Lu Dongzan's willpower is not that fragile, but when faced with something that is simply incomprehensible like a train, he no longer has the confidence he had before.
There is no need to know too much about it, just by looking at it you will know its usefulness.
If Datang built the train on the plateau, he could not imagine the consequences.
Even if the plateau environment is harsh and there is no way to build the railway across it, it is enough to repair only a few important obstacles.
At that time, the Tang Dynasty's troops and military supplies can be transported continuously, and the consumption can even consume Tubo to death.
Even the Tang Dynasty did not need to do anything on its own. It only needed to support the four kingdoms of Dongnu, Bailan, Tuyuhun and Zhangxiong with military supplies and food.
How could the Tang Dynasty, which had the right time and place, marry the princess to them?
Lu Dongzan returned to his residence in despair and locked himself in his room for a day and night. Just when his men were about to break down the door, he opened the door and walked out.
He summoned the core members of the envoy and said, "Have you also seen the iron train?"
Everyone nodded, and they naturally went to see it. Even now, many people still look shocked when they think about it.
Lu Dongzan said: "There are some things that everyone can understand even if I don't tell them. I'm afraid the purpose of our trip will not be achieved."
Everyone was silent, and they naturally understood this truth.
Someone asked worriedly: "If this trip fails, how should we explain to Zamp?"
Lu Dongzan said sternly: "Don't worry, everyone, Lord Zanpu Naiming will not blame us for this. If he really punishes us, I will shoulder the responsibility."
Everyone's expressions looked much better, but they were still worried.
Sometimes there are sins that you can't just take over if you want to.
Of course, it is unlikely that Songtsen Gampo would punish them for this, but it was a failure after all.
It is normal for your career to be affected to some extent.
What Lu Dongzan wanted was for everyone to think this way, so he took advantage of the situation and said: "If you are still worried, I have a way to offset the problem."
Everyone was overjoyed and said, "I wonder what good advice there is for this little discussion?"
Lu Dongzan said: "Collect more information about the Tang Dynasty, the better."
Naturally, everyone understood this truth and agreed one after another.
So this group of Tubo people began to take action, while continuing to request an audience with the emperor, while lobbying the powerful, and at the same time asking around for various information.
Naturally, Li Shimin could not hide their actions, but he did not stop them. He also wanted to use the Tubo people to understand the true thoughts of the officials.
It's not that he wants to settle things or anything like that, his mind is not that narrow-minded.
But by understanding the thoughts of the ministers, it will be easier to achieve the goal and reduce unnecessary spats when governing in the future.
Lu Dongzan went to visit the powerful people as planned and offered gold and silver beauties as bribes, but the results of his lobbying made him mixed.
All the generals refused his visit and did not even meet him.
Those from the civil service department did meet Changsun Wuji, Fang Xuanling, Wei Zheng and others, but they all ignored him.
When the matter of marriage was mentioned, they all excused it by saying that it was a family matter of the emperor, and as foreign ministers they could not say much.
When it comes to the armistice with the four plateau countries, everyone has more to say. That is a family matter of your five plateau countries and has nothing to do with us.
As the sovereign state of the Tang Dynasty, we cannot interfere in the internal affairs of vassal states at will. Otherwise, how will other vassal states view us?
The most important thing is that Tibet did not pay tribute to us, the Tang Dynasty.
Until now, you have always dealt with the Tang Dynasty as a neighbor.
In this case, what do you want us to do?
On the other hand, Qingliu and Yushi were moved by many of them.
Especially when it came to how much money and food the Tang Dynasty paid for this war, many people expressed their opinions on the spot that they would write a ceasefire as long as Tibet surrendered and paid tribute.
But Lu Dongzan was not fooled by the faces of these people.
Claiming to be a vassal and paying tribute? Tubo and Tang Dynasty were countries with diplomatic relations, how could they easily become a vassal?
The Zanpu of our country is equal to your Emperor of the Tang Dynasty.
So the promises made by these people are equivalent to no promises.
At this point, Lu Dongzan actually knew that the marriage was no longer possible.
However, in order to facilitate the gathering of information, he still pretended to be active and at the same time created conditions for others to gather information.
There are some things that cannot be hidden from people, such as trains, such as academies, such as Taoist factory areas, such as Taoist poverty alleviation plans.
These matters were discussed all over Chang'an, and Chen Jingke specially asked the two periodicals "Wang Yue Tan" and "Shuo Yue Tan" to carry out multiple large-scale reports.
The core is to create momentum for physical studies, industrialization, and labor manuals.
After learning that the 'Tieniu' was built by Qiuxuan Academy, the Tubo people began to inquire about the situation there.
It's a pity that the academy is located in a remote place, surrounded by wilderness and a high-walled compound. Li Shimin even specially stationed a battalion of troops here.
All the people around him are as invisible as the lice on a bald man's head.
They were driven back without even being able to touch the edge of the academy, let alone spy on information.
Unwilling to do so, they wanted to spend money to buy information. However, the academy blocked not only foreigners, but even the Tang Dynasty's own people were not allowed to approach at will.
Except for college staff, anyone else who wants to go must obtain permission.
The reason for doing this is also very simple, it is for safety.
I'm afraid that if an enemy comes over and destroys the academy, the loss will be too great.
The more mysterious the place, the more speculation there is. Anyway, Qiuxuan Academy has become a first-class mysterious place among the people.
Rumors abound that are so exaggerated as to be outrageous.
The Tubo people were quickly confused by these rumors and had no choice but to give up this plan.
But fortunately, the factory area is not so strict.
Except for the factory area where outsiders are not allowed to enter and exit casually, other places are open to casual access.
And there are a large number of people coming in and out every day, so there is no way to keep it secret.
A Tibetan man bribed a small businessman who came over to do some shopping and got in.
Then I was so shocked by all the machines inside that I couldn't speak.
After returning home, when he told his colleagues about his findings, it aroused a lot of doubts.
What kind of self-operating saw can cut a large tree as thick as an arm into planks in just one cup of tea?
What kind of automatic loom is more than ten times faster than a human and can run all day long without stopping?
What crusher, sewing machine, steam engine... sounds like a myth.
But Lu Dongzan believed it. He took out a few books, which were "Wang Yue Tan" and "Shuo Yue Tan" and said:
"What he said is true. Those machines are driven by something called a steam engine, and the trains are also driven by steam engines. All of this was brought about by Chen Jingke of Zixiao Temple."
Then he introduced Chen Jingke’s identity:
He is fifteen years old this year and is a descendant of the hidden lineage of the Chen family.
At the same time, he is also the only direct disciple of Sun Simiao, the sage of medicine, leader of Taoism, and master of Zixiao Temple.
He is also the consort of Princess Jinyang, the direct princess of the Tang Dynasty...
Despite his young age, he has mastered all kinds of magical knowledge.
He was the dean of Qiuxuan Academy and the founder of the factory district. It is said that he was the inventor of steam engines, looms, steam saws, sewing machines, trains, clocks, water pumps, etc.
Even books such as "Chinese Civilization" and "Journey to the West" were written by him.
"By the way, these two journals were also created by him, and the article "Ocean Goddess" published today was written by his concubine."
Hearing this, everyone felt as if they had heard a fantasy.
If they hadn't known that Lu Dongzan would not joke about such things, they would have thought that the other party was making nonsense.
But the more this happens, the more incredible they find it, that there really is such an almighty genius in the world?
But why don’t such talents belong to Tubo?
Thinking of this, someone suddenly thought: "Small talk, what if we 'invite' Chen Zhenren to Tibet?"
Everyone was very excited, and they naturally knew what it meant.
No matter what method was used, if such talents could be removed, then everything the Tang Dynasty owned would belong to Tubo.
Lu Dongzan shook his head and said: "It's difficult, Chen Jingke once encountered an assassination. Since then, he has attached great importance to his own safety, and there are heavy guards to protect him when he comes in and out."
"The Emperor of the Tang Dynasty also sent imperial troops to protect his safety. It is impossible for us to break through the protection of these people and contact him."
"Besides, we are under the surveillance of the Tang Dynasty. If we make the slightest move, we will be discovered."
"Not only will we not get him, it will offend the Emperor of the Tang Dynasty and give them an excuse to send troops to attack us."
Everyone looked at each other in silence.
In the past, they were not afraid of Datang. In the past few years, they even took the initiative to fight against Datang.
Although they eventually failed and returned to the plateau, the Tang army was unable to pursue them.
They all knew that although they could not defeat the Tang army, the initiative was always in their hands due to the natural dangers of the plateau.
If you want to fight, fight, if you don't want to fight, go back.
Therefore, we are not afraid of the Tang Dynasty, and this is the biggest capital we dare to communicate with as brotherly countries.
But now they dare not say this.
The Tang Dynasty could use Tuyuhun and other four countries to use troops against Tubo at any time, and even immigrated tens of thousands of households to Tuyuhun to adapt to the local environment.
There are also troops stationed in Bailan tribe, Dongnu Kingdom, and Tuyuhun, trying to adapt these troops to the local environment.
Although the effect is not obvious because of the short time, as long as Datang is willing, it will one day be able to cultivate an army that can freely enter and leave the plateau.
By that time, it will be the end of Tubo.
This has to make the Tubo people fearful, and they will never dare to be as rampant as before.
If we really kidnap someone as important as Chen Jingke, let alone whether we can succeed, even if we succeed, I'm afraid it will be useless, and it will accelerate the demise of Tubo.
This idea was rejected as soon as it was proposed.
Lu Dongzan asked again: "What other information did you get?"
Another person said: "A few days ago, I saw dozens of large ships unloading grain at the water transport terminal, all of which were rice, so I went to find out. According to people in the Tang Dynasty, the rice came from Funan and other countries."
People will inevitably exaggerate when speaking, especially when telling foreigners, the proud tone can be felt from a distance.
Why are those small countries in the Indochina Peninsula fertile with fertile soil and a suitable climate, so you can harvest just by sowing seeds in the ground?
It can harvest three crops a year, and the yield per mu of each crop is two or three shi (two to three hundred catties).
There was so much food there that it was impossible to eat it all. It was piled on the ground and rotting. The livestock only ate the best rice.
But those countries particularly admired the Tang Dynasty, especially its exquisite glass, silk, clocks, etc.
A few glass bottles, a piece of silk, a luxurious-looking clock... can easily be exchanged for a boatload of food.
These fifty shiploads of grain are equivalent to dozens of bolts of silk.
The Tang Dynasty could obtain hundreds of millions of tons of rice from there every year, and the food in the imperial warehouses was piled up like mountains, making it impossible to finish it all.
Those people even deliberately complained that the three-season rice had a bad taste and was not as delicious as the two-season rice.
There is also a kind of one-season rice in the Tang Dynasty. The yield is very high, reaching four or five stones, and the taste is also very good.
It's a pity that only the rich can eat this kind of rice, and ordinary people have nowhere to buy it.
Lu Dongzan listened with a heavy heart. Naturally, he would not completely believe these words. Especially when he later complained that the three-season rice was not delicious, this was just showing off.
But one thing he is sure of is that Datang has obtained a new source of food, and the quantity is quite large, and the price should not be expensive.
No wonder they can support the four countries of Tuyuhun regardless of cost, and rice accounts for a high proportion of the food they support.
You must know that transporting food from the Central Plains to the plateau countries consumes a lot of money on the way.
For every grain transported, ten grains are consumed on the way. No matter how wealthy a family is, they cannot afford such consumption.
But in fact, Datang has been doing this for two consecutive years, and there is no sign of stopping.
The key is that there was not much opposition within Datang to such an act that clearly consumed national power.
He used this reason to lobby those who were clear-minded, but he didn't get much recognition.
He was surprised before that this was impossible.
Shouldn't Qingliu be very opposed to this kind of behavior of killing one thousand enemies and damaging oneself eight hundred?
Why don't they object to this?
Now he finally understands.
These grains were not produced in the Tang Dynasty, but bought from outside.
Without wasting money and wasting people, Qingliu would have no reason to oppose it.
But for Tubo, this was bad news.
The plan of the Tang Dynasty is already coming out, and it is preparing to bring down Tibet alive through this extravagant war of attrition.
In recent years, Tibet has spent almost all its resources on the war with the Four-Nation Alliance.
It can be said that all industries in the country are in decline, and it has reached the point where military rations are reduced during non-war times.
Originally they thought that such a war of attrition would be difficult for the Tang Dynasty, but now they know that this is not the case at all.
So this war of attrition is meaningless? The key is that they have no chance of winning.
Also go to Funan and other countries to buy food?
Not to mention that they couldn't afford the price, even those countries with money would not dare to sell it to them because of the face of the Tang Dynasty.
Even if they dare to sell, how can they transport so much food back to the plateau?
The more he thought about Lu Dongzan, the more confused his heart became. How to break this deadlock?
Do we really want to bow our heads and surrender to the Tang Dynasty?
