The new emperor Li Muyang sat upright on the dragon throne with carved dragons and painted phoenixes, his eyes sharp and piercing, solemnly scanning the resplendent hall.
Inside the hall, the ministers stood respectfully, silent as cicadas in winter. The entire court was filled with a solemn and dignified atmosphere.
Li Muyang was filled with joy and pride in the vigorous development of the new Dynasty. Nowadays, the Tang Dynasty enjoys a peaceful and prosperous life for its people, its national strength is on the rise, its economy is thriving, and its army is strong and powerful. Under his wise leadership, the Xin Dynasty presented an unprecedented scene of prosperity.
However, the new emperor believes that in this ever-changing world situation, relying solely on domestic development is far from enough to sustain this prosperity in the long term. It is necessary to actively expand diplomacy, establish friendly relations with other countries and exchange resources. Only in this way can the Tang Dynasty gain a firm foothold on the world stage and win a broader space for development. Thus, the idea of strengthening diplomatic relations quietly took root and sprouted in his mind.
Just as he was lost in thought, Li Muyang's gaze softened. He recalled his father, the emperor, and mother, who had long resided in the deep palace. Since ascending the throne, he has devoted himself wholeheartedly to government affairs. Every day, he is busy dealing with mountains of memorials and has very little time to spend with his parents.
Nowadays, it is rare to have such an opportunity. It can not only open up a new path for the future of the Tang Dynasty, but also allow the emperor and empress to step out of the imperial palace, see the outside world and enjoy a moment of family affection. It is truly a win-win situation. Thinking of this, Li Muyang's lips curled up slightly, and he already had an idea in his mind. He decided to send Li Yunfei and Zisu to accompany Empress Dowager Li Yi and Empress Dowager Lin Yue on their visit. Li Yunfei, as an outstanding general of the younger generation in the imperial court, was not only highly skilled in martial arts and brave in battle, but also meticulous in thinking and extremely wise. In many frontier battles, he achieved remarkable military feats with his outstanding military talent and fearless courage, and was deeply loved by the soldiers and respected by the common people.
While Zisu, although not from a prominent family, was well-read since childhood and extremely intelligent. She was well-versed in the local customs, traditions and rituals of various countries and even studied medicine under Lin Yue. She had participated in many diplomatic reception activities in the palace. With her wit, intelligence and elegant demeanor, she left a deep impression on envoys from various countries. Li Muyang believed that with the company of the two of them, he would surely be able to take good care of the Empress Dowager and the Empress Dowager comprehensively, and at the same time, fully demonstrate the style and strength of the Tang Dynasty in diplomatic occasions.
After the court session, Li Muyang didn't have time to rest and went straight to the bedrooms of the Empress Dowager and the Empress Dowager. All the way, he was both excited and nervous, and the warm scenes of spending time with his parents kept flashing through his mind. Since ascending the throne, the burden on his shoulders has become increasingly heavy, and his communication with his parents has gradually decreased. His heart is filled with guilt. Now that there is finally a chance to make up for this regret, how could he not look forward to it?
Stepping into the bedroom, Li Muyang saw the Empress Dowager and the Empress Dowager sitting in the courtyard basking in the sun, their faces beaming with kind smiles. He quickly stepped forward, respectfully bowed, his eyes brimming with respect and admiration. "Father Emperor, Mother Empress, my son has come to visit you." Li Muyang's voice carried a hint of tenderness and kindness. When the Empress Dowager and the Empress Dowager saw Li Muyang, their faces showed surprised smiles. "Yang 'er, why are you free to come over?" The Empress Dowager asked with concern.
Li Muyang sat down beside his parents and elaborated on his ideas for strengthening diplomatic relations and his proposal for them to visit together.
After hearing this, the Emperor and the Empress Dowager exchanged a glance and a relieved smile appeared on their faces. They are also well aware that this is not only for the future of the Tang Dynasty but also a rare moment of family happiness. They naturally agreed happily to be able to accompany their son to contribute to the development of the country, while also being able to step out of the palace and experience the outside world.
Yang 'er, your idea is very good. We also want to go out and have a look, and contribute to the diplomacy of the Tang Dynasty. The Emperor smiled and said.
With his parents' consent, Li Muyang finally felt relieved. He held his parents' hands tightly and said gratefully, "Thank you, Father and Mother, for your support." With your joint visit, the diplomatic path of the Tang Dynasty will surely be smoother.
When Li Yunfei and Zisu received the edict, they felt both extremely honored and well aware of the great responsibility. This visit represents the image and dignity of the Tang Dynasty and allows no room for error. So, they immediately threw themselves into the intense preparatory work.
Li Yunfei spent all day in the archives of the Ministry of War, carefully consulting materials on the military forces, geographical environments and strategic layouts of various countries. In diplomatic Settings, it is of vital importance to understand the strengths and weaknesses of the other party. Only by knowing both oneself and the enemy can one take the initiative at the negotiating table.
Meanwhile, he also personally selected a group of elite soldiers to form a guard team and conducted strict training for them to ensure the safety of everyone during the visit.
Perilla, on the other hand, is busy collecting information about the local customs, etiquette, and cultural characteristics of various countries. She perused a large number of books and documents, and also visited many old ministers who had been sent on diplomatic missions to various countries, humbly seeking their advice.
In order to better showcase the cultural charm of the Tang Dynasty, she also carefully selected a batch of precious specialties and exquisite handicrafts of the Tang Dynasty as gifts for the monarchs of various countries.
These gifts include magnificent silk, exquisite porcelain, fragrant tea and ingenious calligraphy and painting works, etc. Each one is rich in the profound cultural heritage of the Tang Dynasty and all demonstrate the prosperity and richness of the Tang Dynasty.
Finally, the day of the visit arrived. The people of Chang 'an City took to the streets early to see them off. Colorful flags were fluttering on both sides of the street, and gongs and drums were beating loudly, making it a bustling scene.
Li Yunfei and Zisu rode tall horses, looking heroic and valiant, guarding both sides of the carriage of the Empress Dowager and the Empress Dowager. The carriage was decorated with magnificent silk and exquisite ornaments, looking particularly imposing. The mighty procession set off towards the distance, and the dust raised seemed to be telling the story of a legendary diplomatic journey about to begin.
During the long journey, they climbed over mountains and crossed rivers. Wherever one goes, one can experience different landscapes and folk customs. Zisu would always carefully explain to the Empress Dowager and the Empress Dowager what she had seen and heard along the way, from the local specialties to the unique customs and habits, from the ancient legends and stories to the magnificent natural scenery. She could describe everything vividly and make the two elders laugh heartily.
Li Yunfei, on the other hand, remained vigilant at all times, his eyes sharp and piercing, closely monitoring every movement around him.
In a foreign land, security issues are of vital importance. Any oversight may lead to serious consequences.
When they arrived in the first country, they were given a warm welcome. The monarch of the country came out of the city in person to welcome them, leading civil and military officials to line up at the city gate and hold a grand welcoming ceremony. The monarchs of the two countries saluted each other, expressing respect and friendship for one another.
At the welcome banquet, Li Yunfei and Zisu ingeniously introduced the culture and technology of the Tang Dynasty, ranging from advanced papermaking and printing techniques to exquisite silk textile craftsmanship, from magnificent architectural art to profound traditional Chinese medicine culture. Their presentations were vivid and interesting, earning continuous praise from guests from various countries.
Empress Dowager Li Yi and Empress Dowager Lin Yue also shared the governance strategies of the Tang Dynasty and interesting stories about people's livelihood, demonstrating the demeanor of a great power and the wisdom of the elders.
In the following days, they visited several countries one after another. Wherever they went, in-depth exchanges and cooperation were carried out. In trade negotiations with various countries, the specialties of the Tang Dynasty such as silk, porcelain and tea were enthusiastically sought after by all countries and became treasures that the nobles and wealthy merchants of various countries competed to purchase.
Meanwhile, rare treasures and unique skills from other countries were also introduced to the Tang Dynasty, enriching its cultural and material life. In terms of cultural exchange, scholars and artists from both sides exchanged ideas with each other and jointly explored the development of literature, painting, music and other fields, promoting the mutual integration and reference among different cultures.
Some tricky problems were encountered in a diplomatic negotiation. The other side put forward some conditions that were not very favorable to the Tang Dynasty, attempting to take advantage of the Tang Dynasty in trade and territorial issues. The atmosphere immediately became tense and the negotiation reached a deadlock.
Li Yunfei neither humbled nor overbearing, looking at the other person with a firm gaze and arguing his case forcefully. He elaborated in detail on the position and interests of the Tang Dynasty, and refuted the unreasonable demands of the other side with solid evidence and rigorous logic.
Zisu was also there to assist. She skillfully utilized her understanding of the etiquette and customs of various countries to defuse the awkward atmosphere during the negotiation. At the same time, she put forward some compromise solutions, which not only took into account the needs of the other party but also safeguarded the dignity and interests of the Tang Dynasty. After a series of arduous negotiations, the two sides finally reached a mutually beneficial and win-win agreement.
Every time he visited a country, Emperor Li Muyang would spare some time to accompany Empress Dowager Li Yi and Empress Dowager Lin Yue to enjoy the local scenery and search for local delicacies, allowing his father and mother to taste them. Li Yi and Lin Yue were very pleased to see that their son Yang was so filial and talented. The sounds of their laughter were left everywhere.
As time went by, this diplomatic trip achieved fruitful results. The Tang Dynasty established profound friendships with various countries and signed a number of trade and cultural exchange agreements. The signing of these agreements not only brought huge economic benefits to the Tang Dynasty, but also promoted cultural exchanges and personnel exchanges between the Tang Dynasty and other countries.
On the way back, everyone's faces were filled with joy and pride. They are well aware that this visit not only laid a solid foundation for the future of the Tang Dynasty, but also left an unforgettable memory for their own lives.
After returning to Chang 'an, Li Muyang highly praised and sincerely thanked Li Yunfei and Zi Su. You've worked so hard! During this diplomatic trip, you have made outstanding contributions to the Tang Dynasty. I am extremely proud of you! Li Muyang's voice was filled with joy and relief, and he bestowed generous rewards upon them.
This diplomatic trip of the Tang Dynasty left a remarkable mark in the long river of history. It witnessed the prosperity of the Tang Dynasty and also demonstrated the integration of family affection and patriotic sentiments.
The beautiful story of the imperial bestowal of family affection has also been passed down from mouth to mouth among the common people, becoming an eternal legend. It inspires people of later generations to keep striving for the prosperity and development of the country, and to inherit and carry forward the spirit and culture of the Tang Dynasty.