After the suppression of bandits was over, Wang Wenzhen happily wrote a good news and sent the flag officer Jia Hongyu to the Qianhu Station in front of Xiahe Village.
Soon the defense officer Zhang Hailin gave a reply: Liu Yan, the armor commander of Dapanbao, was rewarded with one hundred and twenty taels of silver and a set of winter clothes for the first merit. Shen Tuo, the armor commander of Huangshan Dun, was the second meritorious and was rewarded with eighty taels of silver.
In addition, Wang Wenzhen's command was good. In addition to a reward of one hundred taels of silver, Zhang Hailin also made a promise to report to Lingshan Guards.
After Liu Yan learned the news, he couldn't help but shook his head and sighed. He had annihilated hundreds of bandits in one battle. Such a military exploit only gave him some money. Although the Ming Dynasty’s military merit reward at this time was mainly based on the heads of slaves, followed by the heads of Mongolian soldiers, and then the heads of stray thieves. The bandits in Tieju Mountain were just thieves, but after all, there were hundreds of heads. The superiors were so perfunctory. It's no wonder that the soldiers of the Ming army were generally low in fighting spirit.
After Liu Yan returned to Dapanbao, he stopped worrying about these things. The one hundred and twenty taels of silver he was rewarded were also distributed to the Three Banners soldiers who went on the expedition, and he didn't keep any taels for himself.
It is said that six or seven days have passed since Liu Yan led his troops to suppress the bandits. Miao Shao, the flag officer, had already recruited dozens of craftsmen, designated a place in the southwest corner of Dapanbao, and began to build a winery. .
In a few days, the walls and cellar of the winery have been built, and the craftsmen are building various houses.
Liu Yan has been focusing on this for the past few days. The brewing matter is the next big thing in Dapanbao and cannot be taken lightly.
"Commander A, look, the roofs of these houses have been capped. All they need are doors and windows. The houses over there will be completed in another seven or eight days."
Miao Shao hired his own supervisor and led several Dunjun soldiers to supervise the construction of the craftsmen. He was very clear about the progress of the winery and followed Liu Yan to introduce it.
Liu Yan looked around and saw that the winery was indeed built according to his requirements. There was no opportunism at all. He said with satisfaction: "Okay, tell the craftsmen to work overtime and hurry up. If it is all completed within five days, , everyone’s wages will be doubled. Of course, the quality must be guaranteed. If I am found to have cut corners in order to meet the deadline, don’t blame me for being rude!”
Miao Shao smiled and said: "Don't worry, Commander A, these craftsmen don't dare to do it. But if they get twice the wages, these craftsmen will be happy and they will definitely work hard!"
"That's good."
Liu Yan added: "There is another urgent matter. You can take someone to handle it today."
"Please give me your orders, Commander A."
"Take people to the Inspection Department of the Ancient Town and the Qianhu Station in front of Xiahe Village, and hire brewing masters for me at a high price. There is no limit to the number of people, the more the better. As long as the brewing skills are good, the wages can be as high as you like. Just make your own decision on the actual situation, and I will confirm it when I come back."
Miao Shao was slightly stunned when he heard this, and said to himself: "It seems that Chief A is really determined to open a wine shop, he can't wait."
"Don't worry, Commander A. I'll explain what's going on here and I'll take the people out immediately."
In a blink of an eye, on the fourth day, Miao Shao, the flag officer, came to report: "Captain A, the wine shop is completed. Please come over and take a look."
Liu Yan said with a smile: "There must be brave men under heavy rewards. As expected, it was completed in four days. I want to check the construction quality."
Miao Shao said: "Captain Jia, don't worry, my subordinates have already seen it and the quality is acceptable."
Liu Yan asked: "By the way, have you hired the brewing master?"
"I have hired seven winemakers and brought in fifteen apprentices. I don't know if these numbers are enough."
Liu Yan nodded and said: "It's enough for the moment, but it won't be enough in the future. Don't worry about it. Let's gradually pass it on in the future."
After saying that, Liu Yan got up and packed up, preparing to follow Miao Shao to the winery to take a look. At the same time, he remembered something and said: "By the way, you will take people to Wangjiazhuang tomorrow to buy the wine from Wanfu Oil Shop." Shopkeeper Wang and Miss Wang invited me and said I had big business to discuss with them."
"yes."
Liu Yan and Miao Shao took a look at the wine shop. The wine shop was a house with one entrance, but there was a row of back rooms behind the main house, which were used for storage.
The two entered the yard, and there were a row of side rooms on both sides. On the left was the warehouse, where the stored sorghum was stored. On the right was the residence of the craftsmen, as well as the kitchen and a place where various sundries and utensils were stored.
The main house is divided into four rooms. The two rooms on the left are where the wine cellar is located, where the lees and koji are fermented. The two houses on the right are the places where wine is made and produced.
Liu Yan and Miao Shao looked at it and were very satisfied. They immediately ordered seven brewing masters and fifteen apprentices to start brewing immediately.
The lees, koji, and semi-finished wine grains in the winery were purchased at high prices, and they were all fermented. These things cost a lot of money, more money than the construction of this winery. However, the money spent is very worthwhile. These winemakers all agree that they can start working directly after meeting them.
So Liu Yan ordered the brewing to begin: "First make the wine as quickly as possible. Don't be too careful. Just be quick and I will see the wine come out tomorrow."
Several winemakers were very surprised. Among them was a winemaker named Qian Zao. This man was a capable man in his forties. It was said that he had worked in a famous winery in Jinan Prefecture for more than ten years. The winemaking skills are very good.
At this time, Qian Zao hesitated for a moment, then clasped his fists and said, "Master General Banner, making wine is like being a human being. Everything must be in order and don't be impatient, otherwise the brewed wine will become spicy and bitter."
Liu Yan said with a smile: "Master Qian is right, but I have something to do tomorrow and I have to use the newly released wine, so Master Qian will lead everyone to work hard. You will know my intention tomorrow. "
Liu Yan then appointed Qian Zao as the steward of the winery and temporarily took charge of the winemaking.
In the morning of the next day, Miao Shao came back with two Dunjun soldiers driving an ox cart. Wang Jing and Wang Yunhe sat on the ox cart and came to Dapanbao together.
The last time Wang Yunhe came to Dapanbao was a few months ago. Now Dapanbao has been completely built. The inside of the fort is prosperous. The civilians in the military households everywhere have rosy faces and live a prosperous life. This is in sharp contrast with the military households elsewhere. Wang Yunhe was filled with admiration, and at the same time he admired Liu Yan even more.
Soon the ox cart arrived at the entrance of the general flag office. Liu Yan came out to greet him with a smile after hearing the news: "Haha, shopkeeper Wang, Miss Wang, long time no see, how are you doing?"
Wang Jing clasped his fists and said, "Thank you for your invitation, Mr. Liu Qi. I can take a look at the appearance of Dapanbao."
Wang Yunhe said with a smile: "How is Mr. Liu doing? This Dapanbao is really prosperous. I think we are almost catching up with the Ancient Town Inspection Department."
Liu Yan laughed loudly and said: "The Inspection Department of the ancient town is a famous and prosperous place, but it can't be compared with my place. But since Miss Wang likes it here, why not stay with Shopkeeper Wang for a few more days? I happen to have a big business You might as well discuss it with Shopkeeper Wang."
"oh?"
When Wang Jing heard about the business, his eyes suddenly lit up, while Wang Yunhe looked a little shy.
Liu Yan said: "Let's talk as we walk. Let's go to my new winery first."
Wang Jing said: "It seems that the business Mr. Liu mentioned is wine making. I wonder if Mr. Liu has a good wine cellar?"
"Ha ha."
Liu Yan said with a smile: "The winemaker over there has already started working. The wine will be available today. Let's go over and see how it goes."
Wang Jing smiled and agreed, and Wang Yunhe also smiled and said: "General Liu Qi is really capable. Not only can he lead troops and farm, he can build such a good fort, and he can also make wine. He is really a talent!"
Soon, several people arrived at the wine shop. After hearing the news, the steward Qian Zao hurriedly came out to greet them and stood aside respectfully.
Liu Yan asked: "Manager Qian, have you had a drink today?"
Qian Zao clasped his fists and said, "I can definitely drink wine today. Please ask Commander A to give guidance."
Everyone gathered around Liu Yan and came to the main room. Although it was very cold outside, it was very hot inside the main room. The several brewing masters and apprentices who were busy inside were already shirtless and sweating profusely.
The wine and grains in the winery are already mature, and there is a faint aroma of wine in the surrounding air. Qian Zao and several winemakers followed Liu Yan with smiles on their faces, introducing various situations in the winery in detail.
Qian Zao was very familiar with the operation of the winery. He didn't think the newly built winery could last long, but he heard about Liu Yan's deeds every day. He felt that with Liu Yan's majesty, not only wine, but also water The price can be sold in the Wangjiazhuang area, so I think this newly built winery can still be in business for a few years.
"Commander A, please see, our brewery has good melody, good wine cellar, and good sorghum, so the wine and grain we will send out in the future will definitely be good as well. Although these wine and grain are bought ready-made, the quality is very good. Look at this The seeds can be pressed directly and sold as wine." Qian Zao said with a smile.
Next to him, Miao Shao smiled and said: "I heard that those good men drank a jar or a dozen bowls at a time, and they drank that kind of muddy wine. If it were the shochu produced in our wine shop now, a man would be considered a good man if he could drink even a pound of it. .”
Wang Jing and Wang Yunhe did not speak, but listened carefully. The brewing business was very new to them.
The apprentices in the winery were shoveling the wine and grain into wooden barrels with wooden shovels, and then transporting them into the house. Qian Zao bowed and said: "Chief A, the wine steaming place is ahead. Although it is cold outside, it is very cold inside. It’s hot. Not long after we entered, we were soaked in water. Are you guys waiting outside?”
It turns out that this place is not the hottest, and the place where the wine is steamed is even hotter. However, Liu Yan waved his hand and said: "We are all men, and they will be naked when it is hot. I just want to see how you make wine, and I want to see you again today." Let me show you my hand!"
Then Liu Yan smiled and said to Wang Yunhe: "If Miss Wang dislikes it, you might as well go to the waiter later."
Wang Yunhe raised his head and said unconvinced: "This brewing process is very interesting. Isn't it just a little hotter? I want to go in and have a look."
"Haha, okay, let's go in and take a look together."
Hearing what Liu Yan said, everyone was speechless and just followed. As soon as he reached the door, sweat started to appear on Liu Yan's forehead. The hot steam inside rushed to his face, even giving Liu Yan a slight feeling of suffocation. .
"How many times have I told you, pulling the bellows is not sawing, you have to hold back and take your time." Qian Zao started shouting as soon as he entered the door. The apprentice who was pulling the bellows beside the large wine-steaming stove quickly slowed down.
When Liu Yan came here, he had told him that he didn't understand many things in the winery and wanted to explain them in detail. Seeing this scene, Qian Zao who was next to him said casually: "Chang Jia, when steaming wine, you need to steam it slowly and carefully, so that the wine can be thoroughly cooked." All the gas is evaporated, the fire is strong and the wine is evaporated too quickly, but no wine comes out."
Liu Yan nodded, indicating that he understood.
At this time, Liu Yan saw a large pot with a diameter of seven feet placed on the stove, but only the rim of the pot could be seen outside, because there was a large wooden barrel over five feet in diameter set on the pot, which completely covered the pot inside. The wooden barrel is tightly fitted, and the joints between the wooden boards are smoothed with materials, and there are several layers of thick cloth surrounding the outside.
There are several small openings in the upper part of the large wooden barrel, with several copper pipes sticking out. There is a shallow-bottomed cauldron directly above the large wooden barrel, and there is a wooden ladder standing on the side.
