Chapter 517: The Tubo Chess Game (Part 1)

Bodong City of Tubo, also known as the region of Shigatse in later times, was actually just a gathering place for tribes rather than a true city. It was located about 500 li away from Tubo’s capital, Lhasa, at a lower altitude, with flat plains. The Zang River (Yarlung Zangbo River), like a jade belt, flowed through it. Vast lakes, as pure as sapphires, could be seen everywhere, and the banks of rivers and lakes were mostly highland meadows. Herds of cattle and sheep grazed there, and the land was fertile. Fields of highland barley dotted the meadows, making this area the most important grain-producing region in Tubo.

There were numerous tribes on both sides of the river. Within an earthen fortress covering a large area, tents stood one after another under strict security. On several tall watchtowers, Tang soldiers patrolled back and forth. This was the temporary camp of the Tang expeditionary force, with 8,000 Tang soldiers stationed here.

Feng Changqing led the 8,000 Tang soldiers into Tubo via Nepal through Nepala. After nearly a month of arduous journey, the army reached Bodong City. By then, almost all of Tubo’s main force of 300,000 soldiers had left the highlands, with less than 20,000 remaining concentrated around Lhasa. The other tribes and small cities were either inhabited by the elderly, weak, women, and children or ordinary herders—there were no other military forces.

The sudden arrival of the Tang army sent panic among Tubo’s tribes. The elderly, weak, women, and children fled their homes, while some men temporarily organized themselves to resist the Tang forces. However, due to the huge disparity in strength and internal conflicts, Tubo’s makeshift army was defeated in just one battle, suffering heavy casualties.

The Tang army swept forward and reached the territory of Bodong. After a month of marching and fighting in the highlands, they were also very exhausted. Seeing the fertile land and abundant supplies in this area, Feng Changqing ordered his troops to camp there for rest while waiting for news from scouts.

That afternoon, inside the Tang army’s main tent, Feng Changqing was receiving a special guest. This guest was named Mozang Zhi, the abbot of Jiapu Temple in Tubo. He was special because he was also a Han man from Longyou. At the age of 20, he was captured by Tubo’s army and taken as a slave. Three years later, longing for his hometown, he tried to escape and nearly lost his life before being saved by the monks of Jiapu Temple. From then on, he became a monk. Later, he went to Samye Temple to study Esoteric Buddhism under Padmasambhava, the founder of Vajrayana. Thirty years later, due to his profound knowledge of Buddhism, he gained countless followers and became a great master of Esoteric Buddhism.

The sudden attack by the Tang army from Nepal terrified the Tubo people, who fled to various temples for refuge. Jiapu Temple also took in tens of thousands of refugees. To save the Tubo people from disaster, Mozang Zhi stepped forward and personally visited Feng Changqing.

Feng Changqing’s most close grandfather in his life was also a Buddhist. Influenced by his grandfather, Feng Changqing had always shown respect toward Buddhists. The arrival of Mo Zangzhi made him hold him in even greater esteem. After exchanging a few words, Feng Changqing learned that Mo Zangzhi had once been Han Chinese, so he curiously asked, “Where are you from, Master?” Although Mo Zangzhi had been in Tubo for many years, he had not completely forgotten Chinese. He clasped his hands together and smiled slightly, saying, “In reply to General Feng, this old monk’s ancestral home is Puzhou in Hedong. I moved west with my father to Longyou when I was young. I was captured by Tubo at the age of twenty, and thirty-three years have passed in the blink of an eye.” “Hehe! What a coincidence! I’m also from Puzhou in Hedong. I’m from Yishi County in Puzhou. And you, Master?” “I’m from Jie County.” Unexpectingly, Feng Changqing turned out to be his fellow townsman. Hope arose in Mo Zangzhi’s heart, and he earnestly pleaded, “Tang and Tubo have always been like uncle and nephew. Tubo has been greatly influenced by the Tang Dynasty. Princess Wencheng and Princess Jincheng married into Tubo one after another, bringing advanced culture and friendship to Tubo. Although relations between Tang and Tubo have deteriorated in recent decades, this is due to Tubo’s elite class, not the common people. I hope General Feng will show mercy and spare these ordinary people. Buddha will also be grateful to you.” Feng Changqing’s expression gradually darkened, and he said unhappily, “I want to ask the Master one thing. If the people of my Tang Dynasty were pursued by Tubo cavalry, would you go to Tubo’s camp to persuade their generals?” Mo Zangzhi sighed and said, “The people of Tang in the Heilong border region suffer greatly from war. How could I not know? I was myself captured by Tubo people and forced to work like an ox, remaining a slave for life. I have also advised the former Zanpu, Chizudezan, to treat the Tang people kindly. Although it didn’t yield much result, I am committed to helping those in distress. Among the three thousand monks in my Jiapu Temple, at least three hundred Han slaves have been converted to Buddhism by me. I also have tens of thousands of Han believers. If possible, I will take in more unfortunate Han people.” Feng Changqing’s expression softened slightly, and he said, “The Master’s compassion and dedication to saving all beings are truly admirable. The Tang army is not made up of butchers either. But right now, Tang and Tubo are at war, and weapons know no one. Moreover, Tubo has an all-military society, making it difficult to distinguish between soldiers and civilians. It’s inevitable that ordinary people will be affected. If the Master wants to save them, he should go to Lhasa and persuade Tubo’s high officials to surrender soon. In that way, ordinary people will no longer suffer from war.”

Mo Zangzhi couldn’t help but smile bitterly and said, “General, you don’t know the whole story. I came from Luoshe. Although I haven’t met any high-ranking officials, a few of my followers told me that there are also divisions among the Tibetans—some want war while others seek peace, and the two sides are at odds. If the general can contact those who wish to reconcile, perhaps both sides can reach an agreement.”

Feng Changqing’s campaign against Tibet was carried out under Li Qing’an’s instructions: either exterminate the Tibetans completely to eliminate this threat on the plateau or disband their army, eradicate Bon religion, and establish Buddhism as the state religion, with the living Buddha becoming the leader of Tibet instead of the Zanpu. The Tang army would then station itself in Luoshe, turning Tibet into a vassal state of the Tang Dynasty.

This was Li Qing’an’s grand strategy for Tibet—playing moves in Khotan on one side and on the plateau itself on the other, with the sole goal of crippling Tang Dynasty’s greatest border threat. Li Qing’an had begun planning this strategy since sending Feng Changqing to Sindh, and now it was gradually reaching its conclusion.

Feng Changqing himself favored Li Qing’an’s first plan—exterminating the Tibetans. At first, he did just that. Starting from the first tribe he entered in Tibet, Mangyu, after crossing the snow-capped mountains, he raised his butcher’s knife and slaughtered indiscriminately, leaving corpses everywhere and no one alive for miles. But as he ventured deeper into Tibet, he realized that exterminating them all was impractical. In every tribe he visited, the Tibetans had already fled, taking their cattle and sheep and burning their food, making it difficult for him to obtain supplies. Moreover, because of his massacres, more and more Tibetan tribes began to unite to resist him, and several of his scout teams disappeared.

Feng Changqing also realized that his forces were insufficient, and exterminating the Tibetans was not feasible. So he gradually abandoned the first plan and turned to the second approach—putting it simply, stripping the Tibetans of their strength and turning them from eagles of the plateau into ordinary chickens.

Just as Feng Changqing didn’t know where to start, the arrival of this Tibetan Buddhist master showed him a path. The internal disputes among the Tibetans opened a way for him to implement the second plan.

Thinking of this, Feng Changqing raised his eyebrows and asked tentatively, “Then whom should I contact? I mean, those who wish to reconcile.”

Mo Zangzhi pondered for a moment before saying, “After the Tibetan king launched his western campaign, he entrusted internal affairs to the two high priests, Nang Dongzan and Shang Chenshi, to manage together. Both of them are high priests, representing Tibet’s two major factions—the Nang family and the Shang family. Their relationship has never been good; it can even be described as hostile. Nang Dongzan strongly advocates negotiating with the Tang army, while Shang Chenshi insists on resolute resistance. Their positions are very clear, which is why troops were sent to Bodong, yet Lhasa remains unresponsive—because of their deadlock.”
“I see. Then who holds military power between the two of them?”
“Apparently both do. Shang Chenshi has the upper hand, with 12,000 troops, while Nang Dongzan only has 6,000, putting him at a disadvantage.”
Feng Changqing was surprised that this Tibetan priest was willing to answer all his questions, even revealing the number of Tibetan troops. A mocking smile appeared on his face as he said, “Master, you’re sharing such important information with me. Aren’t you afraid the Tibetans will accuse you of treason?”
Mo Zangzhi gave a helpless bitter smile and clasped his hands together. “I only wish to save lives and value peace. As for what concessions the Tibetan nobles will make, that’s beyond my control. General Feng, I’ve said enough. I must take my leave.”
Feng Changqing also clasped his hands and smiled. “May you go safely, Master. I will keep your words in mind and value peace.”
…
The day after Mo Zangzhi left the Tang army’s camp, a group of over a dozen riders rushed from afar, raising dust as they approached Bodong’s earth city.
“Stop!”
The Tang soldiers on the watchtower shouted in Tibetan, followed by a volley of arrows that stuck in the path, blocking the riders’ way. One of the riders dismounted quickly and shouted, “Please convey to the Tang army’s commander that Nang Dongzan, the Tibetan high priest, has come to see him.”
“Wait here!”
The soldier went to report, while the others stood by the road. The middle-aged man with a stout build was Nang Dongzan, the Tibetan high priest. He had come from Lhasa, deeply worried by Tibet’s current situation. The war situation in Toharistan was unclear, Tubo had been occupied by the Tang army, cutting off Tibet’s connection to Toharistan, and the battles in Longyou were also at a standstill. Zhadalu Gong was held back by the Tang army, putting him in a disadvantageous position. Currently, Lhasa still had over 18,000 soldiers, but they were all old and weak—only the elite troops had been taken away by the king.

Nang Dongzan was extremely worried. Once the Tang army defeated the last army of Luohe, the Tibetans in the highlands would be like sheep, left to be slaughtered by the Tang forces. Nang Dongzan hoped to reach a political agreement with the Tang army, make certain concessions, and preserve Tibet’s last hope of survival. This was his plan, but others disagreed. There was a division among Tibet’s elite regarding strategies to deal with the Tang army. Another high-ranking official, Shang Chen, advocated for all citizens to take up arms and resist the Tang invasion at all costs, refusing to accept any humiliating agreement. The two argued for days without reaching a compromise. Fearing that the Tang army would march eastward and destroy Luohe, Nang Dongzan rushed to meet with the Tang army’s commander to find a political solution to Tibet’s crisis. Nang Dongzan waited patiently outside the besieged city. As time passed and there was still no news from the Tang commander, he grew anxious. Just then, the gates of Bodingu City opened, and a Tang army officer stepped out, saying, “General Feng invites the Tibetan high-ranking official inside. Everyone else must wait outside.” A few attendants tried to go in, but Nang Dongzan stopped them, saying, “Wait outside. Do not cause trouble!” He entered the city alone, accompanied by a few Tang soldiers. Along the way, the Tang soldiers lined up to greet him, drawing their bows, drawing their swords, and holding their spears pointed at him with hostile gazes, making Nang Dongzan feel uneasy. Upon entering the main tent, he saw armed men standing on both sides, creating a tense atmosphere. In the center sat a general around fifty years old, thin and short, but dressed in iron armor and a silver helmet. A battle axe lay on the table in front of him, giving him a formidable appearance. Nang Dongzan became nervous and quickly stepped forward to bow, saying in imperfect Chinese, “Nang Dongzan, the Tibetan high-ranking official, pays his respects to the general.” Feng Changqing did not invite him to sit and merely said coldly, “I wonder if you’ve come to issue a challenge or to negotiate peace?” “I’ve come to negotiate peace!” “I’m sorry, but I have no desire to negotiate. Bring him here!” The armed men around responded immediately. Feng Changqing pointed at Nang Dongzan and ordered harshly, “Throw this man outside and behead him as a warning to others.” Five or six strong Tang soldiers dragged Nang Dongzan outside. Soon they brought him to the entrance of the tent. Nang Dongzan cried out in desperation, “General, please listen to me! It’s not too late to spare my life.” “Speak!”

A few Tang soldiers stopped dragging him but did not release him. Nang Dongzan got a brief chance to catch his breath. He couldn’t remember how to speak Chinese, so in desperation, he said in Tibetan, “General, Tibet has millions of people. You can’t kill them all. You should understand that too. There’s nothing between us that can’t be discussed. If we can’t reach an agreement, then kill me to sacrifice to the flag—I’ll die without resentment.”

A soldier beside him translated his words to Feng Changqing, who nodded and said, “Release him first!”

The executioners let Nang Dongzan go. By then, his back was completely soaked. He stepped forward and bowed, saying, “Thank you, General, for giving me this chance.”

Feng Changqing ordered a chair to be brought over and said calmly, “Sit down and talk.”

“Thank you!”

Nang Dongzan sat down, and Feng Changqing then said unhurriedly, “Let me introduce myself first. I am the deputy governor of Anxi in the Tang Dynasty and the governor of Xinde. My name is Feng Changqing. Have you heard of me?”

“Oh! It’s General Feng. I’ve heard of you for many years and have long admired your reputation.”

“Hmph! I suppose you’ve long heard of my notorious reputation!”

A look of embarrassment appeared on Nang Dongzan’s face, but he was speechless. Feng Changqing continued, “I’m just carrying out the orders of General Zhao. There’s not much room for compromise. I hope you understand that.”

Nang Dongzan took out a handkerchief to wipe the sweat from his face and said, “I know. I’ve come with sincerity too. I hope the General can give me a chance.”

“Very well! Then I’ll tell you the bottom line of the negotiations. If you want to negotiate with the Tang army, the Tibetans must first disarm their troops, leaving no more than 500 soldiers.”

Nang Dongzan was stunned. Disarming the army meant surrendering, didn’t it? What was there left to negotiate? Stammering, he said, “General Feng, this… this won’t work. If Tibet disarms, it means the end of the nation. Besides, the Zanpu is still in Turfan. To disarm, we need his orders. We don’t have that authority.”

Nang Dongzan was part of the peace faction, not the surrender faction. He and Shang Chenshi shared the same ultimate goal: to delay the Tang army until the Zanpu returned with a large force from Turfan. He never expected that the Tang army’s condition for negotiation would be to disarm the troops. If they disarmed, what was there left to talk about? Wouldn’t that be asking to skin a tiger?

He was about to refuse when he saw Feng Changqing’s cold gaze. Suddenly recalling what he had said earlier—that if they couldn’t reach an agreement, he would be sacrificed—he broke out in a cold sweat. He forced himself to hold back his words and changed the subject. “General Feng, I won’t hide it from you. I only have five thousand troops. I can agree to the great general dissolving my army, but the other troops are under the control of the Da Lun Shang Chen clan. I need to talk to them first and try to persuade them.”

Feng Changqing understood what he meant and didn’t clarify further. He stood up, waved his hand, and said, “See them out!” He turned and left. Though it sounded like he was seeing them off, it was actually an order to drive them away. A few Tang soldiers swung their sticks at Nang Dongzan, shouting, “Get lost!” Nang Dongzan fled in panic, covering his head. Though he had suffered rude treatment, he managed to save his life. Not daring to stay, he ran out of the city, mounted his horse, and shouted, “Let’s go!” The group rushed eastward. At that moment, Feng Changqing appeared on a wooden tower, watching Nang Dongzan and his men go far away. A cold smile appeared on his lips. What he had said earlier was absolutely true—if they wanted to negotiate with the Tibetans, they first had to dissolve their army. If they refused to do so on their own, the Tang army would help dissolve it.

“Pass my order: the army shall set out immediately and march toward Luoshe City!”

……

Eight thousand Tang cavalry soldiers set out again. They didn’t need any guides; they simply followed the Zang River. Without provisions or logistics, they plundered along the way. The Tibetan tribes organized resistance, but their resistance only brought disaster upon them. Feng Changqing issued a strict order: anyone who resisted would be executed!

Although Feng Changqing allowed his soldiers to act recklessly, even allowing them to rape women, he turned a blind eye. But he had one ironclad rule: no capturing of women or livestock. Women and livestock would become a burden to the Tang army and affect the upcoming battles.

Over a distance of five hundred li, the Tang army neither rushed forward nor split up. They marched in formation, taking six full days to travel. Along the way, they plundered and slaughtered. Tens of thousands of Tibetan men were killed, and the Zang River turned red with their blood. That afternoon, the main force of the Tang army arrived at Wuyu Tu City, about thirty li from Luoshe City. Feng Changqing ordered them to camp there.

Although he didn’t have any information about the Tibetan army, Feng Changqing knew that the Tibetans would never allow him to attack Luoshe. Thus, a fierce battle was imminent.

“Pass my order: all soldiers must not remove their armor, must not let go of their weapons, must not leave their horses, must not cook food, must not set up camps, must not gather to gamble, must not make noise or play games, and must not leave the main force. Those who violate this order will be executed!”

Feng Changqing’s judgment was correct. Twenty li away, a Tibetan army of nearly 20,000 men was rushing toward this area.