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

A few months is but a fleeting moment for this ancient and unchanging snow-covered plateau.

But for the city of Lhasa, a dramatic change occurred, comparable to the transformation of the sea into mulberry fields.

The biting high-altitude winds still howl.

But on the streets of Lhasa, you can no longer see those Tibetan warriors wearing rough leather robes, carrying curved swords at their waists, and exuding a strong smell of yak butter.

Instead, a scene that is extremely incongruous and even creates a sense of spatial disorientation appears.

"Hey, Brother Zaxi, your new Shu brocade round-necked robe made of Suzhou and Hangzhou brocade is really made of fine material! The pattern, the luster, tsk tsk, it must have cost you at least fifty yak cattle, right?"

"Not at all, Brother Dorje, you flatter me. I am only benefiting from the Anxi Protectorate's influence."

A Tibetan nobleman with a full beard was actually bowing with his hands clasped in a very proper manner, speaking in a "Chang'an Mandarin" that had a slight mutton kebab accent.

He touched the gossamer-thin silk robe he was wearing with great care, his face full of undisguised pride.

"This was specially brought back from the top embroidery workshop in Chang'an's East Market by Manager Wang of the caravan! Look at the stitching, the workmanship—how ​​can our coarse cloth from this plateau compare?"

The nobleman named Dorje nodded with an envious look on his face.

He went out today wearing only a plain cloth Hanfu, which, compared to the dazzling Shu brocade worn by others, made him feel so shabby that he wanted to crawl into a hole in the ground.

In this city of Lhasa, which has now been completely "Tang-ized".

Who would dare to go out in the street wearing those old-fashioned, pungent fur robes?

Not only will you be ridiculed as a "country bumpkin who has never seen the world" by your peers who wear silk Hanfu, but even the roadside vendors selling Tang Dynasty tea will roll their eyes and ignore you.

It's not just about clothing and appearance.

In this circle of Tibetan nobles, the most popular way of socializing is no longer horseback riding, archery, or wrestling.

Instead, they gathered together in a pretentious manner, using exquisite celadon tea sets bought at high prices from the Tang Dynasty to slowly savor the expensive Longjing tea.

Although many of them couldn't even distinguish the different types of tea.

But as long as you can hold that small teacup, squint your eyes and spout a few classical phrases, or even curse in Chang'an Mandarin with a "damn it," it's an extremely prestigious and high-class thing.

In the square in the center of the city, in front of the government office of the Anxi Protectorate, a long line of people stretched as far as the eye could see.

Whether they are high-ranking nobles or lowly herdsmen.

Everyone stood on tiptoe, craning their necks, their eyes fixed on the huge notice board at the entrance of the government office.

"Don't push! Don't push! Get in line at the back! Don't you know the rules?!"

Several Tibetan officials maintaining order were holding large tin megaphones issued by the Tang Dynasty's arsenal and shouting at the top of their lungs.

"Listen up! Only 500 'Temporary Resident Certificates of the Tang Dynasty' will be issued today! First come, first served! If you don't get one, please come back tomorrow!"

Upon hearing this, the crowd instantly stirred, and several burly men even started fighting each other, disregarding their image, in order to grab a better spot at the front.

"This 'temporary resident permit' is a really good thing!"

An old Tibetan man who had managed to snag a spot clutched the wooden plaque bearing the seal of the Protectorate tightly in his hand, tears streaming down his face with emotion.

"With this certificate, you can get a full 30% discount on Datang Snowflake Salt and Green Brick Tea at the East Market!"

"That's right! I heard that with this certificate, you can get priority to work on the high-altitude engineering team run by Datang! That's a heavenly job where you get to eat your fill every day, and even have braised pork!"

The people around him were green with envy as they looked at the sign in the old man's hand.

In this era when goods from the Tang Dynasty were being completely dumped.

The Tibetans were horrified to discover that their once-proud scimitars and warhorses could not be exchanged for a bowl of hot rice or a down jacket to keep warm.

In order to survive, and in order to enjoy an unprecedentedly comfortable life.

They could only frantically try to adapt to the rules of the Tang Dynasty, learn the language of the Tang Dynasty, and yearn to become a part of the Tang Dynasty.

From resistance to acceptance, and then to fervent admiration.

Li Chengqian only took a few months and did not use a single sword or gun.

This once impregnable plateau fortress was transformed, inside and out, into a complete spiritual colony.

Meanwhile, on the most luxurious and panoramic viewing platform of Hongshan Palace...

Li Chengqian was lounging lazily on a soft chair covered with the finest white fox fur.

He held a cup of freshly brewed premium Longjing tea from the snow-capped mountains in his hand, and through his monocular telescope, he took in the comical yet magical scene in the city.

"Tsk tsk tsk, this assimilation speed is even faster than I expected."

Li Chengqian put down his telescope and yawned listlessly.

He originally thought that these Tibetans still had some wildness left in their bones, and it would take some effort to completely smooth it out.

Who knew that, faced with this overwhelming barrage of sugar-coated bullets and the ultimate in material enjoyment...

These barbarians from the highlands are so weak-willed, they're like noodles scalded with boiling water, they have no desire to resist whatsoever.

"Your Highness, your 'bloodless' strategy is truly brilliant!"

Beside him, Wang Xuance, who had changed into a brand-new purple official robe, was massaging Li Chengqian's shoulders with a face full of admiration.

He is now the first Protector-General of the Anxi Protectorate of the Tang Dynasty, holding economic and administrative power over Tibet, and his status is comparable to that of a high-ranking official.

All of this is thanks to the eight-year-old Crown Prince before us.

"What's so clever about it? It's just routine stuff."

Li Chengqian turned over and found a more comfortable position.

"As long as you control absolute productivity and the distribution of resources, you are a god in their eyes."

"These Tibetans are so busy buying salt and wearing silk from the Tang Dynasty that they've almost forgotten what their ancestors were called. How could they possibly have the mind to rebel?"

At this point, a hint of utter boredom flashed in Li Chengqian's eyes.

He looked at the endless, majestic snow-capped mountains in the distance and sighed.

He originally thought that Tibet would be a slightly challenging instance, allowing him to have more fun.

Is that all?

A few cartloads of silk, a few cans of tea, plus a set of square dancing, and they were wiped out?

Once the thrill of this overwhelming advantage fades, all that remains is a deep emptiness and loneliness.

"This is boring, so incredibly boring."

Li Chengqian downed the tea in one gulp, then casually tossed the priceless celadon teacup onto the table beside him, making a crisp clinking sound.

He stood up from the soft chair and stretched out a big yawn.

"Wang Xuance, I'm leaving this mess in Tibet to you."

"Not a penny of tax should be missed, and the mines that need to be dug should be dug overnight. All the young and strong men should be sent to build roads!"

"If anything goes wrong, I'll hold you responsible."

Wang Xuance was so frightened that he shuddered and quickly bowed to accept the order.

"Your Highness, rest assured! Even if it costs me my life, I will not allow Tibet to cause the slightest trouble!"

However, he looked up with some confusion, seeing Li Chengqian's listless appearance.

"Your Highness, Tibet has just been pacified, and you're leaving already?"

Li Chengqian stood with his hands behind his back, gazing towards Chang'an in the east, a faint smile playing on his lips.

"This map is still too small, it's not challenging enough."

"I've been away for more than half a year, and I've had enough of Father's hundred cannonballs. Let's pack up and get ready to go home."