Chapter 493: The Tang Envoy

Chang'an, Daming Palace, Xuanzheng Hall, civil and military officials entered the Xuanzheng Hall to attend the court.

"The Emperor of the Great Tang Dynasty ordered that Zhang Wenguan be appointed as the Minister of the Ministry of Personnel, the Right Prime Minister and the Crown Prince's son Li Jingxuan be appointed as the Minister of the Secretariat, and be the third rank of the Secretariat and the Ministry of Personnel, and the Minister of the Secretariat Hao Chujun be the third rank of the Secretariat and the Ministry of Personnel."

As soon as the morning court began, Li Chengqian asked Wang Quan to read out a series of latest appointments.

The third rank of the Secretariat and the Ministry of Personnel was first created by Emperor Taizong of Tang. It was convenient for foreign officials to enter the government hall and participate in government affairs. The main purpose was to weaken the power of the prime minister, strengthen the power of the monarch, and control the power of the prime minister.

"My dear ministers, please report if you have something to report, otherwise, please leave the court!" Li Chengqian said after Wang Quan finished reading out the appointments.

"Your Majesty! The Japanese envoys to the Tang Dynasty request to go to the palace to meet Your Majesty!" The Minister of Guests stepped out and saluted.

Li Chengqian then remembered that the Japanese envoys had been in Chang'an for two or three days, and had been asking for his emperor's presence every day. In the past few days, he had found an excuse to send them away and did not allow the Japanese envoys to make a pilgrimage to the palace.

"Approved!" Li Chengqian said. "

Call the Japanese envoys to the Tang Dynasty to see the emperor!" Wang Quan immediately stepped forward and shouted loudly. "Call the Japanese envoys to the Tang Dynasty to see the emperor!"

The eunuch outside the palace immediately turned around and shouted into the distance. "Call the Japanese envoys to the Tang Dynasty to see the emperor!" The Jinwu Guards guarding the palace gate shouted loudly. The news spread out one by one until the Japanese envoys waiting in the imperial city heard the call. The Japanese envoys to the Tang Dynasty were so happy that they burst into tears when they were summoned by the Tang emperor. They immediately put on their makeup and walked towards the Xuanzheng Hall under the guidance of relevant personnel. This is the seventh time that Japan has sent envoys to Chang'an to pay homage to the emperor of the Tang Dynasty. The Japanese envoys came to Chang'an with a mission. Japan learned that the coastal areas of the Tang Dynasty were building large ships, and it was very likely that they were preparing to attack Japan. From the king to the common people, everyone in Japan was very scared, afraid that the Tang army would attack them. After the Battle of Baekgang, Japan fully realized the gap between itself and the Tang Dynasty. At the same time, most of the Japanese warriors died in the Baekgang. There are less than 30,000 soldiers in Japan. If the Tang Dynasty really sends troops, Japan will have no way out. Therefore, this time the Japanese envoys Kawachi Whale and others came to the Tang Dynasty to dispel the idea of ​​the Tang Dynasty attacking Japan. Even if Japan is asked to bow down and pay tribute every year, it is not a problem. "The Japanese envoy to the Tang Dynasty, Hanoi Whale, leads the delegation to pay homage to His Majesty the Emperor of the Tang Dynasty! Long live the Emperor!" Hanoi Whale and others knelt down and paid homage to Li Chengqian. "No need to bow, just stand up!" Li Chengqian said. "Thank you, His Majesty the Emperor of the Tang Dynasty!" Hanoi Whale and others stood up and said. "This time, your Japanese king sent you thousands of miles across the ocean to Chang'an. What is your intention?" Li Chengqian asked. "My king and the people of Japan all admire the Tang Dynasty, especially the culture and craftsmanship of the Tang Dynasty. They have been fascinated by it for a long time and hope to learn the culture, writing, craftsmanship, etc. of the Tang Dynasty." "At the same time, I pray that the Emperor of the Tang Dynasty can introduce these to Japan so that my Japan can pass them on from generation to generation." Hanoi Whale said. "These are just small matters. I allow you to stay in Chang'an to study and go to the Imperial College to study with the students." Li Chengqian said. "Thank you for the generosity of the Emperor of the Tang Dynasty. The people of Japan will always remember the kindness of the Tang Dynasty." Henei Whale said. "Oh! By the way, my king specially sent treasures to show his respect for the Tang Dynasty and congratulate the Tang Dynasty on unifying the Liaodong Peninsula." Henei Whale said again. Li Chengqian on the throne did not say anything. Henei Whale did not know what the Emperor of the Tang Dynasty meant, so he did not continue to speak, for fear of saying something wrong and angering the emperor. If the emperor was unhappy because of this and ordered troops to attack Japan, he, Henei Whale, would be the eternal sinner of Japan. "Japanese envoy, you should say that the King of Japan presented treasures." The Diankeling reminded in a low voice. After hearing this, Hanoi Whale finally came to his senses and sighed in his heart. Although there is only one word difference between "send" and "present", there is a world of difference between them. Sending treasures means that Japan and the Tang Dynasty have the same status, and the two countries have equal diplomacy. Offering treasures means that Japan's status is lower than that of the Tang Dynasty, and the two sides are in a vassal relationship, and Japan will submit to the Tang Dynasty. Who would present treasures to the monarch? Only subjects who submit to the monarch would present treasures to the monarch. "The King of Japan congratulates His Majesty the Emperor of the Tang Dynasty on the pacification and unification of the Liaodong Peninsula, and specially ordered me to present treasures from Japan to show my sincerity." Hanoi Whale said. " Well! The King of Japan is thoughtful! I wonder what the King of Japan will present to me?" Li Chengqian asked. "Your Majesty, please look, this is the treasure presented by Japan, the Pearl of the East China Sea, this is..." Henei Whale introduced the treasures he brought to Li Chengqian one by one. This time, Japan spent a lot of money to present treasures to the Tang Dynasty, bringing the best treasures from Japan as gifts to the Emperor of the Tang Dynasty. Li Chengqian was very satisfied with these treasures after listening to Henei Whale's introduction. After Henei Whale finished the introduction, these treasures will be taken away by the relevant departments and stored in the treasury, waiting for the emperor to remember them and take them out for viewing and playing, or directly as a gift to reward meritorious officials to show his favor. "Tonight I will hold a banquet in the palace to welcome the Japanese envoys to the Tang Dynasty, and officials above the fifth rank will attend." Li Chengqian said. Others have presented treasures, so I can't be stingy. It's okay not to return the gift, but I have to treat them to a meal. "Thank you, His Majesty!" Henei Whale and others hurriedly saluted. "If you, the Tang envoys, have nothing else to do, go back to the posthouse and rest, and meet again tonight." Li Chengqian said. "Your Majesty the Emperor of the Tang Dynasty! When I came to the Tang Dynasty, I found that warships were being built in the coastal areas, but they wanted to attack the rebels. In order to show my loyalty to the Tang Dynasty, I am willing to be the vanguard of the Tang Dynasty." Henei Whale said. He didn't know how to ask Li Chengqian about the rumor that the Tang Dynasty was going to send troops to attack Japan, and he didn't know whether the other party really had this plan, so he planned to attack Li Chengqian from the side and test his attitude. Li Chengqian naturally heard the hidden meaning of Hanoi Whale. In fact, he really had the intention to send troops to attack Japan, but the current conditions did not allow it. Otherwise, he would have crossed the sea to attack Japan as early as after the Battle of Baekgang. "There are no rebellious vassals in our Tang Dynasty that need to be conquered recently. The coastal cities build ships for maritime trade. Our Tang Dynasty is vast and rich in resources, such as tea, porcelain, etc."

"I hope that the products of the Tang Dynasty can be traded with other countries. The Tang Dynasty is willing to trade with all countries in the world, develop friendship and build prosperity together." Li Chengqian said.

After hearing this, the Japanese envoys to the Tang Dynasty were relieved. They just wanted to avoid attacking them.