Ji Han Liu Zhang

Chapter 193 Calling Shu Zhengmei
Rum, the favorite of pirates in the Age of Discovery, is made from syrup, a by-product of growing sugar cane on many tropical islands in the Caribbean. It is a pretty good drink.

As far as Liu Zhang knew, sugarcane wine already existed in China during the Western Han Dynasty. The wine was golden yellow and the ancients called it golden paste, and regarded it as a famous wine with noble status.

But maybe it’s a technical problem, or a problem with the variety of sugar cane. In ancient times, sugar cane wine was not very popular. It was just regarded as a drink with a unique taste. It was drunk occasionally, just like wine. It was not as popular as rice wine. In this world, he is famous all over the world.

Therefore, for Liu Zhang, there are two problems that need to be solved urgently if he plans to replace rice wine with sugar cane wine as a mainstream drink.

One is the technical issue of sugarcane wine making, and the other is the variety of sugarcane.

As for the origin of sugar cane, he has no problem with this. Neijiang area in Sichuan is a natural sugar cane planting area. It has been the main sugar cane producing area in China since the Tang and Song Dynasties. It is rich in sugar cane, candied fruits and other products. During its peak period, sugar production Accounting for 70.00% of Sichuan and 30.00% of the country, it is known as the 'Sweet City'.

Furthermore, today's Nanzhong region is in the hands of Liu Zhang. Nanzhong is the Yunnan-Guizhou region in later generations. Sugar cane cultivation in Yunnan is one of the best in modern China. Therefore, Liu Zhang has no difficulties in terms of origin. What he needs to solve is the production of sugar. It’s just a matter of wine technology and sugarcane varieties.

At this thought, Liu Zhang couldn't help but sigh. He had many ideas, many ideas, which were close to the technical level of this era, or beyond the technical level of this era, practical or unrealistic, and he needed to slowly go through them. It takes cultivation and cultivation.

You can't become fat if you eat in one go, and it's easy to pull your eggs if you take long steps. Liu Zhang still understands these principles.

"Ming Gong, the palace has made all preparations for the New Year's Eve this year. Should we go about it with great fanfare like in previous years?" Pang Jing, the head of the mansion, walked into the hall and asked Liu Zhang about the New Year's Eve in two days. processing details.

In fact, according to what happened this year, when only Liu Zhang was left among the five fathers and brothers, Pang Jing felt that his superior Ming Gong had not attended this year's Lunar New Year's Day unintentionally, but he had his own duties as a slave, and he should He will prepare everything well to prevent Liu Zhang from having any unexpected ideas and causing him to mishandle things for a while.

"No need." Liu Zhang shook his head. Since the beginning of this year, Liu Yan and his three brothers have died. Under such circumstances, it is unjustifiable to hold the New Year's Eve Festival with great fanfare.

"This year's New Year's Eve Festival will not be held. Everything will be as normal as usual. No fancy decorations and activities...but the servants in the palace celebrate the New Year's Eve privately, so there is no need to worry about it. Let them have a good New Year. "

"Minggong is benevolent." Pang Jing was not surprised at Liu Zhang's denial of the idea of ​​vigorously organizing the New Year Festival, but the words Liu Zhang said later made him have to bow his head and respectfully let out a sigh of praise from the bottom of his heart.

Pang Jing raised his head and looked at Liu Zhang with respect. Unlike Liu Hao, who regarded his slaves as livestock, Liu Zhang at the top had some benevolence towards the slaves below, and the slaves also respected and loved Liu Zhang.

"Ming Gong, there is a happy event here. The maid Caiwei has not been eating well recently. After several doctors checked her pulse, they all said it was happy." Pang Jing looked happy and told Liu Zhang a happy event. Liu Zhang was different from Liu Zhang. Mao, he thought that Liu Zhang would not have any objections to the maid becoming pregnant with his son.

"Seriously?" Liu Zhang's face showed joy and he asked again in disbelief.

"With multiple doctors and craftsmen checking it together, there should be no problem." Pang Jing affirmed with his hands raised.
-
Xiangyang.

Since Liu Biao, the shepherd of Jingzhou, moved the governor of Jingzhou from Jiangling to Xiangyang, the city of Xiangyang has become increasingly prosperous. Especially at the end of the year, thousands of lights are hung high in the city, bright as day, creating a prosperous scene.

In Kuai Mansion.

"Gongda, but this is the end of the year, and I feel homesick." Kuai Yue teased Xun You, the distinguished guest living in his home.

Xun You in front of him was from Yingchuan. He originally planned to go to Shu to serve as the prefect of Shu County. However, since Ba County has been uneasy this year and the roads are cut off, he stopped in Jingzhou and lived in his home.

Faced with Kuai Yue's joking words, the thin Xun You stroked his beard and replied: "The land of Yingchuan is missed every day, and not only at the end of the year and the festive season."

Faced with Xun You's sincere words, Kuai Yue put away his joking thoughts. He asked Xun You about his future thoughts: "Gongda, now Shu has stabilized, and Jingzhou and Yizhou have become allies. The road to Yizhou Tongda, you can go to Yizhou now to take up your post... I'm afraid Liu Yizhou won't be able to give you the post of Shu Commandery Prefect that you wanted. I heard from my brother that Chen Shi, a famous scholar in Shu, has already taken the post of Shu Commandery Prefect. In the middle of the year, he took up the post of governor of Shu County."

"It's unknown." Xun You did not take over the topic and said whether he would go to Shu in the future. Instead, he gave an ambiguous answer. At the same time, he lamented Liu Zhang's character: "Liu Yizhou is really a generous man. , the things sent here are very valuable.”

"Who says it's not?" Kuai Yue nodded and expressed his approval. Not only him, but also the scholars and common people inside and outside Xiangyang City highly recognized Liu Zhang's generous character.

Without him, the New Year's Eve gift that Liu Zhang asked Kuai Liang to give to Liu Biao was too heavy. Not to mention that the gift contained [-] pieces of extremely precious Shu brocade. In addition, the gift contained [-] war horses. Kuai in front When Liang led his war horses through the streets of Xiangyang City, he suddenly shocked a wave of Xiangyang's scholars.

The world was in chaos and roads were cut off in all directions. In the southern states and counties such as Jingzhou and Yangzhou, the road to buy horses was cut off. I don’t know how many years have passed, but the scholars and common people in Xiangyang were able to see so many good horses.

"Does Liu Jingzhou have a headache now? What kind of gift should he prepare in return?" Xun You squinted his eyes and teased Kuai Yue.

Kuai Yue was noncommittal. He shook his head and sighed: "Liu Yizhou's generous move really made Liu Jingzhou a little confused... It also shows Liu Yizhou's sincerity. The alliance with Jingzhou is genuine and is not a trick."

"After all, Liu Yizhou's current thoughts are all on Zhang Lu in Hanzhong. Hanzhong is the place that guards the throat of Shu. Although Jingxiang is rich and convenient, it is still not as important as Hanzhong in Liu Yizhou's heart... Wait until Liu Yizhou wins it The alliance between Hanzhong, Jingzhou and Yizhou will probably break down." Xun You drank a glass of hot wine and analyzed Liu Zhang's psychological activities from the actual situation, but did not analyze the sincerity of Liu Zhang and Liu Biao's alliance from the character and pretense.

Kuai Yue smiled, and he also drank a cup of hot wine: "People in Xiangyang City say that I, Kuai Yue, am a person with ulterior motives and always think the worst of people in everything. But from my point of view, fair and equal to me." Your thoughts are even more ulterior, thinking of Liu Yizhou as such a ghostly figure, your words are simply unpalatable."

"Hahaha." Xun You laughed when he heard this, with a meaningful smile on his face: "When did Brother Yidu become an honest gentleman like your brother, and he stopped making malicious assumptions about others? ...Could it be that Zhang Song, the envoy from Yizhou, changed his temper after being reprimanded in Mingtang." "No." Kuai Yue also showed a meaningful smile: "He is my brother, and it shows that Liu Yizhou is a sincere person. Man, as long as Liu Jingzhou doesn’t act rashly, Liu Yizhou will never do anything to betray the alliance... My brother is quite knowledgeable about people, so I naturally believe what he says."

Speaking of Kuai Liang, an honest gentleman, Xun You didn't have any tit-for-tat ideas. He said pointedly: "Before Kuai, there was brother Yidu who decided Jingxiang with one policy, and later brother Zirou went to Yizhou as an envoy. He worked hard and made great contributions to the alliance between Jingzhou and Yizhou. The brothers' achievements are so great that now the lintel of the Kuai family can be regarded as the best in Xiangyang."

"I can't tell, I can't tell." Kuai Yue waved his hands and declined verbally, but there was an unstoppable smile on his face. His two brothers were in high positions and had made meritorious deeds. Under Liu Biao's account, It's not pleasant to play with the wind and clouds, and as Xun You, an outsider, said, his current lintel of the Kuai family is undoubtedly the first in Xiangyang.

"It's a pity that the flowers bloom and the fire cooks the oil." Xun You changed his subject and sighed bluntly.

Facing Xun You's prophecy-like words, Kuai Yue's face was uncertain. After a long time, he stood up and raised his hands to Xun You and asked, "If Gongda's words have deep meaning, please don't think I'm stupid. Teach me."

Kuai Yue's attitude was respectful, and Xun You hurriedly avoided the table. As a guest, he did not deserve Kuai Yue's great gift. He first helped Kuai Yue sit down, and then said in detail: "Brother Yidu has read classics and history, don't you hear about Japan and China?" When the moon is full, it will be waning. This is a common rule in the world... Now you two brothers are in high positions and have outstanding achievements. They are very jealous of outsiders. For example, Cai Mao and Zhang Yun's disciples came to the door and watched from one side. Seeing that these people are respectful on the outside but jealous in their hearts, but Brother Yidu is in the game and has not investigated in detail, I predict that this person will definitely slander the Kuai family in front of Liu Jingzhou in the future, even if Liu Jingzhou refuses to accept it several times, But if it happens more than once, I'm afraid Liu Jingzhou will have some unfounded suspicions about Kuai."

Hearing this, Kuai Yue frowned, looking thoughtful. After a long time, he suddenly realized what he was saying and stood up again, cupping his hands and thanking Xun You: "If it wasn't fair, I would have almost gotten carried away."

"There is another thing. Brother Zirou (Kuailiang) is an honest man and has the demeanor of a gentleman, but he is too much of a gentleman. When he returned from his mission to Yizhou, brother Zirou praised the government of Shu many times during banquets. It is said that the strong land of Shu will not invade the weak, and the superiors and subordinates are solemn. It has the style of emperor Xiaowen and Xiaojing's governance. He also talks about the extraordinary people who benefit the land, such as Wang Shang who is solemn in the middle, Qin Mi who is a scholar of heaven and man, and Dong He who is strict in governance. He also praises Liu Yizhou as a wise man. The style of a high emperor... If all the guests are gentlemen, then they might as well talk about it, but there is a mixture of dragons and snakes in the banquet, and there are many people with small intentions. If it spreads, I'm afraid it will attract taboos from above." Xun You thought deeply. Kuai's courtesy and hospitality during this time came and he openly expressed his thoughts.

"The more you remember Gongda's words, the more grateful you will be." Kuai Yue expressed his gratitude to Xun You again with a grateful look on his face.
-
Yanzhou.

"Jingzhou and Yizhou have formed an alliance." Cao Cao didn't take this news seriously. Now he only had one thought in his mind, which was to kill Lu Bu and put Yanzhou under his command again.

If Cao Cao had other ideas, it would be to catch Chen Gong and ask why Chen Gong betrayed him and whether he was willing to surrender to him and serve under his command again. He still liked Chen Gong a little. Heartfelt.

As for the alliance between Jingzhou and Yizhou, his hands are not that long and he cannot control it. He has no time to deal with the affairs of Jingzhou and Yizhou.

"Is there any other news?" Cao Cao asked Xun Yu, who had abandoned Yuan Shao and took refuge with him.

Xun Yu, who was handsome and loved incense, said calmly: "Tao Qian, the shepherd of Xuzhou, passed away."

Hearing this, Cao Cao smiled at first, then turned disappointed. He sighed: "What a shame, I can't kill this old thief... Tao Qian is about to die. Who will lead Xuzhou Mu?"

"Pingyuan Prime Minister Liu Bei Liu Xuande." Xun Yu named a person.

Cao Cao had an angry expression on his face. He was particularly unhappy about Liu Bei taking charge of Xuzhou. He conquered Xuzhou twice and actually made a wedding dress for Liu Bei.

After thinking about it for a moment, Cao Cao tentatively asked Xun Yu: "Wen Ruo, I intend to take advantage of Tao Qian's new funeral, Liu Xuande to seize the position of Xuzhou Mu, and the distinction between monarch and ministers has not been stabilized, to lead troops to capture Xuzhou. , and then return to Yanzhou to defeat Lu Bu, what do you think?"

"In this case, general, let's get rid of your important matters." Xun Yu gave the conclusion without hesitation.

"In the past, Emperor Gao occupied Guanzhong and Emperor Guangwu occupied Hanoi. They consolidated their foundation before fighting for the world. If you advance, you can win, and if you retreat, you can hold on. Yanzhou is the general's Guanzhong and Hanoi... Now the general plans to abandon Yanzhou and go with Liu Xuande. When fighting for Xuzhou, if you lead more troops, those who stay behind will not be able to cope with Lu Bu; if you lead fewer troops, you will not be able to capture Xuzhou. If you advance and retreat, you will lose your position, and you will be defeated by Lu Bu sooner or later."

Faced with Xun Yu's categorical conclusion, Cao Cao's eyes flickered for a moment before he finally nodded in agreement.

"Destroy Lu Bu first, then conquer Xuzhou."
-
Jizhou, Yecheng.

The driving review team in Zhizhong reported to Yuan Shao the recent events that occurred in various states and counties in the world.

"Jing Yi forms an alliance?" Yuan Shao suddenly interrupted Shen Pei's words and asked about Shen Pei.

The judge gave a detailed report: "Yes, Jingzhou Mu Liu Biao has formed an alliance with Yizhou Mu Liu Zhang. Now that Jing and Yi are on good terms, the two families are like one family."

"What kind of person is Liu Zhang?" Yuan Shao generally knew about Liu Biao, but he didn't know much about Liu Zhang.

The judge carefully considered the words and spoke briefly: "I heard that Liu Zhang was cowardly and incompetent, but observing his words and deeds after he became the shepherd of Yizhou, he is not a mediocre person, but can be regarded as a middle-class talent."

'Middle man. Yuan Shao smiled when he heard this, waved his hand and asked Shen Pei to continue talking about other news. He didn't pay much attention to the despicable Shu land and Yizhou Shepherd Liu Zhang.

For him at the moment, the most critical thing is to deal with the white horse general Gongsun Zan. As long as he can deal with Gongsun Zan, unify Heshuo, seize Hebei Youqing and merge the four states, and go south to fight for the world, then it will be a situation where the flying dragon is riding on the face. All the heroes in the world are like grass and must be harvested ruthlessly by him.

Therefore, such trivial matters as the alliance between the two families, Liu Zhang in Yizhou and Liu Biao in Jingzhou, were of no importance to him.

(End of this chapter)