When Xiao Tianyao entered the capital, the palace gate was opened. The red carpet was spread from the bottom of the dragon chair to the palace gate. Civil and military officials lined up on both sides. The emperor sat high on the dragon chair, waiting for Xiao Tianyao to enter the palace.
This was not the highest standard to welcome triumphant heroes back to the capital, but it was the highest welcoming Xiao Tianyao experienced after coming back to the capital. Before, even though Xiao Tianyao won the war, the emperor will not greet him so grandly.
Xiao Tianyao dismounted outside the palace gate according to the rules, dressed in the same armor as the Jinwuwei Army, and strode in with the surrender letter of the Northern Country in his hand.
Behind him, three thousand Jinwuwei soldiers dismounted one after another, each holding a loot, and followed Xiao Tianyao neatly.
*Da, da, da* Three thousand people walked up at the same time. However, they had only just taken one step but the sound was like a drum, beating at the heart of civil and military officials and the emperor.
For a moment, the officials on both sides were excited and anxious. No matter how they fight in the court, they are all literati. The Eastern Country won a great victory. Their country has an iron cavalry, which was enough for every citizen to feel excited, but… …
The thought of the emperor sitting on the dragon chair cooled the blood in the hearts of the civil and military officials. The emperor was sitting there. At this time, they couldn’t show their admiration for Xiao Tianyao. The civil and military officials stood honestly and saluted according to the rules the moment Xiao Tianyao entered the palace.
*Da, da, da!* The sound of footsteps approached. Xiao Tianyao took the lead in passing through the palace gate and entering the palace. At the moment when the civil and military officials saw him, they turned around, bowed, and shouted: “Congratulations to the prince for a triumphant return. May you live a thousand more years!”
Xiao Tianyao looked straight ahead. Everywhere he went, the officials would turn around and salute him, wave after wave, until Xiao Tianyao walked to the bottom of the steps, and the sound of “thousand years” stopped.
“Benwang pays respect to the emperor. Long live the emperor.” Xiao Tianyao stood at the foot of the steps and made a military salute. He didn’t mean to kneel at all. Without waiting for the emperor to speak, he said: “Benwang didn’t disappoint the public. He beat back the Northern Country and recapture the lost city. This is the surrender letter of the Northern Country. Please have a look.”
Xiao Tianyao stood upright after the ceremony. Even when he presented the surrender letter, he never bowed his head.
“Ha ha, well, well, I know you won’t let me down.” The Emperor sitting high on the dragon chair said. No matter what he thinks at the moment, he can’t show his face.
Xiao Tianyao returned home with a great victory. He can only be happy and can only praise.
Why he was not happy? Because he doesn’t want to give rewards?
Think of the army that was only one day away from the capital. How can the emperor be happy?
“Benwang is fortunate to live up to the expectations of the emperor and the people of East.” Xiao Tianyao responded to save someone’s face. And when the eunuch took the surrender letter, he added: “Your Majesty, benwang not only defeated the Northern Country and recaptured the lost city, but also won a lot of war loot. Please allow me to present them.”
Xiao Tianyao turned sideways so that the emperor could directly face the Jinwuwei Army, who was holding the loot.
Each of the three thousand soldiers held something more or less in his hand, but these things were of little value.
They didn’t go to the city of the Northern Country. What valuable spoils could they get?
Xiao Tianyao’s biggest gain on the battlefield this time was just the black iron armor and the black iron ores, but Xiao Tianyao won’t take these two things out.
The loots held by the Jinwuwei Army were only some gold and silver and ordinary armor. It was very shabby to take these things as trophies. But Xiao Tianyao said he would present them to the emperor even if he looked down upon them.
After forcefully suppressing the impatience in his heart, the emperor excitedly asked Jinwuwei Army to present trophies.
Three thousand people, one by one, took an hour and a half to come forward. The civil and military officials looked at the pile of worthless junk, which was tasteless and simply made their backs sore from standing.
They were not well-trained soldiers. They have been standing for more than two hours since the welcoming hour. They were tired and hungry.
If Xiao Tianyao presented some of the valuable trophies, they could still be excited under the support of the spirit of excitement. However, it happened that Xiao Tianyao just brought a pile of scrap metal, which was worthless. If they don’t have to keep their face, they would doze off.
They could only think and complain inside their hearts. None of the ministers present dare to raise their heads and complain about it. They could only bear it.
What can they do? Even the emperor has to bear it. Can they not bear it?
Finally, the last trophy was presented. The officials secretly relaxed and quietly pricked up their ears, waiting to see what Xiao Tianyao would do next.
There was no accident. Xiao Tianyao ordered people to present trophies just to get rewards for his subordinates.
For meritorious service in resisting the Northern Army, Xiao Tianyao will get heavy rewards, but his subordinates were an exception. Although there was a strict reward and punishment system for military merit in the army, the rule that one can be promoted with military merit does not apply to the Jinwuwei Army.
The intention of the imperial court to exclude the Jinwuwei Army was very obvious. Every time the Jinwuwei Army contributes, the contribution will be reduced by a lot. Even if the contribution will not be reduced, the military department and the official department will drag it to death, and it will not be calculated until it cannot be dragged down. Sometimes the contribution of the Jinwuwei Army was too great that the imperial court will just issue documents to reduce the reward.
In short, when the imperial court wants to use the Jinwuwei Army, the Jinwuwei Army was part of the army of the Eastern Country. But when it comes to awarding a reward, the Jinwuwei Army will become Xiao Tianyao’s private army. The imperial court will resolutely ignore them if they can.
The Emperor’s facial expression drastically changed the moment Xiao Tianyao asked for a reward, but no one saw it at a distance.
The Emperor took a breath secretly to suppress the anger in his heart and said: “Tianyao, I heard that your men got several sets of black iron armor. Is that true?” Since the reward cannot be changed, he better takes more benefits.
If Xiao Tianyao can take out some of the black iron armor, he will lavishly award them the bounty that they deserve for once.
Unfortunately, the emperor underestimated Xiao Tianyao’s shamelessness.
“Your Majesty, the black iron armor is the battle armor of the Black Armor Guards of the Central Empire. Although benwang has dealt with the Black Armor Guards and collected several sets of armor, it is a misunderstanding. Later, I explained it to the Eldest Prince, and both sides have also cleared up the past. The black iron armor is also returned to the Black Armor Guards.” Xiao Tianyao said a lie with his eyes open. His face was not red and his breath was not anxious. He was not a bit embarrassed.
“Really?” The Emperor doesn’t believe it, but so what if he doesn’t believe it?
Xiao Tianyao covered those sets of black iron armor with his hands. He couldn’t get them.
“After returning it, the eldest prince gave me several sets as a gift. Does the emperor want to see it? If you want to see it, benwang can wear them into the palace some other day.” Xiao Tianyao looked calm. His dead face had no expression. No one could see if he was lying or playing at the emperor.
The Emperor was so angry that his face turned pale and his head hurt again.
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