Chapter 686: Envoys from Two Countries

Upon returning from Dayun Temple, Li Qing’an received a report from his personal guards that envoys from Bohai and Silla had arrived and were waiting to be received by him. This news surprised Li Qing’an slightly, and he immediately ordered, “Please have the two envoys wait at the Grand Commander’s Office. I’ll be there right away.”

The Grand Commander’s Office referred to the one in Yangzhou, located on Shugang. Nominalmente, it was the highest military commander in the Yangzhou region, usually held by a prince. The former Grand Commander of Yangzhou was Prince Qing, Li Cong. After Li Cong’s death, Prince Yong, Li Lin, took over. At the beginning of the year, Li Lin was defeated, and now Li Qing’an held the position, though it was only a nominal military command.

The actual military commander of Yangzhou was the Commander of Jiangdu Militia, held by Li Baozhen. The Grand Commander of Yangzhou was essentially symbolic. Nevertheless, the office still existed and served as Li Qing’an’s temporary residence during his inspection tour.

When Li Qing’an returned to the Grand Commander’s Office by carriage with Mingzhu, the two envoys had already been waiting for a long time.

“Mingzhu, go rest for a while. We’ll have lunch together later.”

Seeing that Mingzhu seemed listless and silent throughout the journey, Li Qing’an knew what was on her mind. Recalling her vow before the Bodhisattva, he felt an overwhelming tenderness for her. He gently embraced her, kissed her forehead softly, and whispered in her ear, “Rest well. Your elder brother won’t let you down.”

Mingzhu shuddered, her eyes suddenly brightening. She slowly raised her head and met Li Qing’an’s affectionate gaze. Her eyes gradually filled with tears. She couldn’t believe what she heard—was it really the Bodhisattva’s intervention?

“Elder brother!”

“Silly girl, don’t cry. The guards are all listening!” Li Qing’an said softly with a smile. “I thought you thought I was bullying you.”

Mingzhu buried her face in Li Qing’an’s chest, biting her lip tightly and nodding. “Elder brother, I won’t cry!” Her voice was already choked with sobs. Li Qing’an wiped the tears from her eyes and sighed, “Silly girl! After all these years, still can’t your elder brother understand your feelings? Didn’t I deny that old monk’s title today?”

Remembering that Daoyun Zen Master had called her “wife,” Mingzhu felt her face burn with embarrassment. She turned away shyly, yet her heart felt as sweet as honey. “Elder brother, go see the guests first. Important matters come first.”

“Okay, I’ll go. You go back to your room and rest first.”

Li Qing’an got off the carriage first. As soon as he left, Mingzhu collapsed weakly on the carpet. She clung tightly to the cushion, burying her face in it and biting her lips hard. She wanted to cry, yet also to laugh out loud. Her eyes were filled with tears, but her face showed a bright smile, with adorable dimples, just like a freshly bloomed fragrant lily.

……

Li Qing’an strode quickly toward the hall,not wanting to think about it for nowing about Mingzhu for now. Instead, he wondered why Bohai Country had sent envoys. He had already decided to launch an attack on Bohai Country, and his army was already on its way. Now, the sudden arrival of envoys from Bohai Country and Silla left him confused. Could it be that Prince Da Qinmao of Bohai Country had changed his mind and no longer welcomed him?

Li Qing’an’s decision to send troops to Bohai Country was based on an agreement he had reached with Prince Da Qinmao in Chang’an earlier. The Tang Dynasty agreed to send troops to assist Bohai Country in times of crisis, but the number of troops and the timing would be determined by the Tang Dynasty. Bohai Country would bear all the costs related to the Tang troops’ provisions. If necessary, the Tang Dynasty could also rent ports in Bohai Country to station its troops. Da Qinmao had fully agreed to all these terms, and the two sides had signed a formal memorandum.

As Li Qing’an thought further, he immediately realized that it wasn’t that Bohai Country didn’t want the Tang troops; rather, its situation must be extremely urgent. Silla, which shared a close relationship with Bohai Country, was likely facing the same crisis as well.

Three people sat in the main hall of the Grand Commander’s Office. One of them was a Han Chinese—Wei Ruqun, who had escorted Prince Da Yingjun back to Bohai Country. He was no longer the military doctor who used to sell herbs for a few coins. Now, he was the Deputy Minister of Finance of Bohai Country. Since Bohai Country used Chinese as its official language, Wei Ruqun’s high position was not affected at all. His greatest wish now was to bring his wife and children to Bohai Country to live a comfortable life.

Wei Ruqun was only the deputy envoy; the main envoy was Da Chengqing, the king of Bohai Country’s brother. He was also the Right Prime Minister and Head of the Secretariat. Bohai Country followed the Tang Dynasty’s system of three departments and six ministries. It was both an independent country and a vassal state under the Tang Dynasty. In the Tang Dynasty, Bohai Country was called Hulunzhou, and its king was also the governor of Hulunzhou. After ascending the throne, the king had to receive an official title from the Tang Dynasty to be recognized as king; otherwise, he could only be called the acting ruler. Moreover, he had to pay tribute to the Tang Dynasty every year, just like the countries in the Western Regions.

Last year, King Da Qinmo of Bohai secretly traveled to Chang’an and reached a military alliance with Li Qing’an. However, this agreement faced strong opposition throughout Bohai. A key clause allowed the Tang Dynasty to lease ports indefinitely and station troops there, which undoubtedly violated Bohai’s independence and would subject it to Tang control. Even King Da Qinmo regretted this decision.

Prime Minister Da Chengqing was the most vehement opponent, delaying the official adoption of the agreement within Bohai, preventing it from becoming a national treaty. Yet the urgent situation changed the fate of the agreement. Bohai received confirmed news that An Lushan, the Khitans, and the Xis were uniting to attack them, causing widespread panic. Seeking aid from their suzerain, the Tang Dynasty, became their only hope. Even Da Chengqing, who had initially opposed troop deployment, became a strong supporter of the agreement. Under his push, Bohai reached a consensus and officially approved it.

In the main hall was also Kim Ryang-sang, a special envoy from Silla. He was a noble of Silla, holding the highest rank equivalent to prime minister. Silla and Bohai had long been enemies, engaged in warfare for years, especially between King Da Wu-ye of Bohai and King Gyeongde of Silla, whose hatred made reconciliation nearly impossible. But after Da Wu-ye’s death, his son Da Qinmo ascended the throne, and relations between Bohai and Silla began to ease. Though there was no friendly exchange, at least war ceased. Earlier this year, King Gyeongde of Silla died, and his eight-year-old son, King Hyeogong, took the throne under the regency of the queen mother. It was the queen mother’s relentless efforts that led to reconciliation between Bohai and Silla, with both sides starting trade and allowing free civilian movement across their borders.

This alliance of An Lushan, the Khitans, and the Xis also posed a severe threat to Silla. After destroying Bohai, their next target would surely be Silla. A common enemy and shared fate brought Bohai and Silla together. They decided to unite their armies to resist An Lushan and the Khitans, but their strength was insufficient, so both sent special envoys to the Tang Dynasty for help. They arrived in Yangzhou by boat. Coincidentally, Li Qing’an was also in Yangzhou—almost as if fate favored them.

The three sat anxiously in the hall, waiting for Li Qing’an’s arrival. Unbeknownst to them, Li Qing’an had already sent a large army north by boat—a top-secret plan even the local authorities in Yangzhou were unaware of. “Prince Zhao has arrived!”

With a loud shout from the guard soldier, the three of them stood up at the same time. An officer in his early thirties strode in from outside. They didn’t recognize Li Qing’an, but from his imposing presence and the golden helmet he wore, they knew he must be Li Qing’an, the de facto ruler of the Tang Dynasty, the Prince of Zhao.

The three knelt down simultaneously and bowed, “Da Chengqing, special envoy of Bohai State, and Wei Ruqun, his deputy, pay their respects to His Highness the Prince of Zhao!”
“Kim Ryang-sang, special envoy of Silla State, pays his respects to His Highness the Prince of Zhao!”

Li Qing’an smiled and helped them up. “You three have had a hard journey. Please rise!”
Li Qing’an had already reviewed the list of envoys. To his surprise, they were all high-ranking officials from Bohai and Silla. He glanced quickly at Wei Ruqun—he had seen this name in Ji Sheng’s intelligence reports. This man had escorted Da Yingjun back to Bohai, and unexpectedly, he had become the vice minister of finance in Bohai. He seemed to be a key figure sent by fate to the Tang Dynasty.

“Please sit, dear envoys!”
Li Qing’an invited them to sit, and his personal guards served tea for everyone. Holding his teacup, he smiled slightly and asked Da Chengqing, “Is the Prince of Bohai doing well?”
“Your Highness, the prince is in good health. Before I set off, the prince specially prepared gifts for you. The princess and the crown prince also prepared gifts for the Princess of Zhao and the young prince.”
The personal guards had already taken the gifts. Da Chengqing placed a list of gifts on the table. Li Qing’an glanced at it—everything was gold, jade, and precious treasures. He smiled and said, “Thank you, the prince, your wife, and the crown prince. I accept these gifts!”

Li Qing’an then turned to Kim Ryang-sang of Silla and asked calmly, “I heard the new king has ascended the throne. Why haven’t you sent envoys to the Tang Dynasty?”
Like Bohai, Silla was also a vassal state of the Tang Dynasty. Silla served as the Jilin Prefecture Governorate under the Tang, with its king acting as the governor and paying tribute to the Tang Dynasty while receiving its imperial recognition. With the old king’s death and the new king’s ascension, Silla failed to send envoys to the Tang in a timely manner, which displeased both the Tang court and Li Qing’an.

Kim Ryang-sang hurriedly explained, “The new king is still young, and the empress regent is in charge. Some nobles in the country are dissatisfied and have rebelled in the south. We have just suppressed the rebellion, so the empress regent sent me to the Tang Dynasty to seek help and formally request that the new king be recognized by the Tang Dynasty.”

Li Qing’an nodded. A civil rebellion was a reason he could barely accept. He then turned to Da Chengqing and asked, “What’s the situation with An Lushan?”

Speaking of serious matters, Da Chengqing appeared somewhat nervous. He sat up straight, took out a map from his luggage, and spread it on the table. “Your Highness, at present, An Lushan’s troops are gathered in Liucheng, Yingzhou. From what we know, An Lushan still has 70,000 remaining soldiers. However, he is recruiting more troops in Yingzhou and Andong Protectorate. It is said he aims to assemble a total of 100,000 troops—70,000 from the Khitans and 30,000 from the Xi, making a total of 200,000. By autumn at the latest, they will launch a full-scale attack on Bohai. Our Bohai Kingdom only has 80,000 troops, and together with Silla’s 70,000, we have a total of 150,000. Moreover, in terms of weapons and equipment, we are inferior to An Lushan’s Yan army. In terms of the ferocity of our cavalry, we are far behind the Khitans and Xi. The chances of our victory in this battle are very low. If we fail, Bohai will be destroyed. Therefore, everyone in Bohai is earnestly begging the Tang Dynasty to send troops to support us.”

Kim Ryang-sang, the Silla envoy, also pleaded, “Silla has been under the protection of the Tang Dynasty for a hundred years and is its vassal state. For a century, we have respected our suzerain and paid continuous tributes. We hope the Tang Dynasty will extend a helping hand at this critical moment of Silla’s survival. Silla will be eternally grateful and remain loyal!”

Li Qing’an pondered for a moment before saying to Da Chengqing, “Last year, Bohai King Da Qinmao secretly came to Chang’an. I signed a mutual assistance memorandum with him, and the Bohai King also signed it. But he said it needed to be approved by his own court before it could become an official treaty between nations. I don’t know what he has decided about this memorandum—whether it has become an official document.”

Da Chengqing was about to speak, but Li Qing’an waved his hand to stop him. “If this memorandum is approved, you won’t need to beg. You can directly request the Tang Dynasty to send troops under the treaty. So, have you brought this official document?”

“I have!”

Da Chengqing quickly took out a yellow silk scroll, which was the official document for the Tang Dynasty. He respectfully handed it to Li Qing’an. “Please accept this, Your Highness!”

Li Qing’an took the scroll, unrolled it, and examined it carefully. It was indeed the memorandum he had signed with Da Qinmao, now turned into an official decree, stamped with the king’s seal and the Great Seal of the Secretariat. It had thus been formalized as an official document.

What concerned Li Qing’an most was the third clause: the Tang Dynasty could lease Bohai’s ports indefinitely, allow the construction of cities, and station troops there. His oral agreement with Da Qinmao had been that the number of troops would not exceed 30,000, with Bohai providing the necessary provisions. Indeed, this clause was included in the official document, and Bohai specified that the number of troops would not exceed 30,000.

But Li Qing’an failed to find out which port the Bohai State was willing to lease to the Tang Dynasty. Since it wasn’t mentioned in the official letter, Li Qing’an smiled and said, “I remember discussing the matter of leasing land with the king of Bohai at that time. We considered two options: one was Wozhou Port in Nanjing Prefecture of the Bohai State, where he agreed to allow the Tang army to build a city—a simple solution. The other was a land exchange plan, also involving building a city at Wozhou Port, but after defeating the Khitan forces, the Tang Dynasty could give the Khitan lands to the Bohai State in exchange for Li Zhou, Hua Zhou, and An Zhou in the north, which would serve as a Tang enclave in the Bohai State. I wonder which of these two options the Bohai State intends to choose?”
Wozhou was what is now Hamhung Port in North Korea, and it was part of Nanjing Prefecture of the Bohai State. Li Qing’an wanted to obtain this port for the Tang army’s supply needs, but what he really desired were Hua Zhou and Li Zhou in the Bohai State, which corresponded to present-day Vladivostok in Russia and former Chinese territory of Vladivostok.
He knew the Bohai State had long coveted the Khitan lands, which could be used as pastures, so he used those lands as bait to gain control of this most important port in the north.
Although the Bohai State also engaged in extensive trade with Japan at that time, their understanding of the sea was limited. More importantly, they failed to grasp Li Qing’an’s true intentions. The Bohai State almost unanimously agreed to the second option—land for land.
“Your Highness, the Bohai State has chosen the second option because the Khitans have not yet been defeated, so it wasn’t mentioned in the official letter. We will draft a supplementary document once the Khitans are defeated.”
“Good!” Li Qing’an said gladly. “Since the official letter already exists, let’s follow the agreement. I will send troops immediately to support the Bohai State!”
……
After the two messengers left, Li Qing’an returned to his temporary study. Standing with his hands behind his back in front of the map of the Bohai State, he pondered in silence for a long time.
In fact, after the Tang Dynasty destroyed Goguryeo, it immediately set out to eliminate the Khitans and Sumo Mohe, but due to logistical and geographical constraints, it never succeeded. In the Battle of Tianmen Ridge, the Tang army was defeated by the Sumo Mohe, allowing the Bohai State to be established. Realizing it could no longer destroy the Bohai State, the Tang Dynasty resorted to appeasement tactics and accepted it as a vassal state. However, if given the chance, the Tang Dynasty would never give up its plan to destroy the Bohai State. Both Emperor Gaozong and Empress Wu Zetian failed in their attempts. During the reign of Emperor Xuanzong, Li Longji, Tubo became the greatest threat to the Tang Dynasty, forcing the court to abandon military actions in the northeast and establish the Andong Protectorate and the Lulong Military Governorate to control the region.

Now, it was Li Qing’an’s turn to consider a strategy for the Northeast. In later history, the Khitans, Jurchens, and Manchus all originated from the Northeast. The root cause lay in Emperor Gaozong of Tang failing to completely eliminate the Khitans and Sumo Mohe after destroying Goguryeo, allowing the Khitans to grow stronger after the An Lushan Rebellion. Later, Yelü Abaoji destroyed the Bohai State and established the Liao Dynasty, quickly becoming a powerful force in the Northeast and a persistent threat to the Central Plains.

Li Qing’an was well aware of this. He would not let history repeat itself nor leave such problems to his descendants. He planned to use five to ten years to destroy the Bohai State and Silla and fully unify the Northeast. Therefore, establishing military ports within the Bohai State and relocating Han people to Li Zhou and Hua Zhou to ensure a supply of troops were the top priorities of his strategy for the Northeast.

The ports of Vladivostok and Hamhung could coordinate efforts between the north and south, combined with the troops in Yingzhou, he was confident he could turn the Bohai State into the Bohai Circuit of the Tang Dynasty within five years.

At that moment, a guard came to the door and reported, “General, he’s here!”

“Bring him in!”

Soon, several bodyguards brought Wei Ruqun in. Although Wei Ruqun had been appointed as the Deputy Minister of Revenue of the Bohai State, it hadn’t been long, and deep down, he still considered himself a subject of the Tang Dynasty.

He knelt down and said, “Your servant pays his respects to Prince Zhao!”

“Please stand up, Doctor Wei,” Li Qing’an said with a slight smile.

The title “Doctor Wei” sent a shiver through Wei Ruqun. He realized that Li Qing’an actually knew him very well. He then thought of Ji Sheng, who remained in Youzhou. With An Lushan’s army defeated and Youzhou occupied by Shi Siming, he wondered if Ji Sheng was still alive. Overwhelmed with guilt toward Ji Sheng, he said shamefully, “It was General Ji who gave me this opportunity. I don’t know if he’s still alive.”

“General Ji has already left Youzhou. He’s now in Mozhou. Don’t worry; he’ll take care of himself.”

Wei Ruqun’s worries eased. He then asked, “What can your servant do to serve Your Highness?”

Li Qing’an looked at him with a half-smile and said, “Mr. Wei, I’ve seen information about General Ji. It seems you wanted to join the Anxi Army as a military doctor, right?”

Wei Ruqun’s heart tightened again. He seemed to faintly understand Li Qing’an’s intention, but Li Qing’an didn’t go on. He strode back and forth in the room with his hands behind his back, as if deep in thought. After a while, Li Qing’an stopped and asked, “How did you become the Deputy Minister of Revenue of the Bohai State?”

“Your Highness, it was Da Yingjun who insisted strongly. He wanted to repay me for saving his life. But actually, it was all thanks to General Ji.”

Li Qing’an waved his hand and asked again, “So, what’s Da Yingjun like?”

“He is very weak and almost died on the way. It was only because I saved him—perhaps due to being a hostage for so long. He has a very cowardly personality, lacking entirely the heroic spirit of his father and brothers.”
Li Qing’an nodded. Such a personality was exactly what he needed. “Then how likely is it that this handsome man will inherit the throne?”
“Almost impossible!”
Wei Ruqun sighed. “The handsome man also wants to inherit the throne, but in reality, he has no power. His father, Da Qinmaocai, is in his early forties and in good health. His two elder brothers, the crown prince Da Honglin and the second brother Da Zhenwo, are both very strong figures. Moreover, the prime minister Da Chengqing supports scholars, while the general in charge of the military, Da Xu Jin, has a good relationship with the second brother. No one supports the handsome man, so even if he wants to inherit the throne, it’s impossible.”
“What if all of them died?”
Li Qing’an stared at Wei Ruqun. “What if the king, the crown prince, this son, the prime minister, the general, and so on—all died? Could the handsome man inherit the throne then?”
Wei Ruqun was terrified but dared not refuse to answer. “If… if they all died, then only the handsome man could inherit the throne.”
“Very good!”
Li Qing’an smiled. “Mr. Wei should understand what I mean now!”
“I… understand!” He felt his legs grow weak, almost unable to stand.
“It’s good that you understand. Return to Bohai Country immediately and assist the handsome man well. I will arrange for Da Chengqing to go to Chang’an and return in a few years. Mr. Wei, I hope you can become the prime minister of Bohai Country.”
Wei Ruqun wiped the sweat from his forehead and said in a low voice, “I will try my best…”
“It’s not just trying your best; you must succeed. I will ensure you do!”
At this point, Li Qing’an suddenly lowered his voice and said slowly, “Serve the Tang Dynasty well. I will ensure you live a prosperous life for the rest of your days. I will make sure your wife and son live well in Chang’an. If you have any ulterior motives, do you understand the consequences?”
Wei Ruqun lowered his head and after a long while said, “Do you mean I can never see my wife and son again?”
“Not forever. At the latest in five years, if you serve me for five years, I will grant you the title of Duke of Bohai County. If you want to be an official, I will make you the head of the Honglu Temple, allowing your whole family to be together and enjoy family happiness forever.”
Seeing that Wei Ruqun was still hesitant, Li Qing’an realized he didn’t trust him. He felt slightly angered. He was the Prince of Zhao and a supreme general—how dare he not believe his words?

But now Wei Ruqun is a key figure in his strategy for the Northeast. Without him, Li Qingan is ready to launch a direct attack, but that would cause too much damage to the prosperity that Bohai Kingdom has built over decades. Li Qingan hopes to incorporate Bohai Kingdom intact, and Wei Ruqun is precisely such a key figure.
Li Qingan had no choice but to put aside his status for now and pacify this Han official from Bohai Kingdom. He took out a signal arrow and broke it in two, saying, “If I, Li Qingan, deceive you, it will be like this arrow!”
Wei Ruqun knelt on the ground, weeping bitterly, “With Your Highness’s supreme dignity, you break an arrow for a humble servant. I am willing to sacrifice my life without regret. I am ready to serve the Tang Dynasty and Your Highness, and to incorporate Bohai Kingdom into the Tang Empire.”