Looking at the carp that was served, Zhang Shou said with a smile: "If anyone treats us these days, we must go to the Luo River carp. Although this food is famous, who can bear to eat it every day? Luoyang's climate is suitable for everything, and there are many products around, so why bother Eat carp every day!”
Wang Xiaolie said: "There's no way around it. As long as a place is famous for something, outsiders will definitely come here again and again. If you get tired of eating, just eat less. But for the owner, if you don't like this thing, how can you count it? invite?"
The others listened and laughed together.
The soldiers beside him were pouring wine when Wang Xiaolie suddenly stopped him. He said: "Have you heard that I have a kind of strong wine here. Different from other wines, although this wine does not have much taste, it is very strong in the mouth. No matter how much alcohol you drink, you will still be drunk after just a few glasses."
Zhang Shoudao: "I've heard of it. I was wandering on the street a few days ago and saw a restaurant that sold hard liquor. I asked the store owner to get a drink. It was so strong that I could hardly stomach it. But after drinking it, it didn't take long. It’s Tao Taoran, it’s not just a feeling.”
Wang Xiaolie said: "This kind of strong wine requires the most attention to aging. The longer it is kept, the more fragrant it tastes. Of course, it must be good wine, ordinary wine is of little use. When I was in Xiangyang a few years ago, I ordered Guanjiu Every time I make wine, I take out the best wine and store it. It has been more than three years now. These wines were shipped to Luoyang a few days ago. I tasted them and the taste is really different. If you love wine when participating in politics, you might as well try it A taste of aged spirits?”
"Okay, okay!" Zhang Shou was very interested.
Wang Xiaolie ordered his men to bring up a bottle. After opening the mud seal, the whole boat was suddenly filled with the aroma of wine.
Zhang Shou is a wine lover. After smelling the smell, he said happily: "Such a strong smell of wine, it must be something special."
Pour the wine into the beaker and let it warm slightly. The soldier pours a cup for each person.
Wang Xiaolie raised his glass and said, "This wine is too strong and cannot be drunk like other wines. One cup must be divided several times. Let's have a taste. How does it taste?"
Zhang Shou picked up the wine glass, took a whiff, and couldn't help but be overjoyed. In one sip, he drank more than half the cup.
Wang Xiaolie couldn't help but laugh after seeing it, and took a sip from the cup.
This kind of liquor is mainly made from sorghum. When it is first made, it is strong, spicy and very punchy. After aging for a period of time, the taste becomes mellow, and the aroma is rich and soft in the mouth. Of course, the liquor of this era cannot be compared with that of later generations.
Putting down his wine glass, Zhang Shou shook his head. Said: "Sure enough, this wine is much better than the spirits bought outside! Xuanfu, if it tastes like this, it can be called a famous wine!"
Wang Xiaolie said: "To be honest, this is the best tasting wine selected from many old wines. Even if ordinary spirits are aged for two years, the taste is far different. Unlike the wine we usually drink, spirits are Brewing with sorghum does not use rice or wheat, and does not take up food for people. If you think the taste is good, I will select the brewing method of good wine and brew it specially. In this way, many bad lands can be planted with sorghum, and then Using sorghum to make wine saves food.”
Zhang Shou nodded and said, "This is a good thing. Making wine every year costs a lot of rice and wheat. If we use sorghum, we will save a lot of grain."
Wang Xiaolie said: "I am going to present this recipe to the imperial court. When I return from participating in politics, I will take a few skilled craftsmen to the shop to make strong liquor. I heard people say that there is a saying among the people, if you want to be rich, I am busy selling wine and vinegar. Things are difficult now, and it will be a good thing for the world to save food."
Zhang Shoudao: "Xuanfu is careful. After I return, I will report it to the court and implement this method in the world. However, the south of the Yangtze River is not as good as the north, and there are not many places suitable for growing sorghum. Even if this method is implemented, it will not be of any use to the court. Very useful."
Wang Xiaolie couldn't help being stunned when he heard this. I never thought that Jiangnan was not suitable for growing sorghum.
In fact, sorghum can also be grown in Jiangnan, and the planting area is quite large in some places. However, in this era, sorghum did not taste good and was mostly used as livestock feed. The cultivated land in the south of the Yangtze River is mostly fertile, so growing sorghum is not as good as growing rice, so few people do it.
The population density at this time was far less exaggerated than in later generations. Most of the cultivated land reclaimed by private parties is in relatively good conditions. In general areas, hillsides and ridges are rarely cultivated. Crops like sorghum are not grown much in plain areas.
People in the Song Dynasty ate much better food than those in the late Ming Dynasty and Qing Dynasty. The soldiers of the Southern Song Dynasty were originally from Jiangnan. There were cases where some people were not used to eating corn and some people starved to death. Such a thing would be unimaginable to future generations.
Wang Xiaolie's intention was to use sorghum to make wine and save food. But for Jiangnan, this doesn't make much sense.
After drinking for a while, Zhang Shou got drunk and spoke without any scruples.
Take a bite of fish and put down your chopsticks. Zhang Shoudao: "I have seen Xuanfu a lot in Luoyang these days, and I see that you are one of the few gentlemen in the world. I will go back to answer my orders, and I have a few words to say to Xuanfu."
Wang Xiaolie handed over his hand: "If you can learn something from participating in politics, I will be grateful!"
Zhang Shoudao: "You lead a large army outside, and you have the final say in your governance, which will inevitably arouse doubts. With a hundred thousand troops, the courtiers will not be afraid after hearing this? And you rose suddenly, and there is no one familiar with you in the court, not even you No one can explain your temper clearly. After you have made great achievements, the court has to give you a reward. But if the reward is large and your power becomes stronger, how can the court order you? Xuanfu is a sensible person and should be able to think of these things."
Wang Xiaolie said: "Of course I understand. This is a dilemma. Without soldiers, I have no way to deal with the Jin people. There are more soldiers and horses, and the court is worried. What can I do? The most important thing is to fight against the Jin people now. Regardless of what the court ministers think, it is important to raise troops and horses to deal with the Jin army."
Zhang Shoudao: "Yes, what Xuanfu said is right. However, it is not good to be unfamiliar with the ministers of the court. If you have free time, Xuanfu should still go to Xingzai. Going to Xingzai is not just Mian Sheng, I also went to meet the princes and lieutenants."
Wang Xiaolie nodded: "That's right about participating in politics."
Zhang Shoudao: "No one in the court can speak for you. Even if you are the most loyal minister in the world, things will still be difficult to handle. Just say that now, Xuanfu has an army of 100,000, and there are many of them. You have too many soldiers and horses, which will have a great impact on the court." Threat. I don’t know how many people have come up with so many ways to reduce your army. It’s all thanks to Xianggong Lu who supported you despite all opinions, that it didn’t cause a catastrophe!”
Wang Xiaolie said: "When you go back from participating in politics, thank Xianggong Lu for me."
Zhang Shoudao: "Now that Xianggong Lu is here, Xuanfu can lead his troops with peace of mind in Luoyang. What will happen if there is another Xianggong in the future? Xuanfu should think deeply about this matter!"
Wang Xiaolie thanked Zhang Shou but did not discuss the matter in depth.
If he were a normal general leading troops, Wang Xiaolie would be in an awkward situation now. But what Wang Xiaolie has been worried about is not the ministers in the court, but the aloof emperor Zhao Gou, which is another story.
