Tiantang Splendid

Chapter 4782: Exiled to Japan
Yuan Xiancheng knelt on the ground, bowed his head, and said sadly: "How dare I have such a rebellious idea? The Tang Dynasty is powerful and majestic, and thousands of countries are subservient to it. I dare not have the slightest thought of trying to stop a chariot with my arms. It's just that I was alone when Pingrang City was broken, and then I was forced to retreat into the mountains by the defeated soldiers. For the life and death of my people, I had to travel around and flee in a panic. That's why I didn't follow my father to surrender to the Tang Dynasty. However, I have long admired the Chinese Wenzong and admired the prosperity of the Tang Dynasty. Now I come to the Tang Dynasty alone and beg the Tang Dynasty to allow me and my people to have a fertile land to reproduce and live, so that the Yuan family will be loyal to the Tang Dynasty from generation to generation, and no longer be displaced and homeless."

By the end of the story, tears were streaming down his face.

It wasn't all pretentious. The Yuan family had long been "not a royal family but better than a royal family" in Goguryeo. It would be biased to say that they were "second to none and above ten thousand people". They actually "shared the world" with the Gao royal family, and were even more respected and honored than them.

However, with the fall of Pingrang City and the demise of Goguryeo, the Yuan family fell from the top to the abyss. The young man of the noble family, who used to be dressed in gorgeous clothes and had a group of servants, now wandered among the mountains and forests like a stray dog, living from day to day and with no clothes to wear. The huge gap between them was hard to accept.

At this point, how can we talk about "restoring the country"? I only hope to gain the understanding and forgiveness of the Tang Dynasty, and grant a piece of fertile and peaceful land to settle down in the Tang Dynasty, and reproduce and continue my bloodline from now on. I will pay any price for this...

My father had already become silent and frightened, and only wanted to stay alive. He didn't care about the life or death of his relatives or the continuation of the family line. He just lived a life of drunkenness and debauchery in Handan.

Yuan Xiancheng can only rely on himself.

The noble behind the pearl curtain was unmoved. His voice was still clear and pleasant, but it was calm and indifferent without the slightest fluctuation: "The ancient sages have long told us that 'those who are not of our race must have different hearts, and the ambitions of the barbarians are not the same as those of the Chinese'. Why should I raise a tiger to harm me? The greatness of China and the prosperity of the Tang Dynasty do not need to be demonstrated by the submission of you, the foreign races. It does not matter whether you regard the Tang Dynasty as an enemy. The millions of Tang soldiers are ready to fight against all those who are not loyal. Wherever the iron hoof goes, they will be crushed to dust."

The sweetest voice spoke the harshest words. This was the confidence that came from having the support of the Tang Dynasty. No one dared to question her.

What's more, this beautiful woman who was said to be extremely charming was in charge of hundreds of warships of the "Eastern Tang Trading Company" and more than ten thousand "guards" armed to the teeth. She could also mobilize the Tang Dynasty's royal navy and had the ability to massacre a city or destroy a country in the blink of an eye.

Yuan Xiancheng was terrified, and he knelt forward two steps, crying and begging: "How could Goguryeo be a foreign race? When King Wu defeated King Zhou and replaced the Shang Dynasty with the Zhou Dynasty, King Zhou's uncle Jizi led his people across the sea to the east to establish Jizi Joseon, which lasted for nearly a thousand years! Although it was later destroyed by Wei Man, it belonged to the State of Yan. Its territory included the five countries of Goguryeo, Zhenfan, Lintun, Woju, and Buyeo, covering an area of ​​thousands of miles. Within the territory, everyone wrote Chinese characters, spoke Chinese, and wore Chinese clothes. The blood of their ancestors has been passed down to this day, and the people of Goguryeo today are all descendants of the Chinese people!"

The nobleman behind the pearl curtain was speechless for a moment, as if he was not familiar with this history. After a short silence, he asked Yu Baoning: "Mr. Yu, is this true?"

Yuan Xiancheng knelt on the ground, raised his head and winked at Yu Baoning frantically.

This guy received a large sum of money from me, not only did he have the responsibility to introduce the noble man to me, he also had the responsibility to persuade him. However, since he entered the building, he has been standing there obediently without saying a word, as if he was staying out of the matter. Now that he has the opportunity to speak for me, why is he still hesitating?

How can you take the money and not do the job?!

Yu Baoning didn't even look at Yuan Xiancheng, and naturally had no idea what he was saying. Facing Wu Meiniang's question, he paused for a moment and said thoughtfully, "Goguryeo can indeed be traced back to Jizi Joseon. Although it has undergone many changes during this period, and the composition of the people is extremely complex, it is not wrong to say that they are descendants of the Chinese."

Yuan Xiancheng was overjoyed and said hurriedly, "That's right! Although Goguryeo is an independent country, it was caused by many historical reasons. Whether it was the chaotic times at the end of the Han Dynasty or the coexistence of the Northern and Southern Dynasties, the Liaodong area was left unattended. The countless people living there could not survive in the chaos, so they had to form their own country and govern themselves. Now that China has swept across the world and unified the eight wildernesses, it is only natural to bring Goguryeo back into its territory. We, the descendants of the Chinese who have been abandoned for hundreds of years, are also overjoyed and tears are streaming down our clothes as we return to the rule of the Celestial Empire!"

As for why Goguryeo was unwilling to return to the empire when the emperors of the Sui and Tang dynasties led their entire country on expeditions to the east, and why the "descendants of the Huaxia" living in Goguryeo were not excited, he never mentioned it. He insisted that the land of Goguryeo was part of the Huaxia territory and the people of Goguryeo were descendants of the Huaxia. They were all one family, so they couldn't be killed, right?

The noble behind the pearl curtain was silent for a while, and then said leisurely: "The Gao royal family has already surrendered to the Tang Dynasty, and was granted the title of 'King of Korea' by Your Majesty, and was granted the post of Governor of Liaodong. They are obedient subjects of the Tang Dynasty. Yeon Gaesomun plotted to usurp the throne and was disloyal and unrighteous. Not only were the people of Goguryeo rejected, but the Tang Dynasty also despised him. Although the Tang Dynasty has a vast territory and is rich, it does not have a single piece of vacant land to accommodate such a rebellious thief."

Yuan Xiancheng was in panic and despair, crying bitterly: "I hope you will step in. My people are willing to offer all our wealth, just asking for a piece of land to settle down."

While crying, he stared at Yu Baoning, hoping that Yu Baoning could help him speak.

Yu Baoning remained silent until an impatient cough was heard from behind the bead curtain. He then spoke: "Your Excellency, please understand that the Yuan family is extremely sincere in their desire to enter the Tang Dynasty. They are willing to offer their family's accumulation of a hundred years with both hands. I hope that your Excellency will consider their sincerity and show some leniency."

"Let him step back first. I'll think about it."

"Here."

Yu Baoning gave Yuan Xiancheng a look and asked him to withdraw for the time being.

Yuan Xiancheng had tears in his eyes and looked at Baoning pleadingly. The latter nodded slightly to indicate that he would do his best, and then he walked out of the small building, looking back every three steps.

"Yu Baoning, you are so bold! Although Goguryeo was destroyed, the Yuan family is deeply rooted and has extraordinary prestige. If we are not careful, it may cause it to revive. By then, the Liaodong area will be in ruins. The empire will not only sacrifice the lives of countless soldiers, but also spend countless money and food to quell the rebellion. This is related to the empire's strategy. You actually dared to collude with the bandit chieftain in private. What crime should you be punished for?!"

Yu Baoning's forehead was slightly sweaty, and he said anxiously: "I was negligent. I thought that Goguryeo had already been destroyed and the Yuan family could not save the situation, but I did not consider the danger at the level of the empire. I deserve to die."

The reason why he dared to privately agree to introduce Wu Meiniang to Yuan Xiancheng was, on the one hand, that Yuan Xiancheng gave him too much and it was really difficult to refuse, and on the other hand, he felt that Wu Meiniang was just Fang Jun's concubine, and no matter how favored she was, she had to consider her own status. Accepting the wealth accumulated by the Yuan family for a hundred years would certainly double her worth and improve her status.

As a mere woman, my mind and courage must be limited. How can I resist the temptation of so much money?

"You deserve to die. You used the empire's national policy to exchange for your own personal interests. Such a traitor who has no heart for his country should be cut into pieces! Take the money you received and rush to Chang'an with Yuan Xiancheng. Go to His Majesty and ask for forgiveness. See if His Majesty can give you a whole body!"

"Madam Wu, please spare my life!"

Yu Baoning was so frightened that he paralyzed. All his previous confidence disappeared without a trace. He completely collapsed and knelt on the ground begging for mercy without any regard for his dignity.

"Alas, no matter what, you should put your country first. How can you forget your principles and put your personal interests above the interests of the empire? Considering that your family has fully cooperated with the land measurement, return all the money that the Yuan family bribed you with, and I will not pursue the matter."

"Here."

Yu Baoning secretly breathed a sigh of relief, but felt a pang of pain. After all, that was a fortune that even he, the head of the Luoyang Yu family, could not remain indifferent to...

"May I ask Madam Wu, how should Yuan Xiancheng be dealt with?"

"What Yuan Xiancheng said just now is actually not without reason. Although Goguryeo is a foreign country, its people are all descendants of the Chinese. Since its country has been destroyed and its government has perished, why should we treat them as enemies and kill them all? Go back and tell Yuan Xiancheng to hand over all his wealth to Su Dingfang for naval expenses, and then Su Dingfang will use ships to escort the Yuan family to Tsukushi, where they can reproduce and thrive."

"Uh...here."

Yu Baoning was confused. He had vaguely heard of the name "Tsukushi Province", which seemed to be in Japan...

But he didn't care about "Tsukushi" or "Tsukushiko" now. He only knew that Wu Meiniang not only asked him to spit out everything he had eaten, but also swallowed all the wealth of the Yuan family in one gulp.

This woman looks charming, delicate and reserved, but who would have thought she is so cruel and ruthless!

But he didn't dare show any dissatisfaction.

*****
Return to Yu Mansion.

"Chikushi Country?!"

Yuan Xiancheng opened his eyes wide and looked dazed as if he had been struck by lightning.

That's Japan!
It would be fine if the Yuan family submitted to the Tang Dynasty. Although they gave up their ancestral land and left their hometown, they were integrated into the world's most powerful country and became the world-renowned Tang people. But what if they went to Japan?
If the Tang people can’t do it, why don’t they become the Japanese?

They are not as good as the Goguryeo people!
Yu Baoning was curious: "Where is this Tsukushi Kingdom?"

Goguryeo and Japan were closely connected and very familiar with each other. Yuan Xiancheng looked desperate and had no desire to live: "It's on Chikushi Island in the south of Japan."

Yu Baoning still lacked a direct impression, so he asked his butler to fetch a map of Japan, found the location of Tsukushi, looked it up and down, and stroked his beard and said, "Although you are not allowed to enter the Tang Dynasty, and you are not allowed to stay in the old land of Goguryeo...but I think Tsukushi is a good place? It can be regarded as the most prosperous place in Japan besides Asuka-kyo and Tone River."