Chapter 2488 Testing each other
Lu Dongzan is not a political idiot. In fact, he has seen through Fang Jun's sinister intentions behind highland barley wine from the beginning.
But he didn't pay much attention to this. First of all, Tubo occupied a plateau. Even if the Tang army was strong, it would be difficult to go against the trend and attack Tubo. As long as Tubo itself was not in danger of being annexed by the Tang Dynasty, the rest of the crises would be tolerable. within.
Secondly, he believed that highland barley wine could bring massive wealth to Tubo.
The facts were indeed as he suspected. Although the highland barley in Tubo was exhausted, leading to food shortages, due to the cooperation with the "East Datang Trading Company", cheap corn and rice could be purchased, which enabled the Tubo people to get rid of the past. Hungry and sleepy.
Although this caused Tubo to be grabbed by the Tang Ka, Lu Dongzan did not care.
Even if Tubo could overthrow the Tang Dynasty and become invincible, so what? That was just the Tubo nobles grabbing greater interests, and there was no substantial improvement for ordinary people. Lu Dongzan's ideal has never been to sacrifice the interests of the people to achieve the ambitions of the nobles.
He only hopes that every Tubo people can have enough to eat and receive medical treatment for their illnesses. If he can achieve this goal, this life is enough.
Fight for king and hegemony? That's not what he cares about.
So even though Songtsen Gampo complained many times that he introduced highland barley wine, which made Tibet strategically choked by the Tang Dynasty, Lu Dongtsen never regretted it.
At this moment, facing Fang Jun's teasing, he just smiled and said: "Zanpu is a great man, and even more a hero. His whole heart is to lead the Tibetan warriors down from the plateau to conquer the land of the Han people. Don't think that he is just a man." Barley wine can restrain his steps and break his wings. The Tang Dynasty should still compromise with each other and work together. We must not force Zampu to lose his mind. Otherwise, not only the Tubo people will be unlucky, but also countless Han people will be forced to be involved in the war and be displaced. , Family destruction and death are not what we want to see.”
Fang Jun was silent.
He understood that Ludongzan's warning was correct.
Comparatively speaking, like Lu Dongzan, he paid more attention to "humanistic" achievements and never paid attention to the gains and losses of a city or a place. However, Songtsen Gampo and His Majesty Li Er are the same outstanding men. Their ambition is to lead their armies to attack cities and expand their strongholds to expand thousands of miles, so that their names will shock the earth and make the whole world prostrate themselves in their great conquests. Next, leave a name in history, shine in the annals of history, and shine through the ages!
One general achieves great success, and they never care how many people have to die to achieve their great achievements...
Even if the Tang Dynasty chokes the food supply, so what?
At worst, every Tubo soldier would go into battle carrying a roasted horse leg, and then break into the Han people's cities to steal the Han people's food.
As long as we can seize a warm and fertile land in the country of the Han people and let the descendants of Tubo thrive, Songtsen Gampo will not care how many people die.
"So, don't pin your hopes for an armistice on your tricks. For Zamp or the emperor of your country, whether the war starts depends only on whether they want to and whether they are willing, not whether they can... Now The Arabs have already shown their covetousness for the Western Regions. If the Tang Dynasty refuses Once Tubo's goodwill makes Zanpu dissatisfied, Datang will face the dilemma of being attacked from both sides. Even if the Tang army is good at fighting, how can it withstand attacks from both front and rear? Not to mention that the Tang Dynasty is now focusing on the Eastern Expedition. , it is simply impossible to give more support to the Anxi Army.”
Lu Dongzan followed the temptations and told Fang Jun about the current crisis faced by the Tang Dynasty, trying to persuade Fang Jun to accept Tubo's "goodwill".
Fang Jun remained motionless, with no expression on his face, and said calmly: "The Tang Dynasty is willing to live in peace with Tubo, and is more willing for the two countries to advance hand in hand, but the good minister knows that marriage is absolutely impossible. The Tang Dynasty Billions of sons will never conquer the emperor The security of the country rests in the hands of women. The Tang Dynasty was not the Han Dynasty, and the Tibetans were far inferior to the Xiongnu. As long as there was a man in the Tang Dynasty, they would not push their women to endure the humiliation of the barbarians and live in vain. "
Lu Dongzan said with emotion: "It is worthy of the glorious Celestial Dynasty, the majestic Tang Dynasty, and thousands of fierce tigers. Such heroic ambitions really make me heartbroken. Zanpu has never mentioned the matter of marriage, but the two countries have good relations and even an alliance. Mr. Tang should show some sincerity, right?”
Keenly sensing Fang Jun's confidence and his own vague speculation about the war in the Western Regions, Lu Dongzan decisively concealed his request for marriage.
He knew that marriage would be a very unacceptable humiliation for the Tang Dynasty, and the Tang Dynasty would never agree to it unless it was absolutely necessary. He just hoped to make a time lag during this trip, and take advantage of the Arab invasion of the Western Region to see if he could Datang could get some benefits from him, and whether he wanted to get married or not was secondary, but he was determined to gain Datang's farming technology and medical technology.
If he returns to Luoche City in despair, how will he explain it to Zamp?
Fang Jun sneered and said: "The two countries are on good terms? You really know how to joke. The Arabs are pressing down on the border, and the Anxi army is struggling to cope. Instead of giving any support to the Anxi army, Tubo takes the opportunity to send troops to the Western Regions, intending to attack the Arabs front and back. Cut off the Silk Road and hold back the Anxi Army. This is the alliance. What can a friend do? Not to mention that the Prime Minister traveled all the way to Chang'an all day and night, and proposed marriage as soon as they met, and even asked Datang to show his so-called sincerity... Even if he was taking advantage of the situation, wouldn't the Prime Minister feel so eager? Is it too ugly to eat? ”
The smile on Lu Dongzan's face faded, and he stared at Fang Jun with a pair of deep-set eyes, and said slowly: "Between countries, interests are eternal. Could it be that Erlang is also like those in those schools?" Are you like an ignorant student who only knows how to be courageous but doesn't know the dangers of the world? The fate of the Anxi army is unpredictable. The Tang Dynasty needs Tubo to help the Anxi army guard its retreat, and even needs Tubo to send troops to help repel the powerful enemy. Shouldn't it be beneficial to the Tubo people to welcome them? There is no benefit to the Tubo people. , is it worth living and dying for the Tang Dynasty? ”
Fang Jun smiled and said: "There is no need for the Prime Minister to worry about the Anxi Army. The report of the battle in the Western Regions yesterday has been sent to the capital. A hundred thousand Arab troops entered the Western Regions. The Anxi Army was led by Xue Rengui, Sima Xue Rengui of the Anxi Protectorate. The enemy army was defeated with a headache. The Arab army fled in panic under the leadership of Muawiya, the governor of Damascus.
There is no need to hide this kind of news, and it cannot be concealed.
The ship of the Tang Dynasty was really too big, and there was no guarantee that it would have leaks. Lu Dongzan's many visits to the Tang Dynasty were all made possible by money. He bribed countless people from both the government and the public. There will always be a few people who forget their ancestors. Seeing the money, he opened his eyes and leaked some secrets.
Lu Dongzan was stunned, and his first reaction was disbelief!
Tubo has never had a head-to-head confrontation with the Arabs, but this does not hinder their understanding of the Arabs' combat power. In recent years, the Arabs have been invincible in their campaigns. Even the former overlord, the Persian dynasty, was destroyed by their attacks. If it were not for the complex geographical environment of the Western Regions and the Tubo The plateau has a unique geographical advantage, and I am afraid that the Arab army has long been advancing eastwards unscrupulously.
How many soldiers and horses does the Anxi Army have?
The full attack is only 30 to 50 thousand people, and some of them will be left to guard Gaochang City and Jiaohe City where the Anxi Protectorate is located to guard the northern and western regions to prevent the remnants of the Turks from taking the opportunity to cause rebellion. Then the army that can be divided to resist the Arabs will definitely not exceed three. Ten thousand people, should be around 20,000 people.
No matter how brave and elite the Tang army was, how could they win a complete victory with one against five and defeat the Arabs, forcing them to return in defeat?
Lu Dongzan looked at Fang Jun with a sullen face and said: "How can Erlang play with the important affairs of the country? Even if the Tang Dynasty is unwilling to negotiate with Tubo, there is no need to deceive me with such ridiculous reasons!"
Fang Jun clicked his tongue, thinking to tell you the truth but you don't believe it?
It seems that they are determined to defeat the Tang Dynasty this time, and they are convinced that they can force the Tang Dynasty to agree to Tubo's conditions...
But this condition is absolutely unacceptable.
The most important thing is that His Majesty Li Er, who was very happy with his achievements, responded to Tubo's request and married too many craftsmen, doctors, and even scholars. These people brought a large number of technical books into Tubo, which made Tubo's national power rise sharply. The slash-and-burn serf society evolved into an advanced feudal society, and the country's strength soared significantly. Only then did it gain the tyrannical strength to compete with the Tang Dynasty and even occupy the capital of the Tang Dynasty. (End of chapter)