The Ming Dynasty started with caution

Fengtian Temple,

Emperor Hongzhi glanced at the memorials on the imperial case, and there were three more. Empress Zhang was waiting for him to have dinner, and was planning to go to Kunning Palace after reading them.

Mou Bin reminded softly: "Your Majesty, Yan Chengjin wants to see you."

"Why did he come to me? Let him come in." Emperor Hongzhi didn't even raise his eyelids.

Yan Chengjin quickly walked into the hall and knelt on the ground to salute.

The three members of the cabinet were off duty, and only Emperor Hongzhi and Mou Bin were left in the palace.

"Why do you come to see me?"

Yan Chengjin first reported the situation: "I want to sell the 40,000 ducks and geese and open a restaurant. Marquis Ningshou threatened to close down my restaurant."

Emperor Hongzhi frowned and turned to look at Mou Bin.

Mou Bin said at the right time: "Yan Chengjin opened a restaurant, right next to Ningshouhou Restaurant. Ningshouhou threatened to cut prices severely tomorrow and close Yan Chengjin's restaurant as soon as it opened. It seemed that it was for the sake of three hundred thousand shi of military rations. "

Zhang Heling maintained his status as the uncle of the state and never hid his harsh words.

Jin Yiwei was grateful to him, and it was much easier to inquire about information than before.

Emperor Hongzhi's frown deepened. Although this behavior was shameful, he was in trouble: "It's not against the law to lower the price. How do you want me to punish him?"

Even if he doesn't eat minced meat, he still knows that this is normal business competition.

"I do not seek punishment from Your Majesty, I just want to borrow someone from Your Majesty."

In fact, it doesn't matter whether Zhang Heling said harsh words or not.

Yan Chengjin also has to go to the palace to borrow people, otherwise, the 40,000 ducks and geese will not be sold out until the year of the monkey and the month of the horse.

Zhang Heling wanted to close down his restaurant. Yan Chengjin was not afraid, but was happy. As long as he borrowed someone from His Majesty, Zuixianju would close down.

Emperor Hongzhi wondered: "Who do you want to borrow?"

"Huang Baoshan, chief cook of the imperial dining room, and ten chefs from the imperial dining room." Yan Chengjin raised his head slightly and glanced at Emperor Hongzhi, only to see him frowning.

There were no less than a hundred people in the imperial dining room, but only a few cooks. Yan Chengjin also found out about this person from Wang Yue.

Emperor Hongzhi pondered for a few times. He lived a frugal life, especially when it came to meals. It was nothing to lend someone to Yan Chengjin, but the most important thing was his face.

"How can the royal chef in the palace be used by the public?"

Naturally, Yan Chengjin never thought that it would be so easy to borrow someone. Before coming, he had already thought of many countermeasures.

"I am not a greedy person, I just want to sell the ducks and geese in my hand, but forty thousand is too much, so I have no choice but to open a restaurant. Knowing that Your Majesty is very frugal in his meals and has no use for the royal kitchen, I am bold. I borrowed people from your majesty and am willing to donate half of the money I received to Shuntian Mansion for disaster relief. As long as these ducks and geese are sold out, I will return these people to your majesty," Yan Chengjin said in an orderly manner.

If the royal kitchen is used by the people, it will certainly bring disgrace to the royal family.

But he did things for a reason and returned them promptly after using them. He did not occupy them without reason.

This move can also help Shuntian Prefecture provide relief, and is also beneficial to the court.

His Majesty Hongzhi is the emperor, so if he says yes, no one dares to object.

"How much silver is there?"

Sure enough, Your Majesty still values ​​extravagance.

"Within half a year, there must be ten thousand taels of silver." This is Yan Chengjin's conservative estimate. If it falls into the hands of businessmen like Wang Busui, it is estimated that it will be turned over several times.

After all, there are many gentry in the capital, and they all have money.

But he still said a relatively low figure and boasted it in front of His Majesty. When it is not enough, he will pay it back himself.

Emperor Hongzhi looked at it seriously. Ten thousand taels of silver was not much, but he was reluctant to take it out to provide disaster relief to Shuntian Mansion.

"How can I earn so much money just by lending you a few royal chefs?" Emperor Hongzhi questioned.

He was raised by eunuchs and maids since he was a child, and he was familiar with everything in the palace.

As far as he knew, before many chefs entered the palace, their wages were not high. They came to the palace just to make a living. If they could make so much money with their craftsmanship outside, why would they go to the palace?

Yan Chengjin said: "Maybe... higher than ten thousand taels."

Emperor Hongzhi's heart skipped a beat.

That's right, this guy is so prudent and prudent, how could he give me a too high number? I'm afraid this number is only 20%.

Within half a year, you can receive 10,000 taels of silver, which is simply more than the mining tax.

Emperor Hongzhi didn't even frown: "That's right, but Huang Baoshan is the royal chef in the palace. I also have to take into account the face of the royal family and cannot let him stay in the house for a long time. When you use it, you have to return it to me."

Yan Chengjin was overjoyed: "Thank you, Your Majesty. However, I am afraid that Huang Baoshan will not be used to the kitchen utensils in the room, so I would like to ask Your Majesty to allow him to take some pots and pans out of the palace, and I will return them together when the time comes."

Emperor Hongzhi's old face twitched fiercely, "You can borrow people, even pots and pans."

Thinking of that sum of money, he looked a little unnatural and said: "Well, it is also idle in the palace, that's right."

Early the next morning,

Yan Chengjin asked He Neng to bring a ten-piece band and wait outside the palace gate.

He Neng saw someone coming from the palace carrying a gold pot and copper basin, and he hurriedly greeted him: "May I ask, who is Mr. Huang Baoshan?"

"Exactly!"

"Quick, play music!"

The trumpets are blown, the gongs are struck, and the atmosphere is aroused.

After taking a few steps, many people came to watch.

Huang Baoshan's face turned red with embarrassment. He felt that he was not cooking but getting married. He wanted to find a crack in the ground and crawl into it.

If this decree was given by the Director of Ceremonies, he would have given up long ago.

But this decree is His Majesty’s.

Wang Busui had a grimace on his face. When the restaurant opened, Master Yan didn't come to see it. He didn't know how it would close down when the time came.

Zuixianju, which is ten steps away, has a very good business today. People come and go, and even flies don't fly into the restaurant.

There was a commotion outside the door, and a large group of people rushed in, scrambling for seats. The dishes haven't been served yet, but the seats are full.

Wang Bushui was dumbfounded.

What's going on?

A man in official clothes strode in and said to him calmly: "Where is the kitchen? Take me there."

Wang Bushui hurriedly led the way: "This way..."

Huang Baoshan came to the back kitchen and scolded: "How to cook the duck in the oven like this? It's a waste, it's a waste, get out of the way."

Before entering the palace, Huang Baoshan was a famous chef in the Jiangnan area. Later, he was discovered by the eunuch Wang Jing, who brought him back to the palace and recommended him to Emperor Chenghua.

Emperor Chenghua and Concubine Wan both liked delicacies, so he was quite appreciated in the previous dynasty.

But Emperor Hongzhi was extremely frugal and rarely cooked on weekdays, so he naturally had no chance to display his talents.

At this moment, seeing these ingredients, I can't wait to try.

Although this kitchen is a little small, it has all the ingredients.

Huang Baoshan directed the cooks to start cooking.

Wang Bushui was shocked. Is this the imperial chef in the palace?

The imperial chef cooks for the emperor. So, aren't these golden pots and basins also used by the emperor? For a moment, he was excited.

Not to mention that the house is full, it's not uncommon for the gentry in Jiangnan to come to the capital to have a meal.

The dishes made by the imperial chef are delicious.

The important thing is that after eating the food made by the imperial chef, isn't it indirectly like being an emperor?

Who doesn't want to eat?

The restaurant opened today, and Yan Chengjin was in the mansion. Even if he didn't go out, he knew that the restaurant was full.

He Neng ran back: "Master, the restaurant is full."

"Well, send this note to Wang Bushui."

Yan Chengjin decided to arrange takeout as well.

The restaurant has limited seats, so if you can't sit down, you can take it out. If you sell 2,000 a day, you may have to import some more from Jiangnan.

The Manchu-Han Banquet has not yet been released, but Yan Chengjin thinks it's time to make it. The money of the gentry is still easy to earn.

The Zhang brothers heard that the Yingkesong Restaurant was doing very well, but they didn't believe it at all.

When they arrived at Qianmen Street, they saw that the guests in the Yingkesong Restaurant almost squeezed out of the window. Zuixianju was not so popular at its peak, and they were dumbfounded.

"Brother, this kid is so good at playing. Why didn't we think of inviting the imperial chef?"

"Let's go! Go to the palace."

Emperor Hongzhi hadn't left the palace for a long time. Today, Yan Chengjin's restaurant opened, and he suddenly felt interested and wanted to go out for a walk.

When they walked to Qianmen Street, they saw the Yingkesong Restaurant, which was crowded with people.

"Why are there so many people?" Emperor Hongzhi was surprised.

Mou Bin said reluctantly, "When Huang Baoshan left the palace, Yan Chengjin sent people to beat gongs and drums. Now the whole capital knows that this restaurant is cooked by the imperial chef."

"Yan Chengjin is always unexpected."

Emperor Hongzhi blamed him with a smile. Mou Bin knew that he was happy, so he asked, "Does Master Zhu want to summon him?"

"No need, go back to the palace."

Before the season was over, Yan Chengjin planted some melon seedlings in the yard, asked He Neng to bury the wood ash in the pit, and sprinkled his own organic fertilizer on it, waiting for it to grow big and long cucumbers.

As expected, two months later, there were cucumbers to eat.

Song Jing came to Yan Chengjin and said at a loss, "Can you lend me some money?"

Zeng's house provided food and accommodation, and Zeng Jian's study was open for free. Yan Chengjin's first reaction was that this guy was cheated by Changning Bo again.

"What do you need money for?"

Sorry, I forgot to tell you yesterday that I will be on Channel 6 this afternoon, so the first chapter will be posted a little later. I'm very sorry for the long wait. It's a new round, please bookmark and recommend it. Finally, thank you for the reward from the book friends who accidentally wrote the wrong article.