The term "heqin" was first used in books such as Zhou Li, Li Ji and Zuo Zhuan. Its meaning is interpreted as "harmonious affection".
Because of the in-law relationship, that is, "marrying the princess", the earliest for Han Gaozu to adopt Liu Jing's strategy. The policy of peace and pro-Tang Dynasty began to prevail. Before Emperor Gaozu of Tang Dynasty Li Yuan decided to pass the Middle School, he wanted to make peace with the Huairou Turks. Li Yuan once said:
"I should use long strategies to control them, and make them with my relatives..."
Unfortunately, this measure has not been implemented. According to historical records, after this, Tang Gaozu promised to marry several times, but did not marry a princess.
Stills of Tang Gaozu Li Yuan
The Han and Tang Dynasties are not the same as "he and pro"
As far as strategic objectives are concerned, the peace and pro-can be used to win over, exclude, alienate, and even divide enemy countries. In addition, in terms of military objectives, the effect of "military alliance" can also be achieved through peace and affinity.
In the twenty-third year of Ruzhenguan (649), when Emperor Taizong died and Emperor Gaozong succeeded to the throne, Tubo Zangpu Nongzan wrote a letter to his eldest son Wuji, saying: "There are disloyal people under the army, and I would like to send soldiers to the country to seek revenge." Therefore, the effect of Emperor Taizong marrying Princess Wencheng in that year can be seen from this.
In the Han Dynasty, the pro-he-pro policy was only a short-acting "painkiller" – its effect was limited. However, during the Sui and Tang dynasties, especially in the early Tang Dynasty, peace and kinship were a formal foreign strategy.
Stills of Tang Taizong
The Tang Dynasty's true foreign peace began in the thirteenth year of Emperor Taizong's zhenguan (639) - Emperor Taizong took princess Honghua as the daughter of Emperor Taizong, and married Tugu Hun Wudi and also Bale Dou Khan Murong Nuobao.
At the beginning of the Tang Dynasty, the Turks were divided into two parts: the east and the west. The reason why the Tang Dynasty and the Western Turks were friendly and intimate was really because the world was initially determined, and there was an urgent need for peace and health in the country.
As for the peace with Tuguhun, it was because Tuguhun was in a special position, between the two great powers of Tang and Tubo, so the Tang Dynasty especially wanted to win them over in order to isolate and weaken the Turkic forces.
Therefore, at that time, Heqin achieved three goals in one fell swoop: "long-distance and close-range attack", "Yi to control Yi", and "to win over (West) and to contain (East)".
In short, the Tang Dynasty's external peace and affinity were both en-wei and powerful, backed by strong force. Whether to agree to marriage or not, the dominance is in the Tang court, unlike the Han Dynasty, which was coerced and had to be close.
Stills of Han Gao zu Liu Bang
During the Zhenguan period, there were only 2 princesses who married because of their relatives
In the Tang Dynasty, almost all of the 17 foreign and pro-foreign countries made requests on their own initiative, and at that time, both sides were in a friendly state. During the reign of Emperor Taizong, there were only 2 princesses actually married—Princess Honghua and Princess Wencheng.
Princess Honghua married Murong Nuobao of Tuguhun. Tuguhun often committed crimes in the Sui Dynasty, and during the reign of Emperor Taizong, he rebelled against the times. In the ninth year of Zhenguan (635), Emperor Taizong sent Li Jing and Hou Junji to lead a large army to fight, tuguhun was defeated, and his son Murong Shunli became a khan, claiming that his subjects were attached to Tang.
Not long after, Murong Shun was killed by his subordinates, and his son Murong Nuo (慕容 Nuoyu) ascended the throne, according to the Old Book of Tang:
"Nozomi entered the DPRK to ask for marriage... Emperor Taizong took the wife of Princess Honghua and gave her a lot of money. ”
This was Emperor Taizong, and it was also the first time that Tang Chu officially married a princess. From the historical data, it can be seen that the Tang Dynasty was in a superior position at that time, and Tuguhun took the initiative to propose peace to Emperor Taizong and submitted to Tang.
Princess Wencheng married Tubo Zampu Nongzan. This was a peace affair with obvious effects and far-reaching effects for future generations. The New Book of Tang contains:
"(Long praise) is a generous and talented man, a long drive of wild horses and yaks, galloping thorns for pleasure, and the countries of the western region are all subjects."
It can be seen that Tubo lives on nomadic herders, the people's customs are strong, and the living conditions are combined with the combat conditions, and although the culture is low, the combat effectiveness is extremely strong.
In the eighth year of Zhenguan (634), Nong Zan sent an emissary to pay tribute, and Taizong sent people to comfort him; Nong Zan then proposed marriage to The Table, but Emperor Taizong did not allow it.
Princess Wencheng stills
No one expected that Nong Zan would actually send troops to attack Tuguhun, plunder his people and animals, and lead more than 200,000 people to stay on the border. Emperor Taizong then sent Hou Junji to lead an attack, and Lang Zan withdrew from the army, sent envoys to apologize for their sins, and re-proposed marriage. This time, Emperor Taizong saw that He was sincere and agreed.
It can be seen from this that even if the Tubo soldiers are strong and strong, this time "praise the marriage proposal", the Tang Dynasty did not achieve peace and affection under humiliation, but after winning the battle, Fang Yun and his relatives.
Therefore, the role and purpose of the Tang Dynasty and the Pro-Qin Dynasty were not only for temporary "pain relief".
Is "he pro" cost-effective?
After the marriage between Tang and Tubo, bilateral relations were quite harmonious, which gave the Tang Dynasty spare energy to manage the Western Regions.
In the twenty-first year of Zhenguan (647), Tang was able to take Guizi with the help of Tubo, and the following year, Wang Xuance sent Tubo and Ni Bola troops to curry favor with Tianzhu and establish the Tang Dynasty's prestige in the Western Regions.
Although the purpose of the Tang Dynasty and the Qin Dynasty was not the same, it can be confirmed that it not only established and consolidated the relationship between the monarchs and the feudals, but also contributed to the integration of nationalities, economic exchanges, and cultural development. Especially militarily, it defused the threat and pressure of the northwestern border defense.
After Princess Wencheng got married, Tubo sent envoys to tang to request craftsmen such as silkworm seeds, winemaking, paper making, and ink; moreover, because of the development of transportation after the intermarriage, silk, tea, and many crafts and farming techniques in the Central Plains were introduced to Tubo; Tubo's specialties such as horses, cattle, sheep, camels, gold, silverware, and jade were imported into the Central Plains in large quantities.
During the Taizong period, the Tang army was strong, and although it could conquer the four sides, it worked hard to mobilize the masses and depleted the national strength, and peace and affinity were indeed a "very cost-effective" buffer measure.