Neon Clothes and Iron Clothes

Chapter 889 Zanpu’s Thoughts

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Luosha, Hongshan Palace.

Dusong Mangpojie was leaning on a brocade couch. Two lightly dressed female slaves were dancing to the music of the musicians. The table was littered with cups and plates. A mastiff was lying under the table, looking up at the half-eaten leg of lamb in its master's hand.

"Master, master!" A white-haired old man walked quickly into the room. He was Dusong Mangpojie's personal steward, named Sangje Baha. He had been serving Songtsen Gampo before Dusong Mangpojie was born.

"What's the matter?" Dusong Mangbojie raised his head and looked towards the door with cloudy eyes: "Oh, it's Sangye Baha! What's the matter?"

"Zamp, there is news from Qinghai that the Tang people have occupied Shudun City!"

"The Tang people occupied Shudun City?" Dusong Mangbojie sat up straight, and the turbidity in his eyes disappeared. "Are you sure?"

"Sure!" Sangye Baha said, "I heard it from a merchant. He had a warehouse in Shudun City. When the Tang people captured it, his people escaped!"

"The Tang people have occupied Shudun City!" Dusong Mangpojie jumped off the brocade couch and said to himself: "And Qinling is still in Hexi, doesn't that mean his retreat has been cut off? This is really bad news!" As he spoke, the corners of Dusong Mangpojie's mouth curled up slightly, revealing a smug smile.

Sangjie Baha waved his hand, signaling the musicians and slave girls in the house to leave. He lowered his voice and said, "According to the news, the Tang people had already killed Brunzanren before they captured Shudun City, and the fall of the city was very sudden. Qinling's wife and children were also in the city!"

"What, Burun Zanren is dead, and Qinling's wife and children were captured by the Tang people?" Dusong Mangbojie's originally lazy face showed excitement, and his nostrils flared slightly, like a bloodthirsty beast.

"According to the news, it is certain that Brunzanren was killed, but it is not certain whether Qinling's wife and children were captured. However, they were indeed in the city when it was broken. After all, it was very chaotic at the time, and we don't know whether they escaped!" said Sangje Baha.

"Hahaha! Qin Ling, I originally thought that you really were the god of war who would never lose a battle! I never thought that you would end up like this. Now your brother has been killed by the Tang people, your own homestead has been lost, and your wife has been captured by the Tang people. Hahaha, I want to see what kind of expression Zan Xiruo has now! Without those brothers who hold heavy troops, I want to see how long he can stay in the position of prime minister!"

Sangye Baha lowered his head and remained silent. Zamp's wild laughter echoed in the house. After a long while, Dusong Mangpojie regained his composure. He looked at Sangye Baha and smiled, "This is really good news, isn't it?"

"Yes, the gods and Buddhas have finally heard your prayers!" Sanjey Baha said with a smile, "There is always justice in this world!"

"You are right! Sangye Baha!" Dusong Mangpojie nodded with satisfaction: "Feet cannot be higher than the head, shoes cannot be placed on top of hats. The Gar family was originally a servant, but they oppressed the Zamp. The gods and Buddhas used the hands of the Tang people to bring disaster upon them, causing their arms to break, their livers and intestines to rot, maggots to grow in their eyes and noses, and their souls to cry in the world without reincarnation!"

"You are right!" Sangye Baha said, "The Zamp family is the descendant of the God King, the people favored by the gods and Buddhas. Your ancestors are watching you in heaven. Evil people like Qin Ling will definitely get retribution!"

Dusong Mangbojie gradually recovered from his ecstasy. He began to seriously consider how to use this rare opportunity to take back the original power from the Gar family. After Songtsen Gampo died, Lu Dongzan, the founder of the Gar family, became the actual controller of Tubo after supporting Songtsen Gampo's grandson Mangsong Mangzan to ascend the throne. He inherited Songtsen Gampo's policy, strengthened centralization internally, and expanded eastward externally. In 652 (the third year of Yonghui) and 656 (the first year of Xianqing), he conquered Luowo (now Ali area) and Zangerxia (now Tibet area) and destroyed Bailang tribe. In 659 (the fourth year of Xianqing), Lu Dongzan began to conquer Tuyuhun in the Qinghai Lake area, which opened the Tang-Tubo war for nearly two hundred years. Since then, Lu Dongzan has lived in the old place of Tuyuhun for a long time and never returned to Luoshui City until his death. His son Qinling defeated the Tang army in the Battle of Dafeichuan in 670 AD (the third year of the Zongzhang reign of Emperor Gaozong of Tang), thus establishing the Tibetans' control over the Qinghai region.

It is not difficult to see that after Songtsen Gampo's death, the Gar family's business focus in Tibet was actually placed on the Tuyuhun old land in Qinghai. In fact, this is not difficult to understand. Compared with the Tubo old land located on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, the conditions for engaging in agricultural and animal husbandry production in the Tuyuhun old land, which is mainly located around Qinghai Lake, are much better. The southern section of the Silk Road and the Ancient Tea Horse Road also pass through here. Moreover, as a newly conquered land, the Gar family does not have to worry that their expansion will intensify the contradictions within the Tibetan aristocratic group. Therefore, it is not surprising that the Gar family has shifted its development focus from the Tubo old land to the Tuyuhun old land since Lu Dongzan. In order to control the central government of Tibet, the Gar family formed a dual political structure with Zan Xiruo as the prime minister in the center and Qinling commanding troops in Qinghai.

Readers familiar with political science should know that a single dominant family is not stable under aristocratic politics, otherwise the "dominant" aristocracy will turn into an autocratic monarchy, monopolizing power within the scope of one family and one surname, rather than circulating within the entire aristocracy. The reason why the Gar family was able to suppress the kingship of the Zamp and take control of the government in two generations was not only due to the outstanding talents of Lu Dongzan, Zan Xiruo, Qinling and other individuals, but more importantly, the unique geographical conditions of Tubo. Compared with the Qinghai-Tibet Mountain and South River Valley area where the ancient Tubo state started, the newly conquered Western Regions, Qinghai and other places, whether in terms of agriculture, animal husbandry, handicrafts, and commercial levels, or convenient transportation and information exchange, far exceeded their native land. In other words, the economic and cultural strength of the Gar family, which moved the focus of family business to the old land of Tuyuhun, must have grown faster and more than the old aristocrats who stayed in their native land.

Historically, the reason why the Gar family was able to have Zanxiruo and then Qinling take on the position of prime minister after Lu Dongzan's death was because of the wealth brought by the new territories they continuously acquired from foreign wars. The military victory that the Huliang and Yanliang brothers had just achieved in Qinghai shook the economic foundation of the Gar family. As a result, before the situation in Qinghai was determined, the situation in Luoshui City was already turbulent.

"Sangjie Baha!" Dusong Mangbojie asked, "If we want to take action against the Gar family, do you think now is the time?"

"Zanpu, I am just a slave serving you, how can I understand these things!" Sangye Baha replied, "But I heard that Minister Lunyan is resourceful and has a noble family background. His ancestor once served as prime minister. Now he is resentful because the prime minister position was passed down from father to son in the Gar family. Why don't you find an opportunity to ask him in person?"

"Well! That's a good idea!" Dusong Mangpojie nodded: "But Zan Xiruo has been the prime minister for many years. If I go to see Lunyan, I'm afraid it will arouse his suspicion, which will be troublesome?"

"What's so difficult about this!" Sangje Baha said with a smile, "I heard that Lunyan has a younger brother who is going to marry his son in a few days. As a member of the same tribe, Lunyan will definitely attend. And the girl's parents are from your mother's side of the tribe, so it's not surprising that you go there in person. You can find a chance to have a private talk with them at the banquet. What's the difficulty?" "Is there such a thing? That's great!" Dusong Mangbojie was overjoyed when he heard this. He patted the servant's shoulder and said, "Sangje Baha, then everything is up to you!"

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According to Tibetan customs, the wedding banquet starts from the moment the sun rises above the horizon and lasts until the sun sets. It is filled with drinking, overeating, quarrels and even fights. On this special day, the host will open the door and set up a banquet in his yard. He cannot refuse any guest; of course, even sworn enemies cannot seek revenge or complain on this day, otherwise it will bring disaster.

As the most noble king, Dusong Mangpo Gyal was placed next to the bride's parents, and only two or three people away from the groom's parents and relatives. Everyone on that day wore their most gorgeous clothes, and both men and women braided their hair into several thin braids, greased it with oil to make it shiny black, ate yak meat smeared with spices and salt, drank highland barley wine and fermented mare's milk, and laughed with each other, which made Dusong Mangpo Gyal feel a little noisy.

Perhaps due to his busy schedule, the Prime Minister, Zanxiruo, did not come in person, but only asked his eldest son to come. This handsome young man sat not far from Dusong Mangpojie, wearing a wide robe with floral patterns and a snow eagle embroidered on his chest. Zanpu could see the pride in this young man's eyes. Even when people older and more senior than him toasted him, he only raised his glass symbolically without standing up to return the greeting. This made Dusong Mangpojie very happy. He knew very well that the more arrogant this man was, the more potential enemies the Nagar family would have, and it would be easier for him to deal with them in the future.

"Master!" Sangye Baha leaned close to Dusong Mangbojie's ear and said, "Do you need me to pass on a message?"

"No hurry, there's still plenty of time today!" Dusong Mangbojie said with a nonchalant smile: "Everyone's attention is still focused now. If we move, it will make too much noise. Let's wait a little longer!"

"As ordered!"

The slave girls brought plates of food to Dusong Mangpojie, including fragrant fried meat, thick horse blood sausage, barley and ox blood pies, and later all kinds of fruits, vegetable soup, and exquisitely made honey cakes. Dusong Mangpojie ate and drank with big mouthfuls, watching the quarrels and fights of the crowd below with great interest, as if he was enjoying it.

When the first fight took place, only one third of the day had passed. At that time, drums were rumbling and the slave girls were dancing to cheer for the Zamp. Dusong Mangpojie watched with a smile and occasionally took off a gold medal from his belt and threw it to them for them to fight about. Suddenly, the two men quarreled and wrestled, and the people around them hurriedly stepped back to make way for an open space. The Tibetans did not mind fighting at wedding banquets. As long as no weapons were used, the Tibetans believed that this was a good sign, representing that the first child of the married couple would be a brave and strong boy.

The two men tore off their shirts, exposing their muscular arms and backs, and then they put their arms around each other and started to wrestle, each trying to throw the other down. Soon the crowd of onlookers split into two sides, shouting and cheering for their supporters, applauding the strength and skills of their side. Everyone's attention was drawn to it, and no one cared about the singing and dancing of the slave girls.

Dusong Mangpojie stood up and pretended to go to the toilet. When he walked past Lunyan, he gently patted his shoulders twice. Lunyan turned his head in surprise and found that it was the Zamp standing behind him. His expression changed slightly.

Dusong Mangpojie did not say anything, but made a "follow me" gesture, and then asked the slave girl beside him: "Where is the toilet in this house? Take me there!"

The slave girl bowed to the Zamp obediently, bowed her waist and led the way, and Dusong Mangpojie walked over. Lunyan did not stand up, but turned back to watch the fight below as if nothing had happened. After a while, he stood up, covered his stomach, and walked to the outside as if he was in a hurry to go to the toilet.

Lun Yan got out of the crowd and his pace quickened. He came to his brother's bathroom and saw Sanje Baha standing at the door. He nodded to him meaningfully and made a gesture for him to come in. Lun Yan returned the greeting with his hands clasped together and walked quickly into the bathroom.

"Your Excellency the King, are you looking for me?" Lun Yan bowed and saluted to Dusong Mangpojie.

"Get up! Our time is limited, so don't waste it!" Dusong Mangpojie helped Lunyan up: "You should have heard the news that the Tang people defeated Qinling in Qinghai, right?"

"Well, I heard that Brunzanren is dead and Shudun City has been occupied by the Tang people!" Lun Yan nodded.

"That was a great defeat!" Dusong Mangpojie smiled and said, "I know more. Qinling's wife and children were also captured!"

"Is there such a thing?" Lun Yan laughed. "That's really embarrassing! I can't even remember the last time the Tibetans lost so badly. Will the men of the Gar family wear fox tails when they go out from now on?"

“Hahaha!” Dusong Mangpojie laughed: “I don’t think so. Our Prime Minister is a man who cares a lot about his reputation!”

"How can a man who can't even protect his own wife and children have any dignity?" Lun Yan laughed. "But I really didn't expect to lose so miserably. Didn't Qin Ling capture the Tang people's Hexi cities before and try to annex the Western Regions?"

"The gods are like women, always changing!" Dusong Mangpojie laughed: "Who can always win and never lose?"

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