The light of swords, fire, shouts of killing, and screams tore through the quiet night, and the noise lasted for half the night.

The south and west gates of the city were wide open, and the looted Tubo people fled from the city in a hurry.

Palace.

Early the next morning, Murong Zun received a report that most of the Tubo people in the city had been robbed last night, and many people had been killed when they resisted.

Eyewitnesses claimed that the looters were all wearing Tuyuhun military uniforms and specialized in robbing the Tibetans.

Murong Zun was furious and asked, "Why didn't you Praetorian Guards stop it?" ”

The commander of the Praetorian Guard said: "Khan, General Zhonglang, who was on duty last night, ordered the night patrol to be cancelled, and the minister went to look for him, and found that the man was gone. ”

Murong Zun said hatefully: "Send someone to arrest him back, I will break him into ten thousand pieces!" ”

Suddenly, he remembered a question, and couldn't help but turn blue, and he asked, "Are the people from the Tibetan Mission okay?" ”

The commander of the Praetorian Guard said: "Khan, 31 Tibetan envoys in the guest house, all of them were killed, and none of them were spared. ”

"This ......" Murong Zun realized the crisis and sat down in a dejected manner.

Zuo Prime Minister Hao Lianbot said: "Khan, this is a premeditated attack, the target of the attackers is the Tubo people, they disguised themselves as our people, killed the Tibetan envoys, robbed the Tibetan merchants, the purpose is to drive a wedge between us and the Tubo people." ”

The general said: "Khan, the matter is very serious. Hou Junji, the general of the Tang Dynasty, led an army of 100,000 troops to the border line, and will attack us at any time. The rebels of the thief Murong Bo have pinned down the main force of our army, and if we lose the help of the Tubo people, once the Tang army launches an attack, we will definitely not be able to stop it.

The situation is urgent, and I hope that the Khan will make up his mind sooner. ”

The ministers all looked at Murong Zun nervously.

Murong Zun said happily: "Fortunately, the right prime minister escorted the Tibetan envoy Van Gogh to Longde City, they should be able to explain clearly." ”

Murong Zun asked, "Rank ministers, what do you think?" ”

Hao Lianbot, the prime minister of the left, said: "Khan, the top priority is to repair the relationship with the Tibetan people. Now that there has been a robbery of the Tibetan people in the city, you should personally repair the book, send an envoy to Longde City, meet the Tibetan envoy Van Gogh, and explain it clearly. ”

The general said: "Khan, the minister has seen clearly, the incident that happened last night is clearly that someone wants to provoke the relationship between Tubo and Tuyuhun. In order to show his attitude, the minister suggested that the prince of the Tang Dynasty, Li Ke and others, be killed, and urge Tubo to increase assistance to our Tuyuhun. ”

"The minister seconded the proposal."

"The minister seconded the proposal."

……

Murong Zun also knew that this was the only feasible option at the moment, and he no longer hesitated, and was determined to make a complete break with the Tang Dynasty in exchange for the firm support of Tubo.

He ordered: "Immediately escort Li Ke and others to the execution ground, and publicly execute them at three o'clock in the afternoon." Then, send the head to Longde City. Remember, find the living Tibetans in the city and let them go to watch the execution so that they can be witnesses. ”

The chief of the guard replied, "Your Ministers obey the order." "Go out and carry out Murong Zun's will.

Murong Zun then ordered: "After executing Li Ke and the others, immediately launch an attack on the Tang army outside the city and completely annihilate them. ”

"Obey." The general said.

The general instructed his subordinates to lay out an attack plan against the Tang army, and he continued to report on the battle with Murong Bo's army.

Li Ke, the king of Shu, had been having nightmares last night, and his left eyelid jumped when he woke up. He forgot the proverb that says, "The left eye jumps for wealth, and the right eye jumps for disaster" or the left eye jumps for disaster, and the right eye jumps for wealth." In short, it is a bad premonition.

When the Tuyuhun people rushed in, he finally figured out that it was "the left eye jumping disaster, and the right eye jumping wealth". ”

Li Ke, Quan Wanji and other 19 people were tied up by Wuhua and escorted to the square west of the palace, waiting for the arrival of three o'clock in the afternoon.

Xue Wanjun, who was outside the city, found that a large number of Tuyuhun cavalry had gathered outside the barracks, and knew that the final decisive battle was coming. He ordered his troops to assemble and prepare for battle.

Palace.

Murong Zun and the others discussed specific things for a while, and when they saw that there was nothing more to say, they decided to disperse.

At this moment, the chief of the guard came in and reported: "Khan, a Tang merchant has sent a gift, saying that you must like it. ”

Murong Zun's heart moved, and he said, "Take it in." ”

Soon, the chief guard came in with a young Tang man, and two guards followed with a box.

Murong Zun asked, "Who are you and what kind of gift did you give?" ”

The person came and said: "Respected Khan, my name is Baihu, I am the personal guard of His Royal Highness the King of Qi of the Tang Dynasty, and I came to give you a gift on the order of His Royal Highness the King of Qi." As he spoke, he pointed to the box.

Murong Zun said, "Open it and take a look." ”

The chief guard stepped forward and opened the box, and saw that there were three small boxes inside, and when he opened one of them, his face changed greatly, and he couldn't help but take a step back.

He said in horror: "Khan, it is the head of the right prime minister!" ”

The ministers were amazed.

Murong Zun's heart trembled, and he said, "There is no Tibetan envoy Van Gogh, right? He knew that something had happened to the right prime minister, and it was impossible for Van Gogh to be unharmed. But he still held on to a glimmer of hope and prayed that nothing had happened to Van Gogh.

However, the Captain's words dashed his hopes.

The chief of the guard said: "There is the head and seal letter of the Tibetan envoy Van Goghnian!" ”

"This ...... How good is that? The ministers looked terrified.

The chief of the guard said, "Khan, there is also a gift list in this box. As he spoke, he held his hands up in the air.

Murong Zun took it and looked at it, and it read: "Respected Khan, I have a big gift for you, I think you will be interested." "The signature is Li You, Prince of the Tang Dynasty.

Murong Zun said to the White Tiger, "What gift does His Royal Highness King Qi want to give me?" ”

Baihu said: "This villain doesn't know, my prince is in the city, and the khan can talk to him in detail." ”

Murong Zun said, "You go down and wait first." ”

The chief guard took the white tiger down.

Murong Zun asked, "Rank ministers, what do you think?" ”

Zuo Prime Minister Hao Lianbot said: "Khan, things are not good, in this case, we can't say clearly." Even if it could be explained in the future, it would be thousands of miles away from the city of Lhasa, and it would take months to get back and forth.

Now, there are Murong Bo's rebels inside, and 100,000 Tang troops outside to press the border, and it's too late at all! ”

"yes, yes." The ministers said one after another.

The general was inclined to unite with the Tibetans, but in the face of such a situation, he was also a little dumbfounded. He didn't have an idea for a while, so he didn't say anything.

One of the ministers said, "Khan, since the prince of the Tang Dynasty is here, you might as well listen to what he wants to say, maybe things will turn around." ”

A minister said: "It's useless, our people killed thousands of Tang troops in Longde City, has this hatred been resolved?" ”

"The minister suggested negotiations."

"The minister objected."

……

Murong Zun has always trusted Prime Minister Zuo Hao Lianbot, and said to him: "Prime Minister Zuo, what is your opinion? ”

Hao Lianbot said: "Why not listen to this King of Qi to talk about? If he makes a suggestion that is beneficial to us, we will take it. If not, we'll take him captive, won't we have another hostage? ”

This suggestion is a good idea, and no one has an opinion.

Murong Zun said, "Okay, I would like to invite His Royal Highness King Qi." ”