The sixth eunuch hesitated and did not dare to answer for a moment.
"! What happened?" Duan Yu saw something was wrong and his face was full of anger.
The Sixth Prince knelt hurriedly and said, "Your Majesty, Gao Liangcheng has already agreed to join forces with the Bailan tribe of Tibet to invade the Song Dynasty."
"What!" Duan Yu was shocked. Invading Song, such a big thing, Gao Liangcheng didn't even discuss it with him. He was really bold.
Duan Yu paced back and forth in the hall, feeling a deep sense of fear. "Has Gao Liangcheng lost his nerve? He doesn't even consider me, the Emperor, in his eyes! Invading the Song Dynasty? How dare he think of it? The Song Dynasty is nothing but a lion, a tiger. We are nothing but a civet cat. Is Gao Liangcheng crazy? What is he going to do to attack the Song Dynasty? He's going to kill millions of Dali's people!"
During the Song Dynasty, the various Tibetan tribes fought and slaughtered one another. They were consumed by internal strife, suffering crushing defeats in several battles with the Song. Today, Tibet is divided into various tribes, including the Subi, Yangtong, Bailang, Dangxiang, Fuguo, Jialiangyi, and the Tuyuhun, a tribe belonging to the Xianbei. These tribes were known to have conflicts with one another, often erupting in conflict at the slightest disagreement.
Afterwards, tired of fighting, they finally realized that internal conflicts were best resolved at the negotiation table, and that fighting was not worthwhile. So the tribes began to try to unite, with Prince Zuzan of the Bailan tribe being the most arrogant and reckless.
Zu Zan, with his two large braids swung across his chest, looked like a rough-and-tumble man, but in reality, he was a man of hidden talents. At this time, Zu Zan was resting in Botu Town on the east bank of the Nong River, which was his territory.
"Your Highness, the Prime Minister of Dali, Gao Liangcheng, is here." The servant came to report. The servant did not bow when he came in, but came in to report like a friend meeting.
The Tibetan tribe didn't have so many complicated rules, so Zu Zan just said, "Let him in."
The men turned around and walked out without saying a word. Not long after they left, Gao Liangcheng walked in with several of his men.
"I am Gao Liangcheng of Dali, greetings to His Royal Highness Prince Zuzan." Gao Liangcheng was very polite and bowed as soon as he came in.
Prince Zuzan waved his hand and said, "Sit down, Prime Minister Gao. It's not that I, Zuzan, don't trust you. Can you represent your emperor? What we are doing is not a single thing. You must know that it's not easy to tame the tiger of the Song Dynasty. Don't let us end up losing more than we gain. My Bailan tribe has suffered from them before."
His story is about the Battle of Sandu Valley during the reign of Emperor Zhenzong of Song, when 6,000 Song soldiers defeated a 30,000-strong Tibetan army. Even more terrifying, the Song army lost only 67 soldiers, while nearly 10,000 Tibetan soldiers were killed. It was truly a terrifying display. Prince Zuzan's grandfather's grandfather died in this battle.
Gao Liangcheng smiled faintly. "Don't worry, Prince. The Song Dynasty is currently engaged in a fierce battle with the Mongols, so they have no time to deal with us. Besides, we're joining forces to attack Song Raocheng Prefecture. We're only going to rob them, not capture their cities. The Song court is no fool. They have the Mongol cavalry in the northwest and Goryeo threatening them in the northeast. The Song court is already facing the difficult situation of fighting on two fronts. If we also go to war with Tubo and Dali, do you think the Song Dynasty has any hope of winning?"
Gao Liangcheng was probably right. Zhao Huan truly didn't dare to touch Tubo or Dali. Although Tubo had been attacking Song Dynasty border townspeople, Zhao Huan simply relocated residents from outside the city walls and avoided direct confrontation with Tubo.
There were already Mongolia and Goryeo, and Zhao Huan personally leading the expedition against Western Xia was already a national effort. If Tubo and Dali also declared war on the Song Dynasty, Zhao Huan would really be overwhelmed.
He wasn't afraid of not being able to defeat the other side. Even if the four countries went to war at the same time, the Song Dynasty would not be afraid. Zhao Huan was only worried about the common people. If it really came to that, the Song Dynasty would probably really go to extremes.
Emperor Wu of Han was a skilled warrior, and he inflicted immense fear on the Xiongnu, but the cost was economic setbacks for the entire nation. No one wanted to start a war unless it was absolutely necessary.
By then, the people of the Song Dynasty would have to pay heavy taxes to support the war, making it difficult for them to rest and recuperate. Moreover, if the taxation exceeded the limit, it would cause the people to rebel.
Zu Zan thought for a moment and said, "I'm not worried about that. I heard that your Dali Emperor is on good terms with the Song people. I'm afraid he wouldn't want to go to war with the Song."
Gao Liangcheng said with a half-smile, "Prince Zuzan, don't worry about this. I am the Prime Minister of Dali. If my Gao family stamps their feet, the imperial palace will tremble. There is nothing for the Emperor to worry about. Even if Your Majesty disagrees, we have already made a fait accompli. I, the Prime Minister, led my men to attack Chengdu Prefecture. Even if our Majesty goes to explain to the Song people, I am afraid they will not believe it."
Zu Zan nodded slightly. "Okay, Prime Minister Gao. Have you found out how many Song troops are in Chengdu? If we seize Chengdu, the Song will surely counterattack. So we must act as soon as possible and catch them off guard."
"Prince Zuzan, we have to agree on three rules. Our two armies will form an alliance. Once we encounter resistance from the Song army, no matter who we are, we can't just sit on the sidelines and watch the fight. We must lend a helping hand." Gao Liangchengdao.
He was worried that if his troops were surrounded by the Song army or he himself fell into a disadvantageous position, Zu Zan would run away with his men.
Zu Zan said, "Of course. Since we are an alliance, we should share the good and the bad. Don't worry, when will we start?"
Gao Liangcheng felt a little relieved. "The spies we sent to Chengdu Prefecture reported that there are only 3,000 Song troops there. Our two armies have over 10,000. Okay, let's take Chengdu Prefecture and divide its treasures equally."
Zu Zan showed a greedy smile: "That's good, but after the city is captured, I will be the first to choose the women."
Zu Zan was a pervert who loved women all his life. He had ruined countless Tibetan women.
Gao Liangcheng despised him inwardly: "But, the woman belongs to the prince. We only want the gold and silver treasures. We will start the rebellion in three days. I will take my men to Kagong Town to wait for the prince."
After a long discussion, Gao Liangcheng bid farewell to Prince Zuzan and returned to Dali.
After Gao Liangcheng left, Zuzan had a strange expression on his face. His deputy general, Zama, approached him and asked, "Prince, can you really take down Chengdu?"
Zu Zan snorted coldly: "There are many beautiful women in Song Dynasty. Whether I can beat them or not, this prince will try it."
Zama's eyes rolled. "Prince, I do have an idea."
Zu Zan looked back at him and said, "What's your idea? Come and listen to it."
"Prince, we have formed an alliance with Gao Liangcheng. But he is not the King of Dali after all. If something happens, the Song soldiers will retaliate, and the King of Dali will certainly say that it was his subordinates who did it. The Emperor of Dali may even kill Gao Liangcheng to show his sincerity. In that case, the Song Dynasty will not be able to do anything bad to Dali. But we are sending troops, and it is you, Prince, who will lead the troops yourself." Zama offered advice.
Zu Zan was shocked. Why hadn't he thought of this? "Well, Zama. You will command the Bailan tribe to attack Chengdu Prefecture. This prince will not participate."
Zama's expression froze. He had originally wanted the prince to send another general to attack Chengdu. If the Song army counterattacked, the prince would push that general out to give the Song people an explanation. But who knew the prince would send him instead? He really shot himself in the foot.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
