Chapter 2453 Testing the Bottom Line
Officials of the Tang Dynasty had a very unique personality. They competed for power with each other and refused to give in to each other, but they would never ignore the interests of the empire and attack political opponents in a way that harmed the interests of the empire.
They pay attention to "the meat rots in the pot", and the brothers stay in the wall to resist their insults.
Even after the fall of the Tang Dynasty, this kind of character of the Han people still persists, but those Shatuo people and Jurchens, who are "son emperors", are even more disgusting. Hate...
Lu Dongzan understood that as long as Fang Jun showed his determination, no matter what the officials in the court thought, they would have no choice but to stand up and support him.
The Han people are not afraid of anything. They are most afraid of being nailed to the pillar of shame of history and being reviled by future generations.
It is common for them to resist tyranny, assassinate kings and kill kings. As long as they can be remembered in history, life and death are no more important matters. On the contrary, if they were allowed to betray their country for glory and be servile, they would rather die than do so.
……
Lu Dongzan's old face was as gloomy as water, and he glared at Fang Jun fiercely, holding back his anger and said: "Is Erlang threatening me?"
Fang Jun spread his hands and said: "How do you start talking about this? We have known each other for many years, and now we are getting along in private, so naturally we have to be sincere. He just told everything in his heart, and his sincerity can be seen from the sun and the moon. Why is the Prime Minister so excited? But then again, if you think If someone is threatening you, then treat it as a threat to you. If you are really unhappy, you can immediately return to Tubo, lead the army to the Western Regions to cut off the Silk Road, let the Anxi army be isolated and destroyed, and then sit down with the Arabs to divide the spoils and work together Get involved in the Western Regions.”
Lu Dongzan said angrily: "Do you really think that I dare not Tibet?"
Fang Jun poured wine for him and said nonchalantly: "Of course you dare. That Tubo Zanpu is a powerful figure in the world. How can he be afraid of the Tang Dynasty and its revenge? Even after the Eastern Expedition, the Tang Dynasty mobilized millions of The army went against the trend and invaded the plateau, but Tubo could still block it with troops and cover it with water, right?"
Lu Dongzan was silent.
He knew that Fang Jun was just scaring him. It was impossible for him to give up all his official positions and go to the Western Regions to recruit troops to fight against the Arabs. It was even less possible for the Tang Dynasty to mobilize a million troops to attack Tubo.
Because of the strength of the terrain, Tubo attacked the Tang Dynasty from a condescending position and took advantage of the geographical advantages. However, if the Tang Dynasty wanted to counterattack Tubo, it would have to go against the trend, which would be twice as difficult. Furthermore, regardless of whether the Eastern Expedition went smoothly or whether Goguryeo could be destroyed, this battle was a blow in which the Tang Dynasty gathered all its national power. After this battle, it was absolutely impossible to spare the energy to launch a war ten times the scale of the Eastern Expedition. war of conquest.
Although the Tang Dynasty was wealthy, the maintenance of weapons, the collection of grain and fodder, and the mobilization of soldiers all took time to accumulate slowly, and it was far from reaching the point where it could continuously break out super-large-scale wars.
However, can Tubo really send troops unscrupulously to cut off the retreat of the Anxi Army, meddle with the countries in the Western Regions, and occupy the Silk Road?
Of course it's impossible.
Otherwise, why would he come all the way to Chang'an?
Being able to gain enough benefits from diplomacy was the goal of Tubo. As for starting a war, it was the worst of the worst. Unless it was a last resort, it would never be so hasty.
Not to mention anything else, as long as the "East Datang Trading Company" cuts off the grain route to Tibet once the war breaks out, it will be enough for Tibet to drink a pot...
Lu Dongzan never thought of a war, and he would never allow it.
But these are the bottom lines in his heart, and he must not let anyone know, otherwise Tubo will have completely failed before this negotiation has even begun...
He took a deep breath, shook his head, and said slowly: "I have a close friendship with Erlang, and I also have a good impression of the Tang Dynasty. I really don't want the two countries' weapons to meet and fight on the battlefield. But Erlang doesn't understand Zampu. , he is the eagle of the plateau and the god on the mountaintop. The sky sent him to the world in order to lead the poor and impoverished Tubo people to unity and prosperity. In his eyes, anything that might hinder him from achieving his lifelong goal. Everything will be ruthlessly moved and eradicated. He will not be afraid of the Tang Dynasty, let alone anyone. Once he determines that sending troops to the Western Regions may be able to gain enough benefits than negotiating, he will brazenly order an attack on the Western Regions. Cut off the Anxi Army's retreat and plunge the entire Western Region into a war, and countless Tubo Erlangs will move forward without fear of death under Zanpu's orders!"
The carriage was driving on a flat road. The wine glass on the small coffee table in the carriage was safe, and not a drop of the wine in the glass was spilled.
Fang Jun looked directly at Lu Dongzan without giving in, "Then Da Xiangjin can watch, believe me, in the end, Tubo will be brutally punished for taking advantage of the situation, being unethical, and even shameless. ! ”
Lu Dongzan showed no sign of weakness: "We still have to fight to know the outcome!"
Fang Jun shook his head slowly: "You don't understand what I mean. To our friends, we have silk and fine wine, but to our enemies, we will spare no effort to put them to death! As long as Tibet betrays its allies and cuts off its allies when the Tang army is fighting the Arabs, Silk Road, that Then they will become the mortal enemies of the Tang Dynasty! From now on, the Tubo people will be regarded as enemies of the Tang Dynasty for generations to come. Generation after generation of Tang people will make their lifelong ambition to overthrow Tubo and pacify them. If they fail to achieve their goals, Never give up!”
The space in the carriage is not large, and there are only two people sitting across from each other, but it has the dignity of a battle between thousands of troops!
Lu Dongzan understood that Fang Jun was now a military boss, and his opinions almost represented the opinions of the military. There were countless ministers from the military in the Tang Dynasty, and every one of them was filled with the arrogance of the Tang army. The pride of the world, as long as Fang Jun would rather abandon the Western Regions than make peace with Tubo, then even His Majesty Li Er may not be able to ignore the will of the entire military.
Fang Jun also knew that he could not represent the emperor, but the confrontation here would definitely set the tone for this negotiation. As long as he could intimidate Lu Dongzan, no matter what the situation of the Anxi army was, Tubo would not dare to start a war unscrupulously. Coercion, and the conditions offered are bound to be scrupulous.
An "accidental encounter" designed by Lu Dongzan himself was definitely nothing more than a formal negotiation.
The two of them refused to give in and insisted on their own bottom line, making the atmosphere more solemn.
After a long while, Lu Dongzan suddenly smiled, reached out to pick up the wine cup on the small coffee table in front of him, took a sip of the wine, and asked with a smile: "It is said that Erlang was assassinated some time ago and was seriously injured. How many days will you be in bed?”
The sudden turn in the tense situation slightly dodges Fang Jun. He was slightly stunned, nodded and said: "That's exactly it."
Lu Dongzan drank all the wine in the cup and sighed, "What a pity."
Fang Jun laughed dumbly.
This old guy is quite old, but he refuses to take any losses...
He raised his hand to pour wine for Lu Dongzan and asked with a smile: "Why, I was not able to die under the assassin's arrow. Is the Prime Minister regretful?"
Lu Dongzan said seriously: "That's true. Logically speaking, you and I are quite different in age, and our camps are hostile, but our friendship is irreversible. I hope that the other party will live a long life and be strong... But now I am out of the picture. As the envoy to Tang Dynasty, you are responsible for the mission entrusted to you by Zanpu. You, Erlang, are really the biggest obstacle to this negotiation. If it is the assassin's Wouldn't everyone be happy if the archery skills were more accurate? Of course, we have a close personal relationship. A great hero like Erlang was killed by an assassin's arrow without being able to hide his body. I am naturally sad. After returning to Tibet, I will definitely convene a group of profound Buddhists in the Jokhang Temple. Eminent monk, I recite sutras for Erlang to save him, and I hope that Erlang will be reborn in bliss.”
Fang Jun said "Hey", this old guy sent back his words intact!
"Good people in this world don't live long, and disasters will last for thousands of years. The disasters like Prime Minister and Mo, who always put state affairs first and forget about personal morality, will not die for a while. But having said that, it is still a disaster. I know someone very well, if I die under an assassin’s arrow, He died with his eyes open, the strong man ate the meat of barbarians, laughed and drank the blood of Huns, sacrificed his life in the national calamity, regarded death as if he were returning home, and buried his bones on the battlefield with blood. That is the highest state that he pursues! Can help me complete it.”
Lu Dongzan's cheeks twitched and he had a headache. This guy is a staunch war fighter. He wants to burn the flames of war to every corner of the world. He never knows what compromise is. It's really difficult to do.
He was thinking, it would not be easy to convince Fang Jun. Just as he was about to change the topic, he suddenly heard the sound of horse hooves coming from far and near, and finally stopped outside the car. Someone shouted: "Fang Shaobao! A report of the war in the Western Region has arrived." !”(End of this chapter)