First Minister of the Tang Dynasty

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The current disputes between barbarians on the Indochina Peninsula are mainly due to the Zhenla Kingdom.

Originally, in the eastern part of the peninsula, the three kingdoms of Funan, Zhenla and Linyi were in a powerful position. However, in terms of national power, Zhenla came from behind and overwhelmed the two kingdoms of Funan and Linyi.

Why is it said that Zhenla came from behind? It is because Zhenla has been a vassal state of Funan since the Han Dynasty. It cannot even be called a country. It should be more appropriately called a tribe.

It's a bit like the current Khitan is attached to the Turks. It is just a tribe and has not yet established a country.

Funan has been the overlord of the peninsula since ancient times and was founded very early. It has been more than [-] years since the founding of the country in the early Eastern Han Dynasty.

In the early days of the Funan Kingdom, Funan was a matrilineal society. All dynasties came to the Central Plains to pay tribute. During the Northern and Southern Dynasties, there were close contacts with the Southern Dynasties.

However, Funan's political situation was chaotic and it often changed hands. Over the past 500 years, it had gone through three dynasties, including the Hun Dynasty, the Fan Dynasty, and the Kouchenru Dynasty, and civil strife broke out frequently.

Originally it was a first-class powerful country on the peninsula, with dozens of vassal states under its jurisdiction. However, after many civil strife, Funan's national power gradually weakened.

The Jimi tribe in the northern part of Funan grew up in the jungle. The hereditary leader's surname was the Ksali clan. It was attached to Funan in the early Han Dynasty. At this time, it was still called the Jimi tribe and had not yet established a country.

While civil strife raged in Funan, the Jimi tribe quietly developed and grew.

Until the pre-Sui Dynasty, the Jimi tribe had begun to show its strength, overwhelming Funan and becoming the new overlord in the eastern part of the peninsula. Its leader, Kshatriya Bhabhaman, founded the country and became the king. He officially founded Chenla, called the Chenla Empire, and called it Chenla. Povarman.

Varman means king, similar to the Chanyu of the Huns and the Khan of the Turks. This title should come from Buddhist classics. After all, Buddhism is prevalent on the peninsula.

As for the other Linyi State, it is located on the west side of the South China Sea, adjacent to Jiaozhou, and has closer contacts with the Central Plains. Even the founding monarch of Linyi State was himself a Han Chinese named Qu Lian.

In the Western Han Dynasty, Linyi State belonged to Xianglin County, Rinan County, and was also called Xianglin County. Later, Xiang was omitted, so it was called Linyi.

Ou Lian was a meritorious official in Xianglin County during the period of Emperor Shun of the Eastern Han Dynasty. In the second year of Yonghe reign of Emperor Shun of the Han Dynasty, he rebelled and separatized Xianglin County. He called himself the King of Linyi and founded Linyi. Xianglin County became independent from the Central Plains Dynasty.

When mentioning Linyi Kingdom, Emperor Yang Guang of the Sui Dynasty will also be mentioned again. Although Yang Guang was very happy with his achievements and extravagant, which caused the whole world to rebel, he also had some achievements, and the recovery of Linyi Kingdom was one of them.

The Linyi Kingdom became independent during the Eastern Han Dynasty during the reign of Emperor Shun. Although it paid tribute many times later, it was still independent and claimed to be a country.

Until the first year of Daye in the former Sui Dynasty, Yang Guang appointed the famous general Liu Fang as the general manager of the march on Huanzhou Road, and led the troops to conquer Linyi. King Fanzhi of Linyi used the whole country to hold on to the danger.

It was just that at this time, the Sui army was brave and good at fighting, and its combat power was at the peak of the Sui Dynasty. There were many famous generals. The Sui army attacked the capital of Linyi Kingdom in one fell swoop, and King Fan Fanzhi fled overseas.

Yang Guangma was so happy that he immediately issued an order to reset Linyi County, and Xianglin County (Linyi State) was briefly recovered.

It was a pity that the Sui army had to travel long distances and march for several days on the way to reorganize the army. In addition, it was the rainy season and the heat and humidity caused the army to be unaccustomed to the climate and soil. They were infected with miasma and suffered from swollen feet and diarrhea. Forty-five out of ten soldiers died, and the commander Liu Fang also Unfortunately, he got sick and died in the army.

After this accident, Lin Yi regained his kingdom, but he did not dare to be disrespectful to the Central Plains Dynasty again. King Fan Fanzhi's first thing after returning to the capital city of Champa to restore his kingdom was to express his apology and express his surrender to the Sui Dynasty. Pay tribute.

As a result, Yang Guang had no choice but to give up, and at least his face had been saved.

In the chaos at the end of the Sui Dynasty, Linyi State once again cut off tribute. It was not until the sixth year of Wude that King Fan Fanzhi took the initiative to send envoys to the court to pay respectful tribute. It seemed that the Sui army was really scared.

Lingnan maritime merchants are now facing a "sea closure" situation. Merchant ships cannot go to sea, which will inevitably lead to the so-called Municipal Shipping Department being in name only.

This is something Gao Chong will never tolerate, so he must study the situation of the Three Kingdoms in the eastern part of the peninsula in depth.

If the dispute on the peninsula is not resolved and the sea route is unblocked, the establishment of a shipping department cannot be carried out.

After Bao Cong's detailed explanation, Gao Chong gradually became clear about the situation in the eastern part of the peninsula.

In fact, it is not complicated to say. Small countries such as Langya Xiu can be ignored. Calling them a country is too embarrassing. The village and castle of a clan in the Central Plains is stronger than these small countries.

The most important ones are the three countries of Chenla, Linyi and Funan.

Lin Yiguo did his duty honestly and cultivated only one-third of an acre of land carefully. While making good friends with Zhenla and Funan, maintaining neutrality, he actively paid tribute to the Central Plains and did not have the guts to cause trouble.

When it came to Linyi agriculture, Gao Chong also specifically asked Pei Xingjian to record it.

Gao Chong clearly remembered that the capital of Linyi, Champaign, was rich in a kind of rice called Champai rice. It was early-growing, early-maturing, drought-tolerant, and had fine grains. It was suitable for high-altitude fields and was helpful in preventing drought damage in various parts of the south. It has a certain effect. If there is an opportunity in the future, it will be introduced to Datang.

As for the Funan Kingdom, it was already declining and its national power was declining. Its king was wary of powerful ministers usurping the throne, and wary of surrounding vassal states trying to seize their masters, and he did not dare to take the initiative to provoke disputes.

Only the Chenla Kingdom, also known as the Ksali clan, is ambitious, just like the Qin Kingdom back then. After several generations of kings' painstaking development, their national power has grown day by day, and they have begun to sharpen their swords with the intention of dominating the peninsula.

The current King of Chenla is named Kshali Ishanavarman. In the 12th year of the Sui Dynasty, he succeeded to the throne of King Chenla and was named Ishanavarman.

Ishnavarman's father's name was Ksali Chidosna, and his name was Moko Indravarman.

The biological brother of Maha Indravarman was Bhavavarman, the founding monarch of Chenla Kingdom.

As the founding monarch of the country, Bhavavarman was a talented and strategist who led the Jimi tribe to expel the rule of the Funan Kingdom and establish the country of Chenla.

In fact, before the founding of the country by Bhavavarman, Maha Indravarman took control of the military power of the Jimi tribe. The two brothers carried on the legacy of their ancestors, launched a movement against the Funan Kingdom, and successfully established the country.

The Kshatriya family is really worthy of admiration, just like the royal family of the Qin State. The Qin State is the remnant of the sixth generation of Fen, and the Kshatriya family is no less generous. It has been dormant for hundreds of years. Grandfather Sapovarman was the first two leaders of the Jimi tribe. He developed in a low-key manner and accumulated national strength.It was not until the two brothers Bhavavarman and Maha Indravarman broke away from the rule of the Funan Kingdom that they no longer belonged to the Funan Kingdom and founded Chenla. The story is also quite inspiring.

After the death of Bhavavarman, he was succeeded by his younger brother Maha Indravarman. Maha Indra further consolidated Chenla's regime and conquered the Funan Kingdom many times. His great military achievements made Funan Kingdom recognize the independence of Chenla Kingdom.

Mogai Indravarman died of illness in the 12th year of Sui Dynasty. He was succeeded by his son, Kshari Ishanavarman, named Ishanavarman.

Maybe the Kshatriya family really has a good family tradition and is full of outstanding people. This Ishnavarman is also a heroic leader. After he succeeded to the throne, he was responsible for domestic affairs, implemented royal laws, and carried out tyranny in external conquests. He conquered east and west, and expanded again. Zhenla territory.

In the early years of Wude, Ishnavarman led his troops to destroy the small country Paraadippuluo that occupied the Sen River Basin. The land in the Sen River Basin was fertile and the terrain was flat. Ishnavarman built a new city on the banks of the Sen River and named it after his king. , called Yishana City, and made Yishana City the capital of Chenla Kingdom.

After moving the capital, Ishnavarman continued to raise troops, and successively destroyed more than ten small countries such as Chakrangagapura, Amugapura, and Virapura, and immigrated to Ishana city in large numbers.

According to Bao Cong, when he crossed the sea and came to Lingnan in the fifth year of Wude, there were already [-] residents in Yishena City, making it the number one city among the barbarians in the southwest.

Hearing this number, Gao Chong was also shocked. If this number is not false, then this Zhenla Kingdom really cannot be underestimated. After all, in this cold weapon era, population is the greatest wealth.

During the chaos at the end of the Sui Dynasty, the population of the Tang Dynasty decreased sharply. Lingnan was remote and the impact of the war was minimal. Many people from the Central Plains even took refuge in Lingnan.

According to the information in Gao Chong's hands, the huge Guangzhou, as an important city in Lingnan, had a population of only more than 210 households. According to the "Old Book of Tang", in the seventh year of Wude, the number of households in the world was only [-] million.

Of course, this number is not accurate. There are many clans that hide their population and do not report it, and there are also officials in the mountains who do not register their households.

Until the Kaiyuan period of Emperor Xuanzong of the Tang Dynasty, according to the "New Book of Tang Dynasty: Geography", there were "230 households in Guangzhou". After a hundred years of cultivation, the number of households doubled.

And the small vassal state on the peninsula actually has [-] households in its capital, which cannot be underestimated.

The process of Ishnavarman developing Ishna City into the first city among the barbarians in the southwest was undoubtedly very cruel to other small peninsula countries, but it was a great boost to the rise of Chenla's national power. effect.

Moreover, Ishnavarman was not just militaristic. He also knew how to develop internal affairs, and he also knew how to make friends at a distance and attack close by, and conduct peaceful diplomacy.

When the Three Kingdoms were at war, the biggest enemy of the Chenla Kingdom was undoubtedly the former suzerain country, the Funan Kingdom. Ishnavarman had also been committed to suppressing the Funan Kingdom. In response, Ishnavarman tried his best to make friends with the Linyi Kingdom, which was independent of the world. .

Not only did he marry Princess Linyi as his concubine, but he also married Princess Zhenla to King Linyi. They always maintained a close marriage relationship, which allowed Ishnavarman to deal with Funan Kingdom wholeheartedly.

Of course, judging from what happened later, Ishnavarman was undoubtedly the biggest winner, because in the fourth year of Yonghui, Emperor Gaozong of the Tang Dynasty, Princess Zhenla gave birth to Prince Linyi, the grandson of Ishnavarman in Linyi. After successfully inheriting the throne of Linyi, the Fan dynasty in Linyi became no longer "pure".

It is worth mentioning here that the Linyi Kingdom was originally the District dynasty, which was the dynasty established by the Gongcao District Company of Xianglin County who rebelled against the Han during the Eastern Han Dynasty. Its inheritance has been very stable.

However, during the reign of Sun Hao, the last emperor of the Eastern Wu Dynasty, the King of the District clan had no heirs. In addition, the Queen's maternal clan, the Fan clan, was powerful, so he had to pass it on to his nephew Fan Xiong. From then on, the Linyi royal family changed their surname to the Fan clan, and the Qu clan became the Fan Dynasty.

Seeing this, Gao Chong was also sighing. During the Sui and Tang Dynasties, times really made heroes, not to mention heroes such as Li Shimin and Dou Jiande from the Central Plains.

Just looking at the Sebari, there are many heroes with great talents and strategies. The Eastern Turks have Jieli Khan, the Western Turks have Tongyehu Khan, Xue Yantuo has Zhenzhu Khan, Goguryeo has Yuan Gaisumun, and Chenla also has Ishnavarman. Such a hero.

These figures, no matter Han or Yi, no matter what era they were in, were all heroes of the generation, and they would eventually achieve great things.

Now Gao Chong is paying attention to the situation of the barbarians in the southwest, and the four young men have their own feelings, especially Pei Xingjian, who has written and compiled the records of the barbarians in the southwest, and he has the deepest feelings in his heart.

Seeing Gao Chong's inquiry, Pei Xingjian looked at his senior brother Xue Rengui. Xue Rengui just frowned and thought deeply. This was also due to Xue Rengui's character. He was not as agile as Pei Xingjian and always spoke after careful consideration.

Pei Xingjian did not hesitate and said bluntly: "Zhenla is very ambitious. If he can successfully annex Funan, Linyi will also be in danger. Master said that in the Indo-China Peninsula, Zhenla will rule the roost. This is definitely for us, the Tang Dynasty." It does more harm than good."

Gao Chong nodded slightly, without expressing any opinion, and looked at the others. Xue Rengui still frowned upon seeing this, "Funan and Linyi are the suzerain states of our dynasty. Since Wudezhong, they have paid tribute every year, and Zhenla has raised unjust soldiers." If you invade our vassal country, the sage should issue an edict to warn or even mediate."

Hearing Xue Rengui's awe-inspiring words, everyone nodded in agreement. This kind of speech is also an orthodox Confucian speech. According to the etiquette system, the southwestern barbarians have sent envoys to the dynasty, which is a vassal state of the Tang Dynasty. Zhenla raised troops for no reason, and the Tang Dynasty He has the responsibility and obligation to issue decrees to warn Zhenla Kingdom.

However, this kind of statement is also somewhat unrealistic, mainly because the sky is high and the road is far away. The Central Plains Dynasty is not willing to get involved in the disputes of the southwest barbarians. For example, during the reign of Yang Guang, the southwestern barbarians conquered each other and caused chaos. After working together, the Zhenla Kingdom was successfully established in the end, and Yang Guang didn't care, as long as you continued to pay tribute to the Celestial Dynasty.

But today is different from the past. Now that Zhenla is raising troops, it has interfered with the interests of the Tang Dynasty. The ships of the Tang Dynasty cannot go to sea, which seriously affects maritime trade. This is a high-sounding reason. No one has anything to say. You can fight. But you have already influenced me. I am now ordering you to cease the war. This is a famous start.

Gao Kan hesitated for a moment and then said: "King Chenla Ishanavarman, just listening to his deeds, he should be a strong monarch. If the Tang Dynasty intervenes, it may expand the war situation."

Everyone was also silent. If it were a monarch like Fan Fanzhi, the king of Linyi, an imperial edict would be enough to clear the sea route, but Yishe Naba was a talented man with great military skills. He was not a weakling like Fan Fanzhi, and neither did Fan Fanzhi. Cowardly, he just let the Sui army beat him up.

Of course, if Ishnavarman was a coward, he would not have made such a fuss.

At this time, Tu Jindi, who had been silent all this time, spoke up, "Actually, whether the monarchs of foreign vassals are strong or not depends entirely on whether the Celestial Dynasty is strong or not. Now the Tang Dynasty dominates the world, and the saints are wise and powerful. I only look at it from the perspective of the Fan people. Ishnavarman did not dare to fall out, after all...".

At the end of the sentence, Tu Dijin looked at the crowd and continued: "After all, not everyone has the strength of Jieli Khan."

Seeing Tu Dijin being so cautious, Gao Chong couldn't help but laugh, "There's no need to be like this, but it doesn't matter."

As his name suggests, Tudi Jin is cautious and his words are very down-to-earth and realistic. Looking at all the barbarians, not everyone has the strength of Jieli Khan and dares to challenge the Central Plains Dynasty.

Looking at the world, there are only two superpowers, the Tang Empire and the Turkic Khanate. Nomadic peoples, such as Tuyuhun and Xueyantuo, surrendered to the Turks, while agricultural peoples, such as Linyi and Funan, relied on the Tang Dynasty.

Without the strength of the Turkic Khanate, they would not dare to fall out with the Tang Empire.

As for Zhenla... although it was strong, it was only strong among the barbarians in the southwest, and it was not strong enough to become hostile to the Tang Dynasty.