In the Zhenzong Dynasty of the Northern Song Dynasty, after many wars between Song and Liao, the two countries concluded the alliance of Chanyuan, and the Great Song Dynasty gave Liao a year of coins every year, which opened a peaceful mode and started economic and trade exchanges. During the period when Liu Hou was in power, he also faithfully fulfilled the covenant.
It was after this that the exchanges between the two countries increased, so there was a relatively complete and standardized diplomatic etiquette. Compared with each other, the permanent envoys are Zhengdan envoys and birthday envoys, the former congratulates New Year's Day, and the latter congratulates the emperor's birthday.
Because the two countries were adjacent to each other, and the Liao Kingdom had a high level of combat effectiveness, their treatment in the Song Dynasty was relatively high.
When various countries entered the Song Dynasty after a long journey, the imperial court would send escorts to accompany them to Bianjing along the way to ensure that there would be no accidents on the road. After entering Beijing, there was an ambassador from the embassy to accompany the itinerary in Bianjing.
These companions are officials from the Privy Council or Honglu Temple. They accompany them all the way from a few days before New Year's Day to Beijing until the fifth day of the first lunar month. To ensure the rigor of the whole process, can not make mistakes.
Since it is necessary to conduct reception, the foreign language must not be poor. Both departments require officials to learn foreign languages. It is said that the most powerful ones can master five or six languages.
When Zheng Ling was forced to learn Khitan language, he almost went crazy.
Now Honglu Temple lacks people and is very busy, but they also know that Zheng Ling is basically a person from the Painting Academy. They are afraid that he will pretend to be dead if he is called on too much, so they send him to discuss the banquet dishes with Kaifeng Mansion.
In this banquet where the envoys are received, the dishes must be confirmed by all departments.
It is already November, and envoys from various countries will arrive at the end of December. There is not much time, and there are still many things for everyone. For example, some post houses and some places need to be repaired, and they are now being arranged. Craftsmen, special personnel to supervise repairs.
In fact, this inn is collectively inspected twice a year, but it can't hold back the accident.
On Zheng Ling's side, he had an acquaintance in Kaifeng Mansion that everyone knew. He had a closer relationship with the Zheng family, and he knew that they were actually his relatives. Anyway, every time there is a new dish in Kaifeng Mansion, this guy can definitely eat it right away.
So, instead of watching him cry and howl every day at Honglu Temple, it's better to send him to the Kaifeng Mansion.
Zheng Ling felt that he was suddenly freed from purgatory, and went back to Yun Yan with a smile on his face.
Yun Yanhui is also very happy. The Privy Council sent a foodie here. It's okay to say that now I'm afraid that the people from Honglu Temple will be a problem. Done!
Zheng Ling is basically what Brother Yan says, he is "good", and the foodie in the Privy Council is very sincere. Yun Yanhui hadn't decided on the recipe yet, so he told him apologetically that he would have to wait a few more days.
Gao Mingcheng smiled and said, "It's okay, you are busy with your work. I'm here mainly to eat the meals in your cafeteria."
Yunyan replied: "..."
Gao Mingcheng also told Yun Yanhui with a mysterious look: "You don't know, the ceremony room almost fought for this place!"
"..." Yun Yan wiped away her sweat, "Well, I'll ask the kitchen to bring the barbecued pork... This one has already been made."
Gao Mingcheng actually knew about Char Siu. He probably heard what his colleague said, but he didn't understand the ridicule behind it, so he happily tried the Char Siu.
Yunyan called back the kitchen to make two barbecued pork dishes, one was honey sauce and the other was crispy barbecued pork.
Although both are barbecued pork, but the taste is very different.
The "meatiness" of the honey sauce char siu is relatively heavy, fat and thin, smooth and sweet, and the flavor is excellent. The crispy char siew is crunchy when you bite down, and it has a melt-in-your-mouth feeling.
The pork used for this char siew is even bought from the Zhu Zhuyuan of Daxiangguo Temple. They raise pigs and eat meat all year round, and the meat quality is excellent. However, if it wasn't for Yun Yanhui's own people, they wouldn't be able to buy pork. They farmed on a small scale.
At this time, there were not many ways to eat pork, or the class of "scholars" seldom eat pork. However, after making barbecued pork, it is really refreshing. Not only is it extremely delicious, it is in line with the taste of Tokyo people, and the color is golden and fragrant. Greasy, it sells well.
Gao Mingcheng is a native of Bianjing, and he eats with smiling eyes.
It was also the first time for Zheng Ling to eat it, and it felt very good.
Yun Yanhui introduced: "One is Honey Sauce Char Siu and the other is Crispy Char Siew. I don't know if I should choose one of them, or should I put both dishes on the menu? If I put them all in, would it be too repetitive? "
Gao Mingcheng nodded, "That's right, it's not very good if you add both pieces of pork. I think this crispy char siew has a more unique flavor and is very distinctive, so it's better to choose this one."
"Well, okay." Yun Yan wrote back.
Gao Mingcheng took a mouthful of the sour and spicy bracken that relieved greasy, holding a bowl and said, "Yun Xiaolang, I'm very worried now."
Yun Yan replied: "...What are you worried about?"
Gao Mingcheng: "At that time, the envoys of the Liao Kingdom ate the imperial banquet, and the other envoys ate the dishes of Kaifeng Mansion. What if the envoys of the Liao Kingdom think that others eat better... This will affect the diplomatic relations between the two countries! "
Yunyan replied: "..."
Yun Yanhui suddenly felt a little ashamed, isn't this all the idea of your Privy Council
Gao Mingcheng took another bite of the barbecued pork and said vaguely: "No, I'm going to warn the royal chef to prepare the dishes."
Zheng Ling said quietly from the side: "It's useless. Every year, the royal banquets are of similar specifications. Even if you do a little better, you can't turn the flowers. In fact, everyone's craftsmanship is not much different, even the royal chef is better. Some, the key point is that Kaifeng House can innovate in specifications, and Royal Kitchen has more restrictions."
"It makes sense..." Gao Mingcheng glanced at Yun Yan regretfully, "I will report to Shangguan when I go back, and I have to control the number of new dishes."
Yun Yanhui didn't expect to give him a barbecued pork to reduce the workload, and touched his head, "Just be happy if you are happy."
He had never seen one who was in a hurry to reduce the workload of others.
But think about it, reducing the workload for him now is to make it less troublesome later. Although the people of Liao Kingdom like the taste of Kaifeng Mansion canteen or not, it is still a matter of opinion, but this possibility must be avoided.
…
The affairs of Kaifeng House are complicated, the affairs of Kaifeng House are complicated, the affairs of Kaifeng House are complicated, and important things are said three times.
Therefore, as winter is gradually approaching, we need to prepare not only the reception work of the embassy in Beijing, but also the social relief work.
It can be said that the Song Dynasty had many disasters and disasters, and disasters occurred almost every year. Moreover, according to Yun Yanhui's historical knowledge, the Song Dynasty at this time was entering the third cold period in history. There was news earlier that there were no plum trees growing in the northern part of the country, let alone crops.
Almost every year, there are people who freeze to death, not only the poor, but even families who can feed themselves are at risk of freezing to death and frostbite.
But it has to be said that the social welfare of Song Dynasty is still very good. In addition to various government-run and private-run almshouses—for example, the Salesian where Zheng Ping once stayed, supplies are distributed every winter, and the system is very complete.
As for the arrangements in the Gyeonggi area, there is no doubt that the Kaifeng government is responsible for it.
This year, due to Yun Yanhui's strategy of increasing income and reducing expenditure, Kaifeng House has achieved a bumper harvest. Given the determination at the beginning of the restructuring, there is no objection that part of the proceeds will also be donated to help the poor people.
Such relief activities often have to be united with local tyrants.
- Note that local tyrants usually refer to local monks and Taoists.
The monks have a broad base, and the Taoists are pushed by the imperial court, and all of them are very wealthy.
Of course, ostensibly the government generally insists they are volunteers...
Because Yunyan hangs back in Tianqingguan, and is familiar with various temples in Beijing, and has been an apprentice of the abbot of Daxiangguo Temple, he has to do two jobs, one is to plan the dishes for the reception of the envoys, and the other is to join To connect the local tyrants to carry out relief activities.
This job, Yun Yanhui had also been in contact with Daxiangguo Temple before, so he was familiar with the road, and the contacts were all acquaintances. Even if not, the other party would definitely know him.
It is no exaggeration to say that Yun Yanhui is now basically a legend in the religious circles of Bianjing. Although he has not become a monk, he is recognized as his own.
The fruits and vegetables harvested by Kaifeng Mansion were also divided into batches and sent to various relief agencies. Among them, some prime minister fried dough sticks were prepared more intimately. Although the prime minister fried dough sticks have now flown into ordinary people, everyone acquiesced that the products produced by Kaifeng Mansion are the ones. The most authentic.
Yun Yanhui was accustomed to being on the front line, so he distributed supplies together on the spot. After the court's distribution, he sent out the Kaifeng government's private money, and next to the staff of the Daxiangguo Temple, they could chat from time to time.
The poor people who came to collect the supplies were very grateful. They didn't expect to receive the prime minister's fried dough sticks from Kaifeng House. This was a surprise to them. Even if the secret recipe was spread, they were still unable to buy the raw materials to make it.
An old woman even lay down and saluted in the direction of Kaifeng Mansion. Yun Yanhui hurriedly went to help her and heard her chanting, "Thank you, Mr. Bao Xianggong, who is not old in spring and autumn, has many children and many grandchildren..."
Yunyan replied: "??"
Yun Yan replied, "Mother-in-law! Fu Zun Bao hasn't gotten married yet!"
The old woman opened her turbid eyes with a look of surprise, and turned to sadness and said: "Ah? Bao Xianggong is a good person, but he didn't get married. He must have been delayed by political affairs!" She asked with concern, "Is there any clan adoption? The heir to Lord Bao?"
When the people next to him heard Bao Zheng's name, they all came to ask with concern.
"Bao Xianggong loves the people like a son, but doesn't he have any descendants?"
"Little brother, is Bao Xianggong in good health?"
"...Wait," Yun Yanhui suddenly felt a little dizzy and couldn't help but stop, "Have you misunderstood something, our Fu Zun is only in his twenties now!"
Granny: "Nonsense!"
Yunyan replied: "..."