Preface
In the long river of history, there is a game related to the fate of two great empires, one side is Tang Taizong Li Shimin, and the other side is the monarch of the Western Regions power Tubo Songtsen Gampo. This game not only witnessed the complex disputes between the two countries, but also laid the groundwork for a series of subsequent events.
Songtsen Ganbu sent an envoy to make peace with the Tang Dynasty, but Tang Taizong rejected the proposal. This decision not only has profound political considerations, but also carries the mind of Tang Taizong's ambition for the world. However, after the Battle of Songzhou, the situation changed dramatically, and the Tang Dynasty actually agreed to make peace, which makes one wonder: what caused the Tang Dynasty to change its position after the refusal?
1. The young man ended the civil strife and led millions of troops to unify his homeland
Songtsen Gampo, also known as Tsangpu Sang Songtsen (meaning "Sang of Good Governance"), was born in 605 AD. He was the 33rd Zangpu of the Tibetan Dynasty (similar to the "King of Tibet" in Chinese historical sources) and the first monarch to truly unify the Tibetan Plateau.
Songtsen Gampo was born in an era of turmoil and division. At that time, there were many Tibetan tribes, each with its own government, and civil strife continued. At the age of 13, Songtsen Gampo succeeded to the throne and conquered the surrounding tribes with his political and military skills, and finally unified the entire Tibetan region in 618.
After that, he led an army to conquer the east and the west, defeated the Zhangxiong and the Qiang people of various ethnic groups in the west, and gained the right to rule. At the age of 18, he became the veritable founding monarch of the Tubo Dynasty. The heroic Songtsam Gampo
As the leader of the emerging regime, Songtsen Gampo was ambitious. He realized that if he wanted the Tibetan Dynasty to have long-term peace and stability, he had to find a strong external support. So he set his sights on the Central Plains Dynasty, which was thousands of miles away, the prosperous Celestial Dynasty and the Tang Dynasty.
Second, the Celestial Empire was first established, and the strategy was all about the Western Regions
The Tang Dynasty, a young dynasty that was just emerging. At the beginning of the founding of the People's Republic of China, Emperor Taizong Li Shimin advocated the unification of the sea and made great achievements. During his reign, he destroyed the Turks in the east and Gaochang in the west, opened the Hexi Corridor, the main transportation route to the Western Regions, and established the Tang Dynasty's dominance in the northwest frontier. It can be said that Taizong only has the Western Regions in his eyes, which is regarded as a barrier.
And the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, which is thousands of miles away, does not have much sense of existence in his heart. After all, it is located in the deep mountains and old forests, the people are fierce, and they have to suffer from altitude sickness at every turn, and the Tang army has always disliked fighting on the plateau. Therefore, Taizong was not interested in Songtsen Gampo's courtship, and sent an envoy Feng Deyao to find out the truth and truth, so his actions.
3. The monarch went to the meeting alone, but was snubbed by the king of the Central Plains
Hearing that Taizong had sent an envoy to come, Songtsen Gampo was overjoyed and personally led the important ministers to meet him. He repeatedly emphasized to the envoy with great expectation that he greatly admired the national strength of the Celestial Empire, and expressed his yearning for the Tang princesses movingly.
Songtsen Gampo was convinced that he was heroic and the founding king of the new dynasty, and he would be able to please the hearts of the envoys. Unexpectedly, Feng Deyao's face was expressionless, and he left without saying a word. Songtsen Gampden was furious and scolded his ministers: "We have been despised for good words! If we don't have a princess, we will not achieve a great cause!"
Feng Deyao returned to the court to report the matter of Tibet, but Taizong did not think so. He has not yet counted the strength of this emerging mountain country, and he is unwilling to rashly marry the princess of the clan. Moreover, the Tang Dynasty has always attached great importance to etiquette and never easily allowed his subordinates to ask for relatives. Taizong decided that this little country Langjun would let me try your sincerity! So he ordered to refuse Songtsen Gampo's courtship.
Fourth, the anger attacked the heart and swore revenge, and the scourge of war enveloped the border of the Central Plains
This refusal completely infuriated Songtsen Gampo. He swore loudly: "I will wait for good words to ask for good words, and if I don't give it to the princess and me, I will raise troops to join the army!"
Since then, he has been true to his word. Songtsen Gampo successively conquered the western vassal states of the Tang Dynasty, Tuyuhun and Dangxiangqiang, all the way like a bamboo. In the winter of 628, 200,000 majestic soldiers overwhelming Songzhou, and Han Wei, the defender of Songzhou, led an army to resist, but the whole army was annihilated. The fall of Songzhou is imminent. The borders of the two countries are shrouded in the clouds of war.
The Tang army attacked at night, and the news reached Chang'an, Taizong was furious, and immediately mobilized 50,000 troops from the four routes, led by the famous generals Niu Jinda and Liu Lan, and rushed to the front line in the starry night. The two sides engaged in a fierce battle under the city of Songzhou. At this moment, night fell, and Niu Jinda took the opportunity to launch a night attack, defeating the Tibetan army in one fell swoop, killing thousands. King Songtsen Gampo retreated in a hurry. The Don army won a complete victory.
This battle made Taizong clearly realize that this little king on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau was far from being a thing in the pool. He was not only militarily powerful, but also extremely aggressive, enough to pose a threat to the security of the frontier. It is necessary to find a way to tie it to the hinterland of the Central Plains to avoid branches in the future. So Taizong discussed with his close ministers many times, and finally decided to temporarily deign to the public council and agree to the request of the king of Fan.
Fifth, the return of the beauty is joyful, and the leaders of the two countries are in harmony
When the news reached the ears of Songtsen Gampo, he was overjoyed. He once again sent his confidant Lu Dongzan as an envoy to Chang'an, bringing a large amount of treasure to show his sincerity. Taizong did not delay any longer this time, and soon selected Princess Wencheng, the daughter of the clan, to be canonized as the princess of the king of Tibet, and sent troops to escort her into Tibet.
Princess Wencheng, who was only sixteen years old at the time, was beautiful and moving, gentle and elegant, and was deeply favored by Taizong. Before leaving, Taizong reluctantly admonished: "The Qing family is far away, and I am very reluctant. Thou shalt be self-disciplined with propriety, and thou shalt not bear my teachings. Princess Wencheng couldn't cry and solemnly promised.
Princess Wencheng, two years later, Licheng. It was only the eighteen-year-old Songtsen Gampo who married the eighteen-year-old Princess Wencheng. On the wedding night, the princess was solemn and well-behaved. Songtsen Gampo also treated him with courtesy, and he never accepted a concubine for life. The monarchs of the two countries married their wives and entered into a covenant of friendship. In the following decades, Tang and Tibet became friendly and the border was peaceful.
Sixth, the clever plan finally succeeded, and the king's power was prosperous and the foundation was evergreen
In this way, the purpose of Songtsen Gampo has been achieved. His three courtships this time were not because of his deep affection for the princesses of the Tang Dynasty. Rather, it was out of a far-sighted plan to stabilize the royal power and ensure the long-term stability of the country.
First, talking about family affairs with a powerful country can win an external environment for Tibet's peaceful development. The Tang Dynasty was in full swing and powerful. Only by making peace with Tibet could Tibet avoid being suppressed as a frontier vassal.
Second, through the marriage of the royal families of the two countries, Tibet could learn Xi absorb advanced Tang Dynasty culture and technology. When Princess Wencheng entered Tibet, she brought Buddha statues, Tibetan scriptures, medical books, crop seeds, medical equipment, etc., which played an important role in the progress and development of Tibetan society.
Third, marrying the Tang princess, Songtsen Gampo's political influence also increased greatly. Taizong served as the Heavenly Khan and was the common suzerainty of all ethnic groups. Whoever can get the daughter of the Khan family will establish his prestige. This is exactly what Songtsen Gampo desperately needs.
With this political marriage, Songtsen Gampo's royal power also reached its peak. He vigorously promoted Buddhism, established the Potala Palace and Jokhang Temple, and promoted the development of Tibetan culture. His sphere of influence spread throughout Tibet and he was regarded as the spiritual leader of the Tibetan people. To this day, Songtsen Gampo is still the holy lord in the hearts of Tibetans.
VII. Conclusion
History is one big drama after another. In order to achieve hegemony, Songtsen Gampo thanked the Central Plains Dynasty three times, and threatened each other with large soldiers, which can be described as threatening and extremely unfriendly. Tang Taizong also took a tough attitude many times and refused to allow it. Relations between the two countries were tense for a time.
Fortunately, in the end, Songtsen Gampo got his wish and married his beloved beauty. Princess Wencheng traveled thousands of miles to the east to marry on the plateau. The monarchs of the two countries also turned their rivalry into a jade silk because of a political marriage. As vividly described in later historical novels, Songtsen Gampo was polite, Wencheng was gentle and generous, and a legendary love was staged from then on......
This is the truth of the Tubo king Songtsen Gampo who courted the Central Plains three times. Standing on the point of looking back at history, we can't help but feel a lot of emotion. At present, the great enemy is in a difficult political situation; Heroic and talented. Under all kinds of fateful arrangements, a moving story was finally achieved. The years are quiet