Tang Dynasty, my wife Wu Zetian

Chapter 257: Changsun Wuji Fights Lu Dongzan
Medicinal food has a bitter taste. If you eat too much, it will feel like taking medicine.

Li Zhi finished the medicinal meal with the mentality of taking medicine.

Wu Meiniang also noticed that he was becoming less and less fond of medicinal food, so she would prepare a cup of honey water or grape juice every time.

Li Zhi drank the grape juice in three gulps, smacked his lips, and said to Empress Wu, "Mei Niang, have you met Princess Wencheng?"

Wu Meiniang took out a handkerchief and wiped Li Zhi's mouth, saying with a smile, "I have seen her. This princess is truly remarkable. I admire her a little."

He told the details of their meeting and what Princess Wencheng had learned about Lu Dongzan's plan.

After listening to this, Li Zhi frowned and did not speak for a long time.

"Your Majesty, what's wrong?" Wu Meiniang sat down next to him and asked softly.

Li Zhi said in a deep voice: "I have just met Lu Dongzan..." He also told him about the scene of his meeting with Lu Dongzan and the conditions he proposed.

After hearing this, Wu Meiniang pondered and said, "So, he appears to be submitting, but in reality he is trying to regain his strength and then betray us again. Your Majesty, this man must not be allowed to leave Chang'an."

When he said the last sentence, there was a hint of murderous intent in his voice.

Li Zhi raised his hand and said, "No, I'm afraid this matter is not that simple."

Wu Meiniang asked curiously, "Did you find anything else?"

Li Zhi said: "I just feel that something is wrong, but I can't tell what it is exactly."

He turned his head and said to Wang Fusheng, "Go to the Duke of Yingguo's residence and tell him what Princess Wencheng said."

In name, it was conveyed to Li Ji, but in fact it was conveyed to Zhangsun Wuji.

Wang Fusheng agreed and turned away.

Changsun Wuji still stayed in the Duke of Ying's mansion.

He sat in Li Ji's study, closed his eyes and thought about what Lu Dongzan had just said and done.

Li Ji did not accompany him, but went fishing by the lake. He was most clear-headed only when he was fishing.

When Wang Fusheng arrived at the Duke of Yingguo's mansion, it was already dusk and the lake was dark. Li Ji had already put away his fishing rod and was standing by the lake enjoying the breeze.

After listening to Wang Fusheng's story about Princess Wencheng, Li Ji immediately went to the study and told Zhangsun Wuji about it.

Zhang Sun Wuji narrowed his eyes and asked, "Did Princess Wencheng really say that?"

Li Ji said, "Wang Fusheng came to explain himself, so he must be right."

Zhang Sun Wuji narrowed his eyes and said, "That's good. Lu Dongzan has finally revealed his true colors."

Li Ji's eyes flashed: "Is there something wrong with this?"

"of course."

Changsun Wuji picked up the teacup, took a sip, then found that the tea had gone cold, so he had to put it down again.

"Do you think someone like Lu Dongzan would come to the Tang Dynasty and discuss secrets with his trusted subordinates? And Princess Wencheng would just happen to hear it?"

Li Ji said, "Yes, this is indeed strange. Could it be that Princess Wencheng is lying?"

Zhang Sun Wuji said: "No, there is no point for Princess Wencheng to lie. Lu Dongzan must have deliberately let her hear this."

Li Ji's gray eyebrows were wrinkled.

"Why did he do that?"

Zhang Sun Wuji stood up and paced around the study for a few steps before saying, "Brother Li, you should be very familiar with the situation inside Tubo, right?"

Li Ji said, his hands behind his back, "Back then, your plan to split Tubo was carried out by me personally. Do you think I understand?"

"Then let me ask you, what is Princess Wencheng's prestige in Tubo?"

Li Ji said slowly, "The Tibetans revere Songtsen Gampo the most and regard him as a god. Because of Songtsen Gampo and Princess Wencheng's gentle personality, her status in Tibet is very high, second only to the Zamp!"

Chang Sun Wuji had a meaningful smile on his face and said, "What a great Lu Dongzan! So that's what he was planning."

Li Ji stepped forward and asked, "Have you guessed his purpose?"

Changsun Wuji smiled and said, "It's just speculation right now. If you want to verify it... well... let me think about it. Now that I have it, you must immediately go to the palace to see the emperor and ask for his decree."

Li Ji asked, "What is the order?"

Zhang Sun Wuji said word by word, "The decree to send Princess Wencheng back to Tubo!"

……

The next day, before dawn, Lu Dongzan got up early.

The climate in the Tang Dynasty was different from that in Tubo, and the daytime was too short. Lu Dongzan was not used to it, so he got up very early every day.

He first went to take a look outside Princess Wencheng's house, and saw that the guards were guarding outside the house well and there was nothing unusual. Then he returned to the house and sat behind the desk to read.

It was almost noon when the sky finally brightened.

Lu Dongzan left the house and went to greet Princess Wencheng outside her house first, then left the guest house and headed towards the dining hall in the west.

There were quite a few people in the dining hall, all of them were envoys from various countries.

Although it is already April, there are still many foreign envoys in the Honglu Temple.

They would stay in Chang'an until the end of the year, when new envoys arrived, and then return to their country.

Lu Dongzan did not communicate with envoys from other countries. He went over and got two large bowls of mutton porridge, ordered his followers to send one bowl to Princess Wencheng, and then sat in the corner and ate the porridge in silence.

Hearing the sound of footsteps, a man sat down opposite him and said with a smile, "Prime Minister Lu, do you mind if I sit next to you?"

Lu Dongzan looked up.

Opposite him was a man in a white robe, with dark brown skin, deep eyes, and a pointed hat on top of his curly hair, also white.

Lu Dongzan said calmly, "Your Excellency Ibn, don't waste your time. I came to Chang'an to submit to the Tang Dynasty. The Arabs are now enemies of the Tang Dynasty. You and I should keep our distance."

The man in the white robe was the Arab envoy Ibn. He smiled and said, "I'm afraid that even if you Tibetans are willing to submit, the Tang Dynasty may not be willing to accept you."

Lu Dongzan said, "That is our business and has nothing to do with your Excellency. If you have time to talk to me, why not find a way to get the Emperor of the Tang Dynasty to see you?"

Ibn smiled and said, "I didn't mean to bother you again, but I just heard some interesting news. Judging from Lushi's reaction, he seems to be unaware of it."

"I'm not interested." Lu Dongzan stood up and was about to leave.

Ibn said to his back, "It's related to your country's former queen. Aren't you interested?"

Lu Dongzan turned around abruptly and stared at him: "What did you say?"

Ibn crossed his hands, placed them on the table, and said with a smile, "I heard that your country's former queen, the Princess Wencheng, has been sent back to Tubo."

Lu Dongzan's eyes twitched, and he said, "That's nonsense. Her Royal Highness the Princess is in the room. I just spoke to her."

Ibn tilted his head and said, "That's strange. This matter has spread throughout Chang'an City. Many people saw it with their own eyes. As soon as the Kaiyuan Gate opened, a team left the city. They said they were escorting Princess Wencheng, and they were protected by Tang soldiers!"

Lu Dongzan's face changed several times and he ran quickly towards the building where Princess Wencheng was.

Going up to the second floor, he asked the guard outside the door, "Is Jiamusa in there?"

The four guards said in unison: "Yes."

Lu Dongzan was worried, so he knocked on the door and said, "Jiamusa, Lu Dongzan wants to see you." After a while, a voice came from the room.

"come in."

Lu Dongzan pushed the door open and saw Princess Wencheng sitting at the table. There was mutton porridge on the table, but it was a little less, so it was obvious that she was having a meal.

"What's the matter, Prime Minister?"

Lu Dongzan was silent for a while, then said, "I just want to ask Jiamusa if you like eating mutton porridge."

Princess Wencheng was surprised and said, "I am originally from the Tang Dynasty. I have been eating these since I was a child. Of course I am used to it."

Lu Dongzan nodded and said, "I was worrying too much. Lu Dongzan, take your leave." He turned and left the house.

After returning to the house, Lu Dongzan paced back and forth, muttering to himself: "Jiamusa is clearly here, why is there another team leaving the city? Could it be..."

His heart sank, he looked up to the sky and sighed, then knelt down towards the southwest with his hands crossed over his chest.

"Old Zamp, Lu Dongzan is incompetent. Although he has tried his best, I am afraid he still cannot protect Tubo. I am ashamed of your trust!"

After a long moment, he stood up, a murderous look in his eyes. He walked to the bedside, picked up his scimitar, and thought to himself, "Even if the plan fails, I can't let her return to Tubo alive!"

He returned to Princess Wencheng's room again, and this time he did not ask any questions but pushed the door open and went in.

Princess Wencheng was drinking her porridge when she saw him intruding without permission. She was startled and asked, "Why did the Prime Minister leave and come back?"

Lu Dongzan drew his scimitar and said grimly, "Lu Dongzan wants to ask Jiamusa to return to heaven and reunite with the old Zamp!"

Without waiting for Princess Wencheng to answer, he leaped forward and slashed at her throat with a knife.

There was a loud "bang"!
The door of the wardrobe in the room was kicked open, and two figures rushed out. One stood in front of Princess Wencheng and knocked the knife away, while the other pounced on Lu Dongzan and subdued him.

Princess Wencheng was stunned. She had never expected that there were two people hiding in the closet in the house.

There were several screams coming from outside the door, followed by the sound of footsteps. A group of people entered the house. The leader was a young man, followed by Changsun Wuji and Li Ji.

"Lu Dongzan, since I have seen through your plan, how can I let you kill the princess?" Changsun Wuji said with narrowed eyes.

Lu Dongzan was pressed to the floor. He struggled to turn his head and stared at the young man.

"You are not an official from the Honglu Temple!"

The young man ignored him, walked up to Princess Wencheng, and said to her with a smile, "Princess, you are frightened."

Princess Wencheng stared at him blankly and said, "You, you are... the current emperor?"

Li Zhi smiled and nodded, saying, "Princess, I have wanted to see you for a long time."

He glanced sideways at Lu Dongzan and said to the guards holding him down, "Let him get up. Although he is an enemy, he is also worthy of respect."

Lu Dongzan stood up quickly, his face turning pale, and he didn't say anything.

Li Zhi walked to a chair and sat down, then extended his hand to invite Princess Wencheng to sit down as well.

Princess Wencheng glanced at Li Zhi cautiously, then quickly lowered her head and said, "Your Majesty, can you tell me what is going on?"

Li Zhi tilted his head and said, "Uncle, you should explain it to the princess."

Zhang Sun Wuji said, "Yes. Your Highness, the truth is that Lu Dongzan came to Chang'an not to submit to the Tang Dynasty, but to kill you!"

Princess Wencheng was stunned and said, "Kill me? If he wants to kill me, why would he go to such trouble?"

Zhang Sun Wuji said: "Killing you is easy, but you cannot die in Tubo or Tianzhu. You must die in Chang'an."

Princess Wencheng glanced at Lu Dongzan and frowned, saying, "I still don't understand."

Zhang Sun Wuji said, "The reason is very simple. You are the biggest threat to Tubo right now. The Tang Dynasty may not be able to conquer Tubo by force, but with your words, we can do it!"

A shadow flashed across Princess Wencheng's eyes, and she vaguely understood something.

Changsun Wuji continued, "Your prestige in Tubo is second only to that of the Zamp. If Your Majesty were to make you the leader of Tubo, the people would likely accept it. Therefore, you must die."

"However, you cannot die in India, otherwise the Tibetan people will think that the Zamp killed you, and thus become dissatisfied with the Zamp and return to the Tang Dynasty."

Princess Wencheng asked, "Then why didn't he take action a few days ago?"

Changsun Wuji said, "Because the timing is wrong, he wants to use your death to achieve another goal."

"The Tibetan army was defeated and fled to India. They have lost their fighting spirit. In this situation, only by boosting morale can we have a chance to fight back to Tibet."

"Lu Dongzan wanted to sign a peace treaty with the Tang Dynasty first, then kill you and then commit suicide. The Tibetans saw the Tang as treacherous, refusing to accept the Tibetans and even killing their beloved Jiamusa and the Prime Minister. Their anger was inflamed, and their fighting spirit was high!"

Princess Wencheng was surprised and asked, "Is he still planning to commit suicide?"

Li Zhi interjected, "Of course. Since he chose to kill you in Chang'an, there's no way he could return to Tubo alive. Besides, his death would also provoke the anger of the Tubo people."

In fact, Lu Dongzan could have sent someone else to carry out this task, but he chose to come in person.

This fearless behavior also made Li Zhi respect him more.

"Brother Lu, am I right?" Changsun Wuji looked at Lu Dongzan.

Lu Dongzan said in a low voice, "How did you figure that out?"

Zhang Sun Wuji said, "Your biggest flaw is that you shouldn't have deliberately let the princess hear your plan to rebel against the Tang Dynasty."

Princess Wencheng was surprised and asked, "Did he do that on purpose for me to hear it?"

"Exactly." Changsun Wuji nodded. "He knew that it would be difficult to gain Your Majesty's trust by agreeing to submit to the Tang Dynasty, so he deliberately put forward a false plan to attract Your Majesty's attention so that his true purpose would not be discovered."

Lu Dongzan said in a deep voice, "So you deliberately sent someone to impersonate Jiamusa and leave Chang'an just to lure me into action?"

Chang Sun Wuji said, "That's right. What I just said was just speculation. If I want to prove it, I have to get you to take action."

Lu Dongzan took a deep breath, closed his eyes, and said no more.

Li Zhi looked at him and said, "Lu Dongzan, I don't understand why you would rather do such an extreme thing than submit to the Tang Dynasty."

Lu Dongzan suddenly opened his eyes and stared at him closely.

"Your Majesty, you have been reforming the policy of control. Do you want all tribes to eventually be incorporated into the Tang Dynasty? If Tubo were to submit to the Tang Dynasty, would there still be Tubo in the future?"

Li Zhi was stunned and said nothing.

In his conception, he really wanted people of all ethnic groups, regardless of distinction, to become Tang people, and Tubo would naturally cease to exist.

Zhang Sun Wuji snorted and said, "Lu Dongzan, didn't you do the same thing when you annexed Subi and Xiangxiong?"

Lu Dongzan sighed and said, "Indeed, I am not criticizing the Tang Dynasty's actions, nor am I qualified to do so. However, Lu Dongzan was entrusted by the former Zamp to watch Tubo perish."

At the suggestion of Zhangsun Wuji, Li Zhi ordered Lu Dongzan to be placed under house arrest but did not kill him.

He also sent several of Lu Dongzan's followers back to Tubo to let the Tubo people know that the plan had failed and that the only way left was to submit to the Tang Dynasty.

No matter what choice Tubo made, they had lost the possibility of restoring their country.

The wheel of history continues to turn, and the powerful Tubo is about to be submerged in the torrent of history.

The Three Kingdoms system collapsed, and now only the Tang Dynasty and the Arabs were left to compete for supremacy.

(End of this chapter)