The 'strange' trick of the court helped the old mandarins fight hunger when the court was established

In feudal China, the emperor often held adoration meetings very early, and the civil and martial officials had to arrive at the imperial court on time.

At 3 am, I had to stand at the Ngo Mon gate

The famous poet of the Ming Dynasty - Cao Khoi in his work "Zao chi vacancy in the post-dynasty" wrote that the great ministers of that time often had to prepare for the high court from midnight (the reason it had to start so early was because the The clothes worn by the military officers during the high court were very cumbersome and had to go through many stages).

The high officials often had to set up the court very early.

At 3 am, all the ministers must be present and waiting outside the Ngo Mon gate. At 5 o'clock, when the palace gate opens, the mandarin and martial arts will enter the palace in turn. If they do not arrive on time, they will have to receive punishments and punishments are also hierarchical, light will reduce benefits, heavy can be demoted.

To get to the court meeting, the officers had to travel a long distance from the private residence to the palace. It is estimated that some people have to travel the distance to half the capital. However, eating rice first at home is chosen by few people, because some people are afraid that eating rice will be late to the high court. Even if they ate first at home since midnight, they would be hungry after the high court. So how will they handle their breakfast?

The court opened a restaurant to serve the mandarins

On the way to the capital, there are many food stalls, if any official wants to eat on the road, it is very easy. But the mandarins often do not directly buy, but can only send slaves to do it. As officials in the court, they could not show their faces openly to eat in front of people's tables. Moreover, if the emperor knew, that person would be said to lack the dignity of a mandarin.

To solve this dilemma, the court decided to open a restaurant for the mandarins in the court. That place is called "Tu Hop Nghi", which is quite similar to the royal court, but in terms of quality, it cannot match the king's dining hall.

Normally, at 5 am, the emperor will open the court, each adoration session will last from one to two hours. After the low tide, the mandarins could go to Tu Hop Nghi in the palace to eat.

The scene inside Tu Hop Nghi - the court's dining hall.

In the past, the emperor would reward the mandarin with breakfast, but in the Ming Dynasty, the treasury was in short supply, because in order to save the budget, the emperor abolished this bonus system. The cafeteria is still there, but the difference is that the military officers have to spend their own money to buy food.

The food here is rich and diverse, there is no shortage of anything in the world, even because it is cooked by the chef in the palace, it is even more delicious. According to the late Qing Dynasty eunuch - Tien Tu Minh, recorded in the book "Kingdom of the Court", the palace restaurant has extremely delicious dishes such as meat noodles, dumplings, soup.

In addition, the restaurant also has enough main dishes and side dishes to serve everyone's needs. The price in Tu Hop Nghi is of course also more expensive than outside, but because of convenience, many mandarins still choose to eat here after the low tide. It can be said that Tu Hop Nghi brought huge profits to the court.

This solution of the court is extremely intelligent, and can make a profit for the national treasury. At the same time, the emperor could rely on the records of Tu He Nghi to know the spending situation of the officials.