After Marrying a Vegetative Princess, I went crazy with joy! - Chapter 121

Chapter 121

The words of the Tubo envoy made it somewhat challenging for Li Er to remain resolute.

“Wow, I initially thought you asking for a marriage alliance was just a pretext, but I didn’t anticipate it being your ultimate goal. The amount spent on this endeavor to marry a wife is truly enormous.” Li Er said

Zhangsun Wuji carefully observed the situation and quickly grasped Li Er’s intentions upon seeing Li Er’s hesitance.

He said again, “Your Majesty, Tubo’s admiration for our noble women and their respectful attitude towards our customs and values is quite rare…”

Zhangsun Wuji didn’t finish his sentence, but his meaning was clear. A group of generals stared fiercely at Zhangsun Wuji. Generals must exude an air of defiance and determination.

Regardless of whether Songtsan Gampo was kneeling to request a marriage alliance or for some other reason, they must not be unjustly treated.

Even though he, Songtsan Gampo, was at their doorstep, they had not treated him unfairly, had they?

In this situation, if they didn’t take action against him, what was the purpose of the Tang Dynasty nurturing individuals like them?

Li Er pondered for a moment, then waved his hand, telling the Tubo envoy, “I will take a few days to consider and will give you a response afterward.”

The Tubo envoy was overjoyed, performing the traditional three kneels and nine prostrations while shouting, “Long live.”

With their attitude apparent, the generals found it hard to speak again.

In the Great Tang, on the southwestern border, outside Song Zhou. Late at night, within the Tubo military camp, in a tent adjacent to the main tent, the Tubo prime minister, Ludongzan, held a book, studying it meticulously under the light of an oil lamp.

Distinguished from typical Tubo attire, he wore Han clothing and had his hair tied in a bun, indistinguishable from an ordinary Tang person. With a gentle disposition and strong build, he resembled a scholarly general at first glance.

Both learned and skilled in warfare, Lu Dong was a remarkable figure in Tubo.

When Songtsan Gampo succeeded Zanpu, he was only twelve years old. One could say that Lu Dong’s praise significantly contributed to Songtsan Gampo’s rise to power.

Lu Dongzan admired the culture of the Central Plains and had been serving as a mentor to Songtsan Gampo. His relationship with Songtsan Gampo was comparable to that of Zhuge Liang to Liu Shan in the Shu Han dynasty.

As a result, even Songtsan Gampo addressed him with the respectful title of “Father Xiang.”

While engrossed in his reading, the tent’s curtain was lifted, and the towering and robust Songtsan Gampo walked in.

“Father Xiang, it’s late. Why aren’t you asleep?” Songtsan Gampo inquired, his face reflecting concern.

Lu Dongzan sighed and replied, “Today, I visited Song Zhou City and spent the day exploring. It left quite an impression.”

Songtsan Gampo appeared puzzled momentarily and then asked with a smile, “Father Xiang, what insights did you gain?”

“Though Song Zhou City is just on the border of the Tang Dynasty, its prosperity rivals that of the Central Plains. Despite our siege, the city’s people seem content and unafraid. Gampo, do you know why?” Lu Dongzan set his book aside and looked intently at Songtsan Gampo.

Songtsan Gampo smiled and replied, “The Tang Dynasty’s affluence and reputation for invincibility give its citizens confidence. People under the protection of such a nation naturally don’t fear other ethnicities.”

Lu Dongzan nodded, and then his expression turned serious.

“The Tang people view us Tubo as barbarians. An emperor of the Tang once said, ‘Barbarians are like animals. They fear strength but don’t value virtue.’ Therefore, since the establishment of the Tang Dynasty, their strategy has been to use war to quell war. When dealing with us and other ethnic groups, they have never compromised!”

Songtsan Gampo furrowed his brow and responded, “Father Xiang, your words are somewhat exaggerated. With our 200,000 troops, we encountered no significant opposition. While the Tang Dynasty was formidable, it was in a defensive position. If Tubo initiates an attack, regardless of the outcome, it will be seen as undefeated. But even if the Tang Dynasty loses a city, it’s still a defeat!”

“Moreover, Tubo’s terrain is rugged and treacherous, blessed by deities, and has immunity to epidemics that Tang forces struggle to overcome. I’ve heard that Emperor Tang is a seasoned warrior who must understand this reality. As the situation unfolds, he will undoubtedly weigh the pros and cons, making the right decision.”

Songtsan Gampo’s words were strikingly confident. Implicitly, he was resolved to exert pressure on the Tang Dynasty.

Furthermore, since the troops had already been dispatched, Songtsan Gampo didn’t want to return empty-handed. After all, it was all a cost with no profit. The only difference was to see how much was gained.

Although the Tang Dynasty was formidable, Tubo also had its advantages. The natural geographical advantages provided Songtsan Gampo with ample confidence.

In his view, when facing Tubo, the Tang Dynasty could only passively endure attacks. Even if their counterattacks were skillful, they would still lose!

Lu Dongzan’s eyes revealed a hint of admiration as he nodded and smiled, saying, “Zanpu, you’ve finally grown up!”

After a pause, he chuckled, “The Tang Emperor said that they regarded us as barbarians, and we regard Tang people the same way. The treacherous terrain of Tubo, the hardships endured by the people for survival, and the well-trained soldiers in the army are ferocious…”

“In contrast, the Tang Dynasty prides itself on its etiquette. With their approach, they’ve raised their people like lambs. When tigers and wolves encounter a flock of sheep, even if the numbers don’t match, the sheep will always be food!”

Songtsan Gampo laughed, “I wonder how much Father Xiang expects to gain from this hunt?”

Lu Dongzan spread the map and traced a circle with his finger.

“Song Zhou is a gateway to Ba and Shu, and the region of Ba and Shu has always been known as the ‘Land of Abundance.’ The humid climate here is perfect for farming, resulting in rich resources.”

“What’s even more advantageous is the natural barrier between Ba and Shu and the Central Plains. If we capture this area, Tubo will experience a period of strength!”

Songtsan Gampo, upon hearing Lu Dongzan’s vision, was so excited that he couldn’t control his emotions, trembling all over.

While Songtsan Gampo claimed Tubo had no worries, the actual territory of Tubo was not particularly favorable. It was a high and cold place with a very low grain output, only capable of cultivating crops with an abysmally low yield like barley.

Even for the wealthy landowners who owned tens of thousands of slaves, their lives weren’t luxurious. Their staple food was meat, and their greasy diet contributed to the Tubo nobility’s generally poor health, many of whom didn’t live past fifty.

Their possessions were merely passable. Ironically, the ruler of a country like Songtsan Gampo couldn’t compare his daily life to that of an affluent family in Song Zhou City.

Seeing the Tang Dynasty’s prosperity and comparing it to Tubo, it was difficult not to feel a deep sense of inferiority.

Supposedly, the land of Ba Shu could truly become a part of Tubo’s territory, with stable agricultural land and abundant resources combined with Tubo’s formidable military strength. In that case, Songtsan Gampo could hardly imagine Tubo’s future.

As for whether they could defeat the Tang army, that was not even within Songtsan Gampo’s consideration. He heard that Li Er’s army could conquer and win every battle, but who wasn’t a war expert these days? Li Er had never suffered a loss, and Songtsan Gampo wasn’t one to be underestimated either.

Who had the stronger punch could only be known after an actual fight.