Inside the Chongzheng Hall, the officials who had been clamoring for military action to establish their authority were taken aback when the emperor suddenly brought up the kind of rhetoric that belonged to pedantic scholars.
The officials knew the emperor's temperament well.
Although the emperor was benevolent and kind, that was only towards the common people and officials of the Han Dynasty.
Judging from the previous imperial edict ordering the barbarians from all directions to send women over, it is clear that the emperor had no goodwill towards the surrounding barbarians and his attitude was exceptionally tough.
Why did your personality suddenly change today?
Unlike the astonishment of the officials, Gu Muduo, who was originally feeling uneasy, was overjoyed after hearing Liu Hong's heavenly voice.
Gu Muduo bowed respectfully to Liu Hong and said in a low voice:
"The Marquis of Mobei was also troubled by the insufficient tribute, but my tribe has been oppressed by the Xiongnu for many years, and my people are barely making ends meet!"
It is indeed not easy for them to provide these gifts; I hope Your Majesty will understand!
As she finished speaking, Gu Muduo couldn't help but wipe away a tear that had squeezed out from the corner of her eye, putting on a pitiful and helpless look.
Liu Hong smiled and nodded, "Yes, I understand your suffering, and I will naturally not blame you!"
"Your Majesty is truly a divine being descended to earth, with the hearts of all nations in your mind. Your humble servant, on behalf of the Marquis of Mobei, pays our respects to Your Majesty!"
Gu Muduo also quickly bowed and greeted Liu Hong, praising him highly in her words.
"Haha~, there's no need for that. Now that you Xianbei have submitted to my Great Han, you are considered my subjects! I will naturally take good care of my own people!"
Liu Hong laughed and nodded, seemingly enjoying Gu Muduo's flattery.
"Your Majesty is wise!!"
Gu Muduo also addressed the Holy One, his words and actions revealing complete obedience and submission.
Liu Hong nodded, then looked at the officials and said with a smile:
"Gentlemen, since Tan Shihuai has sent envoys to present tribute, our Great Han should reciprocate. What do you all think?"
Many of the astute officials in the hall, seeing the emperor's demeanor and the sly smile on his lips, suddenly understood something.
Cao Song revealed a hint of arrogance on his face and said loudly:
"Your Majesty is right. Only in this way can we demonstrate the ambition of our great Han Dynasty to embrace all corners of the world!"
"That is absolutely right. Those who offend our Great Han shall be punished, while those who submit to our Great Han shall be treated with the utmost courtesy!"
"good!!"
The officials also stood up and echoed their sentiments.
"Haha~, very good, with all of you like this, I am truly pleased!"
Seeing this, Liu Hong smiled and nodded, then turned to look at Zhao Zhong beside him.
"Zhao Zhong, send word to the Royal Merchant Guild."
"Take one hundred jars of imperial wine, one hundred bolts of silk, one thousand sheets of ink and paper, one hundred cans of fragrant tea, one thousand pieces of pottery jars..."
Besides grain and salt, Liu Hong listed a whole host of other things, all of which were luxury items, whose value far exceeded that of the tribute items by more than a thousand times.
"Your humble servant thanks Your Majesty for Your Majesty's divine grace!!"
Gumuduo and the other Xianbei people bowed in gratitude with great joy on their faces.
They had been in Luoyang for two days and naturally knew how precious those things were.
The officials in the hall were heartbroken. How much would these things fetch if sold to the grasslands? The emperor had just generously given them away. The officials felt as if their hearts were bleeding.
After bestowing the rewards, Liu Hong looked at Gu Muduo and the others, and asked with a smile:
"Did Tan Shihuai send you here because he has any other requests?"
Upon hearing this, Gu Muduo quickly and respectfully replied:
"Your Majesty, Lord Tanshihuai wishes to maintain trade with the Han Dynasty year-round and lower prices to ensure the survival of my people. I hope Your Majesty will grant his request!"
After saying that, Gu Muduo took out the agreement signed by Chu Qian and Tan Shihuai from her bosom.
"Your Majesty, this is the agreement signed between the Han envoy and Lord Tan Shihuai. Please take a look!"
Seeing this, Jian Shuo quickly walked up to Gu Muduo, took the agreement, and handed it to Liu Hong.
"Hmm, the trade is fine, my Han Dynasty is also in dire need of cattle, sheep and horses, but what about the trade price, five times that?"
Looking at the agreement in his hand, Liu Hong pretended not to understand and looked at the officials in the hall.
Cao Song stepped forward and respectfully said:
"Your Majesty, taking grain as an example, in the past, our Han Dynasty sold it to the people for ten coins. When trading with the Zhou Dynasty, due to transportation costs and other reasons, the price was fifty coins per jin."
This five times... means 250 coins per pound!
"Oh, I see!!"
Liu Hong nodded, looking as if he had just realized something.
"Even so, isn't this price a bit too expensive? Can you afford it?"
Liu Hong shook the agreement in his hand and looked at Gu Muduo with a puzzled expression.
Upon hearing this, Gu Muduo quickly and respectfully replied:
"Your Majesty, this price is indeed a bit too high. We...we are barely managing to keep up. We hope Your Majesty can have mercy on us and lower the price a little further!"
After saying this, Gu Muduo bowed to Liu Hong again, putting on a sorrowful expression.
Liu Hong nodded. "Well, since that's the case, it wouldn't hurt to lower the price a bit. After all, the Xianbei have already submitted, so we can be lenient with them!"
Upon seeing this, Gu Muduo was overjoyed and was about to express her gratitude.
But then Cao Song suddenly stood up and shouted:
"Your Majesty, you mustn't!!"
"Oh? What are your opinions, Grand Minister of Agriculture?"
Seeing Gu Muduo's troubled expression, Liu Hong chuckled inwardly, then looked at Cao Song with a puzzled expression.
"Your Majesty, it is certainly possible to lower prices in the mutual market, but the national treasury is currently empty and there is no surplus grain or salt to trade with. Last year's mutual market was also largely dependent on the efforts of many powerful and wealthy merchants!"
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