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 is sitting on a throne that is not too high. Due to the height of the room, the platform is only one foot high, which can be regarded as showing that he is superior to others.
Phoenix Tower is a building on Khangong Middle Road in Shenyang. It is built on a 4-meter-high blue brick platform. It has a three-drop mountain-style corridor, with yellow glazed tiles on the top and green trim. This building was the tallest building in Shengjing at that time. Therefore, There are legends such as "Fenglou Dawn" and "Fenglou Guanta", one of the "Eight Scenes of Shengjing".
In the Khan Palace in Shenyang, the Phoenix Tower is at the center. There is a doorway at the base of the 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 Manchus. In addition to 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 end of the Ming Dynasty, when Nurhachi was in Jianzhou Guard 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 is built on the mountain or on the hillside.
The reason for doing this is mainly due to their living habits. After all, they are originally mountain people and are used to living in mountains.
On the other hand, various Jurchen tribes often fight against each other to snatch food, women and territory. The castle is built on a high place, which is easy to defend and difficult to attack. It also makes it easy to keep an eye on the enemy's situation, always be wary of 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 used artificial methods to build high platforms and then built palaces on the high platforms.
The Phoenix Tower is three stories high. It is a three-drop-water-resting-mountain-style pavilion. It is a typical terraced tower and the commanding height of the entire palace. Standing in the corridor on the third floor, you can overlook the whole city of Shenyang.
The upper beams of the Phoenix Tower are decorated with golden dragon paintings on the red ground. The interior of the middle floor is decorated with Sanskrit, Phoenix and seal script patterns of "Longevity without Borders". Nurhachi and Huang Taiji used this place as a study room, where they often read or take a nap. When they were not in court, they also Work here.
I guess the reason is that this is just outside the harem, which is similar to the Hall of Cultivation of the Heart in the Forbidden City. The emperor can walk less, and there is an office outside the palace. The other one is too busy with paperwork and the eyes are tired. Open the door and you will find the corridor, where you can look far away and rest. Eye.
The lower level is the inner palace gate, which is the passage in and out of the palace area. There are dozens of steps in front leading to the stage. When you climb up to the Phoenix Tower and look around, 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 skimming the foam. He likes milk tea, and this bowl is filled with piping hot milk tea.
Manchu milk tea is a traditional drink. Nowadays, people only know that Mongolians and other ethnic groups drink milk tea, but they do not know that the Manchu people also drink milk tea with a long history of at least more than a thousand years.
The method is to add mare's milk or milk or goat's milk in a small pot, then add Poria tea (tied with tea bags) and rock sugar. After boiling, drink it while it's hot. The milky tea aroma blends into one and is very delicious. The recipe of Mongolian milk tea has different ingredients and each has its own flavor.
Huang Taiji took a few sips of the hot milk tea and felt warm all over. He put down the tea bowl with satisfaction 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. Here in Houjin, the status of Han people is much lower than that of bannermen. Hearing that the big man
The sympathetic words immediately made me choke up with excitement.
"I thank the Great Khan for your kindness." The three men immediately bowed their heads and said excitedly.
Naturally, their status cannot drink the same drink as Huang Taiji. If Huang Taiji gives them milk tea, that is fine. This is a higher-level favor. It is different from the reward drink.
Two little eunuchs came over carrying a wooden pallet. There were three copper pots and many tea bowls on it. The other little eunuch picked up a tea bowl, selected a copper pot, and poured hot water into it.
Pumuke, and then handed it to Fan Wencheng.
Fan Wencheng immediately kowtowed gratefully again, then raised his hands above his head and took the tea bowl. The hot tea bowl was very hot to the touch, and he resisted, not daring to show any pain.
Otherwise, if he behaves inappropriately in front of the Great 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 Shanlihong, steaming it in a pot, drying it in the sun, and then storing it. When eating, put the dried Shanlihong slices into the pot and boil water, and then put it in
You can drink it with sugar or honey. 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 drunk by people with 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 these different levels. In this way,
It hints at the status of his subordinates here.
Then, the little eunuch poured another bowl of "Sulehemuk" and handed it to Li Yongfang.
Huang Taiji smiled and said: "The lungs on my forehead are not good, so 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 with my body broken to pieces."
This thing is also called "Pear Tuo Water" and is also a drink often consumed by Manchu nobles.
"Suleh" means "pear" and "muke" in Manchu, which means water. Suleh Muke is made by cutting the mountain pears, removing the core, stringing them with hemp rope, and hanging them under the eaves to dry and preserve them.
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, if someone in the family had a cough or excessive phlegm, the Manchu people would boil pear water and drink it, which was very effective.
When we arrived at Ning Wan's place, the young eunuch just poured a bowl of local tea and handed it to him.
After Ning Wan, I knew it was local tea by smelling it. I sighed in my heart. Even though I was sweating profusely, I was still not as good as these two.
Li Yongfang was a subordinate and the first Han official to surrender. I could still accept it. But Fan Wencheng felt a little uncomfortable being favored over me.
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 bannermen have been suffering from. They are worthless.
Huang Taiji's slender eyes were shining with light, and he carefully watched Ning Wan's reaction. Seeing that he had a look of hesitation, but he put it away in a flash, he couldn't help but snorted coldly in his heart.
"Ning Aiqing, I have read your recent letter. I met Bao Cheng, the person 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 finishing Ning, I immediately beamed with joy and said loudly: "I thank the Great Khan for the generous reward. I am willing to go to pieces and repay my great wealth. I have a great plan to stabilize the country and I would like to ask the Great Khan to see it."
