In ancient times, the gifts presented by vassal states or subordinates to the emperor of the suzerainty were called tributes, mainly rare treasures and local specialties. Of course, all localities are also obliged to recommend talents to **, so the place of the ancient examination is called "Gongyuan". The vassal state paid tribute in exchange for the recognition of its political status by the great powers, and it was also an important measure for military protection and commercial exchanges.
The road to tribute was long and treacherous, and it was necessary to ensure that the goods were in good condition, to prevent bandits and looting along the way, and to pay attention to the attitude of other countries, so the people who escorted the tribute were often terrified, but there were still many emissaries who missed and were inevitably punished in the end. Is there a messenger in history who lost his tribute and was last unharmed? Of course!
During the reign of Taizong of the Tang Dynasty, the relationship between the Hui Kingdom and the Tang Dynasty was good, and he sent an envoy to Chang'an to visit the Tang Emperor with rare treasures. Among these treasures, the most famous is a white swan that is rare in the world. Burman took good care of the white swan along the way, feeding water and feeding it personally, for fear that it would have three long and two short. When he walked to the edge of the lake in Hubei, the white swan stretched its neck to the outside of the cage, opened its mouth and kept panting. Who knew that the white swan after drinking the water flapped its wings, took off into the air, flew higher and higher, and disappeared into the sky, leaving only a few snow-white goose feathers. Mian Bogao suddenly panicked, the treasure that paid tribute to the emperor was lost because of his own negligence, and he still didn't want to go to Chang'an? If he returned like this, the king was very angry and did not dare to think about the consequences. In the end, Mian Bogao felt that he had come to Chang'an, so let's try his luck in Chang'an. After a long journey, finally arrived at Chang'an City, Tang Taizong personally met him in Taiji Palace, Burmese Bogao sent other treasures, and finally took out a goose feather, Tang Taizong did not know the reason, Burmese Bogao wrote a poem: "Swan tribute Tang Dynasty, the mountain is more farther away." The treasure of the lake was lost, and he fell to the ground and cried. On the Tang Dynasty, please sin Burma Bogao, things are light and people are righteous, and goose feathers are sent thousands of miles! And explain to the emperor the circumstances of the loss of the white swan. Tang Taizong said very angrily: "The territory of the Tang Dynasty is vast, there are many rare birds and beasts, and the tribute to the swans in the Hui Kingdom is the desire of the people, although there are only goose feathers left, they are also very precious!"
During the Southern Song Dynasty, Luo Mi recorded the story of "sending goose feathers for thousands of miles" in the book "History of the Road", and this idiom was later widely used. In fact, the deeper the friendship, the more indifferent it is. The deepest friendship belongs to the soul body, and the immaterial can be replaced, just like a goose feather, although it is plain, but time flies, and the whiteness will never fade.