Tang Dynasty: Father, if you don't rebel, I will!

"Your Highness, I have successfully carried out my mission and brought the traitor Songtsen Gampo to you!"

The arrogant demeanor that he displayed when facing the Tibetans outside was gone. Instead, he bowed to Li Chengqian with a humble and submissive expression.

Li Chengqian waved his hand, and immediately several palace guards dragged the much thinner and more disheveled Songtsen Gampo to Li Chengqian's side.

"It seems you quite enjoy being brought to Chang'an bound like this. It's only been three or four years since I spared you last time..."

Li Chengqian looked down indifferently at the homeless dog in front of him.

The latter clearly understood his impending fate and showed no intention of begging for mercy or submitting.

He sneered and twisted his neck with a ferocious expression.

"Hmph! The victor is king, the loser is villain. What's the point of all this talk? Just kill me!"

As soon as he finished speaking, Murong Shun's expression suddenly turned cold, and he lashed out viciously with his riding whip.

"You've come all this way and you still dare to be arrogant! Looks like you need to be taught a lesson!"

The sound of whips cracking echoed as the whip in Murong Shun's hand left afterimages, tearing Songtsen Gampo's animal skin coat to shreds and revealing his thin, whip-scarred skin underneath.

Clearly, the King of Da Ning had been very hospitable to the Tibetan king along the way.

Songtsen Gampo curled up on the ground, the whip lashing his body, but he didn't utter a single cry of pain. Instead, his gaze toward Li Chengqian grew increasingly fierce and savage.

It's exactly like an untamed wolf.

Seeing this, Li Chengqian's lips curled up slightly: "I'm starting to admire you..."

He raised his hand, signaling Murong Shun to stop, then ordered his men to untie him, pointed to the empty seat in front of him, and personally poured him a cup of hot tea.

"Your Highness..."

Wang De was somewhat worried, but Li Chengqian glanced at him sideways.

"With his measly flesh, how could he possibly harm me?"

Wang De stopped speaking.

Murong Shun had no intention of leaving. Standing behind Li Chengqian, he stared at Songtsen Gampo, who was sitting down, with a warning and cold look in his eyes, full of vigilance.

Songtsen Gampo sat down, making faint hissing sounds as he gasped for breath. On the surface, however, he stared at Li Chengqian with an indifferent and fearless expression. He then gulped down the tea in front of him.

He cleared his throat, took a deep breath, and asked about the things he cared about.

Where is Samaga?

"On a small hill by the Wei River on the outskirts of Chang'an, it's considered a place with good feng shui," Li Chengqian replied casually, pausing slightly before looking up at the arrogant man before him with a mocking expression.

"I even had someone reserve a seat for you next to me."

Songtsen Gampo's lips twitched, and a hint of gloom appeared in his eyes.

Even if you kill me, you won't get what you want! My former officials in Tibet are now afraid of the Tang Dynasty's prestige and dare not confront you head-on, but that doesn't mean they will truly submit to you!

"If you're hoping for the Kingdom of Niva and the Kingdom of Zhangzhung, that's even more impossible!"

"They are actually more wary of your Great Tang than I am!"

Li Chengqian smiled and nodded; he was naturally aware of this matter as well.

A nation, especially one with established customs, beliefs, and culture, possesses the ability to resist even the most inclusive culture like Han culture.

Expecting that it will be completely domesticated and integrated in a few years, or even a generation.

It's hard.

Even the current integration of the Turkic and Han ethnic groups has been secretly promoted and controlled by the imperial court.

Li Chengqian smiled and nodded: "That's right, you're absolutely right. They follow our Great Tang and work for us now, partly because they fear our Great Tang's strength, and partly simply because they want to make money. Dealing with your Tibet and letting Xiangxiong and Nepal inherit your Tibet's former interests in India doesn't fundamentally change the problem."

Songtsen Gampo revealed a gloating sneer on his face.

It was as if he felt that even if he died today, he would have caused trouble for the Tang Dynasty.

Who knows the next moment.

Li Chengqian's words caused the cold smile on his face to freeze abruptly.

"But don't forget, this is no longer the Wude era when the Tang Dynasty was first established, nor the first year of the Zhenguan era when my father ascended the throne. It is now the seventh year of the Zhenguan era. You don't still think that the plateau is an insurmountable barrier that shackles the banner of our Tang Dynasty, do you?"

No sooner had he finished speaking than the eunuch Sun Yi strode over.

"Your Highness, Li Xuanyun, the Prefect of Shanzhou in Longyou Circuit and concurrently the Commander-in-Chief of Chishui City and Qinghai City, has arrived!"

Songtsen Gampo's pupils contracted, but Li Chengqian nodded.

Soon, an elderly man with a stern demeanor, gray hair, and an air of military general despite wearing a civil official's robe stepped in.

"Your subject, Li Xuanyun, greets Your Highness the Crown Prince. May Your Highness be well!"

Li Chengqian personally stepped forward and gently helped him up. Li Xuanyun was immediately flattered and repeatedly bowed in respect.

"Prefect Li, you served as the Prefect of Shanzhou for seven or eight years. After that, you devoted yourself to the establishment and management of Qinghai City and Chishui City, sharing the burden of the country. Now, both cities are prosperous cities in the northwest of our Great Tang Dynasty."

"It's time for me to give you more responsibilities..."

Li Xuanyun's heart skipped a beat, and his gaze swept over the homeless dog, Songtsen Gampo, almost imperceptibly.

Then he bowed to Li Chengqian.

"I obey Your Highness's orders. I am honored to receive the Emperor's bounty, and even if there are countless difficulties, I will not fail Your Highness's grace!"

Li Chengqian nodded in satisfaction.

He handed the other party a thick document that he had prepared in advance.

Songtsen Gampo saw it clearly from the side; on the cover of the document, there were several large characters written.

"The Establishment of the Tibetan Path and its General Military and Political Principles"

"You, you want the Tang army to directly occupy my Tibet?!" Songtsen Gampo stood up angrily, his eyes wide with disbelief.

But the next moment, Murong Shun pressed him back into the chair with a vicious thud.

"You won't succeed! By doing this, you'll only make the Mud Kingdom more wary of your Great Tang. You..."

Li Chengqian ignored the prisoner.

He smiled at Li Xuanyun, who was frowning and intently studying the document, with an encouraging expression.

"Now that our Great Tang has little military affairs, the Xianbei people who were originally from Tuyuhun have also integrated into our Great Tang and have a stable life. There is no need to station so many troops in Qinghai City and Chishui City. Therefore, I plan to transfer these soldiers to the plateau to replace the entire territory of Tubo and establish the Tibetan Plateau Road of our Great Tang."

"Prefect Li, are you willing to accept this important task?"

dare?

Your Highness, asking such a question is completely unnecessary!

With a flush of excitement in his eyes, Li Xuanyun slammed the document in his hand shut and knelt down on the ground with a thud.

He bowed deeply to Li Chengqian.

"Your Highness, despite my advanced age, has promoted me to this important position. I am willing to follow the example of Zhuge Liang and vow to govern our Great Tang with peace and stability as firm as Mount Tai!"

"If I fail to live up to the Emperor's grace, I will be struck down by five thunderbolts, and the descendants of the Li family of Guzang will be wiped out!"