Elegy of Tang Dynasty

Chapter 20 Blood-stained official robe

Fang Chongyong is confident that Wang Defu will definitely return to Kuizhou.

Because, people in the Tang Dynasty drank to the point of insanity, and they almost had no drink or joy in their daily life!

You must drink during festivals, and you should also drink some at ordinary times.Drink when you are happy, drink more when you are unhappy!

Wine that suits their tastes will definitely not worry about sales.This is also an important reason why Fang Chongyong did not engage in distilled wine or burning knives.Alcohol with a high alcohol content is also very expensive. If you make koji wine with a degree of more than ten degrees, you can already take it out. There is no need to make shochu with a degree of [-] or [-] degrees.

People in the Tang Dynasty have a sweet taste and like sweet wine. Sometimes, if the wine is not sweet, they even add sugar (not white sugar).

Red yeast wine with bright red color and smooth and sweet taste is easily sought after by dignitaries.

The prosperous Tang Dynasty was a country of wine, and there was no happiness without wine.

According to the official statistics of the Tang Dynasty, the annual output of Guanniu is about 1000 million buckets.Including folk private brewing, the total consumption of alcoholic beverages is about 5000 million buckets, which is only a small amount, not a large amount.

Not only that, not only is there no shortage of market for really good wine, but also the price is frighteningly high, and countless alcoholics are flocking to it, and expensive wine money can't deter them.Yellow rice wine itself is a frequent guest in banquets of the aristocratic class.

Therefore, Fang Chongyong is very convinced that the high-quality red yeast rice wine will have the effect of "emerging suddenly" at this time.After all, no one has seen it before.

The expensive brewing cost (it is said that red lotus rice is used as the raw material), the good taste, and the novelty and high-end presentation make it destined that there will be many people willing to join in the red lotus spring!
There is a poem in Li Bai's "About to Enter the Wine": "The five-flowered horse, the golden fur, calls for the children to be exchanged for the fine wines, and we will sell the eternal sorrow with you."

Where can high-end drinks be sold out?People who like good wine, sell clothes and sell horses to buy wine!

Guanglu Temple, the central organization of Chang'an, is in charge of food and wine, and has departments such as "Liang Brewing Department" and "Food Official Department" to coordinate the use of wine by the palace and the capital, which is the so-called "official brewing".

The Liangying Department "orders the governor to enshrine the five, seven, and three wines of the state." When the emperor offers sacrifices to heaven and earth, the Liangying Department will lead his subordinates to arrange and display a large number of wine vessels.If you are an official, you will be provided with "Spring Storm, Qiu Qing, Fen Niang, Sang Luo and other wines."

The specific affairs of the official brewing are in charge of the "Liang Brewing Administration" and the "Food Official Administration". The two are manned all the year round. There are 30 handymen.

Although official brewing is already very powerful, the principle of "masters among the people" still applies in the Tang Dynasty.Many of the tribute wines contributed by various places are quite good.Rich businessmen like Wang Yuanbao naturally also run the liquor business in Chang'an City.

There are even many restaurants and other industries.Trafficking drinks with different flavors from various places to Chang'an and making a lot of profits.

If we do not rely on external forces, no matter how good Honglianchun is, it will not be able to become famous in a short period of time and spread by word of mouth among drunkards.Therefore, we can only rely on wealthy businessmen to "advertise it widely" in private, ferment and hype public opinion, and finally become "an instant hit".

This is a win-win deal.

Sure enough, before the new year, Wang Defu came again and agreed to buy Honglianchun, but made three more demands.

First, the first batch of red lotus harvested in spring will be 20 bushels, and the price must be reduced to [-] bushels per bushel.Future prices will be adjusted according to Chang'an's market conditions.It is not ruled out that it will rise, but it is also possible that it will fall or even stop closing.

The volume of a thousand buckets is about the same as the thousand bottles of two-liter Coke in Fang Chongyong's previous life. It can be loaded in one or two tank boats, and the risk of transportation is also very low.It has to be said that the Wang family is worthy of being a wealthy businessman in Chang'an, and they have calculated everything to death.

If Honglianchun is not popular, they will not be able to lose much money, and they will be able to recover their capital if they sell slowly.

If the red lotus spring is hot, then although their purchase price is high, they will sell more expensive, and they will not lose money!

Dealing with these businessmen, their calculations crackled.You may make money, but they never lose money.

Fang Chongyong was very open, readily agreed, and signed the contract, giving Wang Defu a reassurance.

Second, Wang Defu invited "wine-tasting experts" to Kuizhou to check the quality of the finished wine to be delivered.Bulk purchases can only be made after approval has been obtained.

Regarding this point, Fang Chongyong was also full of confidence and agreed without thinking.

The third one is that Wang Defu hopes to obtain the brewing method of "Honglianchun" and the method of making distiller's yeast.They intended to buy it at a high price, even if it was one hundred thousand guan, it was not impossible to negotiate.

Tu Qiong saw that this was probably Wang Yuanbao's true intention in coming to Kuizhou this time.

Fang Chongyong refused without even thinking.Seeing him categorically refuse, Wang Defu was relieved despite being disappointed.

It is normal not to sell, because I have confidence in the wine and know that it is a cash cow, so I can't sell it.If you can't wait to sell the secret wine making recipe, then you have a ghost in your heart.

Wang Defu didn't dare to buy it.

Thinking that Honglianchun would be out of the cellar soon, Wang Defu was worried about gains and losses for a while and waited anxiously in Kuizhou Fucheng.

……

"Uncle, come and try the red lotus spring in Fucheng."

In a stilt house in the Dongyang Mansion camp of the Tang Army outside Wushan County, Fang Chongyong came to get close to Wang Zhongsi, carrying a pot of Honglianchun wine that had just been released from the cellar yesterday.

Seeing his young son-in-law with eight hundred hearts, Wang Zhongsi smiled helplessly, took the wine jar, tore open the seal, and smelled a strong aroma of wine.

"The wine is good."

Wang Zhongsi drank the wine in the glass in one gulp, put down the old pottery basin (a kind of folk wine glass, common in the middle and lower classes), and after pondering for a while, he poured another glass.

This time, he did not want to get bored in one sip. Instead, he picked up the old earthenware basin, tasted it carefully, and savored it until not a drop was left. Finally, he reluctantly put the wine glass aside and sighed deeply.

"Uncle, do you think this wine is not good?"

Fang Chongyong asked curiously, yesterday Wang Defu and the "wine tasting expert" invited by him, had been drunk for private reasons, and they were full of admiration for the quality of Honglianchun, saying that it has a unique flavor and is not inferior to the top official wine Fine wine.Its color and flavor are unique!
Otherwise, how dare Fang Chongyong present the treasure in front of Wang Zhongsi today!
"No, this wine is mellow and long-lasting, and it is a first-class wine. If it is in Chang'an, I am afraid that a fight will not be less than ten guan, and you can buy several horizontal knives."

Wang Zhongsi couldn't help but sigh and sigh when he thought about the border affairs.It is really hard for border officers and soldiers, and they even need to prepare a lot of their own equipment.As for drinks, let alone Hong Lianchun's grade, even the most common "green ant wine" is difficult for ordinary soldiers to drink, and they can only be given wine when they are rotated or fighting.

Many people in the Tang Dynasty may not have been able to know the taste of Honglianchun wine in their entire lives.

After all, these are the patents of noble people.

"Uncle, so-and-so is probably going back to Chang'an."

Fang Chongyong said in a deep voice.

After Honglianchun is transported away by Wang Defu, the payment for the goods will be sent directly to the palace by wealthy merchant Wang Yuanbao.Kuizhou shipped the goods, and Chang'an gave cash directly, but they were no match for Fang Chongyong and Zheng Shuqing.I believe that before the Lantern Festival, Li Longji will order Zheng Shuqing to be transferred back to Chang'an to report on his duties.

Of course, before taking office, he must be "idle" for a while, and will not be appointed immediately.

But Zheng Shuqing's entry into the main center as Du Zhilang (referred to as Du Zhilang), should not be a big problem.

After Zheng Shuqing's "science popularization", Fang Chongyong already knew that Du Zhilang was the chief of Du Zhicao under Shangshu Province.

In the Shangshu Province of the Tang Dynasty, there was no Shangshu Order.Because the first Shangshu Ling in the Tang Dynasty was Li Erfeng.How could anyone else be the official he once was?

Li Erfeng was the emperor before, does any official want to try to be the emperor?
Therefore, the most powerful minister in the Tang Dynasty, the chief of the three provinces, was left vacant, and the left and right servants discussed major affairs of the minister together.

Everyone understands the reason why the two monks carry water to eat, so in the final analysis, Shangshu Province is a place where the emperor can directly intervene in government affairs and place officials he likes.

This is what the Tang Dynasty has had since Tang Taizong, a kind of power check and balance derived from the system!Fragmentation and flattening of administrative power is used to fight against the two chiefs of Zhongshu Province and Menxia Province, forming a dynamic decision-making system to prevent the power ministers from dominating one family.

I have to say that this is indeed an effective system if the factors of the emperor's laziness are not taken into account.

With random thoughts in his mind, Fang Chongyong saw Wang Zhongsi fell silent and didn't speak for a long time.

"When you go back to Chang'an, are you really sure that I will leave Dongyang Mansion?"

Wang Zhongsi looked hesitant, and it took him a long time to say such a sentence.

It's not that he lacks confidence, but that Li Longji is becoming more and more moody. Wang Zhongsi really doesn't know what Li Longji is thinking now.

"Uncle seems to have something on his mind."

Fang Chongyong poured Wang Zhongsi a glass of Red Lotus Spring while he watched from the sidelines.

Drinking alcohol at a young age has irreversible damage to the brain nerves.Fang Chongyong doesn't want his child prodigy to become an alcoholic.

"It's true that he has something on his mind. The saint...actually doesn't know much about the situation at the border."

Wang Zhongsi sighed quietly. He was treating Fang Chongyong as a confidant. Otherwise, how could he say such words?

He regards Fang Chongyong as his own, not because the other party is Fang Youde's son, but because of the phrase "If you can control the invasion of the mausoleum, how can you kill more."

Now Li Longji's border town policy has really gone too far, and has exceeded the limit that the country can bear.

Wang Zhongsi began to tell Fang Chongyong what he had seen and heard in the border of the Tang Dynasty, and Fang Chongyong was very surprised by the content.

In Li Longji's eyes, the border guards should be eager to do meritorious service, fight the enemy bravely, regard the country as their home, and take their robes as their brothers; they should be the highest goal of my Tang Dynasty invincible, and use this as the strongest belief to motivate myself!
But in Wang Zhongsi's eyes, those are all living people.They will also be afraid, cowardly, and fearful.

An unmarried childhood sweetheart who misses his hometown.

Married misses his wife and parents at home.

Whether they can beat up Turks, or whether they can hang Tubo, is actually very far away for these soldiers.But the struggle against these forces is closely related to their lives: because the Turkic and Tibetan soldiers are their opponents!

This creates a kind of dislocation. The outcome of the war has their responsibilities and efforts, but the interests of the war have nothing to do with them.Affected by such emotions, the border guards were eager to go home in rotation, and those who were not on duty tried their best to escape military service.

Li Longji may want to plant the flag of the Tang Dynasty in every place in the Western Regions, but most people at the border of the Tang Dynasty may not think so like him.

Their wishes are more humble and more real.

"Why bamboo flute complain willow, spring is not degree Pass."

Fang Chongyong sighed, feeling the emotion on Wang Zhongsi.

"I heard that your father usually doesn't care about teaching you, but I didn't expect you to be so smart."

Wang Zhongsi poured another glass of wine and drank it down.

"Back then in Hexi, the Tubo Chief Zanpu was training troops in Yubiaochuan. The soldiers under my command were all afraid and thought they were invincible, so they wanted to return for help. At that time, I was young and energetic, and I didn't think the Tubo had anything to fear, so I mentioned The knife rushes into the enemy formation.

In this battle, thousands of people were beheaded and tens of thousands of sheep and horses were captured.Based on my military merits, I was promoted to General Zuoweiwei, acting Northern Governor, and granted the title of Male of Qingyuan County.But in that battle...many of my men died, many of whom were my brothers!
If I hadn't been so dedicated to my merits, they... wouldn't have had to die. "

Wang Zhongsi punched the bamboo table, causing the old earthenware basin to flip over, frightening Fang Chongyong to the point of trembling all over.

I don't know if it was because of drinking or because of emotional agitation, Wang Zhongsi asked with red eyes: "Do you think that I want to take the lives of the soldiers under my command to dye my official robe red and lay it on the sidelines?" Qingyun Road, the general’s town?”

"Uncle, you are drunk and can't drink anymore. It is not good for such words to reach the ears of a saint."

Fang Chongyong persuaded with some panic.

Those words just now were complaining about Li Longji openly and secretly, and what was spread could easily form a fatal rumor like "Wang Zhongsi was demoted and complained that the saint was mean and ungrateful".In the ears of Li Longji, the saint who lives in Chang'an still doesn't know how to deal with it.

You know, that is not a big-hearted Lord!He fell in love with his daughter-in-law, and if he said he would grab it, he would grab it.The same is true for his own son, and he is also the son of the favorite concubine. How he treats an outsider like Wang Zhongsi can be imagined with his toes.

"What can't be said! For the benefit of the border, the lives of frontline soldiers are sacrificed at will, so let's not talk about it!"

Wang Zhongsi beat the table case excitedly, and the table case made of moso bamboo fell apart!
"Bang!"

The jar containing Honglianchun fell to the ground and shattered, and the aroma of the wine permeated the extremely simple stilt house in an instant.It also freed Wang Zhongsi from his sadness and anger.

"It's a pity for the wine."

Wang Zhongsi also calmed down, took a deep breath, and stabilized his emotions.

"Uncle, as the saying goes: Don't admonish those who go by, but chase after those who come. My uncle also knows how to cherish the lives of border officers, but many generals in the court don't know this. They all want to climb up on the bones. , please the saint and achieve your own immortal achievements.

In comparison, only when the uncle becomes a border general can such things be minimized, right?How could uncle give up on himself in Dongyang Mansion? "

Fang Zhongyong persuaded patiently.

"you're right."

Wang Zhongsi calmed down quickly.

"This time when you return to Chang'an, please work harder and do your best to help me move around. Take a letter from me with you. If there is any disharmony, you can find a solution to Prince Zhong."

Wang Zhongsi put his big hand on Fang Chongyong's shoulder and said earnestly.

(End of this chapter)