Chapter 190 The city gate is on fire

Is it freezing outside the Great Wall? I looked up at the tyrannical scorching sun. It seemed that Mr. Cheng’s messenger had been on the road for at least more than a month. It was a letter from home, and there was no way to deliver a military report. The military order prohibiting drinking in the army was enforced outside the Great Wall.

It's not very strict. The soldiers over there can't drink it if they want, but the general just...

Are there many mosquitoes? Maybe so. I think since it’s so cold, not many insects would dare to go out and hang out. But Mr. Cheng’s description was exaggerated. Not only is it freezing cold, but mosquitoes are raging. The front sounds like they’re stationed in Siberia, and the back is

The feeling of Xishuangbanna is subversive. I have never been to these two places, so I can’t make any judgments. However, it has greatly subverted my common sense of life and made me accept my fate.

Just before the new year, the medicinal wine specially made for the old man was prepared according to several common preparations in later generations, namely aphrodisiac, slow tonic, and anti-rheumatism. Not surprising, colleagues who like to drink basically have this common sense, regardless of the restaurants of later generations.

size, base

Usually, they put several large medicinal wine bottles on the counter to show off, and large glass jars with a wide variety of medicinal materials in them, which dazzles everyone. If you go there often, chat with the little girl who sells wine, and you can get all kinds of medicinal materials.

Asking clearly

Bai Bai, I would follow the example of a cat and a tiger and get a few bottles when I go home, so that I can scare visitors during the New Year and festivals, which is very respectable. I once went to a Cantonese restaurant where snakes and toads were all soaked, so I didn't use this kind of meat wine, because I was afraid of scaring others.

Ying’s mother-in-law’s family is in the medicine business.

Since we are near the water terrace, we inevitably brew a few more jars. I usually get two pots to taste when I have nothing to do. To be honest, it is very hard to drink, but it must be to Mr. Cheng’s appetite. He drinks toilet water and doesn’t care what kind of wine you brew.

As long as the degree is high.

"Careful," I filled the three carriages called by the Cheng Mansion with large wine jars, and told the visitor: "The celadon jars are medicinal wine, and each has a seal explaining its efficacy. Don't rub it off.

.The remaining jars of hanging glazes are filled with soju.

"Brewed at home. There are plain eggs in the porcelain jar. Put it in a cool place." Then handed him a big box, "This is the Nine Flower Jade Dew. When you give the message to the old man, make it clear that you won't drink it if you can."

, tastes no better than medicinal wine.”

"Yes, yes!" After the man stated my words correctly again, he drove the carriage and retreated with high spirits.

The old man gave me a handwritten letter. It was short and straightforward, and I could understand it. He first thanked me for taking care of Cheng Chu when he was not at home, and explained that he was in good health and adapted to the place there, and asked me not to worry about it, and then

I just want something. I didn't give him the mahua, and it went bad after two months. I'm afraid even the emperor can't afford the crime of poisoning the 'Grand Manager of the Congshan Road Marching', so I'll forget it.

There are advantages to getting promoted, and having a long history is much more rewarding than joining the army. Except for emergency reports during wartime and some top-secret military reports, I can ask someone from the military department to deliver other news to my door for reading, without even leaving the house.

It seems that there is no intention to take action yet. Although military reports from the west have been frequent recently, there have been almost no major conflicts. Except for Mr. Su's power-building operation to sweep up the Tibetan territory as soon as he passed by. Mr. Su's intention is clear. Now that he is here,

Just give it to the neighbors first

They greeted them and said hello, so that the Tubo people were mentally prepared. Facing the peerless generals, the Tubo people really gave them face. Elite troops immediately changed defenses on the border and increased the number of troops. The pressure on the Tuyuhun side was greatly reduced, and the strategic intentions of the Tang army were fully realized.

.

Veteran marshals, especially famous marshals like Su and Cheng, have long had a tacit understanding of coordination and cooperation among large corps. In this era, communications cannot keep up. Coordination for thousands of miles is based solely on experience. This battle will be completely impossible.

The outcome depends on the tacit understanding between the two veterans. Although they are old enemies, I have confidence in these two people. They are both hydrogen bomb-level figures. This time they are released at once. The Turks and Tibetans should be more worried at the moment.

yes.

The wheat harvest is coming. The whole village is busy going up and down. Even four or five-year-old children in the village go to the fields to help. Except for me, sometimes I appear in the watermelon field, sometimes I bring Wangcai to catch two crabs along the river, and sometimes I pretend to be dead on the kang.

Anyway, I go wherever there is no one. I can't get involved in such a big scene. It seems that it's not all a good thing that the mother-in-law is too capable.

"Almost all of last year's grain reserves have been transferred to Fenghe Zhuangzi. I don't know when the grain subsidized by the court will arrive, and the newly harvested wheat is not delicious." Ying complained dissatisfiedly after looking at the granaries filled with halls, questioning the court.

To improve the work efficiency, "If it doesn't work, just exchange some of the farmers' stored grains from Zhuangzi and bring it back."

"Okay, how many people can't even eat wheat, and you're still picky." I didn't think about new and old grains at all. As soon as Ying and the second daughter came back from picking up wheat this morning, I picked up Lan.

A letter from Lingbao reported that there were floods in parts of Hedong and Jiangnan provinces. Moreover, due to the long period of rainy weather, grain production has been greatly reduced. More than a dozen people have been affected.

Officials have been investigated, and the imperial court is focusing on this year's war against the Turks, both to provide disaster relief and to provide supplies for frontline soldiers. Now the food supplies in Guan Nei and Duan You are being coordinated and allocated in batches. A short-term ban on alcohol may be implemented soon.

All the breweries have to close down. He frowned and said, "Ignore this for now. Now let me find the Fourth Brother. There's going to be trouble."

"Ah?" Ying didn't know what happened, "Trouble? The court won't give us subsidies?"

"Go and call the fourth child!" He waved his hand impatiently, "Ask her to stop for me no matter what she is doing. Hurry!" He turned around and called Ying again, "There is also a wine distilling workshop, hey, forget it.

Come on, let’s discuss it when the Fourth Brother comes!”

The trouble is getting serious. The wine-making workshop takes a high-end route, and its customers are either from this prince or that prince, and there are also several princes. It is not just a matter of stopping as long as possible, it is an offending thing. If it doesn't stop, there will be a ban on alcohol.

It's all over. Now the wine business is booming. The cellar

In addition to ordering my own wine, there is no inventory. Toilet water, once production is stopped, the business will collapse, and the painstaking sales network will be scrapped. It doesn’t matter if the income is gone. Once the reputation and sales are gone, it will be disgusting. After several years of hard work,

Just go down the drain.

"Uncle Qian, call a dozen people and give me all the work you are doing! Go and clean up the cellar," the butler was still happily selling rent at the back door. The harvest was good this year, and everyone was smiling. He pointed to a row.

Zijiao

The tenants who rented the property said, "It's a bad account. With so many people, the rent collection will stop. Those who come again will be asked to go back and pay when they have time." He lowered his head and said softly: "Bring the account book of the toilet water workshop, and go directly to the back house later. Don't do it."

delay."

The butler didn't know why, "Young Master Hou. We've only paid half of the people, stop..."

"Stop when I tell you to, there's so much nonsense." Accountant Hu is a shrewd man. He knew something was going on as soon as he heard my tone. Before I could say anything, he blocked the words to the money steward, stood up and went to the back to pay the rent to the banker.

After explaining a few words in a loud voice and sending everyone away, he said, "Young Master, I'll be over here."

The housekeeper reacted and quickly urged the last few households to bring in the grain. He hurriedly gathered people to clean up the cellar. Before leaving, he gave Hu's accountant a grateful look.

The fourth child had not yet received the news that the court was planning to ban alcohol, so he came to the meeting with a confused look. Hu, who was the accountant, moved a chair to the corner of the yard by himself, and Ying and the two girls crowded on a soft chair.

He looked quite excited, after all, this was the first time such a strange meeting was held in his family.

"Dalai, after the tea was served, you went down and guarded the door. All the maids in the back house were kicked out. No one is allowed to come in unless they are called inside." Ying took on the posture of a mistress and greeted Hu's accountant: "Mr. Hu, sit down here, why don't you come in?"

Outsiders, you’re welcome.”

"Listen to me first," I motioned Accountant Hu to sit next to me. I looked around at everyone, "I received news today that there is a flood in the south, which has harmed the crops. The imperial court plans to ban alcohol to overcome the difficulties." Just after saying this, the venue

Several people in the room took a breath at the same time, and everyone looked horrified. "Fourth, once alcohol is banned, our two businesses will have to close down. Not to mention the distilled wine workshop, we have to keep the toilet water workshop."

"How many days are left?" Lao Si asked hurriedly: "Is the news accurate?"

"It should be reliable." I nodded, "I can't say for sure on the date. The wheat harvest has not been completed yet, and the court has not estimated the big number, so it is not easy to issue this ban. According to my estimation, the ban will be in more than half a month.

thing."

"How many days is the ban?" Ying didn't care about her dignity. She ran into the house and took out the abacus, "Did you tell me the exact time?"

"No." I turned around and asked, "Mr. Hu, has the court ever banned alcohol after a disaster?"

"There were two incidents during the founding of the People's Republic of China. One was for two years, and the other was shorter, about a year and a half." Accountant Hu turned over the account book and came out. "I have to tell you if I have an account. If you want to be banned for two years,

If so, according to the requirements of our toilet water workshop, we must stock up at least five thousand kilograms of good wine to ensure continuous production..."

"Five thousand catties is not enough." Lao Si frowned and interjected: "We have just discussed with the inner government. Starting from the second half of the year, we will increase the supply of six hundred catties every year. Based on this calculation, it will be about seven thousand catties.

up and down."

"Can we be exempted from the special provisions of the Imperial Household?" When mentioning the Imperial Household, Ying immediately reacted to the suggestion of favoritism, "Why do you say that the prohibition of alcohol is the final decision of the Emperor, so maybe he can be accommodating.

He turned his face and asked the fourth child: "Go and see if you can find a relationship and find a way. After all, without wine, his family will not suffer a small loss."

"Impossible." I know what Ying means. It's not as good as me to find connections for the fourth child. Anyway, they are looking for Lan Ling. If Lan Ling can cover the ground, there will be no need to send people to rush to give messages. Logically speaking,

With the prohibition on alcohol, it is a sin to make or store wine. Lan Ling's meaning is very clear. Quickly get ready, making wine will be unnecessary. She will cover the matter of storing wine.

There's only so much help the Imperial Household can do. "Right now, I don't care about what convenience others can provide us. The key is to solve it on our own. Being able to say hello in advance is a huge help." People in the wine cellar went up and down.

Seven thousand kilograms of wine is still no problem, the key is to get so much back from there. "Can the wine steaming workshop stop export sales first and save a batch at home?"

"It's only half a month before we stop. I've already made an order." The fourth child bit his finger in embarrassment, and Ying gave him a chestnut. "You're not an ordinary customer, and it's hard to offend anyone. Besides,

Even if the wine steaming workshop has stopped supplying, it won’t be able to steam 7,000 kilograms of wine for more than half a month." He rolled his eyes, "Is our family the only one who knows this news?"

"I don't know. I guess it can be done a few days in advance. It's hard to tell later." Lan Ling will have no problem getting the first-hand information, but there is no guarantee in the paper. The news will be revealed in three to five days, and then everyone will know.

The workshops in the capital were in a mess, and it was even more difficult to collect. "You have to be early, otherwise it will be difficult to get even 700, let alone 7,000." Once passersby knew about it, the big families in the capital began to stock a large amount of wine for their own houses.

It's too late to do anything.

"Well," the fourth child nodded and turned to look at Ying, "There are probably quite a few wine shops over there at the north gate now. Why don't we send someone over to collect some?"

Ying looked at me and said, "Go and collect it. Anyway, there is a ban on alcohol. He won't be able to do it until he falls. Let's do good deeds and gain merit and give him a hand." After saying that, he put the abacus on the stone table and started to pick it up. "Don't worry too much about him.

We'll charge whatever the price is, and we'll take his production for half a month and then order all of it, and then we'll treat him as making wine for our family in the next half month."

"Give him 10% of the price," Lao Si nodded, "calculate backwards. 10% of the land price is an extra reward. We will only give it to him if he can complete our order. Our workshop will be open all day from today

Let's start the work. I will arrange for the craftsmen to work shifts now. The more steam is needed, the better."

"Not only high-quality liquor, but also the breweries that supply our shochu raw materials. We have raised prices to ask for goods. There are also various breweries and restaurants in the capital. You can buy shochu without any delay. Spend some money.

It doesn't matter, the key is to store enough in the cellar for at least two years." Two years also depends on the quality of grain harvests across the country. If disasters continue to occur, it may happen in ten or eight years, not to mention two years. However,

I have been fighting for the past two years.

It will be easier to go. As time goes by, someone will secretly make wine for huge profits. In the future, it will be more expensive, but you can get some back. The first two years are not easy. "Mr. Hu, you can give us the account of collecting the wine."

Be responsible, and all the money will go from the toilet water workshop." The family of the wine shop on the north gate is not able to come forward, "I will go to the north gate to find a way, and the fourth son will start working overtime to collect the raw materials for soju. Second daughter, you

Go and lend a hand as well.”
To be continued...