flstandardbreds Chapter 288 Betrothal gift and dowry
Chapter 288 Betrothal gift and dowry
An Ning country, the court.
The envoy from Northern Yan also arrived today.
The old topic was brought up again, and a betrothal gift of 10 million shi of grain was demanded.
The ministers argued with him until their faces turned red, and some of them were so impatient that they were ready to fight.
Emperor Jichang was in a headache. He glanced down and saw that only the Imperial Master was standing there calmly, doing nothing, as if he was watching the fun.
"Imperial Master, do you have something to say?" Emperor Jichang called out.
Gu Xi bowed to Emperor Jichang and said:
"Your Majesty, when a man and a woman get married, it is only natural for the man to give the woman a gift. Beiyan is asking for a gift for a princess of her dignity, and it is indeed worth 10 million dan. I think it is acceptable."
The faces of Emperor Jichang and all the civil and military officials in the court suddenly turned gloomy.
They thought that the Imperial Master had a tough character and would definitely refuse such a high betrothal gift and leave the Northern Yan envoy speechless.
However, the national teacher actually agreed.
They all looked at Gu Xi with strange eyes, suspecting that the National Master was a spy of Beiyan, otherwise why would he speak for Beiyan?
For a moment, the atmosphere in the court was extremely tense.
Wu Gong, the envoy of Northern Yan, straightened his sleeves that were torn by the ministers and said proudly:
"Your dynasty's imperial master is right! Ordinary people have to give a lot of gifts to marry a wife. Isn't our Princess of Beiyan worth 10 million shi of grain?"
Gu Xi continued:
"Yes, yes, our national teacher thinks that 10 million dan of grain is too little. How about this, starting from next year, we give Beiyan 10 million dan of grain every year?"
This time, not only Emperor Jichang and all the civil and military officials in the court, but even the envoys from Northern Yan were stunned.
At first, he thought that Princess Ji Rong had taken down the Imperial Master, so the Imperial Master spoke for Beiyan, but when the Imperial Master said this -
Is this crazy?
Ten million koku per year?
When did the Kingdom of Anning become so rich?
Emperor Jichang said with a dark face:
"Grandmaster, you are not allowed to joke around in the court!"
The ministers were relieved at this moment. Oh, it turned out that the Imperial Master was just joking and playing tricks on the envoys from Northern Yan!
Gu Xi shook his head:
"I am not kidding. I can indeed provide Beiyan with 10 million dan of grain every year."
Ministers: "..."
Crazy, crazy, the national master must be crazy!
The Northern Yan envoy looked at Gu Xi with shining eyes.
Gu Xi continued:
"But there is a condition. There must be a betrothal gift for marrying a wife, and there must also be a dowry for marrying a daughter, right?"
The ministers suddenly realized that this was the case. The imperial teacher was waiting here. How could they have forgotten about this? It was only natural for the man to pay the betrothal gift and the woman to pay the dowry.
When has their national teacher ever suffered a loss?
Then let's see how the Imperial Master will ask for a huge dowry from Beiyan.
All the officials put their hands in their sleeves, looking like they were enjoying the show.
Gu Xi took out a huge map from the space and spread it directly on the ground.
The Northern Yan envoy rubbed his eyes. Was he seeing things? Was the Imperial Master taking something out of thin air?
When he looked down again, he was even more shocked. The Imperial Master actually had a map of their Northern Yan?
this is too scary!
The other ministers were already used to it.
As a messenger of God, he naturally has some methods that are difficult for ordinary people to understand.
The Northern Yan envoy's face darkened and he said:
"Master, if you want Northern Yan to cede the city as the princess's dowry, forget it!"
Since they have taken out the map, they must want the city.
The other ministers thought so too, and even began to discuss in a low voice which cities the imperial teacher would want.
"Who said that our national teacher wants your city?" Gu Xi said.
He took out a baseball bat that he had confiscated from the gangsters, pointed at the map and said:
"Northern Yan has a vast territory, and many places are suitable for growing food. My condition is that your country rents me the Liaohe Plain, the Sanjiang Plain, and this place and that place, as the princess's dowry. Only with betrothal gifts and dowry can we have a good marriage!"
Gu Xi drew a big circle on the map.
This is a simple map she hand-drew based on modern maps and the information she learned from Pan Rongrong.
However, the area he drew in the circle was basically a barren land in their Beiyan.
Not to mention the city, I'm afraid there's not even a shadow of a person.
Northern Yan is a vast country with a sparse population. Most people are concentrated in the southern part of the country. The climate in the north is cold and not suitable for living.
He calmed himself down and asked:
"What is the purpose of the Imperial Master renting these places?"
Gu Xi said firmly: "Grow crops!"
She knew very well that in modern times, that piece of black soil could produce more than 100 million tons of grain every year.
Ten million shi, converted into tons, is only 500,000 tons, which is a drop in the bucket compared to more than 100 million tons.
The Northern Yan envoy doubted:
"Impossible! How can food be grown in a place like that?"
Gu Xi was too lazy to talk nonsense with him:
"You can't make the decision, so go report to the Emperor of Northern Yan. Starting next year, rent this area to me, and I will provide Northern Yan with 10 million shi of grain every year."
The envoys from Northern Yan were all tempted. They felt that the Northern Yan court would definitely agree because the land there was originally barren and of no use.
Moreover, it was a lease, not a cession. The annual rent of 10 million shi of grain was so tempting, who could refuse it?
The only worry is that An Ningguo wants to station troops there and then attack Northern Yan from both sides.
But that's impossible. To go there, they would have to pass through the entire Beiyan. How many people are they bringing with them? How could Beiyan not know?
And they had to bring food with them when they went out to fight, right? Aren't they afraid that the Northern Yan would rob them of their food and starve them to death in that barren land?
"Do you take the words of the Imperial Master seriously?" The Northern Yan envoy asked, suppressing his excitement.
Gu Xi said:
"Naturally, we can sign a lease contract, um, a letter of credence."
"What if there is no food to grow there?" asked the Northern Yan envoy.
"Don't worry. If we can't grow them, our national teacher will pay out of his own pocket to give Beiyan 10 million dan of grain!"
The Northern Yan envoy was filled with excitement and said with a folded hand:
"Okay, I will deliver the news to the capital of Northern Yan as fast as I can!"
Gu Xi was not in a hurry, as he would have to wait until next spring to sow.
The face of Emperor Jichang, who was sitting at the top, became increasingly darker.
Ministers: Hey, Imperial Master, please show some respect to His Majesty! His Majesty hasn't even asked yet, and you agreed?
After the Northern Yan envoys left, Emperor Jichang winked and immediately some trolls came out to question Gu Xi:
"National Master, how can you make such a decision on your own? That's 10 million dan of grain! There's no way An Ning Country can produce 10 million dan of grain every year!"
"Yes, they originally only wanted 10 million shi, but the Imperial Master actually agreed to give them 10 million shi per year."
"Which side is the national teacher from?"
……
Gu Xi's head hurt from their noise, and he shouted:
"Shut up! I didn't say that the 10 million shi should be paid by An Ning Country! I said that we should use their land to grow crops and then pay rent to them! The wool comes from the sheep, and there is no loss to An Ning Country!"
Minister of Revenue Cai Li asked unwillingly:
"What if we can't grow any crops? If Beiyan investigates, won't they demand 10 million shi of grain from our Anning Kingdom?"