Tang Dynasty: A Guide to Avoiding Pitfalls for Li Er at the Start

Chapter 128 The enemy of my enemy is my friend

"presumptuous!"

"Insanity!"

The Turks dared to provoke the Tang Dynasty in this way, blatantly extorting them.

Previously, Li Yuan sent money and horses to the Turks, but this was by no means tribute, let alone submission.

However, it was because the Turks were powerful at the time, and the Tang Dynasty had to fight against those separatist forces in various places, that Liu Wenjing was sent to stabilize the Turks.

But now the Turks are saying that the Tang Dynasty used to pay tribute!

"These mere barbarians dare to insult my Great Tang! Your Highness, I am willing to lead my army to annihilate them!"

None of the civil and military officials in the hall expected that Li Yi would be the first to step forward.

"I understand the Prince of Yan's intentions, but these barbarians are ignorant of etiquette, so I don't blame them." Li Shimin smiled instead of getting angry, signaling Li Yi not to put on an act in front of him.

After Li Yi returned to Chang'an, Li Shimin would not give him any opportunity to lead troops.

The reason I brought him here today is to inform the Turks that I have transferred Li Yi back to Chang'an.

As for who is currently guarding Jingzhou, you can guess.

If you, Jieli, have the guts, then come and fight me.

"As for the natural disasters that have struck the Turkic territory, I deeply sympathize with them. I am willing to trade with Jieli. How about exchanging one shi of grain for one horse or five oxen?"

Li Shimin tapped his fingers lightly on the table, secretly observing the reactions of the two Turks.

One bushel of grain could be exchanged for one horse or five oxen.

This is undoubtedly an outrageous demand.

But Li Shimin didn't expect the deal to go through.

If the Turks were truly allowed to eat their fill, the Tang Dynasty would be the one to suffer.

Sure enough, as soon as he finished speaking, Boru objected without hesitation.

"Impossible! One stone is too little; it needs to be at least ten stones!"

"That's too much. Our Great Tang is also in dire need of funds right now, and we can't provide that much grain." Li Shimin shook his head helplessly.

Bolu stared wide-eyed, about to speak, when Li Shimin interrupted him: "This matter is of great importance and should be discussed at length. Let your Ministry of Rites take charge of Minister Tang. Once you have finished your discussion, then inform me."

Having said that, Li Shimin didn't want to say any more about the matter. He gestured to Changsun Wuji with his eyes, signaling him to come out and divert the Turks' attention.

After Changsun Wuji made some jokes, Li Shimin announced the end of the court session, and the Turkic delegation was arranged by the Ministry of Rites to stay at the Honglu Guest House.

Who are these barbarians?

The Japanese people who were also at the Honglu Inn happened to run into them, who had just checked in. One of the Japanese asked Onoko, puzzled.

"They seem to be Turks, said to be the most powerful enemy of the Tang Dynasty." Little Wild Horse looked at the group of Turks and narrowed her eyes.

"Ono-kun, since he is an enemy of the Tang Kingdom, can he become our friend? There is an old saying in the Central Plains: 'The enemy of my enemy is my friend.'"

The Japanese man's lips curled up into a sly smile.

"Yoshi, Fujino-kun, you've really mastered Chinese studies. You're right, the enemy of my enemy is my friend."

"If the Turks and the Tang Dynasty go to war, they will not be able to see the peninsula. At that time, we can join forces with Goguryeo to attack Baekje and Silla."

Little Wild Horse grinned maliciously.

Japan desperately wants to have a place on this vast land.

Even on a cold peninsula.

But once they establish a foothold, they can continuously transport people from Japan and then gradually encroach on the peninsula.

In the end, perhaps their descendants will be able to rival the vast Tang Dynasty.

"Ono-kun truly lives up to his reputation as the most trusted man of Minister Soga." A Japanese man standing nearby exclaimed in admiration.

The little wild horse was overjoyed by the praise.

"Alright, this is the Tang Dynasty, let's be careful what we say." Little Wild Horse looked around warily.

But other Japanese people disagreed.

"These Han people don't understand our language, so how could there be spies among us?"

The Japanese disagreed.

Upon hearing this, Xiao Yemazi couldn't help but laugh at herself, realizing that her worries were unnecessary.

"Whimsical!"

A short while later, inside the Hundred Cavalry Division, Wen He saw the intelligence report and gave a disdainful sneer.

This information came from a Japanese interpreter whom the Hundred Riders had bribed. Since learning the Japanese residence, Wen He had placed members of the Hundred Riders there.

He bribed three people, two of whom were translators who taught the Japanese to Chinese.

The other was the foot soldier who served Oobuko, that is, his attendant.

"These Japanese are just a bunch of gamblers."

Ever since Japan became civilized, they have been gambling with the fate of their nation.

Unfortunately, they lost every time they gambled.

The Battle of Baekgang in the future forced Japan to close its borders for hundreds of years. It wasn't until the Mongol army crossed the sea and was wiped out by a strong wind that Japan dared to show its fangs.

Unfortunately, they encountered Qi Jiguang.

Later, the Qing Dynasty proved to be outwardly strong but inwardly weak, and Japan once again gambled its national destiny.

They won that time, and the land of China was ravaged by their bloodshed.

"How could such a mere island nation have such ambitions?" Huang Chun was somewhat incredulous. Not to mention him, Xu Jingzong also found it unbelievable.

"I remember that the Japanese were very polite to everyone, bowing to everyone they met, and they were also very generous."

Hearing what Lao Xu said, Wen He knew that this treacherous official must have received benefits from the Japanese.

He said this as he put the intelligence he was holding into a wooden box.

“Unsolicited kindness is either a sign of treachery or theft. Japan is situated on an island, plagued by natural disasters, a dwindling population, and widespread hunger. Therefore, they are desperately seeking the mainland.”

"However, Japan has abundant silver, gold, and iron mines, but they lack the skilled technology. What do you think we should do a good deed, help them mine them, and transport the ore back to the Tang Dynasty?"

Wen He smiled kindly.

Huang Chun and Xu Jingzong looked at each other in bewilderment.

Wen He handed the wooden box to Huang Chun, asking him to give it to Li Shimin.

"I say, you two are the real leaders of the Hundred Cavalry. I've already resigned. Can you please stop calling on me for these kinds of things in the future? I'm still a child."

Wen He had originally intended to go back, but Xu Jingzong stopped her.

If it weren't for the fact that it involved Japan, he would have definitely run away.

"Hmm?" Xu Jingzong asked, puzzled.

Huang Chun was also puzzled: "His Highness did not dismiss you from your post. You are still the commander of our Hundred Cavalry."

"He said it!"

Wen He's face darkened.

He knew he had been tricked by Li Shimin, but he didn't want to admit it.

Li Er was, after all, the future emperor of the Tang Dynasty. Didn't he know what it meant to have a golden word that carries immense weight?
They're making fun of a ten-year-old child like this.

"As long as the Central Secretariat doesn't issue an edict, young master, you'll remain the commander of the Hundred Cavalry... Oh, by the way, you'll have to work hard on the news about the Turks from now on."

Huang Chun smiled and patted Wen He on the shoulder in a serious manner.

"He's abusing children, employing child labor!" Wen He exclaimed indignantly.

Xu Jingzong laughed and said, "I have thoroughly studied the laws of the Tang Dynasty, and there is no such provision among them. Young man, you should just accept your fate."

Wen He gritted her teeth, feeling a belly full of fire.

"Zhang Wenxiao, go find a few shorter, quick-witted men!"

Zhang Wenxiao, who was standing guard at the entrance for the three leaders of the Hundred Cavalry, peeked in upon hearing this.

"Young master, how short do you want him/her?"

"Um... are there any taller than me? Okay, there definitely aren't any Hundred Riders. Go find the Bad Guys and Young Masters and have them pick a few shorter ones. I need them."

All the riders were from the Imperial Guard, and their height was standardized.

Forget finding someone only one head taller than him, you can't even find someone two or three heads taller.

Wen He stood beside them, reaching no more than their waists.

"Wenxianzi, why are you looking for so many short people?" Xu Jingzong asked, puzzled.

Wen He looked at him, a smile playing on her lips, and said, "Go fight."

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(End of this chapter)