The terrain of the southern part of the plateau was later known to be the junction of the South Asian subcontinent and the Asian plate, with many mountains and canyons.
There is snow all year round on the high mountains. In summer, the snow melts and becomes the source of many rivers in Asia and the South Asian subcontinent.
The depressions on the plateau have also formed lakes with transparent water and crystal clear bottom.
In the early years, various tribes on the plateau were nomadic people who lived in pursuit of water and grass. They multiplied and lived next to these large lakes, so they regarded these lakes as gifts from God and often named them sacred lakes.
For example, the Supi people built a city in Yema Yilin, next to the Supi people's sacred lake Namu Lake.
The Pibo City of the Yalong people was built not far to the northeast of Yangzhuo Lake, the sacred lake of the Yalong people.
The sacred lake of the Xiangxiong people is a little far away from the southern hinterland of the mountains, at the southwest foot of the Gangdise Mountains, next to Lake Manasarovar in the Xiaoyangtong area.
Xiangxiong Palace is actually a Buddhist temple. Xiangxiong Nie Xu is the abbot of this temple, and the monks serve him and worship him as a son of Buddha.
According to later generations, Xiangxiong at this time had entered the era of Xiangxiong of the Ze family, and the so-called Ze family was a tribe of Xiangxiong.
Previously, the person who ruled Xiangxiong was the Mu family, also known as Mu family Xiangxiong. With the changes of dynasties, the religion of Xiangxiong also changed.
Regardless of the Mu family or the Ze family, they all believe in the Yongzhong religion, but they belong to different factions and have great differences in doctrine.
Mu's religion is more like the original Tianzhu Buddhism, with strict Bon religious laws.
After the Ze clan rose up and seized the throne, they completely destroyed the Bon religious laws. This also represented a turning point in the influence of Tianzhu Buddhism on the plateau tribes.
The Xiangxiong people began to spread the Bon religion that was closer to the local conditions, and added many plateau gods. This may have been influenced by Supi and Yalong, or it may be the reform of Xiangxiong itself, because they did not have serious historians, so
None of this is known.
But in the end, judging from the results, it should be that advancement defeated stubbornness and conservatism. Ze's reforms were conducive to the spread of Yongzhong's religion on the plateau, and also provided an opportunity for Langri Lunzan to establish Tubo.
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The Tang army penetrated deep into the hinterland of Xiangxiong without a battle, which was obviously a bit strange.
Even though both the Supi and Yalong people have disparaged Xiangxiong, in fact, Xiangxiong has always had a certain degree of autonomy due to its geographical advantage, and was not destroyed by Langri Lunzan like the Supi people.
Their relationship with the Tubo regime was more like that of the Tang Dynasty and Silla, with a master-slave relationship established, but the slaves were independent.
This is directly related to the fact that Xiangxiong is far away from the hinterland of Shannan. No matter how talented Langri Lunzan is, he has no intention of leading his troops to directly attack Xiangxiong. Instead, he has used many years of gentle methods to make the Xiangxiong people actively rely on them.
In other words, conquering Xiangxiong is not as easy as people think.
The mountains here are endless, surrounded by wilderness, lakes, and swamps. Many places are inaccessible. As local indigenous people, if the Xiangxiong people wanted to hide, the Tang army would probably return in vain.
This is why Ashina Danai sent Chen Li and Wu Tong out and asked them to bring a thousand elite cavalry of the Tang Army with them.
What we are pursuing is a quick victory. It is best to break through the Xiangxiong people's royal city and capture Xiangxiong Nie Xu, his ministers, and family members before they can react.
But after Chen Li and Wu Tong marched westward for many days under the guidance of their guides, they knew that a sudden attack on Xiangxiong was an almost impossible task.
In the Xiaoyang area, the terrain is too complex and changeable. Even if the army is full of cavalry, it cannot move forward quickly. There are many places in the wasteland where even Xiangxiong himself cannot wander around, and the Tang army dare not leave the banks of the Jiqu River.
Not even with a guide.
If they continue like this, it is impossible for the Xiangxiong people to not notice it, and there is no way they can do what Ashina Danai did, go directly into the Yalong Valley and rampage.
Lake Manasarovar is at the junction of the Big and Little Yangtong. Although Xiangxiong Royal City was built here, once they sensed the arrival of the Tang army, they could flee into the Dayangtong area.
Dayangtong area is even more complicated. Big and small Bojin are vassal states of Xiangxiong, connecting Tianzhu... The journey is too long. The Tang army rushed thousands of miles to attack, and they were probably tired and vomiting blood when they arrived.
After all, how many people can be as capable as Zhang Qian and Ban Chao?
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While walking on the road, Chen Li and Wu Tong were already discouraged. They wanted to get up quickly and found it difficult to move slowly for food. They sent sentry cavalry in front of the army to scout and encountered some tribes. Those Xiangxiong people were all there.
He was about to escape, and at first glance he knew that he had learned about the Tang Army's whereabouts in advance.
In this damn place, even those who use the military are helpless, even if they have extraordinary abilities.
Both of them have been leading troops for many years and have a very good grasp of the current situation. Moreover, they have known each other for many years. There is no need to play any tricks. After a little discussion, they reached a consensus.
Lake Mapangtso is the destination of the army, and they cannot go further west. Judging from the current situation, most Xiangxiong people will not fight against the Tang army.
The Tang army was small in number and could return after capturing Xiangxiong King's City.
It would be great if the Xiangxiong people stayed in the royal city, and they would definitely be able to add a credit to their achievements. But if Xiangxiong Nie Xu and his people escaped in advance, there would be nothing they could do.
At that time, I went back to see Ashina Danai, and I was given an explanation for the attack on Xiangxiong King's City. If I were not greedy enough and chose to pursue westward, once the army was dragged down on the road, neither of them would be able to escape their involvement.
The two guys, who were originally ambitious, were completely intimidated by Xiangxiong's terrain and environment. They did not dare to rush in lightly, so they could only choose the most conservative strategy...
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"General, if we walk a little further ahead, the end of the mountain is the Xiangxiong Sacred Lake Manasarovar."
The guide came to report, and Chen Li waved his hand feebly. How many times did these bastards say "Let's go for a while" along the way? The people on the plateau don't seem to have the same understanding of distance as the Tang army, but they are the Turks in the team.
This doesn't bother the boys.
However, this time the guide was more reliable, and then the sentinels in front brought back the news that they had gone to Manasarovar Lake and saw with their own eyes the big lake and the Xiangxiong Palace next to the big lake.
Chen Li finally cheered up and walked in the river valley. The mountains on both sides made him feel dizzy.
Nowadays, the mountains and rivers here have no effect on purifying the soul. The air is thin and the environment is harsh. People from the Central Plains must be prepared to lose their lives when they come here.
If Chen Li, Wu Tong and others were to evaluate it, they would definitely be in a poor place.
According to the guides, there should be many Xiangxiong tribes living here, but as soon as the Tang army arrived, they all disappeared. The Tang army, which came in great excitement, has not gained anything yet.
Chen Li and Wu Tong didn't say anything. They were probably praying to God in their hearts. Ashina Danai had better be like this, otherwise it would be hard to talk when they go back. I don't think they can expect too much in terms of military achievements.
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It's just that, things are so wonderful.
The reaction of Xiangxiong people is a bit like that of Du Fuwei...
It was still about ten or twenty miles away from Lake Manasarovar. Someone came to report that Prince Xiangxiong Mixia came to see him.
Mi Xia is the son of Xiang Xiong Nie Xuka Gengze. Chen Li knows very well what his arrival means. This is Xiang Xiong's intention to surrender.
The next step is probably to sit down and discuss the terms.
Chen Li was overjoyed. Since the Xiangxiong people did not dare to fight with the Tang army, the choice of recruiting them would be on the table. The army had come so far and could not return empty-handed.
Even if the two sides fail to negotiate, there is still a prince in hand now.
As generals in the army, Chen Li and Wu Tong naturally lacked interest in negotiations. This was not their specialty, but they were unable to do it. They could only make some modifications and sign a city alliance with the Xiangxiong people. It was not impossible.
accept.
The two men stopped the army and did not take advantage of the fact that the Xiangxiong people did not seem to be leaving. They talked here and then sent their troops to capture the royal city.
That's how those humanoid creatures in the west play, they have no shame...
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The two of them met Xiangxiong's Prince Mi Xia together.
He was a tall, fairly fair-skinned young man, very cheerful and talkative. He only had a few Xiangxiong monks with him, and no guards followed him.
When he saw Chen Li and Wu Tong, he looked at their faces carefully in a daze, and then looked up at the flag flying in the sky. The confusion on his face was not fake.
He was probably muttering in his mind that it was really not the Supi people who came here. These people looked like outsiders. The image of the Tang people in the legend became concrete in his mind.
Those savages in Su Pi really attracted outsiders...
In fact, after receiving the news that a large army was advancing towards Xiangxiong Royal City, a fierce debate broke out in the royal city.
Who is the enemy? How could it appear so suddenly in Xiangxiong's land? Have the Yalong people been defeated? Where are the troops that were sent out before?
There are so many issues worthy of debate.
As the Tang army moved forward, their very different appearance, clothing and flags from the Tubo people gradually reached the ears of the nobles. In the end, they were not stupid enough and came to a more accurate conclusion. The Supi people
People from the Tang Dynasty were invited.
The defeat of the expeditionary force made the name Datang become louder in this land. Businessmen in Xiangxiong sent back some news, vaguely letting people know that there was a country called Datang in the distance, which replaced the legendary country.
The Great Sui Dynasty or Xiliang, Northern Wei Dynasty, etc., spread its name to the ears of the Tubo people.
As a result, the opinions of the nobles became unified. As before, since the enemy has appeared here, the people of Xiangxiong worship the Buddha. If they don't want to shed blood, they have no choice but to sacrifice their knees again.
It was just that the legendary cruelty of the Tang people made them more worried. They all talked about it and sent out Prince Mi Xia, who was most likely to succeed the Xiangxiong throne, and asked him to explore the way first.
If they are Supi people, that would be the best. The Tang people are coming...Buddha bless them and tell them not to be so cruel, cutting off people's mouths and noses, and chopping off people's heads...
This chapter has been completed!