Da Ming: Father, step aside, I'll be the prime minister!

Chapter 342 The Battle of Xishan Hot Pot: A Decisive Battle for the World! Are any of you interested in studying abroad?

The Tibetan envoys stayed at the back of the procession, reluctantly bowing and kowtowing three times in front of the warm tent.

As the snow fell heavily, Ye Li's clothes fluttered in the wind. He solemnly grabbed a handful of soil and placed it in his bag.

Finally, he clasped his hands together and looked firmly at the Tibetan envoys beside him.

"Gentlemen, we Tibetans absolutely must learn this scientific method!"

Upon hearing this, all the Tibetans present agreed wholeheartedly, and many even felt a glimmer of hope in their eyes.

Winter in Tibet is a disaster; cattle and sheep rely on hay, while herders survive on stored tsampa.

If another white blizzard were to occur, it would be an even more hopeless situation for the tribe. If half of them survived the winter, they would be considered lucky.

Yet, in the heart of China, there exists a mountain with a land where spring reigns all year round. The creation of this land was not due to the miraculous intervention of a "living Buddha," nor was it a gift from Buddhism; it was achieved solely through scientific means.

If Tibet could also possess science, wouldn't the "paradise" described by Buddhism be within reach?
The Tibetans received a promise from the Ming emperor and a direction to strive for.

However, these Tibetans were not of one mind; they came from different tribes and served different kings. Yeli was merely a representative chosen by the people.

Faced with such a great "opportunity," the people of Tibet inevitably had their own ulterior motives. Each tribe wanted to gain more benefits for itself and learn more "scientific" methods.

It was cold, and by noon, everyone was eager to get to Xishan Academy, so Zhang Yunxiu led the group to the Xishan dining hall for hot pot.

The hot pot at Xishan is specially made, much smaller than ordinary hot pots, just enough for two to three people to use together.

The envoys from the vassal states usually arrived in groups, so after a simple distribution, the stove could be lit.

The Wanli Emperor sat at the very top, with a gleaming bronze hot pot in front of him, looking quite impressive.

"Gudonggudong"

Inside the spacious dining hall, hundreds of people gathered for a hot pot feast, the rising steam dispelling the winter chill.

The Wanli Emperor, seemingly impatient, ladled a bowl of soup from the stove himself. The soup contained goji berries, and a fragrant aroma immediately filled the air.

Emperor Wanli's mouth watered. He scooped up a spoonful of soup, blew on it gently to cool it, and then put it in his mouth. The fresh and fragrant taste exploded in his mouth, making him feel as if his whole body was warming up.

The emperor let out a long breath before smiling and addressing the assembled envoys.

"The number one dish in winter is undoubtedly the hot pot. No matter how cold it is, eating around the hot pot will warm you up."

All the ingredients here were sourced from Xishan. Please enjoy them.

"Thank you for the reward, Your Majesty!"

The envoys bowed and saluted in perfect unison before carefully picking up their chopsticks.

Hot pot is not a rare thing; most nobles in vassal states have eaten it before.

But the hot pots of the Ming Dynasty seemed completely different. The craftsmanship of those pots was so natural and skillful that they exuded the grandeur of a great nation.

The Korean envoy, Yi In-shin, followed the emperor's example, putting the milky white, creamy-looking food into his mouth. His eyes widened in surprise, and he exclaimed in a loud voice.

"This is mutton soup! It's so delicious and thick, I've never seen anything like it in my life!"

Li Renxin was absolutely competent as a mood-maker; with him taking the lead, the other envoys all sampled the food and gave their own praise.

Zhang Yunxiu stepped forward at the opportune moment to introduce, "There are certain rules to be followed when making a hot pot. It must be made with copper as the base. Copper is lustrous and warm to the touch, which makes it look elegant."

The broth must be made from beef and mutton bones, carefully simmered until the marrow is infused into the soup, in order to achieve a rich and long-lasting aroma.

Of course, the most crucial element is the ingredients.

He picked up a slice of mutton and said, "This dried fish, meat, clams, and vegetables are all from Xishan. The key is freshness. All kinds of meat are marinated and then lightly dipped in the pot for a few seconds until they change color and are cooked. Served with various dipping sauces, they are tender and smooth. Even gods wouldn't trade them for this!"

There's a reason why hot pot restaurants are everywhere in later generations. Hot pot, as a way of eating, naturally has various advantages. In addition, Xishan has almost all the sources of ingredients, so it's impossible for this hot pot meal not to be delicious.

Even the Ming Dynasty officials, who were used to eating delicacies, were tempted today.

Yu Youding put a piece of mutton into his mouth and couldn't help but sigh.

"To be honest, Zhang Zhangwei is the most thoughtful. He not only invents all sorts of strange things, but he is also a master at making food."

Leaving aside other matters, Zhang Yunxiu is a recognized authority in miscellaneous studies.

Zhang Juzheng moved slowly. He picked up a bright green cabbage from the hot pot, blew on it to cool it down, and then ate it.

Yu Youding noticed this detail and immediately followed it, and was immediately amazed by its brilliance.

He couldn't help but exclaim in admiration, "Truly worthy of being called the Grand Secretary! We were greedy and ate as much beef and mutton as we could, but we never imagined that this ordinary cabbage was the real essence of hot pot. The broth is rich and thick, and the cabbage is sweet and delicious. Even the gods wouldn't trade it for this."

Zhang Juzheng glanced at Yu Youding and said, "This cabbage is no ordinary cabbage."

Yu Youding then noticed that these cabbages and radishes were all fresh, obviously just picked. They would be ordinary on a normal day, but with snow falling heavily outside, it was an incredible luxury.

His gaze involuntarily drifted toward the table of the Tibetan envoys, where he saw that the Tibetans were all sitting upright and chanting scriptures over a bowl of fresh vegetables before they had even started eating.

"This is something even Yu Youding couldn't help but admire," he exclaimed, "Zhang Zhangwei really has a way with things!"

Zhang Juzheng did not answer. His gaze fell on Emperor Wanli and Zhang Yunxiu. The two men, though sitting at different heights, showed no difference in their status. They were even fighting over food from each other's pots. If it weren't for the presence of envoys, the two men would have fought over a single beef bone.

In the past, Zhang Juzheng would have felt much more at ease seeing this scene.

But today, the situation is quite different. From Zhang Juzheng's perspective, although he can't hear the two talking, the conversation begins to surface in his mind.

"Brother-in-law, I'm missing a cow bone in my stove. I think your cow bone is quite good. The court has long had regulations that killing oxen for plowing is illegal. To avoid criticism from outside officials, I'll use this cow bone for you!"

"Your Majesty is mistaken. Beef bones are high in cholesterol. As the Imperial Son-in-Law and Commandant, I should be willing to go through fire and water for Your Majesty. This harmful substance should be dealt with by your subject!"

"You dare to defy the imperial decree, you Imperial Son-in-Law!"

"Your Majesty! You must be open to advice!"

Just thinking about those conversations, especially the way they were addressed, made Zhang Juzheng shudder, as if he had made up his mind.

"Father, these vegetables are truly sweet and delicious. It must be only in the Ming Dynasty that vegetables can be grown in winter. It is truly ingenious. It seems that we must learn this scientific way!"

Hosokawa Iya's appetite was whetted, and she couldn't help but eat a few more slices of fatty mutton. Her little face was flushed, and she would occasionally glance at Zhang Yunxiu above her.

Hosokawa Yusai ate slowly and methodically, but he was not slow at all, and quickly finished off the beef in front of him.

Nearly a thousand years ago, during the Asuka period, Japan implemented a "meat-eating ban," partly due to the spread of Buddhism and partly due to the scarcity of resources in Japan at the time.

Later, Japanese nobles even considered vegetarianism elegant, eating mostly rice and pickles on a daily basis, occasionally indulging in some fresh fish as a way to refresh themselves.

Today, Japan's vegetarianism policy has become much more relaxed, but it still has some impact.

For aristocratic families like the Hosokawa family, polished rice was the most precious food. The Japanese people's enthusiasm for polished rice continued into modern times, hundreds of years later.

Having barely eaten any meat on a regular basis, one can only imagine how Hosokawa Yusai felt when he tasted this incredibly tender beef and mutton.

"Father, what's wrong?" Hosokawa Iya reluctantly put down his chopsticks, only to find that Hosokawa Yusai's lips seemed to be trembling, and he looked as if he were possessed.

"I'm fine!"

Hosokawa Yusai gritted his teeth and waved his hand, his eyes seemingly filled with resentment, forcing himself not to look at the meat slices rolling in the hot pot.

Hosokawa Iya noticed the change in his father's emotions and sighed.

“Since the Tang Dynasty, this place has been the Celestial Empire. It is natural that we Japanese people are different. My father once said that the science spoken of by the Ming Dynasty is the same as Confucianism, which is intended to change the customs and teach us Japanese people.”

But in my daughter's eyes, this scientific approach seemed even more wondrous, perhaps even capable of 'saving all living beings.'

“Is that so!” Hosokawa Yusai stared wide-eyed.

Hosokawa Iya seemed to understand something, and lowered his head obediently.

“I have spoken out of turn, please punish me, Father.”

Hosokawa Yusai sighed, turned his gaze upwards, and fixed it on Zhang Yunxiu, saying softly.

"More important than these is our plan. If you can capture Zhang Shiyuan, our lord's ambition to unify the world and the glory of our family will all be realized!"

Before arriving at Xishan, he only thought Zhang Yunxiu was important, but after arriving at Xishan, he realized how terrifying the other party was.

The Western Hills, like a colossal creature, stood guard behind the Ming Dynasty, supplying it with sustenance.

By incorporating Xishan into our thinking, all the schemes and tactics of the Ming Dynasty can be explained.

If Hosoda Nobunaga could gain Zhang Yunxiu's support, and if the Hosokawa family could climb onto Zhang Yunxiu's coattails, it would be like a phoenix perching on a branch, making all their plans twice as effective!
Whether for cooperation or to acquire intelligence, having his daughter capture Zhang Yunxiu would be one of Hosokawa Yusai's most important plans for this trip.

"What does Father mean?" Hosokawa Iya asked hesitantly.

Hosokawa Yusai lowered his voice and said resolutely, "To get close to him, serve him, and conquer him, we are willing to pay any price!"

Hosokawa Iya's delicate eyebrows furrowed, but he still nodded and spoke.

"Father, don't worry."

At this "hot pot" banquet, every envoy praised it highly, but in their hearts, they each harbored their own ulterior motives regarding the various hints from the Ming Dynasty.

Only one person remained pure from beginning to end.

Annamese envoy Nguyen Van Trung picked his teeth with a bamboo skewer and said with disgust.

"No, no, this hot pot is still missing something."

When onlookers turned around, they saw that Ruan Wenzhong's table was piled higher than anyone else's, and he had even drunk the soup broth clean.

After much wandering, the envoys finally arrived at the legendary Xishan Academy.

By afternoon, the snow had stopped, and a warm sun hung high above the mountain peaks, making the snow on the mountain road sparkle.

"What a magnificent building."

Hosokawa Iya stood in the crowd, pointed to the academy not far away, and said with emotion.

Only then did everyone turn their gaze over, and they saw the strong golden characters of "Xishan Peiwen Academy," the vermilion gates nestled among the pines and cypresses, and the white walls and black tiles reflecting the mountain clouds.

After several renovations and expansions, Xishan Academy now occupies the entire hilltop. Climbing up the hillside, one can see a spacious area paved with bluestone slabs and cement.

The grandeur of this mountain academy caused many envoys to exclaim in surprise.

The Wanli Emperor, with his belly protruding, said with great pride.

"This Xishan Peiwen Academy is a sacred place of education in our Great Ming Dynasty. There are top scholars and great Confucian scholars who teach and impart knowledge here, and ordinary children from Xishan learn here. You can see that the prosperity of Xishan is inseparable from Xishan Academy."

This year, a thousand students from Xishan will participate in the provincial examination for the Renwu year in Beizhili. If they achieve excellent results, they will surely become famous throughout the land.

The way he shook his head and swayed his body suggested he was lost in ecstasy.

Xishan Peiwen Academy was established less than half a year ago. At first, due to Zhang Yunxiu's reputation, there were not many students. However, as Xishan's momentum grew and with Zhang Maoxiu, a top scholar, presiding over the academy, many students came to study there.

Now, with scholars like Li Zhi, Gu Xiancheng, and Zhao Nanxing teaching here, Xishan has gained even more renown.

This year's provincial examination is not only a time to vindicate Xishan Academy, but also a time to vindicate the new academic disciplines. After all, no matter how good your new academic disciplines are, if you cannot pass the imperial examinations and become an official, they will not be recognized by most scholars.

As the Wanli Emperor introduced the emperor, the envoys from various countries all looked on with eager eyes, but one person was filled with trepidation.

Yu Youding, the Minister of Rites, wiped the sweat from his face, feeling a strong urge to resign immediately.

The imperial examination system for selecting officials was overseen by the Ministry of Rites!

Your Majesty has spoken with the golden words that Xishan is a sacred place of culture and education in the Ming Dynasty. So how should we choose candidates for this year's provincial examination?

If the students of Xishan Academy were to fail the exam, wouldn't that be a slap in the face to the emperor?
If all the students from Xishan Academy were to make the list, wouldn't he, the Minister of Rites, be ridiculed to death?

Neither way is right nor wrong. Yu Youding glanced at Zhang Juzheng's back and sighed heavily.

When the sky falls, the Grand Secretaries will ultimately hold it up. The Ministry of Rites cannot escape blame, but which of the provincial administration commissioners, provincial judicial commissioners, and the Wenyuan Pavilion can escape unscathed? It's just a matter of taking it one step at a time.

In the blink of an eye, everyone had passed through the gate and was pleasantly surprised to see the well-organized layout of the various buildings inside, which had everything imaginable.

"Ahem~" Emperor Wanli, quite tacitly aware that the emotions had been built up to this point, spoke to Zhang Yunxiu.

"Shiyuan, now that we've arrived at the academy, please tell the envoys about the rules and regulations of our Xishan Peiwen Academy."

"As ordered."

Zhang Yunxiu strode out, grinning at the assembled envoys.

His smile was warm, yet it sent a chill down the spines of the envoys.

But then Zhang Yunxiu shook his head and said...

"Speaking of our Xishan Peiwen Academy, it is unparalleled in history and is quite different from previous schools."

Our Peiwen Academy was the first to advocate new learning in the Ming Dynasty. If you want to learn the ultimate principles of science, then Xishan is the right place for you!

At Peiwen Academy, those who wished to pursue official careers could be taught Confucianism and policy essays; those who wished to engage in commerce could be taught economics; and those who wished to learn a skill could study mechanical engineering.
Investigate things by observing plants, trees, insects, and fish; extend knowledge by exploring the temperature of ice, water, fire, and water!

All of these are the ways of science!

Zhang Yunxiu had clearly prepared for this speech, and it flowed smoothly, leaving the envoys stunned.

Finally, a sly glint appeared in Zhang Yunxiu's eyes, and he smiled as he spoke.

"Our Great Ming Dynasty wishes to emulate the Tang and Song Dynasties by resuming the practice of sending vassal states to study abroad. The Xishan 'Study Abroad Class' was tailor-made for this purpose, specifically for the sons of royal families and nobles from various countries, to teach Confucianism and the way of science."

I wonder if any of you are interested?

(End of this chapter)