Chapter 64: I Can Draw Maps!

As for the Tibetan envoy, Zhasangbu, having twice provoked the Great Tang court only to be slapped down both times, would he stop?

Of course not!

He opened another chest, this time producing a map made of oxhide.

"The Tibetan Empire and the Great Tang are neighbors, and our borders are jagged and intertwined. In some places, the demarcation is clear, but in others, it is ambiguous, leading to frequent clashes and continuous bloodshed between our soldiers. By order of my Great Tsanpo, I have brought a map. Henceforth, our two nations shall abide by the boundaries marked on this map, refraining from aggression and living as good neighbors. I hope His Majesty, the Emperor of the Great Tang, will grant this request!

Furthermore, the Turks have suffered a severe snow disaster, with countless people and livestock frozen to death. It is estimated that around July or August next year, they will launch a massive southward invasion, entering the Great Tang to pillage property and seize people. The Tibetan Empire has always been friendly with the Great Tang; we are willing to dispatch two hundred thousand iron cavalry to help the Great Tang deal with the Turks. What does His Majesty think?"

As he spoke, Zhasangbu and his three attendants unfurled the massive oxhide map. Indeed, it had completely redrawn the borders between the Great Tang and the Tibetan Empire.

Redrawing national borders to reduce bloodshed between garrisoned troops should have been a welcome development, but as Li Longji and his ministers examined it closely, they were struck by a sudden, burning rage.

The Tibetans had cheated; they had incorporated the Hexi Corridor, the Anxi Protectorate, and several prefectures in the Longyou region—all rightfully Tang territory—into their own maps.

What was the meaning of this? Was this an extortion of the Great Tang Empire’s territory?

Li Longji and his ministers would naturally never agree to such an unreasonable demand. Yet, if they refused, the consequences would be dire. Zhasangbu had spoken with a honeyed tongue about providing two hundred thousand cavalry to help against the Turks. The implication was clear: if the Great Tang refused to cede the land, those two hundred thousand Tibetan riders might turn their weapons around and join the Turks to crush the Tang.

One had to realize that to defend against the Turkish invasion, hundreds of thousands of the Great Tang’s elite troops were gathered along the northwestern line of Shuofang, Hexi, and the Yin Mountains, leaving the southwestern Longyou region dangerously undefended. If the Tibetans were to strike from behind while the Tang were locked in a life-and-death struggle with the Turks, attacking Longyou with their cavalry and sandwiching the Tang between two forces, the situation would be catastrophic.

What to do?

In the current climate, it was not advisable to break with the Tibetans and open a new front. However, the Hexi Corridor and the Anxi Protectorate were lands the Great Tang had painstakingly developed; they could not simply be handed over to the Tibetans for nothing. It was a true dilemma.

Faced with this, the ministers were at a loss, and the decision fell to the Emperor. On the dragon throne, Li Longji’s face was ashen, and he had no good solution either. After long deliberation, he cast his gaze toward Li Zhao, hoping that this young man, who had resolved so many crises, could solve this one too.

He could.

National sovereignty was above all else. Without waiting for a push from anyone else, Li Zhao stepped forward. "Reporting to Your Majesty, I have something to say."

"Yulang, speak!"

"Yes, I require brush and ink."

"Very well! Someone, bring brush and ink at once!"

The writing implements were brought quickly. Li Zhao took the brush, dipped it deep in thick ink, and stepped toward the oxhide map. Zhasangbu tried to block him.

"What are you doing?"

"Heh, nothing much. This map is not quite accurate; I intend to make some revisions."

"Oh? Our Great Tibetan Empire's map—what is inaccurate about it?"

"Heh, there are far too many blank spaces!"

The oxhide map was vast. The Great Tang’s territory was drawn in great detail, with mountains, rivers, plains, and cities all marked. What did this signify? It meant the Tibetans were ambitious and had long ago sent spies deep into Tang territory to map out the geography in preparation for an invasion. Conversely, the portion of the map depicting Tibetan territory was drawn with extreme simplicity, with many areas left blank. What did that signify? It meant the Tibetans were intentionally concealing their own geography to gain a strategic advantage in their conflict with the Tang.

Unfortunately for them, while others might not know the geography of the high plateau, Li Zhao knew it crystal clear—having paid for that knowledge with countless hardships and countless travel tickets.

Li Zhao set his brush to the parchment, rapidly filling in the mountains, rivers, canyons, and plains of the high plateau with perfect precision. Once finished, he felt he hadn't said enough, so he added a poem on the side: "Soft waters wind around majestic mountains, jade walls and golden streams, roaring waves climb to the clouds, adorned in silver, delicate and bright, travelers gasp in awe, fans held high on the peaks, mist wrapped around the waist..."

Zhasangbu watched Li Zhao intently. Every stroke the latter made on the map caused a bead of sweat to roll down the former's face, and every further mark made his body tremble. By the time Li Zhao finished, Zhasangbu was drenched in sweat, collapsing onto the floor of the palace, his face as gray as ash.

One had to understand that in the many wars between the Tibetan Empire and the Great Tang, a key reason for the Tibetans' frequent upper hand was their possession of the high ground. The plateau, the looming vantage points, the complex terrain, and the fickle weather—the Tibetans attacked from above, achieving twice the result with half the effort. If they won, they seized land and loot; if they lost, they retreated, never fearing that the Tang troops would pursue.

Because the Tang troops were based in the plains, attacking upward was an exhausting, costly endeavor. Even if they managed to fight their way up, it was useless; without knowing the topography of the plateau, they would be like headless flies, doomed to die in the harsh natural environment.

It was precisely because of this reliance that the Tibetans dared to provoke the Tang and demand the cession of the northwestern territories. But now, a young Tang man had produced a map of the plateau's terrain—a map of such exquisite and accurate detail that it meant one thing: the Tang had not been idle. They had long since sent vanguard units to scout the plateau and map out every mountain and river.

If a vanguard could climb up, then a main force could follow. With such accurate military maps, marching all the way to the Tibetan capital was no longer an impossibility! Even more terrifying was that the Tibetans had no idea when the Tang had sent these scouts or when the map had been drawn. It was as if a giant, armed with a sharp blade, had been roaming around their bedroom while they were fast asleep, completely unaware. This time it was just a stroll; next time, would they behead them?

Thinking of this, how could Zhasangbu not be terrified? How could he not lose his composure?

On the other side, Li Zhao put down his brush and retreated to his position. Fighting a war was like a brawl; one could not throw two punches at once. To deal with the Turks with full force, the Tibetans had to be stabilized. There was only one way: blend grace with power.

He had already finished the demonstration of power; now it was time to bestow grace.

Li Longji had been Emperor for over thirty years and was highly experienced. Such matters of granting small favors to win hearts were certainly not beyond him. As it turned out, Li Longji was indeed adept at winning hearts. He first ordered his attendants to help Zhasangbu up, then ordered a banquet to be held to soothe his nerves.

At the banquet, Zhasangbu's attitude changed completely. He dared not be arrogant or provocative, let alone mention the cession of territory. Instead, he fawned over the Tang, hoping for an everlasting alliance between the two nations.

Li Longji, not wishing to fight on two fronts, readily agreed. There, at the banquet, the two sides drank blood to form an alliance, snapping arrows as a vow to become brother nations and never attack one another again.

And so, the treaty was signed.

As for how long this treaty would last, only Heaven knew. Never forget: between nations, there are only interests, no friends. When the time came, even if the Tibetans didn't want to break the treaty, the Tang would.

...

After the banquet, Li Longji privately summoned Li Zhao to a side hall, asking how he knew so much about the high plateau. Li Zhao had no choice but to attribute it to his "teacher."

Then, Li Longji asked a question: Within ten years, if the Great Tang used the strength of the entire nation, could they fight their way onto the plateau and destroy the Tibetan kingdom in one stroke?

Li Zhao pondered for a long time before shaking his head helplessly. The Tibetans were brave and skilled in battle, occupied the high ground, and possessed other advantages. Even if the Tang exhausted the entire country, they could not destroy the kingdom within ten years.

However, he added, if he were given twenty or thirty years, perhaps the high plateau could be incorporated into the territory of the Great Tang Empire.