Chapter 299 Li Yin: Don’t Be Naughty

After all, the guards of the Prince of Shu's Palace were professionally trained, and they soon caught a man in somewhat luxurious clothes in the palace.

The man was not tall and seemed to be shivering, but he still tried to keep his neck straight.

Li Yin watched the man being brought before him, lowered his head and asked, "What's your name?"

"Light." The young man replied.

"Light?" Li Yan scratched his ears: "Just one word? What's your last name?"

His answer was a long silence.

Seeing that he was not cooperating, Li Yin drew out his sword.

"I am the emperor, of course I don't have a surname." Qing, that is, Emperor Kotoku, replied.

"You have a rough appearance, are you that so-called emperor?" Li Yin became interested, stretched out his hand to compare, and found that the boy was only a little below his chest.

Tsk, you are so ugly, and you are worthy of calling yourself the emperor?
"Who are these two people?" Li Yin pointed at Prince Naka no Oe and Soga no Iruka and asked, "They call themselves Katsuragi and Soga no Iruka, is that true?"

"I'm sorry, I have nothing to say." Emperor Kotoku shook his clothes, looking like he was ready to cut his sword into pieces and live up to his youth.

Li Yin said nothing and placed his sword on Emperor Kotoku's neck.

Feeling the cold sword, Emperor Kotoku's expression visibly stiffened.

"No, no, no, I'm telling you this." He insisted on being flexible and resilient: "They are right. This is my brother from the same mother, Katsuragi, also known as Prince Naka-no-Oe, and my Crown Prince..."

"Wait a minute." This made Li Yin confused: "Logically speaking, he is your elder brother, shouldn't he be called the Crown Prince? Why is he the Crown Prince?"

You know what, this question also stumped Emperor Kotoku.

"Uh..." He was a little embarrassed: "Isn't the crown prince the prince?"

"The title of Crown Prince is based on the relationship between the monarch and the heir. He, Katsuragi, is not your son or nephew, so why is he designated as the Crown Prince? I think you are really the opposite of Tiangang!"

After Li Yan complained, he said with some understanding: "It's not strange. After all, you are all barbarians. It's reasonable that you don't know etiquette."

These words were quite disheartening, and at least Katsuragi's face darkened visibly.

However, the situation is stronger than the people. Now they are under a low roof and have to bow their heads. Even if they have any opinions, they have to consider whether the sword in Li Yan's hand is sharp.

"I never expected that I would find the capital by accident right after landing in your country of Japan." Li Yin said with a smile, "I really don't know whether it is my good luck or your bad luck."

"But I am a kind-hearted person and I cannot stand killing, so as long as you cooperate, your life will not be in danger." Li Yin said again.

"What does the king mean?" Soga no Iruka stepped forward like a seal and looked at Li Yin expectantly.

"You are Soga Ruruka, right?" Li Yin scratched his ear and glanced at him.

"Yes, the foreign minister is Soga no Iruka." Soga no Iruka answered like a pug.

"I have heard of your name in the Tang Dynasty. I heard that you are the same as Erzhu Rong." Li Yin shook his head with some regret: "It's a pity that you don't have the means of Erzhu Rong. What a pity."

"How dare a foreign minister be compared with the people of the Celestial Empire?" Soga no Iruka replied with sweat dripping down his face.

Li Yin looked at him without comment, and then said: "Since you have been captured by me, from now on, this country of Japan will be under my control for the time being - how many soldiers and horses do you have in Japan now?"

"Wait, don't answer yet." Li Yin suddenly remembered Li Xiang's warning: "Come on, take these two——"

He pointed at Soga no Iruka and Prince Naka no Oe and said, "Yes, take Soga no Iruka and Katsuragi out, lock them up and interrogate them separately. Just ask two questions: how many soldiers and horses, how much food and grass, and how many people does Japan have now?"

After hearing Li Yin's words, Prince Naka no Oe and Emperor Kotoku looked at each other and their faces turned pale.

This...wasn't this discussed in advance?
"You two, stop being naughty." Li Yin pointed at Prince Nakano Oe and Emperor Kotoku and said in a warning tone: "If you dare to collude openly, you will be severely punished. Although I am kind-hearted, I will be ruthless when it comes to making you unforgettable!"

"If anyone gives a different answer, haha..." Li Yan forced a ferocious smile.

After being threatened by Li Yin, Prince Zhongdaxiong gave up his naughty ideas.

Alas, I had originally planned to pretend that I couldn't help myself, shout out loud and bluff, and collude with the other two to give evidence.

Now it seems that it doesn’t work.

It’s better to answer honestly.

A quarter of an hour later, Li Yin also got the answer he wanted.

It seems that Japan has really invested a lot of money. All the soldiers who can fight have been sent out. Now those who are still in Japan are only limited to maintaining daily law and order and deterring villains.

Really, I thought Japan would allow him to show his heroic and invincible command and combat skills.

Disappointed Li Yin forced himself to suppress his anger, and halfway through the journey he remembered Li Xiang's words.

The greatest wealth is to let your enemies overestimate your shortcomings.

Thinking of this, Li Yin angrily vented his anger on the beams and struck with two swords.

This bad temper made Katsuragi and others frown.

This king of the Tang Dynasty has such a bad temper...

But I dare not do anything rash. If I anger the king, I will be in trouble.

After capturing the Japanese high-ranking officials, Li Yin used this method to identify all the members of the Japanese royal family and then placed them under house arrest in the palace.

Li Yin also downgraded their titles by one level, and they could only be called princes from now on.

What kind of level is it? Is it worthy of being one level higher than me? Is it worthy of being one level higher than me?
Katsuragi naturally had no objection, and neither did Prince Qing.

Prince Qing is the current title of Emperor Kotoku. Li Yin cannot decide his title, but he can give him a code name first.

He then wrote a letter and asked someone to deliver it to Li Xiang in Youzhou.

I'm just reporting good news and would like to ask for your advice on what to do next.

Along with the good news came the high-ranking officials of Japan.

Li Yin assigned two hundred people to escort them, which was naturally enough.

As for the remaining two thousand people, Li Yin let them continue to stay in Fujiwara-kyo.

At the same time, Li Yin also met with a man who claimed to be the loyal dog of His Royal Highness the Crown Prince.

After the conversation, Li Yin learned that the other party was called Abehirov.

Naturally, he had heard about this person from Li Xiang, so he accepted him with half belief and half doubt.

Li Yin adopted the policy of ruling Japan with Japan, and established a temporary puppet government in Japan headed by Abehirafu. After that, Li Yin relaxed in Japan.

After all, he also packed up Nakatomi Kamatari and the Soga family and put them on the ship and sent them to Youzhou.

Two thousand people in Fujiwara-kyo are enough to intimidate the entire Japan. After all, the current Japan cannot produce any decent combat power.

What puzzled Li Yin was why this Japanese man didn't even eat fish?
Isn't this purely a disease?

No wonder he is so thin and small, with a pale face, skinny and malnourished. He would fall down if the wind blew. No wonder he can't grow taller.

What's more, the entire country of Japan is guarding the sea, guarding such a treasure trove, and you actually tell me that you don't eat fish?
Li Yin didn’t know what serious illness these people had, but now that His Majesty the King of Shu had come, they had clear sky; now that His Majesty the King of Shu had come, they could also eat some meat.

How can we live without meat? How can we grow strong? Li Yin thought with great sorrow, if we are not strong, how can you work as laborers for my brother?

He secretly cursed in his heart, "How could you be so good at this?" These words were just taught to him by Abebirov.

After this, Li Yin began to issue decrees through Abehirov's provisional government, requiring the whole country to search for household registration and register all people.

Abehirov naturally had no idea what Li Yin was going to do. In fact, even if he knew, he would be powerless to do anything.

The Tang Dynasty wants you to send some people, can you refuse?

Now Li Yin has the final say in Japan, comparable to the five-star emperor in later generations.

No, he is much more powerful than the Five-Star Emperor. After all, the Five-Star Emperor could not bring that old guy Zhao He back to the mainland and kowtow and apologize on Mount Rushmore.

After October, Li Yin's messengers and the upper echelons of Japan also arrived in Youzhou.

Along with them was Li Shiji's victory report and the entire Silla top leadership.

In order to save trouble, Li Xiang summoned them together.

"Your Highness." The first person to come forward was the Silla Queen Kim Seung-man. Li Xiang looked at her and found her to be quite honest and respectful.

"You don't have to be so polite, King Silla." Li Xiang said warmly, "It's really hard for you to suffer from the war and have to leave your homeland."

Hearing Li Xiang's words, the people below all curled their lips.

My goodness, don’t you know why the Silla people left their homeland?
It seems that His Royal Highness the Crown Prince is the master at pretending to be confused.

"I would also like to thank Your Highness for securing such benefits for our Silla monarch and ministers." Jin Shengman's tone was soft, gentle as water.

"I am also thinking of your hard work, please don't be so polite." Li Xiang said with a smile: "Chang'an has prepared your residences, and the court will also arrange the titles of virtuous monarchs and ministers."

"Thank you, Your Highness." The Silla king and his ministers bowed together.

"Well," Li Xiang nodded and said, "Stand up."

As he spoke, Li Xiang said to the people behind them: "Go and tell the Japanese king and his ministers."

Hearing Li Xiang's words, the Silla king and his ministers were all stunned.

What's going on? The Japanese king and his ministers?

Never heard of it!

Li Xiang kept this matter secret... Of course, it had little to do with Li Xiang. After all, the Japanese king and his ministers arrived in Youzhou at the same time. Except for the Youzhou government office, no outsiders knew about it. Even Su Dingfang and Liu Rengui of the Andong Protectorate did not know about it.

After a while, the Japanese king and his ministers were brought to the government office.

Seeing the iconic short stature and familiar face, the Silla king and his ministers recognized Prince Naka no Oe and Soga no Iruka on the spot.

There is no other reason. Prince Nakano Oe is a member of the Japanese royal family who has always been in power, and Soga no Iruka is a powerful official who controls the Japanese government.

After meeting the Silla king and his ministers, the Japanese felt a little embarrassed.

Some time ago, he was bossing around and giving instructions to the Silla royal family. He also wanted to annex Silla in his heart. However, in just a few months, he became a prisoner of the Tang Dynasty. This experience...

It's really a bit confusing.

"The crime is minor. I will bring my brother Ge Cheng to visit His Highness the Grand Sun."

Qing and Katsuragi knelt on the ground respectfully and paid great tribute to Li Xiang.

Li Xiang looked at them expressionlessly, and after a while he asked, "King of Wa, why did you send soldiers to help the Silla rebels and aid the tyrant?"

"I was blinded by greed for a moment. I hope Your Highness will forgive me!" Qing answered honestly.

Li Xiang was not surprised by such a good attitude.

The Japanese are like this. As long as you defeat them, they will become your closest sons.

"Of course I can forgive you." Li Xiang rubbed his index finger nonchalantly, "But you have to give me a reason to forgive you. Why did you take advantage of the situation and help the Silla rebels attack the Silla king?"

"This is all my fault, and has nothing to do with my brother." Prince Naka no Oe immediately stepped forward and took the blame on himself: "If there is any fault, it is the fault of me and Soga no Iruka. The government is not controlled by my brother, but by me and Soga no Iruka. I hope Your Highness will spare my bloodline for the sake of his ignorance!"

"Katsuragi! How shameless!" Soga no Iruka looked at Katsuragi with gritted teeth and uttered a classic Japanese national curse.

He is also innocent. Damn it, you guys are brothers and sisters, so why don’t you just take the blame among yourselves? Why do you have to find one for me as well?
Li Xiang looked at the two of them with interest, but did not answer, just looked at them with interest.

"Your Highness, don't listen to him!" Soga Iruka said hurriedly, "Even if I have a say in the court, the final decision still belongs to God... or Prince Qing!"

This guy is really heartbroken. He doesn't even call himself the emperor, but instead calls him the temporary title bestowed by Li Yin.

"Prince Qing?" Li Xiang raised his eyebrows.

"Your Highness, this Qing Jun Wang is a temporary title given to him by His Highness the King of Shu." Soga Iruka saw Li Xiang's confusion and quickly replied, "According to His Highness the King of Shu, Qing Jun Wang is not worthy of being on an equal footing with the Tang Dynasty, let alone being called an emperor. Later, His Highness the King of Shu felt that he had captured Jun Wang so easily, and should not be on an equal footing with him, so he temporarily demoted him to Jun Wang."

"This Sixth Uncle is really..." Li Xiang couldn't help but laugh.

Quite naughty.

However, I like it!

"Since you were conferred the title by your sixth uncle, you will be the Prince of Qing from now on." Li Xiang looked at Qing with interest, and after a pause, he said, "Since you are from Japan, you will be called Woqing from now on."

"Thank you, Your Highness, for giving me your surname." Wo Qing bowed and expressed his gratitude.

"As for your Katsuragi, you will also be called Wo Katsuragi from now on." Li Xiang fiddled with his fingers nonchalantly, "Don't worry, the Tang Dynasty is the Celestial Empire, a country of etiquette, and naturally different from you barbarians. Survival and extinction have been the policy of our Chinese since ancient times. For this reason, we will also leave you bloodlines and sacrifice to the ancestral temple."

"However, I can spare your lives, but you have to help me get things done—"

(Ask for monthly ticket)

(End of this chapter)