This large-scale battle was actually provoked by Qingtang, who was relatively weak, because compared with Western Xia, their situation was even more miserable.

Although neither of these forces dared to invade the territory of the rich empire, the Western Xia, which lacked food, and the Mongols in the north, the Jin Kingdom in the northeast, the Western Regions in the west, and the Tibetan lands in the southwest could be plundered.

Qingtang, which is surrounded by the territory of the empire, has only two ways out: Tibet and Western Xia.

Economic sanctions have existed since ancient times, for example, when the Song Dynasty was still there, as a large country in the Central Plains with abundant resources, it often imposed trade sanctions on neighboring disobedient countries, and the common method was to close the market that could be traded.

The Chinese Empire did not do this, but when the Intelligence Bureau found out that Western Xia and Qingtang began to run short of food due to the drought, there was no food in the various western border fields, including Lanzhou.

The horses and slaves of Western Xia and Qingtang, as well as livestock, could still be sold in the farms, but all they received were goods and coins other than grain.

In the face of the emperor's lukewarm sanctions, the Western Xia and Qingtang people repeatedly sent envoys to the imperial capital Changsha to ask for assistance, but they were all sent away by Foreign Minister Ludia, and they did not even see the face of Emperor Li Nan.

Li Nan is not a fool, these aliens are almost the same in their ungrateful personalities.

When you are in trouble, you kindly sponsor them, and when they are well fed, clothed and warm, they will immediately give you a knife in turn, similar things are not uncommon in Chinese history.

It has been a full year since the great drought, and in order to grab enough grain from the Western Xia Kingdom, the lord of the country, Li Qianshun, has ordered another general to lead troops to the west to attack the Uighurs and other small countries in the Western Regions, hoping to bring back the grain for the winter.

The leader of the Qingtang people, Yi Ma Dangzheng, is now having a very difficult time, and now the responsibility for not being able to get food falls on him, the leader, and the tribes and generals below already have great opinions on this.

This attack on the Western Xia was also regarded as a move by the Yima Party to divert the internal contradictions in Qingtang and send the tribes who opposed them to death, which actually had no effect on alleviating the situation of food shortage in the country.

Li Nan, who is sitting in Lintao Mansion, naturally knows about these situations, and at this moment he is discussing this matter with several cabinet ministers.

Tyrion pointed to the map of the western forces in front of everyone, and said with excitement on his face: "The Qingtang people can't support it anymore, this time the Yima Party Expedition deliberately sent the tribes who opposed him to death, although some troubles were cleared, but the leaders of the other tribes are not fools, and the troops have not lost much." Moreover, the people of Qingtang can no longer hold on, and at present, several tribal leaders have sent letters to be willing to submit to the empire. ”

"Mistress Tyrion is right."

"According to the secret agent's report, the leaders of the three clans in Qingtang seem to be willing to join in good faith. Moreover, in the various fields in the west, a large number of Qingtang and Western Xia people have appeared one after another, and they are willing to sell themselves, all they want is to survive, and this situation is becoming more and more serious. ”

Thinking of Qingtang, which the Song Kingdom had not won all these years, and now that it has reached this point, Luda couldn't help but sigh: "A natural disaster can make Qingtang fall apart, it seems that it is really God's help to the empire!" ”

The ministers have said so much, and in the end, it is still up to Li Nan, the emperor, to decide.

Looking around at the ministers present, Li Nan smiled and said: "Since the period is ripe, it is natural to send someone to pick fruits, I don't know who wants to go to Qingtang for a walk?" ”

In fact, things have reached this point, and there is no difficulty anymore, so in the face of this great achievement of expanding the territory, everyone humbled up, and finally Ruda said: "This matter is related to foreign races, and it usually belongs to the diplomatic department, so it is better to let Lord Ludia be responsible." ”

Ruda's words were agreed by everyone, because Ludia was not only the foreign minister, but also the emperor's concubine, and let her get this credit, everyone had no second word.

Li Nan also recognized this candidate, and immediately said: "Okay, then let Ludia do this." ”

There is still a certain danger in going to Qingtang territory, after all, the leader of Qingtang, Yima Dangzheng, is still reluctant to give up his rights, and at the moment it is just that other tribes are willing to surrender.

Ludia is also a heroine among women, in order to complete this mission, she did not send someone to Qingtang as Li Nan and others suggested, but personally entered the enemy's realm.

After Ludia led the people to the predetermined location, she ordered the royal guards to leave, and she waited in place with only two attendants.

Soon, there was a sound of horses' hooves, and thousands of Tibetans appeared in view, and then formed a charging formation and galloped towards Ludia fiercely.

Looking at the Tubo people galloping in front of her, Ludia smiled faintly, she can be regarded as a person who has seen strong winds and waves, and these little tricks of aliens can't play against her.

Just as Ludia estimated, these Tibetans did not dare to attack the empire to the death, and when they saw that they could not be frightened by each other, the thousands of Tibetans had no choice but to reduce the speed of their horses and slowly stop in front of Ludia.

"I am the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Empire, the Roman Princess of the Empire, Ludia, and I have come to discuss the surrender with you today!"

A Tibetan patriarch at the head looked at the beautiful Ludia, and said suspiciously: "Does the empire look down on us, that's why it sent you this woman?" ”

Ludia said loudly: "There is equality between men and women in the empire, I am one of the ministers of the imperial cabinet, not only your Qingtang affairs are under my control, even if there is something in the Jin country, you have to talk to me first!" ”

Before she could finish speaking, the two attendants beside Ludia took out the white jade seal representing the Foreign Minister and the Imperial Mandate made of yellow satin.

Several Tubo patriarchs took the seal and the letter of appointment and looked at it carefully, although they didn't know the words, but this seal was made of the best jade, plus the red seal on the yellow satin, they already believed a little in their hearts.

At this time, a few younger Tibetans came to the side of those patriarchs, pointed at Ludia and said a few words softly, they are all recognized men in the tribe, and some of them have been sent to the imperial capital, so they know this beautiful and incomprehensible imperial foreign minister, who can never be forgotten at a glance.

After confirming Ludia's identity, the old Tubo patriarch at the head said: "Qingtang is short of food now, and our tribes can't survive with the Yima Party, so we are willing to return to the empire, but we also have conditions!" ”

Ludia nodded, smiled and said, "Just say what conditions you have." ”

The old patriarch waved his hand behind him and said, "This time, except for Yima Dangzheng and a few tribes close to him, the other Qingtang patriarchs are here, and we have a total of more than 300,000 people, so we need food that can keep these people alive, and we must give it to us first." ”

"Well, no problem, although there is a big drought in the northwest this year, there is a bumper harvest in the south of the empire, and it is not a problem to fund your food."

Ludia smiled, "I can call the shots on behalf of the Empire, and as long as you are willing to surrender, food will be sent to you immediately." ”

This old patriarch probably didn't expect that he needed more than 300,000 people's food, and the other party agreed so easily, and he couldn't help but be stunned.

The old patriarch asked suspiciously, "Aren't you afraid that we will regret it after we receive the grain?" ”

"Hehehe!" Ludia looked at the Tubo people in front of her, and said with a confident smile: "The empire has not attacked Qingtang, that is the kindness of His Majesty the Emperor, he hopes to let you Tubo people also return to the embrace of the empire, otherwise Qingtang would have been destroyed a long time ago, do you think the empire will be afraid of your remorse?" ”