Li Zhi, don't be a coward

Chapter 952
Say no with your mouth, and be honest with your body.

After all, Jin Wenying became what she hated, and what she told Li Zhishang was exactly the same as what the entourage of the mission said, even the adjectives were not changed.

In fact, there is no better choice. Datang is the suzerain state of Silla, and Chang'an is the capital of the suzerain state. The Silla mission caused such a bad scandal in the capital of the suzerain state. Jin Wenying didn't know how to explain to the Silla state leader when she went back.

Jin Wenying had no other choice but to immediately dismiss the emperor of Tang Dynasty and deny the bribery.

Denial is denial, whether the emperor of Tang Dynasty believes it or not is another matter.

In the Taiji Palace, Li Zhi carefully read Jin Wenying's memorial, and slowly put it on the desk, with a mocking sneer on his face.

"It's a big deal. There are more than [-] courtiers in my court who were bribed by the little Silla. The ruler of such a poor and small country is very generous." Li Zhi said sarcastically.

Empress Wu next to him took a look at Jin Wenying's memorial, and then frowned.

"Your Majesty, the envoys of Silla's bribery violated the laws of the Tang Dynasty and are unforgivable." Empress Wu's phoenix eyes were dark, and her tone carried a bit of murderous intent.

Li Zhi said indifferently: "They are envoys from foreign countries, what can I do with them? Did I kill them? If I did this, the vassals and subjects of the Tang Dynasty would not fall apart. Apart from issuing a strict order, I can't do anything about them."

Empress Wu said dissatisfiedly: "The concubine heard that the government and the public were talking about it, and the matter has become known all over the city. The Silla envoys bribed the courtiers of the Tang Dynasty. This move is too bad. It has damaged the prestige of my family. Whether it hurts or not, it cannot be a lesson for future generations."

Li Zhi twitched his lips and said: "Officially, you are concerned about the friendship between the two countries, so you should not be severely punished, but in private, you still have to teach the lessons that should be taught. Don't think that in the name of envoys, I have nothing to do with them. .”

Empress Wu was puzzled and said: "Your Majesty means..."

Li Zhi blinked: "Who is the person receiving the envoys from various countries?"

"Li Jingchu."

"Let Wang Changfu tell Jingchu that I am very angry."

Empress Wu asked suspiciously, "Just this sentence?"

"That's it." Li Zhi said with a smile: "Jing Chu will know what to do. There is no such tacit understanding. Wouldn't it be a disappointment to my personal relationship with him?"

Empress Wu seemed to understand, but said again: "There are rumors in the government and the public that after the Great Tang King Master destroys Goguryeo, he will hand over Baekje to Silla. Does Your Majesty have this intention?"

A look of hesitation flashed in Li Zhi's eyes, and he remained silent for a while.

To be honest, even if the envoys of the Silla Kingdom did not bribe the courtiers, Li Zhi was still considering whether to give up Baekje.

For Datang, Baekje is actually like a chicken rib, which is optional.

The vision of the ancients was limited. For them, Baekje-Sillawa was the easternmost part of the mainland. If these small countries were pacified, there would be no need for the imperial court to invest material resources and troops in the east to run it.

What Li Zhi valued more was the western continent within sight, including Tubo, the countries of the Western Regions, as well as Tochara, the Dashi Empire and so on.

And the vast sea to the east has no place to conquer, and has lost its strategic significance.

Before Goguryeo was destroyed, Baekje was a very important place of strategic restraint. Once the Tang Dynasty launched a war, it could form a north-south attack on Goguryeo in Liaodong and Baekje.This is also the biggest reason why Datang destroyed Baekje.

However, if the war ends, Goguryeo is destroyed, and the peninsula countries are calm, the position of Baekje will become less important.

As early as a few years ago, after the king of the Tang Dynasty destroyed Baekje, he did not choose to include it in the territory of the Tang Dynasty, but supported the puppet regime of a prince of Baekje named "Fuyulong". It can be seen that, Li Zhi is actually not very interested in this land.

If Datang wants to run Baekje, it will not only have to invest a lot of money, manpower and material resources, but also many tedious things such as subduing and enlightening the people. The price paid is too high, but the benefits are pitifully small.

The great affairs of the country are fought because of interests, and combined because of interests. From the perspective of national interests, Baekje actually does more harm than good to Datang. Therefore, Li Zhi actually considered long ago that the governance of Baekje should either be handed over Give it to Fu Yulong's puppet regime, or simply assign it to Silla.

After all, the lords of the Silla Kingdom have kneeled and licked the Emperor of Tang Dynasty no less than the Wa Kingdom.

As early as the Zhenguan period, Queen Seondeok, the No.20 seventh-generation king of Silla, often wrote love letters to Li Shimin to harass him. Yes, it was a real love letter, such as "serving bed" and "lovesickness"...

There is no history to test Li Shimin's expression after receiving Queen Seondeok's love letter, but he must be in a very happy mood.

Of course, Li Shimin's reply to Queen Seondeok was still very serious and cold, Li Shimin wanted to face.

The domineering male god of the suzerain state and the female vassal lick the dog. This story was written as a romance novel, and the copyright was properly sold to make a film and television drama.

Later, Queen Seondeok passed away, and the new lord was another queen named "Queen Zhendeok". The new emperor Li Zhi wrote a love letter.

"Love you", "I miss you so much that I can't sleep", "I slept with my pillow last night", "It's raining today, my place is so wet, are you wet there" and so on.

The words of tigers and wolves in it were enough for Li Zhi to report her to the officials for sexual harassment. Fortunately, the emperors of the Tang Dynasty were very broad-minded.

In addition, Queen Jindeok passed away seven years after her reign. The current Silla ruler, Kim Famin, was sent as a Silla envoy to pay tribute to the Tang Dynasty as early as the first year of Yonghui, and was named Taifuqing by Li Zhi who had just ascended the throne.

Therefore, the relationship between the Silla rulers and the Tang Dynasty is actually very harmonious, so Li Zhi has been undecided on whether to transfer Baekje to Silla.

Taking back the territory of Datang, the price paid is too high and it is not worthwhile.He was worried about handing it over to the puppet regime, and he was a little unwilling to hand it over to Silla. Li Zhi is probably in this kind of ambivalence today.

As for the act of the Silla envoys bribing the courtiers of the Tang Dynasty, in fact, whether there was such an incident or not, it had little effect on Li Zhi's decision.

The choice of a country only depends on the pros and cons, and will not be emotionally affected by personal actions.

After hesitating for a long time, Li Zhi sighed, and said, "Let's call the courtiers to discuss it. The choice of Baekje is only after the destruction of Goguryeo, and it is still very early."

Empress Wu covered her mouth with a smile, and said: "Your Majesty thinks it's still early, but my concubine heard from the palace people that Liu Rengui heard that the court intends to abandon Baekje, and he has already cursed outside the mansion today."

Li Zhi's expression froze, and then he said with a wry smile: "This old man...although he is an upright official, but he is too serious, I really can't like him."

(End of this chapter)