Chapter 12: Beer and Crayfish, Smoking and Mahjong

Time passed slowly...

During this period, Su Liang's winery and restaurant opened one after another.

The restaurant's business was endless every day, and new ways of eating like stir-fried dishes and hot pot were unanimously praised by the people of Changan.

Drunken Tang was sold for ten thousand wen a dou, and it was still in short supply.

Beer was relatively cheaper, only one hundred wen a dou.

Su Liang's newly launched beer, with its unique taste and low price, was sought after by the people of Changan.

Cheng Chumo and Qin Huaiyu saw that the things Su Liang entrusted were almost completed, so they spent all day in the Pingkang pleasure district again.

All business matters were thrown to Erhu to handle. Erhu also planned to transfer some familiar people from Jiangning to help, so he readily agreed.

Su Liang's Taoyuan Villa was being built in an orderly manner, and the general outline had already taken shape.

Many industries were also progressing steadily, and everything was proceeding according to Su Liang's vision.

In Furong Garden, Su Liang was also living his leisurely life.

The only thing that made Su Liang depressed was that Zhangsun Yue had been in Furong Garden for almost half a month, indulging in Su Liang's new musical instruments all day long. No matter how Su Liang teased her, she wouldn't let Su Liang break through the final line of defense.

This damn feudal morality, I don't know how many innocent girls it has harmed.

Just when Su Liang was lying leisurely on the rocking chair, enjoying the shoulder rubbing and foot massage from Ruyan and Yu'er, Li Shimin came to disturb Su Liang's interest again.

Su Liang was particularly speechless about this and was too lazy to get up and didn't want to pay attention to Li Shimin. Ruyan and Yu'er also turned a blind eye to this. In their hearts, only their Young Master was the most important, and then they nodded slightly to Li Shimin to show their salute.

Li Shimin was also used to this. Ever since Su Liang's beer was brewed, Li Shimin fell in love with it after drinking it and came almost every day.

When Li Shimin was in Furong Garden, Ruyan and Yu'er were particularly restrained. Li Shimin also felt embarrassed about this, so he set a rule that from now on, as long as they were in Furong Garden, they didn't need to salute.

After Li Shimin walked over, he lay down on the rocking chair on the side without being an outsider, and then asked someone to bring tea.

Su Liang glanced at Li Shimin and said, "What happened today? You look like you have no love for life."

Li Shimin said seriously, "It's not about the imperial examination reform, I'm very worried."

Su Liang asked with a smile, "Why, looking for a solution from me?"

Li Shimin waved his hands hurriedly, "That's not it, it's just that there are not enough people. There are too many officials in the court involved with the Five Surnames and Seven Clans, and they are all perfunctory in their work."

Su Liang raised his eyebrows and asked, "So you still came to me to find a solution?"

Li Shimin laughed awkwardly, "Hehe... does my virtuous son-in-law have any suitable people to recommend? The Xue Rengui you recommended last time was very good. Now I have appointed him as the General of Dingyuan, fifth rank. I even ask for his opinion on some government affairs."

"Hehe..." Su Liang chuckled and continued, "That kid has been following me for two years at least, it's just that his qualifications are shallow and he needs to be tempered."

"If it weren't for you sending people to disturb my drinking many times, I wouldn't be willing to recommend him to you. After all, it's been two years, and I'm still reluctant."

Li Shimin heard this, could it be that this kid still has people he can be reluctant to recommend? He immediately took advantage of the situation, "Hehe, virtuous son-in-law, why don't you introduce a few more?"

Su Liang laughed secretly in his heart, isn't this just setting his sights on me? He immediately said, "Oh? Then what kind of people does Your Majesty want?"

Li Shimin heard this and felt there was a chance, so he said, "Civil officials and military generals are both fine, as long as they are recommended by my virtuous son-in-law, I will definitely reuse them."

Su Liang frowned slightly and said, "Hehe, is Your Majesty not afraid that I will use this to plant my own people?"

Li Shimin said in a deep voice, "Hehe, virtuous son-in-law is joking. If you had the heart, you and I wouldn't be here today."

Su Liang smiled slightly and said, "Good, then I will recommend two people to you, one civil and one military, how about that?"

Li Shimin laughed loudly when he heard this, "Good, good, good, I don't know which two people my virtuous son-in-law recommends?"

Su Liang said indifferently, "Military general Su Dingfang, from Wuyi, Jizhou, Hebei. This person can be compared to the Duke of Wei, Li Jing. What does Your Majesty think?"

Li Shimin was instantly excited, "Is it really so?"

Su Liang laughed secretly in his heart: It's not? That Su Dingfang in history was the one who destroyed three countries, destroyed the Eastern Turks, destroyed the Western Turks, and destroyed Baekje, all capturing their masters alive.

He then looked at Li Shimin and said slowly, "It's not? Back then, Dou Jiande of Hebei could also be called a wise master of a generation, but his pattern was not as good as Your Majesty's. Su Dingfang was originally from Hebei and defected to Dou Jiande. After Dou Jiande was defeated, he returned to Liu Heita. After Liu Heita died, he retired. In this way, Your Majesty can be considered to have missed a tiger general."

"If Su Dingfang had followed Your Majesty to fight for the world early, I'm afraid his status would already be a Duke."

"Your Majesty can send someone to summon him to serve. As for the official position, you can give him a General of Loyalty and Martial Arts."

Li Shimin saw that Su Liang had already pointed out the military general and continued to ask, "What about the civil official?"

Su Liang continued indifferently, "Civil official Ma Zhou, from Chiping County, Qinghe Commandery. He has the talent of Fang Xuanling and Du Ruhui, and can first enter the Secretariat-Chancellery."

"Your Majesty will know the ability of these two people after trying them."

Li Shimin was also quite puzzled about this. According to Li Shimin's investigation, Su Liang should not have met these two people.

Li Shimin also knew Su Dingfang, who was indeed a tiger general, but he had never heard of Ma Zhou.

He then stared at Su Liang and asked, "Why does my virtuous son-in-law know the ability of these two people? As far as I know, my virtuous son-in-law should not have met them."

Su Liang asked with a smile, "Does Your Majesty really want to know?"

Li Shimin said firmly, "Really!"

Su Liang waved his hands hurriedly, "Is it better for Your Majesty not to know?"

Li Shimin was puzzled, "Why?"

Su Liang sneered, "I'm afraid of scaring Your Majesty."

Li Shimin snorted disdainfully, "Humph, I am the Son of Heaven of the Great Tang, can I still be scared?"

Su Liang said helplessly, "I can't say, I can't say."

After Su Liang finished speaking, he stopped paying attention to Li Shimin.

Could it be that he told Li Shimin that he traveled from more than a thousand years later?

Li Shimin muttered to himself: Could it be that Su Liang is the same as Yuan Tiangang, who can peek into the secrets of heaven? It's a pity that Yuan Tiangang and Li Chunfeng have lived in seclusion in Mount Zhongnan since the Xuanwu Gate incident and have avoided the world.

What Li Shimin didn't know was that the retirement of Yuan Tiangang and Li Chunfeng was precisely because of Su Liang.

Su Liang naturally didn't know what Li Shimin was thinking. He couldn't tell Li Shimin that he saw this in a history book.

Just at this moment, the system's magnetic voice rang in Su Liang's mind.

"Ding: The system has detected that the host has now completed the salt workshop, sugar workshop, clothing workshop, music workshop, and other businesses. Congratulations to the host for completing the task. One thousand catties of crayfish are ready. Does the host want to extract them?"

Su Liang said without hesitation, "Extract!"

"Ding: The system is detecting the host's situation..."

"Ding: The system has detected the host's surrounding environment. Does the host want to put the crayfish into Furong Lake?"

Su Liang hurriedly responded, "Don't, don't, don't, just find a place in the kitchen where no one is around and put them down."

After communicating with the system, Su Liang immediately got up and walked to the kitchen.

A quarter of an hour later.

Su Liang came back and lay down again.

Seeing Li Shimin at this moment being proud and ambitious, Su Liang glanced at him and found that one of Li Shimin's accompanying eunuchs was missing.

Su Liang then picked up the teacup, took a sip of Longjing, and teased, "Your Majesty arranged for people so quickly?"

"Hehe..." Li Shimin smiled lightly and continued, "Virtuous son-in-law is joking. Isn't it a pity that such a talent is not used by the Great Tang for a day."

Su Liang said with disdain, "Hehe... Your Majesty has people to use, but I am short of hands here."

Li Shimin laughed, "Virtuous son-in-law, don't tease me. Now Cheng Chumo and Qin Huaiyu are soaking in the Pingkang pleasure district all day. Do you think they are not worth reusing?"

Su Liang teased, "Hehe... a person is not romantic when young. They are still young, so they should be like this. What does Your Majesty think?"

Li Shimin smiled awkwardly when he heard this.

Su Liang smiled without saying a word when he saw this, and immediately asked Yu'er to bring some pills to Li Shimin. Li Shimin asked and learned the use of the pills.

Seeing Li Shimin laughing like a child, Su Liang also smiled and said, "Your Majesty has received such a generous gift from me today, today I also want to ask Your Majesty for someone, Wang Xuance from Luoyang."

Li Shimin was instantly interested, "Oh? This person actually gets such favor from my virtuous son-in-law that you personally ask me for him. Why doesn't my virtuous son-in-law find him yourself?"

Su Liang answered the question by asking, "Your Majesty just say whether you agree or not."

Li Shimin laughed, "Good, I promise you. As long as you tell me what is unusual about this person, I will keep my word."

Su Liang smiled, "Good, good, good, as long as Your Majesty agrees. This person is both civil and military, and is also a good businessman. I want him to help manage the business."

Su Liang thought in his heart that after Wang Xuance destroyed a country in history, Li Shimin only gave him the official position of Chaosan Dafu, fifth rank, which was not as good as taking him for his own use.

At this time, Wang Xuance had not yet developed, so taking him for his own use was just right. Su Liang not only took a fancy to Wang Xuance's social ability but also took a fancy to Wang Xuance's overall view and military ability.

The twenty-second year of Zhenguan.

Li Shimin sent Wang Xuance to visit the five countries of Tianzhu, with Jiang Shiren as the deputy envoy.

At that time, the King of Middle Tianzhu had just died, and Alonashun launched a coup and established himself as king.

Hearing that the Great Tang mission had entered the country, he sent two thousand soldiers to ambush them.

Wang Xuance's mission only had thirty cavalrymen, and they were finally defeated, captured, and detained, and the tribute from various countries was also looted by Alonashun.

With the help of the King of Middle Tianzhu's sister, Wang Xuance and Jiang Shiren escaped from prison under the cover of night.

The thirty members of the mission were killed, and the two of them had no face to return to Changan, so they swore to take revenge.

So they went north all the way to Nepal, negotiated with the King of Nepal, and borrowed seven thousand cavalrymen.

Then Wang Xuance appointed himself as the commander, with Jiang Shiren as the vanguard, and rushed straight to Middle Tianzhu.

Songtsen Gampo of Tubo also sent 1,200 soldiers to help Wang Xuance after hearing the news.

Wang Xuance led the eight thousand people from the two countries, without taking off their armor or leaving their horses, and rushed straight to the city of Chabo and Luo in Middle Tianzhu.

They fought a fierce battle with Alonashun's tens of thousands of troops. The two sides fought fiercely for three days and three nights, killing thousands of enemy troops, drowning more than ten thousand, and capturing more than ten thousand. Then more than 580 large and small cities around them all surrendered.

In the end, Wang Xuance escorted the captured Alonashun and his princes and princesses, totaling 12,000 people, and 20,000 cattle, sheep, and horses back to Changan.

At this moment, Li Shimin also came back to his senses. He had been tricked. The "civil and military" person in Su Liang's mouth, wasn't that someone who had both the talent of a great general and the ability of a prime minister!

Seeing Li Shimin silent, Su Liang asked with a smile, "Why, is Your Majesty unhappy?"

Not getting a response from Li Shimin was obviously an acquiescence. Su Liang then looked at Yu'er and said, "Yu'er, go and tell the servants to clean the crayfish in the kitchen, and invite Your Majesty to have a big meal tonight."

Hearing her Young Master mention that there were crayfish to eat, Yu'er's cherry-like mouth instantly opened wide, and she said in surprise, "Crayfish? Is it the food that the Young Master said was more delicious than crab? Sister Ruyan and I have been thinking about it for a long time."

Su Liang smiled, "Just have the servants clean them, and the Young Master will cook them later. That is the number one delicacy in the world and cannot be wasted."

Hearing the number one delicacy in the world mentioned by Su Liang, Li Shimin's eyes also became hot.

Su Liang smiled slightly when he saw this, then turned to Ruyan and said, "Go and get the Da Hong Pao tea. Although this Longjing is good, it is still a bit lacking. Let Your Majesty drink some good tea."

At this moment, Li Shimin had black lines on his face and felt aggrieved. Could it be that what he had collected from Su Liang before was not good stuff?

Ruyan was stunned when she heard this. Usually, the Young Master was reluctant to drink this Da Hong Pao, so why was he willing to take it out to share with Li Shimin today.

That was something the Young Master spent more than a month having people make, and now there was less than ten catties left.

Seeing Ruyan still stunned in place, Su Liang smiled and said, "Go get it, we'll have people pick it from Wuyi Mountain next year."

Li Shimin heard this, and his hot eyes stared at Su Liang, "Virtuous son-in-law, is that Da Hong Pao also tea?"

Su Liang said indifferently, "Yes, it is the number one tea in the world! I got it in Wuyi Mountain when I was traveling in the world. They are all thousand-year-old tea trees, but unfortunately, there are only a few dozen."

Li Shimin was also waiting anxiously.

A moment later.

Ruyan brought the Da Hong Pao and tea set, and then a series of flowing movements, which made Li Shimin dumbfounded.

Not long after, Li Shimin took the teacup handed over by Ruyan, and the unique orchid fragrance of Da Hong Pao immediately rushed to his face. His mood couldn't help but completely relax, as if he were in a fairyland.

Then he took a sip, the fragrance was high and the taste was mellow, the entrance was clear, sweet, and refreshing, and the fragrance remained in his teeth and cheeks for a long time without fading.

After Li Shimin finished drinking, he praised, "Good, good, good... good tea, truly good tea! It is well-deserved to be praised by my virtuous son-in-law as the number one tea in the world!"

Su Liang tasted the tea by himself, and didn't pay attention to Li Shimin's praise. This top-quality Da Hong Pao had to be tasted slowly.

Li Shimin continued to drink tea when he saw this, and everything seemed light and airy.

After a pot of tea.

Su Liang took the pipe on the table, then skillfully put in the tobacco, lit the tobacco with the Zippo lighter he made, and started to puff clouds and fog.

Li Shimin looked at Su Liang's operation and was stunned for a long time before reacting.

His eyes stared straight at Su Liang.

Su Liang immediately asked Yu'er to get another pipe for Li Shimin.

Then he taught Li Shimin how to smoke hand-in-hand. At first, Li Shimin was choked to tears, but slowly he got used to it.

At the same time.

Su Liang also patiently explained, "Smoking can not only refresh the mind but also soothe emotions and relieve stress."

After Li Shimin adapted, he laughed loudly, "Hahaha... it is indeed so, not only can it refresh the mind, but it can also eliminate worries. Good stuff, good stuff!"

Seeing Li Shimin smoking so vigorously, Su Liang shook his head slightly, then smiled and said, "Alright, smoke less. Your Majesty should hurry up and send someone to invite the Empress and Changle over. There is crayfish tonight, and if you want to eat it next time, you have to wait until next year. I'll go prepare."

Then he got up and left, and also asked someone to invite Cheng Chumo, Qin Huaiyu, and some familiar ministers.

That night, inside the inner courtyard of Furong Garden.

His Majesty Li Shimin, Empress Zhangsun, Princess Changle, Zhangsun Wuji, Cheng Yaojin, Qin Shubao, Fang Xuanling, Du Ruhui, Yuchi Jingde, and others were all here.

Su Liang also prepared a lot of food, not only beer and crayfish but also garlic cucumber.

Just the crayfish were prepared in three flavors: iced crayfish, garlic crayfish, and spicy crayfish, a full one hundred catties.

Everyone heard that it was a food more delicious than crab, and under Su Liang's teaching, everyone's hands and mouths were full of oil, and they praised it one after another. Where was there any appearance of a Duke or minister?

The women also praised it as delicious, completely ignoring their image, only Empress Zhangsun was slightly reserved.

During this time, Li Shimin picked up the pipe and started puffing clouds and fog, which made everyone ask Su Liang for one.

Su Liang helplessly gave out a few more pipes. After everyone got them, they also started puffing clouds and fog, making the whole banquet look like a fairyland, and the women were all coughing.

A moment later, the people puffing clouds and fog were driven to the side by Su Liang, eating separately from the women, no matter how they smoked.

After the banquet, everyone refused to leave, wanting Su Liang to spit out some more good things.

Seeing that everyone refused to give up, and there was no need to go to court tomorrow, Su Liang had to take them to play mahjong.

At this time, the Tang Dynasty held a morning court every five days and rested one day every five days. They held court on days ending in five, except for special circumstances. ===== CHAPTER 13 =====