The only Western-style palace building in the Ming Dynasty is Gao Jianxinzhai's "White Jade Tower" in the northwest suburbs of Beijing.
This white marble version of the Gao family's villa complex at the Palace of Fontainebleau has become famous all over the world after the last time it hosted dignitaries from the capital to discuss maritime trade affairs. This time, it naturally became the venue for Gao Pragmatic's twentieth birthday.
The Western-style palace complex, coupled with Ming Dynasty-specific red lanterns and other decorations, is really... quite interesting.
In fact, compared to Long Wenya Garden, which is as solid as a city and was built by Gao's mother, Zhang, in Xinzheng, Gao pragmatically prefers Jianxinzhai, and he also likes this white jade building far more than Long Wenya. Garden.
Although he is a typical "China supremacist" person, after all, he lived in Western-style buildings in his previous life. In terms of accommodation alone, he still prefers "brick houses" to "timber houses."
Therefore, near the Baiyu Tower, he erected all the honors he had received in accordance with the regulations of his Zhuangyuan Order. The Zhuangyuan Tower, Zhuangyuan Archway, etc. were all built nearby without affecting the style of the Baiyu Tower itself.
The unique words "Six Yuan Ji Di" and other words in the world are eye-catching but not overwhelming, showing the progress of Jinghua's infrastructure over the years - in the past they could only build city walls, fortresses and water conservancy facilities, how could they do this kind of "art" live.
Architecture is just a display of "hard power", while soft power depends on connections.
The big bosses of Gao Dang or the real school in Beijing, such as Zhang Siwei, the chief assistant... will not come.
This era is different from that of later generations. In later generations, it was normal for an uncle to attend a nephew's birthday party. However, in the Ming Dynasty, if an elder appeared at a younger generation's birthday party, especially when the elder's official status was still very high, it was inevitable that he would overwhelm the guest, so most of the time Only congratulatory gifts will be sent.
However, there were more people of the same generation attending Gao Pragmatic's birthday party, and there were also officials such as nobles and military generals who were inconvenient to judge by seniority. That is, all those who had received the invitation were present, regardless of whether they were the Duke of the country or some other prince. Master, no one is left behind in Beijing. Even the "grandfather" Dingguo Gong Xu Wenbi came to celebrate his birthday in person.
It can be seen that although Gao is young, his face is indeed big enough.
What's even more interesting is that Qi Jiguang, who was still fighting in the "enemy territory" of Daning, and Li Chengliang, who was further away and was also fighting, actually magically sent congratulatory gifts, and they were all sent. a key figure in the family.
Qi Jiguang sent his younger brother Qi Jimei, and Li Chengliang directly sent his eldest son Li Rusong, who had just killed Dong Hu and ended the war.
Qi Jimei's current job is the Governor of Nanjing, and he originally returned to Beijing to report on his duties. Qi Jiguang temporarily appointed him to celebrate his birthday on his behalf. Needless to say, Li Rusong's current job is the right deputy general of the Shenji Battalion. After this meritorious service, , since the entire war has not yet completely ended, so he has not been promoted yet, and was sent directly by his father to celebrate his birthday.
In the past, it was inconvenient for Qi Jiguang and Li Chengliang to directly congratulate Gao Jingshi on his birthday, but it has been different since the Battle of Monan. Gao Jingshi actually commanded them - and also commanded from a distance. Command, this is qualifications.
In the past, Qi Jiguang and Li Chengliang could only write letters to Gao Gong, Guo Pu or Zhang Siwei by calling themselves "Qi, the little lackey under the sect". However, after the Battle of Monan, if they volunteered, they would write to Gao Gong, Guo Pu or Zhang Siwei. Gao Pragmatic can also call himself this way when writing a letter.
Hey, why do you say this as if it is a great honor...
As for Gao Party civil servants, the one with the highest status here is of course the eldest brother among Gao Pragmatic's "peers" and the Minister of War, Wu Dui. Apart from him, the others who came here are all disciples of Gao Gong and Guo Pu.
However, among Gao Gong's disciples in Beijing, there was also one with the highest status who did not come, that is, the great scholar Xu Guo. It's not that he refused to come to support him, but it was just that Mu Zongzhuang's concubine Liu passed away not long ago, and Mr. Xu Ge was ordered by the emperor to send her to Zhaoling for burial. Disrespectful”.
The guests with the lowest status among the guests were probably those who were Jinshi in the same year as Gao Jingshi in the eighth year of Wanli. Except for Xiao Liangyou and Wang Tingzhuan, who were second only to Gao Jingshi in the Three Tripods at that time, the others who were in the same year in Beijing were either Shuji. The scholars have just left the hall, or they are hanging around at the level of heads of various ministries. Even if they bear the title of the same year as Gao Pragmatic, among a large group of senior officials and noble relatives, they can only stay with the last one, and even have no choice but to toast Gao Pragmatic. Everyone at the table came together.
Fortunately, Gao Jingshi was quite polite to the same year. He raised his glass and drank it all, which was more respectable than a group of military generals at the table. Gao Jingshi was over there, and a table of military generals stood up to toast, but Gao was just a young man. Drink half a sip and it means something.
In front of so many guests, even Gao Pragmatic could only deal with the difference between civil and military affairs according to the actual situation at this time.
Toasts and other such things are traditional Chinese customs and are more important than eating. When the banquet was about to officially begin, there was a burst of exclamations and noises outside.
The hundreds of distinguished officials and nobles in the White Jade Tower were all a little stunned - what's going on? Is there anyone who dares to come and cause trouble at the birthday banquet of a special person like Gao Shizhong? Isn't this because Tai Sui is making trouble and is becoming impatient?
Gao pragmatic himself was a little surprised, because there were too many important people attending his birthday party this time, and he mobilized a large number of servants to guard the area around Jian Xinzhai. Unless the "400,000" Beijing camp rebelled collectively, how could anyone possibly be able to Breaking in to cause trouble?
He glanced at Gao Mo, who nodded quietly and walked out quickly to check the situation.
But soon Gao Mo trotted back with a faster pace, his face was full of surprise and joy, and he shouted loudly from afar: "Master, come out quickly to greet me - the emperor is here!"
These words were like a thunderclap, and the entire banquet hall of the huge White Jade Tower was shocked. Everyone was so shocked that they stood up subconsciously.
The emperor is here?
OMG, did the emperor actually come to congratulate his ministers on their birthday in person? This...this is the Ming Dynasty!
All kinds of looks of shock, surprise, envy, etc. were all cast on the birthday boy, Gao Pragmatic.
Gao pragmatic himself was also surprised. He immediately tidied up his appearance and walked quickly to the entrance of the hall. The officials and nobles in the banquet hall were a little dazed for a moment, and they couldn't figure out whether they should follow Gao Pangshi out quickly or wait for the emperor to come in and see him again - after all, no one had ever experienced this before, and no one had any experience.
Come along, the emperor must have come for Gao Shizhong, not for them. What reason is there to follow?
If you don't follow him, you seem to be showing off. When you hear the emperor coming, you dare not take the initiative to greet him. What kind of etiquette have you learned after studying for so many years?
While he was hesitating, he saw a person walking in from the door of the banquet hall. He was wearing a bright red emperor's uniform, carrying the sun and moon on his shoulders, and wearing a silk cloth. Who else could it be if he wasn't the current Wanli Emperor Zhu Yijun?
