After the beginning of the Qingming Festival, the weather is getting hotter day by day.

At the entrance of the Beiyang Military Palace, Chen Mu, who had just returned to the helmet and armor of the recruits, turned over and dismounted in the front yard of the yamen, wiped the fine sweat on his forehead, and saw several red-haired men sitting on stone benches in the shade of the trees next to the courtyard wall, holding pastries and eating fragrantly.

Earl Sean, who came across the ocean from Ireland, didn't seem to plan to go back by himself, not only was he in a hurry to go back, but he also consciously asked Chen Mu to send him a servant to teach him the etiquette of Ming Dynasty officials.

They have been living in a small courtyard across the street to the east of the Beiyang Yamen, it is a bit rude to say, Chen Mu also sent someone to serve, after all, this Beiyang military government is a big soldier, who can serve whom, is it possible to treat the guest as a subordinate and send an adjutant?

Therefore, from beginning to end, except for adding a few sets of bedding to the small courtyard that was originally used as the residence of Beiyang officials, Chen Mu did not give any support, and even the first phase of Beiyang recruitment was familiar with these red hairs in a few months.

As soon as the morning bell rang in the morning, the recruits began to run and practice, and after Sean and the others washed up in the small courtyard, they used their traditional fighting and archery, and when the drum sounded the three links, they followed them to the canteen to eat - at first they were not used to it, but Chen Mu ate in the canteen, and they couldn't help it, and they couldn't stand the canteen to cook deliciously, and they didn't want money.

After the recruits started their daily training, they went to the Beiyang Academy's translation department to take classes, and learned Chinese, Spanish and Portuguese together, as for how much they could learn, Chen Mu didn't care, and the teachers of the school didn't care, anyway, as long as they could understand Chinese, it was enough.

At noon, I went to the cafeteria to eat as usual, and after eating enough, I took a lunch break, and in the afternoon, I learned etiquette in the small courtyard, and every day passed like this, Sean didn't mention it, and Chen Mu didn't mention it.

Seeing Chen Mu dismount, Sean took a few guards to knock him upright, then got up and bowed his hand, and said with a smile: "You, have you eaten?" ”

Chen Mu was blindsided by a local dialect, and after a pause, he bowed his hand a little stiffly and said with a smile: "I learned this language well, but I don't have to give me a big salute, even if I say hello, I don't need to learn from those guests a few days ago." ”

As long as the Beiyang Military Government does not make mistakes, no one kneels and worships on weekdays, except for eating lawsuits, going to the court, and suburban sacrifices, there are not many people who see the emperor kneeling and bowing on weekdays.

"Isn't that so, but I heard that a few days ago it was the general of the north, who was in charge of more than 5,000 legions, and he had to bow down when he saw Your Excellency. Rest assured, Your Excellency, I do not consider this to be detrimental to honour. ”

Sean didn't feel that there was anything wrong with making a big salute at all, and said: "In my hometown, entering the royal palace of England is to kiss the king's hand, and in Rome you have to climb down the toes of the pro-pope, each country has its own rules, most of the time these etiquettes will be ridiculed in other places, but it is normal in the local area." ”

Even Chen Mu, who has always had a deep sense of partiality and confrontation towards foreigners, has begun to appreciate this Irish earl, but he is not appreciating it from now.

Ever since this red-haired bearded man was escorted ashore by the fleet cruising the Bohai Sea, knowing that he had come from Ireland, twenty or thirty thousand miles away, just for a possibility that might or may not exist, maybe he could reach or could not reach it, Chen Mu admired this person very much.

The commander of the Northern Army that Sean said was actually a commander of Jizhen, who walked around for Qi Shuai, bringing some specialties north of the Great Wall, and was seen by Sean when he saluted, who knew that he, a foreigner, learned much more smoothly.

Qi's military law is strict, respect and orderliness is also a kind of military law, the chief salute is two kneels and one kneeling, and does not salute outsiders, even if it is like Chen Mu, the chief officer of the army, there is no such treatment in ordinary times, but now in extraordinary times, people are more cautious in doing things.

The dark tide of the court is surging, and the direction of the wind is undecided, and at this time, it is better to please people than to offend people without opening their eyes.

"What you see are all methods of restraining the army, my Beiyang Army pays attention to the integration of officers and soldiers, and the military salute is different, this is only a fist salute." After a pause, the soldiers tied the horses well, and Chen Mucai smiled at Sean: "But there is no harm in learning, when the fleet sets sail, you will also meet the senior officials of the DPRK and China, and it is not bad not to offend people - what is the matter with waiting for me here?" ”

"Well, something."

Sean's cautious attitude made Chen Mu say with relief: "Do you want to ask when the fleet will set sail, and I will tell you when it can set sail." ”

"No, Your Excellency, I want to drink."

After Sean finished speaking, several redbeards behind him also raised their heads, and the eyes of all the big men who were so rough that they were boundless were shining.

Chen Mu frowned, not understanding what Sean meant, he raised his hand and pointed in the direction called 'Aiyi Courtyard' and said: "Isn't there alcohol in your courtyard, Chen only stipulates that you are not allowed to drink during the day, and he didn't say that you are not allowed to drink, just don't go out of the yard to make trouble, what's wrong?" ”

"On the day Your Excellency saw me, at the banquet in the house, there was a dish of green and cool and delicious, with a strange white taste and black soup, I didn't think it was delicious at the time, but now it's hot and I want to eat it."

Sean had a serious expression and asked Chen Mu, "I know this is a bit rude, but I still hope that Your Excellency can allow the canteen to make a special one for me this evening." ”

Listening to the description of the red-haired beard, Chen Mu thought about it for a long time, but he didn't expect what Sean had eaten that day.

Compared with all the dignitaries and nobles in this era, especially after Chen Mu became the chief military officer, the food and clothing were all simple, even if it was a banquet, which usually left a very rude impression.

This is true with his colleagues, not to mention the time to entertain Sean, who he doesn't pay much attention to.

Chen Mu frowned and thought hard, and remembered that there were a total of two small dishes and a bowl of soup in front of each person that day, and the roast goose was made by the old Guang chef in the canteen, and there was also a soup, and the rest of the dish...... Chen Mu, who thought of it, patted his head and gave Shaun a thumbs up, and said happily: "Connoisseur!" You need to go with this when you drink alcohol, no problem! I'll send someone to talk to the canteen and make you one in the evening. ”

If it weren't for this one dish that day, based on Sean's description alone, Chen Mu would never have thought of it.

"Tsk, black soup, just for your taste, Chen feels that it is better than the English royal family to the sky, don't mind counting me at night." Chen Mu clapped his hands and said to Sean: "I want to hear about England, and when I am done with my business, tell me about it in the evening?" ”

Chen Mu is the master here, Sean naturally agreed, and then listened to Chen Mu's instructions to the soldiers who followed: "Go and talk to the canteen, shoot me a garlic cucumber at night, and then let the cook from Xuanfu get an old vinegar peanut, don't forget to oil the peanuts again!" ”