Speaking of the popular figures of the Tang Dynasty, many people will think of those famous poets who have been passed down through the ages, or the name of Wang Xuance, the legendary king of the past, which is relatively strange. Although not as famous as other great figures of his contemporaries, Wang Xuance, as a great diplomat of the Tang Dynasty, also made a vigorous contribution.
The history books record the lives of people, and the chronicles of the people who have always chosen to emerge from the prominence of the characters are mostly only the manifestations of early wisdom, so the birth and death years of many historical figures are unknown.
The age of Wang Xuance's birth and death is also vague, only that he is a native of Luoyang, Henan, and his important deeds are in the Zhenguan period. The first time he was explicitly recorded in the history books was in the seventeenth year of Zhenguan, when he served as the commander of Huangshui County in Rongzhou.
Wang Xuance's diplomatic achievements were to open up the route from Tibet to India, promote the friendly establishment of diplomatic relations between the Tang Dynasty and Tianzhu, and also contribute to cultural communication and integration.
In his lifetime, Wang Xuance was able to determine that he had made three missions to India, and some people said that he had a fourth mission, but because there were few historical materials, it has always been somewhat controversial. And his most wonderful achievement was his second mission.
During the Zhenguan years, since Tang Taizong sent troops to solve the long-troubled Turkic problem and was known as the "Heavenly Khan", the Tang Dynasty ushered in a prosperous rule of Zhenguan, and countless heroes had the opportunity to shine.
At this time, the colorful western regions, which showed a different style, also continuously introduced their treasures to the Tang Dynasty, and the envoys of the Tang Dynasty also brought them rich cultural materials. The Tang Dynasty attached great importance to diplomacy, which not only promoted national prestige, but also brought about domestic development. It's just that not every exchange is peaceful. Sometimes, it also requires force of repression.
In the seventeenth year of Zhenguan, Wang Xuance, as the deputy envoy of Li Yibiao, the grand master of the Dynasty, sent an envoy to Tianzhu, which is what we now commonly call India. They escorted the brahmin envoys back to their homeland to the kingdom of Magadha in Tianzhu. The person who received them was the king of Jieri, who was willing to make good friends with the Tang Dynasty, so this mission was more harmonious.
After four years, twenty-one years after Zhenguan, Wang Xuance went to India again, and this time Tang Taizong appointed him as a regular envoy, with his deputy envoy Jiang Shiren, to command a thirty-member mission.
The four Heavenly Zhu sent emissaries with their belongings, ready to communicate with Wang Xuance's envoys in a friendly manner, and then returned to the Tang Dynasty with them to pay tribute. Only king Zhongtianzhu, who was willing to be friendly with the Tang Dynasty, had recently died, and the political situation was chaotic.
The ambitious minister Alona Shun usurped the throne, and did not intend to communicate peacefully with Wang Xuance's mission, but instead coveted the rich materials brought by the Tang Dynasty mission, and even sent troops to plunder, and also took the opportunity to rob other kings of their belongings, capturing the people of the mission, only Wang Xuance and his deputy envoy Jiang Shiren escaped with the help of the people left by the previous king.
This is a great shame for the mission and even the Tang Dynasty behind it. Although Wang Xuance saved his life, he knew that the war had just begun. Before they returned to Chang'an, they had to destroy Zhongtianzhu before they could return to Chang'an. In this way, the dignity of the Tang Dynasty could be maintained without destroying friendly relations with other Tianzhu kings.
At this time, the Tang Dynasty had already established diplomatic relations with many Fan States and included them in the Tang Dynasty, and Princess Wencheng entered Tibet to marry Songzan Gampo, which brought many years of peace to the Tang Dynasty and Tibet. Songtsen Gampo also married Neporo's Princess Ruzun at the same time, which opened up communication channels with Nipolo. Wang Xuance's trip this time was also intended to get some news of Songzan Gampo and Princess Wencheng.
At this time, the political situation was chaotic, and Alonashun could take more extreme measures at any time to sabotage the route of establishing diplomatic relations constructed by the Tang Dynasty. After thinking about it for a few times, Wang Xuance and his deputy jiang Shiren escaped the ambush of Alonashun and went north to the country of Nipo.
Relying on his excellent diplomatic ability, he borrowed 7,000 troops from Nipolo, and the Tubo Songtsen Gampo heard the news and also sent 1,200 Tubo elite soldiers, a total of more than 8,000 troops.
Although he borrowed foreign troops that had not been trained by his own hands, and had almost no experience in frontal combat before, Wang Xuance, as a diplomat, showed outstanding military talent and guidance ability, led the army, and won several battles.
His deputy, Jiang Shiren, was also the vanguard of the killing of the enemy, and the two worked well together. The men of the mission had been killed by Alonashun, and they were deeply aware of the significance of this battle, and they all held the mentality of breaking the ship and not returning. The so-called mourning soldiers will win, and the generals will mourn, and they are even more invincible.
First, Wang Xuance led the armies of Tubo and Nibola to attack the tea and luocheng in Tianzhu. Although Wang Xuance had never been on the battlefield before, he did not read the book of soldiers less.
During the Warring States period, the Qi general Tian Shan relied on the fire bull array to fight less and break through more, and recovered more than 70 cities in just a few months.
Although Wang Xuance was besieging the city at this time, his 8,000 people were facing 20,000 elephant soldiers of Alonashun, and there was obviously a huge gap in strength. The art of war pays attention to a "clever change", as long as it can defeat the enemy and win, the strategy of the defending side can also be used.
Wang Xuance, who had thought of a strategy to break the enemy, ordered the soldiers to find a thousand cattle, tie sharp blades on the horns, and lead the cattle to the battlefield.
Alona Shun, who had 20,000 elephant soldiers, did not take Wang Xuance's troops in his eyes, and when he saw a large herd of cattle appearing on the opposite side, he laughed and said that Wang Xuance was surrendering to Nagong.
However, when he saw that Wang Xuance had asked the soldiers to light the oxtail, he suddenly realized that something was wrong and immediately ordered the soldiers to retreat, but it was too late.
When the 20,000 elephants saw the mad cattle and flames on the other side, they panicked and panicked. The cattle had not yet been slaughtered, and many of Alonashun's soldiers had already been trampled to death by elephants.
Wang Xuance used his "Fire Bull Array" to kill Alona Shun to pieces. Frightened, AlonaShun never dared to step out of the city again, and huddled in the middle of the city to resist.
Seeing the situation, Wang Xuance led his troops to control the nearby river embankment, taking advantage of the terrain environment, opening the river embankment and coming to the "water flooding the golden mountain", drowning more than 10,000 enemy troops on the spot.
Seeing the danger of the situation, Alona fled in a hurry, but the thief was not dead, and gathered the remaining troops to engage the army led by Wang Xuance again, and also asked the other Tianzhu kings for reinforcements. But the ending was naturally defeated, and Alona Shun was captured by Jiang Shirensheng.
After Wang Xuance led his army to destroy thousands of enemy troops, Alonashun's wives and children still refused to surrender, and led the rest of the people to resist at Qiantuo Weijiang, but they were again defeated, and Alonashun's concubines and princes were captured, as well as 12,000 men and women, 30,000 livestock of various kinds, and a total of 580 cities along the way surrendered.
In the face of tens of thousands of troops, it is still possible to break through several cities, capture the enemy's head, and defeat the enemy army. Wang Xuance, a legendary figure who destroyed a country by one man, spread his name in Tianzhu.
Other Tianzhu kings who had once harbored the mentality of watching the fire from across the shore and even came to the aid of Alona Shun were shocked by his might, regretted it, and expressed their friendship one after another, and the corpse of the Eastern Tianzhu King, Kumo, sent 30,000 cattle and horses to feed King Xuan Ce and his army, and also sent bows, swords, and treasures. The Country of Jiawulu offered precious treasures, sent maps, and asked for the statue of Lao Tzu that the Tang Dynasty believed in.
Although he showed no mercy to Alonashun, Wang Xuance did not want to avenge his personal vendetta that had been humiliated, his purpose was only to publicize the national prestige of the Tang Dynasty and deter Fanbang.
As for the other Tianzhu forces, Wang Xuance was also well aware of the laxity, forgave them for not being firm enough in their previous positions, and accepted their overtures. After all, as soon as he made this move, the prestige of the Tang Dynasty was established, which was enough to suppress these people.
This time, wang Xuance, who had won a great victory and great benefits, sent the captured princess and prince of Alonashun, together with the captured men, women, and livestock, back to Chang'an, and made a huge offering to Tang Taizong, and the scene was very spectacular. When Emperor Taizong of Tang heard about his deeds along the way and saw the treasures, cattle and sheep he had offered, he was greatly satisfied with his merits and made King Xuan Ce the Grand Master of Chaoshan.
But in the final analysis, Tianzhu was far away, and the key targets of the Tang Dynasty at that time were mostly Eastern and Western Turks, Goguryeo, etc. This time, if it were not for the rebellion of Alonashun of Zhongtianzhu, the rulers almost never regarded Tianzhu as a threat to the Tang Dynasty.
The praise for Wang Xuance is also more that he maintained the dignity of the Tang Dynasty army, captured a wealth of materials, and completed his diplomatic tasks, so he did not regard Wang Xuance as a unique talent.
In addition, Wang Xuance also brought back Tianzhu's Fang Shi Na Shu Bao. This alchemist claimed to have the art of immortality, but he could guarantee immortality, and he had a life span of two hundred years because he had taken homemade elixirs.
After Wang Xuance heard about it, he was very interested and had the intention of making meritorious contributions, so he dedicated it to Tang Taizong. After spending several months, the woman finally created a elixir that was said to prolong life. Just when Tang Taizong was seriously ill, it was useless to eat any elixir, so he also tried to eat the medicine that the mother had made.
The medicine made was useless and harmless, Tang Taizong ate it, his condition did not improve, and he died not long after. The woman was also regarded as a useless person and was released back to China.
Wang Xuance brought back the Alchemist, presumably with meritorious selfishness. However, the alchemist failed to cure Tang Taizong, and Wang Xuance naturally failed to establish merit from this alchemist. Although Tang Taizong had always been in poor health, the various Dan Medicines he usually took were not his aphrodisiacs, not to mention that Wang Xuance invited Tianzhu's alchemists, and the source of the Dan Medicine was even more questionable.
With this layer of relationship, although Wang Xuance's deeds were prominent, under the situation of Tang Xuanzong's serious illness and death, it was naturally quickly forgotten. Throughout Emperor Taizong's life, Wang Xuance's official position was not promoted.
After a few years, in the second year of Emperor Gaozong's reign, Wang Xuance sent a third mission to India. This time, he went for peace and brought back ten sugar producers from India for the Tang Dynasty, whose "bamboo method" could make finer sugar slabs and lighter colors.
Although this has also brought economic benefits to a certain extent, improving sugar technology and enriching the culture of sugar cane. However, the so-called heroes of the times, Wang Xuance was not too valued by the rulers at that time, and in the era of Emperor Gaozong of Tang, Wang Xuance did not have more prominent deeds later.
Wang Xuance's exploits were not dazzling enough compared with other well-known figures of his time. The Tang Dynasty was militarily powerful, and there were countless heroes and famous generals who opened up conquests abroad, and as a diplomat, his deeds of eliminating the rebellion of Zhongtianzhu were not publicized too much, let alone established a legend for him, so it gradually dimmed in the history books.
From the perspective of today's people, Wang Xuance is neither a poet who can write his own battlefield battle exploits, nor is he remembered by poets for generations like Li Guangyi Nanping, and his story is not interested by posterity because it does not have much artistic component. But his posture of not being in danger and fighting bravely to kill the enemy also deserves to be a special silhouette in history.