The new era of chaos begins in the Song Dynasty

Chapter 108

Although Qiu Tianhao has many doubts in his heart, he just knows the taboo of martial arts practitioners, he has no real friendship with Er Gou, how to find out his secrets, so he can only suppress his curiosity, and thank Er Gou Yesterday, I entertained and talked about some occasions, but took everyone to the front hall to drink porridge.

Er Gou was not greedy for the porridge, so he washed himself with well water, went back to his room and changed into clean clothes, before going to the hall to have breakfast.

At this time, in the hall of the inn, there were countless people holding a bowl of porridge with clear soup and water, and sipping it carefully. Some even took out the cold steamed buns left over from last night and ate them deliciously with the soup and porridge. .

That is to say, he had to wait until he was full last night, otherwise the bowl of free gruel in the morning would probably be swallowed by a hungry person in just a few mouthfuls.

As soon as the second dog servant appeared, everyone stood up to greet him, and said straightly: "Little official, well!" "Little official, respect!" and so on.

An old man held a bowl and shouted, "Come and have some porridge, young officials. The corn and sorghum porridge cooked by the store is delicious!"

Ergou shook his head and said with a smile: "Old man, you can drink it by yourself! I won't compete with you for the porridge, but if I drink a bowl, you will have a sip less, and I have a big stomach, so I can't be afraid of just drinking the porridge." I'm full too!"

As he spoke, he called the waiter, but ordered to bring the chicken and lean meat porridge that he had entrusted the cook to make.

The chicken and lean meat porridge is not simple. It requires twenty boiled chickens, two kilograms of diced fresh mutton, half a tael of salt essence, and the above-mentioned corn to be boiled for an hour. When it is served, some chopped green onions and coriander must be sprinkled.

No one has ever heard of eating porridge like this, let alone seeing it.

Ergou didn't care about anything else, he just ate the large bowl of delicious, soft and chewy porridge as fast as he could.

But before he finished eating, a person walked in from outside the hall, wearing a brocade robe, walking like a mountain, it was Han Cunbao.

Han Cunbao was dispatched by an official, and he lived in the official posthouse. He came to look for Ergou, and he laughed and shouted from a distance: "Brother Ergou, I heard that you were generous and heroic yesterday, and invited dozens of irrelevant people." Eat big pieces, eat meat and wine, why didn't you call me happy together?"

Ergou put down the bowl of porridge and said with the same laugh: "Brother Cunbao is overthinking! I didn't invite you to eat wine and meat yesterday, so today I'll treat you to a bowl of meat porridge to make up for it!"

Han Cunbao copied a book bundle (rolled official documents), strode to Ergou's table, and said, "You only sent me a bowl of meat porridge, but you are a bit stingy! I don't agree!"

As he said that, he sat down in front of him unceremoniously, and could only smell the aroma of the pot of meat porridge that was only half left, but he couldn't help but produce fluid in his mouth, a little salivating.

Ergou ordered the waiter to bring a new pair of bowls, chopsticks, and spoon, but Han Cunbao didn't give in. He put the bundle of books in front of Ergou, and scooped up a bowl by himself. After taking a big mouthful and swallowing the beautiful taste, he only admired: "What a mouthful of fragrant and smooth meat porridge! Just this one bowl is worth the wine and meat I didn't eat yesterday! Brother Ergou really enjoyed the scenery! "

Er Gou only smiled and said nothing, but drank the porridge and rice quickly so that he could eat an extra bowl to fill his stomach. He waited to eat up the meat porridge.

After the two had finished eating the porridge, the waiter cleared the table, and Ergou asked the waiter to make a pot of tea and serve it.

He and Han Cunbao were talking while drinking tea. Han Cunbao took a sip of tea, touched it, and said, "Unexpectedly, a sip of green tea in the morning has some taste!"

It must be mentioned here that before the Song Dynasty, Chinese people added more condiments to tea, such as green onion, ginger, oil, salt, milk, etc., and then boiled it. Therefore, there is a saying of "tea soup". For example, in later generations, no condiments were added. Drinking tea, called clear tea, was the desperation choice of poor families (note, not the families of the lower classes) in the Song Dynasty.

However, whether it is soup or clear tea, tea leaves are boiled in cold water. In a sense, it is equivalent to drinking boiled water in later generations, and it is considered a relatively hygienic drink.

Er Gou was not used to the usual soup and tea here, so he drank more green tea to quench his thirst.

The two of them drank tea. The two dogs saw that Han Cunbao was a little worried, so they asked, "What is Brother Cunbao doing here?"

Han Cunbao sighed and said, "Clan brother Han Zhi had some important business, so he changed to a post horse and left this morning."

Ergou just smiled and didn't say anything. Yesterday, he and the Han family parted ways, and he didn't even stay with the coachman. He had expected this, but he didn't expect that Han Zhi would actually go ahead.

When they parted yesterday, Han Zhi and Han Cunbao made a promise and said they would stay in Huazhou for two days, but it seemed like they were lying.

It can be seen that Han Zhi is short-sighted and narrow-minded, so he will not care about him for the time being.

Han Cunbao paused for a moment, then took the bundle of books, unfolded them, handed them to Ergou, and said, "The magistrate of Huazhou is a close friend of my uncle's age. I went to visit him yesterday and asked his clerk to open a blank page and seal it." Shang Yin, I just want to serve you as a ultimatum to Brother Ergou, but I have to go into the city and pass the card, which only costs a little more money, but I can travel without any hindrance."

Ergou felt a little emotional when he heard this. Han Cunbao was really a good friend.

Don't look at the fact that this business certificate seems inconspicuous. It is just a certificate for customs clearance and tax payment by a businessman. It is a good thing, especially if it is blank and stamped, it is even more valuable.

Commercial citations are generally printed and stamped by the three envoys in each region, and then distributed to the state capital according to the share of each region.

Notice!The three secretaries of this thing need to collect money, and it must be included in the tax as a deduction.

Then the various state governments filled in the blank text with the font size, stamped it with the local official seal, and sold it to real businessmen for use at a higher price.

To be honest, if the Song Dynasty court could use this method well, it is impossible to say that the commercial tax revenue of the Song Dynasty could soar into the sky.

Fan Xianggong!Wang Xianggong!Let's all rest!What kind of laws are being changed, what new policies are being enacted!Tax cut!Tax cut!Tax cuts for the common people!No money can be saved in the treasury!

What a pity!The thing that state officials like to do the most is to sell a very small number of business leads to merchants at a price increase of dozens of times, and then give the rest to their relatives, slaves and friends for use.

Just like Han Cunbao, he could get one from Huazhou Zhizhou for Ergou without spending any money.

What, you said favors have to be repaid?

At first glance, you are not a political animal, so why do you need any favors?In officialdom, the so-called favor is like toilet paper in the toilet, a woman's auntie towel, well, you know, it depends on the situation.

Ergou was not one to be pretentious, so he thanked him immediately and accepted the blank document. Then he found a clerk to fill in his name, and then spent some money, and he could go all the way to Bianliang, Tokyo, like a real businessman.

Han Cunbao saw that Ergou accepted the document, but he mentioned another matter, saying: "Brother Ergou, I heard that you took out a strange product called [Salt Essence] yesterday, why didn't you hear it?" rise?"

Ergou said with a smile: "I practiced it myself to give gifts to the master. I said what to do with you. Anyway, you have the [Bad Karma Skull Bead] for protection, so you can't use such inferior things."

Han Cunbao smiled and said: "Brother Ergou, what you said is wrong! Since I went to Hezhou to take office, I always need to have some personal contacts with Shangguan. If I send gold and silver utensils, I am afraid that he will be inferior to me. If I have to send some salt essence With him, why don't you show off my power?"

Ergou joked: "What a wonderful idea you have! But do you have the money to buy my salt essence?"

Han Cunbao was immediately speechless. Although he was a descendant of the Han family, he had few properties and his luggage was somewhat empty. The price of the salt essence was twenty thousand liters per liter. How much did he have to buy to make it worth giving as a gift!

　Chapter 2 arrives!
　　Thanks to: book friends Tianjiang Xiaololi and Ella Cizer Knight for their reward of 100 starting coins.

　　
　
(End of this chapter)