I rode and slashed unparalleled in the Three Kingdoms

Chapter 1092 The Fate of Japan
Su Yao's eyes lit up when he heard that an envoy from Japan had arrived.

It should be noted that in addition to his personal westward expedition, the expansion overseas was also a key focus of his work.

Countless heroes and seasoned soldiers emerged during the civil war at the end of the Han Dynasty. Rather than letting them waste their lives at home, it would be better to let them go overseas to explore and make contributions, fight for the survival space of the nation, and extend the territory of the Han Dynasty to more distant places.

At the same time, this would prevent some people from having too much free time and harboring improper thoughts while he was away. Japan was clearly a major focus of his overseas expansion.

Seeing that Su Yao showed interest, Hou Cheng quickly stepped forward, took a closer look, and clicked his tongue, saying, "Your Highness, you don't know, these Japanese are short and small, wearing burlap sacks, and they even dare to glare at our Empress. If it weren't for the fact that they offered some rare seafood, General Lü would have almost chopped them all down to offer as a sacrifice to the flag."

Su Yao chuckled, "Fengxian still has such a fiery temper." He glanced at the newspaper again, noticing it was old news from about six months ago, and asked, "Did those Japanese say anything? How did the court deal with them afterwards?"

Hou Cheng scratched his head and recalled, "The soldiers who delivered the message at the post station said that the Japanese were talking in a lot of gibberish, which even the translator couldn't quite understand. They only roughly understood that they wanted His Majesty to bestow some ironware and silk, and that there was a tribe on their island called 'Yamatai' with a female chieftain who wanted to establish friendly relations with the Han Dynasty."

"As for how to deal with them..." Hou Cheng paused, "Her Majesty the Empress saw that they were barbaric and ignorant, so she didn't hold it against them. She rewarded them with some cloth and farm tools to take back, and also sent an envoy to accompany them to investigate the situation there."

"But almost half a year has passed now, and there seems to be no news. We don't know the specifics. Maybe something has happened."

Su Yao frowned slightly. Japan was currently divided, with Yamatai and the Kingdom of Kunu locked in a fierce war. Although these islanders were backward, they were not lacking in ambition.

His original plan was to first conquer the entire Korean Peninsula, then build naval ports in Busan and Yeosu in the south, control Jeju Island and Tsushima Island, and then land on the Japanese archipelago.

After all, in this day and age, the dangers of sea voyages are still considerable, and ensuring access to transshipment ports along the way is of utmost importance.

But to his surprise, the Japanese actually came to his door on their own initiative and caused quite a commotion.

Perhaps by taking advantage of this incident, he can appropriately accelerate the development of this island group in the Haidong Islands.

"Write it down." Su Yao said to the attendant behind him, "After returning to Luoyang, immediately order Taishi Ci and Gan Ning to prepare the fleet and mobilize 5,000 elite troops. If there is still no news from the mission after the spring, immediately cross the sea to the east and investigate the true situation of Japan. If our mission is killed, take the opportunity to wipe out Yamatai and establish it as a Han Chinese prefecture."

Hou Cheng was astonished: "Your Highness has just returned and you're already making a move? Those dwarfs don't look like they can take a beating, is it really worth making such a big fuss?"

“What do you know?” Su Yao put down his newspaper, his gaze deep. “Although the islands of Haidong are remote, they are rich in gold, silver, copper, and iron, and have countless excellent harbors. Now, our Great Han's trade routes extend westward to Parthia. If we could also open up the Haidong shipping route, connecting Liaodong in the north and Jiaozhi in the south, we could form a maritime trade route. At that time, wealth would flow in, not only enough to support the westward expedition, but also to support the expansion of the South China Sea. Furthermore…”

He traced the location of Japan on the map with his finger: "These islanders are protected by the ocean. If we don't tame them sooner or later, they will become a big problem for us. Rather than waiting for them to grow strong, we should bring them into our territory now, let them learn Chinese characters and etiquette, and make them submit to our great Han for generations."

Hou Cheng inwardly scoffed, seemingly unable to comprehend that those savages could threaten the Han Dynasty. But since the general had said so, he quickly pretended to suddenly understand, nodding repeatedly in agreement, his mind filled with thoughts of following the general into battle in the Western Regions to bring glory to his ancestors.

Safia sat to the side, unable to understand their conversation, but she sensed the unwavering determination in Su Yao's tone. She quietly gripped his sleeve, feeling that this man's ambition seemed more vast than the Arabian desert. After learning about the current situation back home, the sun had completely set, and Su Yao rested temporarily at the residence of the garrison commander of Yumen Pass. Safia, new to the Central Plains, was filled with curiosity about everything. Lying in bed that night, listening to the howling sandstorm outside the window, she couldn't sleep. Su Yao noticed her unease and pulled her into his arms: "What's wrong? Not used to the sandstorms here?"

Safia shook her head, the familiar scent of him lingering around her nose, and said softly, "It just feels... so far from Nisa." She thought of the snow-capped mountains and deserts that Griffin had flown over, those continuous mountain ranges acting like barriers, separating her familiar world from the unfamiliar land before her.

Su Yao chuckled, his fingertips tracing her soft hair: "You'll get used to it soon. Luoyang is not like Nisa; there are no howling winds there, only bustling streets and warm palaces. After spring arrives, I'll take you to see the peonies of Luoyang; those flowers are even more beautiful than the roses of the Kushan Empire."

When the peony was mentioned, a hint of longing flashed in Safia's eyes, but she was also a little uneasy: "Would the noble ladies of the Central Plains... dislike a woman of a foreign race like me?"

"Who dares to dislike you?" Su Yao's tone suddenly became stern, then softened. "You are a concubine appointed by the emperor himself, and it is not up to others to criticize you."

"And what about His Majesty the Emperor of the Han Dynasty?"

Safia clutched at Su Yao's clothes, her expression growing increasingly tense.

According to their original understanding, the Holy Lord was naturally the supreme being. But from the words of the Han people she met, the Holy Lord seemed to be just a prince under the Han Emperor, not the true supreme ruler.

In Parthia, far from the emperor's reach, they could disregard the majesty of the Han emperor. But now, having come to the Han Dynasty with the Holy Lord, the unfamiliar empress suddenly seemed incredibly real and imposing.

She had even heard that the Empress was not only Su Yao's ruler, but also his lawfully wedded wife. This relationship made her even more uneasy. In Parthia, the principal wife had the power of life and death over the concubines. She couldn't imagine how the Empress, who could make Su Yao bow down to her, would look at her as a "trophy."

"Do not worry."

Su Yao reassured her, "Wan Nian is no ordinary woman. Although she grew up in the deep palace, she also experienced a period of chaos and is very compassionate. Over the years, she has been very kind to all the concubines in the harem, and she even helped me arrange for many women to enter the palace. Not to mention, you not only have a great general as your father, but you are also on the same wavelength as Griffin and can help me tame sacred beasts and expand our territory. She would be overjoyed to know this, so why would she make things difficult for you?"

Upon hearing this, a glimmer of hope appeared in Safia's eyes: "Really? Her Majesty the Empress... will she really accept me?"

“Of course. I can assure you.” Su Yao chuckled, his hands suddenly becoming more restless. “However, the Han people value lineage the most. If you can bear me a son or daughter, then your position will be unshakeable.”

Safia's cheeks flushed instantly, and after a moment of feigned resistance, the two were soon entwined.

The next day, Su Yao, looking refreshed, strode out with the almost unsteady Safia in his arms, embarking on his journey back to Luoyang amidst the enthusiastic farewells of the crowd.

(End of this chapter)