back to ancient times to be emperor

Chapter 149 Asking Wu After the Banquet
The size of Yujin Garden was beyond Lu Chengqi's imagination.He has never been to the so-called Nanyu Garden, and he doesn't know how gorgeous and extravagant this Yujin Garden is.Only the former emperors were willing to spend money to build it, but Lu Chengqi couldn't bear the money.Occupying so much fertile land, only for the entertainment of the royal family, and not allowing the common people to watch, is really a waste of money.

The emperor is busy with political affairs, how can he come here once?Covering an area of ​​nearly ten hectares, there are countless pavilions and pavilions, and it can be considered that the royal family has the courage to build it.

Before the monarchs and ministers enter the venue, as many as a hundred people from multiple departments such as the Hanlin Division, the Imperial Dining Room, and the Imperial Kitchen, who specialize in court catering, have to set up tables, chairs, and tableware at the banquet site. The specific arrangement clearly shows the hierarchy.

Of course, the throne of Emperor Lu Chengqi is set in the middle of the Huining Hall where the banquet is held. In front of the seat is the "Imperial Tea Bed", which is the dining table. The fruit plate is a pagoda made of candied fruits and carved melons and fruits.

Opposite the throne, there are four rows of seats. The first row is high stools covered with brocade mats. In front of each seat is a low table with carved patterns or fruit plates piled with candied melons and fruits. (Including Taishi, Taifu, Taibao, Shaoshi, Shaofu, Shaobao and other official positions of the auxiliary kings, most of them are false officials) and others sat down with the envoys of the Liao Kingdom.The next three rows were changed to low stools, and three people shared a low dining table, and those who sat were also important officials of the court, such as various ministers and secret envoys.Um, if it wasn't for Lu Chengqi who didn't have Zi Chong, perhaps even the prince Taishi, the prince Taifu, and the prince Taibao would have a banquet.

The rest of the ministers and the low-ranking attendants of the Liao Kingdom are seated outside the main hall and under the eaves of the side halls on both sides. There is a table for three people. For decoration, not allowed to eat.In addition, there are even lower-ranking officers, such as the imperial guards and accompanying guards, who line up behind the "mountain tower".It's really the emperor's invitation to the banquet. There are so many people and the scene is extraordinarily grand.

The duration of the whole banquet is so long that it must be divided into upper and lower scenes, which are called "pre-banquet" and "post-banquet".The first half consists of drinking five cups of wine, while the second half consists of four cups of wine.Each round includes three cups of wine. A minister takes the lead to toast to Lu Chengqi first, accompanied by the officials; Cheers everyone.

The unfolding of the rounds is very much like a performance, following a strict procedure.In front of the railing of the hall, there will be an artist called "Kanzhan". Every time he toasts, he will sing "Pour the Royal Wine" or "Pour the Wine" in a circumflex tone, and at the same time stretch his sleeves like a crane spreading its wings. Then it fell slowly, and landed on the railing.

Then, Lu Chengqi would raise his wine glass and show it from east to west, showing the posture of inviting all the officials to drink together.Because the banquet outside the hall cannot see the movement of the hall, so there will be a group of "Xuanzan" standing by the door of the hall. They will follow the emperor's movements and bow and raise their voices to announce "drinking" three times. At this time, all the officials must stand up together. , Saluted to Lu Chengqi, drank the wine in the glass while standing upright, and saluted again before being seated.

Repeating five rounds like this must be quite hard work, so the intermission was arranged in a very humane way.Interestingly, during the break, according to the etiquette, people will be sent to give various gorgeous artificial colored flowers to the officials, and the officials need to put these flowers on the crowns, and then a group of big men will come back on stage in full bloom.

Lu Chengqi would stand up and avoid changing to casual clothes and caps.Originally, there were also some small flowers on the hat, but Lu Chengqi frowned.The reborn him, how could he be willing to bring flowers? It doesn't conform to his aesthetics at all!After refusing, he returned to the throne.At this time, the "rear banquet" is considered to be the beginning, and there are still rounds of toasting and drinking, and the end of the feast is not until the ninth cup.

Naturally, the emperor's banquet could not just be drinking. From the third cup onwards, the servants began to kneel and pass the wine and cooked food to each table.

It is very strange that, compared to the dazzlingly rich food in the Dashun Dynasty, the dishes on this highest-level banquet are more like simple meals.

Each dish offers three to five kinds of food, most of which include a kind of grilled meat or skewers, soup or rice, a rice noodle with soup, and stuffed dim sum similar to steamed buns, siu mai, sesame seed cakes or meat pies, Even pickles will be included.It turns out that these simple dishes are mainly considered to be convenient to serve, and the decoration is neat and beautiful, and they are also neat and clean to eat with banquet guests, so as to avoid indecent eating.

Also starting from the third cup, after the dance accompanied by Baiguanjiu, there will be a variety of short performances, followed by acrobatics, "zaju" fragments similar to group cross talk, men's cuju, girls' group dance and so on.

This arrangement is not only for the beautiful scene, but also for everyone to eat time.However, every time the servants delivered the food, the ministers still had to stand up and give thanks, so the whole banquet was repeated in the process of getting up, saluting, and sitting down, and it was impossible for anyone to eat comfortably.

Such cumbersome etiquette, not to mention Lu Chengqi, even the Khitan missions are not very interested in eating.But after all, the whole banquet process is long, and it is inevitable that you will be hungry during it. You can grab a meat skewer or pie to chat with you to satisfy your hunger.There is no need to be afraid of wasting so many dishes. According to the custom, these food can be taken home by the ministers afterwards, and then distributed to relatives and friends to show the emperor's favor.

Not only did everyone not enjoy the banquet, but it also cost a lot.The ingredients used alone cost tens of thousands of dollars.If it wasn't for the Khitan envoy's first visit in so many years, Lu Chengqi, who was strict in saving money, would not be willing to spend this unjustly money.

But thinking that there would be no economic growth without consumption, and that Huangzhuang also had an income of 60 yuan a month, this small amount of money was still affordable, so Lu Chengqi nodded and agreed to hold a banquet with great fanfare.

After all the banquet, the ninth toast was finally over. Lu Cheng used plain water, and naturally he drank it without changing his face.However, some important ministers with light drinking capacity seemed a little drunk at the moment, especially Huang Xishi, Shangshu of the Ministry of Industry.Lu Chengqi hurriedly sent his servants to take him home. At Huang Xishi, who was over 70 years old, Lu Chengqi was really afraid that he would die if he accidentally suffered a stroke.

At the three o'clock of Xu o'clock, this tiring and unsatisfactory banquet finally came to an end.After Lu Chengqi left the stage, the servants and maids could eat.Lu Chengqi obviously didn't know about such things, otherwise he would definitely say that the ranks of the decadent feudal society were too strict.

The dragon chariot started to drive, and arrived at Anhuamen in a short time.At this moment, the Anhua Gate is decorated with lanterns and festoons, just like a festival.Lu Chengqi couldn't help asking: "Why are you so colorful?"

Lu Chenhuan, a hero of archery, accompanied him. He had sharp eyes and saw the words on the lanterns. He smiled and said: "This is the people's congratulations to His Majesty for his successful shooting, so the lanterns are decorated."

After getting closer, Lu Chengqi also saw the words on the lantern, and asked suspiciously: "Fatty Lu, do you know how to read?"

Lu Chenhuan hurriedly said: "I don't know much, only a thousand words."

Lu Chengqi said with a smile: "I never thought that fat man like you is an all-rounder in civil and military affairs. Tell me about it, but you know martial arts?"

Lu Chenhuan did not hide anything, and said: "The last general is indeed good at martial arts, and his martial arts skills are not bad. An ordinary burly man in his [-]s can't get close to him."

Lu Chengqi, who used to be a fan of Jin Yong, was very interested in martial arts, and continued to ask: "Then what kind of kung fu do you know, do you know the Nine Yin Scriptures, do you know the Nine Yang Scriptures? Or Eighteen Palms of the Dragon Subduing, Dog Beating Stick method, one yang finger, six-meridian sword...??"

Lu Chengqi mentioned a lot of names of martial arts, Lu Chenhuan shook his head with a wry smile, and said: "These martial arts, the general has never heard of them."

Hearing this, Lu Chengqi was slightly disappointed.But he soon became interested again and asked, "Then what martial arts do you know?"

(End of this chapter)