In November of the eighth year of Zhenguan, the mission sent by Songtsen Gampo of Tubo finally came to Chang'an City after several rounds.

This was the first official diplomatic exchange between the two countries.

Li Shimin met Zhuo Lingzan in the Taiji Palace.

At this time, the Tang Dynasty did not know much about Tibet.

Since there was no diplomatic exchange between the two sides, the Tang Dynasty's policy towards Tibet was mainly based on prevention.

Under such a premise, the Tang Dynasty only knew that in recent years, Tubo Zanpu abandoned the sect and made Zan, and strongly unified the surrounding departments.

His strength reached hundreds of thousands.

Other understandings are nothing more than obvious things such as the ignorance of the people and the hardships of life.

Li Shimin first listened quietly as Zhuo Lingzan finished reading the letter written to him by Abandoning Zong Zan.

Then he spoke: "I have heard that Tubo Zanpu is a young and promising lord, and it is a rare good thing to be able to establish diplomatic relations with your country. ”

Zhuo Lingzan opened his mouth and said: "The foreign minister praised His Majesty on behalf of the minister.

Zanpu has always admired Datang culture and hopes to learn more from Datang through exchanges between the two countries. ”

Li Shimin said with a smile: "The Tang Dynasty is also unfamiliar with Tibetan culture, and the two countries should learn from each other after the establishment of diplomatic relations." ”

Zhuo Ling praised: "Zanpu hopes that after the establishment of diplomatic relations, the two countries can open border markets to each other for trade, and I hope that Your Majesty will agree." ”

Li Shimin said with a smile: "The two sides have just established diplomatic relations and do not know each other yet, and this matter should be gradual and not rushed.

You might as well relax border controls first, allow people to communicate with each other, and the border market will naturally open up after a long time. ”

Zhuo Lingzan didn't quite understand the Tao here, so after thinking for a while, he said: "The foreign minister will truthfully inform Zanpu of His Majesty's opinion." ”

Li Shimin nodded after listening to him.

Before he could speak, Zhuo Lingzan asked again: "Zanpu heard that the surrounding countries are proud of marrying the Tang Princess, and specially appointed the foreign ministers to propose to His Majesty on his behalf. ”

Li Shimin couldn't help frowning after hearing this.

He glanced suspiciously at Fang Xuanling and Wei Chi Jingde and other civil and military officials who were standing left and right.

How could this kind of thing spread to Tibet?

Fang Xuanling and the others were also confused.

At the beginning of the founding of the Tang Dynasty, in order to implement the policy of restraint, several princesses were indeed married.

But these are all methods that were conceived to maintain the stability of the Datang border.

And those people either took out a rich dowry or made great contributions to the Tang Dynasty.

You, a poor and remote Tubo Zanpu, didn't bring anything, and you actually wanted to marry a princess of the Tang Dynasty?

After seeing everyone's reactions, Li Shimin said to Zhuo Lingzan: "Your family praise may have misheard the rumors, and the princess of the Tang Dynasty will never marry easily. ”

After hearing this, Zhuo Lingzan asked suspiciously: "Your Majesty, there have been many princesses in the Tang Dynasty who have married to Turkic and Xue Yantuo and other countries.

Even the surrendered Turkic chieftain married the princess of the Tang Dynasty, why is it my turn to Tubo Zanpu but refuse to marry easily? ”

After Li Shimin heard his words, he immediately frowned and thought: Sure enough, he is a person whose mind is not open, and he can't even listen to good words.

Thinking of this, he opened his mouth and said: "The people married by the princess of the Tang Dynasty are all heroes of my Tang Dynasty, how can you just look at your status and status?" ”

Zhuo Lingzan opened his mouth and asked, "Your Majesty looks down on me Tubo?" ”

Li Shimin was so angry after hearing this!

Did this Tibetan envoy come to my Tang Dynasty to quarrel?

How can you talk without a brain at all?

Why did my Datang marry a princess just after establishing diplomatic relations with you?

said that I look down on you, do you put Datang in your eyes when you talk like this?

I only heard him speak: "There is no actual exchange between the two countries, so it is a bit too much for you to make such a request to Datang." ”

Zhuo Ling praised: "My family's praise is sincere to make such a request with the Tang Dynasty, Your Majesty refuses to agree, why do you say that we are excessive?" ”

After Li Shimin heard this, his eyes darkened with anger.

Are you talking about human words?

Anyway, my Datang princesses have become diplomatic partners, any country that establishes diplomatic relations with my Datang, and my Datang will send one?

Li Shimin took a deep breath and said: "The people married by the princess of the Tang Dynasty are all my Datang officials, and if the Tubo Zanpu is willing to belong to my Datang, this matter can be discussed." ”

Since you are so unreasonable, then I will go straight to you.

If you want to marry me Princess Datang, you will exchange the territory, and if you want to make money for nothing, you don't even have a door.

After Li Shimin's words were finished, Zhuo Lingzan immediately shut up.

He knew that this matter was not easy to handle from the beginning of Li Shimin's refusal.

But Li Shimin's euphemistic refusal gave him a glimmer of hope.

The reason why he has been aggressive is that he wants to squeeze Li Shimin.

In his opinion, Tibet was much stronger than those other countries and tribes.

Since they can all marry the princess of the Tang Dynasty, then I must also marry Tubo Zanpu.

As long as you Datang can't come up with a reason for refusing to praise, I will never give up.

However, at the moment, Li Shimin directly put forward such a condition, but he was directly stumped.

Although Tibet is not rich and powerful, it is also a large grassland country with hundreds of thousands of troops.

You Datang want to exchange a princess for my Tubo's annexation, is this dowry a little too expensive?

Li Shimin saw that Zhuo Lingzan was no longer talking, so he spoke: "This matter is not negotiable for the time being, it is better for you and me to develop other relations first." ”

Zhuo Lingzan couldn't do anything for a while, so he stopped mentioning the marriage proposal.

Instead, he honestly stayed and discussed other details of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries with Chen Shuda, the secretary of the Ministry of Rites.

Not long after Li Shimin's side got Zhuo Lingzan, the Western Turkic Khan Nishu died mysteriously, and his younger brother Tong'e hurriedly inherited the throne.

And Desire Valley, who was secretly planning all this, has begun to accumulate strength and is ready to launch a rebellion while Tong'e is unstable.

This year, everything in Datang was generally stable.

However, the change of the position of the Western Turkic Khan indicates that the surrounding area of the Tang Dynasty will soon become no longer peaceful.

On the first day of the ninth year of Zhenguan, Li Zhi once again arranged a grand celebration for Li Yuan in the courtyard.

This time, Feng An, the chief of the clan, was also invited by Li Zhi to attend together.

With the death of Tanden, most of the clans have now begun to implement the Juntian system.

The officials appointed by the imperial court had already been in place, and under the leadership of Li Zhi, the officials had already established good relations with the bureaucrats through labor.

Li Zhi won a three-year tax exemption for his bureaucrats.

Combined with advanced agricultural technology, these people can easily cope with future taxes.

Feng Ang is still very knowledgeable.

When he saw this, he took the initiative to demand that the policy of Junda be implemented in his domain at the same time.

He also took the initiative to ask the officials of Sinong Temple to give guidance on agricultural techniques to the officials in the territory.

In return for him, Li Zhi did not write to the imperial court to appoint officials within Feng An's sphere of influence.

Rather, he continued to maintain his position.