Light some incense among the flowers, while the bees and butterflies are busy grabbing honey.
Next to it is the sea of flowers in the Imperial Garden, and everyone is sitting in the pavilion and corridor.
This was the first time that King Zhu Yunxi of Wu had given a banquet to his ministers. Xie Jin and Tie Xuan were sitting at attention, not squinting.
The palace provided a separate banquet system, and they each sat behind a square table. Zhu Yunxi was still wearing the common clothes he used to exercise in the morning. Because they were not dignified enough, he changed his clothes in the palace.
Twelve eunuchs lined up in a row, holding blue and white porcelain wrapped in branches.
First, there are four vegetarian dishes in front of each person, including sweet and sour pickled cucumber slices, dried shredded radish with sesame oil, shredded cabbage mixed with sesame sauce, and candied garlic. (Cucumber is a cucumber, yellow and yellow, so it is taboo)
Then there is a cut salted duck egg for each person. The duck egg is pickled just right and cooked just right. The red fat seems to be flowing in the sun.
One bowl of rice porridge per person, rolled with scallion oil and golden thread, and steamed buns stuffed with shrimp skin and meat.
For an emperor's house, the food is a bit shabby, but this is what the old man's cook prepares all year round. Firstly, the old man has a simple temperament, and secondly, the old man likes these home-cooked dishes.
If anyone dares to prepare a bird's nest for the old man in the morning, the old man will treat him like a bird's nest.
Zhu Yunxi was still changing his clothes. The two officials of the King of Wu were not allowed to move without authorization. They sat there watching their noses and eyes, and their noses and minds.
Tie Xuan had a calm temperament, and his tall body sat upright, motionless.
Xie Jin was sitting in the imperial garden, his eyes full of colorful scenes. I felt poetic in my heart, and I wanted to recite a poem, but when I saw Tie Xuan next to me who looked like a lump of elm wood, I suddenly couldn't compose any poems.
"Brother!" Tie Xuan is about six or seven years older than Xie Jin, so Xie Jin calls him "brother."
Tie Xuan turned his head slightly and nodded slightly.
"I am Xie Jin, a native of Jiangxi. In the 20th year of Hongwu's reign, I was the tenth among the top three Jinshi in Wuchen Branch." Xie Jin began to introduce himself to his family.
It is said that when he took the imperial examination, he was supposed to be in the first or third place, but he was too young and his articles were very violent. The examiner wanted to temper his temper, so he lowered his position because of his reputation.
Tie Xuan pondered for a moment and said, "I am Tie Xuan, a native of Deng, Henan Province. I was promoted to an official by the Imperial Academy."
"Who is your ancestor?" Xie Jin asked after being slightly stunned.
Tie Xuan's expression did not change, "Yuan Chen."
"Oh!" Xie Jin suddenly realized, "No wonder!"
Tie Xuan's eyelids twitched three times, then his face became expressionless.
"It turns out that it's not an imperial examination. Students of the state can still be awarded officials. In a few years, a county magistrate will be great. Let alone the six central departments. Brother, you are so lucky!" Xie Jin continued to laugh.
Tie Xuan suddenly turned his head, and a tall shadow directly shrouded Xie Jin's body.
The latter only felt that his eyes were dark, as if a mountain was blocked.
Guozisheng is a graduate of the Imperial College. Although the Imperial College is the highest institution in name in the country, its students are all graduates recommended by various places, and the graduates have the power to serve as officials.
Since ancient times, such good deeds have rarely been done by the common people. Those recommended by the local government are the children of prominent families from all over the country, officials or simply the children of the nobility.
In the early Ming Dynasty, officials were mixed. In addition to the Huai people who were in power at the center, there was also the Huai people's rival Jiangnan group. In addition, there were demoted officials from the Yuan Dynasty and nobles who had returned to the Ming Dynasty.
Although Zhu Yuanzhang was not of high origin, he was magnanimous. Before Chang Yuchun and others conquered Dadu, Zhu Yuanzhang had repeatedly told Yuan nobles and officials not to harm them.
His move not only won the favor of the losing party, but also quickly transformed these people into Ming's official force.
Tie Xuan's ancestors were also prominent, so he was recommended to the Imperial Academy.
Jie Jin felt his eyes go dark, and when he looked at Tie Xuan's dull face, he suddenly panicked, "Brother, Brother Tie, you've blocked the light!"
Tie Xuan suddenly smiled, shook his head and returned to his seat.
At this time, Zhu Yunxi changed his clothes, dressed in a gold-threaded prince's robe, and strode in.
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"The banquet given by others is a formal banquet, but this is breakfast for me. Don't dislike it, just use it as you like!" Zhu Yunxi said with a smile.
In fact, he was worried about not having his own team, but he didn't expect that the old man had already chosen his right-hand man. One hero has three gangs, Tie Xuan is steady and Xie Jin is talented, which makes him very happy.
Both of them were scholars and could not find fault with their etiquette. They were very particular about eating and sleeping, and they ate slowly and leisurely.
Zhu Yunxi, on the other hand, is a little less solemn. He eats in the same way as the old man, and is open and happy.
"The steamed buns with shrimp skin and meat are good, fragrant and fresh!" Zhu Yunxi said with a smile, "Dingshi, why don't you eat it!"
Zhu Yunxi noticed that Tie Xuan only ate rice porridge and side dishes, and the meat buns did not move.
This meat bun is only the size of a longan. Although it looks small, the workmanship is very complicated. It's not as big as the northern buns, but it tastes unique.
Tie Xuan hesitated, stood up and said, "Your Highness, I am a descendant of the Semu people. My family believes in Islam, so I don't eat big meat..."
"I understand!" Zhu Yunxi looked at Tie Xuan's mixed-race face, suddenly realized, and said with a smile, "It's not mine anymore."
"I don't dare!" Tie Xuan said quickly and solemnly.
"Don't eat big meat? As the ancients said, if there is a gift from above, you can't refuse it..." Just as Xie Jin opened his mouth, he felt Tie Xuan's dark shadow coming over him again, and he immediately shut up.
The Ming Dynasty was a very tolerant dynasty, and in a sense, it was the beginning of China's formation of a truly multi-ethnic country.
Although Zhu Yuanzhang was a hero who expelled the Tartars and restored China. But he was never blindly narrow-minded and xenophobic. He not only ordered Song Lian and others to compile the history of the Yuan Dynasty and recognized the orthodox status of the Yuan Dynasty, but also gave a positive attitude to some policies that benefited the people in the early Yuan Dynasty.
(Interested friends, please take a look at the economic policies of Jiangnan in the late Southern Song Dynasty, and compare the policies of Kublai Khan in the early Yuan Dynasty)
And treat all subjects in the world equally, whether they are descendants of the Semu people who took root in the Central Plains during the Yuan Dynasty or other Hu people. As long as you abide by the laws, you are a citizen of the Ming Dynasty. You can be an official, farm, or do business without any restrictions.
In the early years of Hongwu, he decreed that the clothes and hats should be restored to those made in the Tang Dynasty. In other words, the clothes in the early Ming Dynasty have the shadow of the prosperous Tang Dynasty. At the same time, Hu language, Hu surname, braided hair, Hu clothing, etc. are prohibited. Hu people and Semu people can intermarry with Han people, but both parties must do so voluntarily.
Generally speaking, the early Ming Dynasty was a confident and tolerant country. This also made the culture of Ming Dynasty appear very colorful, and its political influence was also very far-reaching. It can even be said that such tolerance allows foreign things to be better integrated into local civilization.
To respect others is to respect yourself. This is the most basic quality and moral quality of a person and a country.
The place where Zhu Yunxi grew up in later generations was still a barbaric land in this era. But when he was growing up, there were more than fifty classmates in one class, including Han, Manchu, Mongolian, Hui Dynasty, Hezhe, Oroqen, and Daur.
We all have the same cultural heritage and the same values, and we are as close to each other as one family.
"Come here, bring the Dingshi bun to me!" Zhu Yunxi said with a smile.
And Tie Xuan's dull face showed a rare expression of looseness. He said, "Your Highness is like this. I am grateful. There is no need to take it. It's okay!"
"Isn't it a waste if you don't eat it and leave it there?" Zhu Yunxi joked, "I know your rules to some extent. Although you don't eat it, you don't care about what others eat in public places, right?"
Tie Xuan raised his head in surprise. He really didn't expect this young King Wu to know so much about the habits of their lustful people. He nodded and said, "That's exactly it."
"Is your wife Han?" Zhu Yunxi asked again.
"Chen's wife and mother are both Han Chinese!" Tie Xuan said with a slight smile, "Actually, Chen's family is only listed as Semu in Dayuan's household registration. There have been intermarriages with Han Chinese in the family throughout the generations." He hesitated as he spoke. Next, "The Chen family has lived in Dengdi, Henan for generations, and is no different from the Han people."
"I understand, I understand!" Zhu Yunxi continued to smile, "Henan's braised noodles are quite delicious."
Mentioning his hometown, Tie Xuan's face became more smiley, "I have a cook at home who is good at making pasta. If His Highness doesn't give up and comes to my humble residence one day, I'll ask him to cook you a bowl."
However, I also felt a little strange in my heart. Yingtian and Henan were thousands of miles apart, so why did King Wu understand them so well.
Zhu Yunxi smiled and nodded, "It's a deal!"
"Your Highness!" Xie Jin also said, "I am from Jiangxi, and the cook at home is good at cooking rice and tea, especially bean curd."
"Haha!" Zhu Yunxi laughed out loud, "Okay, I'll go take a look when I have time another day!"
Xie Jin was a little worried and continued, "Your Highness means what he says."
"It's hard to chase a horse!" Zhu Yunxi said with a smile.
At this time, Pu Bucheng came quietly and whispered in Zhu Yunxi's ear. The two people opposite them both put down their chopsticks.
The smile on Zhu Yunxi's face faded and he said seriously, "The coffin of Mu Ying, Duke of Guizhou, has arrived. Grandpa Huang asked me to take care of his affairs. You two, come with me!"
"Yes!" The two stood up and said respectfully.
Later, Zhu Yunxi informed the old man and prepared to leave the palace.
The King of Wu had a full guard of honor in the palace. When Zhu Yunxi was about to leave the palace, 200 guards and soldiers, more than 100 palace people, and dozens of royal guards were standing and waiting outside the palace.
"I see His Highness the King of Wu!" Among the guards, Fu Rang, the son of Fu Youde, brothers of the Liao family of the Duke of Chu, and many noble children all kowtowed.
"No courtesy!" Zhu Yunxi sat on the roofless sedan chair and found that the guards' clothes were a little different from the past.
In the past, most of the guards in these palaces wore brocade clothes, but today they are all in iron armor. Moreover, the expressions on these people's faces showed a closer look than before.
"Why are you smiling so happily?" Zhu Yunxi asked Liao Yong who was accompanying him.
Liao Yong lowered his head slightly, "Don't you know, Your Highness? His Majesty's decree was issued this morning, and all the ministers are now His Royal Highness's personal soldiers!"
"My personal army?" Zhu Yunxi was stunned for a moment.
According to the vassal system of the Ming Dynasty, the vassal kings had their own armies, and they were all the elites of the Ming Dynasty. On the surface, these soldiers are under the management of the Ministry of War and the Fifth Army Governor's Office, but in fact they are the lord's personal soldiers.
"The old man not only gave me civil servants, but now he also gave me military generals!"
Zhu Yunxi looked at the guards with their heads held high and thought about it. You must know that most of the guards in the palace are the generals' sons.
Today is the beginning of the founding of the Ming Dynasty. I am a hero and my son is a hero. These generals are not the noble idiots of the late Ming Dynasty. They have received special military education since they were young. If they are released and polished a little, they will be good generals.
Zhu Yunxi, who was sitting on the soft sedan, suddenly turned around. Outside Fengtian Hall, the old man stood there with a few eunuchs, watching with a smile.
"Grandpa!" Zhu Yunxi was deeply moved.