After Marrying a Vegetative Princess, I went crazy with joy! - Chapter 160

Chapter 160

At this moment, Songtsan Gampo was overwhelmed by an intense inner fear, like surging waves threatening to consume him completely. Despite being surrounded by tens of thousands of troops, Songtsan Gampo couldn’t find any sense of security. He gazed ahead, witnessing the unfolding battle. His carefully devised strategy filled him with unwavering confidence just yesterday, and was now in complete disarray.

Su Li’s nearly solo efforts had almost entirely pierced through the elite cavalry he had placed on the front lines. These sudden events had shaken the Tibetan cavalry to their core. The ten thousand Tang soldiers positioned between Su Li and the Tibetan cavalry acted as an insurmountable barrier, making it impossible for the Tibetan cavalry to provide reinforcements. The elite infantry guarding the Tibetan formation’s front couldn’t withstand Su Li’s onslaught.

In this critical moment, Songtsan Gampo had abandoned all hope of gaining an advantage and was left with only one thought—danger!

Songtsan Gampo desperately wanted to escape. He wasn’t foolish. He had observed the battle’s unfolding since its commencement. Su Li and his ten thousand Tang soldiers had breached the Tibetan formation effortlessly, appearing unstoppable. The countless Tibetan casualties only underscored this fact relentlessly. It was evident they couldn’t be halted, not at all!

Songtsan Gampo realized that even if he commanded a million troops, they would be utterly ineffective against Su Li. If Su Li wanted him dead, he would undoubtedly meet his end. The idea of retreat had firmly taken hold in Songtsan Gampo’s mind. Once this notion had taken root, it couldn’t be suppressed. He comprehended that he would face certain death today if he didn’t flee immediately.

At this point, all thoughts of kingship, legacy, and Tibet’s revival had vanished from Songtsan Gampo’s mind. What purpose did these ideals serve without preserving his own life? If he perished, Tibet would truly be lost.

In the Central Plains, there was a saying: “As long as the green mountains are preserved, there will be no worry about running out of firewood.” As long as he remained alive, even if he were exiled to distant lands like India, Songtsan Gampo had the confidence to stage a comeback.

At this time, Songtsan Gampo had three wives. His primary spouse was Princess Chizun from the neighboring country of Nepal. His other two wives, Mangfei Chijia and Muya Rujia, hailed from prominent noble families within Tibet. Songtsan Gampo ascended to the Tibetan throne at twelve, primarily relying on military prowess. Naturally, unifying Tibet within just over a decade was an ambitious goal.

Externally, he strengthened his position by leveraging the power of the Nepali kingdom. Internally, he engaged in marriages with major noble families, leading to the current situation. Even the proposal to marry into the Tang Dynasty was a strategic move on his part. Until this moment, Songtsan Gampo failed to comprehend how matters had escalated. He genuinely admired the Central Plains culture and earnestly desired to marry a noblewoman from the Tang Dynasty.

Looking back at his actions, the only misstep he might have taken was initially being arrogant and later accommodating, hoping to use military force to pressure the Tang Dynasty into agreeing to his request.

However, in Songtsan Gampo’s view, this approach was not unusual. A few years ago, when he dispatched envoys to the Tang Dynasty seeking a marriage alliance, the people of the Tang Dynasty had scoffed at Tibet. Despite its weaker strength compared to Tibet, even the neighboring Tu Valley had managed to establish diplomatic ties with the Tang Dynasty. Why not Tibet?

Upon reflection, Songtsan Gampo believed that it all stemmed from Tibet’s lack of recognition in the eyes of the Tang Dynasty. Thus, he led a 200,000-strong army straight to Song Zhou, defeating several forces, including Tu Valley, along the way. He believed that this should have been sufficient to showcase Tibet’s power. Even when his army reached Song Zhou, he refrained from aggressive moves.

Lu Dongzan had suggested plotting against the Tang Dynasty, and Songtsan Gampo had been briefly tempted. If the Tang Dynasty had agreed to the marriage alliance at that time, Tibet could have withdrawn from the plateau altogether.

Although Songtsan Gampo might have grown arrogant, he didn’t believe that Tibet would be a match for the formidable Tang army once off the plateau. He thought that by extracting enough resources from the Tang Dynasty and then focusing on development, Lu Dongzan’s scheme might not have been impossible in the future.

Songtsan Gampo considered himself a king, and he assumed that rulers like Emperor Li shared a similar perspective. They were, after all, political figures, and if problems could be resolved through marriage, why engage in unnecessary conflict? Political leaders were skilled in diplomacy, and a gesture from the Tang Dynasty, sending a noblewoman accompanied by sought-after Tibetan craftsmen, technologies, and books, could solidify their relationship. In the face of such an offer, Tibet would likely be respectful and avoid confrontation until they had amassed enough strength. This outcome could satisfy all parties involved, leading to a peaceful resolution.

Songtsan Gampo couldn’t understand why Li Er had abruptly sent troops. Initially, he wasn’t afraid. He wished to test the reputed invincible might of the Tang army. It would demonstrate Tibet’s strength if he could engage them in battle and hold his ground. After all, if the Tang Dynasty could accept the once-troublesome Tu Valley, why not Tibet? People often fail to recognize their own faults until they were directly affected.

At this moment, Songtsan Gampo felt aggrieved but had forgotten how assertive he had been when dealing with the Tang Dynasty. Regardless, it was all over now. With a sigh, he quietly ordered his nearby guards to withdraw from the battlefield. He no longer cared about the forty thousand Tibetan troops or the entire Tibetan situation. His escape plan was already in motion. He intended to flee immediately, return to his base, regroup with the remaining forces, and seek refuge in the Nepali kingdom.

Over the years, Princess Chizun, with Tibet’s support, had gained significant influence in Nepal. While Nepal wasn’t a major power and faced threats from neighboring kingdoms, Songtsan Gampo believed he could persuade his soon-to-be father-in-law, the ruler of Nepal, to step down and make room for him. Having witnessed the might of the Tang Dynasty from East Asia, Songtsan Gampo regarded countries like Nepal as impressive on the surface but not truly effective—a sentiment that might lead him to scheme against Nepal in the future.

With this escape plan in mind, Songtsan Gampo turned his horse’s head, ready to retreat with his guards’ protection. However, at that very moment, not far ahead, a sudden eruption of battle cries shattered the air. Songtsan Gampo looked up in terror. A figure drenched in blood, resembling a deity or demon, had unexpectedly appeared and was now less than a hundred paces away from him.

This unparalleled warrior from the Tang Dynasty had charged deep into the midst of over two hundred thousand Tibetan soldiers, plowing through the masses. Countless Tibetan soldiers attempting to stop him were powerless to halt his advance. His warhorse tore through the ranks, leaving death in its wake as it moved like a rainbow, relentless and unstoppable. Many Tibetan soldiers who stood in its path were trampled to death.

The warrior on the horse wielded a massive halberd, sweeping through the ranks as if clearing away dust. Every brave Tibetan soldier who charged at him was reduced to severed limbs in the blink of an eye, leaving behind a gruesome scene of bloodshed.