It is not unusual for envoys from a foreign country to send gifts to the courtiers of the suzerain country.
To put it simply, this is called "worshiping the pier". There are examples in ancient and modern times at home and abroad, and it can be regarded as an unwritten rule.
But according to what Fujiwara Yuno said, the prime ministers of the central court and the officials of the six ministries were all given gifts by the Silla Kingdom, which is a bit unusual.
It was difficult to tell whether what Fujiwara Yuno said was true or false for a while, but Li Qinzai still remembered it in his heart.
After sending Fujiwara Yuno away, Li Qinzai also walked out of the Seikan.
Just after leaving the door of the Siyi Pavilion, Li Qinzai stood still for a long time, then turned to Liu Asi and said: "Asi, please ask Song Sen, the Hundred Cavalry Commander, to come to the Duke's Mansion to have a talk."
As soon as Li Qinzai returned to the Duke's Mansion, Song Sen rushed over.
When the two met, they had another heart-shaking conversation about "long absence" and "missing you", "your cow has been a bit too sprained recently", "what the hell are you telling His Majesty, you can see if he whips or not."
It’s over.” “I’m sorry, I just spoke too loudly.”
In short, the scene of reunion after a long separation is very touching.
After chatting for a long time, Li Qinzai got down to business.
"It is said that the envoys of Silla Kingdom were not at peace after entering Chang'an. Is there any news from Baiqisi?" Li Qinzai asked.
Song Sen was astonished: "The vassal vassals came to Beijing to pay their respects. Apart from paying homage to the emperor, what else did they do?"
Li Qinzai was also stunned: "You ask me? You are the spy chief of Chang'an City, why are you asking me?!"
Song Sen suddenly felt startled and hurriedly turned around and walked out of the mansion, giving a few instructions to Baiqisi's subordinates who were waiting outside.
After half an hour, the subordinate came in and whispered a few words into Song Sen's ear. Song Sen's face gradually darkened, and his eyes suddenly became sinister.
This look is worthy of the demeanor of a spy leader, a typical image of a ruthless court hawk.
After his subordinates resigned, Song Sen's expression returned to normal and he said with a wry smile: "Fortunately, County Duke Li reminded me that I almost made a mistake. The envoys from various countries came to Beijing, and Baiqisi neglected to supervise them."
Li Qinzai smiled and said: "The news came out so quickly. Baiqisi still has some real abilities."
Song Sen whispered: "The investigation is a bit general, but according to Baiqisi's knowledge, after the envoys of the Silla Kingdom came to Beijing, they gave gifts to no less than twenty courtiers of the Tang Dynasty, and most of them were high-ranking courtiers, including even the right
Xiangxu Jingzong..."
Li Qinzai snorted and said, "I don't quite understand the rules for envoys from foreign countries to come to the capital to pay their respects. Is it normal for envoys from Silla to give gifts to so many courtiers? They did this in the past as well?"
Song Sen was silent for a moment and said slowly: "In previous years, envoys from various countries came to the capital to congratulate and give gifts. But in addition to paying tribute to the emperor, they would at most give some specialties to a few prime ministers. Gifts like this year's wide-spreading net,
This is the first time.”
Li Qinzai frowned: "What is the purpose of Silla Kingdom?"
Song Sen whispered: "The Silla Kingdom has plans...the current leader of the Silla Kingdom is named Jin Famin. In the first year of Longshuo, the Tang Dynasty decreed that he be the 'King of Civil and Military Affairs'. Later, after the Tang-Luo allied forces destroyed the Baekje Kingdom, he was
They set up the Ungjin Governor's Palace, but the leader of the Silla Kingdom was unwilling..."
If Li Qinzai had some realization: "Silla wants to annex Baekje, but doesn't want Tang to get involved in the peninsula?"
Song Sen smiled: "This King Wenwu is very ambitious. He not only wants to annex Baekje, he also wants Goguryeo. He is just waiting for the Tang Dynasty to send troops to destroy Goguryeo, and then Silla will send troops to unify the peninsula."
Li Qinzai sneered: "The place is not big, but the appetite is quite big."
Song Sen continued: "The envoys of the Silla Kingdom came to Beijing to congratulate them and showered them with gifts. They had only one purpose: to invite them to initiate a court meeting to abolish the Ungjin Governor's Office in Baekje. The Tang army withdrew from Baekje, and the Silla Kingdom represented them.
The Tang Dynasty occupied Baekje."
Li Qinzai was greatly surprised: "How could Datang agree to such an excessive request?"
Song Sen sighed: "I can't say for sure..."
"What do you mean?"
"As early as after Baekje was destroyed, there were discussions in the court. They felt that Baekje was isolated overseas and was not conducive to the control of the Tang Dynasty. In addition, the Silla Kingdom sent envoys to congratulate the Tang Dynasty every year, and the king's flattery to the Tang Dynasty was even more colorful.
Some people in China have suggested giving up Baekje and giving it to Silla."
"Later Liu Rengui stood up and firmly opposed it, saying that Baekje could not be surrendered. If the Tang Dynasty wanted to conquer Goguryeo, Baekje was located to the south of Goguryeo and could form a strategic clampdown on it. Before Goguryeo was destroyed, Baekje was a battleground for military strategists.
, never give in."
"His Majesty followed Liu Ingui's advice, and Baekje has been stationing troops until now. It was only this year that Silla heard that the Tang Dynasty was planning to attack Goguryeo, so it was ready to take action and wanted to initiate a court meeting by bribing courtiers. After Goguryeo was destroyed,
Take Baekje into the hands of Silla."
Li Qinzai's brows furrowed deeper and deeper.
In fact, there is not much suspense that Goguryeo will be destroyed. The question now is, if Goguryeo is really destroyed, will Li Zhi agree to give up Baekje to Silla?
It is difficult to say that the Silla Kingdom in history was not a fuel-efficient lamp. After the destruction of Goguryeo, the conflict between Silla Kingdom and the Tang Dynasty became sharp and acute. Within a few years, a war broke out between the Tang Dynasty and Silla. Silla took advantage of the situation.
Annexed Baekje.
At that time, because the Tang Dynasty's strategic focus was Tubo in the west, it had to shrink its policy to the east, resulting in the Silla Kingdom de facto unifying the peninsula.
Now that the Tang Dynasty has not sent troops to Goguryeo, the Silla Kingdom is already ready to make plans to annex the peninsula. Li Qinzai is a little worried.
In real history, the Tang Dynasty's connivance and neglect of the Silla Kingdom went through three generations of emperors to fight against Goguryeo, but was finally reaped by the Silla Kingdom.
It must be said that this was a major mistake made by Datang in its foreign policy.
It's not that the Tang army was not strong, but that the Tang emperors and ministers made directional errors in their decision-making.
To put it more seriously, this mistake simply shakes the foundation of the country.
Silla and Baekje, such perfect supply areas and outposts for conquering the world, how could they be given up to others so easily?
What Li Zhi wanted most was to conquer Goguryeo and avenge his previous humiliation, but what Li Qinzai wanted was to destroy the entire peninsula and bring it all into the territory of the Tang Dynasty.
No matter how loudly the Silla Kingdom flatters them, keeping them will ultimately be a disaster.
Only when all the neighboring countries to the east of the Tang Dynasty were destroyed, could the strategic focus be shifted to Tubo in the west. Otherwise, something would happen sooner or later, and the hard work of three generations of emperors would be in vain, making wedding clothes for the Silla Kingdom.
Sighing heavily, Li Qinzai looked regretful and murmured: "If I had known this, when Xiao Xiba beat Xiao Baga just now, I should have helped Baga..."
Song Sen only provided information, but he did not dare to interfere in major government affairs.
However, the more Li Qinzai thought about it, the more worried he became. If the bribed courtiers really stirred up public opinion this time, it is hard to say whether Li Zhi would have made a mistake and really gave up Baekje to Silla.
Li Qinzai did not have much confidence in Li Zhi. He knew that Li Zhi's biggest obsession with the peninsula now was to destroy Goguryeo, and his political intention to destroy Goguryeo was greater than his actual strategic intention.
To put it bluntly, I am stronger than my father, so I can destroy Goguryeo.
But after the destruction of Goguryeo, Li Zhi probably did not have very specific regulations on how the Tang Dynasty would manage the peninsula, which caused Silla to take advantage of the situation and reap the fruits.
Li Qinzai gritted his teeth secretly, this period of history must be changed because he is here.