Tang Dynasty, my wife Wu Zetian

Chapter 362 Confrontation in the Court
Early the next morning, the summoned officials and envoys from various countries gathered outside Chengtian Gate, preparing to enter the court.

There were not many officials participating, only four, namely Li Ji, Dai Zhide, Zhang Jianzhi and Di Renjie.

There are five foreign envoys.

The envoys from Wa were Abe Maro, the envoy from Silla was Kim In-mun, the envoy from Baekje was Doshin, as well as the envoys from Mohe and Shiwei.

Abemaro held his head high and chest out, appearing calm and composed. He seemed very confident that he could clear Japan of suspicion.

Jin Renwen deliberately stood far away from him, as if they were still enemies.

The Mohe and Shiwei envoys stood aside separately, as if they wanted to show that they had nothing to do with the matter.

Daochen stood beside Abe Maro and asked him, "Abe Foreign Envoy, what evidence do you have that can confirm that it was the Emishi Kingdom that did it?"

From Buyeo Boksin's perspective, he hoped that this was done by the Japanese, or by Buyeo Yici, so there was a hint of questioning in his tone.

Abianmaro smiled and said, "You will know later. But there is something I would like to ask Envoy Daochen."

Dao Chen raised his eyebrows and asked, "What's the matter?"

Abianmaro asked, "Excuse me, is there a woman named Tsuko in Fuyu Fuxin's harem?"

Dao Chen's expression changed slightly, and he said, "Why are you asking this?"

Abianmaro smiled and said, "Judging from your reaction, it seems that you have it."

Dao Chen's face became very gloomy. He always felt that there was something malicious in Abianmaro's smile.

Abianmalu ignored him and walked towards Dai Zhide, bowing and saying, "Greetings, Dai Siqing."

Dai Zhide said, "Abian, the foreign envoy is very polite."

Zhang Jianzhi and Di Renjie were originally talking in a low voice. When they saw Abianmalu coming over, they both looked at him.

Abianmalu smiled slightly, facing the two of them, and said, "Zhang Shaoqing, the person next to you must be Di Shaoqing from the Dali Temple."

Zhang Jianzhi said, "That's right."

Abianmalu bowed and said, "I have long heard of Lord Di Si's great name."

Di Renjie asked, "Has the foreign envoy Abian also heard of my name?"

Abianmalu smiled and said, "I have also been in Chang'an for a few years, so I naturally know your name. I have also heard something that I would like to ask Di Siqing for advice."

Di Renjie asked, "What's the matter?"

Abianmalu said, "I heard that the Minister of the Temple of the Emperor of your country was sent to Laizhou to investigate the military equipment issue, and he just returned yesterday."

Di Renjie said calmly, "Your Excellency is quite well-informed."

Abemaru said with a smile, "This matter concerns the relationship between our two countries, so I, Abemaru, naturally dare not be careless."

Di Renjie said, "I have also heard that your country has already investigated the truth of this matter."

Abianmaru smiled and said, "We only have some evidence. We don't know if it is consistent with what Di Siqing found out."

Di Renjie asked, "I heard that the clues your country found pointed to Ezo?"

Abianmaru said, "Yes, I wonder what the results of Di Siqing's investigation are?"

Di Renjie did not answer, but just pointed into the distance.

Abemaro looked up and saw several Jinwu Guards holding spears standing in the distance, surrounding a man.

The man had high cheekbones, dark skin, thick beard and hair, and his brown hair was loose behind his head and tied with fish bones.

"Emishi people!" Abemaro said in surprise.

Di Renjie said, "That's right."

The Ainu man noticed Abe Maro and looked at him, with a hint of hatred in his eyes.

Abianmalu glared at him, then turned to look at Di Renjie and said with a smile, "Di Siqing is indeed worthy of his reputation. He has indeed found out that it was them who did it."

Di Renjie said nothing.

At this time, a eunuch came over from a distance and gave Li Ji a few instructions.

Li Ji said loudly, "His Majesty has summoned you. Come in."

Everyone followed Li Ji into the palace gate.

Soon, everyone came to the outside of Ganlu Hall. Since it was not a formal court meeting, there was no call to the roll. Every foreign envoy was searched to prevent them from bringing sharp weapons into the hall.

After everyone stood in the hall, the eunuch went to the side hall to report, and Li Zhi then entered the hall and sat on the throne.

At the same time, Wu Meiniang was also sitting in the side hall on the left.

Yesterday she heard that Li Zhi was going to hold an emergency court meeting to discuss this matter, so she asked to come and listen, and Li Zhi agreed to her request.

After everyone finished bowing, Li Zhi cleared his throat and said, "I summoned you today to discuss the theft of our Tang Dynasty's military equipment. I heard that Japan has discovered the person behind this incident. It would be a good idea to discuss it here in this hall."

Abianmaro took a deep breath, strode out, and said loudly: "Your Majesty, since our king learned of this matter, he has been actively investigating it, and now he has found the person behind it!"

Li Zhi said, "Who is it?"

Abemaro said, "The person who planned this was the leader of Ezo, Ezo Oga!"

Li Zhi said: "Is there any evidence?"

Abemaro said, "Yes, our country has gone to great lengths to obtain a letter from Ezo Oga to the chieftain of the Eastern Ezo."

Zhang Jianzhi asked, "What's in the letter?"

Abemaro said, "The letter says that Ezo Oga learned that his country was gathering troops in Kyushu and was very frightened. He was worried that his country was nominally fighting against the Tang Dynasty, but was actually planning to attack Ezo."

Li Zhi nodded secretly. It seemed that the Ainu people knew the Japanese very well.

Abemaro continued, "Emishi Oga also received news from Sabi Castle that the Tang Dynasty was going to provide Baekje with a batch of military equipment."

Dao Chen's expression suddenly turned extremely grim. He shouted, "That's nonsense! This matter is top secret. My king has ordered that it must not be leaked easily. How could the Ainu people know about it?"

Abe Malu glanced at him and said with a half-smile, "Excuse me, Baekje envoy, is there a woman named Jinzi by the side of Buyeo Boksin?"

Daochen's face turned pale, and he finally understood why Abianmaro had asked about Tsuko just now.

Abemaro continued, "Tsuko was originally a woman offered to Yoshiji by the Ainu people, but he ignored her. When Yoshiji fled Sabi Castle, he did not take her with him, but left her in the palace."

"Who would have thought that after seeing her, Bok Shin would be so fond of her that he told her everything, big or small. Baekje envoy, am I right?"

Dao Chen clenched his fists, unable to refute.

He once advised Fuxin not to keep Yici's woman.

But for some reason, Fuxin is particularly obsessed with Yici's woman, and now he has really caused trouble!
For a moment, everyone in the hall looked at Daochen, including Li Zhi.

Daochen gritted his teeth and bowed to Li Zhi, saying, "The fault lies with Baekje. Your Majesty, please forgive me."

Li Zhi snorted and said, "Let's not talk about this matter for now. Japanese envoy, please continue."

Abianmaro said, "Emishi Oga ordered the chief of the Eastern Emishi to prepare an army of a thousand men and to ambush on a deserted island between Laizhou and Baekje, waiting for an opportunity to rob military equipment."

Zhang Jianzhi suddenly stepped out and asked, "Abian Foreign Envoy, where is the letter you mentioned?"

Abemaro took out a wooden box from his sleeve and carefully took out a letter from it.

The letter was gray-brown in color, with uneven edges, made of animal skin and stained with blood.

The characters were crooked and twisted, like a group of tadpoles. "What kind of characters are these?" Zhang Jianzhi asked.

Abianmaro said, "This is the Ezo character."

Zhang Jianzhi frowned. There was no official in the Honglu Temple who understood the Ainu script.

Abe Malu was prepared and looked at the Mohe envoy with braided hair.

"Mohe envoy, if I remember correctly, you Mohe and Emizu once formed an alliance to fight against the Sushen Kingdom. You should have been an envoy to Emizu, right?"

The Mohe envoy hesitated for a moment, then stepped out and said, "Yes, I can indeed read Ainu script."

Abemaro then handed him the letter.

Zhang Jianzhi came to the side of the Mohe envoy and carefully examined his expression.

After reading the letter, the Mohe envoy said, "The contents of the letter are indeed consistent with what the Wa envoy said."

Zhang Jianzhi suddenly pointed to a certain spot and asked, "Excuse me, Mohe envoy, what do these characters represent?"

The Mohe envoy said, "Soldiers."

Zhang Jianzhi pointed to several places again, and the Mohe people answered quickly. These words were also included in what Abianmalu had just described.

Zhang Jianzhi nodded secretly, and seeing that there was no flaw, he said no more.

Di Renjie suddenly stepped out and asked, "Envoy Abian, I'd like to ask, is the deserted island where the Ainu people are hiding called Black Shark Island?"

Abianmaru's heart trembled, and he said, "Yes, Di Siqing also found this island?"

Di Renjie did not answer, but continued to ask, "Did the Ainu people send people to Zhongjian Island to replenish water and food because they were running low on supplies?"

Abianmalu frowned and said, "Then I don't know."

Li Zhi asked at the right moment, "Di Qing, what is the Zhongjian Island you are talking about?"

Di Renjie said loudly: "Your Majesty, Zhongjian Island is a commercial island between Laizhou and Baekje..."

Since the beginning of the Tang Dynasty, trade between Laizhou and the Liaodong Peninsula has continued to develop.

The Tang Dynasty only prohibited merchants from trading with Goguryeo, but did not prohibit merchants from trading with Silla, Baekje, and Japan.

Commerce promotes prosperity, and many commercial islands have emerged on a large area of ​​East Asian archipelago.

These islands act like inns, providing supplies for merchants traveling by ship.

The merchants on the island come from various countries. There are no laws and no government here.

Driven by interests, island merchants will elect an island owner, who will maintain the rules on the island and everyone will make wealth together.

Zhongjian Island is one of the commercial islands, and its owner is an Ainu.

Upon hearing this, Li Ji stepped out and asked, "Minister Di Si, could this Ainu man be related to this matter?"

Di Renjie said, "Yes, I got an important piece of information from that Ainu."

Li Ji asked, "What information?"

Di Renjie said, "According to the Ainu people, in mid-April, late one night, a mysterious fleet stopped at Zhongjian Island."

Zhang Jianzhi said, "Mid-April is the time when our Tang soldiers are transporting weapons to Baekje. The timing is consistent!"

Li Ji asked, "How many people are there in that fleet?"

Di Renjie said, "According to the Ainu people, the fleet wasn't large, only about fifty or sixty people, but the amount of water and food they purchased was astonishing."

Li Ji said: "That is to say, there is a larger team behind them."

Abemaro rushed to say, "It must be the Ezo army that attacked the Tang army!"

Li Ji suddenly looked at him and said, "Abian Foreign Envoy, why do you look a little panicked?"

Abianmaro's tone was indeed a little anxious, because a terrible thought suddenly came to his mind.

Hearing Li Ji's question, he calmed himself down, forced a smile, and said, "How could I be alarmed? Lord Li, you are joking."

Li Ji said calmly, "Then please be patient and listen to what this Emperor Di Siqing has to say."

Abemaro had no choice but to remain silent, but the terrible thought in his heart became stronger and stronger.

Di Renjie continued, "After they finished their shopping, they gave the Ainu man some money, asking him not to reveal their whereabouts."

Li Zhi said, "Di Qing, stop keeping us in suspense. Tell us who those people are."

Di Renjie said slowly, "According to the Ainu people, although they deliberately pretended to be Ainu people and wore Ainu clothing, their stature was very short, which could not be concealed."

Abe Maro was shocked and angry, and shouted: "No, it wasn't us who did it. It was those Ainu people who lied and deliberately framed our country of Japan!"

Li Ji looked at him with a sharp gaze and said coldly, "Abian Foreign Envoy, Di Siqing didn't say it was you. Are you confessing yourself?"

Abe Maro gritted his teeth and said, "Everyone knows that our people are short. Your Majesty, the Ainu are our sworn enemies. He must be the one who is slandering us!"

Zhang Jianzhi said, "According to what the foreign envoy Abian said, the letter just now might also be your slander against the Ainu people!"

Abianmaro said anxiously, "No, that letter is real, there is no falsehood!"

Di Renjie said, "Your Majesty, the Ainu man is outside Chengtian Gate right now. You can summon him into the palace to confront the foreign envoy Abian!"

Li Zhi said: "Approved."

After a while, the Ainu people came to the main hall and kowtowed to Li Zhi: "I, the Lieutenant Colonel of Ainu, pay my respects to His Majesty the Emperor of the Tang Dynasty." He spoke Tang language quite fluently.

Di Renjie said, "Emishi Zhonglang, here is a letter from your chief, Emishi Oga, to another chief. Please take a look. Abian Waishi, please show him the letter."

Abemaro turned his head to look at Ezo Nakaro, and the other party happened to look at him as well, with a hint of mockery in his eyes.

Abianmaro understood by now.

The Emishi people's plan this time has two steps. The first step is to plunder the Tang Dynasty's military equipment, and the second step is to let the Emishi people in front of them frame Japan.

Who could have thought that the Ainu people, who have always been simple and stupid, could come up with such a vicious series of schemes this time?

"A foreign envoy?" Zhang Jianzhi urged coldly.

Abianmaro took a deep breath and said to Li Zhi, "Your Majesty, this person must have been sent by Ezo Oga to stay on Zhongjian Island and frame our country!"

Li Zhi said, "You have no evidence, how can I trust you?"

Abe Maro shouted, "Your Majesty, please give us a little more time. We will definitely find more convincing evidence to prove that it was the Ainu who did it!"

Li Ji bowed and said, "Your Majesty, this matter has been delayed for too long. If we wait any longer, it will surely chill the hearts of the officers and men of Laizhou!"

Li Zhi asked, "What should we do according to Lord Li's opinion?"

Li Ji said in a deep voice: "We should send troops immediately to attack Japan!"

Abe Maro said anxiously, "Your Majesty, please do not fall for the Emishi's tricks!"

Li Zhi pondered in silence, seeming quite hesitant.

Di Renjie said, "Your Majesty, I have a plan."

"Oh, what can I do?"

Di Renjie said, "The most powerful evidence in this case is the 3,000 pieces of military equipment. If Japan can find the missing 3,000 pieces of military equipment in Ezo, it will prove that the Ezo people were responsible!"

(End of this chapter)