In front of those envoys of various countries who have come to the Ming Dynasty several times, Yan Song is already an old acquaintance.

In my impression, this important minister of the Ming Dynasty has never left the center of the Ming Dynasty.

In fact, it is true that after returning to Beijing from Zhejiang, Yan Song has served three terms as a scholar and two terms as a national elder, and is now his third minister of state.

It is the Ministry of Rites and Gifts.

This year, there will be no longevity ceremony, and this year's theme is that the Ming Dynasty, as the suzerain, invited the vassal envoys to sign a convention.

Therefore, a special venue was chosen: the Temple of Heaven and Earth.

Different from the impression of later generations, the Temple of Heaven and Earth at this time was not separated.

Because the emperor is different.

Historically, because of Emperor Jiajing's great ritual discussion, the old system of dividing the altar of heaven and earth was restored. So in the Jiajing Dynasty, the later altar of earth was newly built, and a mound was also built in the original altar of heaven and earth, and the sacrifice to heaven was changed to be held in the mound, so the altar of heaven and earth was renamed the Temple of Heaven.

Now, although the Temple of Heaven and Earth is still not small, it is far less big than it was later.

The east, north and west are all called the Gate of Heaven, but the south gate is called Yong'an. The original main building, the Great Worship Hall, is called the New Year.

This is also the result of the re-planning and construction of the imperial city.

Similarly, the Sainomiya complex in the southwest corner of the Temple of Heaven and Earth has been enlarged a bit.

In the past, it was the emperor's palace for fasting. The palace built in the eighteenth year of Yongle covers a total area of nearly 40,000 square meters, and is specially designed for the emperor to come here in advance to fast for three days when he personally worships the heavens.

And on the southwest side of Sainomiya, there is also the Kagura Department. This Kagura Department was built at the same time as Sainomiya, and it was originally called God Optimism, and it was a place for practicing ritual music.

Now that the Ministry of Rites and Relations has set up the Quyi Division, the Kagura Department has now had a new purpose: the most upscale hostel of the Tongyi Bureau: the Datong Hall.

There is no other reason: in the process of expanding the city of Beijing, the land around the Temple of Heaven and Earth can be sold, and the surrounding area is now home to some of the richest elites in the Ming Dynasty.

People like them often come from nothing. Generally speaking, you should be invited to live in the house. But in the same way, there are also people who specialize in entering Beijing to make friends with dignitaries, and if there is a place to live in this vicinity, it will naturally be much more convenient.

Therefore, not far after entering from the Yongding Gate in the south of Beijing, there is a street leading to the Yong'an Gate of the Temple of Heaven and Earth to the east.

And this street has become a new "luxury street" in Beijing.

There are many boutiques in the north and south, high-end restaurants, tea houses, and theaters on this street.

Now the Datong Pavilion has been rounded by the Ministry of Rites and Communications, and it has begun to move in with the envoys of various vassal states one after another: only the main envoys and deputy envoys are allowed to stay, and the attachés are arranged in the old Huitong Pavilion.

On Ding'an Street, there were many foreign envoys in strange costumes.

The dazzling array of goods dazzled them, and when they saw the lively second generation of relatives or the heirs of important ministers passing the time in the teahouse and theater in Ding'an Street, some people laughed and ridiculed: "Yan Guolao is also good at financial planning." Although it is said that these foreign envoys live in the Datong Pavilion, the Ministry of Rites and Communications will have to spend some more silver. But when these hillbillies arrive on this Ding'an Street, can they still leave gold and silver in their pockets? ”

"You can't say that. In these years, whenever a foreign vassal envoy arrives in the capital, no matter where he lives, who hasn't spent all his money to go back? In the capital, as long as you have silver taels in your pocket, you don't have to worry about having no place to spend it. Besides, what princes, important ministers, and even the lord of the country himself are always coming, and which one is the thrifty lord? ”

"I heard that this time, Your Majesty will personally sacrifice heaven and earth, and then talk with the envoys of various countries at the Temple of Heaven and Earth?"

"What exactly is the covenant?"

On Ding'an Street, Shang Yuan and Mao Longyin were strolling.

They arrived yesterday, and on the way, they were wondering if they could try to take a test ride on the steam train that the envoy who had returned last year had said. However, they arrived all the way to Beijing via the canal. From Tongzhou to Beijing, I only took a horse-drawn carriage.

Now on the street, the two are parked in front of a store called "Jin Ji Zhen Grain".

They stopped here because they found that there were many shops selling all kinds of exquisite and kitsch goods on this street, but the grain store was the first.

Knowing that the people who live in this area are either rich or expensive, and the courtyards are large and there are many servants, it is natural that there is no need to go through such a grain store to buy grain, but someone should send it directly to the house.

"Two guest officers, please come into the store and take a closer look. In our Jinji Zhen grain store, what is sold is not ordinary grain, this is all carefully tried by the worshippers of the Agricultural College in Huangzhuang, and then trialed by our Jinji Grain and Oil Factory, Daming is the only one, there is no semicolon! ”

Mao Longyin walked in first, taking Shang Yuan like a grandson.

The words of trial production are extremely heavy.

As soon as they entered the door, they saw another person who looked like a housekeeper walk into the store, and said directly: "Shopkeeper Jin, my master tried the corn soup you said yesterday, and he was full of praise." How many more do you have? Our Zhenyuan Marquis Mansion is all wanted! ”

Mao Longyin was shocked after hearing this.

If the homework he did on the road was not wrong, the so-called Marquis Zhenyuan, it was the one who helped the current emperor to quell the rebellion when he first succeeded to the throne. At that time, he was promoted to the Duke of Guo, and he was the first newly feudal Duke of the Jiajing Dynasty.

Also, What is corn?

Behind the counter, a person greeted him: "Oh, Butler Gu, this corn was only brought back with the ship when the Portuguese ambassador came to the capital last year to meet His Majesty." After a year, there is only a little bit of production on the Huangzhuang side. If it weren't for the conscientious work of my lord who has been providing fertilizer to Huangzhuang for so many years, how could he get some of it. To tell you the truth, those are just defective products that are not suitable for seeds, so I sent some to all the old men first, and I didn't dare to negotiate the price. If you want more, where will it be? ”

"It's a new seed that only happened last year...... Then there are always potatoes and potatoes, right? Now there is no shortage of seeds in the provinces. ”

"That's a lot." The shopkeeper laughed, and then said a little proudly, "However, the technology of boiling into flour, as well as the quantity, is still the only one with the most precious grains in our Jinji." ”

“…… Take 100 catties first. The butler sighed, "President Jin will still do business." Originally, it was just a fertilizer factory, but now it has found a different way and become a grain merchant. ”

"Whew! Isn't this a new fertilizer plant built by order and a lot of machines purchased? Besides, His Majesty's Imperial Village has only been in and out for so many years, and it is all about cultivating new grain varieties and pondering new techniques. My lord invited him to go up, so he got this grace, and it can be regarded as allowing the emperor to have more money. Naturally, the important thing is to let you try the benefits of new food. Rich and noble people love to eat, and it will be easier to implement it at that time......"

Mao Longyin listened to the two gossiping there, and the person who greeted them before went to the backyard to arrange for what potato flour and potatoes to be called.

He was curious, and couldn't help but step forward and salute, and asked in a somewhat rusty "standard" Chinese: "You two, please!" I don't know about these potatoes, potatoes, corn...... What are they? ”

"Your car is ......"

"Oh...... Ventured. This is the son-in-law of our Ryukyu lord, Prince Shang Yuanzhi, the contemptible Ryukyu Mao Longyin, and Xi is the deputy envoy. ”

"It turned out to be two envoys, snubbing Your Highness, slacking off your nobles." The golden shopkeeper saluted, and then said, "What about these things......

Let's talk about it a little bit.

The sweet potato that was found from the beginning, and the word "foreign potato" was hung to stimulate Yang Tinghe's motivation to promote this thing at that time. Over the years, with the footsteps of Huang Ming Ji Haimao, the pace of looking for foreign high-quality grain varieties and new species has not stopped.

was looking for it, and through Alfonso, he extended his tentacles directly to Portugal, and many things came earlier.

Potato, corn, rubber...... If it weren't for these new things, Portugal's compensation to the Ming would not have been paid so early - they were enthusiastic about searching for these for Zhu Houxi, as well as European books, and Zhu Houxi finally converted some prices and discounted them for them.

Originally, the two new species, the potato and maize, had to wait a few decades before they were introduced to the East.

And now, the powerful family in the capital has tasted it in advance, and it is still a defective product that cannot be used as a seed in the mouth of the golden shopkeeper.

In front of the foreign envoy, the two did not say much. However, the housekeeper of the Zhenyuan Marquis's Mansion praised the emperor's meritorious deeds again, and the potatoes and potatoes were drought-tolerant and high-yielding, and there were countless people, which was really immeasurable. Now there are still surplus fruits that can be boiled into flour, each with its own wonderful taste, and he just bought some for the Marquis of Zhenyuan to go back to make those foods that ordinary restaurants can't buy.

When Mao Longyin heard this, he finally knew why this grain store could be opened in such a place where every inch of land was valuable.

He said sincerely: "The country is lonely, the land is barren, and the people can only feed on cycad fruit. I wonder if there are any seeds that can be sold? If you can try to plant in the Ryukyus, the Ryukyus will be grateful for the kindness of the country, and pray day and night for His Majesty the Ming Emperor to live a long life! ”

"Cycads?" The housekeeper of the Marquis of Zhenyuan was stunned for a moment, "The people of your country feed on that thing?" ”

Unexpectedly, the king's son also asked, "Mao Fasi, why don't the people eat rice?" ”

Mao Longyin looked at the two large, one small and three jars that Xiao Er and the other two helpers had brought from the backyard, the tanks were transparent, and they were made of glass. And in the jar, the fine white powder is full.

"Butler Gu, did you weigh it?"

"No, President Jin is just this one store, how can our Zhenyuan Marquis Mansion not be trusted? Just send it to the house. The gold shopkeeper, calculate the accounts and remember them first, I will draw the mortgage first, and settle the account at the house at the end of the month. ”

"Okay."

Mao Longyin looked at Shang Yuan at this time, and then sighed: "Let the two of you laugh." This cycad is also available in the Liangguang area of Shangguo. If it were not for the time of great calamity, I am afraid that the people of the kingdom would not need to use it to survive their hunger. However, the land is barren and the land is small, but it is not easy to grow rice. There are not many people who can eat rice. His Royal Highness Prince Nao grew up in the palace and did not know the difficulties of the people. When the contemptible people suddenly heard that there was such a drought-tolerant and high-yield grain in the upper country, they were shocked. If you can bring some back to Ryukyu to try planting, it is really a meritorious thing, and please ask the golden shopkeeper to show you the way. ”

Cycad fruit, in China, is mainly used as medicine, dispelling wind and circulation, invigorating blood and stopping bleeding.

And Mao Long's words showed his level. He not only knew that the Ming Dynasty also had this plant, but also knew that the people of the Ming Dynasty had no way to find these things to satisfy their hunger in the disaster year, and it also showed his loyalty to the lord of the Ryukyus as the deputy envoy of the Ryukyus and his concern for the people of the Ryukyus.

It's a pity that the gold shopkeeper said: "Whether you can grow well in the Ryukyus, I don't understand." I am not qualified to sell seeds. The noble envoy also saw that the shops were selling all kinds of fine grains that had been newly made from many crops. According to my grandfather, His Majesty called it reprocessing. At present, the new Ministry of Agriculture is in charge of grain production. Your envoy has a heart, and this time you can invite Your Majesty. If His Majesty allows it, the Ministry of Agriculture will handle it. ”

"Thank you!" Mao Longyin made a long gesture, "But the golden shopkeeper must know the habits of these good grains, please advise ......."

Mao Longyin felt that he had gained a lot today.

Regardless of the impact on the Ryukyus after the Ming Dynasty's conquest of Japan, the situation in which the Ryukyus relied on maritime trade for profit was already changing.

Nowadays, it is true that only the powerful can afford to eat rice, because they can earn money and can buy it.

The ordinary people of the Ryukyus can only find ways to fish, or survive on the low harvest, or pick some wild fruits such as cycads that are easy to live there.

In that Datong Pavilion, he knew what Datong was. And the envoys of the countries announced that they visited the political style and people's livelihood to repay the great tomorrow, and the Ming Emperor was also looking forward to seeing the officials of the feudal domains working for the people.

To be able to achieve the position of an important minister of the vassal state, he has not made the worst conjectures.

But no matter what, the feudal kingdom still needs someone to govern it, right?

Today, the remarks of the heir of the Ryukyu Kingdom "Why don't you eat rice", Mao Longyin said "see laughter", but I am afraid that it will spread later.

In fact, this is indeed the case, that night, Yan Song got the news from the Ministry of Etiquette.

This year, the envoys of the feudal lords gathered in the capital, and the Ming monarchs and ministers had important things to do.

Naturally, the emperor has people on his side who are doing things, and the Ministry of Rites and Communications, as the yamen who directly handles this matter, since the envoys and attachés of the various feudal domains have already arrived in Beijing, their movements are naturally to be paid attention to.

The outside is loose and the inside is tight, even if the officials are accompanied on the surface, there is no more this year.

In order to let them move freely in the capital first.

If someone causes an accident, it will only give Da Ming more chips.

If someone is not willing to be lonely and moves around, it can also get a glimpse of their thoughts.

The behavior of the Ryukyu mission is not ranked at all here by Yan Song, and he is now more concerned about the Tibetan mission.

Similarly, Zhu Houxi in the palace also received daily reports from Jinyiwei and the Internal Inspection Factory.

After reading it, Zhu Houxi just sneered: "There are still so many stupid people." Mansuer rebuilt Chagatai and I Da promoted the Yellow Sect under the Khan's court, are these people still unaware of these news? When I heard that the Tibetan monks were visiting, I was busy inviting them into the house? ”

Lu Bing was silent on the side.

Since Tubo and I Tan got together, the emperor paid more attention to Tibetan monks, and Lu Bing naturally had to work hard in these aspects.

In fact, Tibetan monks have always been very active in the Ming Dynasty and even in the capital, and there is a feeling that foreign monks are good at chanting scriptures.

It is said that during the Xuanzong period, there were too many Tibetan monks stranded in the capital, and there were more than 1,000 Tibetan monks who were invited back at that time. However, these Tibetan monks have a lot of powerful officials who come and go, and in fact, it has always been unavoidable. Coupled with the fact that the relationship between the Ming Dynasty and the Tubo Ming Dynasty has been stable for more than a hundred years, no one has an accurate number of Tibetan monks who are active in the Ming Dynasty.

Not to mention, Emperor Zhengde also had close contacts with Tibetan monks.

This time, the Tibetan envoy arrived in Beijing, and several senior monks came.

Since there were no stricter and more definite restrictions on their behavior, they naturally began to use various methods, either to be invited, or to take the initiative to visit, and to seize various opportunities such as the illness of the elderly in the homes of some powerful people.

Zhu Houxi finished reading the list, and then said to Lu Bing: "Don't worry about the civil officials, you go to the homes of these relatives on the list for me, and care about them on my behalf." Ask, what is the difficulty of asking the monks to practice the catastrophe? ”

(End of chapter)