Tang Dynasty: Father, if you don't rebel, I will!

"Master, please pull yourself together!"

"We'll definitely have a chance..."

The artisans from the Ministry of Works of the Tang Dynasty who explored the mines were all top-notch. With the help of explosives brought from the Tang Dynasty, they quickly created a mine in the Tang Dynasty's local mining industry that had many irregularities and oversights.

It appeared before them at a speed that these Japanese miners could not comprehend.

In the dark mine, the sounds of clanging and banging could be heard incessantly.

The Tang Dynasty would not send anyone in, and that is why the mine was densely packed with Japanese miners who had been captured.

Smoke and dust, mixed with scattered stone chips, and an unusual smell made the conditions inside the mine extremely harsh.

Yi Yuchuanlu made a "ho ho" sound from his throat, like a bellows.

The words of persuasion from the second-in-command, Mikawa Iyukawa, were no longer enough to get him to think.

He was exhausted. The whip marks on his back, where his skin was torn and bleeding, made every movement excruciating, sending pain straight to the top of his head. Even so, he dared not slow down the swinging motion of his pickaxe.

Under the dim light of a few kerosene lamps in the mine, the silver ore surface shimmered with patches of silver light, like a distorted galaxy etched into the stone.

Yiyuchuan Shika could not believe that such a huge silver mountain existed in the place where the Yiyuchuan clan, the Kizuki clan, and the Susa clan had fought for decades or even centuries, and where generations of clan heads had lived and managed their affairs.

They had absolutely no idea.

The first to learn of this news were the people of the Tang Dynasty who had never set foot here before...

"Ding Ding Ding!"

A series of rapid clanging sounds came from outside the cave, signaling the end of the workday.

However, upon hearing this voice, the crowd was more alarmed than pleased.

"Naniyo siri ka da? Korewa oh le nao da! (What are you doing? These are mine!)"

"Baka yarou! Tayohanase! Sini Deka?! (You bastard, let go! Do you want to die?!)"

"Oh, my! All these silver mines are mine!"

"Oh my god, I'll die if you take this from me!"

“Bagya Road!!!”

The ferocious fighting and shouting made the already cramped mine even more chaotic in an instant.

However, the people around who were watching the fight suddenly changed their expressions.

In an instant, he pressed his body as close as possible to the rock wall beside him, curling up and trembling, as if preparing for something terrifying that was about to happen.

Sure enough, the Tang soldiers outside soon noticed the commotion inside, and curses came from outside.

Immediately following was the sound of orderly footsteps.

Mikawa Iyukawa was a loyal follower; even in his predicament, he still tried his best to shield Iyukawa Shika from the side.

"Ready to shoot!"

"put!"

"Bang bang bang bang!!!"

A series of crisp gunshots, causing everyone to instantly close their eyes in terror, came from the direction of the cave entrance. The sharp whistling sound was accompanied by the sound of something piercing flesh, and a series of chilling screams.

The sound instantly resounded throughout the cave.

Outside the silver mine, Cheng Chumo, his face icy cold, gave orders to a warrior beside him.

"Let those who still want to live crawl out from inside!"

The man bowed respectfully, and then shouted loudly into the cave in Japanese.

Suddenly, a rustling sound, like something scraping on the ground, accompanied by heavy breathing filled with obvious fear, gradually came from inside the cave.

One after another, figures covered in black dust and resembling monkeys crawled out of the cave.

"Get out! Get out of here!"

Cheng Chumo scolded them, and the men hurriedly scrambled to the open space to the side, forming a huddle, trembling and not daring to meet the eyes of the Tang soldiers around them.

Cheng Chumo snorted coldly and gave a wink to several soldiers, who immediately called to their companions, who then donned armor, took up their weapons, and entered the area.

Before long, the men dragged out corpses, half-dead Japanese miners.

"Pah... What bad luck!"

"If they're not dead yet, finish them off with a blow, then find a place to bury them!"

With a swift movement of their knives, several Japanese miners who were struggling and begging for mercy were instantly killed with a single blow. Cheng Chumo didn't even blink, and waved his hand to have the corpses dragged away.

Then, he turned his attention back to the others.

"Go in and take all the ore out!"

The group of samurai and ronin, who were once considered untouchable in the countryside, suddenly cowered and hurriedly ran into the cave.

Before long, everyone carried out baskets full of silver ore.

With a few fewer unlucky miners, the other miners who were also unable to deliver their ore were able to deliver their full amount today, which meant that they would at least be given some food.

Yi Yuchuanlu's team of miners was taken towards the prison. At the same time, another team of miners, not much different in size from theirs, passed by them and headed towards the mine they had just left.

Mining ore, crushing ore, smelting, refining...

Apart from the initial labor-intensive processes, which were handled by these cheap Japanese miners, all subsequent steps were carried out by Tang Dynasty artisans.

A simple campsite at the foot of Mt. Iwami has been completed.

The small fishing village that had previously served as a landing point for the Tang Dynasty fleet had been completely transformed, with areas of significant elevation difference being converted into temporary port terminals by the Tang Dynasty.

At this moment, on this simple dock named "Iwami Port", Hou Junji stamped his seal on documents and then handed them to Liu Tao, who had come from Fukuoka.

"I'll leave the rest to you. These Japanese female slaves and children can be transported back to give the soldiers some extra income. However, the first batch of silver produced must be sent to Chang'an as soon as possible."

Liu Tao bowed and said, "Your Excellency, please rest assured, I understand!"

As this fleet departed from Dengzhou Port, made a brief stop at Fukuoka Port, and then arrived at Iwami Port, they unloaded the supplies that had arrived there, loaded chests of silver that were to be transported back onto the ships, and drove the slaves onto the ships like livestock.

They then set sail back to the Tang Dynasty.

Hou Junji looked at his soldiers busily moving supplies and couldn't help but take a deep breath.

"Now that we've settled in here, let's rest for a few days and set sail for Sado Island!"

While Hou Junji and his group were already making arrangements to search for the Sado gold mine, ships bearing the flags of the Tang Dynasty were docking at Mumbai, the port of Mumbai in the Kingdom of Chalukya (northern India).

On the port, the Tibetan king Songtsen Gampo looked at the massive ships that were beyond his comprehension. Despite his intense restraint, he could not hide the shock on his face.

And beside him, the third prince of the Zhelouqi Kingdom, Simis, had almost the same expression.

He spoke in a jumble of surprised words in Sanskrit.

It's probably referring to the name of some deity again...

As the fleet docked, squads of elite soldiers clad in gleaming armor and wielding long blades stood solemnly on both sides of the harbor. Under the sunlight, the gleaming armor shimmered with golden light, making them appear as if heavenly soldiers had descended.

As Prince Li Ke of Han appeared before everyone, even the host, Simis, couldn't help but show a humble and ingratiating expression on his face.

"Welcome, Your Highness, the King of Han of the Great Tang Dynasty. It is our honor that you have come to our Zhelouqi Kingdom... A banquet has been prepared in the palace to welcome you."

Themis had visited the Tang Dynasty before, representing the Kingdom of Zhelouqi to congratulate the Tang Crown Prince on his wedding.

The prosperity and power of the Tang Dynasty had a tremendous impact on his so-called beliefs.

Li Ke listened to the translation and nodded slightly.

After exchanging a few polite words with the other party, he finally turned his gaze to Songtsen Gampo standing to the side.

"I will leave a portion of my fleet here. The Zanpu can have all the grain that has been brought loaded onto the ships. Our people will negotiate with you. As for the price, rest assured, you won't be taken advantage of..."

No one knows how the golden eagle found him on the vast ocean.

He brought a letter from his own elder brother, instructing him to bring back the grain harvested by Tibet from the Harsha colony to the Tang Dynasty.

Songtsen Gampo's eyes immediately lit up with joy, and he patted his chest and bowed.

"Thank you, Your Highness. We have preserved the grain very well. Your country may inspect it at will."

At the enthusiastic invitation of Simis, Li Ke arrived at the royal palace of the Zhelouqi Kingdom. Although it was far smaller and smaller than the Tang Dynasty, its exotic style gave it a unique beauty.

The current ruler of the Chalukya Kingdom, Puruksha II, was also a praised Indian ruler in later generations, and together with the now deceased King Harsha, they were known as the two great rulers.

However, Li Ke's attitude towards the other party was just right.

He displayed the demeanor of the Prince of Han of the Tang Dynasty and the manners of a royal nobleman from the Tang Dynasty, a land of etiquette, perfectly.

Be approachable, but not obsequious.

Peaceful, yet not of this world.

Although they communicated through translators, they always maintained an equal footing.

King Purokashyapa II laughed heartily, "I never imagined that the East possessed so many wondrous things. My child had told me about them before, but I always thought he was exaggerating. I never expected..."

"The elder brother you speak of, the Prince of Han of the Great Tang, is a true monarch rarely seen in this world!"

Li Ke smiled and thanked him.

The dancers in the palace of the Zheluqi king were quite good. They had the allure of Hu women, but gave people a divine radiance, like nuns dancing.

Li Ke couldn't think of any other way to describe it.

Just as the banquet was drawing to a close and the guests and hosts were enjoying themselves, King Puroksha II of Chalukya suddenly spoke.

"Great Tang Han King, what brings you here with such a large fleet, braving the storms and waves?"

Li Ke smiled and shook his head, putting down the gold wine glass inlaid with gemstones in his hand.

"Your Majesty has misunderstood. We are only staying temporarily in the Kingdom of Zheluqi to complete the grain trade with the Tibetan king. Our real destination is Mecca in Arabia."

As he spoke, he pointed to Sufyan beside him.

"This is the Governor-General of Mecca for Protecting Merchants appointed by our Great Tang. From now on, he will serve as our Great Tang's appointed foreign minister in Arabia to assist and protect the legitimate interests of our Great Tang merchants in Arabia."

Upon hearing this, the expressions of the ministers and nobles of the Zhelouqi Kingdom, who had been enjoying a joyous banquet, all froze.

And the hand holding the wine cup of King Purokashyapa II also paused.

Looking intently at the humble Sufyan who was bowing, he frowned and asked, "Are you also an Arab?"

Sufyan introduced himself: "Your Majesty, I am the chief of the Quraysh tribe in Mecca, and am considered a nobleman."

The group immediately began whispering among themselves.

Despite the great distance between us and the Arab world, where is this place?

Mengba! The second largest city in the Kingdom of Chalukya, after the capital city of Watap (Asanbadami).

Among the merchants who came and went, there were quite a few Arab merchants, and after so many years, everyone knew exactly what had happened in the Arab world.

At this time, the Tang Dynasty made a grand gesture by appointing a former Meccan nobleman as one of their officials and leading a large fleet to Mecca.

A chill ran through King Puroksha II.

Has the reach of the Tang Dynasty extended even further than their own kingdom of Zhelouqi?