Zhenguan: I, Dou Fengjie, will not be the first cuckold.

Hui Ri's face remained serene, but a hint of gloom appeared in his eyes: "As far as I know, the Tang Dynasty has never been interested in remote and impoverished overseas regions. How can Duke Zan be so certain that the court will agree to this proposal?"

This student studying abroad has a deep understanding of the Tang Dynasty!

Dou Fengjie smiled knowingly: "I wasn't interested before, but now that I'm here, I'm naturally interested."

Hui Ri's expression gradually calmed down: "The sea is rough and the winds are high, making it difficult for the two countries to travel together."

As far as Hui Ri knows, the Tang Dynasty's naval forces, including warships and sea hawks, are all suited for rivers and coastal waters and are not capable of long-distance voyages.

As for the tall and imposing multi-storied ships, they are purely for show, with terrible balance, and can even get out of control on the Yangtze River.

While the Tang Dynasty's decision to allow monks and students to stay abroad certainly demonstrated the magnanimity of a superior nation, it also exposed many things to foreign lands.

In particular, Japan is a foreign country with wolfish ambitions.

We need to strengthen our awareness of confidentiality!

"But wouldn't it be easy to reach Japan by sailing from Dengzhou or Laizhou, passing through Baekje, and then turning onto Tsushima Island?"

Dou Fengjie casually exposed Hui Ri's lie.

Even sea hawks, by following this route and avoiding the windy and rough seas of spring and summer, can successfully reach Japan.

As for Nambazu, that's a different ocean current.

"Shangguan really knows a lot about Japan!"

Hui Ri gave an awkward laugh.

If storms and waves can't scare people, then Japan, whose military equipment, system, and combat power are several generations behind, simply cannot resist the will of the Tang Dynasty.

"I don't quite understand yet. I don't understand why, when the Soga clan has already controlled the military and political affairs of Japan, two generations of people willingly remain as subjects?"

"You've lived in the Tang Dynasty for a long time, you must have heard of Huo Guang and Wang Mang, right?"

Dou Fengjie bewitched people.

Powerful ministers either usurp the throne or are executed; it's very difficult for them to escape unscathed.

Soga no Umako and his son Soga no Emishi held absolute power, even having the power to decide the deposition and enthronement of the Japanese king. Yet, instead of taking the throne, they were courting death.

Ebisu, who was close to the Soga clan, fell silent.

Dou Fengjie's words were too much for his mind to process.

For hundreds of years, the Japanese royal family has remained steadfast, even when it was reduced to a mere mascot, it has never been replaced; instead, powerful ministers have come and gone in quick succession.

If the Soga clan truly were to replace the royal family...

Hui Ri felt his heart pounding wildly, and no amount of Buddhist teachings could calm it down.

Once this insane thought arises, even Buddha becomes a demon.

It turns out that the Buddhist scriptures' saying, "One thought can make you a Buddha, one thought can make you a demon," is actually true.

Dou Fengjie smiled gently: "Didn't the Soga no Ezo (Japanese savages) introduce Buddhism to fight against the demons and gods of Japan's native lands?"

"The Tang Dynasty can provide full assistance in this matter. The first batch of 10,000 monks and nuns can be selected to go to Japan to spread Buddhism."

"Of course, Japan will also build Shodai-ji Temple for them."

In a narrow sense, the term "招提" refers to illegal temples built without the approval of the imperial court or government; in a broad sense, it refers to all Buddhist temples.

Hui Ri's defenses crumbled instantly at this tremendous news: "It's actually like this? Could you give me a little more?"

Aside from purely ideological disputes, Buddhism has made significant achievements in medicine, architecture, and art, which could complement the work of Japan at that time.

Dou Fengjie laughed loudly: "I would like to send 100,000 monks across the sea, but can Japan support them?"

The most practical problem is that the construction and renovation of each temple requires considerable expenses.

As for the daily expenses of monks and nuns, it's simple: just allocate some land for them to cultivate and support themselves.

Monks and nuns would then pair up and, in a uniquely Japanese custom, live together in a brothel, producing a multitude of adorable little monks and nuns, their descendants endless.

Dou Fengjie subtly pointed out that if the Soga clan didn't know their place, the Tang Dynasty wouldn't mind supporting the Mononobe clan, which had been defeated years before.

Hui Ri hesitated for a long time with a pained expression before finally nodding with difficulty.

He never imagined that in the distant city of Chang'an, there would be such a monster as Dou Fengjie, who knew the situation in Japan like the back of his hand and manipulated people's hearts like a demon.

Dou Fengjie casually inquired about the waterline of the ships sent to Tang China and the water depth of several major docks in Japan, and got a general idea of ​​what was going on.

Japanese ships and Tang Dynasty ships each had their own advantages and disadvantages, but neither broke through the limitations of their time, and their ability to withstand wind and waves was not significantly different.

The reason why the Japanese are good at traveling at sea is mainly because they are particularly familiar with ocean currents.

Tsk, when will I be able to get the blueprints for the Fujian ship from the Wokou system, build the Fujian ship, put on a monocle, and point my sword at Japan?

That scene was absolutely beautiful!

Unfortunately, the aloof and sophisticated trading system told Dou Fengjie that the blueprints for the Fujian ship were extremely expensive, and even a few hundred more pieces of tricolor glazed pottery wouldn't be enough to exchange for them.

Dou Fengjie muttered to himself: "Can I offer sacrifices to Japan in exchange?"

System response: Humans cannot, and should not...

Well, Dou Fengjie has left the entire system speechless.

-----------------

"Overseas? What would we do with those barren lands?"

Inside the Liangyi Hall, Li Shimin looked on with disdain.

His vision was limited by the times; he couldn't see the enormous profits overseas and focused solely on the Silk Road.

"The silver mines in Iwami, Japan, can be mined continuously for a thousand years."

Dou Fengjie, who was summoned to the palace as an exception, mentioned it only briefly.

Tsk, these imperial servants are rather mediocre at brewing tea. Even the finest Pengzhou compressed tea doesn't taste as good as the Xiangzhou compressed tea brewed by the North Gate.

Li Shimin suddenly stood up, his eyes gleaming with golden light.

For a Pixiu that's struggling financially, such a huge mountain of silver must be: My goodness! It's all my goodness!

"Then, what is the deeper meaning behind leasing land in Naniwa and stationing troops there?"

After calming down, Li Shimin leisurely inquired.

Dou Fengjie laughed: "Nanbazu's position in Japan is just like Luoyang's position in the Tang Dynasty."

A prosperous port, capable of supplying Tang troops in a steady stream—this reason, while appealing, was insufficient to convince Li Shimin.

Dou Fengjie weighed the pros and cons and said something that was half true and half false: "Your Majesty, Japan has always coveted vast lands. Giving them a chance to breathe is just adding trouble to our descendants."

"Therefore, it would be most beneficial for the Tang Dynasty to have the Mononobe clan of Naniwa-zu confront the Soga clan of Asuka-kyo and fight them every now and then."

The best way to manage the situation is to support the weaker side and keep the two sides roughly evenly matched!

It's a pity that oil is not a specialty of Japan, otherwise Dou Fengjie would have taught the soldiers to sing "I stole oil for the Tang Dynasty".

We can have principles in other places, but not in Japan, for no reason whatsoever.

Li Shimin's deep gaze fell on Dou Fengjie: "Does the Duke of Zan believe that the sea route is an important link in the future?"

"Your Majesty can have someone inquire with the foreign merchants in Guangzhou about the cost of sea transport from Persia to Guangzhou versus land transport from Persia to Chang'an," Dou Fengjie said, spreading his hands.

Guangzhou has always been a hub for foreign merchants, and the profits from maritime trade are readily available; Dou Fengjie could not possibly manipulate the system.

Li Shimin's eyes were full of regret.

Unfortunately, my cousin, who was so insightful, was unwilling to become my brother-in-law.

What's there to be afraid of with green dots?

Just consider it an eye-protecting color.