Deposed? I couldn't be happier! I wouldn't even be a dog to the crown prince.

The Mediterranean sun shone on the palace tiles of Cyprus, but it could not warm the young count's cold heart.

The count, who had just been pointing his finger at the Tang Dynasty merchant and scheming to rob him of olive oil, was now in an awkward position, staring intently at the red book slammed on the table.

The cover of the book was made of red brocade specially supplied by the Crown Prince's Palace, with the edges trimmed with dazzling gold threads, and in the very center were five large, gold-stamped characters: "Passport of the Great Tang Dynasty".

The Tang Dynasty merchant who had been imprisoned for a night was now casually sprawled on the count's throne, chewing on top-quality grapes from Cyprus.

"Did you see clearly, Your Excellency?" The merchant picked his teeth and casually pushed his passport forward.

The count, his hands trembling, turned to the first page.

He couldn't read Chinese characters, but that didn't stop him from feeling the overwhelming aura of killing intent.

On the title page, the few lines of calligraphy personally written by Li Chengqian were translated into Latin and printed in the local dialect below.

"No matter where you are, the guns and cannons of the Tang Dynasty will be your strongest support. If you are attacked, the Tang Dynasty will cross mountains and seas to arrive, and within a hundred miles, the cannons will fire!"

On the background of those words, there was also a hideous red cannon.

The count felt a chill run from the soles of his feet straight to the top of his head.

He recalled that six months ago, his neighbor had been blocked in the port and had three fortresses blasted flat by three ironclad warships billowing black smoke because he had underpaid a customs duty to Prince Li Zhi of Jin.

At that time, those self-proclaimed noble knights didn't even have a chance to charge forward when faced with the Shenji Battalion's line of executions.

"Misunderstanding...it's all a misunderstanding!"

The count knelt down with a thud, the sound of his knees hitting the floor tiles echoing throughout the hall.

He disregarded any semblance of European aristocratic dignity, kowtowing while frantically waving his hands to his men: "Quick! Load all of this Tang Dynasty envoy's goods onto the ship! No, load twice... oh no, ten times!"

"Furthermore, send my prized pair of Persian cats and three Western Region dancers aboard as an apology for the envoy's fright!"

The Tang Dynasty merchant squinted and pointed to a wisp of black smoke faintly appearing on the horizon outside the window.

"His Highness's fleet was already on its way. Since you're so understanding, shall I send a telegram to have them check things out next door first?"

"Thank you so much, Your Excellency! Thank you so much, Your Excellency, for saving my life!"

The count felt as if he had been granted a pardon, and his wig was soaked with sweat.

This kind of scene was playing out in every corner touched by the power of the Tang Dynasty.

That little red booklet has become a "get-out-of-jail-free card" that transcends the laws of all nations.

In the jungles of the Americas, when indigenous chiefs saw the passports of the Tang Dynasty caravan, they would respectfully offer the fattest wild boar legs, regarding these yellow-skinned guests as gods descended to earth.

On the banks of the Indian subcontinent, local princes spared no expense, spending ivory and rubies from their national treasury to obtain a stamp of "friendly relations" on their Tang Dynasty passports.

The people of the Tang Dynasty had become true first-class citizens on this planet.

If you carry this red book in your pocket, the Duke of London will have to give way to you on the streets of London, and the bishop will have to bow to you in the squares of Rome.

This bloodline suppression was painstakingly cultivated by Li Chengqian, bit by bit, using countless copper wires, steel rails, and gunpowder smoke.

Chang'an, the innermost palace.

Li Shimin was sitting in a rocking chair, holding a thick stack of "Overseas People's Conditions Summary".

The report details how Tang Dynasty merchants acted with impunity in various places, and one even slapped the local Chancellor of the Exchequer in the British Isles because of a bad deal, and the Chancellor had to smile apologetically.

After watching for a while, Li Shimin not only didn't find these people arrogant, but his lips curled up in a wild smile.

"Chengqian, look at these guys, they're all so infuriating!"

He tossed the report to Li Chengqian, who was playing with the iron-eating beast next to him.

"That merchant in Cyprus actually made the local count write a three-thousand-character self-criticism in Chinese characters? And it had to be written in running script?"

Li Chengqian didn't even lift his eyelids, casually replying, "What's the big deal? I wrote it clearly in my passport: if I'm wronged, I'll give them plenty of cannon fodder. Since they haven't fired any cannons, what's wrong with making them write an essay?"

Li Shimin sighed deeply, his eyes filled with a look of satisfaction.

He used to fight the Turks with extreme caution, fearing that the national treasury would be empty and that the food supplies would run out.

Now, things are really messed up. When the people of the Tang Dynasty go to do business tens of thousands of miles away and something happens, the local officials are more afraid of them than the county magistrates of the Tang Dynasty.

This tangible feeling that all land under heaven belongs to the king is far more satisfying than the empty rhetoric of all nations paying tribute.

"I am not as useful as your passport as I am as emperor."

Li Shimin turned his head and looked at Li Chengqian's spineless, salted fish-like appearance, speaking in a low, melancholy tone.

"Chengqian, if I walk down the street now, I'm afraid no one will recognize me. But if you, the Crown Prince of the Great Tang, are mentioned, those foreigners will probably turn their legs in disbelief."

"Tell me, isn't your prestige now higher than mine, the emperor?"

Li Chengqian sat up abruptly, looking at his father with a wary expression.

"Old man, are you trying to trick me again? Let me make this clear first: prestige is one thing, but you'd better hold onto this throne. I'm not planning to officially start operating yet."

Li Shimin chuckled and unfolded the world map again.

"I'm not trying to trick you, I just think... this world is too small, not enough for your passport to cause trouble."

Li Chengqian rolled his eyes and lay back down.

"Smaller is better, so I don't have to develop missiles with longer ranges."

Li Shimin's smile faded, and his expression became somewhat complicated.

"Chengqian, since this passport is so effective, tell me... if that Pope fails the HSK Level 4 exam, could I use the passport to send him back to Europe to work on toilets?"

Li Chengqian was stunned for a moment, then burst into laughter.

"That's a good idea. As long as he doesn't have this red book in his pocket, he won't even be able to leave the city gates of Chang'an."

Just as the father and son were bickering as usual, Wu Meiniang hurriedly walked in.

"Your Highness, Your Majesty, the merchant caravan that went to sea brought back a strange message."

"There is a small country that claims to be a descendant of Alexander the Great. They want to give Your Highness their most precious map in exchange for a Tang Dynasty green card for each member of their royal family."

Li Chengqian raised an eyebrow and looked at Li Shimin.

"Look, old man, this is the charm of a Tang Dynasty household registration."

Li Shimin stroked his chin, his eyes narrowing slightly.

"Let them wait. First, go to the Court of State Ceremonial and memorize the Tang Code."

"However, Chengqian, how well are the anti-counterfeiting features on your passport? I don't want fake documents everywhere."

Li Chengqian closed his eyes again, a mysterious smile playing on his lips.

"Don't worry, the paper contains fluorescent powder specially made by the Crown Prince. Only when exposed to ultraviolet light can my portrait be seen. Anyone who tries to imitate it will die."

Li Shimin was stunned.

"What the heck is a UV lamp?"