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

Chapter 315 What would happen if the three countries of the Korean Peninsula joined forces to attack Japan?
Soga no Emishita, his face pale, shouted and reached out to block his retainer's sword swing.

Looking at Fang You, whose face remained unchanged and showed no sign of fear, he couldn't help but recall what his father had told him long ago.

"Those behemoths on the Western continent are a bunch of seemingly kind fellows. They claim to be a land of etiquette, but if they want to attack you, they will find all sorts of excuses, and even send people to commit suicide."

"Remember, before Japan has a foothold on that continent, we must not antagonize this behemoth, even if they are embroiled in internal strife."

This was the conclusion his father reached after coming to this continent decades ago.

He still remembered that when he was a child, the Sui Dynasty minister who went to Japan was just as arrogant.

They even demanded that their Emperor bow to him.

The scene back then is exactly the same as today.

His retainer beside him said with some resentment, "Minister!"

"That's enough, Yamada, let's dismount."

Soga no Emishi gazed intently toward the Mingde Gate, then dismounted.

I walked towards Mingde Gate.

Fang You followed behind the two of them, feigning composure.

Despite the freezing weather, his back was already soaked with sweat.

The knife was only inches away from him just now.

However, he quickly regained his composure and led the way for Soga no Emishi with a square gait.

He only breathed a sigh of relief when he got close to Li Daozong.

"This is Li Daozong, the Prince of Rencheng of the Great Tang Dynasty and the Minister of the Court of State Ceremonies."

When Soga no Ezo approached, Fang You stepped forward and introduced him to him.

"Minister Soga no Emishi of the Great Wa Kingdom greets His Excellency Prince Renjo." Although Soga no Emishi was unwilling, he had no choice at this point.

They had no choice but to respectfully perform the Japanese etiquette towards Li Daozong.

"Isn't this a sign of good manners? Why were you unwilling to come forward and pay your respects to me earlier?"

Li Daozong was feeling frustrated, so naturally he wouldn't give Soga no Emishi a friendly look.

This condescending question ignited anger in the latter, but he dared not retaliate and could only suppress it, causing the muscles on his face to twitch uncontrollably.

"I'm asking you a question!"

"Your Excellency, I am unfamiliar with the etiquette of the Tang Dynasty. I hope Your Excellency will forgive me."

As the saying goes, "When you're under someone's roof, you have to bow your head." Soga no Emishi, though a Japanese, understood this principle.

His biggest regret now is that he came to the Tang Dynasty in person.

"I heard you're eyeing Silla?" Suddenly, a voice questioned from beside me.

Soga no Emishi frowned and looked in the direction of the sound, only to see a child.

He was immediately dissatisfied.

How dare the people of the Tang Dynasty humiliate me like this?

Why would they send a child to greet me?
"This is the magistrate of Gaoyang County."

Seeing that his expression was off, Fang You immediately scolded him.

"County?"

Soga no Emishi knew about the ranks in the Tang Dynasty and knew that this was the lowest rank, so he still didn't take Wen He seriously and simply replied coldly.

"Japan has never coveted it."

But after he spoke, he suddenly remembered what the cavalrymen had shouted earlier.

Could it be that this child in front of me said it?

"Really? But the people from Silla said you're building ships on Tsushima Island?"

Wen He chuckled softly.

"Slander! This is slander! And it was done to Ma Zong! His Majesty the Emperor was completely unaware of it!"

Soga no Ezo immediately denied it.

He was indeed telling the truth; the so-called Emperor of Japan truly knew nothing about this matter.

After all, how could a woman who is seriously ill and bedridden possibly know these things?

But Soga no Ezo could not possibly have been unaware of it.

“King Imseong, this Minister Soga claims it’s slander. Shouldn’t we reconsider whether or not we should sell the armor and weapons to Silla and Baekje?”

Wen He feigned hesitation, but her small face clearly showed a look of dissatisfaction.

Selling armor and weapons?!
Soga no Emishi's gaze involuntarily fell upon the Tang soldiers before him.

impossible!
These are definitely the armor and weapons that only the most elite troops of the Tang Dynasty possessed.

In his distraction, he failed to notice the exchange of glances between Wen He and Li Daozong.

Upon hearing this, the latter immediately understood Wen He's meaning. After a moment of contemplation, he said, "I will question Silla and Baekje later. If this matter is false, then I will never sell them those 100,000 sets of iron armor and swords."

"hiss!"

Soga no Emishi gasped in shock.

One hundred thousand sets of iron armor and swords!

He couldn't help but shudder.

Even though the armor given to Silla and Baekje wasn't as impressive as the armor of the army before them.

But that's armor.

In Japan, only nobles could own iron armor.

The Tang Dynasty was able to sell 100,000 items to neighboring countries!
This is obviously meant to scare people, but Soga no Emishi has any way of verifying it.

Their relationship with Silla and Baekje was not good, and they had many clashes at sea.

Even this time, when Soga no Ezo came to Tang Dynasty, he did not dare to pass through the peninsula, but took a long detour.

Don't underestimate this detour; with Japan's current maritime technology, the longer they stay at sea, the more dangerous it becomes for them.

"Alright, let's go into the city. The Court of State Ceremonial has already arranged accommodations for you. Tomorrow, someone will come to your residence to teach you etiquette. Remember, you must learn it before the Yuanhui Festival, otherwise His Majesty will not summon you."

Li Daozong glanced at him disdainfully, then pulled on the reins and left.

Wen He also boarded the carriage at the same time.

The group departed in a grand procession, leaving Soga no Emishi and the others bewildered in the wind.

That's incredibly rude!

"Minister, let's go back. We can just give up the Tang Dynasty's technology." The retainer named Yamada was furious. But before he could finish speaking, Soga no Emishi slapped him hard across the face.

"Foolish fool! Only by acquiring Tang's iron-smelting technology can we manufacture more armor and weapons, as well as larger ships!"

"Hi!"

Fang You, who was still waiting to the side, glanced at the interpreter.

It seemed they were waiting for him to translate.

But the translator dared not say such a thing, and could only laugh dryly twice.

Fang You frowned, immediately snorted in dissatisfaction, and then helplessly led the way.

When Soga no Emishi entered Chang'an through the wide gate...

Fang You was not surprised to see the word "shock" on his face.

However, he failed to notice that beneath Soga no Emishi's shock lay a hidden greed.

"One hundred years! If we give Japan just one hundred years, we can step into this place that's like a divine realm!"

"What is the Court of State Ceremonial going to do next?"

On the way to the Court of State Ceremonial, Wen He got out of the carriage and asked Li Yifu to sit on the other side. He looked up and asked Li Daozong.

"Naturally, it's the usual practice to have the Court of State Ceremonial send someone to teach them etiquette, then have them participate in the Yuanhui (New Year's Assembly), give them some gifts, and then let them go back. What else can we do?"

"Is this how you conduct diplomacy?" Wen He asked helplessly.

The position of Minister of the Court of State Ceremonial should be filled by a new person.

It would be better to let Tang Jian do it.

"You little brat, then tell me what I should do?" Li Daozong snorted and asked in return.

"This matter is actually simple. When will the delegations from Silla and Baekje arrive?" Wen He suddenly raised an eyebrow and asked with a sly look.

Li Daozong did not answer Wen He immediately, but instead recalled how Wen He had conspired with him to deceive the Japanese outside the city gate.

After a moment of contemplation, Li Daozong suddenly chuckled: "You little brat, you're not trying to sow discord among the three families, are you? But they're already enemies, there's no need for us to stir things up."

“But they’re only playing small-scale games right now,” Wen He said.

"That's because Goguryeo was there, and Silla and Baekje would never want to be attacked from both sides."

Li Daozong understood this very well.

If Li Shimin, as the Minister of the Court of State Ceremonial, lacked even this basic understanding, then he truly did not know how to employ people.

"What if we involve Goguryeo as well? What do you think would happen if the three countries of the peninsula joined forces to attack Japan?"

Wen He smiled slyly.

Li Daozong suddenly pulled on the reins and looked at him in surprise.

If this were to happen, the situation of the Tang Dynasty in Liaodong would be quickly alleviated.

Regardless of who wins or loses among the four sides, the Tang Dynasty will at least have a few years of peace in Liaodong.

But Li Daozong felt that this was too idealistic and difficult to implement.

He hesitated for a moment, then said, "Let's enter the palace."

Before Wen He could react, he reached out and lifted Wen He off the carriage.

"Li Daozong, you son of a bitch!"

Li Yifu, sitting in the carriage, stared in astonishment as his master was captured.

Not long after, inside the Liangyi Hall.

Wen He and Li Daozong stood in the middle of the main hall, being stared at by a group of powerful figures.

Fang Xuanling stroked his beard, staring at Wen He with narrowed eyes for a long time.

"The three kingdoms of Goguryeo, Silla, and Baekje have been fighting for a long time; how can they possibly unite as one?"

Fang Xuanling did not reject Wen He's idea, but asked how to do it.

"Have someone leak the information that Japan has a large silver mine that can produce hundreds of kilograms a day. Just tell them the location, and they will naturally send people to investigate."

Japan must have discovered some silver mines to be able to produce so much silver.

Given Yeon Gaesomun's greed and desire to establish his authority, he would never let this opportunity slip by.

"But how can we guarantee the alliance of the three kingdoms?" asked Xiao Yu.

Just as Wen He was about to speak, Du Ruhui spoke first: "That's not difficult. Baekje and Silla are skilled at shipbuilding, while Goguryeo has few ships. If Goguryeo wants to cross the sea to Japan, it must rely on the two countries."

“What if Goguryeo wanted to destroy Baekje and Silla first?” Yuwen Shiji thought this was a bit far-fetched.

"will not."

Suddenly, Li Shimin, sitting on the throne, spoke up: "If Yeon Gaesomun were a smart man, he would never have done this. If the three kingdoms were to go to war, Japan would certainly be on guard, and Goguryeo would be bogged down in a quagmire."

Upon hearing this, everyone immediately understood.

If His Majesty says so, then he agrees with Wen He's proposal.

"only."

Li Shimin suddenly changed the subject, staring intently at Wen He: "If Japan is really conquered, are we just going to give them all that silver?"

Ever since learning that Japan possessed silver, copper, and iron mines, Li Shimin regarded them as his own private property; otherwise, he would not have sent Li Daozong to personally welcome Soga no Emishi this time.

Upon hearing this, Wen He couldn't help but chuckle.

Li Er underestimated the weakness of Japan.

However, this is not his fault, after all, Japan is a country located overseas.

"Your Majesty, even if Goguryeo, Silla, and Baekje unite, they cannot be completely of one mind. Moreover, Japan is not weak either; it can certainly muster a few hundred thousand troops."

Wen He said.

Li Shimin gave a meaningful "Oh".

Fang Xuanling and Du Ruhui exchanged a glance, and after a moment of contemplation, the former stepped forward first.

"Your Majesty, the Silla envoy stationed in Chang'an has inquired with the Ministry of Rites about purchasing some weapons. I believe that since there are quite a few old weapons in the treasury, it would be better to sell some of them, thus demonstrating the righteousness of our suzerain state."

"can."

Without a moment's hesitation, Li Shimin looked at Wen He again and said solemnly.

"As for how to tell them about the silver in Japan... Wen He, I'll leave this to you. Make sure you don't make any mistakes."

To be honest, there's really no one else suitable to handle this matter except Wen He.

After all, this is something that the Hundred Riders are best at.

(End of this chapter)