Seeing Xia Wenqi arrive at the main hall, he kept talking about him and did not mention the tribute at all. Several courtiers were already a little anxious.
Yang Dequan, the Minister of Rites, said quietly: "His Royal Highness!"
"You've said so much, today is the tribute ceremony!"
"It's time for you to get straight to the point and present the Xia Kingdom's tribute to His Majesty, right?"
Although the tributes from the Xia Kingdom in previous years were not large, they included hundreds of good horses, three carts of rare medicinal materials, and three carts of refined black iron from the mountains.
Of course, plus other Xia country specialties, there are a total of ten cars.
Although the Xia Kingdom envoys brought not many good horses this year, they brought a total of twenty carriages!
I wonder what tribute the Prince of Xia has prepared this year?
After hearing Yang Dequan's words, Xia Wenqi coughed twice unnaturally, with a faint smile still on his face.
"Your Majesty, although in the past three years, the Xia Kingdom has been hit by snowstorms year after year, the people are in dire straits, and the people are living in dire straits."
"Even solving the most basic livelihood issues and filling their stomachs has become a big problem for them!"
"However, no matter how difficult it is for the Xia Kingdom, there will naturally be no less to be offered to Daliang!"
Song Huan listened silently and couldn't help but shed a few lines of cold sweat.
Just pay tribute, keep talking about how difficult it was for the Xia Kingdom, and who should show you how miserable it was?
If the Xia Kingdom really suffered a natural disaster, wouldn't the Xia Kingdom's crown prince still be wearing silk and satin?
As far as Song Huan knew, Xia State did not produce such silk and satin fabrics.
To have such fine clothes shows how wealthy the Xia royal family is!
As a prince and aristocrat, he was well-off and well-off, but he had to exploit the miserable experiences of the people.
What's the saying?
"When the people suffer, I will take the blame!"
This sentence describes shameless people like the Xia royal family!
Hearing Xia Wenqi's words, Song Huan had a bad premonition in his heart.
As expected, Xia Wenqi waved his hand and ordered his men to bring up several small boxes.
"His Majesty!"
"After three years of disaster in our country, Xia, we are really helpless."
"Although these tributes are not a sign of respect, they are already the treasures that our Xia Kingdom has collected with all our efforts!"
"Your Majesty, please accept it!"
As soon as several boxes were opened, the civil and military officials in the court were all dumbfounded!
There are a total of five and a half person-sized boxes placed in the main hall, including a box of glass utensils, a box of rough black iron, and a box of medicinal materials specially produced in the mountains.
The remaining two boxes contained some beast furs that didn't seem to have been cleaned.
Song De also had a bad influence on Xia Wenqi. He stepped forward and took a look at the contents of the box, and couldn't help but get angry.
"Prince Xia! What do you mean?"
"Aren't you sending beggars away?"
"The Xia Kingdom has surrendered to Daliang for many years, but it has never dared to fool the Emperor of Daliang like this!"
"You just gave my father this little thing, doesn't it mean you don't take my father seriously?"
"It's really arrogant!"
Xia Wenqi was so quick to talk that he immediately retorted: "Sending a beggar?"
"What does the Second Prince mean by this? Is he insinuating that the supreme Emperor Liang is just a beggar?"
"As His Majesty's son, your remarks are really chilling!"
"Besides, I've reiterated it time and time again!"
"The Xia Kingdom has encountered tragic natural disasters in the past three years, and it has become very difficult for the people to eat!"
"These things are already treasures that our Xia Kingdom has tried its best to collect."
"I know, there is an old saying in Daliang, which is that etiquette is light but affection is heavy!"
"Although our tribute is not considered a rare treasure in the eyes of the Second Prince."
"But, this represents the sincerity of my country, Xia!"
"It represents our Xia Kingdom's determination to surrender to Daliang!"
"Don't you think this is enough?"
Xia Wenqi's words quoted from classics and were well-founded, leaving Song De completely speechless!
Not only Song De, but also many Liang Yanguan, who are usually known for their sharp tongues, have become mute at this moment, unable to speak a word!
Emperor Liang frowned slightly and fell into a dilemma.
To be fair, it is no longer a matter of whether the quantity of these tributes is sufficient.
This looks like something you use to fool yourself!
If he accepted it, wouldn't he, the mighty Emperor of Liang, really become a rag collector?
However, if I don't accept it, it means that as a king, I cannot understand the suffering of the people of Xia Kingdom!
If this matter spread to the Xia Kingdom, wouldn't he become a foolish king who was spurned by the people and blinded by money?
Seeing that Emperor Liang was in a dilemma and all the courtiers were as mute as to dare not speak, Song Huan sighed involuntarily.
The imperial court paid a salary to support this group of officials, but they were of no use except to trouble Emperor Liang from time to time and to do things for the Grand Master!
Especially on such an important occasion, he couldn't even fart.
It is really sad for Daliang!
No one spoke for a long time, so Song Huan had no choice but to step forward silently.
"Father, my son is brave!"
"Can you please hand over these tributes to my ministers?"
After hearing this, everyone turned their attention to Song Huan.
What the hell is Prince Rong doing?
Everyone knows that if these tributes are collected, Daliang will be jealous of money and take any rags in his hands!
In this case, of course it cannot be accepted!
Is this Prince Rong so obsessed with money?
Emperor Liang was stunned for a moment, then nodded: "If you are of any use, just take it!"
Although Emperor Liang didn't know what Song Huan's intention was in taking the initiative to take away these tributes.
But he understands that this kid never plays by the rules!
Maybe he really has a reason for doing this?
Seeing that Song Huan actually asked to take away these tributes, Xia Wenqi immediately smiled proudly.
"Fourth Prince, oh no, Prince Rong!"
"Can't you see that after you became the prince, your money is so tight?"
"I thought you would be different from when you were a child!"
"I didn't expect that this moment would be exactly like that moment."
"Your appearance has changed, but your character is still the same as when you were a child. Nothing has changed!"
Anyone who understands can hear this. Xia Wenqi scolded Song Huan in a roundabout way for turning his eyes on money and scolding Song Huan for being as brainless as when he was a child!
Song De immediately snorted, expressing his disdain for Song Huan.
"You can see this bit of rags, it's really embarrassing for me, Daliang!"
"I don't know how this kind of poor guy with short ambitions became Prince Rong?"
"It's really my biggest stain!"
However, in the eyes of everyone with confusion, disdain and even contempt.
However, Song Huan always looked as usual, neither stepping forward to receive the boxes of tributes nor refuting what others said.
Song Huan suddenly turned his attention to Xue Hai, the chief eunuch standing next to Emperor Liang.
"May I ask Eunuch Xue, how many years have you been serving the emperor?"
