As early as when Li Yan asked Jin Famin and his son, Guo Yuanzhen had already arrived at the residence of the Japanese envoy.
In the eyes of the Tang people, the royal city of Silla was already poor enough, and the place where the Japanese envoys were sent was even more remote and outdated.
So much so that when Guo Yuanzhen looked at the flickering candlelight in the room, he was a little worried whether the joke he had just made came true and the other party was really hanged in the room.
However, even if the Japanese committed suicide at this time, they could not die by caesarean section. This custom did not exist in this era. It would not be until the Kamakura Shogunate more than five hundred years later that caesarean section appeared one after another, and then in Edo a thousand years later.
During this era, the ritual was completely formed, and the wrong person appeared to perform full-time last-ditch attacks.
In fact, this so-called behavior that embodies the spirit of Bushido has become exaggerated in propaganda. The so-called concepts of loyalty, honor, and pursuit of death in Japanese Bushido are often not related to what Japanese warriors really do.
It’s enough to say one thing and do another. The key point is that many samurai committed seppuku, which was still false propaganda. Some were beheaded and claimed to be seppuku. They used wooden swords, bamboo swords or fans to symbolically scratch and pull the abdomen, but the belly was not broken.
, the wrong person will behead the person who committed seppuku with a knife, and some will simply commit suicide by taking medicine, and then cut him after death...
So packaging is really important. It is also suicide. Ordinary hanging will only leave filth on the ground. The level of committing seppuku becomes completely different.
Brother Su Gachi in the house didn't know that the descendants would have such a good time, otherwise he would really be prepared to commit suicide by committing seppuku and go to justice with honor, thinking about the obstacles he encountered all these days.
Until Guo Yuanzhen appeared in front of him, he even couldn't believe it. He looked up at the tall and majestic officials of the Tang Dynasty. After being stunned for a moment, he knelt down in fear and fear: "Your Majesty, the envoy of the Japanese slave country, pays homage to the Holy Emperor."
minister!"
Guo Yuanzhen looked at the short, dry old man lying on the ground, speaking in Tang Dynasty dialect with a weird accent, and frowned: "You are an envoy of a country, you should not worship me."
Brother Su Gachi still didn't dare to get up, but he just changed his words: "Brother Su Gachi from the Wonu Kingdom, pay homage to the minister of the Holy Dynasty!"
Guo Yuanzhen ignored the opponent's kneeling gesture and said curiously: "Suwa's family? That is the noble surname of your Japanese country!"
Brother Su Wo Chi was a little surprised, but also a little embarrassed: "I'm telling you, my Su Wo family has lost its former glory. Now we are in a difficult situation in our country. I didn't expect to get the attention of the Holy Dynasty. It is really a blessing for our family!"
Guo Yuanzhen waved his hand, and his men lit the candles in the room. He did not dislike this small and dilapidated room, so he knelt down on the banquet and said, "Tell me, I am quite curious about the situation in your Japanese country."
Brother Su Wochi carefully knelt down opposite and began to tell.
In fact, although the Japanese state at this time was humble, its national power was still good, and it could at least suppress the former Silla.
About fifty years ago, Soga Maja, a powerful minister of the Japanese state, who was also the grandfather of the Soga Chi brother in front of me, sent an army to force Silla to pay tribute. Kim Chunqiu, the reigning king of Silla, had to go to the Japanese state as a hostage. Silla, this
The three kingdoms are the weakest. It is enough to be bullied by Goryeo and Baekje. Even Japan can ride on its head.
Therefore, when Jin Zhizhao met Soga Cangmaro when he was in Luoyang, he once ridiculed him, saying that the family that was once the most powerful official in the Japanese country fell and scattered, and the noble Japanese became slave traders.
This family has indeed lost its former glory. The slave merchant Soga Kuramaro is a side branch of the Soga family and cannot take the leading role. The Soga Akaki brother in front of him is a member of the main branch and is even worse off.
Strictly speaking, the Soga Aka-nii who serves as the envoy in front of me was once the head of the state, and his daughter was the favorite concubine of Emperor Tenchi.
Emperor Tenchi was an accomplished ruler. He implemented great reforms, tried to make his people citizens, established a household registration system, established local administrative agencies under centralized power, etc.
Although compared to China, these were things done by the Qin Dynasty, but in the Japanese country, they were already an important symbol of the development from backward slave slavery to a feudal country.
But the most interesting thing is that Emperor Tenchi is actually one of the six emperors in Japan. His father is the emperor, his mother is the emperor, his brother is the emperor, his son is the emperor, and his two daughters later became the emperor in turn.
Since there was such a legendary experience, there was bound to be some friction after death. The eldest son and his younger brother competed for the throne. The eldest son ascended the throne first and reigned for less than half a year. His uncle led troops into the palace and was cornered.
He hanged himself to death, and this Soga Aka-nii took the wrong side and supported the short-lived emperor who was forced to die.
When Guo Yuanzhen heard this, he nodded slightly: "According to what you said, your Suga family's last hope of revival has been destroyed by the Japanese king who has successfully rebelled?"
Brother Su Gachi was shocked: "Before the king succeeded to the throne, he was the crown prince conferred by the late king. He was appointed to perform the duties of the left minister, and was later appointed as the 'East Palace'. This time he ascended the throne, it was justifiable. I was sentenced to exile, and it was also pardoned by the king.
Only then can he be appointed as an envoy and go to the holy dynasty."
Guo Yuanzhen was a little confused: "So your late king first appointed a crown prince, and then a crown prince, and both of them have the right to inherit?"
Brother Su Wochi whispered: "Your Majesty, our country's political affairs are indeed like this..."
Guo Yuanzhen immediately smiled. The inner guards liked such a small country. If a serious person took over the imperial power, they would not be happy: "Now what is the purpose of your king sending envoys here?"
Brother Su Wochi quickly bowed down again: "Due to the persecution of the thieves from the Three Han Dynasties, I, the Japanese slave, once overestimated my own capabilities and offended the Holy Dynasty. Your Majesty specially ordered an envoy to apologize. I am willing to serve the Holy Dynasty as the master and pay tribute forever!"
Guo Yuanzhen looked at the coarse linen shirt on the envoy and said: "That's nice to say. However, the envoy's clothes are so rough. Is it because your Japanese attitude is dishonest or because you are so poor that you don't even have a decent set of robes?"
No?"
Brother Sugachi lowered his head and said in shame: "I deserve death for my crime. It's really because the ship was bumpy and a lot of goods fell into the sea. I had very little left with me. After arriving in Silla, no one was willing to sell me. That's why I did it."
So rude..."
This chapter is not finished yet. Please click on the next page to continue reading the exciting content! When he said this, he thought of something. He quickly took out a package from the cabinet next to him and presented it with both hands: "This is your envoy's wish. I hope you can
Your Majesty, can you give me decent clothes?"
Guo Yuanzhen was a little disdainful. What good things could the Japanese have, and why did they want to bribe him?
But when the package was opened and a golden piece was revealed, he was stunned: "This is..."
Brother Su Wochi vowed: "This is real gold, and my envoys will never dare to deceive it!"
Guo Yuanzhen reached out and picked up a golden bean, stretched out his hand and squeezed it gently. He believed that it was real gold and couldn't help but smile: "I didn't expect you to hide it quite deeply. Since you are so rich, you still dress like this. Is that right?"
Are you afraid that your wealth will be exposed and stolen by thieves?"
Brother Su Gaochi looked at him and said cautiously: "I'd like to inform you, your Majesty, this kind of gold is nothing in our country. My envoy originally brought a lot of it, but most of it fell into the sea. I fought hard to grab this package."
…”
Guo Yuanzhen: "..."
The smile slowly disappeared.
He didn't pay much attention to money. After all, he was young and in a high position, and wealth was definitely indispensable. But even so, looking at the big bag of gold in front of him, the other party actually said that this was only saved with great difficulty, and the rest was swallowed up by the sea water. He couldn't bear it.
I couldn't help but feel pain in my body.
Seeing his strange expression, Brother Su Wachi felt very uneasy. Thinking that this was the only official from the Tang Dynasty who was willing to see him recently, and he must not miss it, he simply gritted his teeth and took out another package from the cabinet, unfolding it into pieces.
Silver cake: "This is another package of silver ingots that was stolen. Please accept it with your approval."
Guo Yuanzhen: "..."
The smile completely disappeared.
After working on it for a long time, it’s me who is the poor one?
But as the saying goes, money can make all the difference, and no one can refuse these cuties.
Looking at the two bags of gold and silver, Guo Yuanzhen carefully inquired about the situation of the Japanese country, and then ordered: "Give this Japanese envoy another place to live."
The inner guard stepped forward: "Yes!"
Although the attitude of these Tang people was still quite cold, compared to the previous time when they didn't even look at each other, it was already a huge change. Brother Su Gaochi was both happy and unavoidably a little uneasy. He looked up at the two tall and powerful internal guards.
Come to a more spacious residence.
On the other side, the Jin family's father and son, who were devastated by the destruction of their country, had just left. Guo Yuanzhen came to Li Yan's house again: "Liu Lang, I just made a major discovery. The Japanese country is actually rich in gold and silver!"
Li Yan's lips slightly raised after hearing this, and he had to pretend: "How do you say that?"
Guo Yuanzhen took out the gold and silver package and recounted the conversation in detail: "Liu Lang, please look, this is gold and silver from the Japanese country. Don't be fooled by the casting, but it is indeed real gold and silver!"
Li Yan picked up the irregular silver cake, weighed it, and rubbed the golden beans: "Not bad."
The silver of the Tang Dynasty was usually cast into rectangular silver collars, one foot long and two inches wide, with the most being fifty taels per collar.
Due to its rarity, the silver's weight, fineness, origin, and sometimes the name, official position, year, etc. of the person who paid tribute must be engraved on the collar.
There is no way, the Tang Dynasty has such a vast territory, but it is limited by the detection and mining technology of gold and silver mines. According to records, the annual silver output in the country is only about 15,000 taels, which is really pitiful.
The key is that not all the silver produced is used for circulation, but also for casting various utensils. After all, the ancients believed that the use of gold and silver utensils in daily life could cure all diseases and prolong life. There was a huge demand for them, not only among the nobles of the palace, but also among many businessmen.
They also hoard gold and silverware.
Therefore, in the Tang Dynasty, it was difficult for even the descendants of high-ranking noble families to come up with a large amount of gold and silver at one time, let alone the common people. The currency in circulation was copper coins and cloth.
Now that he saw that the Japanese envoy could offer so much gold and silver as a bribe, and that there was still a lot of gold and silver in the country, Guo Yuanzhen was so excited and commented: "In the past, the Japanese had no sense of crisis and would not take the initiative to reveal their wealth. This time it is
I was really scared, so I wanted to spend money and avoid disaster."
Li Yan smiled: "It's a pity that the Japanese country is isolated overseas and has poor ships. I don't know how many shipwrecks will happen on this sea route. Since I have sent envoys to visit and admire my teachings in the Tang Dynasty, I should help them..."