386: Chapter 386 They look like a dog to you!

"Yamete!"

Just as Zhao Fusu was about to conclude the meeting, Matsushita Yuko and Inoue Saburo suddenly became agitated, shouting loudly in the Wa language, seemingly making an urgent plea.

This caused Xu Fu and the guards standing by to focus their attention on the two of them.

Zhao Fusu frowned slightly with a look of confusion. He could not understand the Wa language, so he instinctively looked toward Xu Fu. Xu Fu hurriedly stepped forward and respectfully reported, "To answer His Majesty the Head of State, they say they have yet to offer the highest etiquette of Japan to His Majesty."

"What etiquette?"

Hearing this, Zhao Fusu couldn't help but feel a surge of curiosity.

He looked at Xu Fu again, waiting for an answer.

Xu Fu lowered his head slightly and said softly, "To inform Your Majesty, in Japan, there is a form of etiquette that expresses the ultimate reverence, which is to kneel and kiss the surface of your shoes."

"Hmm?"

Upon hearing this, a wave of complex emotions immediately rose in Zhao Fusu's heart.

This act of kissing shoes was, in his understanding, truly too bizarre and even somewhat disgusting.

He instinctively wanted to refuse such 'etiquette.'

However, the words faltered at his lips.

Zhao Fusu understood in his heart that every place has its own unique cultural customs. Although he did not understand why the Wa people had such a crude habit, he had always maintained an attitude of respecting different cultures.

After a moment of thought, he nodded slightly, agreeing to the request of Matsushita Yuko and Inoue Saburo.

When Matsushita Yuko and Inoue Saburo heard Zhao Fusu's consent, their eyes were filled with excitement and piety.

The two exchanged a glance, then slowly knelt on either side, crawling toward Zhao Fusu in an almost prayerful manner.

Their movements were cautious and their expressions excited; clearly, in their eyes, kissing Zhao Fusu's shoes was not a humiliation but a supreme honor.

Before long, the two reached Zhao Fusu's feet.

Matsushita Yuko was the first to extend his tongue, gently licking the surface of Zhao Fusu's shoe with slow, solemn movements, his eyes full of awe.

Inoue Saburo followed closely behind, likewise licking the shoe. Their expressions were focused, as if through this method, they could convey their reverence for Zhao Fusu to the absolute limit.

Watching this scene, Zhao Fusu couldn't help but reflect on how vast the cultural differences between different regions could be.

The Imperial Study was silent as everyone quietly watched the scene.

After Matsushita Yuko and Inoue Saburo completed the etiquette, they slowly raised their heads, their faces full of satisfaction and relief.

Looking at the two, Zhao Fusu couldn't help but say to Xu Fu, "You see, they look like dogs!"

Hearing this, Matsushita Yuko and Inoue Saburo turned their gazes toward Xu Fu.

Xu Fu then explained Zhao Fusu's meaning to them.

Zhao Fusu had thought Matsushita Yuko and Inoue Saburo would be angry, but to his surprise, the two shouted in an incredibly excited tone, "To be able to become a dog for His Majesty the Head of State is our honor!"

Zhao Fusu couldn't help but widen his eyes; he had not expected that instead of being angry, they would look so incredibly honored.

But on second thought, given how Great Qin was changing with each passing day and growing rapidly stronger, it was normal for these barbarians to be willing to serve as dogs for Great Qin.

However, a flash of vigilance crossed Zhao Fusu's eyes. He carefully observed the two Wa people again, and the more he thought about it, the more he found them truly frightening.

It is said that a true man knows when to stoop and when to stand tall; these two Wa people performed this to the fullest, which could not help but make one's blood run cold.

When facing a powerful opponent like Great Qin, they could discard all dignity and humble themselves into the dust, as if being a dog for Great Qin was a supreme honor. That fawning posture was both ridiculous and deeply repulsive.

But Zhao Fusu knew well that this was merely their disguise before the strong.

Once the opponent's strength rapidly declined, these Wa people would immediately tear off their masks and reveal their incredibly brutal true faces.

They would be impatient to reclaim the humiliation they suffered when they were weak and forced to bow, venting all their resentment and malice without reservation.

Zhao Fusu's gaze became increasingly cold as he stared intently at Matsushita Yuko and Inoue Saburo.

He knew clearly in his heart that Great Qin must never let down its guard. It must continuously develop and grow, always maintaining formidable strength to keep the Wa people firmly underfoot, ensuring they never have a chance to rise.

Not only that, but he had to find ways to continuously weaken the Wa people, starting from economic, military, and cultural aspects, depriving them of the ability to resist. Only then could he ensure these Wa people would not bite back in the future and bring disaster to Great Qin.

Zhao Fusu narrowed his eyes slightly, his mind quickly considering strategies.

Economically, trade with Japan could be strictly controlled, limiting their economic development so they could not accumulate enough wealth to grow strong.

Militarily, military deployments must be strengthened around Japan to maintain a constant deterrent. If they made any illicit moves, action could be taken quickly to nip them in the bud.

Culturally, Great Qin's culture should be vigorously promoted to subtly influence the Wa people's thoughts and values, making them identify with Great Qin from the bottom of their hearts, thereby reducing their will to resist.

Since Matsushita Yuko and Inoue Saburo were not looking at Zhao Fusu, they did not know what he was thinking.

However, Xu Fu saw the vigilance in Zhao Fusu's eyes.

He said nothing.

In his heart, he felt more and more that Zhao Fusu was profoundly unfathomable.

For an ordinary monarch, sitting on the supreme throne at Zhao Fusu's age would surely make them incredibly arrogant.

After seeing Matsushita Yuko and Inoue Saburo in such a humble state, they would only feel utter contempt for them. How could they be as full of vigilance as Zhao Fusu?

"Dismissed!"

Zhao Fusu waved his hand, signaling them to withdraw.

"As you command!"

Xu Fu, Matsushita Yuko, and Inoue Saburo rose and took their leave.

Watching their departing backs, Zhao Fusu knew well that the relationship between Great Qin and the Wa people would be a long and complex game.

Only by continuously strengthening itself can Great Qin ensure long-term peace and stability, always standing at the pinnacle of the world, ensuring that ill-intentioned barbarians can never pose a threat.

...

On the vast and boundless Southern Desert grasslands, the gale howled as it swept across, kicking up clouds of dust.

A caravan of over a hundred people was laboriously driving horse carriages forward.

*Clatter clatter...*

*Whoosh whoosh...*

Horse hooves struck the firm ground with a dull thud, interweaving with the sound of the wind.

Everyone in the caravan looked travel-worn, their faces etched with the hardships of the elements.

Their skin had become rough and dark due to long exposure to the scorching sun and sandstorms beyond the Great Wall, and their cracked lips revealed the hardships of the journey.

Within this caravan, one person appeared particularly different.

His face was as fair as snow, forming a sharp contrast with the people around him.

At this moment, he was holding a bamboo scroll, reading it with focused attention, as if the surrounding noise and exhaustion had nothing to do with him.

A light breeze brushed past, stirring the hair on his forehead, but it did not affect his concentration in the slightest.

Standing beside him was a mysterious figure wearing a black bamboo hat.

Under the hat, a black veil covered his face, making it impossible to glimpse his true appearance.

He wore a set of black robes that fluttered in the wind, as if he had merged into the vast grasslands.

His right hand hung at his side, and the six fingers inadvertently revealed were particularly striking.

This person was none other than the Six-Fingered Black Knight, who had been traveling north.

The fair-faced person was Zhang Liang.

With the cover of the caravan, they had smoothly arrived at the Southern Desert grasslands.

To get from the Southern Desert to the Northern Desert, one had to traverse a long stretch of the Gobi Desert.

Looking at the desolate Gobi Desert, Zhang Liang finally understood why the Xiongnu were so brutal.

People who grew up in such a harsh environment would naturally have a coarse and fierce character.

Thinking that such brutal Xiongnu people had been defeated by Zhao Fusu, he felt the current strength of Great Qin all the more.

He knew very well that if Great Qin continued to develop at its current speed, it would only become stronger.

When that time came, not just the Southern Desert, but even the Northern Desert would be swallowed by Great Qin.

The stronger Great Qin became, the harder his revenge would be.

This was also why he wanted to go to the Northern Desert to help the Northern Desert Xiongnu.