Li Zhi, don't be a coward

Chapter 949
It is not uncommon for foreign envoys to give gifts to courtiers of the suzerain country.

To put it more simply, this is called "worshiping the wharf". There are examples in ancient and modern China and abroad, and it is an unwritten rule.

However, according to what Fujiwara Yuno said, the prime minister of the court and the officials of the six ministries were all given gifts by the Silla Kingdom, which is a bit unusual.

It was difficult to tell whether what Fujiwara Yuno said was true or not, but Li Qinzai still remembered it in his heart.

After sending Fujiwara Youye away, Li Qinzai also walked out of the Siyi Pavilion.

As soon as he left the door of Siyi Pavilion, Li Qinzai stood still for a long time, then turned to Liu Ahsi and said, "Ah Si, please come to the Duke's mansion to have a talk with Song Sen, the commander of Baiqi."

As soon as Li Qinzai returned to the Duke's mansion, Song Sen rushed over.

The meeting between the two was another touching "Long absence" "Missing" "Your cow has been sprained a bit too much recently" "Why don't you tell your Majesty this, and see if he smokes or not. It's over." "I'm sorry, the officer just spoke too loudly."

In short, the scene of reunion after a long absence is very touching.

After exchanging pleasantries for a long time, Li Qinzai finally got down to business.

"After the envoys of the Silla Kingdom entered Chang'an, it was said that they were not very peaceful. Is there any news from Baiqisi?" Li Qinzai asked.

Song Sen was stunned: "The vassals and subjects came to Beijing to congratulate them. Besides worshiping the emperor, what else did they do?"

Li Qinzai was also stunned: "You ask me? You are the chief of the secret service in Chang'an City, what the hell are you asking me?!"

Feeling embarrassed, Song Sen hurriedly turned around and left the gate of the mansion, and gave a few orders to Baiqisi's subordinates waiting outside.

After half an hour, the subordinate entered the door and whispered a few words in Song Sen's ear. Song Sen's face gradually darkened, and his eyes suddenly became dark.

This appearance is worthy of the demeanor of a spy chief, a typical image of a ruthless court eagle dog.

After his subordinates left, Song Sen's expression returned to normal, and he said with a wry smile: "Luckily, County Lord Li reminded me that the subordinate almost made a mistake. The Baiqi Division neglected to supervise them when the missions from various countries came to Beijing."

Li Qinzai said with a smile: "There is news so soon, Baiqisi still has some real skills."

Song Sen said in a low voice: "The investigation is a bit general, but as far as Baiqisi knows, after the envoys of the Silla Kingdom came to Beijing, they gave gifts to the courtiers of the Tang Dynasty. Most of them were high-ranking courtiers, and even the right Xu Jingzong..."

Li Qinzai hummed, and said, "I don't know much about the rules for envoys from foreign countries to go to Beijing to congratulate. Is it normal for envoys from Silla to give gifts to so many courtiers? They also did this in previous years?"

Song Sen was silent for a moment, and said slowly: "In the past, envoys from various countries also gave gifts when they came to Beijing to congratulate them, but in addition to paying tribute to the emperor, at most they gave some special products to a few prime ministers, like this year's gift-giving, It's the first time."

Li Qinzai frowned: "What is the purpose of Silla?"

Song Sen said in a low voice: "Silla Kingdom has plans,...the current ruler of Silla Kingdom is named Jin Famin. Ji set up the Xiongjin Governor's Mansion, but the Lord of Silla was not reconciled..."

Li Qinzai realized something: "Silla wants to annex Baekje, but doesn't want Tang to get involved in the peninsula?"

Song Sen smiled: "This King Wenwu has great ambitions. Not only does he want to annex Baekje, he even wants Goguryeo. He just waits for the Tang Dynasty to send troops to destroy Goguryeo, and then Silla raises troops to unify the peninsula."

Li Qinzai sneered: "The place is not big, but the appetite is not small."

Song Sen went on to say: "The envoys of the Silla Kingdom came to Beijing to congratulate and give gifts to the courtiers. There is only one purpose, to ask them to initiate a court meeting to abolish the Xiongjin Governor's Mansion in Baekje, and the Tang army withdraws from Baekje. Datang occupied Baekje."

Li Qinzai was greatly surprised: "How could Datang agree to such an exorbitant request?"

Song Sen sighed: "That's not sure..."

"What do you mean?"

"Early after Baekje was destroyed, there were discussions in the court. They felt that Baekje was hanging overseas, which was not conducive to the Tang Dynasty's control. In addition, Silla sent envoys to congratulate the Tang Dynasty every year, and the king's flattery to the Tang Dynasty was even more beautiful. Some people in China have proposed to abandon Baekje and give it to Silla."

"Later, Liu Rengui stood up and firmly opposed it, saying that Baekje should not be surrendered. If the Tang Dynasty wanted to pacify Goguryeo, Baekje was located in the south of Goguryeo and could form a strategic restraint on it. Before Goguryeo was destroyed, Baekje was a must for military strategists , never let it go."

"Your Majesty followed Liu Rengui's advice, and Baekje has been stationing troops until now. It was only this year that Silla heard that the Tang Dynasty wanted to take action against Goguryeo, so it was ready to start a court meeting by bribing the courtiers. After Goguryeo was destroyed, Take Baekje into Silla's pocket."

Li Qinzai frowned deeper and deeper.

In fact, there is not much suspense about the destruction of Goguryeo. The question now is, if Goguryeo is really destroyed, will Li Zhi agree to give Baekje to Silla?

It's hard to say, the Silla Kingdom in history was not a fuel-efficient lamp. After Goguryeo was destroyed, the conflict between Silla and Datang was sharp and sharp. Within a few years, a war broke out between Datang and Silla, and Silla took advantage of the situation. Annexed Baekje.

At that time, the Tang Dynasty had to shrink the Haidong policy because the strategic focus was Tubo in the west, which caused Silla to actually unify the peninsula.

Now that the Tang Dynasty has not sent troops to Goguryeo, Silla is ready to move, and is planning to annex the peninsula. Li Qinzai is a little worried.

In real history, Datang's connivance and neglect of the Silla Kingdom, after three generations of emperors fought against Goguryeo, was finally picked by the Silla Kingdom.

It has to be said that this was a major mistake Datang made in its foreign policy.

It's not that the Tang army is not strong, but that the monarchs and ministers of the Tang Dynasty made directional mistakes in decision-making.

To put it more seriously, this mistake has shaken the foundation of the country.

Silla, Baekje, what a perfect supply base and outpost for conquering the world, how could they be so easily handed over to others?

Li Zhi's heart and mind is to conquer Goguryeo and get rid of the shame, but what Li Qinzai wants is to destroy the entire peninsula and bring it all under the territory of the Tang Dynasty.

No matter how flattering the Silla Kingdom is, it will be a disaster to keep them.

Only when all the neighboring countries to the east of the Tang Dynasty perished, the strategic center of gravity could be shifted to Tubo in the west. Otherwise, sooner or later, something would happen, and the efforts of three generations of emperors would go to waste, making wedding clothes for Silla.

Sighing heavily, Li Qinzai looked remorseful, and murmured: "I knew that, when Xiao Xi Ba beat Xiao Ba Ga just now, I should have helped Ba Ga..."

Song Sen only wanted to provide information, but he didn't dare to intervene in major political affairs.

However, the more Li Qinzai thought about it, the more worried he became. If the courtiers who had been bribed this time really created public opinion, it would be hard to say whether Li Zhi would be confused and really give up Baekje to Silla.

Li Qinzai has little confidence in Li Zhi. He knows that Li Zhi's biggest obsession with the peninsula is to destroy Goguryeo. The political intention of destroying Goguryeo is greater than the actual strategic intention.

To put it bluntly, I am stronger than my father, so I can destroy Goguryeo.

But after the destruction of Goguryeo, Li Zhi probably didn't have a very specific charter on how the Tang Dynasty would manage the peninsula. This also caused Silla to take advantage of the situation and pick the fruits.

Li Qinzai gritted his teeth secretly, this period of history must be changed because he came.

(End of this chapter)