EBE Chapter 302: Khitan Tribe, Never Had Hot Pot
Chapter 302: Khitan Tribe, Never Had Hot Pot
On the second day, at the first light of dawn, the vermilion gate of the palace looked even more solemn and majestic under the sunlight.
Outside the palace gate, a team of envoys from the Khitan tribe came in a mighty procession.
They were dressed in clothes with the characteristics of their ethnic group, which were colorful but heroic. The leading envoy led several horses with shiny coats. The horses were all good horses picked from thousands of miles away. They were tribute items they carefully prepared to show their submission and respect to the Tang Dynasty.
When they arrived at the palace gate, the envoys respectfully explained their purpose to the guards at the gate, and the guards hurried into the palace to convey the message.
Soon, an imperial decree came from the palace, summoning them to come in for an audience.
The Khitan envoys straightened their clothes, looked solemn, and walked slowly along the long palace road with a little uneasiness and expectation.
After entering the hall, everyone knelt in unison and saluted. The leading envoy spoke loudly, "We, the Khitan tribe, have long admired the might of the Great Tang and have come to pay tribute. We wish to remain subjects of the Great Tang, attending court year after year and obeying Your Majesty's orders. We hope Your Majesty will accept us."
After saying this, they lowered their heads deeply. Their sincere words echoed throughout the hall, waiting for Li Shimin's response.
Li Shimin sat upright on the dragon throne, looking at the respectful Khitan people below, a look of satisfaction on his face, and said in a loud voice: "Since you have such a heart, I am very pleased. Since the Khitan people are willing to submit, they will work together with the Tang Dynasty to protect this prosperous and peaceful era. I will definitely not treat you unfairly."
After that, he ordered his attendants to accept the tribute and rewarded the Khitan envoys with many silks, satins, gold and silver utensils, etc. The atmosphere in the hall suddenly became harmonious and festive.
Li Shimin smiled and said in a clear voice, "You are all guests from afar. Why don't you stay for dinner and taste the special cuisine of our Tang Dynasty?"
The envoys from the Western Regions exchanged glances, each seeing curiosity and anticipation in their eyes. They then bowed and replied, "Very well. It's really cold outside. We'd like to see what delicacies the Tang Dynasty has that Your Majesty would praise so highly."
Soon, the eunuchs from the imperial kitchen came in one after another and placed exquisite dishes on the table.
There is the fragrant steamed sea bass, the fish meat is so tender that it seems to melt in your mouth; there is the attractive color of the famous dish of the Shaowei Banquet, "Hongling Bingjiao", which is exquisitely shaped and exudes a sweet fragrance; and there is the braised lamb tendon, which is soft, chewy and has a mellow taste.
But when the steaming hot pot was served, everyone's attention was instantly attracted to it.
The soup in the pot is boiling, exuding a unique aroma, surrounded by neatly cut lamb, tender chicken, various juicy vegetables and round meatballs.
Li Shimin smiled and introduced: "This is a new delicacy in our Tang Dynasty, called hot pot. You may want to try it."
The envoys from the Western Regions were surprised at first, and then, with the help of their attendants, they followed Li Shimin's example, picking up the ingredients with chopsticks and putting them into the pot to cook.
When the hot pot was served, the bubbling soup and the table full of fresh ingredients attracted everyone's attention.
When the envoys from the Western Regions saw Li Shimin putting raw meat slices and other ingredients directly into the pot to cook, they couldn't help but look surprised. They had never seen such a way of eating, and they felt it was novel and a little doubtful.
After hesitating for a moment, one of the envoys bowed and asked Li Shimin, "Your Majesty, is it appropriate to put this food into the pot like this before it's cooked? I have never seen it eaten in this way before, and I hope Your Majesty can explain my confusion."
Everyone in the hall immediately focused their attention on Li Shimin, quietly waiting for his answer. The air was filled with a hint of tension caused by the unknown, and only the hot steam rising from the hot pot was still curling up.
Li Shimin sat in the upper seat, and seeing the envoys from the Western Regions looking suspicious and whispering to each other, he laughed secretly in his heart: Seeing how these people from the Western Regions seem to have never seen the world, this hot pot will surely open their eyes.
However, his face still maintained the majesty and calmness of an emperor, but a barely perceptible smile flashed in his eyes. He calmly prepared to explain to them how to eat and what the benefits of this novel hot pot were, so that these visitors from afar could experience the unique charm of the Tang Dynasty's food culture.
Li Shimin looked kind and raised his hand to signal everyone to be quiet. He smiled and said, "Don't be surprised, everyone. This is the unique way to eat hot pot. Put these fresh ingredients into the pot and boil them. After a while, pick them up and dip them in this carefully prepared sauce. You can feel the freshness and deliciousness as soon as you put them in your mouth. Everyone, don't be shy, let's eat!"
After saying that, he took the lead in picking up a piece of mutton as thin as a cicada's wing and put it into the pot. After shaking it gently a few times, he skillfully dipped the sauce into his mouth with an expression full of enjoyment. He intended to demonstrate to everyone how to eat hot pot, dispel their concerns, and let these envoys from the Western Regions also fully appreciate the unique charm of Tang Dynasty cuisine.
Seeing that Li Shimin was eating with gusto, the envoys from the Western Regions also picked up their chopsticks, carefully picked up the meat slices and put them into the pot.
The thin and tender slices of meat tossed up and down in the boiling soup, changing color instantly.
The envoys picked up the cooked meat slices with a bit of clumsiness but with a lot of curiosity, dipped them in the sauce and put them into their mouths.
In an instant, the tenderness of the mutton, the richness of the soup and the richness of the sauce intertwined on the tip of the tongue, and a wonderful taste that had never been experienced before spread.
"I didn't expect that!" an envoy couldn't help but blurt out, his eyes full of surprise and admiration.
The others also nodded, their original doubts and reservations completely gone, and they were simply immersed in the taste feast brought by this novel delicacy.
Their movements gradually became more skillful, and they ate one piece after another. Laughter and joyful chatter echoed in the hall. The sense of distance that had existed just now was dispelled by the steaming hot pot, and the atmosphere between them and the Emperor of the Tang Dynasty became more lively.
Seeing that Li Shimin was eating happily, the envoys from the Western Regions followed suit and put vegetables, chicken, pork and meatballs into the pot to cook.
The vegetables were taken out of the pot after being blanched for a while. They still kept their green color, were crispy when eaten, and had the fresh fragrance from the bottom of the pot. They were chewy and added a touch of freshness to the hot pot.
After the chicken is cooked, the meat is tender and juicy. A light bite will reveal the aroma of the meat and the smooth taste, which will leave you with an endless aftertaste.
The pork slices roll in the pot a few times and become slightly curled. Dip them in the sauce and put them into your mouth. The pork slices are fat and lean, and are both mellow and lean. The more you chew them, the more fragrant they become.
The meatballs are chewy and delicious. When you bite into them, the juice bursts in your mouth. The aroma of meat and seasoning blends perfectly, making you want to eat a few more, and the sound of "chewing" keeps coming out of your mouth.
For a moment, the only sounds in the hall were the cheerful chewing and exclamations of admiration from the crowd. This unique hot pot delicacy made the envoys from the Western Regions enjoy their meal very much. The atmosphere between them and Li Shimin also became more harmonious, as if this pot of delicious food brought them closer to each other.