Tuoba Wang, the usually calm king of Western Xia, suddenly became nervous at this moment.
His thick brows were furrowed on his square face, and he was thinking that he had no relationship with the Emperor of Daxia. If it were not for the money, there would be no need for him to offend the Liao Dynasty and support Western Xia.
But why did he only write an invitation letter to himself?
Could it be that he wanted to test my sincerity?
Or maybe... Tuoba Wang's heart tightened. Could it be that he wanted to incorporate Western Xia into the territory of Daxia?
This is absolutely impossible!
Or maybe, he wants to see my sincerity?
But I am really poor now!
Not to mention how much gold, silver and jewelry they took out, even all the concubines in the harem now eat simple meals.
He took a deep breath and asked Tuoba Yu, "If he is using tribute to determine the relationship...how should we respond?"
Imperial Preceptor Tuoba Yu was silent for a moment. "I heard that the Great Xia Emperor had already entered the martial arts world, but now he is still one step away from that door, still at a third-rate realm. So this time, I brought the only three remaining Peiyuan Zaozao pills with me."
Peiyuan Zaizao Pills are the holy medicine that martial artists dream of. After taking each pill, one can increase one's internal strength by twenty years, which is equivalent to reaching the realm of a first-class master in one step.
This thing has long been lost in the Central Plains martial arts world. Only the Baihua Palace of Western Xia knows how to refine it. However, the thousand-year-old gentian grass required for it is extremely difficult to find. Therefore, each piece of this thing is priceless in the eyes of people in the martial arts world!
Three Peiyuan Zaizao Pills... If Fu Xiaoguan uses them properly, it will be enough to elevate his martial arts from the current third-rate level to the Saint level within a year.
He is the emperor of Daxia. He lacks nothing. His only shortcoming is his martial arts. In this light, these three magic pills are extremely precious.
"Master, you are thoughtful. I will keep it in mind."
"Thank you, Your Majesty. This is all for Xixia. I will do my best to help!"
Just as Tuoba Wang was feeling anxious, the convoy entered the imperial city and arrived at the Honglu Temple. The Minister of Rites Xiao Yulou personally received the Xixia king and his entourage.
"Your Majesty, according to the Emperor's instructions, the rules for receiving diplomatic missions in Daxia are as follows..." Xiao Yulou bowed to Tuoba Wang, "The Honglu Temple has guesthouses. The best guesthouses are single-family houses with separate entrances and can accommodate around thirty people and can accommodate carriages and horses."
"Waiting for a hotel is like this..."
He turned and pointed at a row of two-story buildings behind him. "Here, we can only live together, so the living conditions are naturally much simpler. But the advantage is that the price is low, only one or two taels of silver per room. What do you think... would you like to stay in a high-end hotel or this low-end one?"
Tuoba Wang was stunned. What does this mean?
"I came to Daxia to pay homage, and you want me to pay for this accommodation?"
"That's right, my Lord. Not only does this accommodation cost money, but so does the food."
Tuoba Wang's eyes glared, and he was about to get angry when he heard Xiao Yulou say, "Your Majesty, the Emperor has instructed me to take you to Guanyuntai to meet the Emperor after you have arranged dinner."
"Besides... there are only three rooms in that first-class hotel, and one each has been reserved by the Arabs and the Liao Dynasty. If you don't stay, they will definitely be gone tomorrow."
Tuoba Wang suppressed his anger, not because of the hotel, but because Fu Xiaoguan wanted to meet him alone at Guanyuntai tonight.
This concerns the survival of Western Xia, and we must swallow our anger no matter what.
"How much does a night in a high-end hotel cost?"
"One thousand taels!"
This is killing a pig!
But Tuoba Wang can only be killed now. For the sake of Xixia's reputation, of course, Xixia can afford to pay one thousand taels of silver no matter how poor it is.
"Then let's book this top guest!"
"Your Majesty, please follow me."
Xiao Yulou led Tuoba Wang and his party to the side of the Honglu Temple. He followed Tuoba Wang half a step behind and said with a smile: "In fact, this is a favor from our emperor to Xixia."
Tuoba Wang turned his head and glanced at Xiao Yulou. One thousand taels of silver for one night's stay is considered a favor?
Why don’t you go to heaven?
But what Xiao Yulou said next made him feel relieved. "Your Majesty, do you know the prices of the other two high-end hotel rooms?"
"Could it be higher than mine?"
"Ten thousand taels, His Majesty gave you a 10% discount."
Tuoba Wang took a deep breath. Isn't this a ridiculous price? Ten thousand taels of silver can buy a house like this, but this is the price for one night's stay!
"Those who can live here demonstrate their unique status. If a prominent figure like the king lived in that long row of buildings..." Xiao Yulou shook his head. "What would the kings and envoys of other countries think?"
"They would think Xixia was too poor and the ruler was nothing special."
"The Emperor has instructed me, saying that he is fully aware of the current situation in Western Xia. The nine thousand taels of silver will be subsidized by Great Xia, but the Emperor must not be allowed to embarrass himself in front of other nations."
So, is Fu Xiaoguan trying to show goodwill to me?
Why did he do that?
Tuoba Wang walked into the house while thinking, and found that the house was indeed nice.
There are five courtyards in front and back, which are spacious and bright, and the architecture and decoration are extremely exquisite.
"From now on, this is the monarch's courtyard. If the monarch wishes, the Honglu Temple can ask the Imperial Kitchen to prepare delicious food for the monarch and send it here. However, the price... will be a bit high."
"How much does it cost to eat?"
Xiao Yulou looked at the twenty or so people Tuoba Wang had brought with him and said with a smile, "The king's table will cost one hundred taels of silver, and the tables for the other ministers will cost twenty taels of silver. Your Majesty needs three tables, and the service fee will be thirty taels of silver... Your Majesty, please be patient. This is a 90% discount."
Tuoba Wang was about to blurt out the words but he swallowed them back and almost choked to death.
What the hell is this food?
This is a 10% discount. If the original price was 1,000 taels, wouldn’t a table of dishes be worth 1,000 taels?
Well, this is Fu Xiaoguan’s kindness, and I have to accept it no matter what.
He waved his hand and said, "Then I'll have to trouble you, Lord Shangshu, to bring the banquet over!"
"I wish the king a happy stay in Daxia!" Xiao Yulou turned and left. Tuoba Wang and Tuoba Yu sat under the pavilion. Tuoba Yu made a pot of tea with a smile on his face.
"Your Majesty, it seems that the Emperor of Daxia knows a lot about our Xixia."
"I've heard that this young official Fu isn't a kind person. Do you think...will he set a trap for me?"
Considering the current national strength comparison between Daxia and Xixia, Tuoba Wang had to think more.
The First Army of the Great Xia Army is stationed in Chi Lechuan!
There is also an army cavalry corps trained by Tuoba Feng himself!
If these 200,000 well-armed troops could leave the Helan Mountains, it would not be difficult for him to swallow up Western Xia.
"I believe that the Emperor of Daxia has no intention of destroying Xixia."
"Why?"
"Because if he marched out of the Helan Mountains, Xixia would be cornered. He was probably worried that Xixia would turn to the Liao Dynasty."
Tuoba Wang frowned slightly. Would Fu Xiaoguan be worried?
In the imperial study, Fu Xiaoguan was looking at the brand new map completed by the Tianji Pavilion. Only then did he realize that the chicken he had thought was there was not formed, and that he had been a frog in a well.
He drew a circle across the territory of Western Xia and Liao Dynasty and said, "This is almost complete."
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