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

The next day.

Chu Yanbu continued his visits.

This time, Li Chongzhen also pleaded for Cheng Chuliang's life.

Even though the two men didn't speak, Li Yuanchang understood that they were subjects of the Tang Dynasty, and due to many reasons related to their fathers, they had no choice but to speak up.

In the end, he still refused, but out of respect for Cheng and Li, he promised that the annual tax would be paid according to the fixed amount of the Tang Dynasty and that he would not take advantage of the privileges of the King of Goguryeo.

He also promised that all the Goguryeo army would raise its own money and supplies, without needing a single penny from the court.

"Lord Chu, there's no need to say more. Otherwise, you can return to Chang'an and ask His Majesty for his opinion."

"This is my bottom line," Li Yuanchang said emphatically.

Chu Yanbu opened his mouth, but ultimately stopped himself from speaking.

He struggled slightly, fearing that if things dragged on like this, the remaining thirty-odd conditions would not be met. The current situation was already quite good; Li Yuanchang was cooperating and had shown sufficient sincerity.

"All right."

"Since Your Highness insists, then this humble official will say no more."

"Although this matter differs somewhat from His Majesty's thoughts, His Majesty respects His Highness as an elder and will surely agree."

"When may Your Highness begin?"

"Only by returning to Chang'an can I report back on my mission."

Li Yuanchang said, "Wait a moment."

Chu Yanbu and the others felt a chill run down their spines. What was going on? Were they going to change their minds?

Li Yuanchang said, "The imperial court has finished presenting its conditions. Isn't it my turn now?"

Chu Yanbu and the others were taken aback. Did Li Yuanchang still have conditions?

Immediately, all the officials who had come exchanged glances, their foreheads beaded with sweat.

"Your Highness, please speak. As long as it's not excessive, I can go back and consult His Majesty." Chu Yanbu remained composed, but he didn't give a definitive answer either.

He was afraid that Li Yuanchang would suggest who to kill.

Li Yuanchang then put forward seven conditions.

Compared to the various demands of the imperial court, his demands were much simpler and clearer.

These included lifting maritime restrictions, returning fertile land and numerous workshops to Southern Qin, and allowing Southern Qin to continue trading in the Central Plains.

These things were possible before, and the imperial court even benefited from them, but they were interrupted due to border conflicts.

Therefore, Chu Yanbu did not show any opposition and claimed that he would report it.

After rounds of negotiations, all the conditions were finally agreed upon and put in writing.

Both sides made an agreement to abide by it. Li Yuanchang would continue to obey the emperor's orders and pledge allegiance, while Li Zhi would grant all the territory on the peninsula to Li Yuanchang as his fief.

There was no need for reporting duties or rotations; ostensibly, the court ruled, but in reality, Li Yuanchang was the one in charge.

This essentially established Li Yuanchang's position of "the person in charge at Guanjiang Estuary obeys orders but not pronouncements."

To show his sincerity, on the very first day of the peace talks, Li Yuanchang did not even wait for a reply from Li Zhi. Instead, he directly submitted a memorial and issued military orders in front of the imperial envoys, declaring his allegiance and pledging to obey the orders of the Tang central government.

This greatly gave the court a way out, and it was a situation that Li Zhi's new dynasty could completely accept, since Goguryeo was not originally Tang territory.

Their mentality is that once they conquer a territory, they can relocate the people, take away the wealth, and then leave it at that.

Now that Li Yuanchang, this troublemaker, is staying abroad and has declared that he obeys the orders of the Tang Dynasty, the court doesn't need to spend a penny. Why not do it?

Their only concern was probably the gunpowder in Li Yuanchang's possession, but Li Yuanchang was unlikely to give it to them!

Paying taxes is no problem; he can earn it back. But gunpowder is the key to stability.

Without this, he really wouldn't dare to challenge the entire massive military system of the Tang Dynasty alone. Goguryeo's foundation was too weak; at most, they could only hold their ground and couldn't even cross the Liao River.

Li Yuanchang also benefited.

The entire group was spared the stigma of being traitors, and their contributions were acknowledged—this was a matter of morale.

The real advantage was that the entire commercial empire could continue, whereas Goguryeo was too limited and simply didn't have enough population.

If Southern Qin could resume its business in the Central Plains, it would be able to support the entire Goguryeo.

Neither side needs to fight, and no one will die; it's a win-win situation.

Two days later.

After obtaining the negotiation results, Chu Yanbu began his return journey.

On the day he left, Li Yuanchang still went to see him off.

Chu Yanbu was arguably the highest-paid of the imperial envoys, but he also knew that his success was entirely due to having Cheng Chuliang and his companion with him.

Therefore, after arriving in Chang'an, he did not claim all the credit for himself.

The three of them went to the palace together to meet the emperor and report on the situation.

After two more days of intense discussion, the imperial court finally sent another urgent reply.

It was already January when Li Yuanchang received the letter from the imperial court.

That is, the second year after Li Shimin's death, the second year of Li Zhi's Yonghui reign.

On this day, he not only received a personal edict from Emperor Gaozong of Tang, but also a letter from Empress Wu Zetian and a battle report from Xue Rengui.

The three messages arrived at the Prince of Han's residence almost simultaneously.

"Haha, great!"

"Double happiness!"

"His Majesty has officially issued an edict granting all our requests. Goguryeo has been officially renamed the Far Eastern Peninsula, and we will make our own decisions in all matters; the court will not interfere!"

"The Qin family's trading companies have been gradually returned and restored, the maritime blockade has been lifted, and communication between the two places is now possible!"

Upon hearing this, thunderous cheers erupted from within the Prince of Han's residence.

"We pay our respects to the King of the Far East! We pay our respects to the King of the Far East!"

The sound was continuous and deafening.

With all objectives achieved, the war was completely over, the three armed forces had a place to rest and were no longer afraid of being purged, and the Far East Peninsula would enter a period of rapid development.

"Your Highness, what is the other good news?" Su Gui, Wan Jun, and the others asked curiously, though they had some guesses, they still asked.

"Xue Rengui has won a great victory!" Li Yuanchang shouted.

"He outmaneuvered the enemy with 3,000 cavalry, then decisively defeated the Emperor's hastily assembled army of 50,000, killing 8,000 and capturing 40,000, crushing the Japanese in a single battle!"

"Now Xue Rengui's army is at the city gates, and has completely besieged Asuka-kyō."

"It's only a matter of time before we break through."

Immediately, another deafening cheer erupted inside the Prince of Han's residence.

"Long live Your Highness! A thousand years of peace in the Far East!"

Such a shout corresponds to the old phrase, "Long live the Emperor! Long live Chang'an!"

I wonder what the noble families of the imperial court would think if they heard this, and whether they would regret their past hostility.

"By my decree, Xue Rengui shall capture the Japanese Emperor, Empress, and all high-ranking officials after conquering Asuka-kyō, and bring them here. I will personally watch them kneel here and surrender, begging for mercy!"

Li Yuanchang pointed to the ground with an air of domineering power, his face flushed red, exuding a sense of vengeance.

This revenge wasn't a sneak attack by 40,000 people, nor was it an assassination; it was the hatred ingrained in the bones of a transmigrator.

"Yes!!" Everyone clasped their fists and shouted, their morale soaring.

"Send word to Chishima again, instructing him to prepare to enter Asuka-kyo with the royal entourage, swiftly take control of the entire country, stabilize the populace, and prevent any unrest!"

"yes!!"

"besides……"

"..."