Chang'an.
According to the emperor's idea, it would take at least several months for him to reach Chang'an City. Who would have thought that in just over a month, he could already see Chang'an City in the distance.
Although they promoted the culture of the Tang Dynasty to the common people and talked about the Tang Dynasty's strength, and even linked their imperial family with the Tang Dynasty, deep down in their hearts, they were unwilling to see the Tang Dynasty, which was stronger than themselves, and use the Tang Dynasty's culture to maintain their own rule, but they were always sober.
Now that he was forced to come to the Tang Dynasty, he didn't know what to feel in his heart. Although the people around him were wearing Fuso costumes, none of them were his own. All his confidants were prepared by Suzuki Nakatasu. That guy instigated these people to rebel, and now they were all Li Xiang's lackeys.
All along the way, no matter what he did, the dozen or so guards around him followed him all the time. It was like this when he was on the boat and it was still the same when he got ashore. In short, they would not give him any time alone. Of course, they were also afraid that this guy would commit suicide. If he died on the way to the Tang Dynasty to pay tribute, the Tang Dynasty court really would not be able to explain himself.
"Your Majesty, we have arrived at the Shili Pavilion outside the Tang Dynasty City. Please alight from the carriage."
An official from the Tang Dynasty straightened up and said that this person was an official from the Ministry of Rites of the Tang Dynasty. Judging from the clothes he was wearing, he was at most a fifth-rank official. The emperor felt extremely sad. After all, he was the king of a country. He came to the Tang Dynasty to pay tribute, but he was greeted by a fifth-rank official.
According to what he had thought before, even if it wasn't His Royal Highness the Crown Prince who came to greet him personally, it should have been other princes. But now, let alone other princes, not even a person with a title could be found, and there weren't many common people around to come and see.
Coming to the Tang Dynasty court to pay tribute was a major event between the two countries. Of course, if it had happened a few years ago, the people of the Tang Dynasty would probably have felt very surprised and might have even run outside to take a look.
But now there are so many princes and nobles from various countries coming to the Tang Dynasty that we can't see them all. If we go to see every one of them, we will have to stop working. Can seeing these foreign princes and nobles make us skip meals? This is simply impossible.
Looking at the few scattered common people in the distance, the emperor didn't know what he was thinking. It was obvious that these common people were not there to welcome him. They were just walking on the official road and he was seen occasionally.
"Your Majesty, these are some etiquette and rules. Please learn them within three days. After three days, you will meet with His Majesty the Emperor of the Tang Dynasty at our imperial palace."
The officials of the Ministry of Rites felt that the name Fusang was a bit too much. A tiny country like you actually adopted such a name. Isn't it crazy? However, the higher-ups didn't say anything, so we can only honestly call it that.
“Is there anyone who specializes in teaching?”
The emperor said with some concern that the etiquette over there was learned from the Tang Dynasty, and there were many things he didn't know. If there were no specialized personnel, how could he learn it just by looking at the words above?
"The officials from the Ministry of Rites are all busy with other matters, but some officials from the Lifanyuan do have time. I will send two clerks over tomorrow."
After hearing what this official from the Ministry of Personnel said, the emperor almost fainted. You kept saying you were an official, but later you turned into a petty official.
"Discard the sword and remove the armor."
The officials from the Ministry of Rites did not have time to serve here. The officials from the Ministry of War had already come to convey the order. Any foreign personnel entering Chang'an City must take off their armor and place their weapons at the Shili Pavilion. If anyone violated the rules, the officials from the Ministry of War were allowed to shoot them on the spot.
This regulation was so overbearing that it was opposed by many foreigners at the beginning. However, after more than a year of implementation, countless people died in the pits nearby, so those who opposed it could no longer be found. It was very easy to say you opposed it, but there were so many Tang Dynasty soldiers around who could take your life at any time.
Furthermore, the princes and nobles sent here were basically states that were almost kingdoms. Do you still want to argue with the Tang Dynasty? You have to consider whether you have the strength to do so. What if you lose your head after the argument? What good would it be if you won?
The Fuso soldiers handed over their armor and samurai swords without saying a word. They were all Suzuki Nakata's men. Suzuki had told them before he left that no matter what they thought, they had to listen to the Tang soldiers when they went out. If anyone caused a dispute between the two countries, it would not only be their own life that would be at risk, but also the lives of their families.
At this moment, these people were like wood, taking off their weapons and equipment obediently.
The emperor considered this an insult to him. How could the king of Fuso not have a single armored guard by his side?
However, when he looked at the majestic and powerful Tang Dynasty soldiers in the distance, he could only suppress these words and dared not say them out loud. If he said them out loud, he didn't know how those people would treat him.
Li Shimin also knew that the King of Fusang had arrived, but he did not take it seriously, just like the common people in Chang'an City. There have been so many foreign princes in recent years. If we take them all seriously, then we will not be able to live a normal life.
"What's the situation in Fusang now?"
Li Shimin flipped through his desk and saw a plethora of memorials. The Tang Dynasty now had too much territory, and that brat only knew how to fight wars outside. As for how to govern these lands, he didn't even care. The court officials, including Li Shimin, worked overtime until late at night almost every day.
"To evade the question, we have already occupied several strategic locations, but the resistance within Fusang remains unabated. Two major feudal lords have already risen up against our Great Tang Crown Prince, and His Royal Highness is currently suppressing them."
After hearing what Changsun Wuji said, Li Shimin frowned. He was a little confused about the situation in Fuso. The king had already been forced here, so why were there still princes rebelling?
Changsun Wuji knew that Li Shimin didn't quite understand the situation over there, so he could only explain it to Li Shimin from the beginning.
This is similar to the fact that the emperor in the Eastern Zhou Dynasty was better than the emperor in the Eastern Zhou Dynasty, but it was not so easy to command the princes under him. After hearing this, Li Shimin disliked the emperor even more.
