The Reborn Duke of Ming Dynasty

Zhang Fan didn't know what was going on in the imperial study room of the Forbidden City. Zhang Fan was feeling a little flustered. On the second day after returning to Suzhou, Liu Shan shirked that he still had important things to do in Yangzhou, so he said goodbye to Zhang Fan. He went back alone, leaving Luo Ling'er to stay here alone.

Originally, this trick of leaving Luo Linger to seduce Zhang Fan could not be hidden from anyone at all, but the bait thrown by Liu Shan was really delicious, and Luo Linger herself also seduced Zhang Fan intentionally or unintentionally. Go ahead to dangers.

This is not to say that Zhang Fan is like a hungry ghost, but he is just a normal man, not to mention that Zhang Fan, who had no money, no status, no rights in his previous life, can finally enjoy this kind of feeling now. , even he himself felt secretly refreshed.

Yingyue naturally complained a lot about this matter, but the little girl gradually realized that she always opposed and got angry all the time, which didn't help win back Zhang Fan's heart, but put her original feelings in Zhang Fan's heart. The impression was ruined, so the little girl changed her strategy. She no longer always ignored Zhang Fan in a fit of anger. Instead, she talked about Ru Xue and the child in her belly all day long. This made Zhang Fan sober After all, his wife was waiting for him in the capital, and she was still pregnant with his child. Zhang Fan had to think about it, but once Luo Linger came to him, Zhang Fan became obsessed like a demon. Even he himself didn't understand what was going on, and thought that Luo Ling'er practiced some legendary hypnotic kung fu or something.

However, Luo Linger has also undergone some changes recently. Ever since she heard Yingyue talk about Ru Xue and Ru Xue and Zhang Fan's unborn child, Luo Linger's attacks on Zhang Fan have become more violent, and at the same time, she has become more explicit. I didn't find anything in the game, but I thought I was exuding some scumbag, which made the beauty look like I was taking advantage of the sky, but Yingyue discovered something from Luo Linger's abnormality. From the anger at the beginning, to when she calmed down, she even faintly noticed that there seemed to be something lurking in Luo Linger's eyes, envy, definitely, but Yingyue felt that it was more jealousy, Yingyue calmed down and thought for a long time, in her heart He secretly decided to ask Liang Chao to say something without telling Zhang Fan.

These are of course just an episode, let’s count them as internal affairs. As for foreign affairs, they naturally refer to the two from Portugal. For his self-esteem as the largest imperial official in the world today, Zhang Fan entertained The two, I remember that after returning to Suzhou, Zhang Fan invited them to live in the Humble Administrator's Garden where he is now living. Richard and Joanna once read the book "The The two people still remember the scene described in the book. At that time, Europeans were fascinated by the powerful, beautiful and rich oriental mysterious country described in Marco Polo's book. Naturally, the two of them also So, but the two of them didn't fully believe what was written in the book. They both felt that maybe this Eastern Empire was very rich, but it might not be really like the book, it was covered with gold everywhere. The two, especially the rationale Chad just regarded this book as a beautiful fairy tale, while Joanna, as a woman, still had some emotional thoughts in her heart to convince herself.

But ever since Zhao Xiande came to Portugal and was so close to them, the two felt that they were all wrong. Seeing the shipbuilding skills of Zhao Xiande's treasure ship and seeing the exquisite and expensive goods he brought, the two felt that Marco... Polo deceived everyone in Europe. The Eastern Empire may be richer than what he wrote in his book. Richard, as a diplomat, is naturally duty-bound to send the two of them this time, and Joanna deliberately relied on her family's influence to Finally, the royal family agreed that she would also come together, to have a look.

After arriving here, the two were really shocked. Fortunately, they had asked Zhao Xiande a lot about the situation here when they were on the boat. Shocked, they just heard from Zhao Xiande that the territory of the Ming Dynasty was larger than the entire Western Europe combined, but the two of them never had a rough influence. Now that there are so many people in just one port, the two of them The idea that the land is proportional to the population in their minds will naturally tell them how huge this empire is, and it is also a person who informed this huge empire. That person's name is the emperor, and his status is more detached than the king. Thinking about how many troops, how much money, and how many officials would be needed to rule such a huge empire, the two of them could not help but panic when they had the answer, but they thought that this huge empire was too far away from their homeland, so they secretly Take it easy.

Richard still remembered the first time he met Zhang Fan, he felt that this young Earl of the Eastern Empire, with his handsome appearance and delicate skin, was obviously not promoted because of his military exploits. In my impression, this kind of person must have a prominent family in order to be appreciated by the royal family in such a huge empire. It is funny to say that Europeans who worship individual heroism look down on the kind of civilians who have entered the noble circle by relying on military exploits. However, he never thought that Zhang Fan was just a commoner. In his eyes, ordinary people want to gain status and enter the circle of nobles. There is no other way to do meritorious deeds on the battlefield or to climb the bed of a certain duke or noble lady. For the latter, Zhang Fan's appearance is not bad, but the posture of superiority that he occasionally shows makes it difficult to understand. Chad dismissed this conjecture.

The same was true for Joanna, but she didn't understand why when she first saw this young Eastern Earl, she didn't want to hate those noble children who were circling around her like flies all day long, but wanted to get close to Zhang Fan. Is it because of Zhang Fan's unique oriental appearance? It may be, but Joanna is not sure. In the past, she hated those who pursued the children of her family, the taller and more handsome they were, but Zhang Fan refused to let her Resentment, and being a young earl with a prominent family, this made Joanna once again have the girlish feelings that disappeared very quickly.

It's just that the two of them never knew or thought about it. Zhang Fan got his current status by relying on his studies and the inexplicable favor of the emperor. It seemed to them that it was a fantasy. It would be better to say that Jesus came from their own ancestors.

Zhang Fan naturally didn't know what they were thinking, but he really wanted to show off to the two of them. When he saw the two of them stunned by the quiet scene of the Humble Administrator's Garden, Zhang Fan was indeed very proud.

Zhang Fan even remembered the dinner he invited the two of them that night, and he held a banquet in the Humble Administrator's Garden. He only invited these two people, as well as Yingyue and Luo Linger. Zhu Yijun was not interested in these two foreigners. He felt that Since you are determined to harm these foreigners, it is better not to have too many contacts with them.

Zhang Fan really expended a lot of effort for this dinner. Not only did he specially invite the chef from the best restaurant in Suzhou, but he also spared no expense on all kinds of rare ingredients. It doesn't matter, those cooks know that the imperial envoy from the capital asked them to cook for foreign guests, and they don't care about foreign guests, but they understand what Minister Qincha means, so they dare not work hard. The dishes in the south of the Yangtze River, especially the Suzhou and Hangzhou regions, are on the sweeter side, which happens to be similar to the habits of Europeans.

Ever since, Richard and Joanna discovered that five people were sitting at a huge dining table, and the maids dressed in silk and satin filed in, bringing up various dishes they had never heard of before like flowing water. The dishes are exquisite, the two feel that there are only five of them, and three of them are women, how can they eat so much food, the two can't help sighing, they don't know whether they are lamenting the richness of this place, or lamenting Zhang Fan's wealth, Or maybe both.

Next, after the banquet, it will be even more exciting. Zhang Fan knew that the Europeans who came here for the first time must not be used to chopsticks, so Zhang Fan specially sent Liang Chao to see if he could get a set of Western tableware. Not to mention, Zhang Fan, who didn't have much hope at first, actually saw that Liang Chao brought in two sets of very exquisite silver tableware, including plates, knives and forks, and so on. Quite a few, some people also want to come here to make a fortune, but the difference between Eastern and Western cultures makes these people have no chance. Take the current set of tableware as an example. But there are not many people who even take a look.

The two were very grateful to Zhang Fan for being so thoughtful. They were really not used to using chopsticks, but the next scene was more interesting. Facing the dishes on the table in front of them, they listened to Zhang Fan's introduction in English, and gradually Even Joanna, who has always maintained a military and aristocratic style, gradually felt that her throat was swallowing saliva, but for the little girlish feelings in her heart, and to maintain a bit of a lady image in front of Zhang Fan, Joanna is Hold back.

Not to mention those abalone shark's fin, bird's nest seafood, those special seasonings alone have already made the two people who have never tasted rice, oil, salt, sauce and vinegar tea salivate, but Joanna can still maintain her own taste. However, Richard seems to have long forgotten that he shoulders the mission of a diplomatic envoy, and he doesn't care that he will, or has already lost the face of the Portuguese royal family who sent him out, waving a pair of knives and forks like a practicing Like a skilled swordsman, Zhang Fan and the three of them laughed secretly.

However, to Zhang Fan's surprise, the two seemed to be most interested in Dongpo meat, and frequently shot it. Perhaps it was the aroma of soy sauce and the special cooking technique that made the Dongpo meat not greasy at all except crispy and delicious. .

Richard, who had a full meal, seemed to realize his image problem just now. Seeing Joanna looking at him helplessly, he asked her why she didn't remind him with his eyes. Joanna, who understood the meaning of his eyes, even She shook her head frequently. She reminded Richard so many times just now, but he cared only about satisfying his appetite. However, Richard really has the talent of a diplomat, and he didn't care at all that he had lost his image just now. , chatted with Zhang Fan very cordially, and Joanna, who was born in the military, was a little admirable.

On the second day, Zhang Fan deliberately took the two of them for a stroll in Suzhou City. Naturally, he specially arranged for the best place here, and Zhang Fan was very generous. For the envoys who received them, all the expenses of the two of them this time will be borne by Zhang Fan alone. The implication is that they need to spend relentlessly. Anyway, the money is really easy for Zhang Fan, and he really can't feel distressed.

However, the two expressed their gratitude. They didn't want to accept Zhang Fan's kindness, but seeing the exquisite items in this bustling Suzhou city, the two reckoned that the gold coins they brought could not buy much. I was very eager, so I accepted Zhang Fan's kindness. Maybe it was the difference of the times. This kind of thing was normal at that time, not to mention that the dynasties in the land of China have always had this tradition. No matter what the foreign envoys are, even if it is The emperor and officials here will readily agree to those who cheat to eat and drink for the sake of the magnanimity of the Celestial Dynasty or to show off.

So, the two really saw what a good thing is, the best blue and white porcelain, and it was brought from the official kiln through Zhang Fan's relationship, it was even more exquisite than the porcelain they had seen that was regarded as a treasure by their royal family; The good Huzhou silk made Joanna feel ecstatic; and after the two of them knew the real price of the top-grade tea, they felt that the tea they drank was like gold. .

Looking at Zhang Fan who lived in a dream between the two during this time, he secretly laughed in his heart, it seems that his plan of deception was done well, and now the two have been deceived so far that they don't know where to go.

There are more and more ships returning now. Although the officials know that Zhang Fan is here now, they have restrained themselves a lot, but there are many ships returning from various places, so naturally they will show some flaws to some extent.

Zhang Fan is currently enjoying the vernal equinox. The hot weather is much cooler than his comfortable mind, but God will not let him be idle. Soon, Zhang Fan got the news that Gao Gong was going to make trouble up,