Chapter 162: Tibet's Countermeasures against the Tang Dynasty

Lhasa (now Lhasa), Hongshan Palace.

On the top of the Red Mountain in the city of Lhasa, there stands a magnificent palace.

The Hongshan Palace is built on the mountain, with overlapping buildings and majestic palaces, giving it a sense of dominance that pierces the sky.

Its interior is even more magnificent with carved beams and painted buildings.

Every king in the history of the Snowy Plateau had a palace, and it was natural for Songtsen Gampo, the first king to unify the Snowy Plateau, to have a palace as well.

He moved the capital to Lhasa, and as the most wise monarch on the plateau, in order to demonstrate his civil and military achievements, he built an unprecedented palace on Hongshan Mountain - the Hongshan Palace (now the Potala Palace).

Later generations believed that this was built by Songtsen Gampo for Princess Wencheng to show the friendship between Tang and Tubo, and his love story with Princess Wencheng.

In fact, this is just a beautiful legend. The construction of Hongshan Palace had already begun ten years before Princess Wencheng entered Tubo.

Of course, it is true that Princess Wencheng lived in Hongshan Palace.

In the side hall on the top of Red Mountain, the 36th Zamp of Tubo, Chidai Zhudan, sat in the first seat.

He, together with the chief minister Moluqiongsangwoermang, other ministers and government officials, questioned the two people who had returned from the Tang Dynasty, namely, Mujie Sangdongzebu and Enlanda Zhalugong.

Chidai Zhudan's beard is as long as an old man's, and his eyes are as fierce as a wolf.

It has been more than forty years since Wu Zhou ascended the throne in the fourth year of Chang'an.

From my great-grandmother Molu who controlled the government when I was young, to the great minister Qili Xu Shangnian who came to power, more than 20 years ago, Qili Xu Shangnian finally died and began to rule the country himself.

Although his victory rate against the Tang Dynasty was not high after he took power, he once controlled Xiaoboluo and Shibao City, and suppressed the Western Regions and Helong.

He also established the red book and wooden slip system, which brought the management of household registration, taxation, military registration, etc. of each thousand households under the management of the imperial court, and set up a red book and wooden slip system for filing records.

At the same time, he drastically laid off useless officials, cut spending, cracked down on powerful ministers, and visited various places many times. He also issued an edict to reduce taxes in poor areas, which won the support of the Tibetan people.

In order to control power, in the 15th year of Kaiyuan, he changed the system of one big discussion to the system of three big discussions.

Let the families within the Dalun restrain each other.

It was headed by a chief minister who was similar to the chief prime minister of the Tang Dynasty and was responsible for handling military and political affairs.

The chief theorist now is none other than Meiluqiongsangwoermang.

Compared with other great theorists, Moluqiongsang Woermang is good at fighting and a loyal old minister. He is also the mother's clan of Chidai Zhudan and is the most trusted by Chidai Zhudan.

"Everyone, Tang is using Iron Blade City and Jiuqu as an excuse to block my path to peace. Tell me what we should do!"

Even though Chidai Zhudan had received the message a long time ago, he still felt extremely aggrieved.

Just as Li Longji's target was Li Shimin, Chidai Zhudan vowed to become a powerful ruler like Songtsen Gampo.

Not only did they fail to reach a settlement this time, but they also lost so much gold, silver, and jewelry, which made Chidai Zhudan furious.

"Report to the Zanpu, Li Xuan is also the governor of Hexi and Longyou, with a total of 150,000 soldiers and horses. We can only choose to mobilize more troops to Chiling, Qinghai, and Jiuqu areas. We must not abandon Tieren City in vain. If the Tang army attacks Tieren City with all its strength, it is still uncertain who will win or lose!"

Another great Tibetan theorist, Lun Xijia Zang, said to Chidai Zhudan.

Everyone can see that since the Tang Dynasty refuses to seek peace, this is the only way out.

But Li Xuan's reputation cast a huge shadow on the Tibetan soldiers.

Although Li Xuan had only been in Helong for a short time, he caused the greatest casualties to Tubo in decades.

Even in the Battle of Wujie thirty years ago, where the Tubo army died in battle and the Tao River stopped flowing, there were not as many casualties as in the Battle of Lishui.

What's more, Li Xuan led more than a thousand cavalrymen into Tibet and Qinghai. If they were in an uninhabited area, they would be surrounded and blocked and could not be captured.

It also undermined the morale of the Tibetan army and civilians.

"Donzebu, have you met Li Xuan? What kind of person is he?"

Chidai Zhudan then asked about Mojie Sangdongzebu.

"Report to the Zamp, he is as young as the legend says, only six feet tall, but he is as powerful as ten thousand men. He is also very domineering, and his tough attitude makes it seem like he will launch an attack on our Tubo at any time. He also threatened that he could easily destroy our Tubo Iron Blade City."

Mojie Sangdongzebu reported to Chidai Zhudan.

He is still impressed by Li Xuan. Finally, he added: "Li Xuan also said that it was foolish for Tubo to attack Helong and the Western Regions instead of Tianzhu."

"What does India have? Can it be as prosperous as the Tang Dynasty? Can it have the wealth of the Western Regions? After our army entered India, many people got sick from the heat, so it must be the most beneficial to go north. If Tubo wants to be truly on par with the Tang Dynasty, we must take over Helong and the Western Regions, otherwise we will never be rich."

Chidai Zhudan said sternly.

He looked down on the south, thinking it was not their territory.

Living on the snowy plateau, they are not adapted to the humid and hot environment on the side of the Himalayas.

In their eyes, the Tang Dynasty was a symbol of power and wealth.

Only by cutting off the Helong River and occupying the Western Regions, would Tubo become as powerful as the Tang Dynasty.

Chidai Zhudan was a monarch with an extremely strong sense of self-esteem.

Even though he suffered a crushing defeat in the Battle of Wujie, he still sought peace with the Tang Dynasty on an equal footing.

It can be seen that Chidai Zhudan has been dissatisfied with the Tang Dynasty for decades.

Songtsen Gampo unified the snowy plateau, and Chidai Zhudan compared himself to Songtsen Gampo, so naturally he had to do something.

"Report to the Zanpu, Li Xuan is so young, yet he is able to overwhelm our soldiers. As long as he is not eliminated, there will be no peace on the Tibetan border. He is good at charging into battle, but he is still a flesh and blood body. In the next battle, our army must gather the imperial cavalry to kill him."

The Tibetan Minister of State Lang Meixi said to Chidai Zhudan.

Later, other government ministers also asked Chidai Zhudan for advice, but all their suggestions were meaningless.

"Report to the Zanpu, can we use the counter-espionage strategy to make the Emperor of the Tang Dynasty suspicious and recall Li Xuan?"

The shrewd and calculating Mo Luqiongsang Woermang said to Chidai Zhudan.

The army is now afraid of Li Xuan, and the Tuyuhun, Dangxiang, Bailang Qiang and other tribes in the north are ready to make moves and are showing signs of disobeying Tubo.

Even the Tongjia Department was hesitant in sending troops.

Fortunately, there are no signs of unrest in the Zhangzhung, Subi and other tribes for the time being.

This is also why they were far away from Qinghai and the Nine Bends of the Yellow River and were firmly controlled by Tubo.

Only when Li Xuan is not around can they rearrange it.

"Reporting to the Zanpu, we learned in Chang'an that Li Xuan is the most trusted minister of the Tang Emperor. Our counter-espionage plan is nothing more than sending people to bribe the Tang ministers to sue him for treason. But the Tang Emperor's most trusted eunuchs and favorite concubines are all related to Li Xuan. The prime minister of the Tang Dynasty, Li Linfu, was unable to do anything to Li Xuan. Therefore, the counter-espionage plan is almost impossible unless Li Xuan really rebels."

Mojie Sangdongzebu reported to Chidai Zhudan.

Even something like a forged letter doesn't make sense.

Li Xuan defeated Tubo and made it flee in panic. He has immense power. Is there any need for us to form an alliance with Tubo?

Dalunmoluqiongsangwoermang stopped talking, he knew that what Mojiesangdongzebu said made sense.

"Alas! My Tubo is known for its many brave generals, but now there is not a single one who can fight against Li Xuan. Where has the courage of our ancestors to tame yaks with spears gone?"

The hope ignited by the ruler and pearl was extinguished again.

They were not afraid of the number of Tang troops.

Tubo could draw hundreds of thousands of young and strong men from the various thousand households to fight on the front line.

They had stored food in Jiuqu and Qinghai areas, and could drive hundreds of thousands of cattle and sheep there, so they didn't need much logistics.

But the fear lies in the unstable factor Li Xuan.

The Tibetan rulers and ministers still find it hard to imagine that powerful generals like Tongyahu and Cai Bangdachang, who were capable of fighting against a hundred enemies alone, would be killed by Li Xuan in a single encounter.

"Report to the Zanpu, we can seek help from the Huihe."

Just when the emperor and his ministers were at a loss, Enlanda Zhalugong, the lowest-ranking official in the palace, reported to the Zamp.

"After the Huihe replaced the Turks, the Zamp wrote to Guli Peiluo, but Guli Peiluo did not agree to form an alliance with me. Moreover, Guli Peiluo accepted the title conferred by the Emperor of the Tang Dynasty and paid tribute to the Tang Dynasty. How could he possibly form an alliance with my Tubo?"

Lang Meixi sneered. He felt that Enlanda Zhalugong was daydreaming and ignorant of the immensity of the world.

If he had not been the deputy envoy to the Tang Dynasty, Enlanda Zhalugong would not have been qualified to attend this meeting.

"You speak your mind?"

Chidai Zhudan was very optimistic about Enlanda Zhalugong's ability to command troops, so he gave Enlanda Zhalugong a chance.

"When the Zanpu wrote the letter to the Uighur Khan, Li Xuan had not yet arrived in Longyou. The times are different now. Li Xuan is good at fighting and aggressive. If our Tubo retreats to the snowy plateau, Li Xuan might try to gain military merits with the Uighurs. The Uighur Khan would know this..."

Nlandazalugong said to Chidaizhudan.

There was no real harmony between the Central Plains Dynasty and the northern grasslands. The Tang Dynasty tolerated the superficial submission of the Uighurs only because it had a powerful enemy, Tubo.

The Uighurs must be clear about this.

If Tubo was defeated by the Tang Dynasty, given Li Longji's character of pursuing border achievements, he would most likely take action against the Uighurs.

Unless the Uighurs truly submit to the Tang Dynasty, rather than just nominally submitting as they do now, and only paying tribute of some insignificant horses and furs every year.

"The Huihe Khanate was initially established, and they also had to subdue the newly conquered Turkic tribes and some small tribes. They would not take the risk of attacking Hexi together with Tubo. Don't forget that the main enemies of the grassland are the Shuofang Army and the Hedong Army."

Chidai Zhudan was a wise monarch who thought very clearly.

Even though there was a danger of the loss of both parties, it was impossible for the Uighurs to attack the Hexi Corridor of the Tang Dynasty from both sides.

"I also know that it is almost impossible to let Huihe take the initiative to attack the Tang Dynasty. But Huihe only needs to deploy troops to the north of Hexi, under the pretext of a military parade. In this way, Li Xuan will not be able to mobilize the troops in Hexi. Without many elite troops in Hexi, Li Xuan will not dare to attack us this year."

"Even if it only takes a year or two, so that Tubo can finish deploying troops, store equipment and food, train soldiers, and build the eight castles as planned, we won't have to be so afraid of Li Xuan anymore."

"Back then, Li Xuan went deep into the Huihe territory and captured the Turkic Khan, making it impossible for the Huihe to use the head of Usumish to intimidate other tribes. He also took away many gold, silver and jewelry from the Turkic royal family. How could the Huihe people not resent Li Xuan? I am willing to explain the power of the Huihe Khan to the envoys going to Tubo. They use the military parade as an excuse, and the Tang Dynasty will definitely not take the initiative to provoke the Huihe."

Enlanda Zhalugong analyzed the situation to Chidai Zhudan and other ministers with solid reasons.

To be honest, how could the Uighurs willingly submit to the Tang Dynasty when they owned all the former Xiongnu territories?

If Tubo was defeated, Huihe would have to face the Tang Dynasty's military forces in Hexi, Hedong, Shuofang, Beiting and Longyou.

These added up to 300,000 Tang troops.

Will these 300,000 Tang troops become a mere decoration?

Can the Uighurs bear it?

The Emperor of the Tang Dynasty was a heroic ruler. He might want to destroy the grassland and divide it into vassal states like Li Shimin and Li Zhi did, which would be more conducive to the rule of the Tang Dynasty.

Could it be that the Uighur Khanate was stronger than the Turkic Khanate during the reign of Jie Li Khan?
If Tubo is defeated, it can retreat back to the snowy plateau, or at most give up Qinghai, Jiuqu and the upper reaches of the Yellow River.

It was impossible for the Tang army to capture the city of Lhasa.

The Uighurs could not do this. They were chased by the Tang cavalry and had no choice but to flee westwards or be destroyed.

"Good idea, let's give it a try!"

Meiluqiongsangwoermang's turbid eyes suddenly brightened, and he had sorted out the interests involved.

Nlandazalugong is indeed the general he favors.

"Okay, Dazalugong will be the envoy to meet Guli Peiluo. As long as you can hold back the Tang army, I will reward you handsomely!"

Chidai Zhudan also thought that this was a good idea and should at least be tried.

"I obey your orders. I will persuade the Uighur Khan on this trip."

Nlandazalu bows respectfully.

When Chidai Zhudan asked other ministers again, they had no better way and could only agree.

After the king and his ministers had reached an agreement, they continued to summon the young and strong men from the various thousand households and the affiliated Xiangxiong, Subi, Tongjia and other Dongdai, and drove the cattle and sheep to the north, filling Baigu City with wheat and barley, and accelerated the production of armor and weapons for transportation to Jiuqu and Qinghai.

At the same time, the thousand-household heads supervised the construction of eight castles, including Kubahai, Maqu, and Helin.

Once these castles are completed, they will form a defense line along the Qinghai and Jiuqu lines with the Chiling Stone Fort as the fulcrum, and continue to curb the expansion of the Tang Dynasty.

Enlanda Zhalugong led several personal guards, dressed up as merchants, and prepared to cross the Qilian Mountains, pass through the Hexi Corridor, and secretly go to Yudujun Mountain to visit the Uighurs.

……

After more than ten days of travel, Li Xuan also returned to Huangshui City.

The main reason was that Yan Zhenqing and Li Mi were accompanying them, and the weather was too hot, so they had to rest more on the road.

Arriving at Huangshui City on the afternoon of June 4, Li Xuan went directly to the governor's office.

He has transferred Li Guangchen to be the chief military officer of Longyou and deputy envoy of the Helong campaign.

After Yan Zhenqing has rested in Longyou, he can directly take up the post of military judge in Hexi.

"This is my guest, Li Mi, courtesy name Changyuan. When you attend meetings from now on, you must respect him!"

After summoning his staff and the chief secretary of the Xiping County Military Governor's Office, Li Xuan first introduced Li Mi, who was dressed in white.

Such clothing is obviously not what officials wear, nor is it what normal people wear.

Li Xuan pointed out that Li Mi was a commoner by showing his status as a guest. He also called Li Mi to the meeting hall to introduce him, which showed his respect for Li Mi.

How can ordinary people in white participate in such a meeting?

But they don’t understand why Li Mi was not given an official position?
All the officials bowed to Li Mi.

Li Mi also humbly returned the gift.

"Shangguan Changshi, what is the current situation after the tyrants in Xiping County were eliminated?"

Li Xuan first asked Shangguan Qing, the chief historian of the Governor's Office.

When he rushed back from Hexi, the desperate local tyrants in Xiping wanted to ambush him.

Li Xuan was not even seen, and was eliminated by the Lintao army because the secret was leaked.

Although the powerful can control the local people, they are no match for the real border troops.

Moreover, as long as they dared to distribute weapons to the oppressed tenants, even if they did not fight back, these tenants would surely abandon their weapons and surrender in the face of the iron cavalry.

If a powerful person wants to gain power, he must gather counties and prefectures.

Only by uniting together can they temporarily draw the line.

But that was a rebellion, and when the anti-rebellion troops arrived, they would certainly be exterminated.

Of course, Li Xuan's reputation was bad in the eyes of those powerful people who had done bad things.

From Linhai to Hexi, Li Xuan has proved to the world that he cannot tolerate the powerful who oppress the people.

In the eyes of the powerful, they have the privilege of fighting for power for generations. If they kill a few untouchables and rob some women and land, they will be exterminated. Is there any justice in the world?
Fortunately, many big families also realized that Li Xuan was not cruel. In Hexi, those who committed minor crimes and had no murders were punished only individually, without confiscating their property or exterminating their entire families.

Only families with numerous crimes will be dealt with.

Just like after the Wu Lingguang case was made public, even the wealthy families were stunned. They marveled at the cruel methods used by powerful officials along the coast. It was not unfair that hundreds of people were killed.

"Reporting to the governor, we have now distributed some of the land obtained from the powerful to the tenants, and some of it has been temporarily returned to the government as permanent land and household land, and hired people to cultivate it. The family members of those powerful people who rebelled were sentenced to slavery and were also made to cultivate the land. The governor's generosity is admired by the world, and the people of Xiping County all praise you."

Shangguan Qing reported back to Li Xuan.

“Although the population of Xiping County is far less than that of Wuwei, as a parent official, we must also find ways to develop it and ensure that the people have enough food and clothing so that they don’t have to suffer from the cold when winter comes.” Li Xuan nodded after hearing this and said to Shangguan Qing: “It would be best if we have the ability to resist natural disasters and man-made disasters!”

"As ordered!"

Shangguan Qing accepted the order.

They all knew that Li Xuan was not only a good general, but also a good official with a broad mind.

"How are the people who were rescued from Qinghai now?"

Li Xuan asked Shangguan Qing again.

"They were settled in the Anren Army area. Judge Liu allocated some military settlements and left some oxen to let them grow grain and mulberry. He temporarily exempted them from three years of taxes and gave them one year of food so that they could live in peace. When I went to inspect them in April, I found that they had walked out of the shadows and were taking care of their own land. In their hearts, you are like a god. They even engraved a monument to record your achievements!"

Shangguan Qing answered Li Xuan.

"That's right! Soldiers also need to work hard. Once the thorn of Shibao City is removed, the fertile land between Hehuang and other places can be used for farming by immigrants."

Li Xuan nodded and said to his subordinates.

"Reporting to General Li, the troops have already harvested the wheat, and the Lintao army's war horses are also fattening up. When the autumn comes and the horses are fat, we can attack Tubo."

It was Liu Yan who answered Li Xuan.

"For example, in Jishi Military City, Suihe Shouzhuo City, and Shanzhou City, we need to store enough food. When we go to war, we don't need to recruit civilians to go out to the border. We can use the military cities and fortresses as our frontier bases."

Li Xuan gave instructions to Liu Yan.

This year we are only aiming to recapture Jiuqu and have no plans to engage in an in-depth battle like the one in Dayichuan.

Moreover, the cavalry of the Lintao Army could carry at least twenty days of food and fodder when marching.

Enough to support long distance journey.

(End of this chapter)