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

"Shangguan, forgive my bluntness, but Silla is fickle and treacherous. They cry foul while wielding knives. They are not worthy of the Tang Dynasty's trust."

The originally handsome Baekje Crown Prince Buyeo Uija smiled as he slandered his opponent.

The word "originally" is used because Buyeo Uija had an arrow wound on one cheek, and even though it had healed, the skin still looked peeled up.

"But doesn't Baekje's relationship with the Tang Dynasty seem to be closer than its relationship with Japan?"

Dou Fengjie raised a teacup in invitation.

Silla was no good, and Baekje wasn't that closely connected with the Tang Dynasty.

So why didn't the Tang Dynasty get closer to Silla?

At least the whimpering sounds nice.

"Does Shangguan have a strong aversion to Japan?"

Buyeo Ui-ja astutely identified the problem.

After the proposal by King Wu of Wu, Fuyu Zhang, to move the capital was rejected by the eight clans, Fuyu Zhang lost interest in politics and began to indulge in sensual pleasures.

For nearly ten years, Baekje's military and political situation was largely saved by Crown Prince Buyeo Uija, who managed to inflict repeated defeats on Silla.

Dou Fengjie's dislike of Japan did not mean that the Tang Dynasty disliked Japan. At least the vast majority of the Japanese missions to Tang China were still alive and well in Chang'an.

Unfortunately, Japan was the only neighboring country that Baekje could rely on when it was at a disadvantage. Even with its many faults and even though Buyeo Uija didn't particularly like it, they still had to leave a bloodline in Japan.

This move, to put it nicely, is called entrusting one's orphan to another; to put it bluntly, it's called sending a hostage.

Buyeo Uija took a sip of the well-balanced tea, his gaze deep: "Baekje is poor in resources, and the iron armor and carved axes we have presented this time are the most presentable gifts the country can offer."

"I do not ask that the Tang Dynasty will side with Baekje, I only ask that the Tang Dynasty not intervene when Baekje and Silla are fighting."

I understand. He just didn't want the Tang Dynasty to shout "Stop fighting!" and was preparing to seize some land in the Han River Plain while Silla was in mourning.

Silla and Baekje were sworn enemies. King Seong of Baekje, Buyeo Myeongnyong, was captured by Silla, and the enmity between them was so deep that it could not be resolved.

Cheng Chumo chuckled, "Scarfaced Prince, you're dreaming if you expect us to risk opposing the court for such a small thing."

Buyeo Uija nodded, a hint of weariness in his eyes: "Baekje promises that if we encounter any fishermen from the Tang Dynasty in distress, we will do our utmost to rescue them."

"I will do my best." Dou Fengjie gave Fuyu Yici a deep look, completely trusting his words.

After Buyeo Yi-ja left, Cheng Chumo, who had been echoing him, stared at Dou Fengjie with his leopard-like eyes, not understanding why he would believe Buyeo Yi-ja's words.

Old Cheng could spew out a whole basketful of this kind of nonsense without even opening his mouth.

"Baekje will keep its promise," Dou Fengjie said without further explanation.

"Among the three kingdoms of the Eastern Barbarians, Baekje was the most trustworthy," explained Mu Zhancheng, the chief of the Imperial Household Department.

Cheng Chumo said he didn't understand, but was greatly shocked. He didn't realize that the reputation of the Dongyi Peninsula was so bad.

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

Choi Lim-soo, the Grand Envoy from Goguryeo, paced back and forth in the Sibangguan building to conceal his unease.

More than a month has passed since I arrived in the Tang Dynasty, and my letter of apology has vanished without a trace. The officials of the Four Directions Pavilion have turned a blind eye to it, and the interpreter Cui Xinggong avoids it like the plague.

What's worse, even the officials of the Court of State Ceremonial looked at Cui Linxiu with ill intent, as if they were looking at a lamb in the hall, discussing where to cut it to make it plump and delicious.

"What kind of disaster has the Westerners committed?!"

Cui Linxiu felt as if she had a fishbone stuck in her throat, a thorn in her back, or was sitting on pins and needles.

If he could, he would rather escape to Shiwei and plow the fields with a wooden plow than face this uncertain situation.

Qian Gaisuwen was the same. He didn't want to come to Chang'an as a hostage, so he could have just politely declined. Instead, he insisted on venting his anger and asked Xiangli Xuanjiang to let him live in a basement that was warm in winter and cool in summer.

Damn it, it was Cui Linxiu who had to wipe Qian Gaisuwen's butt.

Unfortunately, the Choi clan of Goguryeo was too weak and had no room for resistance.

With great difficulty, the arrogant shopkeeper Beimen Shuang, baring his rat-like teeth, appeared in his house and reluctantly put the Goguryeo ginseng that Cui Linxiu had given him into his sleeve.

It's just a little something, though.

"Sir, what are the court's regulations? Can you give me some information?" Cui Linxiu asked anxiously.

Even if you want to chop off someone's head and use it as a football, please give me a clear answer!

"The court will discuss this further. Some are calling for military action, others for reprimands. In any case, it won't be easy to reach a conclusion." Bei Men Shuang hesitated for a moment.

If Liu Shan and Dou Fengjie hadn't told Beimen Shuang the news, he wouldn't have known that this matter could drag on for so long.

The Crown Prince and the King of Yue were locked in a fierce confrontation over this matter, neither willing to back down, leaving the issue of Goguryeo unresolved.

Given Li Shimin's personality, he was probably just watching the show on purpose.

"Oh dear, what a disaster!" Cui Linxiu slapped her thigh, her face full of sorrow.

When Rongliu Prince Gao Jianwu ascended the throne at the same time as Emperor Taishang of Tang, Li Yuan, he immediately adopted a submissive attitude to prevent the Tang Dynasty from using the matter of Emperor Yang of Sui's three campaigns to cause trouble. However, Qian Gaisuwen caused this mess again!

Bei Men rubbed his thumbs and forefingers together silently, without saying a word.

An emperor won't starve his soldiers, but if he doesn't give them enough benefits, they won't be easy to talk to.

If the Imperial Censor and the Vice Minister of the Court of State Ceremonies do not accept the order, the message will likely not reach the imperial court.

In the past, Beimen Shuang would hide his benefits and act coy when accepting them. Now, however, he is ordered to extract money from Cui Linxiu. Anyone who doesn't squeeze Cui Linxiu out of everything except her underwear is a conscientious person.

Only Dou Fengjie in the entire Court of State Ceremonial dared to issue such an audacious order.

Matsutake mushrooms, deer antlers, and ginseng filled the entire table. Cui Linxiu said in a tearful voice, "There's none left, really none at all."

Looking around the north gate, Cui Linxiu waved tearfully, signaling her entourage to leave.

Bei Men grinned, his eyes gleaming with greed: "How about we cede Liaodong City and Anshi City, east of the Liao River, as compensation?"

Cui Linxiu lowered her voice, a roar like that of a wounded beast rising from her throat: "Impossible, absolutely impossible! Not even one!"

These two cities were the gateways for Goguryeo along the Liao River. To surrender them would be tantamount to opening the door to thieves.

Goguryeo couldn't afford to take that risk, and Choi Lim-soo was even less likely to.

Bei Men Shuang calmly sorted and packed the items on the table, a playful smile on his face: "But what if we add the condition that your family members can be granted citizenship at any time, and that you are given at least an official position?"

Cui Linxiu felt as if she had been shot in the heart, and it took her ten breaths to even fall back down.

He knew, of course, that the term "official position" encompassed both rank-based officials and those outside the official ranks, but this promise felt all the more genuine.

If Bei Men Shuang were to claim that he was a prefect or county magistrate, that would be utter nonsense.

He even knew that it was not a lowly official like Beimen Shuang who could say such things, and that there must be a great figure after Beimen Shuang.

As for how big it is, think hard.

"The fortresses of Liaodong City and Anshi City are beyond my control even if you kill them, but I once drew a map of the troop deployment of Mahu City, which might be of some use?"

Cui Linxiu looked around to make sure no one was there, then took a piece of silk from her inner garment and handed it to Beimen Shuang.

Well, just as Shangguan said, since they're going to sell Goguryeo, they're not willing to sell it off cleanly and efficiently.

Where is Mahu City again?