While Li Longji, Zhang Xiaobao, and Wang Juan were all resting, Xiaobei was extremely energetic.
She had been waiting to meet Takeshita Junichiro. She had been sleeping for a long time just to show Takeshita Junichiro her face.
As for the others, especially Li Longji, who Takeshita Junichiro really wanted to meet, it was impossible for them to answer him correctly. Only a child like Xiaobei who liked to talk to outsiders was willing to give him face.
In truth, Xiaobei's main goal was to train herself. Even though she knew that she was already pretty good at speaking diplomatic terms in Great Tang, she still felt that there was still a gap.
This was especially so when she was facing her brother and sister. They did not seem to need to think at all and could casually answer her more profound diplomatic questions.
In her opinion, speaking about her brother and sister was as smooth as eating noodles. It could be said that she could speak as soon as she opened her mouth, and there was no repetition. She did not know how her brother and sister trained.
When she realized that she was the stupidest of the nine, Xiaobei felt a sense of crisis. She could not draw, shoot, commentate on sports, calculate, literature, or martial arts, and so on. In these situations, she felt that the only thing she could do was to stand at the very front.
Only by shouldering all the external matters would she be able to balance out a little. Otherwise, wouldn't she become the most useless? Even if her brother and sister kept saying that her position was actually just as important.
With such thoughts in mind, Takeshita Junichiro had a chance to come into contact with the upper echelons of Great Tang.
Before dinner, Takeshita Junichiro saw Xiaobei. She was clearly a child in his eyes, but he could never treat her like a child because many people had already been taken advantage of.
Takeshita Junichiro admitted that it would be very difficult to scheme against Xiaobei. Perhaps Xiaobei was not smart enough, but she was still competent in dealing with external matters.
Takeshita Junichiro brought Yamamoto and Yamamoto to the side courtyard of Haiyunjian Restaurant. After a series of body searches, he saw Xiaobei sitting high up.
At this time, Xiaobei had already changed her clothes. She was wearing the official attire of Great Tang's imperial court officials. If one had to find something different, it would be the pattern on her body and the two kinds of fish bags on her body.
But what did that count for? Even the Emperor of the Great Tang, Li Longji, didn't care. Were they supposed to find any flaws in this matter and use them to threaten Xiao Bei?
Takeshita Junichiro was well aware that as long as the Zhang Family and the Wang Family did not rebel, the Emperor of the Great Tang, Li Longji, would not pursue the matter no matter what Xiaobei and the other children did. Even if they shouted that they wanted to rebel, Li Longji would not care.
"Who's next?" Xiao Bei's eyelids drooped as he asked the three kneeling Takeshita Junichiro.
She didn't put on any makeup at all. Her naturally formed long Weiwei eyelashes made her look like a doll for sale.
Takeshita Junichiro had the same thought. He really wanted to sell a doll, but when he heard what the doll said, he couldn't help but feel stifled. How could she not recognize him? He even got a lot of money from me.
"A citizen of this country, Takeshita Junichiro, greets Inspector Zhang." Takeshita Junichiro had no choice but to follow Xiaobei's words.
"Oh, so it's Ichiro. The other two look very familiar. Could it be that they are from a mountain temple? We're all familiar with each other. Quickly get up and speak. Don't stand on ceremony. Give them a seat. "
Xiaobei's drooping eyelids returned to normal. Her large eyes blinked in surprise.
Li Longji, who was using a refraction mirror to look at the situation in a nearby room, immediately covered his mouth and laughed. He gave Zhang Xiaobao a thumbs up and whispered, "Amazing. He's good material to be an official."
Zhang Xiaobao did not say anything and gestured for Li Longji to continue watching.
Li Longji's gaze landed on the refraction mirror again. He saw someone bring over three small stools and place them beside Takeshita Junichiro and the other two.
Takeshita Junichiro and the other two had no choice but to thank him. Then, they sat on the stools. However, they felt that it would be better to kneel. At least kneeling would be more comfortable. The stools were too short. They were three inches off the ground. If they curled their legs, it would be sullen. If they straightened their legs, they would probably be chopped off by Xiaobei's men.
Helpless, they could only sit like that. It was even more uncomfortable than sitting at the doorstep of an angry wife.
Seeing them sit down, Xiaobei asked in confusion, "Why are the three of you looking for me?"
The three of them were already used to Xiaobei's obvious question. Takeshita Junichiro replied, "We are here on behalf of Japan to ask for punishment. We hope that the Great Tang will let Japan off. The previous matter was not arranged by our Emperor. The Emperor had no idea."
"What matter? Crime? I don't know. "Xiaobei asked blankly.
"It's the matter of us Japanese participating in the Jiangnan Road and causing losses to the Great Tang. We are here to ask for punishment." Takeshita Junichiro explained, even though he knew that Xiaobei was playing dumb.
Xiaobei suddenly understood and said, "I don't think that you are guilty. There is no need for you to ask for punishment. When two countries are at war, everyone uses their own methods. What crime is there? Is that right? "
"Not at all." Takeshita Junichiro and the other two widened their eyes. Fear appeared in their eyes.
"Patrol Inspector Zhang, please don't say that. It's not a war between two countries. It's definitely not. The matter is like this. When people from other countries came to the Great Tang to cause trouble, a few people from Japan followed them. They hate the Great Tang and came here without the knowledge of our Emperor.
It's true that they are Japanese, but they don't represent Japan. When I returned, I had people arrest their family members. Even if their family members don't know about it. "
Takeshita Junichiro was scared out of his wits. He explained nervously. He finally understood why it was difficult to do diplomatic work when one's military power was not strong.
"It's not a war?" Xiaobei asked.
Takeshita Junichiro shook his head vigorously. "No, it's definitely not. It's a misunderstanding. We have already escorted them over. They are at your command."
"Oh!" Xiao Bei smiled embarrassedly. "It seems that I misunderstood. Since it's a misunderstanding, why do we need to talk about escorting them? The ignorant can't be blamed. Since you kidnapped them, let them go. Don't affect the friendship between the two countries because of other people. Don't you agree?"
The three were confused by Xiaobei's words. Should they answer 'yes' or 'no'? This was a question that was very profound. If they did not answer correctly, it could easily lead to the destruction of their country.
Takeshita Junichiro thought hard for a moment before finally saying, "Patrol Inspector Zhang, I believe that regardless of whether they knew about this matter beforehand, this matter is related to them. Even if it's just the slightest bit of connection, they can't escape the consequences of their lax management.
Thus, for the sake of the friendship and peace between our two countries, they must bear the corresponding responsibility. This is also an explanation to the people of the Great Tang. What do you think? "
"What do I think? I've heard that the lives of your Japanese people aren't very good. Coincidentally, my Great Tang has invited important figures from the southwestern Zhao to come here to discuss matters and help resolve the problems of the lives of the people of the southwestern Zhao. Why don't you send someone over as well?
Since you've already said that you want to give an explanation to the people of the Great Tang, I'll mention it first. The people of the Great Tang who were harmed need a small piece of land as compensation. This is the land of your Japan. We're not forcing you to give it to us, but renting it out.
You might be asking why renting your land would make up for the harm done to the people of the Great Tang, right?
It's actually very simple. Because the people of the Great Tang who were harmed believe that renting a piece of land from your land will make up for the harm done. Do you understand? "
Xiaobei followed his brother and sister's request and organized his words for Takeshita Junichiro and the others.
The three of them were even more confused. What was all this nonsense? But the main meaning was clear. They wanted to rent out a piece of land to the Great Tang as compensation for their defeat in the war. Ceding land was a very simple matter.
"Patrol Envoy Zhang, how much land will be ceded to you?" Takeshita Junichiro nervously asked.
"It's not ceding, it's renting. We'll give you money. Let me think, it's about one-twentieth, but the money we're willing to give is one-tenth of the income of your Japanese territory. We'll first rent it for ten years, and after ten years, we'll talk about it again. In truth, you're the one who's benefiting, twice the price.
"Let's settle the matter of renting the land first. Which one of you should hurry back and invite your important people to the Great Tang? Together with the people of the southwestern Zhao, one of you can examine the development model of the Great Tang, and then accept our help in other aspects.
I have a list. Once you've chosen the people you want to send back, give them to bring them back. We're very sincere. Whether it's our officials, people, or soldiers, we all fervently hope that they can come. I trust that you won't disappoint us, right? "
Xiaobei continued to speak according to his plan. In truth, he wasn't sure what the point of calling these people over was. Was he supposed to kill them? He trusted that his brother and sister wouldn't do such a thing. Otherwise, it would have been better to just call them.
Takeshita Junichiro and the others could hear the threat in his words. If not all the people on the list came, the people of the Great Tang would be disappointed, especially the army.
What they were least worried about was renting out one-twentieth of the land. Any large island would be enough. Even if they gave it to the Great Tang, it wouldn't matter. In the future, if they had the ability to take it back, they would naturally take it back. If they didn't, they had no choice but to give it to them.
"Alright, alright. We'll immediately arrange for people to go back. What other requests does the Great Tang have?" Takeshita Junichiro saw that there was no need to resort to violence, so he agreed to the matter first. As for what would happen after the people were sent back, it wasn't something he needed to consider.
Xiaobei seemed to be deep in thought, and then he shook his head. "No, I can't remember. I think the next thing is to ask you what technology Japan needs. The people of the southwestern countries are coming to Lu Zhou to discuss the supply of technology, but it's not free of charge. You'll have to pay a price. The price isn't high, and it's mainly to help you, not harm you."
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