I don't know if it's the luck of "Chongzhen" or the bad guy's luck.

The disguised caravan had been on the road for two days and had not seen anything bad. took the initiative to go to the official mansion to ask, and they wouldn't do that kind of violent thing to reveal their identity, so they didn't have the opportunity to pretend to be a pig and eat a tiger.

Everyone joked all the way to Tianjin, and only a few civil servants were tired. They are too lacking in physical exercise, not to mention horseback riding, and it is uncomfortable to sit in a carriage and bump for a while.

After entering the city, Li Yan said with a smile: "I've been to the Eight Bowls Restaurant here, so I'll go there for dinner, right?" ”

"Chongzhen" asked: "Isn't it a little early to eat at this time?" ”

Ao Bai said: "His biggest hobby is eating, listen to him." It's good to go early and charter the restaurant. The group entered the restaurant and chartered the second floor. This restaurant, however, is a typical civilian style, with no private rooms, two floors and two floors, all with large round tables.

A table can make eight people, and the brocade guards all sat down, and when the ministers saw these tables, they hesitated to do it.

The large-scale banquets of the Ming Dynasty were also as particular as the last dynasty, and the subject-verb and object were very clear. Only civilians do the round table, because everyone is equal. "Chongzhen" and Yao Xinyan sat down first, Ao Bai and his three wives, Li Yan smiled and was not polite when he saw this, and Liang Bin finally sat down. ~ Zhou Daodeng, the servant of the ministry, said urgently: "This round table has no main seat and second seat. How can everyone sit with the emperor like this? Isn't that a mess of humility? ”

Fortunately, the shopkeeper went downstairs at this time, otherwise his identity would have been revealed. Everyone glared at Zhou Daodeng together, the old man knew that he had said the wrong thing, and the pestle like a flagpole stood motionless there, and everyone was happy when they saw it.

Zhou Daodeng served as a scholar of Dongge University, the left waiter of the Ministry of Rites, and the president of the National History Officer. He is a veteran of the Donglin Party, an old and rotten one. He is humble and almost stupid, and his many years of official career is to seriously pretend to be a grandson, and when he cultivates his power, he finally doesn't have to pretend anymore, because he has already pretended to be a real grandson. Sticker bar shake hands and play dedication. No matter whether he is an official or doing things, he does not seek to be useless, but to seek no fault, and he will never take a step if he can take half a step. Such a character makes anyone dare to step forward and kick him. For example, when he had just served as the left attendant of the Ministry of Rites, some people were dissatisfied and asked him to step down the stage.

Zhou Daodeng also has a characteristic, that is, Mu Ne, he can't even lie, there is a court meeting, the emperor is discussing the affairs of the state with the Manchu Dynasty civil and military. #百度搜 () #他脑子走神, remembered a funny thing and laughed on the spot.

Chongzhen's eyes were sharp and he asked him why he was smiling. He was speechless for a moment, did not answer or explain, and remained motionless like a flagpole. It's clear that this is his natural skill. Chongzhen couldn't do anything about him, so he didn't pursue it.

Such a person is very suitable to be a historian, and he will not make a false statement.

Cheng Guoxiang, the right Cheng of Dali Temple, also said: "Anyway, there are many seats, why don't you let Wang Gongzi and his wife sit at a single table?" ”

Li Yan smiled and said: "In the people, you should abide by the current rules of the people, right?" Prince Wang? ”

"Yes." "Chongzhen" smiled: "I don't know what the current moment here is?" ”

Li Yan said with a smile: "The eight bowls of banquets have strong local characteristics. Each table seats eight people, and eight dishes are served, all of which are made in the same large bowl. The cold dish in front of the eight bowls is six or twelve dry, fresh and cold meats. There is a difference between thick and thin. Eight large bowls of fine fingers: boiled fish fillet, braised shrimp, whole family portrait, osmanthus fish bones, braised smooth fish, gluten, shredded Sichuan pork, Sichuan large meatballs, roast pork, loose meat, etc. Eight large bowls are: fried green shrimp, braised shredded chicken, pure and pure, egg custard and crab roe, sea cucumber balls, ingots meat, clear soup chicken, split cha chicken, home-style roasted carp, etc. I suggest a thick eight large bowl? The taste is very good. ”

Xiao Er, who ran the hall, heard him speak when he went upstairs and praised: "Childe is really an expert." Why does it look raw? ”

Li Yan smiled: "I've been here for a while, about five years of fighting, of course you look at me." ”

"It's been five years and I remember it so clearly, I deserve to be a foodie." Su Meng'er smiled. As soon as she spoke, everyone at the table laughed.

The problem of the seat was thrown aside, and those Wenchen had another problem, there were nine of them, and the one with the extra one had only one choice to sit with the Jinyi Wei who was dressed as a family member. None of them wanted to be this one, and their vanity was revealed. After staying for a long time, I still haven't sat down.

Ao Bai smiled: "How about I tell you a story?"

That's what I heard from a friend in England. He said that the rise of Britain began with a table. "Chongzhen" knew that he was good at storytelling, and was immediately aroused. "Is it because of the round table?" ”

"Yes, because of the round table."

Based on his own impressions, Ao Bai told the story of King Arthur and the twelve knights of the round table. After listening to this, several Wenchen sat down thoughtfully.

Ao Bai continued: "Arthur has both English and Roman blood, and in him he has both the strength and fortitude of the English natives, the open-mindedness and open-mindedness of the Roman people, and at the same time the influence of the idea that all men are created equal believed by the Ethiopians, so he has the quality of a commander who freed the original inhabitants of Britain from the oppression of the Ro~Matthias for hundreds of years. In that world, most people were in despair, and Arthur represented their hope. What is Hope Nick? Hope is a table, a table that is not very special but has special significance, it is the round table of King Arthur that changed the concept of backwardness of the British since ancient times, and it is not a great thing for the king in power to allow such a round table to exist? ”

"It's amazing!" Everyone was quiet, and Zhou Daodeng of Mu Ne spoke. His concept of hierarchy is the most serious, and he always feels inferior, so he will pretend to be different. The story of Ao Bai resonated with him, if everyone was equal, and the high-ranking officials could also look up to him, how good would it be? He is also an official, but just now he suffered injustice, and the ministers excluded him together and asked him to sit with the brocade guards dressed as family members. He was a little reluctant, but now sitting there, he felt that there was no shame.

There were a few Jinyi Guard captains who were even more frightened and moved to tears. They are all the lowest in the brocade guards, and it is already an honor to travel with the emperor, Taifu and other officials, if the emperor can treat them equally, even if it is just pretending, they will be moved to serve their lives.

The round table has no edges and corners, but it cuts down the high and low between people: the round table has no language, but it expresses the desire of all people for equality; The round table has no arms, but it embraces the supreme principle of justice in the world: the round table has no decoration, but it combines the beauty of human reason and the light of the soul. It can be said that the origin of modern civilization is King Arthur's humble round table. Ao Bai continued: "Is it a coincidence that Britain, which was the first to use the Great Round Table, defeated Spain, which claimed to have an invincible armada, and became the 'Emperor of the Sun'? I don't think so, any round table needs two legs, one leg is equal, and the other leg is self-sufficient. Any life that is worthy of being used and named by a person also needs two legs to stand and walk.

In the same way, one leg is equality, and the other leg is self-restraint. That's the essence of the round table. ”

This story has a great impact on people's minds. The Ming Dynasty already had the sprouts of capitalism, and the imperial power was not as supreme as in the past, and the words of Ao Bai were more thought-provoking. Although the rank cannot be eliminated in the short term, who does not yearn for self-indulgence?

In later generations, the United Nations Security Council and other international conferences, as well as international political negotiations, also held roundtable meetings. The roundtable meeting does not distinguish between superior and inferior, and contains the meaning of "equality for all" and "consultation" among the participants. After the First World War, international conferences were held in the form of roundtable meetings. It has been used until the 21st century.

Of course, in the 21st century, there are some people, the round table can still be divided into priorities, the banquet leader has not arrived, everyone can not move chopsticks, must wait for him to come to toast together, flattery with all his might, and reserve the honorable seat for him, ~ to show his superior status. The phenomenon of building a community is very rare in the world, and only the most backward countries in the world can see it, such as the Zimbabwean ....... "Chongzhen" said lightly: "Brother, this is the most thought-provoking story I have ever heard. ”

"Chongzhen" called Ao Bai "brother." "But everyone doesn't think there's anything wrong with the etiquette. Maybe that's really how it should be, everyone is equal. The reason why the emperor and ministers are noble is because they use their wisdom and ability to work for the benefit of the whole world.

Li Yan patted Ao Bai's shoulder and said with a smile: "The name of Taifu is well deserved." ”

This meal, everyone ate very happily. Originally, they were all very cautious. For fear that saying the wrong thing would dislike the emperor, after listening to the story told by Aobai, everyone was bold. The brocade guards also drank one after another, stroked their fists, and chatted about some private matters. ~ "Chongzhen" also went to their table with Ao Bai and toasted them with a glass of wine and spoke for a while. Such a move flattered everyone.

Later, it was disrupted, everyone changed tables and chatted a few words, and the owner of the restaurant felt very interesting when he saw this scene. Usually caravans do business, and the lords do not eat with their families. He felt that these people must not be businessmen in big cities, so the rules were not so strict. If he knew that it was the emperor and the famous Taifu here, he would definitely stared at him.

When the meal was finished, "Chongzhen" smiled: "When we go back, are we going to change it to a round table?" ”

Ao Bai said lightly: "No, this kind of change is not an overnight thing, and it will not be accepted by people so quickly. When eating, there can be a round table in front of it, and the discussion time is still the same as usual.

Unless one day, people's quality becomes particularly high, and people are not so selfish, they can adopt the method of roundtable meetings. I hope to see that day. ”