In my dream of returning to the Tang Dynasty, I snatched Wu Zetian from my lap.

Japanese dance and music generally have a sense of pettiness and lack of grandeur, even giving people a gloomy feeling.

This was true not only in ancient times, but also in later generations; the style was quite peculiar.

To be honest, Li Yuanchang didn't like it, but he wasn't mainly there to watch the dances.

One dance and then it's over.

Li Yuanchang rose and clapped: "Miss Mingli, you are skilled in both music and dance; I admire you greatly."

"Thank you for your praise, sir." Akari knelt down and bowed.

Li Yuanchang took a deep breath, stepped forward, and approached her, extending his hand: "Miss Mingli, would you be willing to share a bed with me tonight?"

He is exceptionally direct and decisive; tricks are worthless in the face of absolute strength.

Akari looked up in alarm, her beautiful eyes filled with panic.

"My lord, I..."

Li Yuanchang didn't speak, but just looked into her eyes. His deep gaze seemed to have some kind of magic in the candlelight, leaving Akari's mind blank.

After hesitating for a moment, he inexplicably reached out his hand.

The moment Li Yuanchang received the icy, delicate hand, he instantly exerted his strength, pulled it into his arms, and then lifted it up around the waist.

She was very light, so light that she could be grasped in one hand, completely different from Qiandao's curvaceous figure and mature charm.

Akari's lips were agape, her heart pounding as if it were about to leap out of her chest.

She wanted to say something, but under Li Yuanchang's powerful grip, she couldn't utter a single word.

Li Yuanchang strode towards the bed in the depths.

Mingli was naive and completely clueless, like a lamb to the slaughter, being devoured bite by bite by Li Yuanchang.

A night of passion, and daisies in full bloom.

……

A few days later, the good news finally arrived!

The port of Dayuan was a great success. Huang Tu attacked the port in the middle of the night with less than 100 men, killed 200 enemies, and successfully rescued the two treasure ships that had been seized, along with the people on board.

This is the day at Linzhi Wharf.

The crowd was enormous, a dense mass of Ōtomo's guards, and Chishima had come along too.

Before the ship even arrived, the crew on the treasure ship erupted in cheers and shouts as loud as a tsunami.

"Long live the King of Han!"

"Long live the King of Han!!"

The crew members, who had escaped from the jaws of death, wept with joy and waved vigorously.

"Hahaha!"

Li Yuanchang laughed heartily, in high spirits. He had gone through all this trouble just to rescue the treasure ship and its crew.

He led his men quickly to the dock steps. The scale here was far smaller than that of Dayuan Port, but it was still large enough for the treasure ship to dock.

As soon as the ship docked, the crew members quickly squeezed off.

The first to be affected was helmsman Lao Hu, who led his men to kneel on the ground with a thud.

"We are deeply grateful to His Highness the Prince of Han for saving our lives!"

"We are deeply grateful to the King of Han for saving our lives!" the entire ship shouted.

Li Yuanchang helped the people up: "Get up, all of you! How can the people of the Great Tang be left to wander outside? It is my duty to rescue you!"

"Long live the Tang Dynasty! Long live Your Highness!" the crew members shouted, overjoyed and weeping, completely convinced of the emperor's greatness.

Immediately afterwards, Otomo's staff came forward to meet them, providing food and winter clothing.

The two treasure ships have now been completely looted; all the cargo and supplies have been taken away by Nakatomi no.

However, that's not important.

Nakatomi was just temporarily holding it for him.

"Old Hu, how's it going at the port?"

"Your Highness, Military Advisor Huang Tu asked me to tell you that everything is going smoothly."

"On the night of the rescue, a battle broke out in Aoki Castle, and most of the Japanese pirates in the port were drawn to reinforce it."

"Then Huangtu Canjun took action. After rescuing us, Huangtu Canjun deliberately lit the beacon fire, thus revealing the signal."

"The group of samurai was forced to turn back again, wasting a lot of time on the way there and back, and as a result, they couldn't take care of either side."

"When we left, the city of Qingmu was engulfed in flames, but we did not know the specifics. As you instructed, Military Advisor Huang Tu has already gone to assist Lord Guo."

"I believe we'll have news soon," Old Hu said.

Li Yuanchang nodded; everything was going according to plan.

Are there any casualties among the crew?

"Your Highness, many people were beaten and injured, but no one died. In addition, all the cargo on the ship has been removed."

"Your subordinate deserves death."

Li Yuanchang patted him on the shoulder: "It has nothing to do with you. As long as you're alright, that's all that matters."

"It's safe here. You can rest for a while and wait for me to finish my business before we set off again."

"Yes!" Old Hu bowed.

At this moment, Ishikatsu Senjima stepped forward with his men, his breath sweet and fragrant: "Your Highness, the hostages have been rescued. Shouldn't we send reinforcements to Aoki Castle now?"

"Wherever there is a loss, Nakatomi will surely come to the rescue."

"I am worried that there are not enough men at the front, as Nakatomi's army is far superior to ours."

Li Yuanchang shook his head: "I won't go to Qingmu City."

"Wherever my main force is, I will surely take it. At most, Nakatomi no's reinforcements will only be able to launch a counterattack and besiege us."

"Prepare to attack the Nakatomi no Shogunate!" he blurted out, doing the opposite of what was expected.

Upon hearing this, everyone in the Otomo clan changed color.

"A direct attack on the Shogunate?"

Li Yuanchang nodded, decisive and ruthless: "When he sends reinforcements, leaving his base vulnerable, that will be the best opportunity."

"Strike straight at the heart of the enemy, stabilize the overall situation, and the battle can be ended in one fell swoop."

The Japanese of the Ōtomo clan looked at each other in bewilderment. Was this how the Tang Dynasty fought its wars?

This was somewhat beyond their comprehension.

Can it work?

"Yes!" Only Chishima responded quickly, his eyes filled with trust.

"Go back and make preparations. We will attack the stronghold of the Nakatomi clan. I will personally lead the troops. We don't need the Ōtomo clan's men; just the army of Ishihara Satoka will suffice."

"After this battle, he will have no way out but to stand with Ōtomo."

"And with the downfall of the Nakatomi clan, he can see the hope of the South becoming independent, and he will be at ease assisting you." Li Yuanchang's thinking was clear, and his strategies and tactics were all about overwhelming the backward civilization of the island nation.

"Hi!" Chishima nodded throughout.

About an hour later, after several hundred crew members were settled at the dock, Li Yuanchang returned to the Ōtomo Shogunate.

With the order given, Ishihara Sato, who had been under surveillance, was forced to gather his old troops and prepare for battle.

Li Yuanchang met with him and knew that he was somewhat reluctant, but without any dissatisfaction. His reluctance would soon turn into utmost loyalty.

That afternoon, before sunset, 680 warriors were in position.

To prevent these surrendered soldiers from mutinying, all their commanders were replaced by men from the Ōtomo clan, and as a result, a large number of people were promoted in Chishima.

Moreover, the positions of these 680 people were all rearranged and reorganized, and many of them did not know each other, which minimized the possibility of unrest.

"We don't need to bring that much food."

"Everyone should travel light, bringing enough food for ten days; that will be more than enough!"

"Ten days??" The retainers of the Ōtomo clan were as inexperienced as novices, and relied entirely on Li Yuanchang to guide them step by step.

"Yes, just ten days!"

"If we transport grain on a large scale, it will not only take a long time, but it will also be easy to be discovered. Ten days is enough time to take over there," Li Yuanchang said.