Legendary star: Signed to the Palace at the beginning

Chapter 205 Confucian Mansion Banquet
Xiao Chuan said with a smile: "Uncle Shi is right. If we can make all the children from poor families in the world learn Confucianism and become officials through the imperial examination, the achievements of Chongshenghou will be comparable to Dong Zhongshu."

Kong Changsun was greatly encouraged. If he could revive Confucianism again, he would become the most outstanding descendant of Confucius. No matter how outstanding Mencius, Xunzi, and Dong Zhongshu were, they would be others. The eldest grandson said worriedly: "The King Jin's plan is very big, can the nobles of the aristocratic family be willing to be excluded from power?"

Xiao Chuan said: "Let's take it slowly. Next year, His Majesty will order King Jin and me to build a new capital city. At that time, we can build a large number of schools in the new capital city, and build a Royal Academy. You are the head of the Royal Academy."

Kong Changsun smiled and said, "I'm afraid I'm not qualified?"

Xiao Chuan said: "Uncle Shi is the only one in the world to discuss qualifications."

Kong Changsun was overjoyed, and said: "Okay, if I, a Confucian scholar, are needed at that time, I will not hesitate to do so."

Xiao Chuan deliberately looked distressed and said, "Unfortunately, there is a problem now."

Kong Changsun secretly smiled in his heart, there really was no free lunch, but he said: "Nephew, as long as you can revitalize my Confucianism, feel free to tell me about any difficulties."

Xiao Chuan said: "In order to overtake His Royal Highness King Jin, some aristocratic families have invested heavily in the Qujiang Pond industry. When the construction of the new capital city starts next year, they will withdraw funds in one fell swoop to defeat King Jin, so that the construction plan of the new capital city will fail, so that they can take over Jin. The power of His Royal Highness."

Kong Changsun felt relieved, and said: "I thought it was difficult, as long as it is about money, it is not difficult."

Xiao Chuan said happily: "Uncle Shi can solve it?"

Kong Changsun said: "The Kong family has been around for thousands of years. It has been favored by emperors and supported by celebrities, and has little savings. How much money does His Highness the King of Jin need?"

Xiao Chuan said: "His Royal Highness King Jin has opened dozens of banks in the Sui Dynasty, and the deposits are [-]% interest. As long as Uncle Shi deposits the money in Longshouyuan Bank, not only will the money not be lost, but interest will also be obtained. As long as Longshou The original bank has sufficient capital reserves, so it is not afraid of a run by the rich and powerful."

Kong Changsun was determined and said with a smile: "Nephew, then I will save 5000 million yuan. If it is not enough, I will add more in the future."

Xiao Chuan stood up, bowed deeply to Kong Changsun and said, "My nephew expresses my deep gratitude to Uncle Shi on behalf of His Royal Highness King Jin. From now on, Confucianism will be His Highness King Jin's allies. After His Royal Highness Jin gains power in the future, he will never forget Uncle Shi." support."

Kong Changsun stood up hastily, and said: "Nephew, you are serious. Confucianism and His Royal Highness King Jin are already one, and we should advance and retreat together."

Xiao Chuan said: "Uncle Shi is right, my nephew has a picture."

Kong Changsun ordered his servants: "Put a banquet in honor of Earl Wannian."

Kong Changsun and Xiao Chuan sat on their knees on the brocade couch. In front of them was a short table. The maid brought a tray, and first served four plates of dried fruits, four plates of fresh fruits, and two bronze wine glasses.

Xiao Chuan and Kong Changsun ate dried and fresh fruits, drank fermented glutinous rice, and chatted about their experiences.

After a while, the maid put a plate of dishes on the low table, and saw the cucumbers washed and cut into round slices, with a small hole in the middle pierced on the shrimp tails, the green and white were distinct.

Xiao Chuan said: "Uncle Shi, what kind of dish is this, it looks really delicate and refreshing."

Kong Changsun said: "This dish is called Emerald Shrimp Rings. It is sliced ​​gherkins, which are put on the tails of large green prawns to make shrimp rings. Then, pour the shrimp rings into a [-]% hot oil pan and drain the oil. Heat it to [-]% heat, choke the pot with Chinese prickly ash, add minced ginger, cooking wine, broth, salt, shrimp rings, stir fry and serve.”

Xiao Chuan picked up a prawn with chopsticks, and the freshness of cucumber exuded in the prawn aroma.

Xiao Chuan ate three shrimp rings, toasted a glass of wine, and said, "Uncle Shi, your Confucian cuisine tastes really good."

Kong Changsun was proud of himself, and said with a smile: "Nephew, you can try the second dish."

Xiao Chuan looked at the second dish. The pearl bamboo shoots were cut in half and mixed with sea rice.

Xiao Chuan said: "Uncle Shi, what is the name of this dish?"

Kong Changsun said: "This dish is dried sea rice and pearl shoots. First, blanch the pearl shoots, then cool them in cold water and then dry them. Then, when they are half-baked in sesame oil, fry minced ginger and cook with cooking wine. Add sea rice and pearl shoots. , broth, salt, and burnt on a plate and serve.”

The two talked and laughed while drinking and eating.

The maid brought a plate of grilled fish.

Xiao Chuan picked up a piece of fish, put it in front of his eyes, observed it carefully, and asked in puzzlement, "Uncle Shi, why can't there be traces of smoke and fire on the grilled fish in the Confucian Mansion?"

Kong Changsun said: "My dear nephew, this dish is called Grilled Mandarin Fish in Flower Basket. It is to season and shape the clean mandarin fish, then add oil, then wrap the fish in bread, seal the fish tightly, and put it on the iron hook, underneath Grilled on both sides over a charcoal fire without contact with the fire, the umami taste will not be lost, the color will be white and tender, and the eater will only know the taste, but not the method."

While eating the roasted mandarin fish in a flower basket, Xiao Chuan praised: "The Confucian Mansion is really a famous family."

The next dish was duck.

Kong Changsun said: "Nephew, this dish is called Immortal Duck. The cooking method is also very unique. In order to maintain the original taste, the chef put a piece of paper on the casserole and steamed it over water. In order to accurately grasp the time, Burn incense while steaming, and it takes three sticks of incense to complete, hence the name 'Shenxian Duck'. I request this dish to be cooked and served immediately without delay. It was so hot that the chef was forced to come up with a way to light the incense and time it, and it became a well-known story in the Confucian mansion."

At this time, two servants came in carrying a Shang Ding.

Xiao Chuan said: "Roast whole lamb?"

Kong Changsun said with a smile: "Nephew, this is the death of a sheep."

Xiao Chuan said: "Uncle Shi, what is the death of a muddy sheep?"

The servant took the table knife, cut open the belly of the sheep, revealed a goose, and began to slice the goose.

Kong Changsun said: "The dish of Hunyang Shihu is to roast the goose clean, remove the internal organs, put the meat and glutinous rice in the belly of the goose, serve with seasonings, then clean the internal organs of the sheep, and put the goose in the belly of the sheep. , stitched well, roasted with fire, wait for the mutton to be cooked, and the goose is also cooked, do not eat the sheep, only eat the goose. This dish uses the sheep as a vessel, and the goose is not directly exposed to the fire, which is more important to keep the meat tender. The most amazing thing is that when the mutton fat is exposed to fire, the taste seeps out and enters the goose meat, and the mutton and goose have a muddy taste, which is wonderful."

Xiao Chuan tasted the goose meat, and there was neither the mutton smell nor the firewood of the goose meat.

Not only can you eat goose meat, but you can also eat the glutinous rice meat in the belly of the goose.

Xiao Chuan praised: "It's really delicious."

For the sixth main course, there are only two fried cylindrical foods in the gold plate.

Xiao Chuan originally thought that the whole sheep was the last dish. After all, a whole sheep was served, and he was full just by looking at it. He didn't expect there was another dish, so he asked curiously: "Uncle Shi, what is this?"

Kong Changsun said with a smile: "Nephew, this is a famous dish of the Confucian Mansion, skillfully fried deer tail. Although deer tail is not included in the eight treasures, it is one of the pearls in delicacies. In the past, Liu Xiaoyi, a regular servant of Sanqi in the Liang Dynasty, was entertaining Cui Jie, an envoy from the Northern Wei Dynasty. At the time of Li Qian, he once sighed: "The deer tail in Yezhong is the most mixed with wine." Cui Jie replied: "Raw fish and bear's paw are praised by Mencius, and chicken feet and scarlet lips are what Lu Buwei likes." Deer tail does have a unique and wonderful taste, and it is not recorded in books. I feel strange every time I eat it." Liu Xiaoyi said: "It is true, maybe people have different tastes in ancient and modern times.""

(End of this chapter)