Why did the Persian father and son choose Datang as a "political refuge" when the country perished?
Historians mostly analyze the reasons from the military strength.
In the 7th century, there were only two veritable superpowers in the world, namely the Tang Dynasty and the Great Food (Arab Empire). Now the focus of the struggle between the two countries is Central Asia and West Asia. The Tang Empire fought with the Arabian Empire for more than 20 times, and Tang Jun won the battle more than once.
So at that time, political exiles in western countries, that is, Central Asia and West Asia, first thought was to take refuge in China. Judging from the comparison of military strength, only the Tang Empire can resist the eastward advance of big food. Other Central Asian countries, including the Eastern Roman Empire, simply could not cover the exiled regime.
Of course, this analysis is also good, but it is obviously not comprehensive enough. Here, in addition to the indispensable military reasons, there is a more important reason that is often overlooked, and that is the political reason.
This will start with the "political status" of the Tang Empire. No matter from the eyes of the Eastern Roman Empire, the Persian Empire, Western Asian countries and even the Arab Empire, the Tang Empire was undoubtedly the world's leading regime at that time. The strength of a regime in both soft and hard aspects was possessed by the Tang Empire at that time.
First of all, from the advanced nature of the political system, the Tang Dynasty is the best in the world. The Tang Dynasty attacked the Sui system, but perfected the Sui regime. The political system of "three provinces, six departments and twenty-four divisions" in the Tang Dynasty was the perfection of the feudal state system. The three provinces, the prime minister and six ministers discussed state affairs together. The meeting of the government hall is the highest decision-making body to help the emperor rule the whole country. The prime minister usually discusses military affairs in the government hall. At that time, bureaucracy entered an enlightened period.
Political self-confidence drives diplomatic self-confidence, and in the prosperous Tang Dynasty, the foreign policy of "all rivers run into the sea, and four foreigners are selfish" was pursued. From Emperor Taizong to Xuanzong, the highest court in the Tang Dynasty appointed officials regardless of Chinese and foreign countries. During the Tang Dynasty, more than 70 countries maintained "diplomatic relations" with China.
The civil service systems of neighboring Japan and North Korea have borrowed from the imperial examination system of the Tang Dynasty.
If a country wants to gain the status of a "political power" in the world, it must not only occupy the commanding heights of political civilization, but also get the assistance of international organizations led by it.
As we all know, the emperor of the Tang Dynasty had the title of "Tiankhan". This "Tiankhan" is different from the past. It is not an honorary title of jubilation, but a substantive political system. The "Tiankhan" in the past was not the United Nations today, but the equivalent of the "Northeast Covenant". Under the "Tiankhan", all countries and tribes form an alliance, and all members of the system impose sanctions on the member countries that undermine peace within the system, thus ensuring the stability of the system and maintaining world order. The role of Tiankhan is mainly political and military. After the Emperor of the Tang Dynasty was known as Tiankhan, it was necessary to maintain international peace and arbitrate disputes among countries, which was Tiankhan's primary task. Defending the independence of all countries from aggression by powerful countries is another duty of Tiankhan.
The Tiankhan system is the first "international organization" led by China. The great East Asian international order centered on the Tang Empire is the axis of Tiankhan's international order. It is not empty talk that the Japanese called the Tang Dynasty the most cosmopolitan dynasty in the history of China.
The Tiankhan organization existed for 137 years, among which the four years from Zhenguan to Xianqing were the most brilliant. When the monarch of the Persian subjugation came to vote for the Tang Dynasty, it was the time when Khan was in full swing. So how could Tang Gaozong face the request of the monarch of the subjugation and watch the big food bully the weak and do nothing? The Tang Empire, which helped the weak and helped the poor and upheld justice, not only won the respect of the weak countries, but also occupied the commanding heights of political morality.
With the acceptance of the Persian Crown Prince and the establishment of the Persian viceroy, the Tang Empire developed into a vast and multi-ethnic political power, with Korea in the east, Persia in the west, Siberia in the north and Lin Yi in the south. From Central Asia to Iran, Russian, Turkish and northeastern Afghanistan, and Lake Baikal are all within China's sphere of influence.
Liu Zongyuan once left a masterpiece, in which a "world regime" of "four oceans serve China" was in full swing:
You are in the northwest, don't go out of the area. Rely on distance and risk and be proud of yourself. The fierce king is a teacher, and Xiong Wei thinks he is a disciple. The dragon flag turned the waves and rode on Chikun Cape. The heartburn baby was swept away. Pingsha celestial pole, but see Huang Yun flooding. Chen Jing was in charge of Changying, and he was bravely detained. Huang Wen sits in the south and moves in groups. Salt is called the god in the sky, so it is impossible to go to ancient times. Offer the title of Khan to cover the capital of our country. Soldiers don't harm each other, each guard its nature and its body.
The side evidence of a political power is that she can build attraction and trust for the exiles in the world. Become the first choice for political exiles and even traitors in various countries. In this sense, at that time, the whole world was in the East, and only the Tang Empire was the real political power.