In addition to the Xiongnu, the other countries were basically aiming for high-yielding grain varieties.
Nowadays in Da Xia, there is so much grain that it can be casually used to make wine. While most of their people are still starving.
Rob? They would also need to have that ability to do so.
Haven't you seen how powerful the Xiongnu were, they almost beat Da Xia half dead a few years ago?
I heard that the Royal Court had to move several hundred miles west. It almost entered the desert to eat sand.
Now there are only the little dwarves of Wo Country to the east who still jump around from time to time.
These dwarf-legged Wo slaves are just relying on themselves floating on the sea. If Da Xia is really annoyed, builds treasure ships and throws them over at any time, it can blow them up.
The two people the Xiongnu sent today were still old acquaintances. The Crown Prince, no, it should be called Regent Khan Huyan Xuri Gan, and the Seventh Prince Abalu.
The envoys of other countries present were aiming for high-yielding grains, except them.
The Xiongnu live on horseback and have been nomadic for generations without land to plant, nor will they plant land.
The reason for coming this time was not because they really wanted to get along well, but because Da Xia was beaten and scared last time, they wanted to bow down temporarily and take a chance to catch their breath.
Nowadays, Da Xia has a strong military and an abundance of grain, and there is also that extremely powerful Thunder of Heaven.
It is said that the little thing, just throwing it casually, can kill a large area.
The few who lucky enough to escape were scared out of their wits, and were even more tight-lipped about this.
If Da Xia wanted to avenge the past blood feud and send troops to attack the grasslands, they would only have to wait to die.
Emperor Xia Jing is an enlightened and wise emperor. There are many capable ministers and generals under him. Take the current Ministry of Revenue Shangshu as an example, he is a typical example.
He was born in a humble background, and in just ten years he went from a county magistrate to the Ministry of Revenue Shangshu. He has yielded high-yielding grain varieties that people all over the world covet, causing Da Xia’s grain yield to double year after year over the past few years.
Even in a poor place like Su Zhou, he only took six years to turn it into another granary in Da Xia, comparable to Jiangnan.
On the eve of the great war four years ago, they had colluded with a third party to bribe an official surnamed Hong to try to provoke this emperor and minister, and disturb Su Zhou, in order to create conditions for their major offensive against Da Xia.
Unfortunately, it failed. This emperor trusted his ministers very much.
This Jiang Daren is also an unyielding tough guy. Under his leadership, not only did the people of Su Zhou not flee, but young people flocked to the army to resist.
It can be said that Jiang Wenyuan played an extremely important role in Xiongnu’s defeat.
He turned his eyes again to the little girl standing next to him.
Jiang Wenyuan's daughter, Linghui Princess, is also one of the most legendary figures in Da Xia.
Her life experience is as colorful as her father’s.
She was taken in as a closed-door disciple by Doctor Qiu when she was one year old. At the age of three, she dared to wield a scalpel to perform craniotomy surgery on him. Her talent is terrifying.
Legend has it that in addition to Doctor Qiu as her master, this little princess has another unfathomable master from the outside world, from whom she has learned supernatural powers.
There is news that the more than 5,000 remnants who escaped from Tongluo Guan with Agula and Habater were buried under some kind of her powerful spells.
It was even her who cut off the heads of Agula and Habater.
How old was she at that time, five years old! If the rumors are true, then she is simply a monster!
Since they can't get rid of such a monster, they can only try to use her. If that really doesn't work, they have to alienate the father and daughter.
Jiang Yuqing always felt that there was a pair of eyes staring at her back. She subconsciously looked back and looked straight into a pair of eagle-like eyes.
A trace of an evil smile flashed across Jiang Yuqing's eyes instantly. Oh yeah, it's still an old acquaintance!
Huyan Xuri Gan was not at all embarrassed about being caught, but raised his glass to her instead. Jiang Yuqing returned a meaningful smile.
After offering their gifts, Emperor Xia Jing rewarded Jiang Wenyuan with a bunch of nice stuff. After the Jiang family thanked for the grace, they went back to their seats, appreciating the gifts from others while waiting for the start of the feast.
With the Jiang family’s gems and jade in front, no matter how expensive the gifts from the later comers were, Emperor Xia Jing didn't show a trace of interest. He just gave a perfunctory "um" before letting people take them away.
Only the pot of rice seedlings was kept at his feet, carefully protected.
After the minister of Da Xia offered their gifts, it was the turn of the envoys from various countries to offer their gifts.
Li Ju offered a 500-year-old wild ginseng, which looked good at first glance, but was far inferior compared to the ones Jiang Yuqing gave out. There were also better ones than this in the emperor’s treasury.
Apart from these, there was nothing else.
Wo Country offered a blood coral with a height of more than one foot. It looked quite valuable, but its actual value was limited.
Their ronins had been burning, killing and looting along the southeast coast of Da Xia for a long time.
How on earth did these people have the nerve to run over and pretend nothing had happened, wanting to "develop good neighborly relations" with Da Xia?
Xian Country offered some specialty medicinal materials from their country. Although most of them were nomads, there were also farmers near the southeast of Da Xia. Their purpose in coming this time, in addition to grain varieties, was to negotiate border trade with Da Xia.
The south is hot and humid with a lot of poisonous insects, snakes and ants, but also produces beautiful jade. What they offered was a two-foot square piece of imperial green jade, which was valuable.
East Woman Country offered a two-foot high golden tripod. Tubo offered their holy object, a nine-eyed pearl, and a bone relic of the Buddha.
Da Xia respects Buddhism and Taoism, so this Buddhist relic is also considered a rare treasure. Emperor Xia Jing was quite satisfied. He asked again how the Tubo princess who married into their tribe was doing, and the envoy replied: “The princess is well!”
Finally it was the Xiongnu’s turn.
The Xiongnu offered a curved knife inlaid with yellow gold and gemstones, said to be made of meteoric iron from outer space that could cut hair upon blowing.
In Jiang Yuqing’s eyes, this thing just made a lot of noise, but in reality it might not even be as good as the kitchen knife in her Spirit Realm. Moreover, after being beaten so badly by Da Xia last time, how dare they come!
After everyone offered their gifts, Emperor Xia Jing said some more hypocritical words, and then the banquet began.
Palace maidens came out holding all kinds of delicacies and placed them on the guests' tables.
After the emperor picked up his chopsticks and raised his glass, everyone began to drink freely. The sound of strings and pipes also came, and there were beautiful sounds all over the hall.
After drinking for three rounds, Erma Wuzhen suddenly stood up and pointed at Jiang Yuchuan and shouted: “Your Majesty, I have taken a liking to your heir apparent Prince Jiang Yuchuan. Please give him to me as my formal husband.”
As soon as she finished speaking, the faces of the Jiang family darkened instantly, and the surroundings also quieted down.
The emperor was not happy either.
He knew that this East Woman Country princess was a fool, but he didn't expect her to still cling on shamelessly after being rejected by others.
He said, "I can’t decide this for you! When it comes to marriage, it requires the order of the parents, the words of the matchmaker, and mutual affection between the two to become a good match between families. You want me to marry you off to him, why not ask the gentleman himself, or his parents. If they agree, I naturally have no objection!"
As soon as Emperor Xia Jing's voice fell, Jiang Yuchuan immediately stood up and said categorically: "I don't want to! I ask the princess to stop pestering me!"
Erma Wuzhen was a little bit hurt: "Why? If you mind that I have other husbands, I can dismiss them and only want you!"
Her words caused the whole hall to chuckle. The young ladies present hated her itchingly.
Where did this crazy woman come from, not only being so promiscuous, she even dared to covet the pure and noble Prince Yuchuan, she was truly shameless.
Jiang Yuchuan said angrily, "Because I don't like you, I despise you, I don't care about you! Are these reasons enough?"
The people laughed even harder. The girls were secretly happy. The prince was direct enough and firmly rejected her, that was how it should be.
"Do you dislike me that much?" Erma Wuzhen almost cried. How could anyone not feel hurt after being ruthlessly rejected by a man in public?
"Yes! Princess, no more words. Sit down and lift up the wine glass. Not a word more!"
Erma Wuzhen wanted to say something more, but was pulled back by a female attendant next to her.
The female official hated that she could not beat this fool to death. Wasn't she embarrassed enough before? Why did she have to run back to the main hall and let others humiliate her again?
Empress how can you give birth to such a fool?
Compared to her, the Second Princess is much more capable.
Seeing things had developed this way, Erma Wuzhen finally sat back dejectedly, only looking towards Jiang Yuchuan's direction with an extremely resentful gaze.
She thought the matter had passed.
Unexpectedly, as soon as Erma Wuzhen sat down, the Xiongnu Regent Khan Huyan Xuri Gan stood up again. Pressing his right hand to his left chest, he bowed deeply to Xia Jing Emperor.
He said: "The Xiongnu Regent Khan, Huyan Xuri Gan, is willing to offer two thousand war horses and five hundred miles of grassland in the east as a betrothal gift, and ask for your country’s Ling Hui Princess as the principal wife for my son Zhuolige Tu, so as to build friendly ties between our nations!"
Immediately there was a “bang” as the table was slapped by two people simultaneously shouting “Father Emperor (Your Majesty) you must not agree!" It was none other than Crown Prince Jingyan and Jiang Wenyuan!
Jiang Wenyuan hurriedly said: "Your Majesty, my daughter Linghui is not yet twelve. How can she marry?"
Jingyan also said: "Father Emperor, the Xiongnu harbor malicious intentions. You must never agree!"
Now he hated that he could not skin and chop up these northern barbarians into ten thousand pieces. The treasure he had carefully protected in his heart for so many years, how could they covet her?
With his eyes he silently warned his father that if he dared to agree, the Crown Prince guaranteed either he would be replaced or the Emperor would be replaced. His father had better think carefully!
Seeing the obvious threat in his unfilial son's eyes, the Emperor glared fiercely at him. Clearing his throat, he said: "Indeed, the Regent Khan's conditions are extremely favorable. However, as I said before - marriage requires the consent of her parents. Since her father is unwilling, Regent Khan please do not force them."
Unexpectedly, Huyan Xuri Gan did not back down. Instead he turned and asked Jiang Yuqing: "Khan wants to hear the opinion of the Linghui Princess."
Jiang Yuqing put down the melon seeds in his hand and stood up, a wicked smile tugging at the corner of his mouth. "Why not? The conditions are quite good. If you want me to marry into the Xiongnu it's simple enough. What if Khan adds another condition?" Hearing this, the people in the hall lost their composure, especially Jingyan whose face had turned white. "Qingqing, you must not agree!"
Jiang Yuqing gave him a reassuring look.
Huyan Xuri Gan seemed extremely interested: "What condition? Princess, please tell me!"
Jiang Yuqing pointed in the direction of the palace gate, "Surely when the Regent Khan entered the palace he saw the Heroes Memorial Monument at the gate?"
Xuri Gan nodded: "I saw it. What does it have to do with your condition?"
Jiang Yuqing gave a cold laugh: "As long as Khan goes in front of the monument and kneels to knock his head on the ground three times. And says loudly: ‘The Xiongnu were wrong, we should not have invaded Da Xia. I have come to apologize.’ Then I will marry you. What do you think?" As his voice faded, there was another wave of muffled laughter in the hall. Even Jingyan smiled rarely.
As soon as Xuri Gan heard this, his face turned black instantly. He had wondered why the girl was so accommodating. Turns out she was just waiting to ambush him here.
A matter concerning the Xiongnu’s national prestige, how could he agree? Naturally he could not!
If he really did that, he was afraid that before Jiang Yuqing even married into the Xiongnu, he would be torn apart by the Xiongnu warriors.
And so, the sparks of war vanished without a trace!
