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Luosuo (the capital of Tubo, today's Lhasa), Zanpu Palace.
The palace located at the highest point of Luosuo is dark and silent, like a beast entrenched on the top of the red mountain, with the moon that changes from waning to full on the high wall. On the barrier, a guard in a red cloak was patrolling back and forth.
Mansong Mantzen Zamp's living room is located in the Red House, which is a huge circular fortress, hidden deep in the center of the palace, surrounded by a six-meter-thick wall and a dry but spiked moat. City. Such tight security was by no means unnecessary. At that time, the Tubo Dynasty was still in the process of transforming from a tribal alliance to a slave-owning autocratic state. Zampu's power was not yet stable, and many people were poisoned or even attacked and killed by big nobles.
It would be okay if Zamp himself was superior to others. If Zamp was weak and incompetent, the power would be occupied by the big nobles and he would become a puppet. For example, the current Zangpu Mangsong Mangtsen was originally the grandson of Songtsen Gampo. Since his father died early, when Songtsen Gampo died in 650 AD when he was still young, he was regent by minister Ludongtsen. The Gar family from which Zan was born was originally a powerful family in Tubo at that time, and his children were extremely talented. He himself served as the prime minister of Tubo for more than 20 years, starting from Songtsen Gampo's subordinates. Although the nominal power returned to Zanpu after his death, his two sons, Zan Xiruo and Qinling, successively served as prime ministers and divided the internal and external power. The strength and prestige of the Gar family even surpassed the Zanpu clan, especially This is Qinling. He followed his father in expeditions east and west since he was a child. He was invincible in all battles. He was a famous general born in Tubo. He divided part of the land and population he conquered to his family and part to the Tubo nobles who supported him. A very powerful "Gar Party" was formed in the Tubo Nobles' Alliance, which overwhelmed Zampu.
Wearing a glittering golden necklace and a deep purple Sichuan brocade robe, Mangsong Manzan Zampu stepped into the alliance room. The officials at the long table quickly stood up and bowed to Zampu. Mangsongmangzanzenpu nodded, turned around and knelt down with everyone to salute the statue of the god enshrined above him. At that time, the Tubo people believed in gods, and the center of their residences was usually left vacant to worship the gods, but the owners did not dare to live there, and Zampu's residence was no exception. When Zamp and the nobles discussed important matters, they discussed them in front of the gods. After the discussion, they swore an oath together in front of the gods to ensure that the laws and agreements could be implemented.
"I invite you all to come tonight not for anything else, but to discuss the war on the southern front!" Mansong Mangzan said this, paused for a moment, and glanced at everyone around the long table: "According to the military report, Half a month ago, we had two battles with the Tang Army, resulting in more than 1,300 casualties. The Tang Army’s general was just transferred, named Wang Wenzuo. I heard that he was the first to invade the royal capital of Goguryeo, and he was very impressive to the Tang Dynasty. The emperor’s trust!”
"Oh? I think Xue Rengui, the Tang Dynasty's chief general in Longyou, was also transferred from Goguryeo. It seems that after the Tang Dynasty conquered Goguryeo, they will use all their strength to deal with us!" said a Tubo nobleman.
"Yes, I heard that the Tang Dynasty has been moving troops to Longyou to raise food since the spring of this year. Now they have changed the main general on the southern front. Could it be that next year they will advance from north to south and attack Tibet from both sides?"
"Yes, it is possible. Otherwise, why did Wang Wenzuo fight two wars just after he took office? He must be trying to test our strength and prepare for a big move in the coming year!"
"This is unlikely. The Tang people just sent troops to Longyou. After all, they still have a reason to send Tuyuhun Khan Nuohebo back to his hometown. What reason does the Tang army in the south have? They sent troops without a name!"
"Reason? What a joke. Do the Tang people need a reason to beat you? Baekje and Goguryeo were so submissive to the Tang people, so they were destroyed by the Tang people! In the past, the Tang people did not attack us just because someone restrained us. Now Goguryeo, Mohe, Turks, and Uighurs Either they have perished or surrendered, how could the Tang people let us go if they had their hands free!"
The nobles around the long table were all talking and arguing. Generally speaking, the Tubo people were still a little uneasy about the upcoming war with the Tang Dynasty. After all, since Zhenguan, the Tang Dynasty's foreign wars had suffered several setbacks. , but in the end they all achieved complete victory. These Tubo nobles knew that the Tang Empire was far superior to them economically and culturally, and they had no confidence in the outcome of the upcoming war.
"Everyone, since the enemy is strong and we are weak, why don't we think of ways to negotiate peace with the Tang people?" A Tubo noble said: "In the final analysis, the Tang people are not sure of victory now. After all, we are located in a condescending location and the terrain is dangerous. Although the Tang people are strong, they are not sure of victory. At most, we can only win in Qinghai, and it is unlikely that we can break into Luosuo, right?"
"If we want to negotiate a peace, the Tang people will definitely ask us to hand over Qinghai and admit that Nuohebo is Tuyuhun Khan. The Western Regions will also ask us to make concessions! Wouldn't this mean all our efforts have been wasted?"
"The Tang people also know the principle of asking for high prices and paying back on the spot!" The Tubo noble said with a smile: "In my opinion, it is enough if we give up half of Qinghai. The Tang people will have half of the Tuyuhun Khan, and we will have the Tuyuhun Khan accounts for half of it, so long as we can live with it. As for the Western Regions, it is difficult for us to gain a foothold. Even if the Tang Dynasty does not raise conditions, it will be difficult for us to hold on, which is almost enough. When the Tang Dynasty's momentum has passed, we can continue Will you be able to snatch it back soon?"
"Langri, you are shameless, but Zanpu is even more shameless!" Someone said angrily: "Before the Tang army fired a single shot, you are going to hand over the land that we fought with our blood and sweat. Who will look down on us in the future? Zanpu More than just your face?"
"What can we do if the situation is stronger than the people?" Langri spread his hands: "Besides, if we make concessions in the east, we can make up for it in the west! Besides, we can put forward conditions to the Tang people. If we give up the land, they will take it. Isn’t it enough to reward tens of thousands pieces of Shu brocade? As for Zampu’s reputation, please don’t forget that the great Songtsan Gampo married the daughter of Emperor Taizong of the Tang Dynasty. After all, Songtsan Gampo is the Emperor Taizong. Son-in-law, and the current Emperor of the Tang Dynasty is two generations older than Zanpu, this is Zanpu’s concession of courtesy, who dares to laugh at him!”
Hearing Lang Ri's words, the eyes of the Tibetan nobles at the long table suddenly focused on the face of Mansong Mangzan Zampu, only to find that there was a faint smile on Zampu's face, without any trace of anger. Everyone immediately understood. It turned out that Langri was so bold today because he was saying something inconvenient for Zamp!
"Everyone!" A Tubo noble stood up: "Whether it is Qinghai or the south, the newly acquired land and population have been distributed to those who have made merit. If you want to have a good relationship with the Tang people, you must do what the Tang people said. If we give up the land, how will we compensate these people?”
"Yes, this matter really needs to be carefully considered!" Mangsongmangzanzamp finally spoke, and his eyes turned to Zan Xiruo: "Da Lun (Prime Minister), what do you think?"
As the eldest brother of this generation of the Gar family, Zan Xiruo's ability is naturally above the standard. Of course, he can see that Zan Pu is posing a problem for himself. The land of Qinghai has been the focus of the Tubo people's expansion since the Ludong Zan period. Naturally, most of the results of the expansion have gone into the pockets of the Gar family and their supporters, which is why the Gar family can quickly surpass the Zamp family in strength. And now if Zanxi agrees with Zanpu's proposal to negotiate peace with the Tang people, then naturally he will have to spit out a considerable part of the fruits of victory and weaken the strength of the Gar family; and if Zanxi does not agree to make concessions, then he must bear the responsibility of negotiating with the Tang people. The Tang people were responsible for starting the war, which also consumed a lot of their headquarters' strength. Good for Zamp anyway.
"I think it's too early to discuss whether it's war or peace!" Zan Xiruo said: "We here don't know enough about the situation on the front line. It's best to wait for my brother Qin Ling to come back before making a decision!"
Hearing Qin Ling's name, the long table suddenly became silent. Everyone knew that there were two pillars of the Gar family. One person held a high position in the country and was in charge of the government; the other person was in charge of heavy troops on the eastern front all year round. If Qin Ling waited If you come back with an army, it's a waste of time to decide. Isn't it just what you say?
"It's a big discussion, nothing else. There must be an explanation for the southern front, right?" Langri said: "Do we have to wait until your brother comes back to discuss this matter?"
A cold light flashed through Zan Xiruo's eyes. The commander of the Tibetan army on the southern front was actually an ally of the Gar family. This Langri was obviously a close associate of Zan Pu. What he said was what Zan Pu wanted to say, but it was not good. What he said personally, in fact, according to the Tubo military law, the verdict was originally very simple, but if he followed what he said, it would weaken the power of the Gar family, which he did not want to see.
"From what I see, just reprimand me!" A Tubo nobleman saw that Zan Xiruo was in trouble and hurriedly said: "The total loss is more than a thousand people. The Tang army should also have suffered a lot of losses. It should be a draw. , it was a minor setback at most, so it would be unjustifiable to dismiss him like this!"
"Only more than a thousand people were lost?" Lang Ri laughed: "You don't really believe it, do you? According to me, the loss of troops is at least twice as much. If it is just a tie or a small setback, It will definitely not be played!"
"Langri, you're not there, how do you know?" someone said angrily.
"It is true that I was not at the scene, but I have a brain!" Langri pointed to his head: "Everyone will say things that are beneficial to themselves! If he said that he lost a thousand people, then he lost at least two thousand people. If he said If he really only lost a thousand people, then he would say that he only lost five hundred people, or he would not report it at all. If you don’t believe it, we can make a bet, just bet our heads, do you dare?"
Faced with Lang Ri's aggressive words, the nobles of the "Gar Party" at the long table retreated steadily. In fact, everyone present knew that Lang Ri was telling the truth, and the generals on the front line turned defeat into victory. There are too many, and everyone will try their best to underreport their own losses and overreport the results of the battle. If you admit that you have lost more than a thousand people like this, the actual losses must far exceed this number.
Seeing that his party members were silenced by Zan Pu's men, Zan Xiruo, no matter how reluctant he was, could only speak: "Well, let's send an envoy to the southern front and understand the whole story. , make a decision again!”
"Very good, let's do it like this!" Mangsongmangzanzamp showed a proud smile, and his eyes turned to his cronies: "Langri, go ahead! You must understand everything before doing anything. Decide!"
"Yes, Zampu!" Langri stood up and bowed deeply to Mangsong, Mangzanzampu. Seeing Zan Pu nailing the matter so quickly, Zan Xiruo suddenly felt like he had been trapped.
"Daluo, you won't go against Langri, right?" Zamp said with a smile.
"No, how could it be!" Zan Xiruo forced a smile and said: "Langri is capable in handling things and is the best candidate!"
The meeting was over, and the slaves sent a black dog, a white sheep, and a monkey. The wizard first broke the limbs of these three unfortunate beasts, then cut open their abdomens, tore out their intestines, and finally ended them s life. Finally, the wizard led all the people present to pray to the gods of heaven and earth and swear: "If your heart changes, and you harbor evil intentions again and again, the gods will learn from it, just like sheep and dogs." After swearing the oath, everyone left one after another, and only Lang Hiwa Zamp stayed.
"The Tang people have done us a favor this time, otherwise it would not have been so easy for Zan Xiruo to make such a big concession!" Mangsong Mangzanzamp said with a smile.
"You are right!" Langri smiled: "But will the Tang people really -" on the southern front?
"It's impossible. The Tang people have very few troops in Jiannan, and it's too difficult to enter Tibet from there! That Wang Wenzuo should be just a guy who uses offense as defense!" Mangsong Mangzanzenpu smiled, and his face changed. He said solemnly: "Langri, you still have a mission. You go south this time. If possible, meet with Wang Wenzuo to show that Tubo has no determination to go to war with the Tang Dynasty. See what kind of person he is and whether he has any Be prepared to attack us. Now it seems that the battle with Datang in the east is difficult to avoid. If possible, it is best to be calmer on the southern front!"
"Yes!" Lang Ri looked suspicious: "But Wang Wenzuo is just a general. He shouldn't have the power to decide whether to fight or make peace, right?"
"I asked you to say this for the emperor of the Tang Dynasty!" Zanpu smiled and said: "Qinling is a man favored by the gods, but if he continues to win, a new Tubo will be formed outside the plateau, and Gar The family will become the Zampu of the new Tubo, which is absolutely not allowed! Do you understand? So if half of Qinghai can be exchanged for the peace of the Tang people this time, it will be beneficial to Tubo and the Zampu family!"
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While Tubo's Zanpu and Dalun were fighting openly and secretly for their respective power and wealth, the news of Wang Wenzuo's victory also reached Chang'an. Although the scale of this victory was not large, the time of arrival in Chang'an happened to be just right. The coming New Year is only about half a month away. The residents of Chang'an City regarded this victory as a good omen for the coming year. In addition, the recent exposure had not yet faded from the memories of the residents of Chang'an. Together, these two factors added to the impact of this victory.
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(End of chapter)
