Like all the Tibetan subjects, Songtsen Gampo was envious and jealous of the Han people. Why did the Tibetan people have to grow up on the plateau, where the wind, bitter snow and barren land could not feed them even in the best years of harvest? Food is enough, but the Han people have occupied the warmest and most fertile land in the world since they were born. Some places can harvest two crops of food a year?
Precisely because it has the most fertile land, although bandits and bandits have emerged in the world at the end of the Sui Dynasty, and the country of Jiuzhou is in a state of chaos and the people are in dire straits. As a result, not long after the founding of the Tang Dynasty, in just twenty years, everything was in ruins and the world was prosperous. People live and work in peace and contentment.
If Tubo goes through such a war, it may not be able to recover for a hundred years...
How unfair is God to the tenacious and hardworking Tubo people, and how biased is it to the Han people?
He was often annoyed, wishing he could just be like what his most admired King Chu Ba said: He can take his place!
From the day he ascended the throne of Zanpu, he swore an oath to lead the brave and fearless Tubo warriors to fight off the plateau, fight for a warm and fertile land from the Han people, expel the Han people, and allow the descendants of Tubo to Live and work in peace and contentment for generations to come.
He had no objection to asking for marriage from the Tang Dynasty.
After all, the Tang Dynasty was the most powerful country in the world, and the Han people had been standing on the mainland for thousands of years. Their leaders looked down upon the world. Even the proud and conceited Songtsen Gampo, who dreamed of occupying the land of the Han people, never He never thought that he could lead the Tibetan warriors under his command to attack the city and capture the territory as far as Chang'an, and destroy the Tang Dynasty in the Central Plains.
The Tang Dynasty was too big, and the Han people were also very strong. Throughout the ages, the Quanrong, Qianghu, Xiongnu, and Turks were all powerful for a time, spanning the grasslands and deserts, but they had never been able to invade the Central Plains and become kings and hegemons. No matter how strong Tubo was, they could not capture it. These Hu people who once had a proud reputation.
The marriage proposal was just a matter of coveting the Tang Dynasty's dowry.
Relaxed military relations, preferential trade policies, advanced farming and medical technology, skilled craftsmen, and even sophisticated iron smelting technology... these are all things Tubo lacks, and each of them can make Tubo's national power suddenly grow. A step.
The Han people have always been generous, especially the so-called "Great Confucianists" who preach the idea of a heavenly kingdom with their own words of benevolence, righteousness and morality. They treat the people under their rule with strict criminal laws and moral restraints, and encourage slavery like lambs. However, they treat foreigners with all their talk. It is simply stupid to preach enlightenment and show kindness. All you need to do is to grovel a little and say a few words of flattery, and you will be given whatever you ask for.
But at the same time, he attached great importance to his relationship with Nibala, hoping to use Nibala to deepen his ties with the Tianzhu sect and consolidate his rule.
This is very contradictory. The Tang Dynasty was tyrannical and could not rub the sand in its eyes. Nibala was close at hand and domineering. When it was basically confirmed that he would marry Princess Nibala Chizun, he proposed to the Tang Dynasty again. How to balance the views of the two countries? ?
Songtsen Gampo frowned, worried.
Ludongzan observed his words and understood Songtsan Gampo's worries, so he whispered: "Please Zanpu forgive me for being upright. Now Zanpu is worried about how to deal with the relationship between Nibala and Tang Dynasty, but I think it's not time yet." time, because even if Zanpu wants to propose marriage to the Tang Dynasty again, I am afraid that the Tang Dynasty will not be able to agree."
Being rejected for two consecutive marriage proposals made Songtsen Gampo and the Tibetan people very embarrassed and angry, but it also showed that the Tang Dynasty was not willing to form an alliance with Tubo at all.
Songtsen Gampo was a little angry and said: "That's because the Tang Dynasty has not yet seen the power of Tibet. In the battle of Songzhou, it is really a pity that Tibet could not defeat it. Otherwise, how could the Emperor of the Tang Dynasty sit firmly in Chang'an?" , underestimate the heroes of the world? Now that Xiangxiong has been pacified and Tubo’s rear is stable, why not send troops again to let the Tang Dynasty see the bravery of Tibetan warriors!”
"Zamp, you must not!"
Lu Dongzan was startled and hurriedly dissuaded him: "Now that Xiangxiong has just decided, it is not yet stable after all. The autumn harvest is coming, and the nobles from all sides have different ideas. If we open the station at this moment, it will be difficult to consider both internally and externally. It is not wise. Lift.”
There is a saying in the "Old Book of Tang·Biography of Tubo": "The Tubo people founded the country in Xiling, and over the years, they cannibalized the kindness of their neighbors in order to restore their land."
Before Songtsan Gampo, there were more than a dozen countries, large and small, with countless tribes on the Tubo Plateau. Songtsan Gampo succeeded Zanpu and spent several years conquering the Tibetan Plateau, wiping out these countries one by one. The tribes united together, laid a solid foundation, and created the prosperous Tubo Dynasty.
These tribes are like divine dogs and beasts. Songtsen Gampo relies on them to rule all directions and attack the four wilds, and they are invincible. However, they are still beasts, and they can turn back on themselves at any time if they take advantage of them.
The former tribal leaders have now become Tubo nobles. They are dormant under Songtsan Gampo's force in the form of an alliance, but they still have their own private armies and land. Now these nobles have been consumed by highland barley wine. The huge profits have lost their character. No one can guarantee that if Songtsen Gampo insists on launching a war against the Tang Dynasty and destroys the continuation of this huge profits, these nobles will gather together and try to overthrow him.
Songtsen Gampo had a strong personality, but he was by no means a reckless man. What he said just now was just angry words. Of course, he knew that if he acted rashly, the consequences would be disastrous.
But the frustration in my heart was hard to vent, and I immediately complained: "If Da Lun hadn't created this highland barley wine, how could I have faced such a predicament? Da Lun is guilty!"
Lu Dongzan hurriedly prostrated himself on the ground and said in panic: "I have made countless mistakes, and it is too late for me to regret it! If Zanpu wants to punish me, I will never complain!"
Songtsen Ganbu's face was as heavy as water and he remained silent.
How could he punish Lu Dongzan?
Neither can nor dare.
The Gar family to which Ludongzan belonged was a huge tribe in southern Tubo. It was powerful and had been loyal to Zampu for generations. Ludongzan played an important role in the entire process of Songtsan Gampo's pacification of Tibet. Songtsan Gampo personally praised him as "the pillar of the country". He was a level higher than the "Seven Wise Ministers" under his command. He could be said to be "under one person, ten thousand people" More than ten thousand people."
Therefore, he can neither punish his heroes nor push the entire Gar family into a hostile camp...
Songtsen Gampo sighed and said helplessly: "I know your ambition. You have always wanted to benefit all the Tibetan people. Your biggest wish is to help all the Tibetan people get rid of hunger and live better... But this time, you made a mistake and fell into the trap of the Tang Dynasty!"
Lu Dongzan bowed his head and listened with sincerity and fear.
But I don’t think so in my heart…
You can't have your cake and eat it too. The expansion of Tubo can certainly help the people get more fertile and warmer land, but it also means huge sacrifices. As powerful as the Tang Dynasty, how can it be like Xiangxiong, Yangtong, and Supi? Can those small places be compared?
Even if you can get the land of the Tang Dynasty, you will have to pay a heavy price.
And if a mere piece of highland barley wine is enough for the Tubo people to have more money and live a happier life, why give up what is easy and what is difficult? He was loyal to his family and the Tubo people, but he was by no means committed to a certain belief. In his view, even if the entire Tubo was annexed by the Tang Dynasty one day, it would not be a bad idea for all the Tubo people to live like the Han people.
Of course, what the Han people believe in is "those who are not of our race must have different minds." Even if Tubo is merged into the Tang Dynasty, the Tubo people will never receive equal treatment as the Han people. Have you ever seen those wealthy Hu merchants in Chang'an City? , even if you knock down a Han citizen while walking, do you still have to bend down to admit your mistake and accept the punishment of the law?
At the very least, "Han and Hu are not allowed to intermarry", which shows how low the status of the Hu people was in the Tang Dynasty, and they were only a little bit better than mules and horses...
Therefore, the struggle between Tubo and the Tang Dynasty will never be eliminated, and Lu Dongzan will never become a minister of the Tang Dynasty.
When he went to Chang'an for the first time to propose marriage, he was greatly appreciated by His Majesty Li Er because of his quick wit and change. He wanted to marry Duan, the granddaughter of Princess Langya, to him, and promised him to be a high-ranking official to induce him to become a Tang Dynasty official. He politely declined His Majesty Li Er's kindness on the grounds that "I have a wife in my country and I am employed by my parents, so I can't bear to be obedient. And Zanpu has not paid a visit to the princess, but I am not afraid to marry him." He politely declined His Majesty Li Er's kindness...
But in the final analysis, the current crisis in Tubo and the predicament Zanpu is facing are all caused by his introduction of highland barley wine. He felt apologetic, thought deeply, and said: "It is absolutely impossible to use troops against the Tang Dynasty, but why not do it in a roundabout way? , what about sending troops to the Western Region?"
Songtsan Gampo's eyes lit up. Only war can break the current predicament of Tubo. Nibala cannot be fought, and the Tang Dynasty does not dare to fight. The plateau has long been swept away by him. It is too difficult to find a target that can be attacked. It was difficult, so he immediately said: "I would like to hear the details!"
