Once things like planning start, things sometimes develop involuntarily. When the situation gets out of control, the mastermind behind the scenes may not be able to restore it.
Li Qinzai, the mastermind behind the scenes, is like this. When the Japanese people get excited, they are like a donkey that has escaped the reins and no one can pull it.
Things went a bit unexpectedly, but overall, it was basically manageable.
Empress Wu obviously doesn't think so. You guys are having fun, who will clean up the mess? This matter will eventually be brought to the court, and the one who can't be rebuked by Liu Rengui and others is Li Zhi.
"The envoy of Silla was taken to Wannian County Prison by Marquis Wu. He was said to be indecent and he is still in prison. Jingchu, what do you think we should do? Should the court arrest or release him?" Empress Wu said dissatisfiedly.
Li Qinzai said innocently: "I thought that the imperial court might as well pretend to be deaf and mute and imprison him for a few days, which would be considered as a warning to those foreign hozens who are immoral."
Empress Wu laughed angrily: "If we continue to be imprisoned, what will the envoys from other countries think of me, the Tang Dynasty?"
"The Silla Kingdom lost its courtesy. Everyone knew that the Silla envoy dared to bribe our Tang court officials. They were all waiting to see how the emperor would deal with it. As expected, the Silla envoy was imprisoned, and his crime was the same as bribery.
It has nothing to do with the courtiers. Your Majesty and Queen, I have to say that this kind of treatment is actually very good."
Empress Wu raised her eyebrows: "What's so wonderful about it?"
"The wonderful thing is that no matter whether you are someone who is understanding or someone who is confused, you will see the same result. No one inside or outside the court cares about the crime of the Silla envoy. They only see that the Silla envoy is imprisoned.
The Tang Dynasty upheld the dignity of the law, and the monarchs and ministers of the Tang Dynasty also maintained their dignity."
Li Qinzai smiled and said: "On the contrary, the Silla Kingdom was in disgrace in the Tang Dynasty. If it was questioned for bribing court officials, it would be considered a failure, and the loss would be tragic. However, the envoy of Silla was questioned
But the crime is immoral..."
"When the news reached Silla, the king was probably disgusted, but he had to send an envoy to apologize to the emperor. The bribery could not be brought to the table, and the reason for the king of Silla to apologize could only be that his countrymen had violated morals...
"
Li Qinzai smiled evilly and winked at Li Zhi: "Your Majesty, can you relieve your anger?"
Li Zhi laughed loudly: "Relieve your anger, I will let the Lord of Silla remember this for the rest of his life, and let the historian record this matter in the annals of history, so that the people of Silla will know from generation to generation that their ancestors had a period in the Tang Dynasty.
Such a shameful experience.”
Seeing that Li Zhi was very satisfied, Empress Wu did not dare to contradict him and rolled her eyes at him charmingly: "Your Majesty is becoming more and more out of character."
After Li Zhi laughed, he suddenly asked: "I heard something interesting just now. Jingchu, you seem to be hostile to Silla Country, why?"
Li Qinzai said, neither humble nor arrogant: "Those who are not of my race must have different minds. It doesn't matter whether I am hostile to Silla or not. I just hope that your majesty should stay awake and vigilant towards all foreign countries."
Li Zhi's expression became serious: "Why did Jing Chu say this?"
Li Qinzai was silent for a moment and then said: "Your Majesty knows your nature. I just want to hide in the mountains and eat and wait for death. I have never had any ambition in my life. I have always avoided government affairs and rarely made any unreasonable comments..."
"But today, I have a plan for the Tang Dynasty and a century-old plan for the country. I have no choice but to admonish Your Majesty face to face."
Li Zhi said with a smile: "You can just say it, I'm all ears."
Li Qinzai said slowly: "Your Majesty, I must not abandon Baekje. Not only that, Silla must also be under the control of the Tang Dynasty. In the future, after the king's army destroys Goguryeo, the entire peninsula should be included in the territory of the Tang Dynasty."
Li Zhi and Empress Wu were taken aback. Li Zhi lowered his face and said: "Jingchu, don't you dare to say this nonsense. Goguryeo and Baekje are just that, but since the Zhenguan year of Silla, all the kings of the past dynasties have been against the Tang Dynasty.
I am loyal and sincere, if I attack my master out of nowhere, wouldn’t everyone in the world feel cold to me?”
Li Qinzai said: "The envoys of Silla bribed courtiers wantonly and played conspiracies in the capital of the Tang Dynasty to fight for the land of Baekje. This incident in itself was the betrayal of the king of Silla to Your Majesty. How can Your Majesty say that they are 'loyal'?"
Li Zhi was stunned, opened his mouth, and found that he was speechless.
"Your Majesty, the loyalty of foreign countries is just a temporary surrender to the military power of the Tang Dynasty. If the Tang Dynasty becomes weak, they will definitely tear off the coat of so-called loyalty, reveal their ferocious faces, and conspire to bite off a piece of Tang Dynasty's flesh.
."
"When the Tang Dynasty was strong now, they dared to plot to steal the land of Baekje. Your Majesty, do you dare to imagine what they would do if one day we were weak?"
"I believe that the Tang Dynasty should take advantage of its strength and take all that should be collected. Turn other people's things into your own, and then transform them into kings."
"Use Confucian concepts to make them return to the Tang Dynasty and take pride in being registered in the Tang Dynasty. If one day, the Tang Dynasty will truly bring its might and virtue to the world, and all people at home and abroad will happily follow it."
Li Zhi moved slightly and looked at each other with Empress Wu.
Empress Wu chuckled and said: "Your Majesty, what Jingchu said seems to be exactly the same as Liu Rengui. Liu Rengui's memorial also argued hard based on reason, urging your majesty not to give up Baekje. How can the land conquered by the king's soldiers shed their blood and sacrifice be taken away from foreigners lightly?"
Bang Dongyi.”
Li Qinzai added: "I admit frankly that I and Liu Rengui are not actually at odds with each other, but they are not in conflict with each other. I quite agree with Liu Rengui's words."
"However, there is a difference between Chen and Liu Rengui. Liu Rengui values righteousness, while Chen values profit."
"Liu Rengui's starting point was that he did not want the blood of the soldiers to be shed in vain, while Chen's starting point was to obtain the peninsula, which would be of great benefit to the Tang Dynasty."
Li Zhi suddenly sat up straight and said with interest: "What's the benefit?"
Li Qinzai curled his lips, this guy is actually a big profiteer, when it comes to profit, he doesn't feel sleepy immediately.
"Your Majesty, do you still remember the world map I drew for Your Majesty?"
Li Zhi nodded: "Of course I remember, I know it by heart."
"Then your Majesty will recall the whole map again, and then think about it, if the three countries of the peninsula are included in the territory of the Tang Dynasty, will it be beneficial to the Tang Dynasty to explore the entire world?"
Li Zhi then began to recall the entire map, extending from the east to Australia, to North and South America...
Then Li Zhi was horrified. He suddenly discovered that if he used Silla or Wa as a port and explored all the way to the east of the ocean, no matter the sailing distance, the convenience of logistical supplies, or just serving as a horizontal strategic buffer zone,
They are all excellent and ideal places.
In the past, the strategic focus of the Tang Dynasty was either the Turks in the north, or the Tubo or the countries in the Western Regions in the west. Now with Li Qinzai's map, Li Zhi changed his thinking slightly and found that if he occupied the peninsula and the Japanese country, it would be of far greater benefit to the Tang Dynasty.
strategy in the west.
In the face of huge interests, even if the Silla Kingdom was the most loyal guard dog in the Tang Dynasty, Li Zhi had to kill the dog and swallow the leather and bones.
God has given us a good harbor, and we will not take the blame.