Love Affairs in Chang'an - Chapter 341

Chapter 341 A Great Hero, a Great Liar
Li Xueyan’s hand paused as she poured tea. She looked at Qin Mubai with a surprised expression and asked curiously, “What should I say?”

“Is this the second question?”

“Xue Yan can make another pot of new tea for the general. How about it as a consultation?”

Qin Mubai couldn’t help but laugh. How could he refuse such a request?

“Alright! Today, I will have the shame to discuss the matter with the Imperial Daughter.”

“Thank you, General Qin!” Li Xueyan immediately took out a new tea brick and began to grind it. There was a hint of excitement in it. As she grinded it, she said, “General, sit down and drink the old tea. The new tea will be ready in a moment.”

Qin Mubai nodded and took a sip of tea in her hand. She couldn’t help but stare at Li Xueyan a few times.

To be fair, her appearance was inferior to Wu Meiniang’s, and she was not as noble as Princess Gaoyang, nor was she as fierce and swift as Chen Yan, nor was she as gentle as Yao’er.

However, it would be too perfect to focus on the strengths of these four women.

That’s right, it’s this 15-year-old girl in front of him, Li Xueyan.

At first glance, she did not have any bright spots or flaws, giving the impression that she was a gentle and generous beauty.

However, some people were of this type, throwing them into the crowd was not eye-catching, and only after getting along did they feel that he was different from the others.

It was just like an ordinary dish that could be seen on the dining table of thousands of households. It would not make anyone feel stunned or vulgar. However, only a chef who was extremely skilled in cooking would be able to stir-fry it to an extraordinary flavor.

Li Xueyan was probably this kind of woman. Her inner talent and qualities completely surpassed her appearance and family background. Evidently, she, who was gentle and low-key, did not use her appearance and family background as the capital to show off.

If it weren’t for the fact that her inner world had reached a certain level, how could she be so weak?

For a moment, Qin Mubai had a different interest in the little girl in front of him, and he firmly believed that this little girl was definitely not as simple as she looked.

How could an ordinary woman from the Lin Clan sit alone with a strange man Pin Ming so calmly and naturally in the middle of the night, discussing the headaches of the prime ministers of the kingdom?

Thus, Li Xueyan, who was dressed in snow-white clothes, was truly a wonderful person.

…

Li Xueyan took a brand-new earthen pot and boiled the tea. She pursed her lips and smiled contentedly, “According to my father, the general loves Bi Runming Mingyue. This kind of good tea should be simmered in the spring water green mud jar of the Lake Yang Moon Kiln. However, Xue Yan’s skill is crude, so don’t make fun of him.”

“Imperial Daughter is too modest.” Qin Mubai couldn’t help but laugh. “Among the tea I drank, only His Highness King Wu’s cooking skills are comparable to the imperial daughter’s. Imperial daughter’s cooking skills are definitely not inferior to the Imperial Palace Tea Bo.”

“Really? Then the general should drink more.” Li Xueyan smiled cheerfully and said, “Where were we just talking about?”

“Should, shouldn’t.”

“Hehe!” Li Xueyan smiled mischievously and said, “General, please teach me why Xue Yan shouldn’t go to Tibet to get married.”

This time, Qin Mubai was puzzled.

Was it really fun to get married? Was she really a newborn calf that was not afraid of tigers, or was she just a fool and ignorant?

The Tibetans, in the eyes of the Tang people nowadays, were similar to “barbarians”. The Tang people believed that they were uncivilized beasts that drank blood and hair, and women were even more disrespected, as if they were sacrificed cattle and sheep to be trampled upon by men. Within a family, it was common for father and son to share a daughter.

In the eyes of the morally educated Han people, this was not as simple as corrupting the morals and customs. Moreover, it was even harder for women to accept.

Moreover, the Tibetan Plateau was covered in ice and snow for more than half a year, and thousands of kilometers of ice and snow drifted. How could it be a fairyland like Chang’an? Although Li Xueyan was not an orthodox princess, she was at least a princess who was well-nourished. How could she survive in that barren land on the Tibetan Plateau? Just the bitterness of homesickness could cause one to collapse!

Qin Mubai shook his head and asked, “Judging from the situation, Princess, are you happy to marry Tibet?”

“I took the initiative to ask for orders to marry Tibet.” Li Xueyan’s words were astonishing, but she was as calm as before.

Qin Mubai couldn’t help but be stunned. His hand that was holding the teacup stopped. He naturally asked, “Why?”

“Breathing 100,000 Gangge, why Xue Yan and her daughter?” Li Xueyan smiled and said, “The general is the one leading the troops. You should know how terrifying the war is and how cruel it is. How many people have left their homeland and lost their loved ones? How many families have lost their wives and families? If you can compensate for all of this with a woman like Xue Yan, wouldn’t it be worth it?”

Qin Mubai remained silent for a moment, speechless.

“The general has a good plan in his mind and a good plan in his stomach. He is no longer a hero in running the army and seeking the country. He definitely does not need Xue Yan to tell the general this shallow truth.” Li Xueyan said, “Xue Yan knows very well that she is too young to be knowledgeable, so she only looks to the general for advice. But how can Xue Yan not go to Tibet?”

Qin Mubai pondered for a long time, not knowing how to answer this question.

Li Xueyan wasn’t in a hurry either. She smiled faintly and said, “Is the general thinking about why Xue Yan acted so great, but he intentionally undermined the dignity of a dignified seven foot man like you? General, don’t misunderstand, Xue Yan definitely doesn’t have such intentions. Xue Yan is only sincerely seeking advice.”

“Alright, let’s just chat and talk casually. You don’t have to take it seriously.” Qin Mubai smiled and said, “You don’t have to say that for yourself.” Your background is far away from your hometown and married into a barren land of Tibet. Life and death are hard to predict. If your relatives leave, it will be like death. This is only one of them. Second, Tibet’s harsh natural environment, even though it is my Han and Tang dynasties strong man also difficult to adapt, let alone you? Therefore, when you go to Tibet, you will face all unknown fears and imaginable pain. ”

“This Snow Goose naturally knows.” Li Xueyan chuckled nonchalantly and said, “General, please tell us the deeper reason.”

Qin Mubai smiled and said, “It’s about national affairs and the nation. I don’t want to talk nonsense. In general, if you can bring true peace with your family, what’s the use of the army? Since ancient times, how can there be war?”

“If we succeed, Xue Yan boasts that it will bring at least thirty years of peace between Tang and Fan.” Li Xueyan said, “Isn’t this worth it?”

Qin Mubai smiled and said, “What about thirty years from now? Sending another princess, isn’t it going to continue fighting?”

“Xue Yan is incompetent. She can only take on the task in front of her. If she goes to the plateau, she will do her utmost to civilize the Tibetans and minimize friction and war.” Li Xueyan said, “Uncivilized, no enlightenment; Uncivilized, no cultivation; Uncultivated, no avoidance of war.”

After Qin Mubai heard this, a smile appeared on his face. There was admiration, emotion, and a trace of sadness in his smile.

Li Xueyan was indeed an unusual woman.

She is great if described in a rather vulgar but shocking word.

If a woman doesn’t let her brows stand on end, she can afford to be a hero!

“General, is Xue Yan wrong?”

“You’re right. If you really can do this, you will sacrifice your own body to save ten thousand people from fire and water. In the future, you will erect a monument. Whether it is the Han or Tibetan people, they will definitely admire you as a nostalgia. Your name will be passed down from generation to generation.” Qin Mubai said.

“So, what can General do to prevent Xue Yan from going to Tibet to get married?” Li Xueyan asked with a hint of heckling in her confusion.

Qin Mubai couldn’t help but smile and said, “I didn’t stop you from going. I just don’t think you need to go.”

“General, please give me your advice.”

“It can’t be said to be giving advice. It’s just a humble opinion.” Qin Mubai said, “At this moment, and even thirty years from now, it is reasonable and very cost-effective for the imperial daughter to marry Tibet.” You sacrificed only one person, harming the reunion of your family, and saving millions of people from bloodshed and sorrow. From the standpoint of the nation, this is naturally much more worthwhile than the bloodshed of a million troops. But … from the point of view of a hundred years, a thousand years, or even history, from the point of view of a nation, it is meaningless for you to do so. ”

“What do you mean?”

“Because the contradictions and antagonisms between the Great Tang and Tibet are almost innate. They are like a mountain and two tigers. Sooner or later, each of them will fight to the death.” Qin Mubai said, “Marrying you to Tibet is like a tiger giving a piece of its prey to a tiger. For the time being, let the other party not come and bite it.” However, the situation of one mountain and two tigers had not changed at all. Sooner or later, they would have to fight to the death. Giving the prey to the opponent at this moment would only make the opponent more robust and robust, and it would be even more troublesome for the opponent. Tiger nature is hard to change. Tomorrow, he will not remember that you gave him prey one day. He will only remember that he still wants more prey and wants to occupy this mountain. Whether or not it sends its prey to it, it will only treat you as its enemy. ”

“General, Xue Yan disagrees.” Li Xueyan said softly, but her tone was very persistent. She said, “The metaphor of the two tigers is quite appropriate, but if Xue Yan marries Tibet, she is not sending her prey.”

“Why not?” Qin Mubai smiled gently and said, “The Hu tribe that was bestowed marriage in the Central Plains has always brought with them a large amount of gold and silver wealth and civilized techniques in astronomy and geography.” Hu people learn from us Han Chinese masters, eat our food, wear our clothes, learn from us, and then use these things to teach us teachers. If you say that you are not prey, then do you mean to say how much preparation the Imperial Court has made for you to settle down and grant you a marriage? ”

Li Xueyan’s expression froze for a moment, and her face darkened a little. She said, “Your Majesty is prepared to accept me as your adopted daughter and bestow me with the title of Princess Feng Wencheng. My father will be the wedding messenger and send her to the Tibet Plateau. The other party, Qizong Nongzan, will personally welcome her.” I don’t remember very well that the dowry was more generous. There are about ten thousand gold and silver jade artifacts, several golden Buddha statues of Shakya, many precious treasures, and several hundred volumes of golden jade bookcases. In addition, there were thousands of musicians, technicians, and craftsmen accompanying them. They also gave a variety of cooking foods, brocade quilts with various patterns, hundreds of divination scriptures, clear lessons to distinguish good from evil, dozens of books on construction and engineering techniques, numerous medical books and prescriptions, and many seeds of cattle, sheep, horses, and grain turnips. I vaguely heard people from the household registration department say that these people and cars are about a hundred miles long. ”

“Heh!” Qin Mubai couldn’t help but laugh, “I, Great Tang, am generous. Marrying a daughter, I wish I could empty my family. I’m afraid that I won’t be able to show the grand momentum of my Great Tang, and I’m afraid that the Hu people will call us stingy.”

“General, I also know that this dowry is extraordinarily generous. Gold and silver artifacts are only secondary. The main ones are those ancient books, medicines, and seed farm tools. They are enough to allow the Tibetans to receive civilized education within twenty years. Isn’t this a good thing? Although the Tibetans are enemies with us, they are still human!” Li Xueyan said.

“Naturally, this is a good thing. I have never denied it. Although you are a woman, you are very broad-minded. Even if you are an enemy, you can be treated equally. I, I, Qin, also sigh with admiration.” Qin Mubai said, “But if you teach them this way, it’s like when the two armies are facing each other, you tell the enemy about our army’s formation and deployment. Do you feel compassion for the enemy and fear that their army will suffer heavy casualties? Aren’t you afraid that your army will lose a lot of corpse blood because of this?”

“Ah! This!” Li Xueyan cried out in alarm. Huayan’s expression turned pale as she said, “Xueyan, you absolutely have no intention of doing so!”

“Imperial Daughter is shocked. Something is wrong.” Qin Mubai hurriedly cupped his hands and said, “My analogy is a little too much and my words are a little too heavy, but that’s the truth. Imperial Daughter has the kindness, greatness and innocence of an imperial daughter, which is admirable. I am a martial artist, a soldier. However, a soldier also has the kindness of a soldier.”

“The benevolence of a soldier? What … can I say?” Li Xueyan asked in surprise.

Qin Mubai opened his mouth and was about to say something when footsteps came from the door. At the same time, a loud bell rang out, “The kindness of a soldier is to stop killing. Kill!”

“Father!”

“Your Highness!”

“Yan’er, you’re too rude! You actually asked so many naughty questions, which irritated General Qin and threw you into the pond.”

“Your Highness has spoken.” Qin Mubai quickly smiled. “Imperial Daughter Bing Xue is exceptionally intelligent, and she is kind, pure, loyal, and righteous. I am ashamed of myself.”

“Alright, sit down.” Li Daozong chuckled and pulled the two of them to sit down on the stove. “I woke up and asked for tea, but I didn’t see Yan’er waiting on my bedside. I found someone to ask. It turned out that she was pestering Qin Sanlang to say some nonsense.”

“Father, you prefer to tease your daughter in front of others.” Li Xueyan smiled sweetly and poured her father some tea.

Li Daozong chuckled and said, “Mubai, you are not an outsider. I have something I would like to talk to you about.” Yan’er was righteous enough to destroy her family. Hearing that His Majesty had chosen his beloved daughter to marry Tibet in the imperial clan, she actually took the initiative to go forward. This made this king feel both hurt and hurt. Fortunately, the marriage has been temporarily shelved, but this king does not know how to feel. Originally, this king was unable to do anything in You Zhou, but it was a matter of national importance, so I could only listen to His Majesty’s summons and bring Yan’er over from You Zhou to discuss the matter of bestowing marriage to Tibet. In the dynasty, more than 70% of the people supported the marriage, and a few of them were mostly generals with troops. I’ve heard that you’ve always opposed the granting of marriage. Moreover, your opinion has a great influence on His Majesty the Emperor. I don’t know if I should be grateful to you at this moment, haha! ”

‘”Your Highness, why do you have to be like this? I am only concerned about matters and not people. I have always had a clear and resolute opinion about Tibet. The two of them are like two tigers on the same mountain. Unless one of them falls, it will never be possible to extinguish the war.” Qin Mubai said, “There is nothing wrong with the imperial daughter wanting the Tibetans to accept the idea of civilized education.” However, I can say very responsibly that they will only accept our civilization and will never receive any education. They will always treat our Central Plains Great Tang with hostility. Therefore, we can only think of a fundamental solution to the problem, that is, to flatten the plateau and subdue Tibet, to absorb them into our Han nationality, and to assimilate and merge them completely. This was the only way to cure the symptoms. Who had ever seen such a thing happen with her? It was nothing more than endless wars, wars with relatives, and reparations for both husband and wife. What kind of dignity and honor does a great power have to rely on giving away their daughters to maintain its dignity and honor? We are martial artists, we are men, how can we bear it? How should the descendants of history comment? They would say that we think only of the things before us, that when we were alive there was no war, no bloodshed, no sense of distress, and that we threw the troubles and the wars that we would face sooner or later to our children and grandchildren. Wasn’t this a huge irresponsibility? The officials of our army are like little cowards in the sky, what kind of face should we use to meet our descendants in the history of Qing Dynasty! ! “!”

As soon as he finished his sentence, the room went completely silent. Li Xueyan’s face flushed red. She stared at Qin Mubai with wide eyes and held her breath.

“Strong.” Li Daozong only slightly raised his eyebrows and threw a torch at Qin Mubai’s face. A few simple words pierced through Qin Mubai’s heart like sharp arrows–

“Remember what you said, Qin Mubai. With these words, you are either a great hero or a great liar in history.”