Datang: Just been appointed as the crown prince, the counterattack system is here

Chapter 436 The Tang Dynasty Doesn't Need a Dog Like You [Seeking Monthly Tickets]

An eerie tension and oppressive atmosphere permeated the Japanese Imperial Palace.

Although they were unaware that Li Chengqian had already destroyed Goguryeo, the Tang navy was frequently mobilized and even replenished its supplies from Japanese military bases.

This deepened their fear of the Tang Dynasty.

At this moment, sitting in the main seat was Emperor Kōgyoku.

Her face was worried, and her gaze was mainly fixed on the two people.

One was Soga no Iruka, a minister who held immense power in the court.

The other was Fujiwara no Kamatari, a young nobleman who had risen rapidly in recent years and was deeply trusted by her.

Fujiwara no Kamatari did not come from a top-tier noble family.

However, he was extremely intelligent, well-versed in Chinese studies and political maneuvering, and was secretly trusted by the royal family.

He represented the imperial family's hope to break free from the control of the Soga clan and truly take control of the government.

His rise to power was itself a hidden move in the power struggle between the imperial family and the Soga clan.

"His Majesty the Emperor!"

Soga Iruka's voice was loud and clear, carrying an undeniable air of authority:
"The cooperation with the Crown Prince of the Tang Dynasty to build a military base was brought about by my Suwo clan!"

"Now that the base is complete, we have witnessed the advantages of the Tang Dynasty's artillery. However, precisely because we know its benefits, we should be even more cautious in its use!"

"How can we truly allow the Tang prince's army to be stationed here, handing over the lifeline of our Japan to others? How is this any different from inviting a wolf into the house?"

He paused, glanced at the silent Fujiwara no Kamatari, and continued:

"Our initial agreement was merely a stopgap measure to gain the trust and technology of the Tang Dynasty. Now, we have initially mastered the art of firearms forging, and have also replicated several naval warships."

"Now, the main force of the Tang Dynasty is deeply entrenched in Liaodong, and the war with Goguryeo has just ended. Yet, its crown prince wants to launch another eastern expedition? This is a golden opportunity!"

"Our country has the natural barrier of the strait, and is also protected by the 'divine wind,' so what is there to fear? We should immediately blockade the port, refuse the Tang army from landing, and send envoys to sternly question the Crown Prince of the Great Tang for breaking the treaty and raising an army without a just cause!"

He had received a positive answer from his daughter, Soga Shizuka: Li Chengqian would definitely come to Japan after he destroyed Goguryeo.

Therefore, he decided to take the initiative.

Regardless of whether the Tang Dynasty could destroy Goguryeo, Japan could not sit idly by and wait for its demise.

However, Fujiwara no Kamatari, who had been silent all along, slowly spoke at this moment, his voice calm yet extremely penetrating:

"Minister Soga's words, though seemingly for the good of the country, are in fact a scourge to the nation."

Soga no Iruka glared at him angrily: "Fujiwara no Nakatomi! What do you mean by that?"

Fujiwara no Kamatari ignored him and instead bowed slightly to Empress Kōgyoku.
"Your Majesty, Crown Prince Li Chengqian of Tang is no ordinary man. His ambitions extend far beyond a mere military base. The destruction of Goguryeo is imminent."

"If our Japan were to break the alliance now, it would undoubtedly give them an excuse. The so-called natural barrier of divine wind may not be reliable in the face of Goguryeo's fortified cities and strongholds and the Tang army's new firearms."

"Is Minister Soga's behavior an attempt to consolidate his own power and, under the guise of 'resisting Tang,' further control over the court's military? Or perhaps... he is connected with some remaining forces, intending to use external pressure to stir up internal strife?"

These words directly implicate Soga no Iruka's personal motives and further reveal the imperial family's suspicions about the Soga clan.

Soga Iruka's face instantly turned ashen.

Emperor Huangji secretly approved of it.

Her support for Fujiwara no Kamatari was precisely to counterbalance the Soga clan.

By agreeing to build a base with the Tang Dynasty, the royal family originally intended to use the power of the Tang Dynasty to intimidate the Soga clan.

Now that Soga no Iruka wants to back out, the Imperial Household is worried that he might use this as an excuse to cause trouble.

Fujiwara no Kamatari's suggestion was:
On the surface, they continued to comply with the treaty, but secretly delayed and created obstacles, while accelerating their own military buildup, hoping to make the Tang Dynasty back down or at least raise its demands.

This would both avoid immediately offending the Tang Dynasty and prevent the Soga clan from taking the opportunity to grow too powerful.

Ultimately, through Fujiwara no Kamatari's skillful maneuvering and the tacit approval of the imperial family, the Japanese court passed a seemingly contradictory decision.

On the one hand, it replied to the Tang Dynasty, agreeing to allow its fleet to visit and resupply, and to abide by the alliance.

On the other hand, he secretly ordered the coastal countries to strengthen their defenses, conscript ships and able-bodied men, stockpile supplies, and secretly set up obstacles and ambushes around the military bases planned to be provided to the Tang Dynasty.

They were betting that the Tang Dynasty, having launched a long and arduous expedition, would be hampered by logistical difficulties and that, seeing that the Japanese were well-prepared, they might negotiate rather than launch a full-scale attack.

However, they greatly underestimated Li Chengqian's determination and the strength and efficiency of the Tang army.

A month later, when the massive Tang Dynasty fleet appeared like a moving castle, with masts like a forest, dark and imposing on the surface of the Seto Inland Sea, the nobles of Naniwa-kyo truly understood what 'divine might' meant.

The scout rushed into the palace like a shooting star, his voice trembling:
"Report! The Tang fleet has broken through Iki and Tsushima! Their ships are as huge as mountains, their sails blot out the sun, and their numbers... are incalculable!"

"Report! The Tang warship did not sail towards the designated Namba Port military base, but headed straight for Naniwazu! Its vanguard has begun clearing the wooden stakes and sunken ships that we have set up!"

"Report! The Tang warship... Countless giant spheres have risen from the Tang warship and are drifting towards us!"

Soga no Iruka forced himself to remain calm in the imperial court:

"What's the panic! Order the navy to attack! Intercept them! Release the fire ships! Pray for 'divine wind'!"

But the next news completely devastated him:
"Report! Before our navy even got close, a hundred cannons on the Tang ships fired in unison, the sound like thunder! Our warships were instantly shattered and sunk! The fire ships were sunk before they could even get close!"

"Report! Those giant spheres have arrived over Nambakyo! They're dropping... dropping explosive lightning bolts! The workshops, granaries, and barracks are engulfed in flames!"

"Report! The Tang army has a type of small boat that has no sails or oars, but spews black smoke and moves extremely fast. It is carrying armored soldiers and forcibly landing!"

In an instant, Naniwa Kyo was engulfed in flames and chaos.

Inside the palace, the semblance of decorum could no longer be maintained.

Soga no Iruka's face turned deathly pale as he murmured, "How could this be... Where is 'divine wind'... Where is the natural barrier..."

Fujiwara no Kamatari's heart sank to the bottom, but he forced himself to remain calm and said urgently:
"Your Majesty! Ministers! Things have come to this point. The only option is to immediately send a high-ranking envoy, carrying a white flag, to surrender to the Crown Prince of Tang! Perhaps... perhaps we can still preserve the ancestral temple!"

"Surrender? No way!"

Soga no Iruka seemed to grasp at a last straw: "I still have elite troops! I can lead the army myself..."

"enough!"

Empress Kōgyoku abruptly stood up, her voice shrill and desperate. Pointing to the towering flames outside the window and the faint sound of cannons, she said with a grim face:

"Soga no Iruka, is this what you call serving the country? Can your elite troops withstand heavenly thunder and earth-shattering fire? Fujiwara no Nakatomi, immediately... immediately prepare a letter of surrender!"

“Remember! Use the most humble tone... no, I will go myself! I will go personally to apologize to the Crown Prince of the Tang Dynasty!”

She was filled with regret at that moment. Why had she listened to these internal power struggles and schemes? Why had she underestimated that terrifying Crown Prince of Tang?

The so-called natural barrier of the strait is utterly vulnerable in the face of true power.

Betrayal and treachery, on the contrary, gave the other side the perfect reason to attack.

Soga Iroha collapsed to the ground, knowing that regardless of victory or defeat, his era had come to an end.

Even Japan might no longer be the Japan of the past. Fujiwara no Kamatari looked at the distraught Soga no Iruka and the panicked imperial family, a complex emotion flashing in his eyes—fear, regret, perhaps even a hint of awe for absolute power and uncertainty about the future.

Above Naniwa-kyo, the battle flags of the Tang army were faintly visible amidst the smoke of battle.

Standing on the deck, Li Chengqian looked at the cherry blossom field, a slight smile playing on his lips, and a strange sense of pride welled up within him.

At this moment, Pei Xingjian came to report: "Your Highness, the Japanese have surrendered, and their emperor wants to personally apologize to you!"

"Ah!"

Li Chengqian smiled, then waved his hand dismissively:
"Then dock and let me see their attitude in apologizing. Also, have all the warships' cannons aimed at them. If I'm not satisfied, kill them without mercy!"

"Yes!"

Pei Xingjian immediately accepted the order.

About two hours later, the warship carrying Li Chengqian approached the port.

At this time, the smoke of gunpowder had not completely dissipated, and sawdust and debris floated on the sea surface. The air was filled with the pungent smell of sulfur and burnt metal.

The Tang Dynasty's giant warship, the Zhenhai, stood like a mountain at sea, firmly anchored in the center of the harbor. Its deep-set gun barrels, though no longer firing, still exuded a chilling aura of power.

More Tang warships dotted the bay, their masts forming a forest, and Tang-character battle flags fluttering in the sea breeze.

On the open ground temporarily cleared from the port, Emperor Kōgyoku, Soga no Iruka, Fujiwara no Kamatari, and a group of Japanese nobles and courtiers, dressed in their most formal court attire, were all pale-faced, trembling, and kneeling on the ground.

Ahead of them lay a simple felt carpet that stretched all the way to the huge gangplank lowered by the Zhenhai.

Li Chengqian's figure appeared at the top of the diving board.

He was not wearing full armor.

He was dressed in a simple black robe with a bright yellow dragon-patterned cloak over it, his expression calm, even a little lazy, as if he were just inspecting an ordinary port.

Generals such as Su Dingfang and Pei Xingjian stood guard behind him with their swords drawn, their eyes sharp as eagles as they surveyed the kneeling Japanese people below.

Under the watchful eyes of countless people, Li Chengqian slowly stepped off the diving board. The soles of his boots made a clear sound as they touched the soil of Japan, each step seeming to tread on the hearts of the Japanese emperor and his ministers.

Emperor Kōgyoku took a deep breath, striving to maintain the last shred of imperial dignity, and in an almost mournful voice, according to the most humble etiquette, proclaimed:
"The young king of the sinful kingdom, Huangji, along with the civil and military officials of Japan, respectfully welcomes His Highness the Crown Prince of the Celestial Dynasty!"

"The Japanese people are muddleheaded and ignorant of the Emperor's majesty, and have committed many offenses. Now we know our sins are grave, and we beg Your Highness for forgiveness!"

"Japan is willing to be a vassal state of the Tang Dynasty forever, paying tribute every year and never betraying it!"

As she spoke, she pressed her forehead tightly to the ground, and the people behind her followed suit, bowing even lower.

Soga no Iruka was also covered in cold sweat, and cried out, "Your subject Soga no Iruka is ignorant and foolish, and begs Your Highness for forgiveness!"

Although Fujiwara no Kamatari was also kneeling, he slightly raised his eyes, trying to observe this legendary Tang Dynasty prince.

Li Chengqian walked up to them and stopped.

He did not immediately tell everyone to stand up. His gaze swept indifferently over the list of gifts for surrender that Emperor Kōgyoku had carefully prepared, and a hint of undisguised sarcasm curled at the corner of his mouth.

A sense of oppression and fear enveloped the entire harbor, with only the sound of waves crashing against the ship and Li Chengqian's cloak fluttering in the wind.

After a long silence, Li Chengqian finally spoke. His voice was not loud, but it clearly reached everyone's ears, carrying a cold, unquestionable authority:

"Forgiveness? Submission? Tribute?"

He repeated those words as if he had heard something utterly ridiculous.

"Emperor Kōgyoku, Soga no Iruka, and you... Fujiwara no Kamatari, isn't that right?"

Li Chengqian's gaze swept over the three men: "Do you think that the Tang Dynasty mobilized a large army and crossed the sea just to listen to your groveling nonsense, accept your pitiful tribute, and then leave satisfied?"

He bent down, took the gold-inlaid and jade-embroidered surrender document from the eunuch's hand, casually weighed it in his hand, and then threw it on the ground in front of Emperor Kōgyoku as if it were trash.

Have you all forgotten why I came here?

Li Chengqian's voice suddenly turned cold: "What I'm giving you isn't an opportunity to choose between submission or resistance. What I'm giving you is an opportunity to be obedient dogs."

"Building military bases is an alliance, a favor and a sign of trust bestowed by the Tang Dynasty. And what about you?"

Li Chengqian's voice suddenly rose, filled with thunderous anger: "They outwardly comply but inwardly defy you, secretly create obstacles, and even plot against you!"

"I destroyed Goguryeo, and you not only showed no fear, but instead thought that the sky was high and the sea was far away, and I couldn't do anything to you? You actually dared to gamble that I would back down? Gamble with your laughable divine wind?"

"A dog that even wags its tail and begs for mercy has to wait for the right moment, and might even try to bite its owner when they're not looking..."

Li Chengqian's gaze was like an icicle, piercing the kneeling crowd: "Does the Great Tang Dynasty still need dogs like this?"

"The Great Tang Dynasty has no need for disloyal dogs, much less for self-righteous jackals!"

These words struck like a final verdict.

Emperor Kōgyoku collapsed to the ground, sobbing uncontrollably.

Soga no Iru's face was ashen; he knew it was all over.

Fujiwara Kamatari closed his eyes, all last shred of hope vanishing.

Li Chengqian straightened up, looking down at the ravaged port and the kneeling Japanese rulers. His tone returned to its previous calm, but contained a deeper coldness:
"Since you can't be dogs, then you don't need to be."

"By my decree: The Kingdom of Wa is hereby abolished, effective today! A Governor-General's Office shall be established on Wa Island, with Su Dingfang temporarily serving as Governor-General, overseeing both military and political affairs."

"Anyone who resists shall be killed without exception."

"All members of the royal family, nobles, and high-ranking officials were escorted to Chang'an to await their fate."

"From this moment forward, measure the land, register the households, implement the Tang system, teach the Tang language, and write Chinese characters. Here, there will be no more Wa (Japanese) country, only the Great Tang Wa Island!"

His orders came one after another, clear and ruthless, definitively determining the fate of this land and all its inhabitants.

After saying this, Li Chengqian stopped looking at the utterly desperate Japanese and walked straight towards the Japanese imperial palace.

Behind them came the thunderous shouts of "Long live the Tang Dynasty!" and "May the Crown Prince be mighty!" from the Tang soldiers, as well as the suppressed despair and weeping of the Japanese nobles.

The Tang Dynasty has no need for disloyal dogs.

When a dog is deemed unworthy, then it is stripped of even the right to be a dog.

This was Li Chengqian's attitude, and also the final answer the Crown Prince of Tang gave to those who betrayed their promises.

However, the real show for Japan has only just begun.

Although Li Chengqian declared the demise of Japan as the victor, it did not mean that these self-righteous Japanese people had completely submitted.

This is also why Li Chengqian was not in a hurry to leave.

He knew that the Japanese would definitely cause trouble next.

So he was waiting, waiting for an opportunity he had always wanted.

(End of this chapter)