People in the early Tang Dynasty: I compete with Wu Zhao for the throne

Chapter 1748: Using war as an excuse to develop overseas trade

The carriage was heading towards the palace.

The noise of people rose up along the long street.

Qin Dunjiaogan lifted the curtain of the car and looked at the Chang'an City outside.

People were coming and going in a constant stream, rubbing shoulders with each other.

Chang'an has regained its former prosperity, and even surpassed it.

No, the entire Tang Dynasty has regained its former prosperity, or even surpassed it.

Qin Dun really didn't know what the outcome would be if Silla and Tang went to war at this time.

Especially when they were facing an emperor who was cautious, cunning, cruel and vicious, could Silla still have the same luck as during the reign of King Gojong?

At the Taiji Gate, after checking the talisman, Qin Dun was taken past the Taiji Hall, where the ground floor had already been built, and headed towards the Liangyi Gate.

After waiting for a while, Qin Dun saw Liu Zhirou, the chief officer of Yongzhou, coming out of the palace. He quickly made way and bowed.

Liu Zhirou didn't even look at Qin Dun, and walked quickly out of the palace.

"Announce that the envoy from Silla, Qin Dunjiao, is here to see the emperor." The eunuch in blue clothes stood at the door and read out the decree loudly.

Qin Dun immediately stood up and bowed, saying, "Your Excellency Qin Dun Jiaogan accepts your order."

"Let's go." The eunuch in green flicked his whisk and headed towards the palace.

On the Liangyi Gate above, guards holding long spears stared at Qin Dun.

It seemed that if he did anything wrong, the sharp spear blade would pierce through his chest.

Stepping onto the golden steps, Qin Dun Jiaogan finally arrived in front of the Liangyi Palace. A box with a black background and gold edges was placed on the side, filled with congratulatory letters from all over the world.

Qin Dun's expression suddenly sank.

These days, the most talked-about news in Chang'an City is which governor of a certain place has sent a congratulatory letter today, and which governor of another place will send a congratulatory letter tomorrow.

By today, almost all the provincial governors of the 300 states in the country had sent their congratulatory letters.

The new emperor of the Tang Dynasty has been recognized by the whole world.

With just a wave of his hand, he could gather the power of the entire world and directly attack Silla.

"Hello!" A familiar voice sounded in front of him. Qin Dunjiaogan did not hesitate any longer and quickly stepped into the hall. He knelt down and kowtowed, saying, "I, the foreign minister Qin Dunjiaogan, the envoy of Silla, pay my respects to Your Majesty. May Your Majesty live a long life and may the Great Tang Dynasty live forever."

An awe-inspiring voice rang out: "Qin Dun, we haven't seen each other for a long time..."

……

"Qin Dun, we haven't seen each other for a long time..." Li Xuan looked at Qin Dun's graying temples and couldn't help but recall the past.

"Yes." Qin Dun bowed his head solemnly and said, "I first saw Your Majesty from afar in Yangzhou City, and the next time I saw you was in Chang'an City."

"Since the battle during the Shangyuan period, there seems to have been no major war between the Tang Dynasty and Silla, right?" Li Xuan paused for a moment, shook his head and said, "No, when I conquered Tubo, Silla seemed to have made trouble on the border. After I conquered Tubo, Silla completely calmed down."

"Your Majesty, the mighty power of the Tang Dynasty."

Qin Dunjiaogan thought of the Tubo Kingdom that was destroyed by Li Xuan, the Western Turks that were defeated by Li Xuan, and the Black-robed Arabs that were defeated. He could not help but tremble, and then kowtowed heavily.

"If the Tang Dynasty really had the power of heaven, and if I really had the power of heaven, Silla would not dare to provoke us again and again." Li Xuan picked up the letter on the table and threw it directly in front of Qin Dunjiaogan, saying coldly: "Take a look for yourself, this is a letter written by your king himself asking for permission to pass through Chang'an. Okay, since he wants to come, I will let him come."

Qin Dun Jiaogan couldn't help but shudder and kowtowed, saying, "Your Majesty, I don't know what happened in the country, but there must be a misunderstanding. I have already sent a letter back to the country, and I will give Your Majesty an explanation on this matter."

"No need." Li Xuan's cold eyes fell on Qin Dun Jiaogan, and he said softly: "Since you don't know what happened in Silla, then go there in person and bring back Silla's envoys in Chang'an and all Silla's merchants in the Tang Dynasty."

"Your Majesty!" Qin Dun Jiaogan was almost about to cry. By dismissing the envoys and driving away the merchants, Li Xuan was ready to go to war with Silla. He quickly pleaded, "Your Majesty, please forgive me. Someone in the country must have deceived my king. I am willing to return to the country in person to kill the rebels and clean up the king's side. I also ask Your Majesty to support me with a group of troops..."

"Forget it. I am not interested in your affairs in Silla." Li Xuan looked at Qin Dunjiaogan coldly and said unceremoniously, "If my people really go to Silla, they might be used as hostages by you."

"Your Majesty, this will never happen." Qin Dunjiao was a little anxious.

"In your country, the king is already optimistic. As for the faction that wants to go to war with the Tang Dynasty, they must have connections with the royal family, noble families, and generals in the army, and even support them. I'm afraid that such people now account for more than half of the people in Silla. It's useless to persuade them. The only way is to go to war."

Li Xuan leaned forward slightly and said coldly: "Go back and tell your king that starting from next year, all trade and travel between the Tang Dynasty and Silla will be cut off. Anyone from Silla who sets foot on the border of the Tang Dynasty will be captured as a slave... Don't worry, the war will not be so quick. I am more patient than Emperor Gaozong. I can still wait for twenty years to exterminate Silla... Come on!"

Two tall Jinwu guards in red clothes and golden armor walked in from outside the hall and bowed solemnly.

"Throw him away, and send an order to Yongzhou Prefecture and Honglu Temple, ordering him to get out of Chang'an within three days." Li Xuan waved his hand, and two Jinwu guards immediately picked up Qin Dunjiaogan and went out quickly. Qin Dunjiaogan really didn't expect that Li Xuan would be so determined and wanted to drive him out of Chang'an directly.

However, what frightened him even more was Li Xuan's calm character, and the fact that it would take him twenty years to exterminate Silla.

This sentence alone is chilling, and it also cuts off the trade routes with the Tang Dynasty. I wonder how many people in Silla will go crazy.

"Your Majesty, please think twice, Your Majesty..."

……

Standing at the gate of Liangyi Palace, Li Xuan watched Qindun Jiaogan being dragged away with an expressionless face. When Qindun Jiaogan left, he saw the Japanese envoys waiting at the gate of the palace...

Severing diplomatic ties, blocking trade and travel, colluding with old enemies, and with an army approaching the border, and the opponent being an emperor with enough patience, Li Xuan could imagine what kind of chaos there would be in Silla after receiving such news.

Perhaps he would offer one or two heads as a sign of peace, or even bring along a few Silla maids, or maybe even royal family members.

The thoughts in my mind were completely killed in an instant.

He might accept the things, but the preparations to exterminate Silla will not stop.

However, this time may be longer, and the shipbuilding industry will also be developed at the same time.

Li Xuan wanted to reduce taxes in Hebei and Jiangnan, so naturally there had to be somewhere to make up for these taxes.

Using war as an excuse to develop overseas trade, plunder overseas wealth, and make up for domestic losses, this is Li Xuan’s real purpose.

"Come here, tell the Japanese envoy..."

……

"Your Majesty, I am Yao Lingzhang, the Imperial Secretary, and I am here to pay my respects to you." Yao Lingzhang bowed earnestly to Li Xuan who was sitting on the imperial couch.

Li Xuan put down the thin bamboo gold pen in his hand, placed it on the inkstone beside him, and looked at Yao Lingzhang: "What is it that you, Mr. Yao, want to see you for?"

"Your Majesty." Yao Lingzhang bowed solemnly and said, "Since Your Majesty ascended the throne, the West Sea has been submissive and the country has prospered. I am overjoyed. However, the court affairs have been complicated. I have been feeling unwell recently and cannot handle the heavy responsibility. Therefore, I would like to see Your Majesty and ask for your order to retire."

Li Xuan's hand gently stopped, she closed her eyes and sighed softly.

He had long anticipated that this day would come, but he never imagined that it would happen so soon.

Tomorrow is the first day of October, the day of the great court session, and Yao Lingzhang has come to request retirement without even waiting for his coronation ceremony.

Li Xuan knew that Yao Lingzhang was going to request retirement.

When they were in the Eastern Palace, Yao Lingzhang was Li Xian's Prince's Secretary, and Li Xuan was Li Xian's Prince's Junior Secretary, and both of them assisted Li Xian with all their might.

Later, when Li Xian ascended the throne, Li Xuan went to Fanzhou. Yao Lingzhang accompanied Li Xian in Luoyang as the Yellow Gate Minister, the third rank official of the Secretariat, and the prime minister.

Later, Li Xian committed suicide, Yao Lingzhang was imprisoned by Empress Wu, and Li Xuan led troops to quell Wu's rebellion.

In Yao Lingzhang's concept, he and Li Xuan would assist Li Chongzhao in creating a new prosperous era. However, he did not expect that not only did Li Chongzhao not come back, but even Li Chongjun, who later ascended the throne, was forced to give up his throne to Li Xuan.

Now Li Xuan sits on the throne, while Li Xian and his descendants are completely nowhere to be seen. The fact that Yao Lingzhang is still able to stand here shows that he has strong control.

"Forget about retiring." Li Xuan waved his hand and said, "I still hope that the Yao family can train more talents for me to be prime ministers. How about this, you go to Jingzhou and serve as the chief officer of the Jingzhou Grand Military Governor's Office. Replace King Zheng for me and look after the Jingxiang area and develop it well. It would be best if you could develop Jinghu into another land of fish and rice."

"Yes!" Yao Lingzhang was a little surprised, but still bowed and accepted the order.

Jingzhou, Yizhou, Bingzhou and Yangzhou are the four major military governorships. The chief secretaries of the four military governorships are the people who help the emperor to look after these places.

Especially Jingzhou and Yizhou, both places are occupied by royal family.

Now that he was used to replace Prince Zheng, Yao Lingzhang was a little confused about what their new emperor was trying to do.

Li Xuan always plans three steps ahead when doing things.

He must have his own plans in Jingxiang, wait... a land of fish and rice?
"Your Majesty, do you want to get rid of the court's dependence on Jiangnan for food?" Yao Lingzhang looked at Li Xuan with some surprise.

Li Xuan sighed, nodded and said, "The relationship between me and the Jiangnan nobles is pretty good now, but in the future, once the relationship between the two sides deteriorates, Jiangnan only needs to cut off the food supply, and I will be forced to surrender. Therefore, I need another place to hold Jiangnan hostage for me."

After a short pause, Li Xuan looked at Yao Lingzhang and said, "When you arrive in Jingzhou, observe the Yangtze River, Jiangzhou, Hongzhou, Yuezhou, and Tanzhou. If these two places can compete with Jingzhou against Jiangnan, even if it is true..."

Li Xuan gently waved his palm in front of Yao Lingzhang.

In an instant, Yao Lingzhang felt as if a sharp blade had cut directly into the center of Wu Yue and Jiangyou Xiangtan.

"Your Majesty is wise." Yao Lingzhang bowed solemnly with a solemn expression.

Li Xuan's thoughts and vision are indeed incomparable to a kid like Li Chongjun.

……

"You know, Prince Wei is now the Grand Commander of Jingzhou." Li Xuan looked at Yao Lingzhang deeply.

Yao Lingzhang was stunned for a moment, then he realized how could he have forgotten about this.

Li Xuan continued, "Don't worry, I won't let Prince Wei take the position of Grand Commander of Jingzhou in the future, but he will definitely be the Governor of Yuezhou and Tanzhou. The more foundation you can lay there, the more he will inherit in the future... Although he is in poor health, I still hope he can become a talent."

"I will do my best." Yao Lingzhang bowed heavily.

Li Xuan nodded and said, "I trust your ability. After you arrive in Jingzhou, keep in touch with Yizhou. Yao Changshi will be the Sima of the Yizhou Grand Military Governor's Office. You can keep in touch with the upper and lower levels and develop shipping, which will be beneficial to people's livelihood."

"Yes!" Yao Lingzhang immediately understood that it would not be long before Li Xuan would transfer Yao Chong's father Yao Yi back to be the prime minister.

"By the way, you can still hold the position of the third-rank official at the Secretariat, but you won't be able to be the prince's guest." As soon as Li Xuan finished speaking, Yao Lingzhang looked up in disbelief.

What is the emperor planning?
(End of this chapter)