Speaking of the rich and luxurious feudal family, it is inevitable to remind people of the Jia family in "Dream of the Red Chamber", in which daily utensils, clothes, food, appreciation and other things are not only described in the rich and gorgeous, but also appear quite noble, which is really different from the nouveau riche family. In particular, the passage describing Jia Mu's food supply is the most wonderful: "The old lady's meal is prepared in the big kitchen, and all the vegetables and vegetables in the world are written with water signs, and they are eaten every day." ”
Although the material living conditions of the Wei and Jin dynasties were generally far inferior to those of the Kangqian Dynasty, which had entered the modern period, such a generous banquet style had already existed in the Wei and Jin dynasties. For example, He Zengyi in the late Wei and early Jin dynasties.
He Zeng, together with Wang Xiang, Zheng Chong, Xun Yan, Yang Hu, etc., and was the Duke of Ming of the world, before looking at how vast this person's daily pomp was, he could first understand the wealth and respect of the He family and this person at that time, for example. Taifu He once wanted to retire, repeatedly wrote to beg for bones, the emperor did not let it, and finally once, He Zeng could not move because he was too old, and once again pleaded for abdication, and Emperor Wu of Jin finally partially agreed. However, The favor was even more, thinking that He Zeng was older, the Situ he led was in charge of the military, things were troublesome, and he could no longer trouble him, so he removed Situ's officials, and gave him the false position of Dazai, showing respect, and when the court met, he could take a palanquin and a sword to the temple, and compared with the story of Xiao He, Tian Qianqiu, and Fu Zhongxuan of the Wei Dynasty, he gave millions of dollars, and the pro-military officers and horses and subordinates were no different from before. Saying that it is a retreat, in fact, it is more preferential, when the Xianning years died, the emperor wore plain clothes and personally raised mourning in the court, what a favor!
Interestingly, after semi-retirement, every time Emperor Wu summoned He Zeng, he also specially issued an edict to allow He Zeng to bring his usual food and clothing utensils at home, so that his two sons would follow and take care of him from time to time. This move was not only the fact that Emperor Wu Sima Yan treated the old ministers with kindness to the courtiers, but also hid information. Readers can think carefully, eating clothing utensils, royal should not be the best? It's really not, He Zeng's usual food is more exquisite than Sima Yan.
He Zeng was extravagant, the bed tent, the car and horse that traveled could be gorgeous, at that time, the horse was relatively rare, and many of the popular travel cars were ox carts. The emperor also had ox carts, such as the Book of Jin, the silky car of the ox cart used by Emperor Sima Yan was broken, and the so-called silk was the ox nose rope, which was similar to the concept of the horse reins. Emperor Wu Sima Yan was more frugal, and the green silk car was broken when it was broken, and it was no longer a new one, and the next edict was replaced by hemp rope. And our He Zeng brother is incredible, the silk car can not satisfy him, but also have to use copper and embroidered with patterned car, but also painstakingly decorate the cow's hooves and horns, which is the so-called "yak hoof horn".
Writing articles with paper, but also in luxury, bamboo Jane what you mention, can not afford to lose that person, although the papermaking technology has been invented, but at that time the quality is not too high nor can not see the eyes, want to write what to do? He Zeng only used silk veils, not only for his own use, but also for the scribes in the palace to use them if they wanted, and they did not even have to greet them, which showed the extravagance of his house.
In terms of diet, it is more exquisite, in this regard, the regulations of the imperial court are much more relaxed than those of carriages and horses, so He Zeng's diet is better than that of the emperor. Every time the emperor invited guests to dinner, He Zeng did not even eat the delicacies of the eunuch who was in charge of the emperor's meals, although I reckon he would not directly say anything about what this food was, but it was certainly a difficult face. Emperor Wunian, knowing that he was an old minister, specifically ordered he to take the food that He Zeng had brought with him and let him eat it himself. Pay attention to more, not only eat water and land eight treasures such as the big dish hard dish exquisite, is to eat steamed bread also have to reflect the spirit of his gourmet, history records its "steamed bun on the cross does not eat", the so-called cross steamed cake is what is called today's flowering steamed buns. He once said that the steamed bun that does not blossom is not a good steamed cake, and Lao Tzu does not eat it! So luxurious, naturally cost a lot every day, it is said that the cost of eating every day is more than "ten thousand dollars", which is not delicious, not enough tricks, shouting every day that there is no place to put chopsticks.
In that era when material civilization was still very poor, He Zeng was a real precursor wave. Judging from the description above, He Zeng's luxury seems to be somewhat excessive, and this excess is not only at the level of material waste, but also from a political point of view, He Zeng's luxury is also somewhat out of date. First, you are better than the emperor, which is a bit of a transgression in feudal society. Second, it is reasonable to say that you are more luxurious than the emperor, at least you secretly, how luxurious in your own mansion there is still a hidden and hidden, but He Zeng is good, in front of the emperor, directly make a look that your food is difficult to eat, Lao Tzu can not eat a bite, this is also too much. It seems that He zeng had some excessive luxury and had the feeling of a king.
In fact, it is not, He Zengqi is extremely cautious and cautious, and knows how to take sides. When Cao Shuang and Sima Yi were fighting for power, He Zeng said that he could not get sick, and Sima Yi only came out of the mountains after he took power. The Emperor of the State of Wei was deposed many times, and he had the figure of having an idea. When he left the town of Hebei, Sima Zhao sent his two sons Sima Yan and Sima You to send him, and He Zeng was really meticulous and generous, and it was said that even the horses sima Yan rode were fed drunk and could not get up. This was the key to his ability to gallop through the court for so many years, and the extravagant indulgence of the emperor was very close. However, the feast is not often repeated, the family style is still important, He Zeng's luxurious style has been learned by his sons and grandchildren, and within three generations, the Yangxia He family has completely fallen.