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Five years after the establishment of the dynasty.

The destruction of Tuyuhun and the establishment of the Western Sea and River Source Protectorates further fueled the already vigorous national power of the empire.

Throughout the court and among the people, praise for Wanwan, who had rendered unparalleled service as a Noble Consort and was even granted the title of Prince of Zhenxi, reached its zenith. The empire's territory expanded westward by a thousand miles, directly bordering the Tibetan Empire, the overlord of the plateau.

The Tubo Kingdom, which rose from the Yarlung Tsangpo River Valley and rapidly unified the various tribes of the plateau under the rule of King Songtsen Gampo, establishing a powerful slave-based military regime, was on the eve of its first golden age.

Songtsen Gampo was a man of great talent and ambition. He established official positions, formulated laws, and created a written language, modeled after the Sui Dynasty system. He also used marriage alliances as a pretext to probe the enemy's strength and seize benefits. He was filled with vigilance, fear, and... a competitive desire mixed with ambition as he looked at the emerging Hua Empire in the north, which was conquering Tuyuhun with lightning speed.

In the summer of the fifth year of the reign of Emperor Dingding, while Wanwan was busy stabilizing the newly established governorate and suppressing the remnants of the Tuyuhun tribes, Tibetan cavalry began frequently crossing the Tanggula and Bayan Har Mountains, using "nomadic" and "hunting" pretexts to spy on the Chinese army, harass surrendered tribes, and plunder caravans. Furthermore, intelligence indicated that Songtsen Gampo had secretly taken in and sheltered some of the Tuyuhun noble remnants who had fled to Tibet, revealing his wolfish ambitions.

The imperial central government reacted swiftly and forcefully to this.

Upon returning from the northern frontier to report on his duties, Song Que, the Duke of Zhenguo and Chief of the Privy Council, strongly advocated a proactive strategy against Tibet: "Tibet is located in a high-altitude, cold region with fierce and warlike people. Songtsen Gampo is no ordinary ruler. Although its power is still limited, its system is newly established, and its military strength is at its peak. If we wait until it integrates the various tribes of the plateau and consolidates its foundation, it will surely become a major threat to our dynasty, far surpassing the Tuyuhun! We should take advantage of its unstable foothold, its recent unification, and the internal rifts, and crush it in one fell swoop with overwhelming force! Otherwise, the consequences will be endless."

Yi Huawei wholeheartedly agreed. The empire, after three years of recuperation, was at its peak in both national strength and military power, riding the wave of its victory over Tuyuhun, and its morale was high. While Tibet was strong, it was still a relatively new state, and the various tribes on the plateau were not a unified entity. Its economic foundation was weak, making it difficult to sustain a prolonged, large-scale war. This was precisely the strategic window of opportunity.

"However, the land of Tubo is known as the 'Roof of the World,' with an average altitude far exceeding that of Tuyuhun. The air is thin, the climate is harsh, the roads are treacherous, and supplies are difficult to obtain. Its people are accustomed to the high plateau from childhood and are fearless in the face of death. This battle is unlike the Central Plains or Qinghai; it is a true clash of natural barriers."

Yi Huawei's gaze swept across the area marked as rugged mountains and wastelands on the map, and he said in a deep voice, "We must be fully prepared, and we also need a commander who is both wise and brave, who can adapt to extreme environments and make good use of the forces of all parties."

All eyes turned to Wanwan, who had just been granted the title of Prince of Zhenxi for her merit in defeating Tuyuhun.

Wanwan had just experienced high-altitude warfare and was familiar with the environment, and her four Shu generals and troops had also adapted to the high altitude. However, this time the opponent was stronger, the territory was wider, and the difficulty was greater.

Wanwan stepped forward, her red robes fluttering: "Your Majesty, I am willing to lead the vanguard once again. In the battle against Tuyuhun, our army has accumulated experience in high-altitude warfare, and the Ministry of Works' Institute of Crafts has also improved its cold-weather equipment and marching rations based on feedback. Although Tibet is dangerous, there are internal conflicts that can be exploited. When I was in Sichuan, I paid attention to Tibetan intelligence and knew that its southeastern vassal states (such as Supi and the Women's Kingdom) and western Yangtong (Zhangxiong) were not completely subservient to Songtsen Gampo, and could be used to divide them. Moreover, Tuyuhun has just been destroyed, and its territory borders ours, which can be used as a forward base to shorten the supply line."

Song Que nodded: "What the Imperial Consort says makes sense. However, Tibet is vast and has great strategic depth, unlike Tuyuhun. This battle requires a multi-pronged approach, with attacks from multiple directions to make it difficult for them to attend to both ends. This old minister wishes to personally lead one route, starting from Longyou and the source of the Yellow River, advancing westward along the Huangshui-Qinghai route, directly towards the northeastern gateway of Tibet—Doma (present-day Madoi, Qinghai), to draw their main force away. The Imperial Consort can lead the elite troops of Sichuan and Chongqing, and from the west, split up and penetrate from the southeast, contacting vassal states, disrupting their heartland, and seeking an opportunity to cut off their connection with Nepal and India to the south. Another detachment can be sent south along the old road of Khotan (present-day Hotan) to harass their western Yangtong and tie down their forces."

This is an extremely ambitious and risky strategy.

The three-pronged attack, traversing thousands of miles of extreme terrain, presented an unprecedented challenge to logistics, command, and the morale of the soldiers. However, if successful, it would create a pincer movement against Tibet, severely restricting its maneuverability and accelerating its internal collapse.

Yi Huawei finally made the decision: "Let's proceed with this plan! Song Gong will be the Grand Commander of the Expedition against Tibet, overseeing the entire operation. Wanwan will be the Grand Commander of the Southwest Route, leading 80,000 troops from Sichuan and the Western Sea, advancing from Songzhou and Yaozhou (present-day Yao'an, Yunnan). Li Jing will be the Grand Commander of the Northwest Route, leading 50,000 troops from Anxi (a newly established region, encompassing Khotan and other areas) and part of Longyou, heading south from Khotan, with Yangtong as their target. Song Gong himself will lead the central army of 100,000, departing from the source of the Yellow River, and pressing towards Lhasa!"

"The goal of this battle is not to repel or punish, but to completely annihilate the Tibetan regime and forever bring the plateau under Chinese rule! All departments must cooperate closely, proceed steadily and surely, and avoid being greedy for quick success or rash advances. The Institute of Crafts and the Logistics Department must provide full support, especially ensuring sufficient supplies of special equipment and medicines for protection against cold, miasma, and adaptation to the plateau!"

In the third month of spring, the sixth year of the reign of Emperor Dingding.

The imperial machine was once again in full swing for the war. More than 230,000 troops (over 400,000 including auxiliary soldiers and laborers) were assembled along the long western border, with supplies and weapons piled up like mountains. Specially made "high-altitude cotton armor" (lined with camel wool and cotton, and coated with waterproof grease), snow goggles, portable oxygen bladders, high-calorie "compressed rations" (a mixture of dried meat, fried noodles, and ghee), and anti-frostbite ointment were continuously transported to the front lines. Accompanying the army were a large number of medical officers skilled in high-altitude diseases, guides familiar with Tibetan affairs, and translators.

In April, the war broke out in full force.

In the central route, Song Que's army swore an oath at the Xihai Governor's Mansion and advanced westward along the ancient Qiang Central Road (the northern route from Qinghai to Tibet). This army, mainly composed of elite troops from the Central Plains and Longyou, faced the harshest natural environmental challenges—high altitude, low oxygen, severe cold, and unpredictable climate.

Song Que was extremely strict in his military discipline. Although the march was slow, it was steady. He strictly regulated the daily schedule, set up supply depots, and emphasized keeping warm and preventing disease. Facing the main force of the Tubo army, led by the Tubo general Gar Tongtsen Yusong (also known as Lu Dongzan), which used the terrain to block them layer by layer and constantly harassed their supply lines with small groups of elite cavalry, Song Que remained calm and composed. He advanced steadily with his heavy infantry in formation, supported by powerful crossbowmen and a small number of cavalry to protect the flanks. Like a mobile fortress, they gradually rolled over the Doma grassland and pressed into the heart of Tubo territory.

The battle was brutal and protracted, with the Chinese army suffering heavy non-combat casualties. However, their superior discipline and equipment gradually became apparent, and the Tibetan army was unable to stop their advance, forcing them to retreat step by step and shrink towards Lhasa.

The actions of the Southwest Route Army were even more unpredictable and volatile.

Wanwan, with the elite Yi cavalry of Chuanmouxun and the Qiang mountain troops of Fengzhen as her vanguard, traversed the treacherous valleys and dense forests of the Hengduan Mountains, bypassing the main roads heavily fortified by the Tibetan army, and infiltrated southeastern Tibet. Taking full advantage of internal conflicts within Tibet, Paisina and her entourage used wealth and promises to contact tribes such as Supi and Gongbu who were dissatisfied with Songtsen Gampo's centralized power, offering them benefits such as autonomy and trade. They successfully instigated some tribes to rebel or remain neutral, even acting as guides and providing supplies.

Jiao Luofeng's heavy infantry advanced steadily along a slightly gentler route, clearing out the Tibetan garrison at Lhasa. Wanwan herself led the "Xuanhu Guard" and Yin Kui Sect experts in numerous decapitation strikes, assassinating local Tibetan nobles and generals. Within two months, war raged in southeastern Tibet, the trade route to Nepal was cut off, and Songtsen Gampo's rear was in turmoil, forcing him to divide his forces to deal with the situation, greatly relieving the pressure on Song Que's front.

On the northwestern route, Li Jing led his army across the southern edge of the Taklamakan Desert, traversing the treacherous Karakoram Mountains from Khotan, and suddenly appeared on the border of Yangtong (Xiangxiong), a powerful western Tibetan state. Yangtong was not weak, but had long maintained a distant relationship with the central Tibetan regime. Li Jing adopted a strategy of both appeasement and suppression, pacifying tribes willing to submit and swiftly striking down those who resisted. The Chinese army was well-equipped, especially with crossbows and siege weapons, which inflicted heavy losses on the Yangtong army, which was accustomed to cavalry charges. The army advanced steadily, constantly wearing down Yangtong's forces, preventing them from aiding Lhasa to the east and forcing them to seek help from Songtsen Gampo, further dispersing Tibet's already stretched resources. By July of the sixth year of the Dingding era, the war had entered a crucial stage.

Although the three Chinese armies made varying progress and suffered considerable casualties, their strategic objectives were largely achieved. Song Que's main force had broken through the Tanggula Pass and was approaching the northern edge of the Lhasa River Valley; Wanwan's army swept across the southeast, threatening the southeastern gateway to Lhasa; and Li Jing firmly held off Yangtong. The Tibetan territory was severely compressed, and the core Lhasa region was exposed to the advance of the Chinese army.

Songtsen Gampo, a truly great ruler, displayed astonishing strength in the face of dire straits. He abandoned most of his outlying strongholds, concentrating all his elite troops (approximately 150,000) in the Lhasa Valley. Relying on the Potala Palace and the surrounding mountains, he constructed an extremely formidable defensive system, and conscripted all able-bodied men, vowing to live and die with the nation. Simultaneously, he exploited the complex terrain of the Yarlung Tsangpo River valley—the last natural barrier on the plateau—and the long supply lines and impending harsh winter for the Chinese army, intending to wear them down and await internal strife or forced retreat.

The siege of Lhasa lasted from August to October.

This was the most arduous battle since the founding of the Hua Empire. Song Que and Wanwan's two armies joined forces at the foot of Lhasa, with a total strength of about 150,000, facing the Tibetan soldiers and civilians who were defending the city to the death and the harsh late autumn climate of the plateau.

The siege was exceptionally fierce. The Tibetan army, positioned on higher ground, rained down logs, stones, arrows, and poisoned darts. The Chinese army's large siege equipment faced difficulties transporting and assembling due to the rugged terrain. Even more alarming was the fact that as the weather turned colder, non-combat casualties worsened, placing immense pressure on supply lines, with grain routes from the former Tuyuhun territory frequently harassed by Tibetan remnants.

At this critical moment, Yi Huawei sent an imperial edict from the capital, granting the front lines maximum trust and support, and mobilizing the empire's reserves to ensure logistical support at all costs. Simultaneously, a secret order was also delivered to Wanwan.

It was a snowy night at the end of October.

Wanwan personally led hundreds of the most elite members of the Yin Kui Sect and Sichuan masters, including "Monkey King" Feng Zhen and "Beauty" Sina, and with the help of some Tibetan spies who had been turned against them, to climb the sheer cliffs with ropes, grappling hooks and other tools through a secret path on the cliff behind the Potala Palace!
At the same time, Song Que launched an unprecedentedly fierce feint attack on the front, drawing all the attention of the Tibetan garrison.

When Wanwan and her entourage, covered in snow but with eyes burning like wolves, appeared like divine warriors descending from the heavens in the core area of ​​the Potala Palace, the guards of the Tibetan court were instantly thrown into chaos! Fengzhen, Sina, and others split up and took action, some assassinating officers, some setting fires to create chaos, and some directly attacking the main hall where Songtsen Gampo was located.

Songtsen Gampo was also protected by skilled warriors, including Tibetan Bon shamans and highland warriors, who fought desperately. Wanwan's Twin Demon Slashes once again displayed their divine power, carving a bloody path through the narrow palace corridors and charging straight at Songtsen Gampo!

Songtsen Gampo himself was also a valiant warrior, wielding a gold-inlaid and jade-adorned royal sword, and engaged Wanwan in battle. However, Wanwan's martial arts had reached a state of perfection, and the fighting power she unleashed was earth-shattering. After dozens of rounds of fierce fighting, Wanwan, in conjunction with Sina's silent release of a mixed poisonous mist, finally pierced Songtsen Gampo's shoulder blade with a single sword strike, severely wounding and capturing him!

News of the Zanpu's capture spread like wildfire among the Tibetan garrison, completely shattering their already crumbling morale. Taking advantage of this, Song Que's army launched a general offensive, breaching several sections of the city walls.

The sixth year of the reign, on the third day of the eleventh month.

Lhasa fell. The Tibetan regime was declared extinct.

The remaining Tibetan nobles and ministers either died in battle or surrendered. Songtsen Gampo was seriously wounded and captured (later escorted to Luoyang, where he died from his injuries in the seventh year of his reign). The Bon religion suffered a heavy blow.

After the war, the Chinese Empire did not carry out large-scale massacres.

Yi Huawei had already given a clear order: "The people of Tibet are also my subjects. Now that the ringleader has been eliminated, the rest should be pacified."

Song Que and Wanwan quickly stabilized the situation, relocating the resisting Tibetan nobles to the interior and dismantling their tribes. They established the Tibetan Protectorate in Lhasa, which governed several prefectures and states including Lhasa, Zangfan, Supi, and Yangtong, stationing troops and officials there and implementing Chinese laws. They also relocated some Han Chinese, Qiang, and Tuyuhun people to settle and trade, accelerating assimilation. They constructed an official road leading to Lhasa (the initial phase of the "Heavenly Road") to strengthen control.

The eight-month-long war of annihilation, spanning the roof of the world, ended in a complete victory for the Hua Empire. The empire's territory expanded significantly westward and southward once again, directly bordering Nepal and India, and its influence penetrated deep into Central Asia.

From this day forward, the Tibetan Plateau will forever belong to China.

An unprecedentedly vast empire is standing tall in the East, and its power and influence are only just beginning to emerge.

………………

Ten years after establishing the dynasty.

Since the founding of the dynasty, the Hua Empire, a massive machine designed and driven by Yi Huawei, has undergone three years of recuperation and institutional establishment. After being tempered by two large-scale external conquests in the fourth year of the dynasty's establishment—the pacification of Tuyuhun in the west and the destruction of Tubo in the snowy region in the sixth year—it has become increasingly stable, efficient, and sharp.

The empire's territory stretched north to the edge of the Gobi Desert, west to the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, east to the vast ocean, and south to Lingnan and Annam. Its population was abundant, granaries plentiful, roads extensive, and trade flourishing. The imperial examination system continuously supplied the empire with talented individuals, and the ingenious ideas of the Imperial Crafts Academy were constantly transformed into tangible productivity and military strength. The Censorate's eyes and ears were everywhere, ensuring the implementation of the central government's will. (End of Chapter)