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'Emperor Taizong of Tang' (r. 626-649), the second emperor of Chinese dynasty Tang Dynasty, asserting that a campaign against 'Goguryeo' was necessary to protect Tang's vassal Silla, as well as to punish Goguryeo's ''Mangniji'' (regent) Yeon Gaesomun for his killing of Goguryeo's King Yeongnyu, launched a major campaign against Goguryeo in 644, commanded by himself with the assistance of the generals Li Shiji, Li Daozong, and Zhangsun Wuji. In 645, after defeating the main Goguryeo army, Emperor Taizong appeared poised to march on Goguryeo's capital Pyongyang and conquer Gogureyo, became bogged down by the strong defenses put up by the defender of Anshi/Ansi (安市, in modern Anshan, Liaoning) -- whose name is lost to history but is traditionally believed to be Yang Mangchun -- and was unable to proceed further. He withdrew. Thereafter, for the rest of Emperor Taizong's reign, he would have his general launch harassment raids against Goguryeo, but would not again launch a major attack on Goguryeo. After Xue Yan Tuo was destroyed, Taizong started to built up his navy in anticipation for 2nd major campaign in 649, but unfortunetly Taizong died that same year, stalling the campaign. Originally, Taizong was going to send an army of 300,000, which is an army 3 times greater than the army of the 645 campaign. Goguryeo would not be conquered by Tang until 668, during the reign of his son Emperor Gaozong.

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See also

See also

★ Emperor Taizong's campaign against Xueyantuo

★ Goguryeo-Tang Wars