Zhenguan: I, Dou Fengjie, will not be the first cuckold.

Dian Ke Department dormitory.

Dou Fengjie waved his hand, and Beimen Shuangzhiji led a group of officials out to guard the gate, with only the Chief of the Household Affairs, Ma Zhancheng, and the Head of the Household Affairs, Cheng Chumo, accompanying them.

Beside the coffee table sat a young Japanese man with deep-set eyes.

Unfortunately, Dou Fengjie's hope of seeing that famously ugly hairstyle, the chonmage, is gone; that hairstyle was not a product of this era.

It's said that in the early days, the chonmage hairstyle involved plucking the hair, which gives me goosebumps just thinking about it.

"Monobe Komachi, you must be an official in Nambazu, right?"

Dou Fengjie looked at the young man with a puzzled expression.

This surname is clearly the rival of the Soga clan.

Even a centipede, though dead, does not stiffen.

Monobe Moriya is dead, but Mononobe is still alive.

"On behalf of Naniwazu and the Mononobe clan, we, your foreign envoys, request the Heavenly Khan's assistance so that the Mononobe clan may avenge themselves!"

Mononobe Komachi's eyes burned with raging anger.

Naniwazu is the modern-day Osaka, and it was the most economically developed region in Japan.

Interestingly, the Mononobe clan, who were Shintoists who destroyed Buddhist temples and punished monks and nuns, still preserved the Shitennoji Temple, built by Prince Shotoku, in their stronghold of Naniwa.

The Mononobe clan's power declined with the death of Mononobe Moriya, so it's no wonder that Mononobe Komachi was in such a hurry.

The Minister and the Ōren were the highest official positions in Japan. After Mononobe no Moriya's death, the position of Ōren was abolished, and the Minister's family held absolute power.

"Even the emperor doesn't starve his soldiers, so what benefits can Naniwazu offer?"

The reckless Cheng Chumo demanded a reward.

Yes, that's why Cheng Chumo was kept here. He's of lowly status, so he can be shameless.

Although Dou Fengjie wasn't that shameless.

Mononobe Komachi thought for a moment: "Namba has become the closest trading partner of the Tang Dynasty and is willing to vacate the land near the port for the Tang Dynasty to station troops."

There was no other way. Although Naniwa was the most prosperous trading center in Japan, its own products were limited. We couldn't just use seaweed or something similar as an excuse.

The desire to station troops there stemmed not only from a wish to rely on the Tang Dynasty to maintain the Mononobe clan's influence, but also from a sliver of hope.

What if we could sell Japan for a good price and take revenge on the Soga clan?

Mu Zhancheng glanced at Dou Fengjie and decisively said, "This price is not enough! You need to provide detailed information on the ocean currents, winds, waves, and seasons from Naniwajin to the Tang Dynasty."

Dou Fengjie beamed: "Think about it, the Tang army stationed here can't always rely on ships from Naniwa for supplies, can they?"

"We have to bring the boatmen with us so they can make the round trip safely."

"In exchange, the horses brought by the garrison will also help improve the breed of horses in Nanbojin."

In terms of navigation technology, the Tang Dynasty was indeed far behind, and could only make up for the gap by relying on shipbuilding technology.

After all, the living environments are different. The Tang Dynasty was backed by a vast landmass, so there was no need for it to take too many risks at sea.

As for the horses of Japan, there is a saying that trampled Japanese cavalrymen like "monkeys riding dogs," which gives you an idea of ​​how high they were.

When Dou Fengjie made this condition, the Mononobe clan had no power to refuse.

If the Mononobe clan's horses were tall and powerful, their cavalry could have a commanding position, so what was there to fear from the Soga clan?

"Can!"

Mononobe Komachi thought for a long time with a complicated expression before finally making up her mind.

Unfortunately, Naniwa Tsukasa was in dire straits and didn't have much leverage to fight against the powerful Soga clan.

If they hesitate any longer, the Mononobe clan will be banished from the historical stage of Japan.

In a life-or-death situation, what is there that cannot be sold?

Even one's own innocence can be used as leverage.

"Furthermore, the garrison cannot go under the name of the Great Tang Guard; it must be given a different name."

Dou Fengjie spoke slowly.

Even if it's self-deception, we still have to do it.

After all, Dou Fengjie may be shameless, but the Tang Dynasty must maintain its dignity.

"However, Mr. Mononobe has one more special request..."

"Send women from Naniwa to the garrison to learn from their experience."

Mononobe Komachi awkwardly made a somewhat absurd request.

Dou Fengjie and Cheng Chumo were six feet tall, while Mononobe Komachi was five feet tall.

It's not about discrimination; the height of the native Japanese population is indeed impressive, and there are often stories of Japanese women stopping at the coast of China to seek offspring.

Mononobe Komachi wanted to use large-scale artificial insemination to improve the height of Japanese people.

Dou Fengjie waved his hand weakly, signaling to stop the topic.

Some things are best left unsaid; there's no need to bring them into the open.

Dou Fengjie couldn't demand that the garrison soldiers remain chaste, but he also couldn't allow them to completely break military discipline.

Therefore, the troops of the Guard should absolutely not go, but those troops that have been eliminated can be used to form a united force to stay for a few years.

Anyway, there are many people who know nothing but how to fight and kill, and they are simply not suited to going back home to farm.

-----------------

News of Mononobe Komachi's arrival was kept strictly confidential.

Two junior officials of the Court of State Ceremonies quietly delivered a memorial written in Dou Fengjie's own handwriting to the Liangyi Hall.

Li Shimin unfolded the memorial and was immediately captivated by Dou Fengjie's vigorous, rigorous, balanced, and slender Liu-style calligraphy, praising it highly.

"No wonder the Junior Secretary said his calligraphy was unique and that he would surely become a master in time!"

Every word Yu Shinan said is credible.

"Hmm? Stationing the Unity Army in Nambazu? Formed from unselected soldiers, can the discipline be relaxed a bit?"

Li Shimin pondered for a long time, not knowing where he retrieved the information for comparison.

Well, with the troops stationed in Naniwa and Iwami, if the Tang Dynasty were to launch an attack, Japan would be cut in half.

"That idiot Dou Fengjie has no good intentions; he's hoping for internal strife in Japan."

Li Shimin was exhausted; having too many capable ministers wasn't a good thing!

I always felt that the situation in Japan was arranged so clearly by Dou Fengjie that any absurd drama could possibly unfold!

When the Minister of Works, Changsun Wuji, and the Secretary of the Imperial Secretariat, Yu Shinan, who had been urgently summoned to the palace, read the memorial, they couldn't help but chuckle.

This Dou Fengjie!

Yu Shinan smiled and said, "Your Majesty, although Dou Fengjie's plan is unbelievable, it has a chance of success."

"At the very least, it can reduce the threat posed by Japan at sea."

Japanese ships could travel to and from the Tang Dynasty, while Tang Dynasty ships had not yet figured out the routes to Japan, making the threat obvious.

Changsun Wuji stroked his beard: "The Duke of Zan is truly audacious, trying to manipulate the Japanese monarch and his ministers at will."

"However, the more chaotic Japan becomes, the more it will help the Tang Dynasty to mine silver in Iwami."

As Li Shimin's brother-in-law and chief strategist, he was acutely aware of the Tang Dynasty's financial difficulties.

Li Shimin nodded: "The idea of ​​forming a united army is very insightful. Iwami and Naniwa can follow this approach."

There will inevitably be friction when the Tang Dynasty stationed troops in Japan. It would be a bit awkward for the Weifu to send troops, but it would be easier to deflect blame by uniting the troops.

After all, the Unity Army wasn't part of the Tang Dynasty's Guard, so they could easily shirk responsibility if something happened.

"I think the most brilliant point is that Japan has no jurisdiction over the offending soldiers and must hand them over to the Tang authorities for trial and sentencing."

Liu Shanhuai added with a smile.

Unrestrained laughter echoed throughout the Liangyi Hall, and everyone praised this utterly rotten suggestion.

When soldiers are sent out to fight, it's inevitable that they'll get into brawls over time. We can't just leave them with nothing to do, can we?

As for the physiological problems of the soldiers, wasn't that something the Japanese actively sought out?

I wonder if Dou Fengjie's supplementary clauses will enrage the Japanese envoys to Tang China?