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

Li Yuanchang spent a relaxing and joyful August with his family in the Central Prefecture, just like he had in Liangzhou. Every day, the whole family would eat together, then go out for a spring outing, horseback riding, hunting, and watch plays together at night. It was a time of great happiness.

Until the tenth day of the ninth month, when Liaodong entered winter and the temperature plummeted, a bombshell message drifted into Goguryeo, shocking the entire royal palace.

Immediately, Li Yuanchang ordered the cessation of all entertainment activities.

On the ninth day of the eighth month of the twenty-third year of Zhenguan, Li Shimin passed away in the Lizheng Hall in Chang'an!

His ministers and vassal states bestowed upon him the title of Heavenly Khan, the temple name of Taizong, and he was buried in Zhaoling.

When the news spread, the world was shocked!

Even Goguryeo had heard of the Great Tang's Heavenly Khan; how could they not be shocked by the death of this true dragon?!

Although there were some discrepancies in the timing and location, the general trend is the same as the historical trajectory.

Li Shimin deliberately delayed for more than a month, until the frontline army returned, before he could finally pass away peacefully.

Li Zhi ascended the throne before his death, and many of his advisors pledged their loyalty before his coffin.

The prosperous Tang Dynasty came into the hands of a third ruler, Emperor Gaozong, who was also a controversial figure in history.

Li Yuanchang showed no schadenfreude or smugness; he only showed respect and reverence for the deceased.

No matter what, Li Shimin's achievements in his campaigns across the country are indelible. The territory he conquered for the Han people will exist forever. Without him, there would be no life of plenty for tens of millions of people during the Zhenguan era.

Furthermore, since Li Yuanchang and Li Shimin were brothers, he could not gloat or kick someone when they were down at this time.

He issued a military order from the Central Prefecture, requiring the entire Goguryeo territory to wear mourning clothes for Li Shimin, and all military forces, whether they were soldiers from Kyushu Prefecture or surrendered Goguryeo officials, to fly their flags at half-mast!

Such a vision earned the admiration and sincere respect of the entire Goguryeo Kingdom.

Just a few days ago, Li Shimin mobilized 200,000 troops to attack, and the two sides fought fiercely in Anshi City for several months. But today, Li Shimin has passed away, and Li Yuanchang still showed respect to his brother and his opponent.

In the eyes of the various city lords of Goguryeo, this was a benevolent act; following a benevolent person was always better than following a cold-blooded one.

Some people believe that Li Yuanchang did this in order to dispel the label of "rebellion" and win fame, but Li Yuanchang really did not think that way.

He felt that the grudges between the two had vanished with Li Shimin's death.

The Han people have always believed in the idea that "when a person dies, all resentment dissipates." In the rural areas of the 21st century, many farmers never speak to each other again over trivial matters, and some even fight each other.

But once one of them dies, the other will immediately put aside past grievances and go to the funeral to help.

This may sound contradictory, but it is actually a culture and sentiment that the Han people have inherited for thousands of years.

September 11th.

Li Yuanchang then led the entire Han Prince's Mansion in a distant ancestral worship ceremony for Li Shimin.

Li Yuanchang personally wore mourning clothes.

The news reached Chang'an from the Liao River front. There were troops stationed at the Liao River, as there were Tang troops stationed there to guard against Li Yuanchang's attack.

When news of Li Yuanchang's friendly gesture reached China, the tense atmosphere on the front lines between the two sides instantly dissipated by half.

At the same time, Li Yuanchang's letter of condolence was also sent to Chang'an.

This was his initial idea: with Li Shimin's death and Li Zhi's ascension to the throne, a new era was beginning, and the wars of the previous generation could not continue.

He hoped this letter of condolence would be the first step in breaking the ice.

September 15th.

The air in Liaodong is bitterly cold; all that's missing is a heavy snowfall.

A contingent that had traveled across the ocean arrived in the Central Prefecture, but was immediately suppressed by the Han army while they were still hundreds of miles away.

Li Yuanchang, who was instructing his sons in martial arts, was somewhat surprised when he received the news.

Taking the hot towel from Fang Weng, he asked, "Where is he?"

Guo Chao replied, "Your Highness, we have arrived outside the city of Zhongbu Prefecture and will be there soon."

"They submitted a petition, and I heard it was even written by the Emperor himself."

Li Yuanchang raised an eyebrow: "Oh?"

He was quite surprised, as this was his first time dealing with the Japanese Emperor.

The position of Emperor has always been shrouded in mystery. Throughout history, the Emperor has been the only emperor in Japan, holding a high position and great power, and possessing immense spiritual significance, almost comparable to religious beliefs.

A thousand years later, even after Japan suffered such a crushing defeat, they still desperately defended their emperor to the very end, making the emperor a spiritual totem.

Li Yuanchang opened the scroll; it was bright yellow, clearly made by the Japanese imperial court.

The document, written in standard Chinese characters, contained a grand "surrender document."

"Tsk tsk."

"They surrendered."

"They threw it in pretty fast," Li Yuanchang sneered. He had originally planned to destroy Japan, but the pressure from the Tang border army was too great, and he dared not fight on two fronts.

Just as the imperial court withdrew its troops, the Japanese emperor surrendered. He must have received the news, and the imperial court withdrew its troops again. With Li Shimin's death, the emperor had completely lost his main support.

Even the Liaodong region no longer has any means of containment.

"surrender?"

"That bastard, now he knows to surrender!"

"Putting aside the fact that he sabotaged our raw material collection in Japan, just the fact that he sent 40,000 troops across the border while we were at war with the imperial court, attempting to launch a sneak attack from both sides, deserves to die a thousand times over!" Guo Chao cursed angrily.

Xue Rengui said in a deep voice, "Your Highness, such a fickle person should not be trusted."

"That's right, Your Highness. Japan is different from Goguryeo. Goguryeo was defeated and subdued, but the Japanese Emperor was not."

"They have been plundering various countries for decades and are by no means benevolent. Their attitude towards the Tang Dynasty is also inconsistent, so they cannot be trusted." Su Gui also held the opposite opinion.

It must be said that the Prince of Han's mansion produced many talented people, all of whom were visionary.

They were unaware of what had happened in history. Not to mention a thousand years later, in 663 AD alone, Japan, in alliance with Baekje, fought the famous Battle of Baekgang against the Tang Dynasty at Baekyeongkou.

Japan is inherently hostile to the Han people. Even if they submit to the Han, it will only be temporary. Once they have the power, they will definitely cause trouble.

This has been proven in the case of the three countries on the peninsula. During the Tang Dynasty, the Japanese navy raided and harassed the peninsula more than once.

Li Yuanchang nodded: "I don't believe in the Emperor either, and his regime must be dissolved."

"However, we must see him."

"Let's hear what they have to say first. If they really surrender, I can offer some terms, which will save us a lot of trouble."

"Furthermore, a cause must be justified. They are nominally vassals of the Tang Dynasty. If I were to destroy the Emperor, I would have to be mindful of the consequences."

"Your Highness is right!"

"Since Your Highness does not believe, then there is nothing to fear."

"Let's see what the Japanese Emperor's men have to say. If they dare not accept our terms, we'll wipe them out!"

"..."