HLnovel Chapter 1165 The Tibetan Emperor?
Chapter 1165 The Tibetan Emperor?
After the brief incident, Gar Tongtsen dared not leave any room for negotiation regarding the tribute.
He was well aware of the wealth of the Tibetan nobles and understood that Li Che's ambitions were far from small.
Gold, silver, livestock, furs, medicinal herbs... the list was so precise that the veins on Chisang Yangdun's forehead throbbed.
He tried to argue several times, but when he looked up and met Lu Dongzan's calm, unwavering eyes, he swallowed his words back.
His gaze was chillingly cold; clearly, Lu Dongzan had begun to treat everything as purely business, as if he were not cutting off the flesh and blood of his motherland.
Lu Dongzan was indeed at peace.
He knew very well that these tributes would likely be passed on to his already impoverished subjects.
Even so, so what?
The Tibetan people were destitute and had nothing left to lose; any further plundering would only yield some scraps.
Only by adding the savings in the noble treasury and the treasures in the king's private property could such a huge gap be filled.
Lu Dongzan felt no remorse; when those people enjoyed power, did they ever show any mercy?
Now, it's their turn to taste the consequences.
By the time the annual tribute terms were finalized, Chisang Yangdun's clothes were soaked with cold sweat, and his eyes were filled with fear as he looked at Lu Dongzan.
Only now did he realize how terrifying it was to be Lu Dongzan's enemy.
Although Gar Tongtsen was his political enemy when he was in Tibet, Gar Tongtsen did not act freely at that time.
Compared to internal strife, this great man's abilities lie more in diplomacy and military affairs.
Now that their positions are opposed, and Lu Dongzan is acting freely, how can Chisang Yangdun, who is all show and no substance, be a match for him?
The atmosphere eased slightly when they began discussing the terms of the border trade.
After all, the annual tribute was a one-sided gift, while trade was beneficial to both parties.
The opening of border markets and the permission to trade some tea, salt, ironware, cloth, horses, furs, and medicinal herbs with Tibet were undoubtedly lifelines for Tibet, which had been under blockade for a long time.
Now that Tibet has lost a large amount of land, it is likely that it will not have enough food in the future and will need to import from Daqing.
Chisang Yangdun rallied his spirits and made every effort to negotiate specific tax amounts and categories of goods traded.
Based on his understanding of the needs of both parties, Lu Dongzan offered a relatively fair suggestion.
Li Che mostly just listened, occasionally nodding or shaking his head, and that was enough to determine the direction.
With the terms gradually taking shape, Chisang Yangdun finally felt a little relieved.
If the border trade can be established, it can at least alleviate the extreme shortage of domestic goods and stabilize the livelihoods that are on the verge of collapse.
That way, I can at least give myself an explanation to the Zanpu (Tibetan king).
Just when he thought the negotiations would end there, Li Che, who had rarely spoken up, suddenly spoke up again.
“These trades alone are probably not enough to quench Tibet’s thirst.”
Li Che tapped the table lightly with his fingertips, his gaze falling on Chi Sang Yangdun's face.
Although he was smiling, the latter felt a chill in his heart.
"The plateau is bitterly cold and lacks medical care and medicine. The people are ignorant, and the mineral deposits are buried underground and never see the light of day."
“If this continues, even if there are goods circulating in the market, it will ultimately be like a fragile tree, unable to withstand the wind and snow.”
Chisang Yangdun's heart sank.
He forced himself to maintain a respectful posture, but his voice was somewhat strained: "Your Majesty... with your benevolent heart, I wonder what good plan Your Majesty has to teach my Tubo?"
Li Che leaned forward slightly and said with a smile, "Now that I have accepted Tibet's submission, I will naturally take care of them."
"How about this, I can send people to Tibet to help you establish schools to educate the people, open clinics to spread medical knowledge, and survey mineral veins to teach mining and smelting methods."
"Only in this way can we consolidate our foundation and cultivate our vitality, so that Tibet can gradually have a basis for self-strengthening."
"This is my gift to my new vassal state... as a congratulatory present."
He spoke of the congratulatory gift lightly, but to Chisang Yangdun, it carried a heavy weight.
Chisang Yangdun's voice trembled slightly: "Your Majesty's grace is boundless, but I wonder what price Tibet will have to pay to receive such a generous gift?"
He dared not refuse outright, so he could only probe the price behind this goodwill.
Li Che smiled gently: "It's not a price to pay, just some small conditions."
"What is taught in the school is naturally the classics and words of the sages of Daqing, so that the Tibetan children will know etiquette and understand the moral principles; what is used in the clinic is the medical classics of Daqing, so that in addition to treating the sick and saving lives, medical skills can also be exchanged; as for mining and excavation..."
Li Che paused, his tone still calm: "The mountains and rivers must be thoroughly explored before we can adapt to local conditions."
“Our craftsmen from Daqing are quite experienced in this field, and they can assist in drawing detailed maps to clarify the geological veins and mineral deposits.”
Upon hearing this, the tent fell into a deathly silence.
The last trace of color drained from Chisang Yangdun's face, leaving it as pale as paper.
He opened his mouth, but no sound came out. He felt a chill run from the soles of his feet to the top of his head.
If the school teaches the classics of Daqing, where does that leave the Tibetan people's own script, traditions, and beliefs?
If the clinic uses medical books from Daqing, wouldn't the medical system of Tibet be completely controlled by Daqing?
As for having people from Daqing explore and draw detailed maps of the Tibetan mountains, rivers, geography, and mineral distribution.
This is no different from handing over the key to your own house!
This is hardly aid.
This is clearly a complete transformation, a cultural immersion, a gradual transformation of Tibet from the inside out into the shape of Daqing!
If this continues, in ten or twenty years, will Tibet still be Tibet?
Lu Dongzan raised his eyes to look at Li Che, his gaze filled with sorrowful admiration.
This emperor wants more than just land, tribute, and the benefits of trade; he also wants the hearts of the people, tradition, and the spiritual lifeline of future generations on this plateau.
Warfare was merely his vanguard; a negotiated treaty was the true form of conquest.
With such a powerful ruler in Daqing, how could his own young and inexperienced king not be defeated?
Li Che met Lu Dongzan's gaze, the smile on his lips unchanged, and asked gently, "Does my arrangement seem appropriate, my dear minister?"
You're perfect, Mom!
Chisang Yangdun almost roared, but could only clench his teeth and look at Lu Dongzan in despair.
It remains to be seen what this man, now a minister of Daqing, will say.
Lu Dongzan remained silent for a moment, then bowed with a blank expression and said, "Your Majesty is wise."
Chisang Yangdun's face was ashen.
It's over, it's over.
Li Che seemed quite satisfied with the result. He stretched his arms and broke the silence with a smile: "Alright, we've talked about enough business. Now let's chat about something more pleasant."
Chisang Yangdun breathed a sigh of relief upon hearing this, and his stiff back relaxed slightly.
It seems that His Majesty also felt that the conditions just now were too harsh and wanted to appease him and give himself a way out.
He secretly glanced up and caught a glimpse of pity in Lu Dongzan's eyes as he looked at him.
Chisang Yangdun felt a chill run down his spine.
He suddenly remembered that although the terms of ceding territory and paying tribute were spoken by Lu Dongzan, they were ultimately approved by Li Che.
At least Gar Tongtsen had some regard for the dignity of Tibet, but now the emperor himself is going to get involved...
Although this Tibetan nobleman had read Chinese classics, he had never truly grasped the essence of the political maneuvering of the Central Plains.
The real pain comes from being cut with a soft knife!
Sure enough, Li Che spoke casually, as if he were chatting with someone: "Now that the two countries have restored their friendship, they are family from now on."
"We are all family, so let's not speak like strangers. I can promise that in the future, Daqing will do its best to protect Tibet and help you recuperate and gradually recover."
Chisang Yangdun bowed deeply and said, "On behalf of the Zanpu (Tibetan king), I thank Your Majesty for your boundless grace and benevolence. The entire Tibetan people will forever remember Your Majesty's kindness and virtue!"
However—
Li Che's simple words made Chi Sang Yangdun's heart skip a beat.
"Just as a country has its size and a family has its hierarchy, since we are all one family, we must establish a proper order of social order."
Li Che's smile remained unchanged: "Just as there are fathers and sons, rulers and subjects among men, there are also those among nations. We must distinguish between primary and secondary roles and high and low positions in order to maintain order and peace throughout the land."
Chisang Yangdun forced himself to say, "The Celestial Empire is naturally the superior nation, while Tibet, located in the remote highlands, is secondary. This is the natural order and human relations, and there is no doubt about it."
"Well, it's good that you understand the principles." Li Che nodded, seemingly quite appreciative. "Then from now on, Daqing will be the father country, and Tubo will be the son country."
“Your king must submit a memorial every year, acknowledge me as your vassal and pay tribute, and refer to himself as ‘son emperor’ while honoring me as ‘father emperor’.”
"This system should be established as a permanent rule, and future generations should follow it."
"Father...Father Emperor? Son...Son Emperor?!"
Chisang Yangdun was stunned for a moment, as if he did not understand the meaning of the words combined together.
Immediately, a surge of shameful rage rushed to his head, burning his eyes bloodshot and making his blood feel like it was about to boil.
To make the Zanpu (Tibetan king) call himself a 'puppet emperor'? What would Tibet become then? The son of a slave kept by Daqing?!
This is to trample on the dignity of the Zanpu and the entire Tubo Dynasty, grinding it underfoot and nailing it to the pillar of shame in the annals of history!
What does the Emperor of Daqing take me for? Does he really think I, a Tibetan nobleman, have no backbone?!
He raised his head, his teeth grinding together, and his hands, hanging by his sides, clenched tightly, his nails digging deep into his flesh.
In that instant, Chisang Yangdun felt his blood rush to his head, and he even wanted to pounce on him without a second thought.
However, the moment he raised his head, his gaze fell upon the Qing army generals standing solemnly with their hands on their swords on both sides of the tent.
They had quietly adjusted their positions at some point, subtly forming a semi-encirclement.
Everyone was armored and carried a sword, their eyes indifferent, as if they were looking at a trapped beast struggling for its life.
The leading general was extremely ugly, with a face covered in pockmarks and crisscrossing scars, and a fierce gaze like that of a man-eating tiger.
He merely raised his eyelids slightly, and a bloodthirsty aura forged from mountains of corpses and seas of blood rushed towards him, making him seem like an Arhat descending to earth beside the Buddha.
Chisang Yangdun felt as if ice water had been poured over his head, his boiling blood instantly freezing.
He suddenly realized that having a sense of courage wasn't necessarily an absolute necessity.
What could he possibly offer in the end? He would only add another headless corpse to the tent, giving Emperor Qing a perfect excuse to turn against him completely.
All the humiliation vanished in an instant, replaced by a mournful cry.
He fell to his knees with a thud, his voice filled with despair and anguish: "Your Majesty, have mercy! Your Majesty, have mercy!"
"These terms... these titles are utterly inappropriate. If I, your subject, were to bring them back to Tibet, the Zanpu would surely... your subject would face certain death!"
"I beg Your Majesty to have mercy and spare my life!"