Tang Dynasty: The Holy Prince, the Dragon that Reigns Over the World

The Tibetan envoy reported the situation back to Tubo as quickly as possible. At this time, the two sides had entered a truce and were waiting for the support of the Tang Dynasty. Songtsen Gampo received a letter from the Tibetan envoy and cursed Li Chengqian for being shameless, but he could do nothing about it.

After an urgent discussion with the Tibetan ministers, Songtsen Gampo finally decided that in order to defeat the rebels, Tibet was willing to accept the price offered by the Tang Dynasty. In front of all the Tibetan ministers, Songtsen Gampo swore that once Tibet eliminated the rebels and restored its national strength, it would seek justice from the Tang Dynasty.

After receiving Songtsen Gampo's reply, the Tibetan envoy immediately asked to see Li Chengqian, saying that Tibet was willing to accept the Tang Dynasty's price and compete with the rebels for Tang Dynasty equipment. Li Chengqian agreed with a smile and decided that the two envoys would bid together two days later.

On the day of the bidding, the Tubo envoy Sangji and the two envoys from the Subi and Yangtong tribes, Renzeng, came to the Honglu Temple of the Tang Dynasty. The two envoys were on edge and looked at each other coldly. Not long after, Li Chengqian brought Zhangsun Wuji, Fang Xuanling and several other ministers to the Honglu Temple. After everyone greeted each other, Li Chengqian smiled and said.

"Everyone, both the Tibetan and Tibetan forces want to obtain Tang's military equipment, but military equipment is the foundation of a country's national defense and cannot be easily sold. Considering that both forces are on good terms with our Tang, our Tang, in the spirit of helping friendly countries, has decided to publicly sell Tang's military equipment to the highest bidder."

"Your Majesty, our two tribes, the Subi and Yangtong, have admired the culture of the Celestial Empire for a long time and have always wanted to become a vassal state of the Tang Dynasty and bask in the glory of the Celestial Empire. I hope that the Tang Dynasty can help our two tribes more to resist the oppression of Songtsen Gampo. As long as the Tang Dynasty can help our two tribes overthrow Songtsen Gampo and become the master of Tubo, our Tubo is willing to serve the Tang Dynasty as its master for generations.

The leaders of our two tribes have made it clear to us that as long as we can get support from the Tang Dynasty, our two tribes will spare no expense. "The envoy of the two tribes, Renzeng, said respectfully.

"Well, your attitude is very good." Li Chengqian said with a smile, and several other Tang ministers also stroked their beards and nodded with a smile.

"Humph, you rebellious thief, dare to speak so arrogantly. You are just a traitor, but you dare to replace the orthodox. The Tang Dynasty regards us Tubo as the same as the rebellious thief. We Tubo will remember this." The Tubo envoy Sangji sneered.

"Is this your intention or Songtsen Gampo's? Are you here to bid? Or are you here to cause trouble? If you are here to cause trouble, I can tell you responsibly that your attitude will bring ruin to Tubo.

If you Tubo have this attitude, you are disrespecting the Tang Dynasty and considering it as an enemy. The 20 troops of the Anxi Protectorate of the Tang Dynasty are ready to enter Tubo at any time to help the Subi and Yangtong tribes destroy Songtsen Gampo.

I know that you Tubo are very unhappy now, but do you have the strength to challenge my Tang Dynasty?" Li Chengqian sneered.

Upon seeing this, the two envoys Renzeng spoke hurriedly.

"Your Majesty, Songtsen Gampo's envoys do not respect the great Tang Dynasty. My two tribes truly respect the Tang Dynasty. I cannot bear to hear Sangji's disrespectful remarks. He wants the Tang Dynasty's help, but he also harbors hatred towards the Tang Dynasty. This wolf-like behavior makes me worried that Songtsen Gampo will harm the Tang Dynasty in the future.

If the Tang Dynasty can send troops to help our two tribes eliminate Songtsen Gampo, our two tribes can meet any conditions of the Tang Dynasty. "

The Tibetan envoy Sangji was shocked when he heard this. He thought that his anger would become a handle for the other party to attack him. Sangji saw Li Chengqian and the ministers of the Tang Dynasty looking at him with cold faces. He knew that the Tang Dynasty was already dissatisfied with him. If the Tang Dynasty unilaterally aided the rebels, it would be difficult to suppress the rebellion. If the Tang Dynasty was angry and sent troops, the Tibetans would be in danger.

Sangji knelt down hurriedly and said in a humble tone.

"Your Highness, I made a slip of the tongue and did not mean to offend Your Highness and the Tang Dynasty. I hope Your Highness will forgive me. I, Tubo, sincerely want to be on good terms with the Tang Dynasty and want to receive its financial support."

"Okay, let's start the bidding." Li Chengqian did not pursue the matter any further, but just spoke calmly. Chang Sun Chong presided over the entire auction process, and Li Chengqian and other ministers watched from the sidelines. Both the Tibetan and Tibetan forces were determined to take down the Tang Dynasty's military equipment.

After fierce competition, the two tribes were still not as financially powerful as Songtsen Gampo. Seeing that Songtsen Gampo's envoys easily won 5 sets of heavy cavalry equipment and heavy infantry equipment that the Tang Dynasty had put up for bidding, while he only won sets of light cavalry equipment, he could not help but feel angry and worried.

Although the Tibetan envoys seemed calm at this time, they were actually very nervous. One bid almost emptied the treasury accumulated by Songtsen Gampo in the past few years. However, the equipment of the Tang Dynasty was far more advanced than their own equipment. Didn't they see that the rebels could fight the Tibetan regular army evenly with the Tang Dynasty equipment? With the support of the Tang Dynasty equipment, the rebellion could be suppressed in no time.

Of course, the happiest person was the Tang Dynasty. The Tang Dynasty only took out some outdated equipment and made a lot of money. Moreover, war is a test of national strength. After this, Tubo’s national strength must have declined greatly.

After the bidding was over, Li Chengqian had just returned home when the envoys from the two ministries, Renzeng, came to ask for an audience with generous gifts. Li Chengqian was surprised to see the piles of gifts in the yard in his study.

"Why is the envoy so polite?"

"Your Honorable Highness, please save our Subi and Yangtong tribes. Songtsen Gampo has obtained the equipment of the Tang Dynasty, and our two tribes are no match for him. The day of our two tribes' genocide is not far away." The envoy of the two tribes, Rinzeng, knelt down and cried.

"Envoys, please stand up quickly. Our Tang Dynasty will never sit idly by and watch the two tribes perish." Li Chengqian helped the two envoys Renzeng up and comforted them in a gentle voice.

"The envoy should not worry too much. The two tribes have great respect for our Tang Dynasty. The emperor and I are well aware of this. Our Tang Dynasty will not allow a vassal state to be exterminated." Li Chengqian said with a smile.

"Then please ask the Tang Dynasty to sell the same equipment to our two tribes. Our two tribes are willing to agree to any conditions from the Tang Dynasty." The envoy of the two tribes, Ren Zeng, said hurriedly. No wonder Ren Zeng was anxious. If Songtsen Gampo won the victory, people like them would have to die along with their families.

"You also know this. Before the bidding, my Tang Dynasty has already stated that the equipment will only be sold to one party. If we sell it to both of you, wouldn't my Tang Dynasty be breaking its promise and getting rich?" Li Chengqian said with difficulty.

"If this happens, our two tribes will be destroyed." Ren Zeng, the envoy of the two tribes, said sadly.

"Envoy, don't be pessimistic. Our Tang Dynasty cannot sell equipment to the two tribes. But there is still a way to ensure the safety of the two tribes." Li Chengqian said after taking a sip of tea.

"What method?" Renzeng, the envoy from the two tribes, asked in surprise.

"Didn't your Excellency come here this time to write a letter to the Saint to apply to become a vassal state of the Tang Dynasty?" Li Chengqian said calmly.

"Yes, but the saint has not responded yet." Renzeng was puzzled. Suddenly, an idea flashed in his mind. He said excitedly.

"I ask Your Highness to lobby the Saint for our two tribes, and ask the Saint to agree that our two tribes shall be vassal states of the Tang Dynasty and grant us the title of country. I also ask the Tang Dynasty to send troops to protect our two countries. I have come here with a small gift, and I hope Your Highness will take the trouble for our two countries. If the matter is successful, our two countries will certainly thank you with a generous gift."

"Haha, your Excellency is too polite. If your two countries sincerely surrender, I and the Tang Dynasty will welcome you. This is a state affair, and as the crown prince of the Tang Dynasty, there is no need for me to work hard. However, you still need to show sincerity." Li Chengqian said with a smile.

"Just tell me what conditions the Tang Dynasty has," said Renzeng.

"You two countries will cede Greater and Lesser Bolor, as well as the area to the north of the line from Pangong Lake and Qiangtang to Minzhou of our Tang Dynasty, to the Tang Dynasty as a gift from the two countries." Li Chengqian ordered his servants to bring a map of Tubo, drew a line on the map with a pen and said.

"Well, the Tang Dynasty is going to take nearly one-third of the Tibetan territory at one time. Isn't that a bit too much? I'm afraid my brother and the chief of the Subi tribe will not agree to it." Renzeng said with difficulty.

"Is it too much? Compared to letting your two tribes become kings and protecting your tribes, families, and lives, does this amount to much for the Tang Dynasty? If you two tribes think it's too much, it doesn't matter. The Tang Dynasty can pretend that nothing happened. You continue to fight, and when your two tribes are exterminated and Tubo is completely weakened, the Tang Dynasty can take it.

Or, I can talk to Songtsen Gampo's envoys and ask the Tang Dynasty to send troops to help Tubo to suppress the rebellion and let Tubo cede some land to the Tang Dynasty. It doesn't matter how much. I think Songtsen Gampo would not object to the help of the Tang Dynasty.

But by then, both of you will face extinction." Li Chengqian said calmly.

"As for whether your brother and the chief of the Suobei tribe can agree to it? Well, your brother and the chief of the Suobei tribe are old, not as young and strong as you, who are bold and courageous in doing things.

If the two tribe leaders Yang Tong and Subi cannot be of one mind and one heart with the Tang Dynasty, then the Tang Dynasty can also replace someone from the two tribes to discuss the future together. I wonder if the envoy is interested in cooperating with the Tang Dynasty. "Li Chengqian said with a smile.

"Our two countries are willing to meet the conditions of the Tang Dynasty." Renzeng's mind moved, and then he said excitedly.

"Yes, that's right. Compared with life, property, wealth and glory, a little territory means nothing. Also, the leaders of your two tribes must come to Chang'an in person to receive the title." Li Chengqian nodded and said.

"Well, what if Songtsen Gampo takes the opportunity to attack our army and our army is leaderless?" Renzeng said anxiously.

"This is easy to handle. The Great Tang will announce to the world that the Great Tang agrees to the request of the Subi and Yangtong tribes to submit to the Great Tang. The chiefs of the two tribes will go to Chang'an to accept the title according to the imperial decree of the Tang Emperor. In order to ensure the safety of the two tribes, the Great Tang Anxi Protectorate will send 100,000 troops to Tubo to protect the safety of the two countries.

At the same time, our Tang Dynasty will also send an envoy to inform Songtsen Gampo that during the period when the rulers of the two countries come to Chang'an to accept the canonization, if he attacks the coalition forces of the two countries while they are unprepared, even if he is an enemy of our Tang Dynasty, our Tang Dynasty will definitely go to war with Tubo to protect its vassal state. What do you think of my arrangement, Your Excellency?" Li Chengqian said with a smile.

"In this way, there is nothing to worry about. I will set off to return to Tubo and urge my brother and the chief of the Subi tribe to accept the conditions of the Tang Dynasty." Renzeng said with a smile.

"Well, I will order the Jinyiwei secret department to accompany your envoy back to Tubo. If your envoy has matters that are inconvenient for him to handle himself, you can let the secret department handle it for you." Li Chengqian nodded and smiled.

"I thank Your Highness." Rigzin bowed and said, his eyes full of desire for power.

On the second day after seeing off Renzeng, Li Chengqian signed an aid agreement with the Tibetan envoy Sangji. The Tang-Tubo aid agreement stipulated:

1. The Tang Dynasty sold 10 dan of grain to Tubo, with each dan at the Tang Dynasty's export price of 60 wen per dan (at this time, the average price of each dou of rice in the Tang Dynasty was 4 wen. One dan is 10 dou, which is about 100 jin), totaling 6000 guan.

2.大唐向吐蕃出售重装骑兵装备和重装步兵装备各5万套。重装骑兵装备每套150贯，重装步兵装备每套120贯。各类用于维护维修装备的矿石若干。总计1400万贯。

3. From the signing of the agreement, the Tang Dynasty is prohibited from selling equipment to the two coalition forces of Suobei and Yangtong during the Tubo civil war. Otherwise, the Tang Dynasty will pay a penalty of 2000 million strings of cash to Tubo for breach of contract. The Tang Dynasty must transport food to Tubo within one month and transport equipment to Tubo within three months.

4. Tubo shall pay 5% of the fee as advance payment upon signing the agreement. After all materials are inspected and accepted, the remaining balance shall be paid within three months.

After the Tang-Tubo aid agreement was signed, the Tang Dynasty had already prepared 10 dan of grain, and the Tibetan envoy Sangji hurriedly returned to Tubo with the grain. When Songtsen Gampo learned that Sangji was returning to Tubo with the grain, he was also very straightforward and ordered people to prepare 700 million dan to be sent to Chang'an.

After returning to Tubo, Renzeng immediately told the two tribesmen about the conditions offered by the Tang Dynasty. The two tribesmen were hesitant, and Renzeng urged them to agree to the conditions offered by the Tang Dynasty. After thinking it over, Yangtong refused.

"Our affairs with Songtsen Gampo are our Tibetan family affairs. If we agree to the conditions of the Tang Dynasty, wouldn't it be like inviting a wolf into the house? Even if our clan is destroyed, we must never agree to such conditions. As a Tibetan, how can you sell out your country for fame and fortune?" Chief Subi was a man without much opinion, and when he saw that Chief Yangtong disagreed, he also disagreed.

When Renzeng saw the two tribe leaders, he refused to listen and was scolded. He was very angry and called the leader of the Jinyiwei Anbu Li Guangwei that night. The two had a secret discussion. Li Guangwei walked out of Renzeng's tent and arranged for the Anbu to carry out the task.

On the second day, the two armies found that the leader of the Yangtong tribe had been assassinated in his own tent, with a scimitar stuck in his chest. The scimitar was only owned by Songtsen Gampo's personal guards. The two allied forces were instantly in a panic.

At this time, Renzeng stood up as the brother of the Yangtong tribe leader and loudly denounced Songtsen Gampo for his despicable and shameless behavior and the assassination attempt. He called on the two tribes to avenge the Yangtong tribe leader. For a time, the two tribes were excited and shouted for revenge for the tribe leader and nominated Renzeng as the Yangtong tribe leader.

Renzeng used the secret service to assassinate dissidents and arranged for his confidants. He also used coercion and bribery to coerce and bribe officials and officers at all levels of the coalition forces to turn to him, and completely controlled the two coalition forces.

Rigdzin led his army to fight Songtsen Gampo for days in the name of revenge. Rigdzin was quite capable and fought Songtsen Gampo on equal terms. It was not until the equipment sold by the Tang Dynasty to Tubo arrived that Tubo relied on the Tang Dynasty's equipment to defeat Rigdzin.

At this time, Renzeng persuaded the chief of the Subi tribe by saying that if they did not agree to the conditions of the Tang Dynasty, the two tribes would be forgotten. If they agreed to the conditions of the Tang Dynasty, they could divide the land and the kingship. Renzeng immediately sent a letter to the Anxi Protectorate, asking for the protection of the Tang Dynasty.

Anxi Protector General Guo Xiaoke and Xizhou Governor Zhuge Fu had already prepared 10 troops and horses according to Li Chengqian's instructions and stationed them at the Tang-Tu border. After receiving Renzeng's letter for help, they immediately led 10 troops to help Renzeng.

Songtsen Gampo was overjoyed when he saw the rebels were repelled, and was imagining that the rebellion would be suppressed soon. Then a scout came to report that the Tang army flag appeared behind the rebels, and there were a large number of them.