Deposed? I couldn't be happier! I wouldn't even be a dog to the crown prince.

Inside the main hall of Hongshan Palace, the atmosphere was as oppressive as solidified ghee.

Hundreds of oil lamps flickered with a dim yellow light, illuminating the faces of the Tibetan civil and military officials, who were still in shock and humiliated.

Songtsen Gampo sat on the tiger-skin throne, a symbol of supreme power, but at this moment, his somewhat dejected posture made him look more like a plucked and trapped beast.

Just now, the slender Han Chinese envoy, dressed in a Tang Dynasty official robe, strode in as if he were in an empty place, relying solely on a staff.

He didn't even kneel in worship, but merely bowed slightly. His dignified yet unyielding demeanor made every Tibetan nobleman present feel a burning embarrassment.

"Wang Xuance, an envoy from the Great Tang Dynasty, has come to deliver a 'generous gift' to the Zanpu (Tibetan king) on ​​the orders of His Highness the Crown Prince."

Wang Xuance surveyed his surroundings with piercing eyes, and slammed his staff heavily onto the golden bricks of the main hall, producing a muffled "thud".

The sound wasn't loud, but it was like a heavy hammer blow to everyone's heart.

"Bringing gifts? I think they're here to see you off at your deathbed!"

A hot-tempered Tibetan general couldn't help but draw half of his scimitar, his eyes wide with rage.

"Your Tang army has cannons set up outside the city, and now you're sent in alone to swagger around? Do you really think my Tibetan warriors are afraid to kill?"

Upon hearing this, Wang Xuance showed no fear whatsoever; instead, he burst into laughter.

The laughter echoed in the empty hall, carrying an extremely grating mockery.

"Murder? You're welcome to try."

Wang Xuance abruptly stopped laughing, his sharp gaze fixed on the fierce general.

"Behind me are a hundred red-coated cannons ready to fire at any moment, 150,000 fully armed elite troops of the Tang Dynasty, and His Highness the Crown Prince's ironclad order: 'Whoever touches a hair on my head, I will turn Lhasa into ruins!'"

"With this strike, you'll not only cost yourself your life, but also the heads of the entire Tibetan royal family and hundreds of thousands of people!"

"Come on! Do it! Let's see if you have the guts to drag the entire Tibetan Empire down with you!"

Wang Xuance approached step by step, and the fierce general was forced to retreat step by step by his imposing aura. Finally, his hand trembled, and the curved sword fell to the ground with a "clang".

This is the confidence of a great power.

One man is worth a million soldiers!

Seeing this, Songtsen Gampo waved his hand helplessly, signaling his shameful subordinate to step back.

"What does the envoy want to discuss after coming from afar? If it is to cede territory and pay reparations, although I have been defeated, I am not a lamb to be slaughtered."

Songtsen Gampo mustered his strength, attempting to salvage some of his dignity as the Tsangpo (king).

Wang Xuance sneered, pulled out a huge sheepskin scroll from his sleeve, and spread it out in the center of the hall with a "whoosh".

What was drawn on it was none other than a map showing the range coverage of the Red-Clad Cannons, and an incredibly detailed map of the distribution of Tibetan resources.

"Your Majesty is overthinking it. His Highness the Crown Prince is not interested in your barren highland land."

Wang Xuance pointed to the red circles on the map, speaking as casually as if he were discussing today's weather.

"His Highness said that as long as the Zanpu agrees to a few small conditions, the Tang Dynasty will not only not attack you, but will also help you get rich."

Upon hearing the word "get rich," the Tibetan nobles, who had been filled with resentment, immediately perked up their ears.

Although they are warlike, they don't hate money.

In recent years, I have been captivated by the silk and tea of ​​the Tang Dynasty and have long wanted to do business with the Tang Dynasty.

"First, the entire territory of Tibet was opened to trade, and Tang Dynasty caravans enjoyed tax-free privileges."

Wang Xuance extended a finger, his gaze sweeping intentionally or unintentionally over the powerful nobles who controlled the economic lifeline of Tibet.

"Secondly, the Tang Dynasty will establish a 'Tang Goods Specialty Zone' in Lhasa, where all kinds of silk, tea, porcelain, glass, and even those magical down jackets will be available for sale."

"In exchange, you only need to provide cattle and sheep hides, cordyceps, and minerals."

Upon hearing this, a chorus of swallowing sounds immediately filled the hall.

In the eyes of those nobles, greed instantly overshadowed hatred.

Tax exemption privileges? Open supply?

That means they will never have to pay ten times the price to buy those inferior tea bricks on the black market again!

It means that everyone can wear those down jackets that are as warm as a furnace, and they will no longer have to freeze like dogs in the winter!

"Is...is this real?"

An elderly nobleman stepped forward, his family controlling the largest fur trade in Tibet.

"Is the Tang Dynasty really willing to sell us those good things?"

"Of course." Wang Xuance smiled slightly, took out a crystal-clear glass mirror from his pocket, and casually tossed it to the old nobleman.

"This is just a small gift. As long as you behave well, this kind of thing is just an everyday item in the Tang Dynasty."

The old nobleman held the glass mirror, looking at himself so clearly that he could even count the hairs on his beard, and his hands trembled with excitement.

"Your Majesty! Promise him! You must promise him!"

"Yes, Your Majesty! The Tang Dynasty is bringing us wealth and prosperity! We can't be ungrateful!"

In an instant, the hall, which had been filled with righteous indignation, transformed into a scene of massive defection.

Looking at his subordinates who had just been shouting for war, but now were practically begging to kneel and fawn over the Tang envoy for a few pieces of glass mirror, Songtsen Gampo felt a pang of sorrow.

He knew that the situation was hopeless.

The Tang Dynasty not only blasted open Tibet's city gates with cannons, but also used these sugar-coated bullets to completely shatter Tibet's backbone.

The morale is low, and the team can no longer be led.

"There is a third condition."

Wang Xuance ignored the crazed nobles and instead turned his attention back to Songtsen Gampo.

He took out a heavy gold seal from his pocket, which Li Chengqian had specially given to him before he set off.

"In order to better manage trade affairs and protect the safety of Tang Dynasty caravans."

"His Highness the Crown Prince has decided to establish the 'Anxi Protectorate' here."

"The entire territory of Tibet was nominally brought under the jurisdiction of the Anxi Protectorate of the Tang Dynasty. The Zanpu (Tibetan king) retained his throne, but he had to accept the guidance of the Protectorate."

"boom--"

These words were like a thunderbolt, shattering Songtsen Gampo's last shred of dignity.

To be brought under jurisdiction? To receive guidance?

Isn't this just a disguised form of national subjugation?!

"Impossible! I will never allow it!"

Songtsen Gampo suddenly stood up, his eyes bloodshot.

"Our Tibetan Empire has existed for a hundred years and has never submitted to anyone! Even if I die in battle, I will never be a ruler of a fallen kingdom!"

However, his roar sounded so pale and powerless in the hall.

Those nobles, blinded by greed, no longer looked at him with awe, but rather with impatience.

"Your Majesty! Please don't be so stubborn!"

"Do you really want the Tang Dynasty's cannons to blast us all to death?"

"As long as we can preserve our wealth and status, what does it matter if we're associated with the Tang Dynasty?"

Wang Xuance looked at the isolated and helpless Songtsen Gampo, a victorious smirk curling at the corner of his mouth.

He didn't say another word, but simply placed the gold seal engraved with "Anxi Protectorate" heavily on the table in front of Songtsen Gampo.

"Zanpu, look at the people behind you."

"They have made their choice."

"If you continue to be so ungrateful, I'm afraid even without the Tang Dynasty taking action, your throne will be in jeopardy."

Songtsen Gampo looked at the gleaming golden seal, then at the pairs of greedy, indifferent, and even coercive eyes below him.

He slumped onto the throne, looking as if he had aged ten years in an instant.

One person, one staff, one seal.

No need for massive armies, no need for rivers of blood.

Wang Xuance, with just his silver tongue and a plethora of Tang Dynasty goods, effortlessly dismantled this once troublesome plateau empire without shedding a drop of blood.

This is what is known as "one person destroying a country".

This is the terrifying power of cultural and economic invasion.

After a long while, a heavy and helpless sigh echoed in the hall.

"Pass on the order..."

Songtsen Gampo's voice was hoarse and filled with despair.

"Open all the city gates..."

"Welcome...to the Anxi Protectorate of the Great Tang Dynasty...to reside in Lhasa..."