The Age of Discovery: Chinese cuisine swept across Europe

Min Xi spoke more fluent French than Yun Ji, so he recounted how they were rescued by Captain Reis after they encountered a shipwreck.

Sebastian I nodded repeatedly, and suddenly seemed to remember something and turned to look at Fernando: "Is it that Reis?"

Fernando said hurriedly: "Yes, Your Majesty, it is the Reis who was forced to kill his wife."

Sebastian I frowned: "It's a pity. But it's understandable. It's a matter of men's dignity. It's not surprising that they killed the adulterer and the adulteress in a moment of desperation."

Min Xi and Yun Ji's hearts were pounding when they heard this. They really wanted to plead for Reis, or find out about Reis's verdict, but after all, they had just met the king and had no friendship with him, so they really did not have the capital or confidence to ask for help.

Min Xi just said: "We also heard about Captain Reis's story and we are deeply sorry. Captain Reis is a particularly fair and humble man. He is a true knight. When we were bullied by other sailors on the ship, he was the one who stood up for us. If it weren't for him, it would be difficult for us to arrive in Lisbon safely."

Sebastian I did not comment, but changed the subject and said, "Which city in Ming Dynasty are you from? Tell me the difference between your hometown and Lisbon."

Min Xi and Yun Ji talked about their hometowns respectively. When Yun Ji mentioned that the population of the capital of the Ming Dynasty was about 700,000 to 800,000, Sebastian I was surprised: "Your capital has 700,000 to 800,000 people? How many people are there in your country?"

Min Xi looked at Yun Ji, and Yun Ji said, "About 10 million people."

Sebastian I looked confused and asked, "How much is that?"

Yun Ji thought about it and said it another way: "It means 1 million people."

Sebastian I's pupils suddenly shrank, and he looked at Fernando: "Pedro, they have a population of 100 million, is this credible?"

Fernando said, "Your Majesty, I don't know."

Min Xi said quickly: "Your Majesty, our country's land area is close to the entire Europe. In the past two hundred years, we have not suffered from major wars and famines. The country is peaceful and the people are safe. It is not surprising that the population has reached this number."

Sebastian I was shocked again. China's land area was so vast. It was really a huge country. Since John I founded the Avis Dynasty, the Flanders worked hard for hundreds of years and became the most powerful dynasty in Flanders' history. The population was only a few million. Compared with China, it was really a tiny country.

Sebastian I suddenly said, "Pedro, you see my idea is correct. If we want to become a powerful country, how can we be content with the status quo? We should cross the ocean, conquer that barbaric land, make all those pagans submit to me, become my subjects, and convert them to Catholicism! Those who refuse to change their ways should be expelled or executed!"

Fernando's facial muscles twitched: "Your Majesty, this matter needs to be considered carefully."

Sebastian I shook his head: "You guys are timid. You should know that land can only be obtained through war. No one will give it to us. If Flanders wants to become strong again and compete with Spain, they must expand their territory."

"I am not against your Majesty's proposal, I just think we need to think about it in the long run." Fernando said helplessly. He suddenly looked at the tea table between Min Xi and Yun Ji and said, "Your Majesty, don't you like Chinese paintings? Yun just happened to paint one for you. See if you like it." After he said that, he winked at Yun Ji.

Yun Ji immediately understood, stood up, and presented the scroll with both hands: "Your Majesty, this is my humble work, please take a look."

Fernando stood up, took the scroll from Yunji, unfolded it, and presented it to Sebastian I. The young king, who had just been ambitious to expand his territory, was immediately attracted by the galloping horse on the paper.

He personally reached out to take the scroll and said, "Is this a horse?"

"That's right!" Yun Ji replied.

Sebastian I admired the painting of Galloping Horses carefully and said in amazement: "Although I can't see the specific details, it feels like a living horse, as if it will gallop out of the picture in the next moment. What a great horse!"

"Thank you for the compliment, Your Majesty!" Yun Ji thanked him.

Sebastian I looked at the painting for a long time and could not let it go. He beckoned to his courtier and said, "Quick, take it and frame it for me. Hang it in my bedroom. I want to admire it every day."

"Yes, Your Majesty!" The courtier took the painting respectfully and left quietly.

Sebastian I looked at Yun Ji and said with a smile: "Not only can you cook well, but you can also draw. You are really multi-talented!"

Fernando said, "Your Majesty, the one who can cook is another one, Min."

Sebastian I looked at Yun Ji and then at Min Xi. He really couldn't tell the difference between the two Chinese people, so he said, "What does it matter? They are all the same."

These words made Min Xi and Yun Ji couldn't help laughing. This was also their impression of foreigners when they first saw them.

Sebastian I looked at Yun Ji and asked, "I like the horse you gave me very much. What reward do you want?"

Yun Ji was stunned, then looked at Min Xi, who was also looking at him with some excitement in his eyes. Min Xi moved his mouth and said "Reis". Yun Ji nodded slightly, stood up and saluted: "Your Majesty, we were able to arrive in Lisbon smoothly and have the honor to paint for Your Majesty, all thanks to the rescue and care of Captain Reis. Now he is involved in a lawsuit, and I want to plead for him. Of course, I don't want to interfere with your country's justice, but I just want to ask Your Majesty to give him the lightest sentence within the scope permitted by the law."

After listening to this, Sebastian I remained silent for a while.

Fernando said, "Your Majesty, Yun and Min are both kind-hearted people. You promised to reward them. They didn't think about themselves, but pleaded for their savior."

Sebastian I said: "I understand. I will give you a lighter sentence. Do you have any other request?"

Yun Ji said: "Thank you, Your Majesty, for your grace. Your Majesty is wise! We have no other requests."

Sebastian I sighed, "Forget it. How about this, stay in the palace and have lunch with me at noon today."

"Thank you, Your Majesty!" Yun Ji and Min Xi both hurried to express their gratitude.

Sebastian I said, "Then you can chat with me for a while. Actually, there is one thing I don't understand. There should be ships from Lisbon going back to Asia. Why don't you take the ship? Don't you miss home? Aren't you afraid that your family will miss you?"

Yun Ji said, "Your Majesty, we are indeed eager to return home. But I was the one who went out to sea with the fleet. Now the ship is destroyed and the people have died. We have nothing left. If we return empty-handed, we will not be able to compensate the families of the crew members. We want to earn some money to go back, and we also want to earn some money to compensate the crew members who died."

This was half true and half false, but Sebastian I believed it.

Min Xi added: "We have sent a message back, and my family will soon know that we are safe. Our Chinese ships are not as strong as those of Fulanji, and we cannot cross the ocean to Fulanji. Now that we have the opportunity to come to your country, we would like to take the opportunity to learn more about the local customs and practices. This will lay a foundation for future trade exchanges between our two countries."

Sebastian I nodded and said, "We have always been fascinated by your country and hope that our two countries can strengthen trade and commerce. Now that you are the bridge, I believe that this can be realized in the future."

The king later asked many more questions, such as what he had wondered before, whether the Chinese had succeeded in seeking immortality, and they also talked a lot about politics, culture, art, life, etc.

Of course, the person he talked to was mainly Yun Ji. Although Min Xi, the fake Ming Dynasty man, had Min Jiu's memories, he was only exposed to the life of the lower class of society, and there were not many topics to talk about with the king.

At noon, I had lunch with the king in the palace. The royal chef was quite skilled and the food he cooked was quite delicious. It was okay to have a Western meal occasionally.

Min Xi and Yun Ji were both generous in their praise, complimenting the imperial chef on his excellent cooking skills.

Sebastian I said, "If I haven't tasted the dishes you cook, my cooking skills are still quite good. But after eating the dishes you cook, I can only say that they are edible. I like the snacks you make. I wonder if you can give my chef some advice?"

Min Xi said, "Of course. Biscuits are more complicated to make because you need to let the dough rise. It takes skill to let the dough rise. I will teach him how to bake a cake."

"Okay." Sebastian I was very happy. He knew that craftsmen valued their skills and secret recipes very much and would not easily reveal them to others. Although he was a king, he could not force a Chinese to hand over his secret recipe. Now that Min Si agreed to teach one, it was already very good.

After dinner, Min Xi went into the royal kitchen and started to bake a cake for the king. The royal chef watched from the side and asked for advice when he didn't understand something. Min Xi did not hide anything and taught him all the tricks.

Sebastian I finally got to eat soft cake again.

When Min Xi and Yun Ji left, Sebastian I still gave them some gifts in a beautiful wooden box: "I am very happy to be with you today, and I ate delicious cakes again. I also want to eat roast duck and roast chicken again, but it's a pity that it's difficult to do so."

Min Xi said: "Those require special stoves to be made. If Your Majesty doesn't mind that they are made in my shop, you can have someone come to my shop to pick them up." He actually wanted to say that the king could still go to his restaurant to eat, but he couldn't say it after all. If he persuaded the king to go on a secret visit, and if there were any safety problems, he would have several heads left.

Fernando said, "If Your Majesty wants to eat, I will bring some to Your Majesty when the time comes."

Sebastian I's eyes lit up: "Okay!"