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

Sibanggwan, the residence of the Silla delegation.

Dou Fengjie cleverly concealed a few pearls the size of a thumb and had Beimen Shuang hand them over to the registrar for inspection.

Those who pocket the benefits will inevitably be investigated and punished by the Censorate.

If it were kept in the Honglu Temple office, even Li Shimin would be scratching his head, wondering if it was considered greed or not.

The existence of slush funds has historical reasons; they can exist legally unless explicitly prohibited by the imperial court.

The problem is that the imperial court ordered each government office to hand over 50,000 coins as capital to nine money-collecting clerks, who would then charge "4,000 coins in interest per month," which was blatant selling of official positions.

If the proceeds from selling official positions can cover the expenses of the official kitchen, why can't the slush fund do the same?

Dou Fengjie set an example and took the lead, and the oil extracted by Beimen Shuang and the others also flowed into the yamen.

If it weren't for the concern about cutting off others' path to promotion to higher-ranking official positions, Zhao Dekai would have wanted to dismiss the nine money-collecting clerks.

"Regarding Silla, the court is already preparing for the mourning and investiture ceremonies, but the sea is currently rough, and the land route is blocked by Goguryeo."

Dou Fengjie's words were pointed.

The truth is, the Yellow Sea experiences high winds and rough seas in autumn and winter, while the sea is calmer in spring and summer.

"Indeed, the foreign minister is about to impeach Goguryeo for obstructing the route of Silla's tribute mission."

Kim Yu-shin's eyes lit up.

This fresh and unconventional reason is sure to enrage Goguryeo.

"Looking at the map of the border between Silla and Goguryeo, the terrain of the two countries is jagged and intricate, with Mahu City standing out prominently!"

Dou Fengjie tapped the top of the table with his fingers, and a hand-drawn map quietly appeared.

It was a defense map of Mahu City, which the Ministry of War's Bureau of Military Affairs copied and redrawn for Silla.

Kim Yu-shin took the map and glanced at it, immediately believing it.

The Goguryeo castle was so distinctively located on a hillside that Kim Yu-sin, who had attacked Nyangbi Castle, could spot it at a glance.

"Silla will definitely send troops this year."

Kim Yu-shin spoke with certainty.

Although he is now a leader, he comes from the noble class and will be appointed as a third-rank official below the highest rank when he returns. He is confident that he can lead troops.

With a rough defense plan in hand, if Kim Yu-sin still couldn't conquer this remote and inaccessible place like Mahu City, he might as well just kill himself.

It's not like a major city like Dongbihu!

Silla's hatred for Goguryeo was no less than Baekje's hatred for Silla; in its early years, Silla was also suffocated by Goguryeo.

Otherwise, the Hwarang, who drain the life force of aristocratic sons, would never have been born.

Many Hwarang warriors, even as they fight to their deaths, never know what love and romance are like.

Dou Fengjie ignored this and instead changed the subject.

For example, they are concerned about the local products of Jincheng, and whether the Queen's cousin, Kim Seung-man, has arms that reach her knees like Liu Bei.

That map was merely a result of Dou Fengjie's personal sabotage; whether or not the Tang Dynasty attacked had nothing to do with it.

Kim Yu-sin understood and recounted some interesting anecdotes about Silla, as well as the frequent raids on the Silla coast by the Japanese.

Beimen Shuang was dumbfounded. The map he had extorted from Choi Lim-soo, the great envoy of Goguryeo, had passed through several hands and been passed on to Silla.

Knowing that Mahu City was located on the border between Goguryeo and Silla, Beimen Shuang suddenly felt very proud, as if he had accomplished something great.

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

As Dou Fengjie strolled into the Japanese delegation's quarters, his sharp eyes swept over the horizontal sword and the shield sword laid out on the table.

The Four Great Swords of the Tang Dynasty: Mo Dao, Heng Dao, Zhang Dao, and Yi Dao.

Since the death of Kan Leng, the Mo Dao (陌刀) of the Tang Dynasty had not yet achieved combat effectiveness.

The horizontal sword was used by soldiers and civilians in daily life; the shield sword was a spare sword for the small horizontal sword; and the ceremonial sword was a sword used exclusively by the emperor in his ceremonial procession.

The Japanese envoy to Tang China, Eri, acquired these two swords not to buy them as ornaments, but because their craftsmen had already vaguely learned some techniques for forging horizontal swords.

This is the consequence of being generous when you're poor!

The Japanese envoy to Tang China, Inu no Mita Sugi, forced a smile and greeted him with clasped hands: "Greetings, sir! The Japanese mission to Tang China has learned about the profoundness of Tang culture through our studies."

Hui Riheshi said, "We should have been planning our return, but we need to wait for Gao Biaoren, the Tang Dynasty's envoy and the prefect of Xinzhou, who will not be able to return until June."

In fact, they also felt strong rejection from the various government offices and workshops of the Tang Dynasty, and had to return home early.

Dou Fengjie's smile was barbed: "Perfect, we can also bring back the monks Lingyun and Sengmin who are studying abroad."

A deep sense of apprehension flashed in Hui Ri's eyes.

Lingyun and Sengmin had stayed in Chang'an for many years, but Dou Fengjie, who had only been an official for less than half a year, saw through their deception in one fell swoop. How could Hui Ri not be surprised?

There is only one truth: the Tang Dynasty had been paying attention to Japan's movements for a long time!

The perceptive Hui Ri even speculated that Dou Fengjie's so-called renting of Ishimi and Nanbojin, and even his encouragement of the Soga clan to establish themselves as kings, might be a grand scheme by the Heavenly Khan.

Even though he held the title of Duke, Dou Fengjie was still just a lowly official. Hui Ri never imagined that this fellow would be so audacious.

As for making King Soga no Emi perform the kneeling ceremony, Eri had already informed his minister Soga no Emishi through secret channels, and proposed: Whoever kneels will become king.

I wonder if Soga no Emishi understood Eri's implication.

As for the Inugami Mitasuki, whom the royal family had put forward, he suddenly found that he had nothing to say to Dou Fengjie.

"Since the Sui Dynasty, Japan has been introducing cherry blossoms from the Central Plains, and the scenery near Asuka-kyo is particularly beautiful."

"The name Asuka-kyo comes from Asuka-ji Temple, which was built by the Soga clan."

Hui Ri chatted with Dou Fengjie at length.

Whether the Soga clan will establish themselves is unknown, but regicide is an old tradition; the previous minister, Soga no Umako, had a king killed.

Japan is a small country, so it pays special attention to its scenery, and many places are kept quite clean.

Is Mount Fuji in Japan still spewing fire?

Dou Fengjie casually stabbed Hui Ri.

"It's speculated that it will be sprayed again next year."

Hui Ri spoke with a sullen expression.

Volcanic eruptions are a disaster in any era, especially in a small country like Japan.

Lava and smoke can be deadly; collapsing houses are commonplace.

In this era, volcanic eruptions were considered natural disasters, and if handled poorly, the emperor might have to issue an edict of self-reproach.

What frustrated Hui Ri even more was that although the Tang Dynasty also had many volcanoes, they were mostly dormant.

I feel resentful!

The Taihang Mountains and Nanjing both have volcanoes, so why don't they erupt?

Dou Fengjie chuckled and teased, "I've heard that the Japanese royal family practices closed marriage? I wonder if you've heard about the current situation of the sacred relics of Silla?"

Inugami Mitasuki chimed in: "Most of the time, the royal family is self-sufficient, but occasionally they also arrange marriages with their subjects."

That's how twisted it is!

Unfortunately, this freak has persisted for thousands of years without ever disappearing.

Dou Fengjie sighed regretfully. The Japanese royal family was more adaptable than the Silla royal family, yet they managed to extinct their lineage. It was truly a pity.

Soga clan was cowardly. They dared to kill the king and establish a new monarch, so why didn't they dare to establish themselves as king?

Learn from the Cao Wei dynasty in the Central Plains. Cao Cao dared to seize power, and Cao Pi dared to usurp the throne. In just two generations, they achieved a complete change of dynasty.