The problem of Tubo

Author: Chris Webber

The problem of Tubo

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Lusa (the capital of Tubo, which is today's Lhasa), the Zamp Palace.

The palace at the highest point of Lusa was dark and silent, as if a beast entrenched on the top of the Red Mountain, from the round moon to the top of the high wall. On the barrier, a guard wearing a red cloak was patrolling back and forth.

Mangsong Mangzanzanpu's residence is located in the Red Building, which is a huge circular fortress hidden deep in the center of the palace. It is surrounded by a six-meter-thick wall and a dry but spiked moat. This is a city in the city. Such a serious guard is not an unnecessary move. At that time, the Tubo Dynasty was still in the process of the transformation of the tribal alliance to a slave-abiding and autocratic state. Zanp's power was not stable, and many people were poisoned by the great nobles or even attacked and killed.

If Zanpu himself was superior, it would be fine. If Zanpu was weak and incompetent, his power would be occupied by the great nobles and he would become a puppet. For example, the current Zanpuman Songmangzan was originally the grandson of Songtsen Gampo. Because his father died early, Songtsen Gampo was still young after his death in 650 AD, so he was regent by the minister Lu Dongzan. The Gar family, who was born in Lu Dongzan, was originally a large family in Tubo at that time, and his children had extraordinary talents. He himself served as the prime minister of Tubo for more than 20 years since Songtsen Gampo. Although he had nominal power after his death, he had already been a great minister in Tubo after his death.

After returning to Zanpu, his two sons Zanxiruo, Qinling successively served as prime ministers and controlled the power of internal and external powers. The strength and prestige of the Gar family even exceeded that of the Zanpu family, especially Qinling. Since childhood, he followed his father to fight east and west, and was invincible in the battle. He was a famous general in Tubo. He distributed part of the conquered land and population to the family and part of the Tubo nobles who supported him, which formed a very powerful "Gar party" in the Tubo noble alliance, which made Zanpu breathless.

Mang Songmang Zan Pun, wearing a golden necklace and a dark purple Shu brocade robe, stepped into the alliance room. The officials at the long table quickly stood up and bowed to Zan Pun. Mang Songmang Zan Pun Pun nodded, turned around and knelt down to the statue of the gods worshipped with everyone. At that time, the Tubo people believed in gods, and their residences were usually empty for worshiping gods, and the master dared not live there, and Zan Pun Pun Pun was no exception. When Zan Pun discussed major events with the nobles, he discussed in front of God. After the discussion, he sweared together in front of God to ensure that the decrees and agreements could be implemented.

"I'm here tonight, not for anything else, but for discussion on the war on the southern front!" Mang Song said this, and paused for a moment, and glanced at everyone beside the long table: "According to the military newspaper, we fought with the Tang army twice half a month ago, killing and injured more than 1,300 people. The chief general of the Tang army was just transferred, named Wang Wenzuo. I heard that he was the first to attack the capital of Goguryeo, and was very trusted by the Emperor of the Tang Dynasty!"

"Oh? I think Xue Rengui, the chief general of the Tang Dynasty in Longyou, also came from Goguryeo. It seems that after the Tang Dynasty conquered Goguryeo, he tried his best to deal with us!" said a Tubo nobleman.

"Yes, I heard that the Tang people have been constantly dispatching troops to Longyou to raise grain since this spring, and now they have replaced the main generals of the southern line. Will they be able to advance north and south next year and attack my Tubo?"

"Yes, there is such a possibility. Otherwise, why did Wang Wenzuo fight two battles just after taking office? I guess he wanted to test our weaknesses and prepare for the next year!"

"This is unlikely. It's okay for the Tang people to send troops to Longyou. After all, there is a reason to send them back to Tuyuhun Khan Nuohe Bo to his hometown. What's the reason for the Tang army in the south? It's Wuming!"

"Reason? Joke, the Tang people need reasons to beat you? Baekje, Goguryeo was so respectful to the Tang people, but was destroyed by the Tang people! In the past, the Tang people did not attack us just because someone restrained us. Now Goguryeo, Marcelona, ​​Turks, and Uighurs have either perished or surrendered. How could the Tang people let us go if they freed up their hands!"

The nobles at the long table were full of talk and fighting. Generally speaking, the Tubo people were still a little nervous about the upcoming war with the Tang Dynasty. After all, although the Tang foreign wars had several setbacks since Zhenguan, they all won a complete victory in the end. These Tubo nobles all knew that the Tang Empire was far better than themselves in economic and cultural terms, and they had no confidence in winning the outcome of the war that was about to begin.

"Everyone, since the enemy is strong and I am weak, why don't you find a way to negotiate peace with the Tang people?" said a Tubo nobleman: "After all, the Tang people are not sure of winning now. After all, we are condescending and the terrain is dangerous. Although the Tang people are strong, they are at most fighting to win in Qinghai. It is unlikely to enter Luosa, right?"

"If we want to negotiate peace, the Tang people will definitely want us to hand over Qinghai and admit that Nanuohun Khan was Tuyuhun Khan, and the Western Regions also want us to make concessions! Isn't this a waste of all previous efforts?"

"The Tang people knew the reason why we asked for a price all over the place to pay back the money!" The Tubo nobles smiled and said, "In my opinion, it will be almost done if we give up half of Qinghai. The Tang people's Tuyuhun sweat accounted for half of the Tuyuhun sweat, and the Tuyuhun sweat accounted for half of the time. It would be better to live up to the face. As for the Western Regions, it is difficult for us to gain a foothold. Even if the Tang people do not propose conditions, it will be difficult for us to keep it. It will be fine. When the Tang people's energy passes, we will grab it back soon?"

"Langri, you are shameless, Zanpu is shameless!" Someone said angrily: "Before the Tang army fired a single arrow, you will hand over the land we had built with blood and sweat. Who else can look down on us in the future? Zanpu has more than the face?"

"What's the solution better than others?" Langri spread his hands: "Besides, make concessions in the east, we can make up for them in the west! Besides, we can put forward conditions to the Tang people. If we give up the land, they will give them tens of thousands of Shu brocades. Isn't that what Zanpu looks like? As for Zanpu's face, don't forget that the great Songtsen Gampo married the daughter of Emperor Taizong of the Tang Dynasty. Songtsen Gampo was the son-in-law of Emperor Taizong, and the current emperor of the Tang Dynasty was two generations higher than Zanpu. This was Zanpu's knowledge of courtesy and concessions, who dared to joke about it!"

Hearing Langri's words, the eyes of the Tubo nobles at the long table gathered on Mangsong Mangzanpu's face, but found that Zanpu had a faint smile on his face, without any anger. Everyone immediately understood that Langri was so bold today, and he was saying something inconvenient for Zanpu!

"Everyone!" A Tubo nobleman stood up: "Whether it is Qinghai or the south, the newly obtained land population has been distributed to those who have made contributions. If he wants to make good with the Tang people, he has to give up the land as the Tang people said, then what should he use to compensate these people?"

"Yes, I really need to think about this matter!" Mang Song Mang Zan Pun finally spoke, and his eyes turned to Zan Siruo: "Great Remarks (Prime Minister), what do you think?"

As the elder brother of the Gar family, Zan Siruo's ability is naturally above the level. Of course, he could see that Zan Pu was posing difficulties for himself. Qinghai's land was the focus of the expansion of the Tubo people since the Ludongzan period, and the results of expansion naturally entered the Gar family and its supporters. This is why the Gar family could quickly surpass the Zan Pu's strength. Now if Zan Si agreed to what Zan Pu said about peace with the Tang people, then he would naturally spit out a considerable part of the victory fruits and weaken the strength of the Gar family. If Zan Si didn't agree to make concessions, he would have to bear the responsibility of going to war with the Tang people, and the power of his headquarters would also be consumed in large quantities. In any case, it would be beneficial to Zan Pu.

"I think it's too early to discuss whether to fight or to reconcile!" Zan Siruo said: "We are here, and we don't know enough about the situation on the front line. It's best to wait until my brother Qinling returns before making a decision!"

When he heard Qin Ling's name, the long table suddenly became quiet. Everyone knew the two pillars of the Gar family. One was a grand speech in the middle school and was in charge of the government affairs; the other was in charge of heavy troops on the Eastern Front all year round. If Qin Ling brought the army back, that would be a big deal. Isn't it okay to say anything?

"A big discussion, nothing else is fine. There must be an explanation for the matter on the southern line, right?" Lang Ri said: "Does it have to wait until Brother Ling comes back to discuss this matter?"

A cold light flashed across Zan Siruo's eyes. The commander of the Tubo Army on the southern front was actually an ally of the Gar family. Langri was obviously a Zan Pu's confidant. He said everything that Zan Pu wanted to say, but was not easy to say in person. In fact, according to the Tubo military law, this judgment was originally very simple, but if he did as he said, it would weaken the power of the Gar family, which he did not want to see.

"As far as I see, I'll just scold you!" A Tubo nobleman saw that Zan Xixi was in a dilemma and hurriedly said, "There are only more than a thousand people in total. The Tang army should have suffered a lot of losses. It should be a draw, at most a small draw. It's a bit unreasonable to dismiss him!"

"It's only a thousand people lost?" Lang Ri laughed: "You can't really believe it, right? From my perspective, the lost troops are at least twice as powerful as the draw. If it's just a draw, it's a small draw, and it's definitely not going to be a report!"

"Langri, you are not on the scene, how do you know?" someone said angrily.

"I'm not on the scene, but I have a brain!" Langri pointed to his head: "People will say things that are good for themselves! If he says he loses one thousand people, he will lose at least two thousand people. If he really only loses one thousand people, he will say he only loses five hundred people, or simply refuse to report it. If you don't believe it, we can make a bet and bet on our heads. Do you dare?"

Faced with Langri's aggressive verbal front, the nobles of the "Gar Party" at the long table retreated step by step. In fact, everyone present knew in their hearts that Langri was telling the truth. There were too many things that the generals on the front line had to lose to win, and everyone would try their best to repay their own losses and more results. If they admit that they lost more than a thousand people like this, the actual losses must be far more than this number.

Seeing that his party members were forced to speak by Zanpu's subordinates, Zanxiruo could only speak: "Well, then send an envoy to the southern line, and then make a decision after understanding the whole story!"

"Very good, just do it!" Mang Song Mangzanzanpu showed a smug smile, and his eyes turned to his confidants: "Langri, go! You must figure out everything and make a decision!"

"Yes, Zamp!" Langri stood up and bowed deeply to Mangsong Mangsenzan. Seeing Zamp nailing this matter so quickly, Zamp suddenly felt like he was trapped.

"Great discussion, you won't go against Langri, right?" Zamp smiled.

"No, how could that happen!" Zan Siruo smiled and said, "Langri is the best candidate for being capable in doing things!"

The meeting ended, and the slave sent a black dog, an Aries, and a monkey. The wizard first broke the limbs of the three unlucky beasts, then cut open their abdomen, tearing open their intestines, and finally ended their lives. Finally, the wizard took all the participants to pray to the gods of heaven and earth and sweared: "If the heart changes and the traitors are repeated, the gods will learn from it, and the same as the sheep and dogs." After making the oath, everyone left one after another, and only Langri and Zamp stayed.

"Tangren did us a favor this time, otherwise it would not be so easy for Zansiru to make such a big concession!" Mang Song Mangzanzanpu smiled.

"You are talking!" Lang Ri smiled and said, "But will Tangren be real on the southern line--"

"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 defender with offense!" Mang Songmangzanpu smiled and said with a serious expression: "Langri, you have another mission. If you go south, if possible, meet that Wang Wenzuo once, which shows that I, Tubo, have no determination to start a war with the Tang Dynasty. See what kind of person he is and whether he is ready to attack us. Now it seems that this battle between the east and the Tang Dynasty is difficult to avoid. If possible, it's best to be calm on the southern front!"

"Abide by the order!" Langri showed a questioning look: "But Wang Wenzuo is just a general, and he should not have the power to decide whether to fight or to reconcile, right?"

"I asked you to say these for the Emperor of the Tang Dynasty!" Zanpu smiled and said, "Qinling is a person favored by gods, but if you win, a new Tubo will be formed outside the plateau, and the Gar family will become Zanpu of the New Tubo. This is absolutely not possible! Do you understand? So if you can exchange half of Qinghai for the peace talks of the Tang Dynasty this time, it will be beneficial to the Tubo and Zanpu family!"

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Just as the Tubo Zamp and Dalun were fighting openly and secretly for their respective power and wealth, the news that Wang Wenzuo had just won the victory also reached Chang'an. Although the scale of this victory was not large, it happened to arrive in Chang'an, which was only about half a month before the upcoming New Year. The residents of Chang'an City regarded this victory as a good omen for the coming year. In addition, the Lubu had not disappeared from the memories of Chang'an residents. The two hatches combined, which added up to the impact of this victory.

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