Before the Taika Reform, Japan was a fragmented country with no system, no laws, and no education.

During the Tang Dynasty, Japan followed the Tang Dynasty's example and carried out comprehensive reforms, which led to the Japan we know today.

From then on, Japan regarded China as the Celestial Empire.

In the Japanese mind, China is a land of abundant resources and boundless expanse, with Chang'an and Luoyang, the capital, seemingly the abode of gods.

The yearning for the Celestial Empire was deeply ingrained in the hearts of every Japanese nobleman.

As for the poor, they wouldn't even dare to dream of it.

In fact, the Japanese fawned over the Tang Dynasty and were fanatically fawned over the Song Dynasty.

Hundreds of years ago, the Japanese government implemented a policy of national isolation and was very resistant to trade between countries.

For example, Japan firmly opposes any relations with Korea.

It also implemented a policy of isolationism towards some Southeast Asian countries.

However, there is one exception: China!

In fact, the official rule in Japan is that all countries are treated equally.

But they couldn't resist the superior quality of the Song Dynasty's goods!

Merchants in the Song Dynasty were among the most business-savvy in ancient China. Encouraged by the Song Dynasty, they were quick-witted in their pursuit of capital.

It doesn't matter if you Japanese adopt a policy of isolation; I'll just send gifts to your Emperor, powerful ministers, and so on.

If a merchant from Goryeo (Korea) were to send a gift, the high-ranking officials and nobles of Japan would not even give it a second glance.

It means, although I'm poor too, I'm better off than you!

But things were completely different for the Song Dynasty.

What are the family heirlooms of the successive Japanese emperors?

It's something that came from the Tang Dynasty!

According to the descriptions of the Japanese envoys to Tang China, everything on that vast and boundless land of China was more precious than the most valuable items in Japan.

From the Tang Dynasty onwards, nobles had a fervent love for everything Chinese, including even the Chinese characters.

Therefore, it was easy for Song Dynasty merchants to open that door by sending tea and silk to powerful officials in Japan.

Fujiwara no Michinaga, a famous powerful minister in Japanese history, accepted many benefits from Song Dynasty merchants and turned a blind eye to their smuggling activities, leading to the tacit acceptance of smuggling throughout Japan.

Of course, this only tacitly allowed Song Dynasty merchants to smuggle goods to Japan; it was still unacceptable for goods from Goryeo.

How high is this degree of default?

Japan established a special office called Dazaifu for this purpose, which was similar in nature to the Maritime Trade Office of the Song Dynasty, essentially an ancient customs office.

This Dazaifu was specifically for receiving merchants from the Song Dynasty.

However, Zhao Huan learned that this government office had been abolished two months ago, and Japan would never have such an office again.

According to the smuggling logic used in trade between the Song Dynasty and Japan, from the Emperor down to ordinary nobles and even samurai, everyone was extremely enthusiastic about Song Dynasty goods. How could they suddenly stop wanting them?

It turned out that Emperor Toba had died, and his son, Emperor Sutoku, began to purge his father's and grandfather's factions.

Emperor Sutoku's father, Emperor Toba, and his great-grandfather, Emperor Shirakawa, were both pro-Song.

However, after Emperor Sutoku came to power, he began to use the trade between Song Dynasty and Japan for political purposes.

Of course, things are far more complicated than they appear.

If Zhao Huan hadn't sent someone to investigate, he would have almost thought that Chongde, that brain-dead brat, had really gone mad and dared to challenge his authority as the emperor.

After sending people to investigate, Zhao Huan was certain that Chongde, that little brat, was not fully developed and had been instigated by someone.

By whom?

That son of a bitch Shen Tu Xin!

After reading the report that was sent back, Zhao Huan kept shaking his head.

The Song Dynasty truly has a wealth of talent. Take Shen Tu Xin, for example. After stirring up trouble in the southeast, he went to Japan and, in just over two years, managed to infiltrate the upper echelons of Japanese society and become the Emperor's teacher!

One has to admit, the reputation of the Song Dynasty is truly impressive!

Once you reveal your identity, not only nobles will fawn over you, but even the Emperor will!

"Tang Ke".

"Your subject is here!"

“It should be a good thing for a person to have ability, but in Shentu Xin’s case, it has become a bad thing, and a very bad thing at that. Why do you think that is?”

"Your Majesty, Confucius once said: 'If one's virtue is not commensurate with one's position, disaster will surely follow; if one's virtue is meager but one's position is high, if one's wisdom is small but one's schemes are grand, if one's strength is weak but one's responsibilities are heavy, one will almost certainly suffer misfortune.'"

"Well said! It seems that Confucius's teachings are indeed the right path! Shen Tu Xin also reads the classics, but unfortunately he does some utterly despicable things!"

Tang Ke said, "Your Majesty, I believe that Your Majesty can issue an edict and send an envoy to rebuke Chongde Jun."

“Reprimand?” Zhao Huan shook his head. “Across the sea, I don’t think I have the ability to guarantee that the same mistake won’t be repeated just by reprimanding him once.”

"Since they have disrespected me, I will naturally teach the people of that land a lesson that will last for countless years to come."

Xu Churen then said, “Your Majesty, Japan is a small island nation, separated by the sea, beyond the reach of the Song Dynasty. Furthermore, there are rampant bandits at sea. I believe that sending troops would be a losing proposition.”

From Xu Churen's perspective, this makes sense.

Japan was a very poor place at that time, with a small population.

Just by doing the math, it becomes clear that it's not worth the trouble of launching a long-distance expedition to attack Japan for such a small economic loss.

Even if they won, the Song Dynasty wouldn't gain much benefit.

Clearly, Tang Ke thought the same thing.

But Zhao Huan didn't think so. As someone who had traveled from the future, the thing he wanted to do most was to wipe out the Japanese!

A capable and virtuous person is easy to get along with.

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