Li Shimin: "..."
"Fortunately, your boy is from the Tang Dynasty. If you were a barbarian, the Tang Dynasty would definitely be disturbed by you."
"Is this a compliment?" Xu Fenglei laughed.
"So be it!"
Li Er nodded and said in a deep voice,
"I originally had no idea about Tubo, but I do have the intention to devour Tuyuhun!"
"Firstly, the Murong family and his son are both dishonest. Secondly, after the Tang Dynasty has been recuperating for these years, it is time for expansion."
"I want to give future generations a vast territory so that the Tang people will have no more troubles!"
Tuyuhun was on his menu from the beginning.
And Tuyuhun also likes to seek death... Now there are only two conditions left before sending troops.
First, it is a five-year armistice agreement, which will end next year.
Second, it was in the name of sending troops. Now that Xu Fenglei has made such a calculation, it seems that the reason for sending troops is almost found?
Li Shimin felt a little excited at the thought of being able to fight again.
Although he is also very good at martial arts, at his core he is still the Emperor Wu who will conquer the world immediately!
After five years of holding back, the Tang Dynasty's national power is now booming, and the army is also strong. It can be described as exchanging shotguns for cannons!
Everything is ready...of course I want to try Bingfeng!
…
Outside the palace.
"Brother Murong."
Lu Dongzan stepped forward to greet Murong Lin.
"Why are you walking so fast? It's still early. Should we go have a drink and chat?"
When Murong Lin heard this, he looked unhappy.
"Lu Dongzan, am I familiar with you?"
He said coldly,
"You just saw me making a fool of myself. Isn't that enough? You want to see my jokes again, right?"
Lu Dongzan; "..."
"Uh, this..."
Lu Dongzan said in astonishment,
"Brother Murong, why did you say this? I know you must feel aggrieved. After all, Murong has done something wrong, but you have to bear the consequences immediately."
"Didn't I just want to... accompany you to relieve your boredom?"
Murong Lin snorted coldly.
"No need! There is now a competitive relationship between our two countries!"
He said unceremoniously,
"There is only one princess! Let's look at each person's abilities! Farewell!"
After saying that, Murong Lin had already walked away, leaving only Lu Dongzan standing there with a stiff look on his face.
"This man is really..."
He touched his nose and said,
"However, the most urgent task now is to send a letter to Zamp explaining the reason."
"If you really want to marry the Princess of Tang Dynasty, I'm afraid you will have to think carefully about it!"
Thinking in his mind, Lu Dongzan also walked quickly towards the palace gate.
…
call--
call--
The cold wind howled, and heavy snow fell from the sky in a continuous stream.
Although the snow is heavy, it melts quickly when it falls on the ground. It cannot be piled up and cause a snow disaster.
The royal city of Tubo.
Within the palace.
Songtsen Gampo was warming himself by the fire, holding the letter sent by Lu Dongtsen in his hand with an indifferent expression.
He read it over and handed the letter to everyone in the room.
The few people in front of me are all the princes and ministers of Tubo. They come here to discuss matters, which is similar to the political affairs hall meeting of the Tang Dynasty.
"Tian Khan's meaning is very clear."
Songtsen Gampo said solemnly,
"If I want to marry the Princess of Tang Dynasty, I must go to Chang'an in person to marry her."
"In addition, the betrothal gift of one hundred thousand cattle and sheep cannot be less."
"Also, according to what Ludong said in his letter of praise... Prince Murong of Tuyuhun is also seeking to marry the princess. In other words... I want to compete with Prince Tuyuhun for the princess of the Tang Dynasty."
"What do you think...how should we choose?"
As soon as he finished speaking, Gaden Gampo, who was sitting closest to Songtsen Gampo, slapped the table directly.
"No! You can't leave Tubo!"
He said displeasedly,
"Tubo cannot leave you one day! You are the most important person in Tubo!"
"This is the bottom line and cannot be shaken! And those 100,000 cattle and sheep... Can we in Tibet raise so many cattle and sheep? If we really do, I'm afraid the tribes will have to cut their flesh! They will definitely be dissatisfied! "
"I don't have to marry this Princess of the Tang Dynasty. I think it's better to give up!"
"Previously, someone from the Nibolu Kingdom also married me in Tubo. They didn't have any conditions and would send the princess directly to Tubo... I think it's just a matter of marrying the princess of the Nibolu Kingdom. Don't worry about the Tang Dynasty anymore. Unreasonable request!”
A few words, full of resentment.
This Tang Dynasty man is too arrogant! It’s hard to accept that it’s so much to ask for.
The other princes looked at each other and remained silent for a while without saying a word.
Only a young man of similar age to Songtsen Gampo spoke:
"If you want to marry a Nibolu princess, you can also marry a Tang princess. There is no conflict between the two."
"As the king of Tubo, my eldest brother can marry as many women as he wants."
"The key is, what benefits can the marriage bring to Tubo? The eldest brother must think that it is beneficial to marry the Tang Dynasty, so he is so persistent in asking to marry the Princess of the Tang Dynasty."
"Uncle Wang's so-called Princess Nibola has low requirements and no conditions. But in fact, it is Nibolu Kingdom who comes to curry favor with us Tubo. We have no other benefits except friendship."
His words made Gaden Gampo's face darken.
Songtsen Gampo nodded and said seriously:
"Brother Zangbo is right. Being married to the Tang Dynasty will be of great benefit to me, Tubo."
"The reason why the Central Plains dynasties were so powerful was because of their profound heritage. The experience and wisdom accumulated by their countless generations of ancestors is a huge treasure."
"And asking to marry the Princess of Tang Dynasty is the key to unlocking this treasure!"
"In recent years, I feel that the development of Tubo has been somewhat stagnant. Although the food has been harvested year after year, the national strength has not actually increased. On the other hand, the Tang Dynasty was just a few years of recuperation, and it was as if it had been reborn! What I heard from Lu Dongzan , the Tang Dynasty now is several times more powerful than when the Turks were destroyed!"
"Why is this? It's just that they have some background! But my Tubo background is shallow!"
After hearing this analysis, all the princes present nodded in agreement.
This must be admitted.
Although Tubo has a history of thousands of years, it has actually been in a barbaric and uncivilized stage for these thousands of years and has not developed a real civilization.
As for the Tang Dynasty, civilization had already formed as early as the Shang and Zhou dynasties. After that, a hundred schools of thought contended, with schools such as Legalism and Confucianism serving as guiding ideologies!
In the feudal dynasty, this was undoubtedly a great weapon!
It stands to reason that the Sui Dynasty fell not long ago, and the Tang Dynasty had only been established for a few years, so they were still very weak.
But the fact is that the Tang Dynasty directly accepted the legacy of the Sui Dynasty, and flourished without any rejection! It became a huge country in a short period of time!
Why can this be so?
To sum it up in one sentence:
Although countries have come and gone, civilization has never stopped!
"That's what I say...but the price paid is too high."
Gadan Gampo whispered,
"One hundred thousand cattle and sheep, this is a greater loss than a big defeat!"
Even though Tubo is now powerful, it is indeed a bit difficult for them to bring out 100,000 cattle and sheep at once!
"It can be converted into equivalent gold and silver."
Zangbu answered,
"We still have mineral deposits in Tubo. If we exchange them for gold, it will be easier to carry."
"If we really drove 100,000 cattle and sheep to the Tang Dynasty, many people would die on the way."
Gaden Gampo frowned again, looked at Zangbu, and said displeasedly:
"Zangbu, why are you so keen on this matter?"
"Gold is extremely important! The production of magic weapons cannot be separated from gold! If all this is given to the Tang Dynasty, what will we do if we are short of it?"
"I still think the price is too high! I don't approve of this marriage!"
Zangbu shrugged.
"It's not that I'm passionate about it, but that my eldest brother has something in mind."
He said,
"Besides, didn't you see what Gal Dongzan said in his letter? There is only one princess in the Tang Dynasty, and we have to compete with Tuyuhun!"
"If Tuyuhun and Datang become in-laws, then the Murong clan's strength will definitely increase greatly! At the very least, the Tang Dynasty will give them the support they deserve!"
"At that time, if we have friction with Tuyuhun, we will never take advantage! And judging from the current situation... friction between the two countries in the future is inevitable! The land of Tuyuhun is also very fertile! We, Tubo What is needed!”
Gadan Ganbu was silent for a moment.
Zangbu continued:
"And if we become in-laws with the Tang Dynasty, it will be very uncomfortable for Tuyuhun to be caught in the middle!"
"At that time, if we want to send troops to deal with Tuyuhun and cooperate with the Tang Dynasty to attack from both front and back, we can easily strangle it! At that time, whether we divide Tuyuhun with the Tang Dynasty or we monopolize it, it will definitely be profitable!"
"Also what eldest brother just said, by marrying the Tang Dynasty, we can absorb the heritage of the Tang Dynasty! Especially many of their technologies, such as farming techniques and tools, these are things we are in urgent need of! By then, we can learn from them The Tang Dynasty has obtained it! With this, Tubo will definitely be able to grow rapidly! This is incomparable to hundreds of thousands of cattle and sheep!"
After some words and an analysis, all the princes present nodded their heads.
Songtsen Gampo was even more surprised and said:
"Zangbu, you are not bad!"
"You have grown a lot in the past two years, and your knowledge has also improved! My brother is a smart man!"
He is very happy.
Zangbo is his biological brother, and now he has such extraordinary knowledge. When the time comes, he can be arranged to control a large department!
"Brother, we are all descendants of gods, so we are naturally smart."
Zangbo said proudly,
“There are some things that I don’t even need to learn, I’m just born with them!”
As he said this, he looked at Gaden Gampo with a somewhat contemptuous expression.
Although they are from the same clan, only their direct descendants can claim to be descendants of the gods! A sideline like Gaden Gampo is unworthy!
Gaden Gampo felt Zangbu's contempt, and his face darkened.
"Even if what you say makes sense, who will ensure Zamp's safety? We traveled thousands of miles to the Tang Dynasty, what if something unexpected happens?"
He said seriously,
"If you want to go to the Tang Dynasty, you will definitely pass through Tuyuhun! Since the two sides are competing, what will happen if the Tuyuhun people interfere with it?"
"This is all dangerous!"
"Zanpu, you are the god of Tubo. You must not have any accidents! Otherwise, there will be chaos in the country! For no other reason than for your safety, I can't go!"
Songtsen Gampo nodded slightly.
Everything else is not a problem, it's just a matter of how much it costs.
If you regard this marriage as an investment, then in the long run, it will definitely be profitable.
The only thorny issue is safety.
Leaving Tubo is not a big problem. As long as everything is arranged properly, he will be fine if he leaves for a few months.
The main reason is that the journey is far away and I’m afraid something might happen!
"Going as Tubo Zampu will definitely attract attention, and it will be more dangerous out of thin air."
Zangbo gave advice and advice,
"I think we should dress up in disguise and travel in a low profile."
"After arriving in the Tang Dynasty, reveal your identity - as for betrothal gifts and so on, we can discuss it after arriving in the Tang Dynasty. There is no need to bring it with you this time."
"So brother, if you really want to go, I suggest you disguise yourself as a businessman and drive a caravan through Tuyuhun. There are so many caravans coming and going on the road, nothing will happen to you."
When Songtsen Gampo heard this, he couldn't help but feel a little moved.
"This is a good suggestion."
He touched his chin and said,
"Get a caravan, and then replace the people in the team with my elite Tibetan soldiers. The number does not need to be too many, less than a hundred is enough."
"In this way, there will be no obstacles on the way to Tuyuhun. With these 100 people guarding me, we can ensure that there will be no accidents on my way."
"Well, well, that's good! Zangbu, your mind is really bright today!"
Songtsen Gampo praised his younger brother, and Zangbo also grinned.
"Thank you for the compliment, brother."
He said,
"It is the younger brother's duty to help the elder brother solve his problems!"
Songtsen Gampo no longer hesitated at this moment and immediately said:
"That's it!"
"Princess of the Tang Dynasty, I am bound to win! In order to grow Tubo and prevent a strong neighbor from appearing nearby, I have to go on this trip!"
"Uncle, please help me make arrangements! Select a hundred of Tibet's most elite soldiers and set out with me!"
"I have to speed up. Tuyuhun is already closer to the Tang Dynasty. If King Murong Zun is one step ahead, wouldn't I be lagging behind? We must strike first!"
As he spoke, he became a little anxious.
The main reason is that there is competition. Competition brings a sense of urgency and makes him dare not neglect!
"Zamp, do you really want to..."
Gadan Ganbu looked ugly and said,
"It's too dangerous!"
"Besides..."
Songtsan Gambo waved his hand and interrupted his words.
"I think it's worth it, uncle, please stop trying to dissuade me."
He said seriously,
"You'd better help me prepare quickly."
"Don't worry, I'll be fine. It's just a low-key trip."
Seeing his resolute expression, Gadan Gampo knew that he could not persuade him anymore, so he could only nod his head.
"Okay, okay..."
All he could say was,
"I'm going to select a hundred of the most brave and clever warriors for you."
"One hundred may not be enough, two hundred, right? Since we are going to disguise ourselves as a caravan, then we should disguise ourselves as a large caravan. It is safer this way."
One hundred people are really not enough in case of trouble!
Although two hundred is not too much, at least twice as many will give you more peace of mind.
"Okay, okay, then I'll listen to my uncle's arrangements."
Songtsen Gampo said with a smile, "Two hundred people, just two hundred people."
(End of chapter)
