Tang Dynasty, my wife Wu Zetian

Chapter 382 The Domineering Tang Envoy

At the beginning of March, during a regular court session, the Minister of Rites Li Jingxuan submitted a memorial requesting that the princes and princesses be given an additional tutor to comply with the regulations.

Li Zhi didn't quite understand this kind of etiquette, so he agreed directly and handed the matter over to Wu Meiniang.

After hearing about this, Concubine Jiang resigned from her position and requested to serve as Princess Taiping's tutor.

The status of an ordinary tutor is far lower than that of a Shang Gong, but compared with a Shang Gong, he has a greater chance of being granted a title.

Wu Meiniang also felt that she was too old and lacked energy, and might not be able to do the job anymore. In addition, Jiang Shang Gong seemed to be very much liked by Princess Taiping, so she agreed to her request.

Li Zhi didn't have the energy to pay more attention to the affairs of the harem at this time.

That afternoon, Liu Rengui suddenly sent someone to deliver a message that made him furious.

The Ainu people actually locked Liu Renyuan up.

Li Zhi has now discovered that the smaller the country, the more it likes to jump around, while the big countries that have existed for many years, on the contrary, understand the rules better.

Now that the threat from Japan is gone, Li Zhi does not intend to endure it any longer.

He immediately sent an order to Liu Rengui, asking him to make preparations for the expedition to Ezo, and also sent orders to Silla and Baekje, telling them that the Tang navy would pass through the two countries and asking them to cooperate.

When Li Ji learned about this, he went to the palace at night and advised Li Zhi to calm down his anger for the time being and to send an order to the Mohe people to send envoys to Emishi to warn them to release the people.

If the Ezo still resists, it will not be too late to fight again.

Li Zhi was very confused and asked, "They even dared to imprison the Tang envoys. Will they listen to the Mohe people?"

Li Ji laughed and said, "Your Majesty, you don't know that the Mohe are quite prestigious in the far northeast. The Sushen are stronger than the Emi, but they are often defeated by the Mohe. Therefore, the Emi are deeply afraid of the Mohe."

Li Zhi asked, "What other countries are there in the Northeastern Pole?"

Li Ji said, "The larger nations include the Emishi, Sushen, Liugui, Qudumei, and Yaksha. These nations all fear the Mohe."

Li Zhi nodded. The Mohe people were equivalent to regional hegemons, and their control over these small countries in the region was stronger than that of the Tang Dynasty.

He immediately approved Li Ji's request and sent an order to Yingzhou, asking Liu Rengui to send an envoy to Mohe and let the Mohe people warn Emishi.

When the Mohe leader Qiqi Zhongxiang met the Tang envoy, he did not dare to neglect him and sent his son Zuorong to Ezo in person.

The settlement of the Ainu people is composed of an archipelago, the two largest of which are Minami Kui Island (Hokkaido) and Kita Kui Island (Sakhalin Island), one in the south and one in the north.

Most of the Ainu people lived on Nankui Island and made a living by fishing and hunting, so the Ainu tribes were all located on the coast.

The camp of Ezo Oga, the leader of the Ezo tribes, was located near a coast in the southern part of the island.

The Ainu people lived in a unique kind of wooden frame huts. There were no prisons in the country, so Liu Renyuan was imprisoned by them in a house with a leaky roof.

The Ainu people did not tie him up, nor did they close the door, and there was no one guarding outside.

In fact, they would rather Liu Renyuan escape, but unfortunately, Liu Renyuan stayed here and refused to leave.

With a creak, the old wooden door was pushed open and the cold wind rushed in.

Although Liu Renyuan was strong, he was not used to the climate here and was shivering with cold.

Along with the cold wind, a group of hairy men came in.

They are taller than the Japanese, have light brown skin, black wavy hair, and wear clothes made of bird feathers, fur, and fish skin.

Everyone has a strange tattoo on the edge of their mouth, which symbolizes their identity.

A man with the most tattoos on the corners of his mouth and a long sword on his waist said to him, "Tangren, go back. You can take those armors with you."

His tone was strange and his Tang language was very obscure. If Liu Renyuan had not stayed here for a few days, he would not have been able to understand his Tang language at all.

This person is the leader of Ezo, Ezo Oga.

Except for him who used a long sword, other Ezo guards used stone and bone weapons, including stone hammers, stone axes, and bone spears.

Liu Renyuan said, "I have already said that you must hand over the heads of Ezo Masao and his men before I will leave."

A murderous look flashed across Ezo Oga's eyes, but it was quickly suppressed.

Masao Ezo was his nephew and the commander of the Ezo army that attacked the two hundred Tang troops.

When Liu Renyuan arrived in Ezo, Ezo Oga initially welcomed him and promised to return all the looted Tang Dynasty armor to him.

However, Liu Renyuan insisted that Ezo Oga hand over the Ezo people who attacked the Tang army, so that he could go back and report to the Emperor of the Tang Dynasty and forgive the Ezo people.

This angered Ezo Oga, who then locked him up.

Ezo Oga originally wanted to kill Liu Renyuan.

He felt that no matter how powerful the Tang people were, they were so far away that they could not do anything to him.

Later, after hearing that the Tang army had wiped out more than 50,000 Japanese troops, they did not dare to kill them and wanted Liu Renyuan to take his armor and people and leave quickly.

But Liu Renyuan refused to leave and insisted that he hand over Masao Ezo and his soldiers.

Ezo Oga naturally disagreed, and the two sides remained in a stalemate.

"Two of your one hundred men are already sick. If they don't leave now, they will die," Ezo Oga reminded.

Liu Renyuan said coldly: "If they die, it will be blamed on you."

At this moment, a young Ainu man rushed in from outside, holding a stone hammer in his hand, and smashed it towards Liu Renyuan.

Liu Renyuan dodged, turned around and kicked the Ainu man to the ground.

The man got up and was about to continue attacking, but was stopped by Ezo Oga.

"Chief, this Tang man is extremely hateful, why don't you kill him?" The young man was none other than Masao Ezo.

Ezo Oga said in Ezo language: "The Tang people are more powerful than the Wa people. Even the Mohe people are subject to them. It is better not to offend them."

"So you want to hand me over to the Tang people?" the young man asked angrily.

Ezo Oga said coldly, "We Ezo people never fear a strong enemy, and we will never betray our people for that. Don't worry about him, everyone go and offer sacrifices to the Bear God!"

The Ainu people quickly left the house and no longer paid any attention to Liu Renyuan.

The Ainu people worship nature and offer sacrifices to the bear god, which is their most grand activity.

However, before the sacrifice began, someone came to report that the Mohe envoys had arrived.

Ezo Oga hurriedly stopped the sacrifice and went to the main hall to entertain the Mohe envoys.

The Emishi people had a very poor geographical environment. To the south was Wa, to the west was Sushen, and to the north was Ryugui.

In order to fight against the Sushen Kingdom, they have always taken the initiative to make friends with the Mohe and use the Mohe to suppress the Sushen Kingdom, so they did not dare to neglect the Mohe envoys.

When I arrived at the main hall of the chief's house, I saw a burly young man standing in the center of the house with his hands behind his back waiting.

The young man was a head taller than Ezo Oga, with muscular body and skin as cold and hard as marble. He stood with his arms folded, and had a small braid behind his head.

"I never thought that the bear god would bring Prince Zuorong to Ezo. On behalf of all the Ezo people, Oga welcomes the prince." Ezo Oga bowed respectfully.

Zuo Rong simply nodded and asked, "I heard there are Tang envoys in Ezo?"

Ezo Oga was slightly startled and asked, "Yes, you came for him?" Zuo Rong did not answer, but only said, "Take me to see him."

Ezo Oga hesitated for a moment.

Zuo Rong stared at him and said, "I'll say it again, take me to see the Tang envoy!"

Ezo Oga sighed, moved aside, and extended his hand, saying, "Please."

Liu Renyuan was leaning against the leaky wooden house, rubbing his legs.

He had been in Ezo for so long that he was freezing and weak.

Although the kick just now knocked down Masao Ezo, a bruise also appeared on his leg.

Just as he was rubbing the bruise, he heard footsteps outside again and quickly sat up straight.

The door was pushed open again, and this time a tall young man came in.

Ezo Oga followed behind, explaining somewhat humbly, "Prince Zuorong, it's not that we won't let him go, it's just that he won't leave."

Zuo Rong ignored him and quickly walked to Liu Renyuan, knelt on one knee, and said with a bow, "Zuo Rong greets Deputy Commander Liu."

The surrounding Ainu people were dumbfounded. Is this Tang envoy so important?

Liu Renyuan stared at him for a while and said, "Are you the son of Chief Qiqi?"

Zuo Rong said happily, "Yes, I once went to Yingzhou with my father to attend the meeting. I didn't expect you still remember me."

Liu Renyuan asked, "Why are you here?"

Zuo Rong said, "Commander Liu sent someone to the Mohe to explain your situation, and my father sent me to pick you up."

Liu Renyuan remained silent.

If he wanted to leave, he would have left long ago, but he was worried that he would not be able to bring back the Ainu people who killed the Tang army, and it would be difficult for him to explain to the emperor.

"Chief Oga, this is the last time I will say this to you. Hand over Ezo Masao and his men. If you don't hand them over now, I will lead the army to Ezo myself next time. Don't regret it!" Liu Renyuan threatened coldly.

Ezo Oga clenched his fists, feeling hesitant.

Zuo Rong said with his hands behind his back, "Chief Ezo, this is Deputy Governor Liu of Yingzhou. You'd better take his words seriously."

Ezo Oga was slightly startled, slowly turned his head and looked at Ezo Masao.

The latter was terrified and shouted, "Chief, I only attacked the Tang people on your orders!"

Oga was furious and said, "Catch him."

Immediately, some Ezo guards came forward. Masao tried to resist, but was soon beaten to death with a stone hammer, and his head was deformed.

Liu Renyuan remained calm and said, "And his subordinates."

Ezo Oga gritted his teeth and said, "Of the one thousand Ezo people led by Masao to attack the Tang army, only about three hundred have returned."

Liu Renyuan said, "I want to take away the heads of those three hundred people as well."

Ezo Oga said, "If I give you my head, you will never take revenge on me again!"

Liu Renyuan said, "I can't promise you."

Ezo Oga was shocked and angry, and shouted, "Ezo people will not be humiliated!" He grasped the hilt of the knife and seemed ready to take action.

Zuo Rong stared at Ezo Oga's knife-gripping hand and said coldly, "Deputy Commander Liu didn't agree to your request because he couldn't make the decision. Only His Majesty the Emperor can make the decision on this matter."

He was ready to strike. As long as Ezo Oga drew his sword, he would be able to subdue him in an instant.

Liu Renyuan said, "That's right. I can only promise you that I will plead with His Majesty to not punish you, the Emishi."

After a long silence, Ezo Oga finally loosened his grip on the knife and said, "Okay, I promise you."

In a remote bay somewhere west of Ezo, there was a large ship anchored, which was the looted Tang army warship.

There were signs of a fierce fight on the boat, as well as a lot of blood.

According to Ezo Oga, the Ezo people attacked the Tang army's warships at night. The Tang army resisted stubbornly and would probably have failed if they had not used a poison-coated blowpipe.

The armor had been moved back to the warship, and Ezo Oga also ordered people to send more than 300 human heads and pile them on the warship.

The one hundred men accompanying Liu Renyuan also boarded the boat at this moment.

Before leaving, Ezo Oga stood at the dock and said to Liu Renyuan, "I have completed your request. I wonder if we can discuss further details about our joint efforts against Japan?"

Although the Ainu people were surrounded by enemies on three sides, their greatest wish was to invade Japan's Honshu Island and occupy this warm land.

Liu Renyuan said, "I will mention this matter to His Majesty when I return. You just wait for the news."

Ezo Oga hurriedly said, "The Japanese are recruiting new soldiers for the shogunate. Please inform His Majesty the Emperor and act as soon as possible!"

Liu Renyuan nodded and said, "I understand." He ordered his men to set sail and head towards Silla.

Zuo Rong wanted to make friends with Liu Renyuan, so he took his men and drove several small Mohe boats, guarding them all the way, preparing to escort Liu Renyuan to Yingzhou.

A few days later, Liu Renyuan's warships arrived in Silla.

Silla Prince Jin Renwen personally led 3,000 Silla navy to escort him back to Xiongjin Port.

Liu Renyuan wanted to refuse, but Jin Renwen told him that Japan was in chaos and there were many Japanese pirates on the sea, which was very dangerous.

Liu Renyuan inquired about the situation in detail and found out that it was because Zhong Daxiong had carried out an iron-blooded suppression of the nobles under Queen Bao.

Many Japanese nobles fled to Baekje and took refuge with Queen Bo, which led to Buyeo Uiji's growing power, and now he can compete with Bok Shin.

Liu Renyuan did not refuse his kindness and soon arrived at Xiongjin Port under the escort of Mohe and Silla people.

After meeting Jiang Ke, he handed the weapons to him and asked him to deliver them to Fuxin of Buyeo.

Then they continued their journey by boat, and after a few days, they finally returned to Yingzhou.

It is now May and the weather is getting warmer.

Originally, Liu Renyuan thought Yingzhou was a cold and harsh place.

However, after visiting Ezo, I felt that Yingzhou was truly a sunny and warm place.

Liu Renyuan did not even bother to rest and went all the way to the study of the Governor's Mansion to report the situation to Liu Rengui.

Just as I was about to push the door open, I heard a loud voice coming from inside.

Liu Renyuan was overjoyed. He pushed the door open and entered the room. He saw a tall and capable man standing in the room. Who else could it be but Gao Kan?
"Haha, Lao Gao, you missed a big battle this time." He hit Gao Kan on the chest.

Gao Kan was delighted when he saw him and said with a smile, "I thought you would never come back from Ezo."

Liu Renyuan's expression straightened, and he bowed to Liu Rengui and said, "General, I have acted recklessly and caused you trouble. I beg for your punishment."

Liu Rengui looked at him and said, "Tell me about your gains first. I don't believe you will return empty-handed."

Liu Renyuan grinned and said, "I have already handed over three thousand pieces of military equipment to General Jiang, and also brought back the heads of the Ainu who killed my Tang army."

(End of this chapter)