My father, Li Shimin, requests Your Majesty to become the Retired Emperor.

Princess Tianyan fell in love with Li Chenggan at first sight and fantasized about spending a wonderful night with him.

Li Chenggan immediately refused.

However, Princess Tanyan did not give up.

She really did go to see King Shuming.

the next morning.

Li Chengan had just finished breakfast when Qin Ying came in from outside and reported to him: "Soga no Emishi requests an audience."

Li Chenggan was taken aback when he heard this. He thought to himself that Soga no Emishi had no connection with him, so why would he come to visit him?

Moreover, Li Chenggan had also heard that Soga no Emishi held real power in Wa (Japan).

Soga no Emishi was in charge of the navy and held great power.

King Shuming was most proud of his navy, but he entrusted it to the Soga no Emishi.

This shows that King Shuming trusted Soga no Emishi very much.

Li Chengan thought to himself that he couldn't afford to offend such an important person easily.

So he said to Qin Ying, "Please invite him in."

"promise!"

Qin Ying agreed and turned to leave.

Not long after, Soga no Emishi walked in from outside.

Soga no Emishi, beaming with delight, quickly bowed and said, "Your Highness, I, Soga no Emishi, greet you."

Li Chengan discovered that this Soga no Ezo was tall and strong.

Li Chengan returned the courtesy, saying, "General, there's no need for such formalities. Please have a seat!"

"I have long wanted to visit you, but I have been unable to do so due to military affairs."

It is truly an honor to meet Your Highness today!

"General, you really have a knack for training the navy."

"Your Highness is too kind. Tonight, I have prepared a simple meal at my residence and would like to invite Your Highness, Songtsen Gampo, Queen Seondeok, and all the visiting friends to come and have a seat at my residence."

Li Chengan, hands on his knees, said, "General, you're too kind. I'm honored to receive such a reward without having done anything right. How can I accept it?"

"Your Highness, you are the Empress Dowager of the Great Tang Dynasty. I would be honored if you could visit my humble abode."

Upon hearing this, Li Chengan pondered to himself, "The Soga no Emishi are powerful figures in the Japanese kingdom. Since they are so hospitable, it's not appropriate to offend them."

"Since the general is so kind, then I shall respectfully accept."

Upon hearing this, Soga no Emishi was very pleased. He stood up and bowed again: "Your Highness, I would also like to trouble you to tell Songtsen Gampo, Queen Seondeok, Buyeo Pungjang, Buyeo Pungmye and others that they should come to my residence as guests this evening."

"Okay," Li Chenggan replied.

"I shall take my leave now. I will be waiting for you all at my residence tonight!"

night.

Li Chenggan, Songtsen Gampo, Queen Seondeok, Buyeo Pungjang, Buyeo Pungmi, and others arrived at the residence of Soga no Emi.

Li Chengan looked up and found that the general's mansion of Soga no Emishi was not much different from the imperial palace, and it was magnificent and spectacular.

There are hundreds of houses in a large courtyard, with carved beams and painted rafters, exuding an antique charm.

The red glazed tiles covering the roof give it a magnificent appearance.

Soga no Emishi descended the steps to greet them, his face beaming with smiles: "Oh dear, Crown Prince of Tang, King of Tibet, Queen of Silla, Prince Pungjang, Princess of Baekje, I have been waiting here for quite some time."

Please take your seats.

"General, I apologize for disturbing you!" Li Chengqian said with a smile.

"Your Highness, please don't say that. I feel extremely honored that you could come here as guests."

So the crowd filed in and took their seats on both sides.

Seated on the left are Li Chenggan, Queen Seondeok, Buyeo Pungjang, and Buyeo Pungmi.

Seated on the right are Songtsen Gampo, Yakushi Eri, Yakushi Keiko, and Soga no Ezo.

Soga no Emishi did not sit in the middle position, but left the central seat empty.

Soga no Ezo sat opposite Li Chengqian.

In front of each of them was a square table laden with various delicacies, mainly seafood.

Soga no Emishi raised his wine cup: "Your Highness, everyone, please drink this cup to the brim."

Everyone drank the wine.

After several rounds of drinks and five courses of food,

Soga no Emishi looked at the crowd and said, "Gentlemen, I am not the king. Let's not talk about state affairs today, but chat about some trivial matters."

When Li Chengan heard him say that, he thought Soga no Ezo was quite interesting.

Li Chengan put down his wine cup and asked, "What would the general like to discuss?"

"Although I am from the Wa (Japanese) Kingdom, I am also very interested in the history of your Central Plains."

I've heard that there was a very remarkable monarch in the Qin Dynasty named King Wu of Qin, Ying Dang.

Legend has it that he was a strongman, and he especially enjoyed playing and wrestling with other strongmen like Ren Bi, Wu Huo, and Meng Shuo.

Once, King Wu of Qin and Meng Shuo went to Luoyang to lift the Dragon-Patterned Red Cauldron, which, according to legend, weighed a thousand catties.

Sometimes I wonder, how did King Wu of Qin get his leg hit when he lifted that cauldron?

How heavy is that cauldron?

then,

I sent men to Luoyang to search for that dragon-patterned red cauldron.

Finally, the men I sent found the cauldron, and then drew a design based on it. After they returned, I had craftsmen forge this dragon-patterned red cauldron according to the design.

Soga no Emishi clapped his hands at this point.

Everyone glanced at it and saw that the cauldron was exactly the same as the legendary Dragon Pattern Red Cauldron.

The crowd put down their wine cups and gathered around the cauldron, whispering amongst themselves.

Li Chengan asked with some curiosity, "How heavy is this cauldron?"

Soga no Ezo smiled slightly: "I increased its weight on the original basis, and now it weighs more than 1300 kilograms."

"It's that heavy!"

"Yes," Soga Emishi asked, "Everyone, have you eaten?"

Everyone said they were full.

"Would you like some more tea?"

"No need, we're not thirsty."

Soga no Emishi then said, "Since we're idle anyway, which one of you is capable of lifting this cauldron?"

Upon hearing this, Li Chengan knew that Soga no Emishi had ulterior motives, because ordinary people, let alone lift this tripod, couldn't even budge it.

However, if you can't lift it, it's like making a fool of yourself in public.

Qin Ying was indignant: "Who could lift such a heavy cauldron? You're not kidding, are you?"

Why don't you hold it up for us to see?

Soga no Emishi smiled slightly: "In that case, I'll give it a try."