The six bets compete for supremacy and good luck comes, and the gold plate is thrown and thousands of people open it.
The husband bets his life to repay the emperor by cutting off his beard and clothes.
——"Sending Nephew Zheng Guan to the Army" by Li Bai
…
The Silla Navy held on for less than an hour, and finally collapsed. Tens of thousands of Silla sailors took off their armor, dropped their weapons, and swam towards the shore.
Bai Fu suggested that all the Silla sailors who were swimming should be shot.
Chen Honghu hurriedly tried to dissuade them, saying: "Brother Xian, they have already been defeated. They are unarmed and drowned. Brother Yu can't bear the slaughter at this time! Brother Xian, please spare them for Brother Yu's sake."
No matter how Bai Fu tried to persuade him, Chen Honghu refused to give the order.
Chen Honghu was the commander of the Jianghuai Navy. If he did not give orders, Bai Fu would not be able to command the Tang Dynasty Navy.
If it had been anyone else, Bai Fu would have already taken out the secret edict and the tiger talisman for troop deployment given to him by Su Zong, and seized Chen Honghu's military power.
But he was his brother after all. Although Bai Fu was dissatisfied, he still tolerated the words.
Several high-ranking generals of the Tang Dynasty Navy were chattering on the other side of the bow, looking furtively at Bai Fu from time to time.
Bai Fu'er was so powerful that he could hear them slandering him: "The commander-in-chief also said that he is a descendant of a military strategist? He only knows how to kill and not show mercy. He has no character of a military strategist's disciple. It is more like impermanence to seek life."
But no, what you said is right. If you ask me, he just slaughtered them all by himself! In the battle at Bailang Mountain, he took away hundreds of thousands of lives with just a flash of fire."
…
Chen Honghu ordered the Tang navy to capture the swimming Silla sailors alive. These tens of thousands of prisoners of war were tightly bound and kept under strict supervision.
An hour later, the battle ended. The bodies of Silla sailors, warship wreckage and debris were floating everywhere on the vast sea, which was comparable to a hurricane shipwreck.
After this war, all Penglai fishermen went fishing in the ocean, and the local people did not eat offshore fish and shrimp for several years. This is something to be said later.
…
Chen Honghu relied on the sea to face the wind, without any joy of victory. He felt heavy and sighed: "Silla used to be an ally of the Tang Dynasty, but it has reached this point now, which is very sad."
Bai Fu sat on the side of the boat, looking at the sea, like a statue, silent.
Chen Honghu knew that Bai Fu had been stubborn and very opinionated since he was a child, so he said: "Brother Fu, Brother Yu is also trying to accumulate blessings for you. Saving one life is better than building a seven-level pagoda."
Bai Fu turned his head, a cold light burst out from his eyes, and sneered: "
Third brother, let me tell you about the grudges between Datang and Silla.
Throughout the history of Silla, successive Silla kings made good friends with the Tang Dynasty in order to gain recognition and assistance from the Tang Dynasty for their rule.
Starting from Emperor Taizong, the Tang Dynasty used troops against Goguryeo. These wars were largely facilitated by Silla and Baekje. Both countries were eager to use the powerful military strength of the Tang Dynasty to destroy their opponents and realize their respective ambitions to unify the Korean Peninsula.
In order to realize this strategy, Silla ostensibly recognized the suzerainty of the Tang Dynasty, formed an alliance with the Tang Dynasty, and persuaded the Tang Dynasty to use force against Silla's old enemies Goguryeo and Baekje.
Silla complained to the Tang Dynasty about the territorial expansion of Goguryeo and Baekje, emphasizing that Goguryeo's expansion blocked Silla's road to the Central Plains.
For Silla, Datang's assistance was indispensable. Only with the help of Datang could Silla gain the upper hand in the battle for the Korean Peninsula.
Some officials of Silla also needed to use the power of the Tang Dynasty to avenge their families. Kim Chunqiu, the Prime Minister of Silla, was an example. He used the help of the Tang Dynasty to avenge the murder of his daughter and son-in-law by Baekje.
Silla deliberately drove a wedge between Datang, Goguryeo, and Baekje, and finally used Datang to destroy Goguryeo and Baekje.
Seeing that the Tang army had wiped out Baekje and conquered Goguryeo, Silla immediately changed its face and became the mastermind behind the scenes, constantly planning the survivors of Goguryeo and Baekje to resist the Tang army, and finally forced the Tang army to withdraw from the Korean Peninsula.
Jin Chunqiu's son Jin Famin was appointed by Emperor Gojong as the governor of Jilin Dadufu (later King Munmu of Silla, reigned 661-681).
However, Jin Famin betrayed his faith and secretly formed an alliance with the Goguryeo survivors to jointly fight against the Tang garrison on the Korean Peninsula.
Xue Rengui, a general of the Tang army stationed in the Korean Peninsula, wrote a letter to condemn Jin Famin: "Oh! I was a loyal minister in the past, but now I am a rebellious minister!"
In this war that lasted for hundreds of years, both Goguryeo and Baekje on the Korean Peninsula were losers, but the Tang Dynasty was not a winner either. The real beneficiary was Silla, which finally completed the great cause of unifying the peninsula.
After that, the Bohai Kingdom rose strongly, and Silla took advantage of the conflict between the Tang Dynasty and the Bohai County to station troops in the Datong River Basin, expanding its sphere of influence northward and becoming the biggest beneficiary of the conflict between the Tang Dynasty and the Bohai County.
Seeing that the goal was achieved, Xinluo separated borders with the Tang Dynasty and ruled, which was a treachery.
…
Since the Sui and Tang Dynasties, hundreds of thousands of soldiers from the Central Plains have been buried in the swamps of the "Liaoze" area for the three foreign countries of Goguryeo, Baekje and Silla. Their bones have not yet been returned to their hometowns.
Throughout history, as long as we have anything to do with foreign countries on the Korean Peninsula, nothing good will come of it.
If such a despicable country does not take severe punishments and cut off its righteousness, it will drag us, the Tang Dynasty, into a place of eternal destruction again and again in the future.
Third brother, you are a typical woman's kindness by letting them go today!
I leave my harsh words here, and one day you will regret your decision today!"
Chen Honghu didn't read much and knew very little about the history of Goguryeo, Baekje and Silla. He was shocked when he heard this.
However, he then thought about it, Bai Fu was young and energetic, and his words were just words made out of anger. They were not enough and were alarmist and should not be taken seriously.
Chen Honghu smiled awkwardly, changed the topic, and invited Bai Fu to attend the grand celebration banquet tonight.
Bai Fu was stunned and asked: "During the war preparations, how can the army drink alcohol?"
Chen Honghu laughed loudly, patted Bai Fu on the shoulder and said, "Brother Xian, isn't the battle over? There is not even a small sampan for the rebels in this hundred miles.
Besides, the brothers have been fighting fiercely for a whole day, and they need a drink to release their emotions and boost their morale!
You are good at everything, but you are stubborn! When leading troops in war, you cannot be strict and strict. Under military regulations, you have to act cheaply!"
During the war, drinking was not allowed in the army. This was an iron law of the Tang army! Whether it was Master Zhongsi or General Guangbi, as long as they were leading the troops, anyone who disobeyed the order would be killed!
He didn't talk much, and Bai Fu didn't argue. He found an excuse not to go, preferring to stay alone on the deck and admire the moon.
Chen Honghu knew that Bai Fu was unhappy and still complained about himself. He did not try to persuade him, patted Bai Fu on the shoulder and turned to leave.
Chen Honghu thought to himself: "Tonight's celebration banquet needs to be hosted by myself to comfort the generals.
A bonfire was set up on the beach outside the tent, and the generals were all looking forward to it beside the bonfire, eager for a carnival without getting drunk. They couldn't wait too long.
It doesn't matter if you leave Brother Fu alone, he will eventually understand his good intentions."
Chen Honghu ordered people to send five large plates of fine wine and delicacies to Bai Fu for Bai Fu to enjoy alone.
Bai Fu carried a pot of water in his hand, pointed his toes, and jumped up to the top of the main mast like a dancing crane. There was no one to disturb him here, so it was best to be alone.
The mainmast is a hundred feet high, and you can pick the stars with your hands. Standing here is like standing in another time and space.
Raising a glass to the bright moon, facing the only person in the shadow. Bai Fu felt deeply lonely...
At this time, the sea surface returned to calm. The bright moon was shining thousands of miles away, the moonlight was shining, the waves were sparkling, and the waves were sounding, making this sea area look particularly quiet.
No one could have imagined that just a few hours ago, this place was once a ghost on earth.
－－－－－－Digression－－－－－
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"The Tang Dynasty in Multipolar Asia", author: Wang Zhenping, translator: Jia Yonghui, Shanghai Culture Publishing House·Houlang, published in June 2020