In Shenyang, the temperature in early winter has dropped to more than ten degrees below zero, but it is very warm in the Phoenix Tower.
Huang Taiji sat on a throne that was not too high. Due to the height of the room, the platform is only one foot high, which can be regarded as a sign of superiority.
Phoenix Tower is a building on Khangong Middle Road in Shenyang. It is built on a 4-meter-high blue brick platform. The three-drop-water-resting mountain-style corridor is paved with yellow glazed tiles on the top and trimmed with green edges. This building was the tallest building in Shengjing at that time. Therefore, there are legends such as "Dawning Sun in Fenglou" and "Guangta Tower in Fenglou", one of the "Eight Scenes of Shengjing".
In the Khan Palace in Shenyang, the Phoenix Tower is at the center. There is a doorway on the platform base downstairs, and entering the doorway is the harem. As for why such a tall building was built in the palace, it is mainly related to the living habits of the Manchu people. Except for the Han people, all ethnic groups in the world have the habit of building castles as palaces in the highlands.
The smaller the nation, the more they like to build castles on top of mountains.
Since the late Ming Dynasty, when Nurhachi was in Jianzhou Guards and raised troops with thirteen armors, whether in Jianzhou Laoying, Hetuala, Jiefan Mountain City, Sarhu Mountain City, or in Liaoyang Tokyo City, the Manchus The "palace" in the district was built on the mountain or on the hillside.
The reason for doing this is partly due to their living habits. After all, they are originally mountain people. Accustomed to living in mountains.
On the other hand, various Jurchen tribes often fight against each other to rob each other for food, women and territory. The castle is built on a high place, which is easy to defend and difficult to attack. It is also convenient to observe the enemy's situation, always be alert to invading enemies, and protect one's own safety.
When they arrived in Shenyang, they found that Shenyang was located in the plains and there were no mountains for them to build castles. However, the builders still piled high platforms manually, and then built palaces on the high platforms.
The Phoenix Tower is three stories high and is a three-drop mountain-style pavilion. It is a typical platform and the commanding height of the entire palace. Standing in the corridor on the third floor upstairs, you can overlook the whole city of Shenyang.
The upper beams of the Phoenix Tower are decorated with golden dragon paintings on red ground. The interior of the middle floor is decorated with Sanskrit, phoenix and seal script patterns of "Longevity without Borders". Nurhaci and Huang Taiji used this place as their study room, where they often read or take a nap. When not in court, he also works here.
It is estimated that the reason is that there is a harem here, which is similar to the Yangxin Hall in the Forbidden City. The emperor can walk less, and the office is right outside the palace. The other one was tired of writing and his eyes were tired. Pushing open the door leads to the corridor, where you can look far and rest your eyes.
The lower level is the inner palace gate, which is the passage in and out of the palace area. There are dozens of steps leading down to the stage. Climbing up to the Phoenix Tower, you can have a panoramic view of the entire Shengjing City.
Today on the middle floor, Huang Taiji is sitting on the throne, holding a bowl of tea in his hand and carefully squeezing the foam. He likes milk tea, and this bowl is filled with piping hot milk tea.
Manchu milk tea is a traditional drink. People today only know that Mongolians and other tribes drink milk tea, but they don’t know that the Manchus also have a long history of drinking milk tea for at least a thousand years.
The method is to add horseradish or cow's milk or goat's milk to a small pot, then add Poria tea (tied with tea bags) and rock sugar. After boiling, drink it while it's hot. The aroma of milk and tea will blend into one. tasty. The recipes and ingredients of Mongolian milk tea are different, and each has its own flavor.
Huang Taiji took a few sips of the hot milk tea and felt warm all over. Satisfied, he put down his tea bowl and took a look at Ning Wanwo, Li Yongfang, Fan Wencheng and others kneeling below.
"My dear friends, the weather is cold, let's have some drinks." Huang Taiji's fat cheeks trembled, and he squeezed out a slightly majestic smile. In Houjin, the status of Han people was much lower than that of banner people. Hearing the big man's caring words, he suddenly choked up with excitement.
"I thank the Great Khan for your kindness." The three men immediately bowed their heads and said excitedly.
Naturally, their identities cannot drink the same drink as Huang Taiji. If Huang Taiji gives them milk tea, that's okay. This is another higher level of grace. It is different from the reward drink.
Two young eunuchs came over carrying a wooden pallet. There are three copper pots and many tea bowls placed on it. Another young eunuch picked up a tea bowl, selected a copper pot, poured hot Wen Pumuke into the copper pot, and handed it to Fan Wencheng.
Fan Wencheng immediately kowtowed again gratefully, then raised his hands above his head and took the tea bowl.
. The scalding tea bowl was very hot to the touch, and he endured it, not daring to show any sign of pain.
Otherwise, if he behaves inappropriately in front of the Khan, these two will take advantage of him and make him jealous, which will be enough for him to drink a pot of wine.
"Wenpu Muke" is made by washing and removing the core of Shanli red, steaming it in a pot, drying it in the sun, and then storing it. When eating, put the dried Shanli red slices into a pot and boil water, then add sugar or honey and drink. This Wenpu Muke is delicious in color, as red as a peach blossom and is very attractive. Its taste is sour and sweet, and drinking it has the functions of promoting body fluids, moistening the lungs, strengthening the spleen and helping digestion.
This stuff is usually consumed by people of high status in the Eight Banners. After all, honey is a good thing. This also means that his status in Huang Taiji's heart is higher. Huang Taiji especially likes to carefully operate the distinctions between these different levels. This was used to hint at the status of his subordinates here.
Then, the little eunuch poured another bowl of "Sulehemuk" and handed it to Li Yongfang.
Huang Taiji said with a smile: "My forehead and lungs are not good. Drink some pear water to moisten it."
Li Yongfang quickly bowed his head, looking like he was crying with gratitude, and choked with sobs: "The Great Khan's favor, I can't repay it by smashing my body to pieces."
This thing is also called "Pear Tuo Water" and is also a drink often consumed by Manchu nobles.
"Sulehe" is the Manchu word "pear" and "muke", which means water. Sulehemuk is made by cutting and removing the core of the sorbet, stringing it with hemp rope, and hanging it under the eaves to dry and preserve it.
When eating, wash the dried sorbus with water first, then put it in a pot to boil water. After boiling, add sugar or honey and drink it. This Sulehemuk is not only sweet and sour, but also has the effects of moistening the lungs, relieving asthma, and relieving coughs.
In the early years, Manchu people would boil pear water and drink it if someone in their family had a cough or phlegm. The effect was very good.
When we arrived at Ning Wan's place, the young eunuch poured a bowl of local tea and handed it to him.
After Ning Wan, I knew it was local tea just by smelling it. I sighed inwardly. In Dahan's heart, he is still not as good as these two.
Li Yongfang was the first Han official to surrender. I can still accept it. But Fan Wencheng felt a little uncomfortable when he was favored more than himself. ..
This bowl of native tea is made by drying wild rose leaves, Dazixiang (called "Anqi Xiang", "Benzoin", etc. by the Manchus) leaves, astragalus leaves, etc. and soaking them in water.
There are a lot of these things in the forest, and they are all things that the banner people are bitter about. Worthless.
Huang Taiji's slender eyes were shining with light as he watched Ning Wan's reaction carefully. Seeing that he looked hesitant, but put it away in a flash, I couldn't help but snorted in my heart.
"Ning Aiqing, I have read your recent letter. I met Bao Cheng, the man you recommended, first. He is a talented person. You have merit in recommending someone, and you will be rewarded with a green satin-covered ermine robe."
After I was done with it, I immediately beamed with joy and said loudly: "I thank the Great Khan for the generous reward. I am willing to give you a large sum of money in return. I have a great plan to stabilize the country and I would like to ask the Great Khan to see it."
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