The Tang Empire was open-minded, and it was a private conversation in a military tent late at night. But Ma Shixiang still couldn't help becoming nervous when he heard the words "Her Highness is an idiot."
He had been so cautious and nervous since the noble lady entered the City of Wei. He didn't expect that Ning Que would make such a harsh comment. And he thought that Ning Que's comment was unfair, so he became even more nervous.
Everyone knew that the Fourth Princess of the Tang Empire was not an idiot, but an extremely virtuous princess.
With the strength of the Tang Empire and its military prowess, whether it was facing the grassland barbarians or the other countries in the Central Plains, it would never consider such a humiliating political tactic as a marriage alliance. Apart from a few of the most loyal barbarian generals of Emperor Taizu marrying a few daughters of the royal family, there had never been a similar situation.
However, three years ago, when the grassland was unstable and the largest barbarian tribe of the Golden Tribe was secretly instigated and supported by the hostile countries of the Tang Empire, the Fourth Princess, who was 13 or 14 years old and loved by the Emperor, knelt in front of the Daming Palace, kowtowed and wept blood. Regardless of the opposition of the whole country, she would rather give up the prosperity of Chang 'an and insisted on marrying the Chanyu of the Golden Tribe to the grassland.
When the news spread, the whole world was shocked and people talked about it. The white-haired civil officials sent memorials to the Tang Empire, the Emperor was so angry that he smashed countless jade cups. The Queen was in a complicated mood and didn't say a word. But all these could not stop the determination of the young princess. After knowing this, the Chanyu of the Golden Tribe of the grassland felt honored and liked the princess's temperament. He sent an envoy with 5,000 cattle and sheep to the court to ask for her hand in marriage. In the end, the Tang Emperor had no choice but to let his daughter marry the Chanyu of the grassland in the 11th year of Tianqi era.
Less than half a year after the Princess married the Chanyu, she and the Chanyu got along well. The once ambitious leader of the barbarians became a calm lion of the grassland. He guarded the country quietly and looked at the foreign land, but he didn't start a war.
But no one expected that a few months ago, the Chanyu suddenly died in the prime of his life, and the Chanyu's younger brother forcibly took over the throne. The situation at the border became complicated and tense again.
But from the time when the thin girl knelt in front of the Daming Palace to decide the engagement, for four or five years, the northwest border of the Tang Empire had been in a precious peace. It must be said that most of the credit was due to the princess.
Rumor had it that the Fourth Princess insisted on marrying to the grasslands. A large part of the reason was to avoid the Empress. But even if this was true, in the eyes of the military officials and court officials, the Fourth Princess' act of not relying on the Emperor's favor, retreating in front of the Empress, and avoiding the intensification of the conflicts in the upper echelons of the Empire was a wise and virtuous act.
For Tang border generals like Ma Shixiang, they were not afraid of war, let alone those barbarians. They even felt extremely humiliated that the princess was married to the enemy, but no one would refuse the gift of peace.
Therefore, their feelings towards Her Royal Highness were very complicated. There was some anger for no reason, but also some gratitude. In the end, all kinds of emotions gradually turned into a trace of respect in the depths of their hearts.
Ning Que was just an ordinary soldier, so he did not know if he could understand the general's complicated feelings. Even if he could, he would not care. Because what he was fighting for now was related to his own safety, and he always thought that there was nothing more important than his own life. So he pretended not to see the general's gloomy face and continued, "I roughly calculated the arrow holes on the carriage. The new Chanyu was very ruthless. I guess at least half of the guards of the princess were killed on the grasslands."
"It is said that they met the Horse Gang." Ma Shixiang said with a somewhat unnatural expression. Maybe even he did not believe this.
"Even the Chanyu of the Golden Tribe would not dare to attack the princess of the Tang Empire. So of course … it can only be the Horse Gang. But everyone knows who disguised as the Horse Gang." Ning Que continued, "But it is not right. Everyone knows that the Horse Gang is disguised as the cavalrymen of the new Chanyu. How could the barbarian be so bold? Wasn't he afraid that the imperial court would send troops to wipe out the Golden Tribe? "
The Tang Empire was founded on martial arts. Its people were simple, brave, and ruthless. It was known as the strongest country in the world and cared most about its dignity. However, if it wanted to wipe out the Golden Tribe of the grassland barbarians, it would probably consume more than half of its power.
It seemed impossible to throw the empire into turmoil because of an attack on a married princess. But in fact, in the history of the Tang Empire, such impulsive or heroic stories often happened.
The most famous example happened in the later years of the founder of the Tang Empire.
At that time, a tribe of the grassland massacred a village on the White Goat Path. 140 villagers were killed. The empire's envoy went to condemn them, but the arrogant Chanyu of the tribe cut off their ears and chased them back. Emperor Taizu flew into a rage and decided to personally conquer the grassland. He mobilized the entire empire and supported a mighty army of 80,000 cavalry to conquer the north. The tribe was terrified and fled when they heard the news. They braved the wind and snow and went straight to the northern wilderness. The Tang Empire's cavalry chased after them and fought for several months. Finally, the tribe was completely annihilated.
They fought for several months and killed all the cavalrymen. It seemed simple and elegant, but it hid the terrible price that the Tang Empire paid for it.
In order to support this costly war, the imperial court sent millions of people to hunt livestock in the three counties of the North and South. The fields around Min Mountain were abandoned and nine out of ten houses were empty. The taxes in the south were quadrupled. The people were angry and the officials in the court were unable to take care of the state affairs. The world was in turmoil and even on the verge of collapse.
The most wonderful temperament of the Tang Empire appeared in the most dangerous moment and the evaluation of this matter in the following countless years.
When the empire's cavalry went to the Wilderness, the rebel army in the south did not take advantage of this good opportunity to attack. Instead, they sneaked back into the mountains and lakes, as if they did not want to be a burden to the empire at this time. Perhaps not everyone in the rebellion would think about the so-called national righteousness. Perhaps some of them wanted to seize this God-given opportunity. However, they had to face a reality — the poor people who had always supported them silently, and many low-level leaders and soldiers in the rebel army, when they decided to seize this opportunity, expressed the most fierce opposition with their footsteps and silence.
Tang Taizu, who won this war, did not have a high position in history, even within the empire. Whether it was in the history books or in the stories of the restaurant storytellers, the evaluation of this great emperor was always about his desire for grandeur and success, his use of villains and sycophants, his cruelty, his pursuit of immortality, and so on.
But whether it was the most pedantic literati, the most indifferent academy professors, or the most hateful farmers and merchants, they would find all kinds of reasons to scold the founding emperor. However, no one ever thought that the war, which exhausted the power of the country and made the people suffer because of the emperor's anger, should not be fought.
Because from the founding of the empire to the present, people living in this land had always insisted on and guarded a simple truth: I don't bully you, but you can't bully me either. Even if I bully you, you … still can't bully me!
Whoever bullies me, I will beat him.
This was the founding principle of the Tang Empire.
This was the road of the Tang Empire to power.
This was the reason why the most powerful country in the world was called Tang.
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