Tai Chi Hall, Li Su's office.

"Minister Xue Rengui see the emperor," Xue Rengui said respectfully.

"Rengui, it's hard work, sit down." Li Su said.

"Your Majesty, this is a report on the situation in the Japanese archipelago, please take a look at it." Xue Rengui handed over the recital and said.

Li Su took the concerto, put it aside, and said: "I have read a lot of your concerto, and I have already understood the general situation, so you can pick up the key points and tell me about them." ”

Xue Rengui reported to Li Su on the quelling of the rebellion in the Japanese archipelago, the building of administrative institutions, and the situation of immigration.

Li Su nodded frequently when he heard this, and said, "Very good, I am relieved that you and Wang Xuance are doing things." ”

Xue Rengui said: "Your Majesty, the ministers and the king have prepared some gifts for the emperor, this is a gift list. As he spoke, he handed over another piece of music.

Li Su took the gift list, glanced at it, and said, "You have a heart, it's very good." The silver in the Japanese archipelago is of good quality and has large reserves, so it is necessary to intensify its exploitation. ”

Xue Rengui said: "When the minister came back this time, he also selected 20 women from the Japanese slave royal clan and nobles, and wanted to be a slave to the emperor. ”

Li Xuan smiled: "You and Wang Xuance, how many have you got?" ”

Xue Rengui said a little embarrassed: "Well, this is the emperor's Hongfu, the ministers are the rulers there, and it is inevitable that someone will honor us."

However, the ministers accept ordinary goods, not as good as these 20 women, and good things must always be close to the emperor first. ”

Li Yu laughed and said, "The Japanese slave woman is good, it's okay to enjoy it." However, I am not so blessed, I have just married another imperial concubine.

These Japanese slave women, you can give them to King Li Jun. ”

Xue Rengui said: "The minister understands, and he will send it to the prince when he turns around." ”

"At the moment, the three most powerful countries in the world – the Persians, the Arabs and the Byzantines – are all involved in this war. Although there is a temporary truce, sooner or later Datang and them will have to fight a big battle of life and death.

You are a military wizard, General Li, Hou Junji and others are old, you are the hope of the future army of the Tang Dynasty.

I am going to send you abroad to visit Persia, Arabia and Byzantium to learn about their political, military and geographical conditions, and to prepare for the decisive battles that lie ahead. ”

Xue Rengui said: "Thank Your Majesty for your respect, the minister can set off at any time." ”

Li Su said: "You just came back not long ago, let's go back and reunite with your wife for a while." This time, I'm going to let Princess Sheena go back to visit her family, and you happen to be on the way to be in charge of escorting. ”

Xue Rengui said: "The minister obeys the order. ”

East Palace.

"Sheena, do you miss your mother?" Li Su said.

At the mention of her mother, Sheena's nose was sour and tears flowed down her face.

She said, "Your Majesty, the concubine enjoys His Majesty's care here, but the concubine's mother suffers there!" The concubine really misses her mother. ”

Li Su said: "I'm going to let you go back to visit your relatives, are you willing?" ”

Xina was very embarrassed and said: "The concubine wants to go back, but she is reluctant to give up Your Majesty." What she said was sincere, she had just gotten married, and it was the time when she was in love with her lover, and she was really reluctant to leave Li Su.

Li Su smiled: "You are still young, let's come to Japan for a long time." When you go back this time, you will not only visit your mother, but also help the court do something. ”

Sheena said, "Your Majesty, please." ”

Li Su explained to Sheena that he was going to set up diplomatic and foreign trade institutions in the capital of the Arab Empire.

Hina said: "The concubine must live up to her mission. ”

These days, Sheena has won the affection of queens and princesses with her low-key, attentive and well-behaved. Hearing that she was going back to visit her family, the queen and the princesses prepared gifts for her.

In order to support his wife and the face of the Tang Dynasty, Li Su organized a huge convoy and went to Damascus, the capital of the Arab Empire.

The accompanying personnel included Tang Fei, Xue Rengui, Huo Gaofeng, director of foreign trade (Huo Qiang's cousin), foreign trade caravans from Jingzhao Mansion, etc., plus a total of 7,800 guards. This was unprecedented in the ancient diplomatic history of the Central Empire.

In order to avoid trouble, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs informed in advance of the Tibetan, Indian and Arab empires that the route would pass through.

After the convoy arrived at Longyou Road, the foreign trade caravans from the two states of Longyou Road joined in, making the entire westbound team more than 8,500 people.

Before leaving the country, Xue Rengui organized businessmen to conduct drills and told them how to deal with emergencies such as wars and bandit attacks.

This kind of drill has been carried out many times, not only during the accommodation, but also several times in the process of marching, and the merchants have tossed enough, and many people have secretly complained.

Xue Rengui also has no way, the journey is long, he has to pass through many countries, who knows what emergencies will happen?

Xue Rengui was in charge of escorting along the way, because if he had to pass through other countries, he had to obtain the consent of others, and the total number of escort troops was strictly limited.

This time, the escort force he led only had two cavalry battalions of 1,600 people, and for the sake of safety, he specially asked Li Su to send an additional 500 Flying Tiger troops for him, pretending to be a businessman to secretly protect him.

Entering the territory of Tibet, officials from all parts of Tibet have received a notice from the central government of Tibet, and sent troops along the way to protect the diplomatic missions of the Tang Dynasty, smoothly transited Tibet, and entered the territory of India.

India is the general name of the Indian continent in South Asia, in which there are dozens of large and small states. Among them, the larger kingdoms include the Kingdom of Jieri, the Kingdom of Maoli, the Kingdom of Gaura, the King of Gabulu and the Kingdom of Charukia.

Last year (641), the largest kingdom in India, which ruled North India and part of West India, sent a delegation to establish formal diplomatic relations with the Tang Dynasty.

On this day, the diplomatic mission came to Qunu City, the capital of the Kingdom of the Ring of the Sun.

The city of Qunu is located on the lower reaches of the Ganges River, in present-day Kanno, Uttar Pradesh, India. It was one of the Buddhist resorts of the time, and there were Buddhist temple buildings all over the place.

In the northwest of the royal city, there are the Sanssouci Wang Pagoda, the seat of the four Buddhas in the past and the remains of the scriptures. To the south of the city, there are three garans of the Ganges River, which are connected to each other. There is a Buddha's tooth in the treasure letter of the ashram, which was transferred from the Garan of the Kashmira country. There are two houses on the left and right in front of Sangaran, and there is a small Garan in front of it. The southeast of the small Garan is a large house, with a stone foundation and a brick room more than 300 feet high. The 30-foot statue of Nyorai is placed in the center, and the surrounding stone walls are carved with the deeds of the Bodhisattva who practiced the Bodhisattva in his previous life. In the south of the fine house, there are the Sun Heaven Temple, the Great Freedom Temple and so on.

On the day he arrived in Qunu City, he was greeted by the staff of the permanent mission (embassy) of Datang in Jieri City in the suburbs. In the welcoming procession, there is also a familiar character - Tang Seng, one of the protagonists of "Journey to the West".