The Leisurely Life of the Prince of the Tang Dynasty

Chapter 548 Drinking Friends

Vested interests never take anything for granted. This is true for the emperor and even more so for the Tang Dynasty.

Before Tibet could become a part of the Tang Dynasty and all the benefits had to be redistributed, the Tang Dynasty had given Tibet ten years.

Ten years of preparation is enough for the Tang Dynasty.

In the Tubo Protectorate, Li Anqi arranged batches of soldiers and horses to leave here and head to the heartland of Tubo.

Lu Dongzan sat at the gate of the Protectorate and asked, "Will you let the Tibetans kill each other?"

Li Anqi said: "It is better to suffer a short pain than a long one. As long as we kill a very small number of people and exile a very small number of people to plant trees in the desert, we can keep Tubo stable for a long time at this cost. This is a great thing for the prime minister."

Lu Dongzan sat under the eaves of the Protectorate with lifeless eyes. Ever since Guo Daiju went to see the Tibetan king, he had been guarding the Tibetan Protectorate.

Looking at the smile on Li Anqi's face, Lu Dongzan said again: "Remember, I met your father Li Baiyao before."

Li Anqi lowered his head and smiled bitterly, "My father passed away."

"Although your father is no longer with us, there are many more powerful people in the Tang Dynasty." Lu Dongzan recalled the scene when he and Li Baiyao were quarreling in the Ministry of Rites.

Several of his opponents back then have passed away, but Lu Dongzan does not feel happy at all, he is even more worried.

Looking at Li Anqi's expression again, Lu Dongzan said, "You seem very interested."

"Well, as soon as I finish my work here, I will go back to Chang'an."

Hearing this, Lu Dongzan took out the wine bag and handed it to him, saying, "My friend, this is the barley wine I brewed myself."

Li Anqi took the water bag, took a sip of the wine and said, "When we return to Chang'an, I will ask someone to buy your barley wine."

Lu Dongzan sat on a Hu stool with his back against the wooden door of the Protectorate. There was a huge map in the Protectorate behind him, which showed the entire territory of Tubo.

The maps drawn by the Tang people were different from those drawn by the Tibetans, but the Tang people said their maps were better.

In the maps of the Tang Dynasty, Tibet was actually very vast, but its population was very small.

This map was drawn by students of the Tang Dynasty's Academy of Literature during their travels in Tubo over the past few years. Whenever Lu Dongzan saw this map, he could feel the ambition of the Heavenly Khan.

In fact, a long time ago, when Tian Khan asked someone to draw this map, he had already started to plot against Tubo.

When Li Anqi returned to the Protectorate, a deputy general stepped forward and asked quietly, "Protector Li, why is this Tibetan prime minister still here?"

Lu Dongzan has been sitting here ever since Guo Daiju went to the heartland of Tubo.

Li Anqi did not respond to the general and continued to look at the document handed to him.

If the Tang people really started to massacre the Tibetans, Lu Dongzan would most likely be the first to rush into the Protectorate and fight to the death.

This prime minister still loves the Tibetan people very much.

In June of the Tibetan year, a group of Tibetan nobles were escorted to the Protectorate. Li Anqi ordered: "Escort them to the Western Regions to plant trees, and send the first three to Chang'an City for punishment."

These days, Lu Dongzan sees such things here almost every day. Lu Dongzan knows these Tibetan nobles who were escorted here.

These nobles were formed after the Zamp unified Tubo.

"Prime Minister! You have to save us!" an elderly Tibetan noble shouted.

Lu Dongzan ignored them and continued to sit with his eyes closed, allowing the Tibetan soldiers to escort them away.

If the Tang people escorted them, Lu Dongzan might resist.

But the ones escorting these nobles were Tibetan children. The Tibetan children escorted the Tibetan nobles to Chang'an City, and Lu Dongzan would just stand by and watch.

Documents were continuously sent out from the heartland of Tubo. Li Anqi ordered his men to deliver the documents to Chang'an City.

The plateau is overcast today and it looks like there will be strong winds. I can hear thunder coming from the sky.

There is also spring thunder in Tubo. There was spring thunder in April this year.

It is now June, the season with the most thunderstorms in Tubo. Raindrops fall from the sky and land on the ground, even hurting people.

Li Anqi supported Lu Dongzan and walked into the Protectorate. When they turned around and looked back, it was pouring rain outside.

Lu Dongzan’s request was very simple, that is, as long as the Tang people here did not cross his bottom line, that is, they could not kill Tibetan civilians.

Songtsen Gampo's request was very simple. He just wanted the current emperor to remain on the throne and live in peace.

Outside the Protectorate, there was a heavy rain pouring down, and there was even a flash of lightning, which flashed for a moment and then disappeared.

Li Anqi and Lu Dongzan sat in the warm Protectorate, drinking milk tea and talking about the past.

Lu Dongzan's past with the Tang Dynasty began when he was sent as an envoy to the Tang Dynasty in the seventh year of Zhenguan.

The first time he came to the Tang Dynasty as an envoy, he met His Majesty, who was then the Crown Prince. Lu Dongzan felt that this was a very lucky thing for him.

Afterwards, Lu Dongzan started talking about his previous dealings with the Ministry of Rites.

Li Anqi also listened to his past with my father and asked in confusion: "So, the one who fought with my father in the Honglu Temple was not the prime minister, but Sangbuza?"

Lu Dongzan took a sip of milk tea and nodded, "Well, I won't fight with the officials of the Tang Dynasty. If I have to fight, I will only fight with the soldiers of the Tang Dynasty."

Li Anqi felt a warning in the other party's words. Now he was still the prime minister of Tubo and still had appeal in Tubo. As long as he gave the order, Tubo could still raise an army to fight against the Tang army.

"For the Tang Dynasty, the Tang Dynasty hopes that the civilians of Tibet can also live in peace. If there are any rebellious troops in Tibet, the Tang Dynasty will also eradicate them."

Lu Dongzan put down the milk tea, picked up the water bag and took a sip of barley wine.

Li Anqi frowned and said, "I heard that the Prime Minister didn't drink so much when he was in Chang'an. The Prime Minister at that time liked to drink tea."

"You Tang people like to treat this as alcoholism? You Tang people also like to drink."

Li Anqi smelled the alcohol coming from the other person and smiled helplessly again.

No one knew how Guo Daiju acted. This was the Ministry of War's business. Even the Tibetan Protectorate and Chongwenguan were unable to know or participate and could only assist from the side.

Li Anqi could only guess that Guo Daiju brought the transfer order from the Ministry of War, the personnel from the Ministry of War, and even officials from the Ministry of Rites and the Ministry of Justice.

This matter was directly issued by the Ministry of War, people were sent directly from the court, and the emperor gave the order directly.

Neither the Protectorate nor the Chongwenguan had the power to interfere in what the reason was and how Guo Daiju divided the pasture.

Lu Dongzan was drinking by himself. The thunderstorm outside had also weakened. Seeing that he looked unhappy, he asked again, "What are you thinking about?"

Li Anqi clicked his tongue and said, "You know what? The court is different now than it was before."

"The emperor has changed, of course it's different." Lu Dongzan was a little drunk and replied lightly.

"You have been in Chang'an for many years. Maybe what you have heard and seen are all passed down by word of mouth or recorded in history books." Li Anqi whispered, "I felt it when I was the county magistrate in Guanzhong, although the officials in the court were appointed by the Ministry of Personnel and approved by the emperor."

Lu Dongzan asked, "Will the emperor remember every one of your officials?"

Li Anqi said: "Before every official takes office, the emperor will approve it and personally review it."

"Every one? Everyone's name will be checked?" "I heard that's the case."

"What's the difference?"

"They act differently. Local officials cannot interfere with the behavior of officials in the court, and officials in the court will not interfere with local officials when they go to the local areas. In some principles, the two sides are actually two groups of people."

Lu Dongzan burped and blinked hard, "Like you and Guo Daiju?"

Li Anqi nodded, "It makes the Prime Minister laugh."

"Well, it's indeed different."

After saying this, Lu Dongzan passed out drunk in the Protectorate.

Li Anqi put a piece of beef into his mouth, and then selected some better ones from a pile of air-dried beef and put them into a box.

"Someone is coming."

The deputy general walked to the door and said, "Protector General!"

Li Anqi handed over the box of dried beef and said, "Give it to the Crown Prince of the East Palace."

The deputy general took the wooden box with both hands, bowed and said, "Here."

Seeing Li Duhu nod, the deputy general looked at Lu Dongzan lying on the ground and said, "Is it..."

Li Anqi carried the drunk Lu Dongzan on his shoulders and said, "You send the beef to Chang'an, I will take care of the prime minister."

"Here."

The safety of this prime minister is related to the stability of Tubo and the Tang Dynasty, so Li Anqi must ensure that he is alive, or at least alive and well.

Putting him on the couch and looking at this elderly Tibetan prime minister, Li Anqi was deeply moved.

After dealing with the current issues, Li Anqi still has to consider the long-term. In the long run, he will not stay in Tubo for many years. Li Anqi also needs to consider himself and prepare for future promotion.

The prince spent two years in Pamirs, and it was heard that he often ate beef at that time.

Now Li Anqi heard that the prince missed the beef from Congling, most likely the prince still missed the life in Congling.

This news was brought by an official from the Ministry of Rites, so Li Anqi did so and waited to see if there would be more news from the Eastern Palace.

It would be a good thing if I could return to Chang'an in the future, or if the future prince still remembered the beef I gave him.

Li Anqi did not feel ashamed of doing these things. Besides, it was just some beef and the Censorate would not interfere.

"Protector General, clerk of the Ministry of War."

Li Anqi took the document and asked the official who delivered it to go away first. Listening to Lu Dongzan's snoring, he started to get busy again.

It was not until August in Tubo that Li Anqi met Guo Daiju after not seeing him for two months.

Guo Daiju looked much more haggard and thinner.

Li Anqi originally wanted to discuss the affairs of Tubo with him again, but Guo Daiju did not stay here for long. He took a few documents and left.

After his departure, Li Anqi felt lost again. He sat down in front of the gate of the Protectorate and watched Guo Daiju riding away on his horse.

Lu Dongzan, who was drunk, came over and asked, "Hasn't he finished his work yet?"

"do not know."

The two men drank barley wine and watched Guo Daiju's troops walk away.

Li Anqi asked, "If my father knew that you and I had become good friends, how would he feel?"

Lu Dongzan smiled heartily and said, "As long as you are in Tubo, you will have endless barley wine to drink."

In the past, Li Anqi would never have thought that he and Lu Dongzan would become friends.

I hadn't originally thought of becoming friends with Lu Dongzan, but Lu Dongzan came almost every day, and the two of us became friends.

The relationships between people are very strange. Li Anqi feels that it would be normal if he and Lu Dongzan became mortal enemies, and it would be inappropriate if they became friends for no reason.

Endless barley wine...

Li Anqi smiled bitterly. There was indeed endless barley wine at Lu Dongzan's place. The Protector General of the Tang Dynasty Protectorate was actually bribed by the wine.

Half a month later, a document was delivered to the Protectorate, saying that Guo Daiju had achieved great results in the heart of Tubo.

Dozens of Tibetan nobles were captured, Tibetan herdsmen were cheering, and many people were celebrating this achievement. The actions of the Tang officials in Tibet won great support from the people.

Li Anqi and Lu Dongzan walked along the bank of the Zangbo River. "You still refuse to believe this result."

Lu Dongzan smiled and said, "It's the same in the Western Regions. The Tang people's governance achievements in the Western Regions won praise from the people of the Western Regions because Guo Luotuo opened up many karez in the Western Regions."

"It's not easy to govern Tubo." Li Anqi said proudly, "We did it."

Lu Dongzan shook his head speechlessly.

There were many things that needed to be arranged to govern Tubo. After Guo Daiju came back, he left Tubo and returned to Chang'an City.

Li Anqi still stayed in the Tubo Protectorate, and it seemed that the beef he sent to the prince did not attract the prince's attention.

Even though he felt disappointed, so what? Li Anqi still had to deal with various things.

After Guo Daiju from the Ministry of War returned to Chang'an, three secretaries from the Ministry of Revenue and the Ministry of Personnel even came.

As before, no matter what the officials sent by the court to Tubo did, the Protectorate would provide full assistance as long as there was any need.

Lu Dongzan laughed and said, "Haha, the emperor sent so many people to Tubo. It seems that the things here are giving the emperor a headache. Guo Daiju returned to Chang'an City without taking you with him. You still have to stay here, my friend! Drink with me!"

In late September of the 13th year of Qianqing's reign, the court built an official residence in Tubo, appointed some Tubo people as Tubo officials, enforced Tang rules, and standardized Tubo laws.

Late at night, Songtsen Gampo was reading a book when he heard the bleating of sheep outside the door.

Lu Dongzan sat down on the threshold, his white hair rustling in the night wind. He asked wearily, "What will become of Tubo?"

Songtsen Gampo said: "The Khan said that things can't get worse."

"Write a letter to Tian Khan and ask Li Anqi to return to Chang'an and tell him that he is not suitable to stay in Tubo."

Before the Zanpu could reply, Lu Dongzan said, "I know that the Zanpu and Tian Khan still have correspondence. Three days ago, the Zanpu sent a letter to Tian Khan."

These things could be concealed from the Tibetan Protectorate but not from Lu Dongzan, because the letter was sent to Chang'an City by Tibetans and delivered to the hands of Guo Zhengyi, the Minister of the Ministry of Rites.

Who could have imagined that the changes in Tubo were actually the result of a conspiracy between Tubo’s Zamp and the Heavenly Khan? Otherwise... how could there be so many people supporting it.

"Aren't Daxiang and him friends? Who will Daxiang drink with after he leaves?"

(End of this chapter)