The Leisurely Life of the Prince of the Tang Dynasty

Chapter 262 Lu Dongzan's Life
Li Baiyao said, "Why? Are you not convinced? Then let your Zanpu send troops and we can fight again, how about that?"

Compared to Sambuza's anxiety, Lu Dongzan seemed calmer. He asked, "How much does your Highness want Tubo to pay?"

Li Chengqian said in distress: "Six thousand kilograms of gold."

Lu Dongzan shook his head and said, "Tibet doesn't have that much gold."

"This is not our problem. The Tang Dynasty will not consider it for you. This is your problem."

Several officials from the Ministry of Rites looked at each other, and they all felt that Tubo might not be as wealthy as Gaochang.

Li Chengqian smiled and said, "Songtsen Gampo is now facing a huge crisis of trust. Just like I said before, you wanted to use the equal-field system of the Central Plains to redistribute the herdsmen's land, but it didn't go as planned. The previous problem has not been solved yet, and now Songzhou has been defeated."

"As long as you hand over six thousand kilograms of gold, my father can issue an edict to enthrone Songtsen Gampo as the Tibetan king. With the approval of the Heavenly Khan, Tibet will be a vassal of the Tang Dynasty, and Songtsen Gampo's crisis of trust will be resolved."

"From now on, anyone in Tubo who dares not obey Songtsen Gampo's orders will be considered as disobeying the will of the Khan of Heaven."

Li Chengqian added: "The defeat in this battle was not due to a mistake in governance, but rather to a lack of trust between the many tribes of Tubo and the Yangtong people, Tuyuhun people, and the Nipolean people. Don't you think so?"

"In other words, Songtsen Gampo no longer wants to marry a Tang princess, and can also worship the Khan as his adoptive father. As the saying goes, there is no friendship without fighting. Isn't this a good story?"

Lu Dongzan turned his head away and didn't look at the prince.

Li Chengqian added: "Originally, our plan was to use the Qingshui River as the boundary with Tubo. The area east of the Qingshui River, including the Duoma River and Qinghai, would belong to the Tang Dynasty. Tubo would have a place to live in peace, and the previous trade would be allowed. We Tang people could even send officials to help you govern Tubo."

Even Sambuza was unwilling to agree to the prince's conditions. He gritted his teeth and clenched his fists, which were still shaking from the force he exerted.

Seeing that the rain was about to get heavier, Li Chengqian said with his hands in his pockets: "My proposal has always been valid, but whether the Tang army will continue to move south from Qinghai is not something that can be decided by one person. Well... That's all I have to say. Brother, enjoy the autumn rain in Guanzhong."

The Crown Prince of the Eastern Palace once again walked to the river bank where he went fishing, put away his fishing rod, got in the carriage and left.

Then the officials and escorting soldiers also left.

Sambuza said, “I didn’t expect the Crown Prince of the East Palace to make such an impolite request.”

Lu Dongzan looked at the rain falling from the sky and said, "He will have more greedy demands, but he just hasn't said them out loud."

"The Tang people are not to be trusted." Sambuza looked around and said, "Now that they have all left, there is no one to watch me and the prime minister. Let's flee back."

"escape?"

Lu Dongzan shook his head and said, "Because there is no need to watch over it."

After saying that, he walked into the rain. In this early autumn season, there was still a lot of green in Guanzhong, but there were already signs of withering.

In accordance with the request of the Crown Prince of the Eastern Palace, the Tibetan Prime Minister walked in the rain and was truly enjoying the autumn rain in Guanzhong.

The official road was a bit muddy, and after walking for a long time, Lu Dongzan's boots were covered with mud.

He saw a Tang child wearing a bamboo hat and running in the rain. The child was very strong and his steps were steady.

Wearing a coarse cloth, he ran into a tavern, and then his parents came out of the tavern, took off the child's hat and wiped the rain off his face.

The child was taken into the tavern amid scolding.

When Lu Dongzan passed by this tavern, what he heard was not the sound of a child crying, but a group of children laughing.

Not knowing where he was going, Lu Dongzan arrived at a village. There were many children in the village, walking in groups of three or five.

There were also children fighting in the mud in the autumn rain, showing off their not-so-strong arms, and not afraid of getting sick from the autumn rain.

At this moment, Lu Dongzan understood what the prince meant. The rain scene in Guanzhong was indeed beautiful.

After so many years, there are more and more children in Guanzhong, and some families even have groups of three or five children.

The next day, Lu Dongzan fell ill and caught a cold.

Sambuza found a doctor to treat Daxiang.

After talking with the crown prince by the Xianyang Bridge, the court seemed to have forgotten about them both. Now Sambuza couldn't even enter the Honglu Temple, let alone find a Tang doctor to help him. The Tubo prime minister fell ill again.

Sambuza could only find an elderly doctor in the market to treat the prime minister.

There were no soldiers guarding him, no officials summoning him, and no one coming to question him.

For several days in a row, Lu Dongzan and Sangbuza were like ordinary residents of Chang'an City, living a life similar to that of the Tang people.

Sangbuza knew that as long as the prime minister asked to see the prince and said that he agreed to the prince's request, they could live a more prosperous life in Chang'an, and might even be allowed to return to Tubo.

But now, after Sambuza sold his last fur, he realized that they were almost out of money, not even enough to stay in the inn.

"How could they treat Dae-sang like this?"

Lu Dongzan's condition improved a little. He sat up and said, "I heard that Sifang Pavilion can solve the livelihood of the people in the Western Regions. So if we go to Sifang Pavilion, we can also find a livelihood."

"The livelihood provided by Sifangguan is the hardest and most tiring work. Daxiang must not go there."

"Let's cancel the room here and find a cheaper place to stay."

Sambuza found himself crying. He looked at the prosperous city of Chang'an. It was such a big city, but there was no place for them to stay.

On that day, Lu Dongzan told the waiter at the inn that he could pay the room fee and still have one string of silver left.

In the Sifang Pavilion, Ashina She'er was eating noodles with his eyes wide open. He was a Turkic and now worked in Jingzhao Prefecture. Although he was a gatekeeper, at least he had no worries about food and clothing.

Looking at the thinly dressed Lu Dongzan and Sangbuza in front of him, Ashina She'er pulled Murong Shun over and asked curiously, "Is he the prime minister of Tubo?"

Murong Shun was lifted up by a big hand and carried from one table to another.

"General She'er, I am the most trustworthy merchant in the Western Regions, a merchant that Master Duhe relies on, an official merchant of Jingzhao Prefecture recognized by the Tang Dynasty, a good brother of the King of Yanqi, and a friend of Dilishi. Please be more respectful to me."

After hearing him list his identities, Ashina She'er said disdainfully, "You are too humble."

Murong Shun said sadly: "I travel between the Western Regions and Chang'an every year. Now I am skinny. I can eat a lot. There are too many Hu concubines recently. Do you want any, General Sheer?"

"No." He waved his hand and said, "I have a child."

It is also true that Ashina She'er's wife and children lived in Chang'an City, and went there to pay homage to the deceased Jie Li Khan from time to time.

Only Ashina She'er treated Jie Lizhen as his own uncle.

"Let me ask you, what is this Tibetan Prime Minister doing here?"

Murong Shun replied: "The Ministry of Rites set the rule two years ago that envoys from various countries must speak Guanzhong dialect when they come to Chang'an."

Seeing She'er's unfriendly look, Murong Shun changed his tone and explained, "I came to Sifang Pavilion to find a job."

After getting the answer, Ashina She'er kicked the man away again.

Murong Shun was kicked so hard that his body tilted to one side. He emphasized, "General Sheer, I am treated as a king in the Western Regions. Please show me some respect."

After that, he quickly sat back in his seat and continued eating noodles, fearing that he would be beaten.

Lu Dongzan and Sangbuza were proficient in Guanzhong dialect and could translate Tibetan and Western languages. They got a job as an editor and did not have to do hard labor. Instead, they were employed as editors. Sifang Pavilion provided two meals a day and the two could live in a side room. The room was very messy, but it could be lived in after cleaning it up.

In this way, Lu Dongzan and Sangbuza could settle down in Chang'an first, leaving the comfortable post house and ending up in the somewhat simple Sifang Pavilion.

At least this place can shelter from the wind and rain. Lu Dongzan realized one thing: the Tang people were not as arrogant as he thought.

On the contrary, the Tang people cared the most about knowledge. They left people from the Western Regions or Uighurs who were able to translate in Chang'an to compile and write about their local customs and practices for the Tang people.

The city of Chang'an is a huge whirlpool that attracts all kinds of people.

During the days he worked at Sifangguan, Lu Dongzan was able to read the classics here, but most of the books here were about the areas outside the Great Wall, and they were all classics from the Western Regions.

For Lu Dongzan, this job is boring and he doesn't gain anything from it.

Today, Lu Dongzan helped compile a volume of records about India and received a reward from the Literary Institute. Tubo and Nepal had exchanges and were able to go to India.

When he was young, Lu Dongzan had contacts with Indians, so learning Indian writing was not a difficult task for him.

In order to understand the power of the Tang people, Lu Dongzan felt that he needed to integrate into their lives.

After receiving the reward, Lu Dongzan went to a tavern to drink. Now he and Sangbuza were not wearing Tibetan clothes, but Tang clothes and spoke fluent Guanzhong dialect.

The autumn rain only stopped for two days, and as October approached, the rain became heavier again.

Li Chengqian stood in the Xingqing Hall and reached out to pick a ginkgo leaf from the window.

The eunuch was braving the rain, carrying Your Majesty's inkstone to the ink pool. After washing the inkstone, he ran back, wiped it clean, and placed it on Your Majesty's desk.

Li Shimin held up a map, squinted at the details on it and said, "Your work is done."

"not yet."

"I ordered the people of Mobei to leave Jie Li's hometown."

Li Chengqian replied: "It seems that Sangbuza is not worried. I asked the Ministry of Rites to arrange a Hu concubine for him, but he drove her away."

Li Shimin still looked at the map and asked, "How is Lu Dongzan now?"

"He found a job as an editor at Sifang Pavilion and settled down there for the time being."

"He is Songtsen Gampo's prime minister, and you want him to be a compiler in Sifangguan? Is that appropriate?"

"Very good, he can do the job."

Li Shimin thought of the past, shook his head and put down the map, "You are much more stingy than I am."

"Father has always been magnanimous, and no one will mind if I am a little stingy."

It is well known in the court and the country that the Crown Prince is not as magnanimous as Your Majesty. With this in mind... it is understandable to let Lu Dongzan work as an editor in Sifangguan.

"Do you think Lu Dongzan is a very knowledgeable person?"

"It would be a pity to kill him. If he returns to Tibet, he will easily become a trouble again. Let him work hard for the Tang Dynasty. Slowly, he will become a very loyal minister without us having to change him."

"You are young, but your intentions are sinister."

"Father is so complimentary."

Listening to the sound of rain outside the palace, Li Chengqian sat down and asked, "Has there been any news from Bohai?"

Li Shimin rubbed his brow and said, "No."

"I just know it."

"Hmph." Li Shimin snorted coldly.

Li Chengqian reached out and placed his father's hand on the bridge of his nose, saying, "Rub it here and under the eyes more, it will be better."

Li Shimin opened his eyes again and said, "It's because Xingqing Palace is too dark."

The hall was indeed very dark. Li Chengqian continued, "Father, please take care of your eyes."

"It's okay. I'm not old and blind yet."

"Father, what do you think of the boundaries planned on this map?"

Looking back at the map, Li Shimin asked, "Didn't you want to use the Qingshui River as the boundary to divide the territory with Songtsen Gampo? Why do you include Tubo now?"

"To expand our territory." Li Chengqian said with a kind smile, "As much as you can take, who would think it's too little?"

"Don't ever talk about asking Songtsen Gampo to be my adoptive father. I don't want such a rebellious son."

"Father is right. I will pay attention to it in the future."

"Humph, being made fun of."

Li Chengqian beckoned the eunuchs and ordered, "Write down anyone who makes fun of you and send them to the East Palace."

The old eunuch looked at His Majesty's expression and saw that His Majesty looked normal, so he replied: "I will have someone arrange it right away."

The father and son sat in the hall, minding their own business. It was very quiet in the hall, as they were both waiting for news.

The chairs in Xingqing Hall were not comfortable, so Li Chengqian simply moved a stool and placed it in front of the chairs.

Sitting on a chair with your legs stretched out and resting on the stool will make you more comfortable.

The sound of rain outside became louder, and the eunuch closed the windows to prevent the rain from disturbing His Majesty and the Crown Prince who were resting.

You can also hear the sound of rain hitting the roof.

After a long time, hurried footsteps were heard outside, followed by a few voices.

Li Shimin sat up and looked at his son who was still resting with his eyes closed. He walked to the door and pushed open the door of Xingqing Hall with his own hands.

A gust of wind brought rain towards him, so cold that the emperor gasped.

Li Chengqian, who was lying beside him, frowned slightly.

Seeing that the palace maid who was just here to deliver a message had brought some mutton and a copper pot, she said, "Your Majesty, Princess Changle said that she and the Queen would meet the women of various families today. The East Palace has no time to cook, so let Your Majesty and His Royal Highness the Crown Prince have a hot pot first."

Without waiting for the news he was waiting for, Li Shimin had no choice but to nod and let the palace maid come in. He lit the stove, poured a pot of soup, and the hot pot was ready.

"Eat, don't lie down."

"Can people from Jingzhao Prefecture and Chongwenguan go to Tibet?"

"Are you talking in your sleep?"

Li Chengqian suddenly sat up and asked, "Who said that teaching cannot go to the more remote Tubo?"

(End of this chapter)