gao Bogu personally witness the conditions of the prisoners?
Although Gongsun Zan and his men were merciful, showing no mistreatment and not forcing them into hard labor.
Yet, the very place where the prisoners were held was enough to make the pampered Gao Bogu unbearable.
"No!"
"You cannot treat this king this way!"
He suddenly burst out of the large room where the prisoners were kept, Gao Bogu yelling with shame and anger:
"I am the King of Goguryeo, you cannot treat me like this!"
"Oh?"
Gongsun Zan, who happened to be passing by, heard this and chuckled softly.
"I'm sorry!"
"In the past hour, you are no longer the King of Goguryeo!"
"???"
Gao Bogu clearly didn’t quite understand the meaning of Gongsun Zan’s words.
Just as he was about to retort,
A person emerged from behind Gongsun Zan, and his eyes couldn’t help but narrow.
"Yan, Yan You, what is this?"
"Fa, Father~!"
After calling out to Gao Bogu with a slightly awkward tone, Gao Yan You said with a choked sob,
"Th-they forced me to inherit the throne, I truly dared not resist!"
"You, you…"
Even though he had been mentally prepared, Gao Bogu was still incensed.
"You, you are invalid!"
"Without the recognition of the various tribes, this King of Goguryeo is not legitimate!"
"Cough, cough, cough…"
"…"
Watching Gao Bogu cough violently with agitation, Gongsun Zan smiled and looked at the several elders.
"Esteemed elders, your respective tribes do not acknowledge him as the King of Goguryeo?"
"We acknowledge him!"
"Of course, we acknowledge him!"
"Yes!"
"Sir, this King of Goguryeo is genuine, absolutely authentic!"
"???"
Gao Bogu, already infuriated, looked at these former companions in utter disbelief.
Wait, what?
Didn't we agree to support me forever and ever,呸, only me?
"Da, Bogu ah!"
Meeting Gao Bogu’s ashen face, the Great Elder explained with a conflicted expression:
"You know the current situation. We have lost, and naturally, we must pay a price!"
"Besides…"
"The throne is yours anyway, who sits on it doesn't matter, does it?"
"After those people retreat, you can just reclaim the throne, can't you?"
"…"
Listening to the Great Elder's consolation, Gao Bogu opened his mouth but couldn't utter a word.
What he said was not wrong!
The throne was still within their royal family, so who sat on it didn't matter… damn it all!
Reclaim it?
Dream on!
You've removed me from the throne now, do you think I can ever get it back?
Or,
Do you think that kid will do something to secure his throne?
Everyone says that family members know each other best!
As Gao Yan You’s father, Gao Bogu knew his second son very well.
On the surface, he was obedient, always following his elder brother Gao Nanwu.
But did he really not know about the little schemes he carried out in private?
It was only out of consideration for his own son that Gao Bogu hadn't dealt with him.
After all,
The notion that competition breeds progress was not just popular within the Han territory.
And now?
His eldest son died in battle, and he abdicated, it seemed like this kid had stumbled upon a bargain.
But everyone knew!
The moment the Han army retreated, it would be his time to ascend the throne again.
Would that kid just sit idly by?
Impossible!
Gao Bogu was almost certain that this kid had already figured out how to get rid of him.
Once he was dead,
Then,
Whether the Han army stayed or left, the entire Goguryeo would be his.
What?
The various tribes don't acknowledge him?
The Gao family doesn't acknowledge him?
Does it matter?
The Gao family would smooth things over with the various tribes, and the Gao family… there was no one left!
The Gao family certainly wouldn't stand by and watch the King of Goguryeo fall into the hands of other tribes.
As for who among them would be king?
As the Great Elder said earlier… who sits on it doesn't matter, does it?
As long as the King of Goguryeo remained from the Gao family, then the Gao family would be perfectly content!
Furthermore,
According to the order of succession, it was indeed this unfilial son’s turn to inherit the throne among the Gao family.
He couldn't possibly let a woman ascend, could he?
That wouldn't be appropriate!
Let alone the remaining four major tribes, even within the Gao family, they wouldn't agree.
This was also one of the reasons why Gao Xue Li, despite being the eldest princess, held no military power at all.
Eh?
Xue Li!
Thinking of his intelligent eldest daughter, a glimmer of hope ignited in Gao Bogu’s eyes.
"Great Elder, where is my daughter now?"
"This…"
Hearing Gao Bogu finally bring up his daughter, the Great Elder breathed a sigh of relief.
"I don't know!"
"You don't know?"
"Yes!"
Meeting Gao Bogu’s searching gaze, the Great Elder sighed deeply.
"It was too chaotic in the city at the time, and that girl seemed to have run out of the palace. No one knows where she is now!"
"This…"
Gao Bogu frowned, a trace of suspicion inexplicably arising in his heart.
Why did it feel like the Great Elder was very concerned about his eldest daughter?
Could it be…
This old fellow intended to support this eldest daughter to control Goguryeo?
No!
If this fellow succeeded, would Goguryeo still belong to their Gao family?
But, but…
Thinking of his current predicament, Gao Bogu’s complexion turned somewhat pale.
If he didn't find his eldest daughter, he would be in danger at any moment!
Moreover,
If the Great Elder supported that girl, wouldn't it also indirectly divert the unfilial son’s attention?
That’s it!
It would be like this!
Although it was somewhat dangerous for his own daughter, who else could she be but his daughter?
As the saying goes, it’s better to die a comrade than to die a friend!
Gao Bogu hadn’t heard this saying, but it didn't stop him from acting on it.
"How about this~!"
After carefully considering several places his daughter might have gone, Gao Bogu quietly instructed:
"Great Elder, once you find her, don't make a fuss. I fear the Han might harm her!"
"Don't worry!"
Having successfully obtained the information, the Great Elder, beaming with joy, bid a hasty farewell without heeding Gao Bogu's warning and rushed out.
Don't make a fuss?
What a joke!
They had already been searching the entire city in full force. Otherwise, do you think you would still be alive?
Outside the door,
Liu Jiang, who had been waiting impatiently, glared at the Great Elder with anger.
"I warn you!"
"If you dare to lie to us, we won't mind opening a hole in your head!"
"No, no…"
The Great Elder’s excited mood faltered, and he quickly patted his chest to guarantee:
"Sir, please rest assured, the eldest princess is absolutely a beauty rarely seen in a thousand years!"
"Hmph~!"
Liu Jiang, who had been searching for a long time without seeing anyone, expressed his disdain.
On the other hand, Gongsun Zan, who had cooperated with them earlier, smiled and chimed in:
"Commander Liu, you might not believe it, but I've heard rumors of the Goguryeo princess in You Province!"
"Oh?"
Hearing Gongsun Zan say this, Liu Jiang felt somewhat reassured, and he narrowed his eyes and smiled:
"General, please rest assured, I will share half the credit for this achievement with you!"
"No, please don't…"
Facing Liu Jiang's kind offer, Gongsun Zan repeatedly waved his hands in refusal.
What kind of joke was this?
He was about to become Ye Feng's father-in-law, would it be appropriate to accept this merit?
How would the reward be presented?
Would he reward the father-in-law for helping his son-in-law find another beautiful woman?
Don't be ridiculous!
At that time, not to mention his own daughter, even his father-in-law would not be easy to explain to!
With this thought,
Gongsun Zan dared not linger any longer. After a brief greeting, he hurried off to attend to his duties.
He was not idle at the moment!
Although there was cooperation from the four major tribes, there were still occasional conflicts between the Han army and the rebels within the city.
After all,
Not everyone was as unpatriotic as those elders.
For those tribal elders, they still lived by the principle of the strong ruling the weak.
Gongsun Zan was strong, or rather, the Han was strong, so they submitted.
Wasn't this the first time?
But for those who held patriotism in their hearts, the invasion of their country by the Han was an extreme humiliation.
Even though the Han was very powerful at this moment, they still would not give up their struggle.
Huh?
Why does it sound like they are the bad guys?
Recalling the tragic deaths of the common people in Houcheng, Gongsun Zan gritted his teeth.
The saying goes, an eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth.
Since those beasts were so unscrupulous, then let them also taste the bitter experience of their homeland falling!