Tiantang Splendid

Chapter 5263: Strange things to live in
In Lu Dongzan's mind, there were his own principles for living and conducting himself in the world.

When one's strength is inferior to that of the opponent, one should fawn over them, flatter them, develop silently, and wait for an opportunity to retaliate. When one's strength is equal to that of the opponent, one should form alliances, benefit each other, find loopholes, and strike the enemy dead in one blow. When one's strength far surpasses that of the opponent, one should exploit, plunder, kill, and annex them, making sure to completely crush them and eliminate any future troubles.

At this moment, the city of Mulu is overflowing with countless riches. A single massacre would be enough to seize all of them and make a fortune. How could one not take advantage of the situation?

Xue Rengui took a sip of tea, put down his teacup, shook his wrist which was sore from writing, and said with a smile, "When we set out on the expedition, the Grand Protector gave strict orders that we could be cruel and violent towards the Arabs, killing and plundering were not out of the question, and even killing prisoners was not out of the question at critical moments. When two countries are at war, we can use any means necessary. However, we should try to be as lenient as possible towards other barbarian tribes, so that everyone can feel that the Tang army is a 'benevolent and righteous army'. As long as they do not support the Arab army or act as accomplices, they should be treated equally and without any harm."

He paused, then slowly said, "The Tang Dynasty was able to rise rapidly from the ruins of the former Sui Dynasty and achieve its current prosperity without robbing a single penny. The Tang Dynasty adheres to the friendly principle of fair exchanges and mutual benefit with all countries. We will not attack unless attacked. Whatever we want can be obtained through trade."

If we simply talk about the number of wars among all races in the world, no one can surpass China. However, throughout history, nine out of ten of China's wars against foreign countries were "self-defense counterattacks." When there was no longer any room for forbearance, there was no need to endure it any longer. And when China was strong, it almost never took the initiative to invade other countries.

Even though the Sui and Tang dynasties launched continuous eastern expeditions against Goguryeo, it was because Goguryeo frequently harassed the borders of the Tang Dynasty in the Liaodong area, massacred Tang soldiers and civilians, and entrenched itself in Liaodong, posing a huge threat to the safety of the empire. Only then did they have no choice but to take action.

Throughout history, China's attitude towards foreign countries has generally been nothing more than "we will not attack unless we are attacked." As long as there is peace, China will never take the initiative to invade.

This is determined by the roots of culture, not by the strategies of a single dynasty.

Seeing that Lu Dongzan seemed to be deep in thought, Xue Rengui continued, "Construction is always more difficult than destruction. It is not easy for the surrounding barbarian tribes to accumulate some wealth in the face of harsh environments. If there is no need, the Tang Dynasty will not allow its troops to plunder... Although burning, killing and looting are indeed faster, the Tang Dynasty will not do it."

Lu Dongzan nodded slowly.

He was very knowledgeable about history, and indeed, as Xue Rengui said, the Chinese people have always valued the two words "benevolence and righteousness" and have always practiced them without deviation.

Whether it was the Qiang and Man, the Xiongnu, or even the Turks and Goguryeo, these tribes rose up around China and were once powerful enough to invade China. However, they remained standing despite the changing dynasties of China. On the contrary, these non-Han tribes "rose suddenly and fell suddenly," their rise and fall as fleeting as a passing flower...

Could the Tibetans be different from these nomadic tribes?
It seems that Tibet has already declined from its peak, and its day of defeat may not be far off...

Could it be that there truly is a "Way of Heaven," a predetermined destiny that cannot be altered by human effort, and the ultimate goal of this "Way of Heaven" is the so-called "invincible benevolence"?
This is in serious contradiction to the Hu people's consistent belief of "survival of the fittest"...

For a moment, Lu Dongzan's thoughts were racing, and he felt lost and helpless.

Heaven and earth are ruthless, treating all things like straw dogs. "The strong prey on the weak, and the fittest survive" is a universal truth. Whether it is humans, beasts, or even plants, they all strive for survival space, working hard and flourishing. How can this be wrong?
But in reality, the Chinese nation, which values ​​"benevolence," has a long history and has always been able to rise up and revive from weakness, eventually returning to its dominant position in the world.

Meanwhile, the Hu people, who adhered to the "ultimate principles of heaven and earth," perished one after another amidst prosperity and decline...

How is this going?

What exactly is the "Way of Heaven"?

……

After capturing the city, the Tang army appeased the people and merchants, promised the safety of their lives and property, and restored order within the city, acting in accordance with the laws of the Tang Dynasty. Mulu City quickly stabilized, demonstrating the Tang army's extensive experience in this regard.

The Tang army's invincible record and reputation for keeping its promises were enough to convince the various nomadic tribes.

Inside the city lord's palace.

A clay pot sits on the stove, its contents boiling. Slices of beef and mutton are poured in and rolled around a few times before being scooped up with chopsticks, dipped in sauce, and popped into the mouth—it's incredibly delicious. In particular, a plate of fresh, crisp garlic sprouts, neatly cut, is a rare treat during winter marches, offering a refreshing and delightful taste.

Wang Xiaojie swallowed the mutton, took a sip of wine, and asked, "What should we do with Ye Qide?"

Xue Rengui sat steadily, eating garlic sprouts with gusto, and said, "Although this person is of high status, he doesn't actually have much influence on us. If we can use his life to extort a ransom from Damascus, it would be making the most of him."

Wang Xiaojie poured wine for Xue Rengui and Lu Dongzan, who was standing next to him, and nodded, saying, "That's right, but I don't think Damascus is willing to pay too much ransom."

"Ok?"

Xue Rengui clinked his wine cup with Lu Dongzan's and drank it all in one gulp, then asked curiously, "How do you know?"

"Muawiyah has more than one son, Yezid. Although he has nurtured him for many years and regarded him as his successor, he is not the only option. Yezid's defeat at Kosan and capture at Merv have wiped out all the prestige he has accumulated over the years, which is almost equivalent to the disgrace of the Abbasid army. Once Damascus learns the specific news, the other princes who are eligible to inherit the throne will definitely join forces... In extreme cases, Muawiyah may even abandon Yezid, after all, compared to Yezid's life, the stability of the regime is of paramount importance."

Xue Rengui put down his chopsticks, pondered and analyzed, then looked at Lu Dongzan: "What does Your Excellency think?"

Lu Dongzan ate his meat and drank his wine slowly, and said with a smile: "The Arabs do have a tradition of paying a lot of money to ransom prisoners of war... But as General Wang said, what value can a defeated general who has lost all prestige have? Besides, I think General Wang is confident and has other plans. Let's hear his thoughts first."

Xue Rengui raised an eyebrow and looked at Wang Xiaojie.

Wang Xiaojie then laughed and said, “I don’t know much about doing business, but I do understand the principle of ‘hoarding rare goods.’ The essence of selling a good item for a good price is not the true value of the item, but whether you can find a buyer who absolutely has to buy it… Compared to the Caliph in Damascus, I think the Sheikh is the better buyer.”

The prince's loss of the city he was defending to the enemy was a grave sin, not to mention the additional crime of losing the city and territory. At this moment, the Sheikh must be plotting how to mitigate his guilt and give the Caliph an explanation.

Compared to the unrealistic condition of defeating the Tang army, what better option was there than ransoming the prince?
Xue Rengui nodded: "Sheikh must be in a state of panic and anxiety, like a frightened bird, now that he has retreated to Nisa City. I think he will agree to pay the ransom to release Yeqid."

"Not only that, this time we parachuted into Mullah in hot air balloons, first raiding the city lord's mansion, then seizing the north gate. Many Arabs are unaware of what happened and only think that someone in the city colluded with us in secret and secretly opened the city gate to let us in... Sheikh thought it was the work of Yezid's army, and Yezid must also think it was the work of Sheikh's subordinates. Once Yezid returns to Damascus, he will definitely target Sheikh."

Although Sheikh himself was the "Eastern Envoy" and the garrison commander of Mulu, he was already a high-ranking official in the Abbasid Caliphate. However, his family behind him had great influence in Damascus. If Yeqid held a grudge against him, a conflict between these two forces would greatly affect the stability of the Abbasid Caliphate, which would be of great benefit to the Tang Dynasty.

Lu Dongzan sighed softly. By now, he had long lost hope for the future of Tibet. The Tang Dynasty was now bursting with talent. Wang Xiaojie was just a deputy general, but he was both a scholar and a warrior. He could charge into battle, kill enemy generals and seize flags, and he could also devise strategies to drive away the enemy. Not to mention Xue Rengui, who had the demeanor of a great general and was calm and capable.

If such a small area as the Anxi Protectorate could gather so many military and political talents, what a prosperous scene it must have been if we looked at the whole Tang Dynasty.
However, Tibet is now on the verge of splitting up. The Gar family and the Zanpu lineage are fighting to the death. All the tribes that maintain Tibetan rule have chosen sides. If they are not careful, the country will be scattered and the regime will perish. At that time, the entire Tibetan plateau will be plunged into chaos and war, and the great situation that he and the Zanpu have worked hard for many years will be destroyed.

It seems there will be no chance of a resurgence.

After a moment's consideration, Xue Rengui nodded in agreement: "Then we should expedite this matter and send a letter to the Sheikh of Nisa City, asking him to pay a large sum of money to ransom Yeqid."

Lu Dongzan suggested, "There are Arab merchants in Mulu who want to return to Damascus. Since the Tang army does not intend to kill them all and plunder them, why not let them pay a fine and then release them? We can also send a message to Sheikh, asking him to prepare a ransom to redeem Yeqid."

Wang Xiaojie laughed loudly: "Haha, as expected, experience counts!"

Sending a message through Arab merchants meant that all Arab merchants knew that the Tang Dynasty was demanding ransom from Sheikh. Even if Sheikh suspected that Yeqide's army had let the Tang army into the city, he had no choice but to keep quiet.

Otherwise, if anything were to happen to Yezid, the blame would surely fall on Sheikh, and Sheikh would never dare to take that responsibility...

Xue Rengui laughed as well: "This matter is settled. As for how much ransom to ask for, you can decide for yourself. In short, the more the better. Sheikhs will definitely not dare not pay if they can afford it. We will rest and recuperate in the city this winter. When the ice and snow melt next spring, we will march on and head straight for Damascus!"

Lu Dongzan drank his wine, filled with envy.

Although the Tibetan Empire was powerful for a time, even rivaling the Sui and Tang dynasties in military strength, it was confined to a corner of the plateau and could never expand its influence across the Central Plains. Yet these two men before us were able to lead a small force in a whirlwind advance, achieving victory after victory, and launching a long-distance raid to strike at the enemy's lair. What more could a soldier ask for?