Tamura was in a terrible state.
Li Fengliu had faithfully carried out Li Xiaogong’s orders, transforming the already short and stout Tamura into a ball, a five-foot-tall ball of flesh.
The kind that could roll on the ground with a gentle nudge.
"Bring that dog over here for me!"
"Hehehe, Uncle Jiu, catch!"
Li Fengliu kicked Tamura in the backside with a smile. The man immediately lost control and rolled towards Li Xiaogong.
Li Fengliu was one generation lower than Li Xiaogong, hence calling him Uncle Jiu.
Watching the approaching ball of flesh, Li Xiaogong extended his right foot to stop its further momentum, otherwise, this fellow might have rolled all the way into the sea.
"Big meatball, you say you are the Emperor?"
Li Xiaogong looked at Tamura with utter mockery.
The interpreter beside them quickly translated (the translation process is omitted below).
"No, no, no, I am not. I am just a dog of the Soga family. They put me in this position."
Tamura shook his head frantically, blood splashing from his swollen eyes, which were reduced to mere slits, and his mouth.
Li Xiaogong immediately kicked him aside, thinking, "Damn it, this is too disgusting."
"Behave yourself, and tell me, what the hell is this Soga family?"
"Your Highness, the Soga family is the largest noble clan in Wa country at present," the interpreter explained beside him before Tamura could speak.
This interpreter was found by Fang Er. He was originally a merchant from Goguryeo who used to be involved in smuggling, so he had some understanding of Wa country and could speak both Wa and Tang languages.
"Noble clan?"
Li Xiaogong frowned. "Another noble clan!"
Moreover, this so-called Soga clan had the ability to interfere with the succession of the Japanese Emperor. They were not simple.
However, looking at the Wa soldiers being tied up like pigs by his men, he smiled dismissively.
"No matter how not simple they are, what use is it?"
The Wa soldiers before them were utterly incapable of putting up a fight. Let alone twenty thousand, even two hundred thousand could be wiped out with a wave of his hand!
"Fengliu, take two thousand men, take this fellow to your so-called Soga family, and tie them up for me!"
"A bunch of dogs, daring to lay their hands on the Great Tang's silver mountain. They are tired of living!"
After speaking, he took out the transaction document from his怀, unfolding the imprint on it in front of Tamura.
"You dog, look clearly, this silver mountain belongs to the Great Tang!"
Wa country had no written language, and official documents used Chinese characters, so Tamura could understand the content of this document at a glance.
However, he wished he couldn't understand it.
For a mere dozen taels of silver, they sold the silver mountain. The people here back then were truly pigs!
*Pfft*
Overwhelmed by anger, he spat out a mouthful of blood, almost spraying it onto Li Xiaogong's face.
The battle unfolding here was clearly seen by Prince Yamashiro no Ōe, who was hiding on Mount Ishimi.
Prince Tamura, with whom he had been fighting for a long time, was defeated so quickly. It was unbelievable!
Thinking of this, he asked an old man beside him.
"Umekawa-san, what should this king do?"
This old man was none other than Umekawa Kuuzui, who had previously served as Fang Er's interpreter. It was precisely because of his experience at that time that he was recruited by Prince Yamashiro no Ōe.
At this moment, along with other advisors, he was accompanying Prince Yamashiro no Ōe.
Umekawa Kuuzui uttered a single word in a calm tone: "Surrender."
"Your Highness, the Tang army's might is far greater than what you see now."
"They have hundreds of thousands of troops like this, and we are no match for them."
"Instead of being defeated, it's better to surrender directly. This way, we can maintain harmony."
Another person nodded beside him and then spoke.
"Your Highness, they only want money. Just give it to them."
"I have dealt with the Tang people. Tang people value face, so let's give them plenty of face."
"By using this opportunity to befriend the Great Tang, we can then send people to the Great Tang to learn their methods of training troops and forging weapons."
"In this way, within ten years, our warriors will be able to sweep across the country."
"At that time, a unified Wa country will no longer fear any enemy!"
"Such a vast silver mountain, the Great Tang cannot possibly mine it completely in ten years. By then, it will still belong to Your Highness."
Another person bowed to Prince Yamashiro no Ōe and then said sinisterly.
"Your Highness, the Tang people are tall, indicating their good breeding."
"We can take this opportunity to send some of our women to the Great Tang."
"Two years ago, the Tang army abducted a large number of women, which indicates that the Tang country is short of women."
"We can negotiate with them, send two, and get one pregnant woman back."
"Our country lacks grain. I believe those lowly commoners would be eager to go to the Great Tang to enjoy prosperity."
"In this way, in a few years, our country will no longer lack tall warriors."
Prince Yamashiro no Ōe pondered for a long time, then turned to look at the others.
"Purararaga and Chigokouzi have some valid points. Tell me your opinions."
Purararaga and Chigokouzi were ecstatic as Prince Yamashiro no Ōe seemed to be considering their suggestions.
One person stepped forward and bowed, saying, "Your Highness, your subject has something to say."
"Xiao Bizaizi, speak, I am listening."
"Your Highness, your subject believes we can also use this opportunity to request trade with the Great Tang."
"The Great Tang is prosperous, and they will definitely agree to this request. We can transport Tang goods back to our country, and the noble families will eagerly purchase them."
"This way, we can accumulate national strength."
"Sugoi desu ne~"
"Yoshi yoshi~"
"Yokatta~"
"Wari dare nai so~"
Seeing that everyone was discussing plans after surrendering to the Tang and no one was talking about how to resist the Tang army, Prince Yamashiro no Ōe readily made his decision.
"Omoshiroi, wakatta wa."
"Interesting, I understand."
Then, he walked down the mountain first, saying to those behind him as he walked, "Come with me to meet the Tang army."
Everyone quickly followed.
The mass captive-catching competition on the beach had not yet ended when Li Xiaogong received a report from a soldier saying that someone had come down from Mount Ishimi to request an audience.
"Bring them over!"
Not long after, Umekawa Kuuzui led Prince Yamashiro no Ōe and others before Li Xiaogong.
"I, Umekawa Kuuzui, pay my respects to the General of the Superior Country."
"I had the honor of serving as Prince Chai's interpreter two years ago. May I know how to address the General of the Superior Country?"
Li Xiaogong looked at him with disdain. "Men, give him a loincloth to wear!"
"These dogs are truly poor!"
"He's at least half a century old. He can't even afford a loincloth. Tsk, tsk, tsk..."
Umekawa Kuuzui felt extremely awkward. His name was indeed somewhat amusing to the Tang people, but he did not dare to explain, lest the person before him feel embarrassed and have him killed. Then he would have no chance to be embarrassed.
So, he shamelessly offered a wry smile. "Thank you for the gift from the Superior Country's envoy."