Chapter 25

"But... it's not just because I'm here," Su Liang said slowly.

At this moment, Empress Zhangsun's beautiful, peerless phoenix eyes were staring fixedly at Su Liang, wanting to hear what else Su Liang would say.

Seeing this, Su Liang looked at Empress Zhangsun with deep eyes and asked, "Hehe... does Mother Empress know how big this world really is?"

"What does the Son-in-law mean by this?" Empress Zhangsun asked.

"Hehe... it's just what it literally means. This world is very big, so big that you wouldn't dare believe it!"

"If we don't count the land of the Eastern Turks, this world is probably..."

Su Liang hesitated for a moment and said in a deep voice, "Probably... forty times the size of the Great Tang!"

"This... this..."

Empress Zhangsun muttered to herself, astonished, and still couldn't believe it.

Seeing that Empress Zhangsun couldn't speak, Su Liang immediately asked, "If the two brothers knew that this world was actually so big, do you think they would still do that, Mother Empress?"

"This... this..."

Empress Zhangsun stammered, unable to utter a complete sentence for a long time.

Seeing that Empress Zhangsun still couldn't speak, Su Liang continued, "So Mother Empress, rest assured. I let the two of them come here because I wanted to tell them this."

"If the two of them knew, what do you think would happen, Mother Empress?"

"Then the two brothers would naturally not kill each other, and it wouldn't just be the two brothers," Empress Zhangsun blurted out.

A moment later.

Empress Zhangsun looked at Su Liang and asked, "Then how does the Son-in-law know how big this world is? Could it be that the Son-in-law has been there?"

"Hehe..."

Su Liang could only respond with a chuckle, not knowing what to say.

Su Liang had indeed been there in his past life, but he hadn't been there since he was reborn in the Great Tang. If he told Empress Zhangsun he had been there, it would inevitably be hard for her to believe.

The places the Tang people see now are only a corner of Asia; little do they know that the world has seven continents and four oceans.

There is even more vast land outside!

The Earth's land area is 149 million square kilometers, while the Great Tang at this time only has 3.6 million square kilometers (the area of the Eastern Turks is also over two million square kilometers, but the Turks have not yet fully surrendered, so they are not included).

I'll draw a world map from memory one of these days so I can explain to everyone how big this world really is!

Not only that, but a globe must also be made, otherwise the ancients will always feel that the sky is round and the earth is square.

There are some things that someone should try...

After thinking slightly, Su Liang continued, "Nowadays, in the north, there are not only the Turks but also the Shiwei and Sumo Mohe; in the east, there are also Gao Li, Silla, and Baekje."

"Between these countries are the Khitan, Bai Si, and Kumo Xi, and in the East Sea, there is the Wa country."

"In the west, there are also the Tubo, Tuyuhun, Gaochang, Western Turks, and other countries."

"The south also has many countries."

"The surroundings of these countries are also like my Great Tang, surrounded by neighboring countries."

"During the Sui dynasty, more than three hundred small countries came to pay tribute..."

Su Liang stopped there and didn't say any more, believing Empress Zhangsun must understand it herself.

Hearing this, Empress Zhangsun fell into deep thought...

Until a quarter of an hour later.

Empress Zhangsun spoke slowly: "Could it be that the Son-in-law means... that you want all the lands under the sun and moon to be Great Tang territory?"

"Hehe..."

"Isn't this His Majesty's wish?"

Su Liang asked rhetorically.

Little Sizi suddenly said at this time, "Is Brother Su going to fight a war again?"

Su Liang looked in the direction of the sound and saw that little Sizi had stopped her brush at some point and was now lifting her little head to stare at Su Liang.

"Brother Su doesn't need to go out to fight a war; Brother Su will stay at home and practice calligraphy with little Sizi," Su Liang walked over, grabbed little Sizi's chubby little hand, and taught her calligraphy hand-in-hand...

Empress Zhangsun's heart, which had been hanging, finally relaxed, and she was smiling as she watched Su Liang and little Sizi.

Time passed slowly...

In the blink of an eye, it was the first year of Zhenguan.

Su Liang hadn't been this peaceful for a long time.

The previous five years were spent traveling; at first, it was just Su Liang alone, and it wasn't until he met Xue Rengui that the two traveled together and weren't so lonely.

By comparison, the New Year at Taoyuan Manor was exceptionally lively. Besides Uncle Fu, Er Hu, and the women, Xue Rengui also spent the New Year here with Su Liang, Wang Xuance had returned to Luoyang, the Bearded Guest was clinging on and wouldn't leave, and everyone else had gone back for the New Year.

On New Year's Eve, Su Liang even gave everyone a big red envelope...

The first year of Zhenguan, the first day of the first lunar month.

Su Liang got up early today; there was no help for it, as he hadn't gone when Li Er held a banquet for the officials according to custom yesterday, and today's situation was truly special, so Su Liang couldn't afford not to go.

In the Liangyi Hall of the Daji Palace.

The Son of Heaven, Li Er, sat on the dragon throne, receiving the congratulations of the civil and military officials and the vassal states from all directions.

Not only that, but many foreign countries had already come to pay tribute.

Not only were there the more than twenty tribes of the Eastern Turks who had already surrendered to the Tang, but also the Shiwei tribes, Sumo Mohe tribes, Silla, Khitan, Bai Si, Kumo Xi, Tubo, Tuyuhun, etc., and even the Wa country had crossed the ocean to pay tribute; there were already dozens of large and small countries.

"Heavenly Khan... the tribes of the Eastern Turks pay tribute to His Majesty the Emperor of the Great Tang with one hundred thousand cattle and sheep, twenty thousand horses..." Tuli spoke first.

The former small Khan of the Eastern Turks had now completely surrendered and was also the first batch of people to surrender.

"Hahaha... good, good, good..." Li Er laughed heartily, feeling very pleased with himself.

"Heavenly Khan... the Shiwei tribes pay tribute to His Majesty the Emperor of the Great Tang with twenty thousand cattle and sheep, ten thousand horses..."

"Heavenly Khan... the Sumo Mohe tribes pay tribute to His Majesty the Emperor of the Great Tang with twenty thousand cattle and sheep, ten thousand horses..."

"Heavenly Khan... the Khitan pay tribute to His Majesty the Emperor of the Great Tang with ten thousand cattle and sheep..."

"Heavenly Khan... the Bai Si pay tribute to His Majesty the Emperor of the Great Tang with ten thousand cattle and sheep..."

"Heavenly Khan... the Kumo Xi pay tribute to His Majesty the Emperor of the Great Tang with ten thousand cattle and sheep..."

"The Silla country pays tribute to His Majesty the Emperor of the Great Tang with one hundred thousand taels of gold, five hundred thousand taels of silver..."

"The Wa country pays tribute to His Majesty the Emperor of the Great Tang with two carts of island specialties..."

Just at this moment.

Li Er, who had been in a very good mood, suddenly turned gloomy and frowned, asking, "Oh... I wonder what kind of aquatic products these are?"

"Reporting to His Majesty the Emperor of the Great Tang, they are aquatic products from our country's seaside..."

Before Li Er could speak, Su Liang snorted coldly, "Hmph... when the E'tian tribe promoted the reform of the ancient dynasty, I'm afraid they pushed their brains until they broke."

"You bring these broken dried fish?"

"Could it be that you treat my Great Tang as beggars!"

The Wa country's envoy to the Tang, Soga no Iruka, looked at Su Liang and said, "Who are you? How dare you address our great Empress Suiko like that."

He then looked at Li Er and said, "Although our Wa country is a tiny place, we still brought tribute gifts. Is this the etiquette of the Great Tang?"

At this moment, Li Er also looked at Su Liang, completely unaware of what Su Liang meant.

Although the tribute gifts were indeed a bit small, Su Liang's attitude...

Was truly puzzling!

Li Er didn't speak anymore; he also knew that Su Liang never shot without a target, and there must be a reason for it, so he waited quietly for Su Liang to perform...

At the same time, Li Er also understood in his heart that this was the time to properly beat these barbarians from all directions. Since Su Liang was willing to do it, he would follow his wishes.

"Hehe..."

Su Liang chuckled immediately and then said coldly, "It seems my reputation is not well-known enough..."

"Tuli, you come and tell this Wa slave from the Eastern Island country who this young master is!"

Hearing this, Tuli spoke tremblingly: "The person speaking to you is the Prince of Chu of the Great Tang, and also the General of Heavenly Strategy personally conferred by the Emperor of the Great Tang!"

"It is indeed unbearable for you Wa country to bring these things!"

Hearing this, Soga no Iruka was also scared to death... this person was a ruthless character...

Su Liang also saw Soga no Iruka's cowardly appearance and asked with great interest, "Then... what is that Ezo person to you?"

"He is my father. I wonder what the Prince of Chu means?" Soga no Iruka naturally knew who Su Liang was talking about and still answered neither humbly nor arrogantly.

"Hehe, what a great aristocratic family!" Su Liang said meaningfully.

"Tell me, what is the purpose of the Wa country sending envoys to my Great Tang?"

Soga no Iruka looked at the Son of Heaven, Li Er, and said, "We want to learn the advanced technology of the Great Tang, please approve, Your Majesty."

"Oh... I wonder where the Wa country's envoy to the Tang wants to study?" Li Er asked.

"Taoyuan County," Soga no Iruka blurted out.

Hearing this, Li Er looked at Su Liang and said, "I wonder what the Son-in-law thinks?"

"Why go to such trouble? The Ezo people in the northern part of the Wa country are called the country of hairy people."

"My Great Tang can just send some people over to help them... and by the way, teach the Wa country as well..."

Su Liang said coldly, and at the same time, he had already made up his mind in his heart.

A few days ago, the Great Tang's new round of census came out, and there were less than four million households, even counting the nearly one hundred thousand households of the Liang Kingdom and the Later Sui, the population was close to twenty million. Currently, the more than twenty tribes of the Eastern Turks that have surrendered have two hundred thousand households and over one million people not included.

And at this time, the tiny Eastern Island country, under the reform of Empress Suiko, already had more than 1.5 million households and over seven million people.

Thinking back on the things the Eastern Island country did in later generations... most of the territory is still occupied by them to this day!

Just as a joke on the internet says.

Hehe... this country doesn't need to exist anymore!

"Your Majesty, what do you think?" After Su Liang finished speaking, he looked at Li Er meaningfully.

"Good, good, good... I indeed have this intention."

At this moment, Li Er laughed heartily, immediately understanding the meaning in Su Liang's words; Little Su wants to expand the territory for the Great Tang.

"Then who does the Son-in-law think is suitable to send?"

"Just let the Four Young Masters of Changan go, so they don't have nothing to do all day," Su Liang said indifferently, and at the same time looked at Cheng Yaojin, Qin Qiong, and the others.

Half an hour later.

Su Liang took his leave, as he truly had no interest in the etiquette below.

Just after Su Liang had returned to Taoyuan Manor, a White-Robed Guard reported: "Young Master, there are foreigners causing trouble at Tianqiao Workshop."

"Where are they from?" Su Liang asked immediately.

The White-Robed Guard said, "Wa country people. We didn't dare to deal with them easily, so we came to ask for the Young Master's instructions."

"Oh... what is the matter that requires me to deal with it personally?" Su Liang asked in confusion.

The White-Robed Guard said, "Bullying the women in Lingyun Pavilion..."

"Mere Wa slaves dare to be so presumptuous, looking for death!"

A sharp murderous intent instantly surged in Su Liang's eyes!

He immediately shouted: "Stepping Cloud Black Steed!"

"Neigh..."

In an instant, the Stepping Cloud Black Steed, with its jet-black, shiny coat, appeared in the courtyard.

Su Liang mounted the horse and galloped toward Tianqiao Workshop...

At the same time.

In a private room of Lingyun Pavilion, a Wa country person was playing a game of eagle catching chickens...

"Baka! Flower girl... still want to run..."

"You... you can go to Tianman Workshop..." the woman cried.

"Hehe... after I catch you, I will definitely make you taste my power..."

"Haha... I caught you..."

Suddenly, the woman was caught by the Wa country person, who was already tearing at the woman's clothes... rip... rip...

"Spare me, I beg you... I don't sell myself..." the woman begged bitterly.

"Hahaha... hahaha... I'll let you run... I'll let you run..." the Wa country person laughed heartily.

Over the ten-mile journey, in less than half a quarter of an hour, Su Liang had already entered Tianqiao Workshop.

After finding out clearly, Su Liang went straight to the private room on the second floor, seeing two Wa country guards at the door, while the screaming inside the room never stopped...

Su Liang's eyes were splitting with rage, and he immediately took out 'Wenxin'.

Accompanied by two "shhh... shhh..." sounds, the two people fell slowly, not even reacting until they died...

Su Liang then broke in with his sword, only to see a woman with disheveled clothes struggling desperately...

Seeing Su Liang, the woman knew she had been saved.

She immediately shouted, "Woo woo... Young Master Su... save me..."

Su Liang didn't hesitate and swung his sword...

In an instant, a bloody head rolled to the ground...

Su Liang took off his outer garment and draped it over the woman, then asked, "Are you alright?"

At this time, the woman also threw herself into Su Liang's arms and cried, "Woo woo... I'm fine... I'm fine..."

"It's a good thing the Young Master came in time, otherwise... woo woo..."

"Alright... it's fine as long as you're alright, it's fine..." Su Liang patted the woman's shoulder and comforted her constantly.

After a full half-hour, the woman finally calmed down.

Looking at the head still on the ground, the woman said slowly, "Young Master Su, this... this... they are envoys to the Tang from the Wa country, won't this bring trouble to Young Master Su..."

"It's fine... it's fine, I was just about to find trouble with them," Su Liang continued to comfort her.

"Then what about His Majesty..." the woman said softly.

"Rest assured, if His Majesty knows, he will also uphold justice for you. Besides, I am planning to wipe them all out," Su Liang said lightly.

"Alright, let's change to another private room so you can change your clothes."

"Let someone clean this place up; it's disgusting to look at!"

A moment later, Su Liang walked out of the private room.

He looked at the White-Robed Guard with sharp murderous intent and asked, "How many people came from the Wa country this time?"

"A total of one hundred and thirty-two people," the White-Robed Guard blurted out.

"Do you know what to do?" Su Liang said indifferently.

"I know. I wonder if the Young Master wants it done openly or secretly?" the White-Robed Guard asked.

Su Liang frowned slightly and then said coldly, "The Wa country sent people to assassinate the Prince of Chu of the Great Tang. What should be the consequence?"

Hearing this, the White-Robed Guard immediately said, "I will go and notify the other White-Robed Guards who are on leave, and I guarantee the Young Master will be satisfied."

"Alright, go and get it done quickly..."

"I don't want to see these Wa slaves tomorrow."

After Su Liang finished speaking, he immediately returned to Taoyuan Manor.

That afternoon, the remaining one hundred and twenty-nine envoys from the Wa country were all executed, and it only took an hour...

For a time, the envoys from various countries were panicked...

Just as the Wa country's envoys to the Tang were executed.

The news that "the Wa country sent people to assassinate the Prince of Chu of the Great Tang" swept through the entire Taoyuan County and Changan City.

After Li Er learned the ins and outs, he also understood that this must have been Su Liang's handiwork...

Doing it thoroughly, leaving no evidence!

At the same time, Li Er also sent people to appease the envoys from various countries as soon as possible.

In the Ganlu Hall of the Daji Palace.

Li Er was also very helpless about this matter; Su Liang's actions were too fast, and by the time he wanted to stop it, it was already too late, so he had to let Su Liang do it.

He could only hope that Su Liang would give a reasonable explanation afterwards!