Home is a place where people can take off their armor and camouflage with peace of mind, stretch their muscles and bones, and relieve fatigue.

After having a supper with Guo Nu and Ren Cong, and taking a comfortable hot bath, the alcohol in Zhang Qian's stomach dissipated. Then he slept soundly, and when he woke up the next day, he was alive again.

According to Li Xian's holy decree, the weapons supervisor needs to be moved to the forbidden garden of Weiyang Palace in the near future, and the matter is quite complicated. But with Guo Nu and Ren Cong's two right-hand men, Zhang Qian has no need to be nailed there every day. Therefore, after using the morning food, giving the two junior brothers "face-to-face teaching", and driving the two to work, he himself carried two gourds of newly brewed liquor, and Shi Shiran walked towards Zhang Ruoxu's Zhuangzi.

"Ah, why did the young eunuch have time to come to my bad old man's house today? Aren't you afraid that the emperor will announce your questioning again, but the eunuchs can't find you all over Chang'an? Zhang Ruoxu has always been free and easy, and he doesn't like to put on any elder shelves, as soon as he met, he immediately started joking!

"I'm not Xie Anshi, the emperor will be restless when he leaves?! Besides, it's not that far from Chang'an City. Zhang Qian smiled, put the gourd containing the wine on the ground, and bowed to Zhang Ruoxu, "I haven't seen you for many days, Uncle Shi has been fine recently?!" ”

"Okay, it's already good, and it's even better to see your wine gourd!" Zhang Ruoxu turned sideways and returned the half-bow. Then he couldn't wait to rush forward, and picked up the hemp rope tied between the two wine gourds, "I just broke it last night, and I was worried about whether I should go to your house to ask for it, but I didn't expect Yongzhao to have a heart with me." Come, come, go to the main hall, let's go to the main hall to open the table and have a few drinks. ”

"Uncle Shi is at his own convenience, the junior just drank with a friend yesterday, and his head is a little dizzy, so I can't accompany you today!" Zhang Qian was taken aback, quickly took two steps back, and explained with a smile.

How can drinking with an alcoholic like Zhang Ruoxu be a matter of a few drinks? Basically, as soon as you start drinking, you have to continue until the wine in the gourd is emptied, or one of the two people falls.

Zhang Qian is young and strong, and he can recover after falling down and sleeping for one night. The old drunkard fell down a few more times, and it is estimated that he will really get drunk one day.

"Why, as a young eunuch, you look down on me, a bad old man?" Zhang Ruoxu didn't understand his kindness, and immediately pretended to be cold, and pouted again and again.

"Uncle Shi, where are these words? If I look down on you, will I come uninvited early in the morning? When Zhang Qian heard this, he quickly blushed and bowed his hand, "It's just that today's two gourd wines are new flavors, which are suitable for calming down and drinking in front of the lamp, but not for many people to drink." You put it away first and drink it slowly, if you like to be lively, let's invite Shanghe seniors, Sun seniors and Ji Ling another day, and I will send someone to send a bucket of peach blossom brewing over, and everyone will rest when they get drunk! ”

"New flavors?" Zhang Ruoxu's attention was quickly diverted by Zhang Qian's words. Pull out the gourd stopper, lean on the tip of his nose and sniff hard, and immediately smiled, "Well, there is actually the fragrance of lotus flowers." The lotus is a gentleman among the flowers, and it is indeed not suitable for liveliness. ”

As he spoke, he couldn't bear the wine worm in his stomach. I just took a small sip from mouth to mouth. Then he closed his eyes again, and after a moment of aftertaste, he sighed and said: "It's not as white and clear as chrysanthemums, but the smell is unique." Aftertaste, it's not that I'm picky, use Zhao, this lotus brew, but the chrysanthemum is too white. ”

'At 38 degrees, the water is mixed too much, and it doesn't last long enough. Zhang Qian immediately muttered secretly in his stomach, but a smile of admiration appeared on his face, "Gao, Uncle Shi is really smart." From yesterday to now, I always feel that there is something wrong with this lotus brew, but I just don't think of the aftertaste! ”

"But compared to Liu Ling's drunkenness, it's still much better, especially in winter." Unwilling to accept other people's gifts and find faults, Zhang Ruoxu smiled and whispered encouragement.

Seeing this, Zhang Qian suddenly felt a little reluctant in his heart, thought about it, and quickly promised, "Uncle Shi, if you prefer chrysanthemum white, after I go back, I will ask Ren Quan to send you a bucket." ”

He was worried that Zhang Ruoxu and the others would drink too much alcohol and his body would not be able to bear it, so he specially adjusted the alcohol content to between thirty-five and forty. But I forgot the biggest flaw of blended wine, that is, the water taste is too strong. In particular, the aftertaste on the tongue after drinking it is very obvious. The chrysanthemum white above 60 degrees can hide the traces of mixing water because of the high alcohol content. (Note: This can be drunk by old drunkards.) ）

"Chrysanthemum white, of course it's good, but always let Yongzhao spend so much, how can the old man be happy in his heart?!" Zhang Ruoxu's voice came from the opposite side, with a very hypocritical twist.

"Uncle Shi likes the things in the cup, and of course the younger generation should supply them in time. The new alchemy furnace over there has also been erected, and it can produce hundreds of catties a day, not a few sips of wine from Uncle Shi! Zhang Qian immediately took over the conversation and explained with a smile. At the same time, set goals for yourself in your heart.

Forget it, in the future, the alcohol will not be distilled many times, and then the concentration will be lowered with water. After I went back, I tried to improve the process, and tried to ensure that the liquor could reach 40 degrees after two rounds of distillation, and 60 degrees after three rounds. In this way, the taste of the wine will be mellow, worthy of the tongues of He Zhizhang, Zhang Ruoxu and other old-timers.

"With Zhao saying this, the old man accepted it with a cheeky face!" Zhang Ruoxu didn't know that he had inadvertently made someone's conscience discover that the quality of Datang's liquor had been raised to a higher level. Just be satisfied with the whole chrysanthemum white that Zhang Qian promised, "It just so happens that the juniors in the old man's hometown recently sent someone to send a cart of preserved fish to the old man." Although it is not a precious thing, it is better to eat fresh. When Yongzhao leaves later, I'll ask someone to push you on half of the car and send it over! ”

"Thank you, senior!" Knowing that the old drunkard is this kind of temperament that refuses to take advantage of others, Zhang Qian did not shirk it, and thanked him with a smile.

"Don't keep saluting, you don't think your back hurts, I still think you have back pain!" Zhang Ruoxu waved his hand, and reluctantly took a sip of lotus brew, before he re-plugged the gourd with a stopper and put it on the bookcase next to him.

"Uncle Shi, the younger generation has just come out, and I don't understand many things, so I want to ask Uncle Shi for some advice." Knowing the other party's temperament, Zhang Qian didn't go around in circles, and after giving the gift, he immediately turned the conversation to the topic.

"Fingering? Where did this come from? Do you know that the old man has been up and down for half his life, and his position is not as high as your position for two months! Zhang Ruoxu was so surprised when he heard this, his eyes widened, and he smiled bitterly.

His previous actual position was only to join the army as a soldier in the capital of Gunzhou. According to his merits, he was awarded the rank of Captain of the Cavalry. But the rank of this cavalry lieutenant is purely an honorary title. It's just that it sounds good to say, and he has face when he interacts with his colleagues, but in fact he has neither a position nor a salary.

Therefore, let him instruct an eight-grade master book on how to do things, and his old man can still make do with his strong courage. Pointing out a young eunuch of the fifth grade, that is a pure blind man to guide the way!

However, Zhang Qian does not believe that grade represents human wisdom. smiled and gave up his hand again, "Uncle Shi doesn't have to be humble, I, the young eunuch, am paper paste and can't count at all." Besides, what I want to ask Uncle Shi for today is not about the ordnance superintendent. ”

"Papier-mâché? What do you mean? Zhang Ruoxu's attention was instantly attracted by Zhang Qian's description. frowned, and asked in a very low voice, "Could it be that your young eunuch is still fake?" I heard Ji Weng say that you sacrificed your life to save the emperor's car that day, and all the civil and military forces present saw it with their own eyes. ”

"The young eunuch is true, but it is different from the previous young eunuchs!" Zhang Qian sighed and told the old drunkard the truth about his situation, "I, the young eunuch, although I am a fifth-rank officer, I have not held any position in the military department. Therefore, there is no need to participate in the court meeting, just make bows, crossbows, armor sticks and refining alcohol for the military department. ”

"Have you offended someone? Can only work, can't participate in state affairs? Zhang Ruoxu's reaction was very intense, and he immediately blurted out the words of questioning.

However, after saying that, he quickly realized that asking such a question might be too heavy for Zhang Qian. Quickly shook his head with a smile, and quickly lowered his voice again, "Actually, it's okay to save a lot of trouble." Look at Ji Weng, for so many years, just be a doctor of Taichang, and travel all day long. Last time, I entrusted you with the blessing of offering gunpowder, and the court promoted him to secretary, but he also disliked that there were too many things, and he delayed his appointment for a long time. ”

"He seniors are free and easy by nature, and he should be a model for the younger generations!" Zhang Qian didn't feel that he couldn't participate in the court meeting, how sorry he was, and immediately nodded with a smile.

"Now in the court, it's so chaotic ......" looked around, Zhang Ruoxu lowered his voice, "It's like a porridge pot, several factions attack each other, and they don't care about right and wrong at all." Even when Bi Longxue came back this time, he was directly sent to the capital water supervisor as a messenger and set up a waterwheel around Gyeonggi. You don't have roots and no foundation, so why bother to mix with it?! If the old man were you, if you could not participate in the court meeting, you would have to make a happy voice in your dreams! Don't you rush forward to find trouble for yourself! You need to know that in these years, the more you talk, the more you get wrong. And in the presence of the Holy One, you can't always pretend to be dumb! ”

"Uncle Shi said this very much, and the younger generation also thinks that talking less and doing more things is serious!" Zhang Qian also had this feeling in his heart, and nodded with a smile again.

"If only you could think about it! It's not easy, if the old man is your age, he will definitely be very unhappy! Zhang Ruoxu was immediately relieved, smiled and praised in a low voice.

However, seeing Zhang Qian's eyebrows, there was always a trace of anxiety. After hesitating for a few moments, he asked in a low voice, "Could it be that Yong Zhao has encountered something else." Although he said it, although the old man had never been a high-ranking official in his life, he did not know anything about it. Maybe it can help you come up with ideas! ”

"Then I'll bother Uncle Shi!" When Zhang Qian heard this, he hurriedly took half a step back and asked the other party seriously, "I met a colleague who may be from the royal family. Recently, the relationship has become closer, and he has also joined the shares of my Liushen Firm......"

There are some things, asking Guo Nu and Ren Cong is definitely not as reliable as asking Zhang Ruoxu, an old Jianghu. Of course, the most reliable choice should be Yang Qi. It's a pity that the latter's status is too high, and Zhang Qian can't catch up at all. So, we have to settle for the next best.

Unexpectedly, Zhang Ruoxu's focus was similar to Guo Nu's. Zhang Qian had just made a start, and he immediately interrupted in a low voice, "Did he pay for it?" Or just a few words of cowhide and tricked your dry stocks? If it's the latter, you have to be careful. The human heart has never been content......"

"Not only did he pay for it, but he also compensated me!" Zhang Qian grinned and added with a wry smile. Immediately, he simply started from the beginning, and told Zhang Ruoxu everything about the experience of knowing Li Qi and what happened when he was drinking yesterday.

Zhang Ruoxu was still frowning at first. Soon, however, the old man furrowed his brows and smiled. When Zhang Qian finally finished stating the matter, he expressed his worries. The old man simply laughed so much that he couldn't even open his eyes, shaking his gray beard and patting the case gently, "Yongzhao, who told you that you can't end well if you associate with the royal descendants?!" Since the founding of the Tang Dynasty, Gaozu, the children and grandchildren of Taizu, I am afraid that there have been hundreds. This is not counting the brothers and fellow clans of Gaozu. If no one cares about them, how can they live? ”

"This ......" Zhang Qian pretended to be full of Nine Dragons to seize the heir, and passed on the edict to the country, and suddenly, he was speechless when asked.

"Don't worry, you can communicate how you want, you just worship him, and nothing happens. A small Fengyu, it is estimated that at most it is the bloodline of Gaozu. He is not qualified to touch the throne at all. Finally seeing Zhang Qian's "stupid" once, Zhang Ruoxu became happier the more he smiled, and even couldn't help but raise his hand to wipe the corners of his eyes, "Even if there is, so what." You are an official of the Tang Dynasty, Fengzi Longsun is looking for you to question, can you still hide and ignore them? What's more, Zhang Yongzhao, do you have the power of soldiers and horses? ”

"Uncle Shi said with a smile, how can I be a young superintendent of the ordnance superintendent, how can I hold the power of soldiers and horses?" Zhang Qian's face turned red when he was asked, and he shook his head.

"Are you rich?" finally managed to "hit" Zhang Qian once, but Zhang Ruoxu simply held on.

"How is that possible!" Zhang Qian shook his head again and smiled bitterly, "My Six Gods Trading House has just opened. And the medicine on consignment has not been cared for until now! ”

"Can you make your own decisions about the gunpowder, armor staff, and bow and crossbow of the ordnance superintendent, and give them to others at will?" The sound of questioning continued to come, which made Zhang Qian embarrassed.

"There is no specific statute for alcohol, and everything else has to be sent to the treasury of the Ministry of War on a regular basis. I'm not qualified to use it! ”

"Then you are resourceful and calculating ten steps? Or can you enter and leave the palace and influence the decision? Or is he proficient in divination and can predict good fortune and evil? Zhang Ruoxu rolled his eyelids and continued to chase and fight.

"Nothing!" Zhang Qian's face was red when he was asked, and he honestly bowed his head and admitted.

"Then aren't you unfounded?!" Zhang Ruoxu stood on tiptoe, slapped him hard, and smiled proudly, "To get involved in royal affairs, you have to have that ability and qualifications." Just by virtue of your now, a five-grade young eunuch who doesn't even have the qualifications to go to the court, and let others win you over? Wake up! How dare you think it! With that kind of effort, it is better to brew more wine, so that you can help the old man satisfy his hunger! ”

"What about helping Shuo Fangjun make money?" Zhang Qian was photographed red-faced, but he was cheeky and continued to ask for advice.

Zhang Ruoxu slapped him again, and in an instant, he was full of pride, "Even if you go, the emperor is not satisfied, and he will only be dissatisfied with Zhang Renyuan, and he can't see a little shrimp like you." Besides, you can share the worries of the country, and the emperor has not time to reward you, how can he punish you for this? The imperial court is really so confused, who will be willing to work for the country in the future? ”